In California’s major cities, homicides rose by roughly 17 percent in the last year. Homicides in Los Angeles reached their highest total in 15 years. (Photo: Eva Carre/Shutterstock)
California Ballot Initiative Collecting Signatures to Make Crime Illegal Again
Initiative to Amend Proposition 47: Strengthen Penalties for Serial Theft and Fentanyl Crimes
By Katy Grimes, January 31, 2024 9:29 am
Ten years of increased drug and serial theft crimes across California has taken its toll on the state’s residents and businesses. Because of Proposition 47, there is no accountability when it comes to these crimes, theft is underreported and some stores are even told not to report theft crimes. But help is on the way – a proposed ballot initiative to amend Prop. 47 is currently collecting signatures for the November 2024 ballot.
Proposition 47, was passed by tragically misinformed voters in 2014, and flagrantly titled “The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act” by then Attorney General Kamala Harris, which reduced a host of serious felonies to misdemeanors, including drug crimes, date rape, and all thefts under $950, even for repeat offenders who steal every day.
Prop. 47 also decriminalized drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor, removed law enforcement’s ability to make an arrest in most circumstances, as well as removing judges’ ability to order drug rehabilitation programs rather than incarceration.
The commensurate escalation of crime throughout California is stunning, and especially serial theft. There is no coincidence that during this same time period, the exponential escalation of homeless vagrants and drug addicts on the streets occurred.
Notably, the official arguments in support of Proposition 47 for the 2014 General Election Voter Guide were submitted by George Gascon, then-district attorney of City and County of San Francisco, and currently the disastrous Soros-funded DA of Los Angeles.
Following passage of Proposition 47 in 2014, there have been numerous attempts to repeal and/or reverse Prop. 47, all of which were killed by Democrats. The most recent statewide effort is a ballot initiative collecting signatures for the November 2024 ballot.
To understand motive, in September, Senate Democrats killed amendments on AB 1726 led by Sen. Janet Nguyen (R-Huntingon Beach) to combat rampant retail theft in California by reforming Proposition 47. The proposed measure, aimed at enhancing public safety and addressing the growing problem of serial retail theft, was even denied a full debate.
The current initiative, The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, specifically goes after serial thieves and drug crimes.
Ballotpedia reports:
The California Increase Drug and Theft Penalties and Reduce Homelessness Initiative (#23-0017) may appear on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 5, 2024.
The initiatives would increase drug crime and theft penalties and allow a new class of crime to be called treatment-mandated felony, which gives the offender the option to participate in drug and mental health treatment.[1][2]
The summary provided for inclusion on signature petition sheets is as follows:[3]
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More than 250,000 signatures have been collected in less than 30 days; 546,651 signatures by the end of April are needed to qualify for the ballot.
The campaign reports that a survey of likely California voters found that 70% of voters support the title and summary of the Homeless, Drug Addiction, Retail Theft Reduction Act. The overwhelming support was consistent across every demographic and geography including the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Furthermore, 89% of likely voters support amending Proposition 47 for stronger penalties for those engaged in repeated retail theft and trafficking hard drugs like fentanyl. The measure also includes incentives to complete drug and mental health treatment for people who are addicted to hard drugs. The survey was conducted online from November 8-November 13, 2023, with a margin of error of +/- 2.28%.
Some Sacramento locations to sign are:
- The Limelight in East Sacramento – Saturday 10:00am to 2:00pm – 1014 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento, CA
- Roseville Square parking lot – Saturday 10:00am to 2:00pm – 1095 Roseville Square, Roseville, CA 95678,
- El Dorado Republican headquarters on Cameron Parkway – Saturday 10:00am to 2:00pm – 3181 Cameron Park Drive, Suite 104, Cameron Park Ca 95682
- SUNDAY Dillard’s in Wilton – 10:00am to 2:00pm. – 9797 Dillard Rd suite a, Wilton, CA 95693. This Wilton location is the only Sunday one.
The Globe will update the article to include locations across the state to sign.
UPDATE – additional Locations to sign:
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3RD
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Debbi: Duke, let’s go do some crimes.
Duke: Yeah. Let’s go get sushi and not pay.
Repo Man 1984
Where can I download the form to collect signatures? I’m in Marin.
See Kevin Kiley’s website at https://blog.electkevinkiley.com/Prop47/
Stop voting for Democrats, period! End of story. California simply cannot compete with red states like Florida in terms of crime rate. None of Florida’s cities, for instance, made the top 10 list of worst cities for auto thefts. Same with Texas. Three of California’s cities, on the other hand, made the top 10 list of worst cities for auto thefts.
https://www.thezebra.com/resources/driving/worst-us-cities-for-auto-theft/
California was never like what it is now the last time Republicans were the majority party in either chamber of the California legislature.
Romeo M. Unfortunately, most (not all) of the currently elected CA GOP has become the “me first” party and the voters are second. The party seems to have settled for the status quo of the minority. With that said there is still hope for a conservative party that adopts a “California First” and the politician second platform that addresses the serious problems (large incompetent government at every level) that faces the State. California is ripe for such a turn around and could quickly become a national leader for good instead of the garbage that is coming out of Sacramento now. It all stems with cutting taxes and needless regulations. You work on those two things from top to bottom and the State becomes the powerhouse that it used to be and can be again.
No doubt if the balled initiative were to be passed by voters, Newsom and the criminal Democrat mafia would have one of the leftist activist judges strike it down?
No doubt if the ballot initiative were to be passed by voters, Newsom and the criminal Democrat mafia would have one of the leftist activist judges strike it down?
GOP California, Colorado, etc., is it’s own worst enemy.
Until they get ELITIST out of their heads and stop being the “party of the circular firing squad”
they will always lose.
Tragically misinformed? I knew what it said and I voted no! Those that voted yes are idiots!
Where can we sign the petition in Orange County?
I live in Antioch, Contra Costa. where or how can I sign this?
if be Happ to circulate the petition on 47 to get signatures. who or how do I get the form?
I’d love to get signatures for Prop 47 to be on the ballot. I’m in Woodland, CA, Yolo County.