Governor Newsom’s recent legislative package to combat retail crime is a mere Hail Mary attempt, masking a history of poor leadership and misguided policies like Proposition 47. In a bid to diminish the momentum behind Proposition 36, which seeks to roll back parts of problematic criminal justice reforms, Newsom is signing laws that increase penalties for theft and create new prosecutorial pathways targeting organized crime his actions are taken without voter approval.
However, his “solution” remains superficial, focusing on punitive measures rather than addressing systemic issues like poverty and mental health. Sacramento’s quick pivot appears more like political posturing than a sincere commitment to public safety. These actions risk undermining trust between communities and law enforcement while failing to provide real economic support to struggling businesses.
Californians deserve substantive change, not hollow promises. We need effective solutions that genuinely tackle the root causes of crime and restore safety to our communities—starting with support for Proposition 36.
Respectfully,
Jonathan Ingram
