Democrats argue over California crime ballot measure – San Diego Union-Tribune

California's mayors like to say they are on the front lines of government.

When there is an increase in shoplifting in stores or citizens are confronted with open drug use or the trafficking of illegal substances, they often hear it loudly. For mayors, it can get very personal.

This may help explain why several California mayors, including Todd Gloria of San Diego, and other local Democratic politicians have turned away from Governor Gavin Newsom and state leaders and are now supporting House Bill 36, which would increase penalties for certain lesser property and drug crimes.

It's not that state elected officials are immune to local concerns, and they have acknowledged that change is needed, but local officials are closer to the scene, so to speak.

Newsom and state leaders like House Speaker Robert Rivas have a different view of Proposition 36. They say the measure could have undesirable consequences, such as a return to mass incarceration and the costs that come with it, and exacerbate racial and economic inequalities in the criminal justice system.

“This initiative hinders our ability to achieve the flexibility that is needed in the current situation,” Newsom said in July. “I have not publicly opposed it. But I am making my point.”

Last week, at Newsom's suggestion, lawmakers passed a package of bills designed to address some of the concerns that led to Proposition 36. As an alternative to the ballot proposal, Newsom signed 10 bills against organized shoplifting on Friday.

The initiative, which is supported by both Democrats and Republicans, aims to roll back parts of Proposition 47, a 2014 ballot law that reduced the penalty for possession of certain drugs and theft of property valued at less than $950 to a misdemeanor.

There is ongoing debate over whether this minimum limit led to the flash mob thefts at stores seen in viral videos that drove the push for Proposition 36. Newsom and others point out that California has a relatively low bar for criminal theft compared to other states. Texas, for example, has a $2,500 minimum limit for criminal theft.

Gloria made amending Proposition 47 a central part of his State of the City address in January, acknowledging that San Diego does not face the surge in shoplifting seen elsewhere, but that it is still a problem and needs to be addressed.

However, he hesitated for months to support Proposition 36 to see how the legislative effort played out. When that package stalled and seemed mired in political maneuvering, Gloria announced his support for the initiative in July.

While concerns about shoplifting are widespread, some mayors are particularly focused on a provision in Proposition 36 that would provide drug offenders with treatment as an alternative to prison – and point to a connection to homelessness.

“I support these bills,” Gloria said in an interview Friday about the legislation signed by Newsom. “… They're a good start, but I think we need more. What's particularly missing from the bills is the drug issue.”

“The idea of ​​mandated rehabilitation is very important for some homeless people who suffer from addiction,” he said, stressing that this is not an issue for many homeless people.

Newsom called Proposition 36 “a drug policy reform that sets us back decades.” Gloria described the measure as “sensitive” in its approach and not a return to the failed policies and harmful effects of previous tough drug laws.

Last week, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and two other local Democratic officials — Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho and Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen — launched a new committee to raise money to pass Proposition 36, Politico reports.

Another existing committee, Yes on 36, made up of major retailers and other businesses, law enforcement officials and government leaders, counts Gloria among its supporters.

Mahan, who recently toured one of San Diego's safe shelters for the homeless, echoed some of Gloria's sentiments about the initiative's drug policies.

“My big fear is that by decriminalizing petty crime, we have caused people's situations to become more severe and worse,” Mahan told Politico. “And we're seeing a growing number of chronically homeless people whose mental health problems are becoming increasingly severe.”

As calls for action against shoplifting grew louder, the Governor launched an initiative to combat shoplifting involving the California Highway Patrol and provides regular updates on progress.

Since the California Organized Retail Crime Task Force was created in 2019, the CHP has arrested more than 2,900 suspects and recovered more than $45 million in stolen assets, according to Newsom's office last week.

Meanwhile, the governor and legislative leaders had introduced their own competing ballot bill but dropped it in July. Separately, they had drafted anti-shoplifting bills, in part to persuade major retailers to back away from Proposition 36.

The bills were negotiated with the California Retailers Association and the California Grocers Association and include the top priorities of those trade groups, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Rachel Michelin, executive director of the California Retailers Association, said the organization will reevaluate its support for Proposition 36 after the bill is signed.

Major retailers have largely funded the effort to get Proposition 36 on the ballot. The extent to which they will fund what is expected to be a costly election campaign this fall is unclear.

According to a report in The Chronicle, none of the measure's three largest donors – Walmart, Target and Home Depot – have contributed to the campaign since March, nor have they discussed their future plans.

What they said

Former President Donald Trump.

“San Francisco was a great city 15 years ago, today it's considered almost uninhabitable, you can't live there. What they've done to it is a disgrace, and (Kamala Harris) will do the same to our country.”

(At the time, Governor Gavin Newsom was mayor of San Francisco and Vice President Kamala Harris was district attorney.)

Originally published: August 18, 2024 at 5:00 am