California Democrats support ballot bill to toughen crime

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — A group of California Democrats is supporting Proposition 36, a crime-curbing law that has caused divisions within the party. The newly formed fundraising committee is led by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho and Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen. The committee's goal is to promote the initiative and position itself against Governor Gavin Newsom and other prominent Democrats who oppose it.

Proposition 36 seeks to roll back parts of California's 2014 Proposition 47, which downgraded certain theft and drug offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. Supporters argue that these changes have led to a rise in crime and worsened the homelessness crisis. Mahan, a key figure on the committee, has been particularly vocal about the need for stricter drug laws as a solution to these intertwined problems.

“My big fear is that by decriminalizing petty crime, we have caused people's situations to become more severe and worse,” Mahan said in an interview. “We are seeing a growing number of chronically homeless people whose mental health problems are becoming increasingly severe.”

The measure, initially seen as a conservative push, has received unexpected support from several Democratic mayors, including London Breed of San Francisco and Todd Gloria of San Diego. It also has the backing of major retailers such as Walmart, Target and Home Depot, which have invested millions to qualify the measure for the November ballot. These supporters believe that tougher penalties are essential to curbing shoplifting and drug use, which they say have reached uncontrollable levels in California's cities.

“Public safety is not about partisanship,” said District Attorney Ho. “Public safety is ultimately about common sense.”

Despite growing support, Proposition 36 faces fierce opposition from Governor Newsom and other leading Democrats. Newsom argues that the measure would undo years of reforms in the criminal justice system, leading to a rise in incarceration rates and costing taxpayers millions. “It would increase the state's prison population, which would cost taxpayers a tremendous amount,” Newsom said, expressing fears that the initiative could lead to overcrowded prisons and exacerbate existing inequities in the criminal justice system.

House Speaker Robert Rivas echoed those concerns, warning that the measure could have particularly harsh effects on communities of color. “We know from experience the inequities that exist in our criminal justice system,” Rivas said, stressing that incarceration rates among black and Latino populations may rise.

Proposition 36 supporters argue that the measure is necessary to hold repeat offenders accountable and address the root causes of rising crime. They claim that the current approach has left local government struggling to effectively ensure public safety. “Cities feel like they are the first line of defense when it comes to public safety,” said Marcel Rodarte, executive director of the California Contract Cities Association, which endorsed the measure earlier this year.

Support for the measure is not unanimous among Democrats, however. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson have so far held off on supporting it. Richardson warned against making Proposition 47 a scapegoat for the rise in crime during the pandemic. “I'll probably take a position between now and November,” Richardson said. Politicoand noted that crime rates are beginning to decline as the state emerges from the pandemic.

As Proposition 36 heads toward what is expected to be a contentious vote in November, the split among California Democrats underscores the broader debate over how to balance criminal justice reform with public safety. While supporters see the measure as a necessary corrective to recent reforms, critics warn of a return to the era of mass incarceration that many in California had hoped was already behind them.