Last week, California saw a series of high-profile crimes, including burglaries at the official residence of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, theft from Rep. Adam Schiff, and a daytime robbery at reality TV actress Kyle Richards’ daughter’s home. Despite these incidents, the progressive arm of the state’s Democratic Party denies the existence of a crime crisis. There has been a rise in property crime and theft since 2020, with critics attributing the increase to “soft-on-crime” policies like Proposition 47 and 57. This issue has caused a divide among Democrats in the legislature, with some proposing bipartisan bills to address petty theft while progressives introduced alternative measures that focus on providing additional services for offenders.
The Ella Baker Center, which collaborates with several state Democrats to promote their progressive crime policies, emphasizes the freedom and material needs of communities most harmed by prisons and policing. Proposition 47, passed in 2014, reclassified certain nonviolent offenses from felonies to misdemeanors, while Proposition 57 increased parole opportunities for nonviolent offenders and allowed judges to decide whether juveniles should be tried as adults in certain cases. Critics argue that these laws have negatively impacted public safety and led to a spike in crime. Some progressive California mayors are backing efforts to amend crime laws amid a rise in drug-related crimes and theft.
Steve Cooley, former Los Angeles district attorney, points out that Soros-backed Los Angeles DA George Gascon enacted several soft-on-crime policies that have contributed to an increase in crime in the LA area. Gascon’s policies include ending enhanced sentences for defendants accused of gang-related offenses, stopping the use of cash bail for most misdemeanor and nonviolent felony cases, and refusing to seek the death penalty in any new cases or pursue executions for individuals already on death row. The state has seen a 13.5% increase in violent crime compared to pre-COVID rates, with robberies involving firearms up nearly 13% and gun-related homicides and aggravated assaults surging even more.
District attorneys, police chiefs, sheriffs associations statewide, along with mayors from San Francisco and San Jose, are supporting a proposed ballot measure for this year’s election aimed at reversing the effects of Proposition 47. Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig argues that California’s urban centers have become dangerous places due to weak state laws that have eroded accountability, deterrence, and quality of life. He attributes the chaos and decay to Prop 47, which essentially decriminalized the use of hard drugs and repeat theft under $950. Reisig encourages voters to repeal Prop. 47 by turning up at the polls this year.
In the midst of these rising crime rates, Rep. Adam Schiff, who is running for the late Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat, was a victim of theft when his car was broken into and his bags were stolen. His opponent, former MLB star Steve Garvey, expressed sympathy but attributed the incident to soft-on-crime policies that have plagued the state. Despite the incidents and concerns about public safety, progressives in California’s Democratic Party continue to advocate for alternative measures to address crime, focusing on providing services for offenders rather than punitive measures. The divide among Democrats in the legislature reflects differing approaches to tackling the state’s crime crisis, with some emphasizing the need for tougher laws and prosecution, while others prioritize community support and rehabilitation efforts.
