{"id":10373,"date":"2023-12-13T13:30:56","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T20:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegonewsdesk.com\/?p=10373"},"modified":"2023-12-13T13:30:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T20:30:56","slug":"progressive-democrats-bad-crime-reform-results-in-emboldened-criminals-lawlessness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegonewsdesk.com\/?p=10373","title":{"rendered":"Progressive Democrats\u2019 Bad Crime Reform Results in Emboldened Criminals, Lawlessness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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Leader Jones Nicknames California as \u2018CRIMEafornia\u2019<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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SACRAMENTO\u00a0– In the face of progressive Democrats\u2019 intransigence in dealing with the problems created by Proposition 47, California Senate Republicans\u00a0delivered a letter<\/a>\u00a0requesting the Little Hoover Commission (LHC) to study the problem of rampant retail theft in California, how\u00a0Prop. 47 (2014)<\/a>\u00a0enables it, and provide recommended solutions. The LHC is an independent state oversight agency and is charged with recommending policies to advocate for efficiency and improve government service for Californians. Click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0to download the letter.<\/p>\n

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Prop. 47, known as the\u00a0\u201cSafe Neighborhoods and Schools Act,\u201d\u00a0effectively decriminalized drug use and minimized the consequences of theft by eliminating felony penalties for theft under $950, even for repeat offenders.<\/p>\n

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In an Op-ed authored by\u00a0Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones<\/a>\u00a0(R-San Diego), he labeled California as\u00a0\u2018CRIMEafornia where criminals are emboldened and a sense of lawlessness prevails\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s a reason people are calling our state \u2018CRIMEafornia\u2019,\u201d said\u00a0Senate Minority Leader Jones.\u00a0\u201cThe increase in theft at all levels \u2013 shoplifting, smash-and-grab sprees, and organized retail crime \u2013 is stunning, costly, and dangerous. Governor Newsom and Democrat lawmakers simply refuse to fix the problems Prop. 47 created.\u00a0We are optimistic that the commission\u2019s report will connect the dots on how Prop 47 has enabled drug abuse, escalated homelessness, endangered communities, and turned shopping into a criminal spectacle.\u201d<\/p>\n

California Senate Republicans have attempted to repeal or modify Prop. 47\u2019s issues multiple times, including last session with\u00a0Senate Bill 316 (Niello, 2023)<\/a>.\u00a0SB 316 would have targeted serial thieves by permitting felony charges if the defendant had served time in jail or prison for three prior theft-related convictions.\u00a0It died in the Senate Public Safety Committee, the graveyard of many efforts pushed by both Democrats and Republicans to address escalating crime.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn California, criminals easily get away with serial theft\u00a0because\u00a0the majority party continues to\u00a0shield\u00a0them from punishment, and our communities and businesses are the ones facing the consequences,\u201d said\u00a0Sen. Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks).\u00a0\u201cThroughout the state, shopping at brick and mortar grocery and retail stores has become more burdensome for law-abiding citizens as businesses are forced to put more items behind lock and key.\u00a0Crime shouldn\u2019t pay, and lawlessness shouldn\u2019t rule.\u201d<\/p>\n

Background data on the prevalent problem of retail theft:<\/p>\n