In unveiling his “Real Public Safety Plan,” Newsom said he will ask for $255 million in competitive grants for law enforcement to address organized shoplifting attacks, and $30 million to help prosecutors fight retail, auto and rail theft crime. Newsom said his plan would create a new program to help small businesses that have been the victims of smash-and-grab heists.
Additionally, Newsom announced grants for small retailers that have been hit by crowds of shoplifters, and promised to propose a new law that would allow citizens to sue sellers of homemade “ghost guns” and makers of unlawful assault weapons.
“We’re doubling down on our public safety investments and partnerships with law enforcement officials up and down the state to ensure Californians and small businesses, said Newsom, who made the announcement from the California Highway Patrol’s office in Alameda County. He announced the plan alongside Attorney General Rob Bonta, CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray and other state and local leaders.
“Through robust new investments and ongoing coordination with local agencies, this plan will bolster our prevention, deterrence and enforcement efforts to aggressively curb crime, hold bad actors to account and protect Californians from the devastating gun violence epidemic,” Newsom said.
The California Retailers Association applauded the governor’s attention to organized retail crime.
“There is no simple solution for reversing this trend, but the governor’s retail theft budget package is a big first step toward eliminating (organized retail crime) that has victimized our employees, customers, and the communities we serve,” said Rachel Michelin, president and CEO of the association.
But several Republican lawmakers reacted by saying Newsom’s proposal is too little, too late.
“While Democrats around the state are scrambling to evade the fallout from a decade of pro-criminal policies, they can’t hide from their record of zero bail, defunding the police and pathetically light sentences for criminals who repeatedly prey on innocent Californians,” said Assembly Public Safety Committee Vice-Chair Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale.
“More funding for law enforcement is a good thing, but it won’t make a dent in the crime wave if radical prosecutors let criminals out as they’re caught and state lawmakers continue watering down penalties for breaking the law,” Lackey said.
Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, said that the “Democrats’ relentless push for their ‘criminals first’ agenda has turned this once-majestic state into a sanctuary for criminals. It shouldn’t have taken increasing homicide rates, widespread news reports of smash-and-grabs, and pleas from Californians for Democrats to come to this realization.”
While long-term crime trends in California are down in almost every category, there has been an apparent recent uptick in organized retail theft and follow-home robberies involving firearms.
“Every family in every neighborhood in California deserves to feel safe and be safe as they live, work and play in their communities,” said Bonta. “That’s what the Real Public Safety Plan is about — keeping Californians safe by doubling down and allocating additional resources to fight and prevent crime. My office is proud to partner with the governor in this effort, and build upon our existing work to combat organized retail crime, dismantle gangs, defend our commonsense gun laws, and hold those who commit crime accountable.”
AV’er in Idaho says
As usual, Tim Scott distorts the truth and demonizes anybody that dares to disagree. The long term trend in violent crime (since the 1980’s) is still on a downward slope as it can take years for a trend line to reach an inflection point.
However, violent crime over the past two years (since the defund the police movement) is on a sharp upward trajectory. Murder is up at the highest rate ever recorded. Other violent crime is on a similar upward trend. In fact, the murder rated experienced it’s largest increase since the early 1900’s.
Further, why would Newsome, a liberal Democrat, propose these laws if the increase in crime is, as Timmy claims, just a political over exaggeration by Republicans?
It seems Timmy is truly the one who is uneducated and misinformed (I personally think he is willing to lie about anything to justify his hatred).
By the way…. Feel free to fact check me. CNN has a great article ( I picked the CNN story so Timmy can’t claim bias from the source) that has the stats and data sources.
Matt K. says
Idaho must be real boring? Why do you care about the Antelope Valley when you abandoned it?
Tim Scott says
While long term crime trends are down in almost every category, the remaining GOP politicians continue to deny reality and chant to their blindered faithful about the bad job Democrats do. All GOP politicians share D’ump’s appreciation for the ignorant, uneducated, and misinformed voters. Let’s hope we can continue to reduce the ranks of the ignorant, uneducated, and misinformed so they don’t drag the state and nation down the drain.
Dim snot says
Certain crime stats might be trending downwards, but what about violence/violent crime,
You know the worst type of crime.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theatlantic.com/amp/article/620234/
Tim is asking us to not believe our lying eyes as you watch the local news.
Jefferson thomas says
I don’t know how everyone else feels , but doesn’t it seem like a bunch of laws of several different topics seem to get thrown in under the radar? I wonder….. Why do they have us vote for props and such but they find it perfectly okay to pass all of these other things in front of our eyes with out even asking for our permission? ( We the people ). I don’t like the idea of smash n grabs or stealing in general, all of it’s stupid. But 30 million to prosecutors? Is this how lawyers get paid too? How about 30 million to the store owners with ammunition and guns to fight these lames , and maybe after a few shots go off, they’ll get the hint and wise up a bit. Or how about 30 million in our schools education, like books, teachers salary…. Maybe they can teach kids to think or learn the difference between right and wrong, so we don’t have these issues .
Mike says
Oh Tim Scott. You’re about as tone deaf as your Governor Newscum. Always touting downtrends in crime. Screw your statistics pal. We don’t care about some numbers on a spreadsheet. We care about what’s really happening on a daily basis. The stuff we can all see, hear, feel, and smell. And the crime in many of the metro areas across this country is not figment of our imagination. The old tactic of waving a spreadsheet around and making patently false statements no longer works. We will tell you how it’s gonna go from now on. And you’re gonna like it.