Certain election results in California in 2024 surprised many.
For example, Golden State residents rejected a new term for the progressive Los Angeles County district attorney. Georges Gascon Backed by billionaire George Soros.
It also voted overwhelmingly over 70% for Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, which aims to undo parts of Proposition 47, enacted in 2014, by stiffening penalties for some crimes. A majority voted in favor. The proposal, which would go into effect Dec. 18, would allow for felony charges against those in possession of certain drugs and those who commit theft under $950. Additionally, people charged with these crimes are likely to spend more time in prison.
In other words, this ballot measure aims to crack down on certain misdemeanors that would not have been classified as misdemeanors under Prop. 47 and would have gone unpunished or received a lesser punishment.
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Surveillance video shows the thieves climbing onto a second-floor balcony and entering a California home through a sliding door. (Orange County District Attorney's Office)
When Prop. 47 was passed in 2014, it stated that “unless the defendant has a prior conviction for murder, rape, or certain sex offenses, most thefts are a felony to misdemeanor offense if the amount stolen is less than $950.” It was downgraded to gun crime. ”
Progressives criticized the measure as racist. The ACLU of Northern California said in a press release that Proposition 47 is “part of a broader conservative strategy in California and across the country to roll back criminal justice reforms aimed at breaking the cycle of mass incarceration of Black and brown people.” He said that there is.
Some believe the new bill will bring positive changes to the state, especially in areas that have long struggled with violent crime.
“We're making theft a felony again.”
People loot property amid unrest across the United States following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody in Los Angeles, California, on May 30, 2020. (Reuters/Kyle Grillot)
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Proposition 36 “will definitely improve” the situation in California. He said the proposal would help alleviate California's three biggest problems: drugs, homelessness and theft.
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“Being safe is not a Republican or Democratic issue. Being safe is a people issue,” Bianco told Fox News Digital. “Being safe is an American issue. We have a lot of freedom in this country. We are the greatest country in the world. And that includes keeping those who would victimize us out of our free society.” It comes with a huge responsibility.” ”
Hair and body products can be seen locked behind glass doors at Targets in Los Angeles County. (Soldad Ursua)
Californians are “tired” of public safety laws that don't do enough to protect the state's residents and businesses from crime and homelessness, which is why Bianco said Proposition 36 received overwhelming support from the state's voters. I believe I have received support.
“We can now force people into rehab facilities, otherwise they will go to prison. So we know that a large part of the homelessness problem is drug addiction. We know that the psychosis of drug addiction causes this mental illness and leads to most of the illnesses that we are dealing with in the homeless crisis,'' Bianco explained.
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Bianco said 70% of the people who voted for Prop. 36 want people who commit crimes to be held accountable.
“If you have kids and you discipline them to stop doing something, they won't do it,” Bianco says. “Raise productive children, whether they're boys or adults. When they repeatedly get away with things, human nature is to push the envelope.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a homeless accountability bill. (Anadolu/Contributor)
Bob Larkin, vice president of retail accounts for security firm Allied Universal, said the passage of Prop. 36 “should have a much-needed positive impact on the safety of residents and businesses in these cities, and the state as a whole.” said.
“Over the past decade, California has faced many challenges, including increases in crime and substance abuse, which are impacting safety and quality of life,” Larkin said. “As the world's largest security company with approximately 800,000 employees, including 57,000 in the state, Allied Universal team members at customer sites observe the reality of crime in California every day. There is.”
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Larkin believes Prop 36 will help businesses and communities by providing “effective tools to hold individuals accountable.”
Auckland's homeless population has increased by 9% in the past two years, according to the latest official estimates. (Jane Tiska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times)
“Sponsors of this bill worked with major companies and organizations that wanted to effectively improve safety in their communities. Allied Universal also supported this proposal,” Larkin said, adding that California He added that he believes residents “overwhelmingly approved this bill because they saw it in their own communities.” And businesses across the state have been severely impacted by the crime crisis, which has grown exponentially over the past few years. ”
“This action was necessary to improve the safety of California’s employees, businesses, and communities.”
Julia Jain, a criminal defense attorney with the California-based Julia Jain Law Group, told Fox News Digital that Prop. 36 would allow “defense attorneys to protect their clients from cases where they might not be able to put their clients in prison or jail. This means we have to work even harder.” best solution. ”
“I think this reflects changes across the state of California, where district attorneys are being recalled and people are voting for tougher penalties for criminal activity,” Jain said. “Regardless of whether actual data and statistics currently support that conclusion, in the years following COVID-19, many citizens felt that crime was spiraling out of control.”
Police said they believe these eight suspects were involved in at least 23 organized retail crime thefts at various Walgreens stores in San Francisco. (Fox News)
But she added that it was “unclear” whether the measure would have a long-term positive impact on Californians, as prison populations would likely increase due to the increase in felonies.
Zach Seyoun, founder and CEO of Cartha AI, a Los Angeles-based mental health platform, told FOX News Digital that the passage of Proposition 36 was extremely shocking to him both publicly and privately. said.
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“As a business owner in the mental health sector in Los Angeles, I am deeply influenced by the state of California's efforts to address crimes that affect the business sector and the well-being of our communities, such as retail theft and drug-related crimes,” Seyoun said in a statement. “These are challenges that I face in my business because they undermine the safety and security that my patients need to have conversations about mental health to thrive again.”
Homeless people as the city battles the fentanyl crisis in San Francisco, California, on February 26, 2024. (Teyfan Coskun/Anadolu)
But he added that the proposal would have “complicated implications”. On the one hand, this could lead to a necessary and common-sense return to harsher punishments for thieves and some drug users.In particular, what is being overturned here is the 2014 “This is a reform from Proposition 47, which is said to be a reform,” Seyoun said.
Meanwhile, Seyoun said he is concerned about the impact the new measures will have on California's already high incarceration rates.
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“I support anything that leads to a reduction in crime, but I'm also concerned about the kind of society we're building. Prison population growth can lead to overcrowding.” he said. “Without a serious allocation of potentially harmful community resources, one that diverts funding from essential community services directly to penal institutions, we cannot keep a certain number of people in a certain space on the ground. I can't keep it.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency regarding homelessness in December 2022 as her first act as mayor. (Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
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The company executive said voters' overwhelming support for Prop. 36 “speaks to the public's strong sentiments about crime and the perceived lack of adequate safety measures.” did.
“I've discussed this issue with people I know who are in stores who have had the misfortune of turning to crime just like me. To get down to business, I feel like business in the state is vulnerable. It's the prop's job to address that vulnerability.'' The 36-year-old is everything,'' Seyoon said.
