Reformer Rosen Says Gascon Has to Go: Santa Clara DA Endorses Hochman

When is a progressive district attorney actually regressive?

It’s when the DA in question in question is Los Angeles County’s George Gascon, says Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen.

This week, Rosen endorsed Nathan Hochman in his effort to unseat Gascon in November.

This particular endorsement must sting for Gascon – in his decade-plus in office, Rosen has established himself as a “reform” district attorney.  While he endorsed former DA Jackie Lacey in 2020, he also backed Proposition 47 which changed the definition of many crimes in the state.

But now Rosen not only sees Gascon as a failed administrator and a public safety disaster, but also as a rather specific detriment to the cause of criminal justice reform in general.

“The way you make change is as important as the change you make,” said Rosen. “You cannot condescend and dictate to people.”

Said Rosen concerning Gascon’s infamous “day one”  dictates regarding sentencing and gun use enhancements, a DA  must “listen, listen, talk, and then listen” and that “blanket policies are not a good way to run a DA’s office.”

Rosen was in Los Angeles in front of the Hall of Justice Wednesday afternoon to announce he was backing Hochman.

“Fairness and safety are intertwined values. So, anyone who thinks criminal justice reform is more important than public safety does not understand the meaning of reform, because reform only works if it promotes both justice and a safer community,” Rosen said. “I am here today to endorse Nathan Hochman as an exceptionally qualified candidate to implement reform in the D.A.’s Office that will bring both fairness and accountability.”

By failing at the most basic job of the district attorney – keeping the public safe – Gascon, while seemingly ideologically closer, has failed not only the community but set back the cause of criminal justice reform.

“You’re not advancing change if you’re not keeping people safe,” Rosen said.  “Especially if people don’t even feel safe.”

Hochman was chuffed by the endorsement.

“Jeff has done an exceptional job finding a meaningful balance that keeps the public safe without returning to mass incarceration,” Hochman said. “He has instituted innovative reforms that have cut the footprint of the criminal justice system in his county in half, without seeing the increase in crime that we have here in Los Angeles County. I am honored that he traveled to Los Angeles to stand by my side and advocate for the change that is so desperately needed here.”

Rosen and Hochman were not alone at today’s event – the executive director of COFEM, an immigrants rights group, the co-founder of The Last Mile Project – a groups that works to reduce recidivism – and other local leaders attendee.

Peter Kwong, a prominent Chinatown business owner, said: “The situation in Chinatown since Gascon took office, it’s like night and day. Before Gascon, people felt safe visiting Chinatown and patronizing the local businesses. Each year that Gascon has been DA, things have gone from bad to worse. There are burglaries, shoplifting, robberies, and violent crime. People don’t feel safe anymore and business is down. None of this is really a surprise – criminals know they rarely go to jail for committing a crime. When there’s no consequences, there’s nothing stopping them.”

As for the future of “progressive” district attorney? Rosen said no one is using that term anymore when it comes to getting elected.

‘Progressive?  That’s not a word used anymore,” said Rosen.

Hence the idea of regression – as with San Francisco and Cheda Boudin, Oakland (soon) and Pamela Price, and LA’s George Gascon (presumably, looking at the polls) almost every woke/whatever prosecutor has seen their communities – unlike Santa Clara –  fall into disarray.

If one supports “criminal justice reform,” no matter what form that takes, then one cannot support George Gascon for re-election.

He’s simply damaged the brand too much.

And, considering that George Soros’ funds do not continue to back people seen as losers (really,) even if the Four Women of the Apocalypse try to ride to Gascon’s rescue it may not  be enough.

If you recall, there are four women who have been bankrolling a big chunk of the woke/justice reform/whatever the hell it is effort in California: The very progressive Smart Justice PAC and the very very rich women behind it – Quinn Delaney, wife of a San Francisco developer (note – I’d start saving your money, Quinn), Kaitlyn Krieger, wife of the guy who co-founded Instagram, Patty Quillin, wife of the guy who started Netflix, and Elizabeth Simons, daughter of a hedge fund billionaire…

I wish I could marry money and therefore automatically be taken seriously…at least to my face.

And that’s why today’s endorsement is so important. And why Gascon should be so afraid.