Latest news with #Proposition47
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Could Dems Be Opening the Door for GOP in California's Most Progressive Cities?
It is no secret that California remains one of the bluest states in the union. A Republican has not won a statewide election in nearly 20 years. Democrats enjoy huge supermajorities in the state legislature and run the states overwhelmingly progressive coastal cities. All this to say, Republicans have been boxed out of holding any considerable power in the Golden State. And those in favor of upholding public safety have borne the brunt of this. In 2014, California voters passed Proposition 47, reclassifying some theft and drug related crimes from felonies to misdemeanors at a time when violent crime was at a 38-year low. Unfortunately, the results have been disastrous for law abiding citizens. Since 2014, violent crime has increased 24%, motor vehicle theft has increased 10%, and shoplifting has increased 36%. All of this turmoil came to a boiling point in 2024 when voters went to the polls and passed Proposition 36, a tough-on-crime ballot measure that strengthens penalties for theft and drug related crimes - passing with more than two-thirds support and rolling back portions of Proposition 47 that was passed just 10 years prior. Crime was also on the 2024 ballot in Alameda County, home to Oakland, where residents voted to remove their district attorney from office. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, violent crime has increased 34%, including a 38% increase in homicides and 93% increase in aggravated assaults. And just across the bridge in San Francisco, voters removed their district attorney from office in a recall election, a rebuke to far-left progressive activists. According to a report from the National Retail Federation, the San Francisco Bay Area ranks 2nd in the nation for organized retail crime behind none other than Los Angeles. However, voters in Los Angeles had their own solution. In 2024, incumbent progressive District Attorney George Gascón was ousted from office. His tenure as DA was marred with controversy leading to a 12% increase in violent crime, 16% increase in robberies, 20% increase in property crime, 23% increase in auto theft, and 133% increase in shoplifting. Gascóns successor was none other than Republican-turned-independent Nathan Hochman who served as U.S. assistant attorney general appointed by George W. Bush. Hochman beat Gascón by a staggering 20-point margin. Needless to say, when partisanship is not on the ballot, liberal voters are willing to support a candidate with at least some conservative values - namely on quality-of-life issues such as combatting high crime. LA county is hardly an anomaly. Right-of-center independents have also scored victories in San Diego County, Alameda County, and Contra Costa County - all areas dominated by a heavily Democratic electorate. Things dont appear to be looking up for California Democrats either. A new bill having just passed the State Senate would grant parole to murderers if the crime was committed before the age of 26. And protests against Immigration and Custom enforcement (ICE) raids dont appear to be helping their cause either, with riots and looting ravaging the streets of Los Angeles. With many cities and counties experiencing a crime epidemic reminiscent of the 1980s, middle-of-the-road voters crave a candidate who can restore law and order to Californias once great cities. It is axiomatic that in an electorate dominated by liberal Democrats, the Republican brand is a difficult hurdle to overcome. But center-right candidates running on an independent non-partisan line have already proven successful in forming a bipartisan coalition of voters ready to reverse the states epidemic of violent crime. Tommy Aramony is a polling and data manager at NPA Polling, a political polling firm.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov Newsom ‘handcuffed' police as LA riots expose ‘reactionary' leadership failure: former sheriff' s deputy
As violent protests erupted in Los Angeles, Calif., L.A. County GOP Vice Chair and former L.A. County sheriff's deputy Patrick Gipson issued a scathing rebuke of state and local leadership, accusing officials of negligence and political opportunism. "These riots, they're completely unnecessary," Gipson told Fox News Digital. "We didn't have to go to this length to see cars burning, businesses looted, livelihoods destroyed. It could've all been avoided." Gipson pointed the finger squarely at Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom, blaming him for failing to deploy the National Guard in time to prevent chaos. "Newsom is reactionary instead of pro-action," he said. "If he had called in the National Guard earlier, we would've saved billions of dollars in insurance claims and protected our small businesses." California Candidate For Governor Blasts Newsom While Walking Through La Riot Aftermath The protests, which began as demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), escalated into street violence and theft. The protests highlighted, for many conservatives, the consequences of the state's left-leaning approach to progressive criminal justice reform and immigration. Read On The Fox News App "ICE is here to enforce federal law. And if we can't enforce federal law in this state, what does that say about us?" he asked. Gipson also alleged that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was unable to act independently, suggesting that she has been taking her queues from Newsom. "I know Karen Bass did go in and said, 'this is not the way to protest.' They wanted peaceful protest, but that's not what we had," Gipson said. "She's taking her instructions from Sacramento and Gavin Newsom. If she had better leadership from him, I think we would have been off a lot better that we are now." WATCH: Newsom says people will be prosecuted to fullest extent of law Newsom attempted to cast blame on President Donald Trump for escalating the protests, claiming that they were peaceful demonstrations before the National Guard and his rhetoric accelerated the conflict. "Gavin Newsom does not have a handle on California," he said. "If he had said, '[President] Trump, can you come and help us prepare for this? I think he [Trump] would have helped. "Newsom is obviously setting up for his race in 2028 and he is going to cast the blame on Trump, saying that Trump didn't do his job." Steve Hilton: How One-party Democratic Rule Led To Riots, Burning American Flags And Attacks On Police In La The consequences of what Gipson described as "soft-on-crime" policies are, in his view, compounding the unrest. He cited the state's failure to properly fund Proposition 36, which was overwhelmingly passed in 2024 to curb back the radical policies of Proposition 47, as proof of Sacramento's disregard for public safety. "Gavin Newsom is not funding Prop 36. Store owners can't even go after criminals. Patrons are scared to shop. People won't even get on the freeway toward LA now," Gipson said. "They're afraid a brick's going to come flying through their car window." Reflecting on his experience as a former sheriff's deputy, Gipson said the state of law enforcement morale in L.A. is dire. "Law enforcement has not been able to do their job," he said. "Officers are afraid, literally afraid, to do their jobs because they don't want to go to jail for following their training. There's no backing from Newsom, none from Bass." "They're handcuffed," he added. "For over 10 years, Gavin Newsom has not protected law enforcement in California. They've been defunded, defamed and demoralized. And now they wait. They hesitate. And when you hesitate in this line of work, people get hurt." Gipson also faulted the bureaucratic chain of command for paralyzing law enforcement at critical moments. "The sheriff answers to the Board of Supervisors. The LAPD chief answers to the mayor. And when they can't arrest people right away, the violence just keeps going," he said. The solution, Gipson argued, is straightforward: consequences. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Newsom's office said that the Trump administration "didn't even tap into the additional resources available to clean up their mess." "Let's be clear: The National Guard wasn't needed in Los Angeles. State and local law enforcement were responding, and federal agencies didn't even tap into the additional resources available to clean up their mess. Calls for troops to handle a protest show a basic misunderstanding of how public safety works — which is rather shocking for someone who used to have a badge." Fox News Digital reached out to Bass' office for article source: Gov Newsom 'handcuffed' police as LA riots expose 'reactionary' leadership failure: former sheriff' s deputy
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California looters now face 'hard-charging' consequences after blue state abandoned soft-on-crime approach
Amid the continuing unrest and flash mob-style looting incidents in Los Angeles, California is making a significant pivot toward tougher criminal enforcement. Criminal defense attorney David Wohl told Fox News Digital that the legal consequences are no longer a slap on the wrist for looters following the reversal of Proposition 47, which notably did not criminalize theft under $950. "Now we have a very conservative, hard-charging DA in Los Angeles," Wohl said. "He's adding up what is stolen by each individual co-defendant, and if that's over $950, everybody's getting charged with felonies." In a city once known for turning a blind eye to petty theft and soft prosecution, looters who are taking advantage of protests over federal immigration operations now face stricter penalties. California's Soros-backed Progressive Experiment Collapses After A Decade In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, a ballot initiative that reclassified several nonviolent felonies, including shoplifting, theft and drug possession, as misdemeanors if the value involved was $950 or less. Read On The Fox News App Supporters argued the measure would reduce prison overcrowding and redirect state funds to additional programming. Critics argued that it contributed to a noticeable increase in retail theft and emboldened looters. In 2024, voters voiced their concerns and overwhelmingly chose a sharp course correction from the progressive reforms that Proposition 47 implemented and voted in favor of Proposition 36. Prop 36 restored the ability to file felony charges against repeat offenders, regardless of whether their latest crime falls under the $950 limit. It also enhances penalties for group theft and organized looting, which had previously fallen into legal gray zones under Prop 47. The shift stems from a growing rejection of the previous criminal justice model championed by former District Attorney George Gascon, who Wohl described as "more liberal than a lot of public defenders." Under Gascon's leadership, prosecution was often delayed or diminished, with an emphasis on giving offenders "second, third, fourth, fifth chances," Wohl said. Los Angeles Officials Still On 'Progressive Warpath' Despite Overwhelming Voter Rebuke Of Leftist Policies William Jacobson, a law professor at Cornell University and founder of offered a sharp critique of California's criminal justice policies in light of the emergence of looters during the ongoing L.A. protests against immigration enforcement. "Looting and violence have always been illegal, even in California," Jacobson told Fox News Digital. "Unfortunately, California's lax enforcement of the criminal laws, including the former decriminalization of shoplifting, has created a culture of criminality that has played out in numerous riots over the years." "The current riots against immigration enforcement and violence targeting both ICE and the community are part of the California political ecosystem," he said. Several stores across downtown Los Angeles were hit by looters in the early morning hours as anti-ICE riots continued. On Monday night, looters took to the streets and ransacked a series of storefronts, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed with Fox News Digital. Apple and Adidas were among the stores hit by thieves, as well as several mom-and-pop shops. "What have they done to my business? I don't know," one local business owner shared with Fox News affiliate KKTV. "I have to go inside and see what's going on. I don't know what they have done with the business." WATCH: One video, taken by Brendan Gutenschwager, captured looters ransacking an Apple storefront on Monday night. The video captured a slew of individuals dashing up to the technology storefront and grabbing goods before dispersing as police arrived. The footage captured the store's glass windows spray-painted with "F--- ICE." Other photos showed ransackers disappearing into the night with stolen goods after a smash-and-grab in Compton, a city south of Los Angeles. It was unclear if the thieves were participating in the ongoing anti-ICE protests or if they were being opportunistic of the city's unrest. "Let me be clear: ANYONE who vandalized Downtown or looted stores does not care about our immigrant communities," Mayor Karen Bass said in a post to X. "You will be held accountable." On Tuesday and Wednesday, after continued protests, other businesses set out to protect their stores. Fox News Digital saw a T-Mobile store on the corner of 3rd Street and Broadway boarding up ahead of likely another night of protests in the city. While a security guard protected the property, a repairer worked on the CVS store on the corner of 7th and Spring streets in downtown Los Angeles after several nights of rioting. Attorney General Pam Bondi offered a blunt message to would-be robbers and looters in the deep-blue city on "Fox & Friends" Tuesday. "If you loot a business in California during this, we're charging you with robbery under the Hobbs Act. No longer are the days of non-prosecution for looting. It's a criminal act," she said. The administration is also determined to crack down on those who inflict harm on law enforcement. "We've all made over 190 arrests, [and] more [are] coming. If you hit a police officer, you assault a police officer, state or federal, we are coming after you."Original article source: California looters now face 'hard-charging' consequences after blue state abandoned soft-on-crime approach
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
California looters now face ‘hard-charging' consequences after blue state abandoned soft-on-crime approach
Amid the continuing unrest and flash mob-style looting incidents in Los Angeles, California is making a significant pivot toward tougher criminal enforcement. Criminal defense attorney David Wohl told Fox News Digital that the legal consequences are no longer a slap on the wrist for looters following the reversal of Proposition 47, which notably did not criminalize theft under $950. Advertisement 'Now we have a very conservative, hard-charging DA in Los Angeles,' Wohl said. 'He's adding up what is stolen by each individual co-defendant, and if that's over $950, everybody's getting charged with felonies.' In a city once known for turning a blind eye to petty theft and soft prosecution, looters who are taking advantage of protests over federal immigration operations now face stricter penalties. In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, a ballot initiative that reclassified several nonviolent felonies, including shoplifting, theft and drug possession, as misdemeanors if the value involved was $950 or less. Supporters argued the measure would reduce prison overcrowding and redirect state funds to additional programming. Advertisement 8 Vulgar graffiti was spray-painted onto an Apple store after it was looted during the riots in Los Angeles on June 10, 2025. REUTERS 8 Protesters loot a gas station convenience store in Paramount, California on June 7, 2025. Getty Images Critics argued that it contributed to a noticeable increase in retail theft and emboldened looters. In 2024, voters voiced their concerns and overwhelmingly chose a sharp course correction from the progressive reforms that Proposition 47 implemented and voted in favor of Proposition 36. Advertisement Prop 36 restored the ability to file felony charges against repeat offenders, regardless of whether their latest crime falls under the $950 limit. It also enhances penalties for group theft and organized looting, which had previously fallen into legal gray zones under Prop 47. 8 Police officers detain a group of protesters in the streets of Los Angeles on June 11, 2025. AFP via Getty Images The shift stems from a growing rejection of the previous criminal justice model championed by former District Attorney George Gascon, who Wohl described as 'more liberal than a lot of public defenders.' Advertisement Under Gascon's leadership, prosecution was often delayed or diminished, with an emphasis on giving offenders 'second, third, fourth, fifth chances,' Wohl said. William Jacobson, a law professor at Cornell University and founder of offered a sharp critique of California's criminal justice policies in light of the emergence of looters during the ongoing L.A. protests against immigration enforcement. 8 Graffiti is sprayed onto the glass windows of an Apple store hit by looters during the Anti-ICE riots in California. REUTERS 8 Apple products are scattered around a store that was looted during the Los Angeles riots on June 9, 2025. REUTERS 'Looting and violence have always been illegal, even in California,' Jacobson told Fox News Digital. 'Unfortunately, California's lax enforcement of the criminal laws, including the former decriminalization of shoplifting, has created a culture of criminality that has played out in numerous riots over the years.' 'The current riots against immigration enforcement and violence targeting both ICE and the community are part of the California political ecosystem,' he said. Looters in LA Several stores across downtown Los Angeles were hit by looters in the early morning hours as anti-ICE riots continued. On Monday night, looters took to the streets and ransacked a series of storefronts, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed with Fox News Digital. Apple and Adidas were among the stores hit by thieves, as well as several mom-and-pop shops. Advertisement 'What have they done to my business? I don't know,' one local business owner shared with Fox News affiliate KKTV. 'I have to go inside and see what's going on. I don't know what they have done with the business.' 8 A shoe sits on the floor in an empty Adidas store attacked by looters in Los Angeles. ALLISON DINNER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 8 Workers board up a CVS pharmacy after it was looted by rioters in Los Angeles on June 10, 2025. REUTERS One video, taken by Brendan Gutenschwager, captured looters ransacking an Apple storefront on Monday night. Advertisement The video captured a slew of individuals dashing up to the technology storefront and grabbing goods before dispersing as police arrived. The footage captured the store's glass windows spray-painted with 'F— ICE.' Other photos showed ransackers disappearing into the night with stolen goods after a smash-and-grab in Compton, a city south of Los Angeles. It was unclear if the thieves were participating in the ongoing anti-ICE protests or if they were being opportunistic of the city's unrest. Advertisement 'Let me be clear: ANYONE who vandalized Downtown or looted stores does not care about our immigrant communities,' Mayor Karen Bass said in a post to X. 'You will be held accountable.' On Tuesday and Wednesday, after continued protests, other businesses set out to protect their stores. Fox News Digital saw a T-Mobile store on the corner of 3rd Street and Broadway boarding up ahead of likely another night of protests in the city. While a security guard protected the property, a repairer worked on the CVS store on the corner of 7th and Spring streets in downtown Los Angeles after several nights of rioting. Attorney General Pam Bondi offered a blunt message to would-be robbers and looters in the deep-blue city on 'Fox & Friends' Tuesday. Advertisement 'If you loot a business in California during this, we're charging you with robbery under the Hobbs Act. No longer are the days of non-prosecution for looting. It's a criminal act,' she said. 8 Police officers detained masked protesters after a demonstration near Los Angeles City Hall on June 11, 2025. AFP via Getty Images The administration is also determined to crack down on those who inflict harm on law enforcement. 'We've all made over 190 arrests, [and] more [are] coming. If you hit a police officer, you assault a police officer, state or federal, we are coming after you.'
Fox News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
California looters now face 'hard-charging' consequences after blue state abandoned soft-on-crime approach
Amid the continuing unrest and flash mob-style looting incidents in Los Angeles, California is making a significant pivot toward tougher criminal enforcement. Criminal defense attorney David Wohl told Fox News Digital that the legal consequences are no longer a slap on the wrist for looters following the reversal of Proposition 47, which notably did not criminalize theft under $950. "Now we have a very conservative, hard-charging DA in Los Angeles," Wohl said. "He's adding up what is stolen by each individual co-defendant, and if that's over $950, everybody's getting charged with felonies." In a city once known for turning a blind eye to petty theft and soft prosecution, looters who are taking advantage of protests over federal immigration operations now face stricter penalties. In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, a ballot initiative that reclassified several nonviolent felonies, including shoplifting, theft and drug possession, as misdemeanors if the value involved was $950 or less. Supporters argued the measure would reduce prison overcrowding and redirect state funds to additional programming. Critics argued that it contributed to a noticeable increase in retail theft and emboldened looters. In 2024, voters voiced their concerns and overwhelmingly chose a sharp course correction from the progressive reforms that Proposition 47 implemented and voted in favor of Proposition 36. Prop 36 restored the ability to file felony charges against repeat offenders, regardless of whether their latest crime falls under the $950 limit. It also enhances penalties for group theft and organized looting, which had previously fallen into legal gray zones under Prop 47. The shift stems from a growing rejection of the previous criminal justice model championed by former District Attorney George Gascon, who Wohl described as "more liberal than a lot of public defenders." Under Gascon's leadership, prosecution was often delayed or diminished, with an emphasis on giving offenders "second, third, fourth, fifth chances," Wohl said. William Jacobson, a law professor at Cornell University and founder of offered a sharp critique of California's criminal justice policies in light of the emergence of looters during the ongoing L.A. protests against immigration enforcement. "Looting and violence have always been illegal, even in California," Jacobson told Fox News Digital. "Unfortunately, California's lax enforcement of the criminal laws, including the former decriminalization of shoplifting, has created a culture of criminality that has played out in numerous riots over the years." "The current riots against immigration enforcement and violence targeting both ICE and the community are part of the California political ecosystem," he said. Several stores across downtown Los Angeles were hit by looters in the early morning hours as anti-ICE riots continued. On Monday night, looters took to the streets and ransacked a series of storefronts, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed with Fox News Digital. Apple and Adidas were among the stores hit by thieves, as well as several mom-and-pop shops. "What have they done to my business? I don't know," one local business owner shared with Fox News affiliate KKTV. "I have to go inside and see what's going on. I don't know what they have done with the business." WATCH: One video, taken by Brendan Gutenschwager, captured looters ransacking an Apple storefront on Monday night. The video captured a slew of individuals dashing up to the technology storefront and grabbing goods before dispersing as police arrived. The footage captured the store's glass windows spray-painted with "F--- ICE." Other photos showed ransackers disappearing into the night with stolen goods after a smash-and-grab in Compton, a city south of Los Angeles. It was unclear if the thieves were participating in the ongoing anti-ICE protests or if they were being opportunistic of the city's unrest. "Let me be clear: ANYONE who vandalized Downtown or looted stores does not care about our immigrant communities," Mayor Karen Bass said in a post to X. "You will be held accountable." On Tuesday and Wednesday, after continued protests, other businesses set out to protect their stores. Fox News Digital saw a T-Mobile store on the corner of 3rd Street and Broadway boarding up ahead of likely another night of protests in the city. While a security guard protected the property, a repairer worked on the CVS store on the corner of 7th and Spring streets in downtown Los Angeles after several nights of rioting. Attorney General Pam Bondi offered a blunt message to would-be robbers and looters in the deep-blue city on "Fox & Friends" Tuesday. "If you loot a business in California during this, we're charging you with robbery under the Hobbs Act. No longer are the days of non-prosecution for looting. It's a criminal act," she said. The administration is also determined to crack down on those who inflict harm on law enforcement. "We've all made over 190 arrests, [and] more [are] coming. If you hit a police officer, you assault a police officer, state or federal, we are coming after you."
