Wilson Warns of Losses to California if Prop. 172 Fails : Election: Governor says big employers and tourists may avoid the state if the half-cent sales tax extension is defeated, bringing cuts in law enforcement.

Huge cuts in law enforcement expected to follow a defeat of Proposition 172 on next week’s special election ballot could lead big employers and tourists to avoid California, Gov. Pete Wilson warned Tuesday.

Wilson raised the issue in an appearance outside the Altadena sheriff’s station at a campaign rally for the ballot measure, which would make permanent a half-cent increase in the state sales tax.

The governor told a crowd of several hundred residents and schoolchildren that the state Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Proposition 172 because “they know we won’t be able to bring jobs here or even retain the ones we’ve got, if employers rightly perceive California as a place it is dangerous to do business.”

Similarly, he added, if law enforcement gets less funding as a result of the failure of the measure, California may “get the reputation Miami has” as a place where tourists are in jeopardy.

“All the reforms the Legislature made this year on workers’ comp, on ending regulatory excess and on providing tax incentives, none of that will mean anything if this is such a dangerous place that we appear to be another Miami,” Wilson said.

“We’ll experience the same fate they have--wholesale cancellation of reservations. Well, that’s not good enough for California.”

The governor expressed confidence that the measure will pass if the public understands it.

The ballot measure would extend the statewide half-cent sales tax and dedicate its proceeds to law enforcement. But critics have pointed out there is nothing in Proposition 172 that prevents local government or county boards of supervisors from diverting to other services funds that now go to law enforcement. Wilson said he and other state officials would pressure officials to make sure that law enforcement’s needs are met.

The governor said the failure of the half-cent tax extension would leave the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department with no option but to lay off up to 850 of its more than 7,000 sworn personnel, close as many as eight of 20 stations and release thousands of prisoners.

If the Altadena station closed, Wilson said, the nearest remaining station would be eight miles away, and the safety of the community could be jeopardized.

Asked what alternative action he might take to keep such cuts from occurring, Wilson said he did not know.

The governor said he would not commit himself at this point to calling the Legislature into special session to consider the state’s response to a defeat of the measure. He said he wants to focus citizens’ attention on ensuring that such a defeat is avoided.

Sheriff Sherman Block and Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti appeared with Wilson, as did several community leaders.