Group to Present 900,000 Signatures in Support of Tough-on-Crime Measure for California Ballot

A coalition including major retailers such as Walmart and Target has announced that it has gathered enough signatures to present a ballot measure to California voters in November. The measure aims to strengthen penalties for shoplifting and drug dealing.

Californians for Safer Communities, a bipartisan group comprising law enforcement, elected officials, and businesses, has indicated that over 900,000 signatures have been collected in support of the measure to amend portions of Proposition 47. This progressive ballot measure, approved by 60% of voters in 2014, reduced certain theft and drug possession offenses from felonies to misdemeanors in an effort to address jail overcrowding.

Critics of Proposition 47 have raised concerns about California’s leniency towards crime. Instances of large-scale thefts, where groups brazenly enter stores and steal items in plain sight, have garnered attention. The California Retailers Association has noted the challenge of quantifying the issue in California due to many stores not sharing their data.

Recent crime data reveals a rise in shoplifting in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles between 2021 and 2022. While shoplifting rates across the state have increased during this period, they remain lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The study also points to an increase in commercial burglaries and robberies in urban counties.

If passed, the ballot measure would impose stricter penalties on repeat shoplifters and fentanyl dealers. Shoplifters with two prior theft convictions would face felony charges regardless of the stolen amount. Additionally, the measure seeks to establish a new drug court treatment program for individuals with multiple drug possession convictions. Fentanyl overdoses reached a record high in San Francisco last year, with over 800 deaths.

Crime in California is expected to be a significant issue in the upcoming election. In addition to the ballot measure, Democratic San Francisco Mayor London Breed is facing a tough reelection campaign amid criticism of the city’s crime situation. District Attorneys in Alameda County and Los Angeles are also facing challenges in their positions.

Despite calls to repeal Proposition 47, top Democratic leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, have rejected the idea, citing existing resources to combat crime. Lawmakers have introduced bills to address retail theft and online resellers.

The campaign for the ballot measure has received substantial funding from major retailers, with Walmart contributing $2.5 million, Home Depot $1 million, and Target $500,000. The measure also enjoys support from district attorneys and over 30 local elected officials.

Business owner and Santa Monica Vice Mayor Lana Negrete expressed concerns about the impact of crime on her family’s music stores. Despite initially supporting Proposition 47, Negrete highlighted the challenges faced by businesses due to lenient measures.

Verification of signatures by county and state officials is required before the ballot measure can be officially placed on the ballot. The campaign needs at least 546,651 signatures to qualify for the November election.