Latest news with #GeorgeGascón
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Could Dems Be Opening the Door for GOP in California's Most Progressive Cities?
It is no secret that California remains one of the bluest states in the union. A Republican has not won a statewide election in nearly 20 years. Democrats enjoy huge supermajorities in the state legislature and run the states overwhelmingly progressive coastal cities. All this to say, Republicans have been boxed out of holding any considerable power in the Golden State. And those in favor of upholding public safety have borne the brunt of this. In 2014, California voters passed Proposition 47, reclassifying some theft and drug related crimes from felonies to misdemeanors at a time when violent crime was at a 38-year low. Unfortunately, the results have been disastrous for law abiding citizens. Since 2014, violent crime has increased 24%, motor vehicle theft has increased 10%, and shoplifting has increased 36%. All of this turmoil came to a boiling point in 2024 when voters went to the polls and passed Proposition 36, a tough-on-crime ballot measure that strengthens penalties for theft and drug related crimes - passing with more than two-thirds support and rolling back portions of Proposition 47 that was passed just 10 years prior. Crime was also on the 2024 ballot in Alameda County, home to Oakland, where residents voted to remove their district attorney from office. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, violent crime has increased 34%, including a 38% increase in homicides and 93% increase in aggravated assaults. And just across the bridge in San Francisco, voters removed their district attorney from office in a recall election, a rebuke to far-left progressive activists. According to a report from the National Retail Federation, the San Francisco Bay Area ranks 2nd in the nation for organized retail crime behind none other than Los Angeles. However, voters in Los Angeles had their own solution. In 2024, incumbent progressive District Attorney George Gascón was ousted from office. His tenure as DA was marred with controversy leading to a 12% increase in violent crime, 16% increase in robberies, 20% increase in property crime, 23% increase in auto theft, and 133% increase in shoplifting. Gascóns successor was none other than Republican-turned-independent Nathan Hochman who served as U.S. assistant attorney general appointed by George W. Bush. Hochman beat Gascón by a staggering 20-point margin. Needless to say, when partisanship is not on the ballot, liberal voters are willing to support a candidate with at least some conservative values - namely on quality-of-life issues such as combatting high crime. LA county is hardly an anomaly. Right-of-center independents have also scored victories in San Diego County, Alameda County, and Contra Costa County - all areas dominated by a heavily Democratic electorate. Things dont appear to be looking up for California Democrats either. A new bill having just passed the State Senate would grant parole to murderers if the crime was committed before the age of 26. And protests against Immigration and Custom enforcement (ICE) raids dont appear to be helping their cause either, with riots and looting ravaging the streets of Los Angeles. With many cities and counties experiencing a crime epidemic reminiscent of the 1980s, middle-of-the-road voters crave a candidate who can restore law and order to Californias once great cities. It is axiomatic that in an electorate dominated by liberal Democrats, the Republican brand is a difficult hurdle to overcome. But center-right candidates running on an independent non-partisan line have already proven successful in forming a bipartisan coalition of voters ready to reverse the states epidemic of violent crime. Tommy Aramony is a polling and data manager at NPA Polling, a political polling firm.
Fox News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
LA County DA Nathan Hochman promises crackdown on criminals: 'The fun is over'
Print Close By Stepheny Price Published May 19, 2025 Tough-on-crime Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is doubling down on targeting criminals who cross into the county, saying they will be held "fully accountable for their illegal actions." Hochman, a Republican-turned-Independent, defeated incumbent progressive prosecutor George Gascón by a 20-point margin. Gascón was considered by many voters to be soft on crime. "I am standing at the border between LA County and San Bernardino County where criminals used to enjoy crossing in the LA direction, thinking that little to no consequences would occur if they stole, robbed and engaged in criminal conduct," Hochman shared in a video posted on his X account on Sunday. "Times have changed! The fun is over. A new DA was elected. And criminals in LA County will now be prosecuted and held fully accountable for their illegal actions," he continued." MENENDEZ BROTHERS' RESENTENCING MOVES FORWARD AS DA CALLS OUT 'DECEIT, 'NARCISSISTIC TENDENCIES' IN PRISON Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and lifelong Los Angeles resident, campaigned as a "hard middle" candidate, rejecting both mass incarceration and the "public safety failure" of Gascón's liberal policies, which Hochman said led to increased crime and a lack of consequences for juvenile offenders. MENENDEZ BROTHERS: LOS ANGELES DA NATHAN HOCHMAN ASKS TO WITHDRAW PREDECESSOR'S MOTION TO FREE KILLERS He also previously served as the president of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and accused Gascón of "catastrophic incompetence" on the campaign trail and vowed to restore order and common sense. While in office, Gascón survived two recall attempts as voters voiced concern over his policies. He also co-authored the infamous Proposition 47, a 2014 voter-approved measure that downgraded most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen were under $950, and reclassified some felony drug offenses as misdemeanors. Despite political differences between voters, public safety is a crossover issue, said Hochman. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "I spoke to ultra-left liberals, independents and conservative Republicans . And it turns out that even though they don't agree on much, they do agree that making sure that the district attorney prioritizes their safety and implements policies that will hold criminals accountable for their actions in a smart and proportional manner really matters," he said. Editor's note: The headline has been updated to note Hochman was referring to criminals in California, rather than migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. Print Close URL
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
LA County DA Nathan Hochman promises crackdown on illegal immigrants: 'The fun is over'
Tough-on-crime Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is doubling down on border crossings and vowed that criminals will now be held "fully accountable for their illegal actions." Hochman, a Republican-turned-Independent, defeated incumbent progressive prosecutor George Gascón by a 20-point margin. Gascón was considered by many voters to be soft on crime. "I am standing at the border between LA County and San Bernardino County where criminals used to enjoy crossing in the LA direction, thinking that little to no consequences would occur if they stole, robbed and engaged in criminal conduct," Hochman shared in a video posted on his X account on Sunday. "Times have changed! The fun is over. A new DA was elected. And criminals in LA County will now be prosecuted and held fully accountable for their illegal actions," he continued." Menendez Brothers' Resentencing Moves Forward As Da Calls Out 'Deceit, 'Narcissistic Tendencies' In Prison Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and lifelong Los Angeles resident, campaigned as a "hard middle" candidate, rejecting both mass incarceration and the "public safety failure" of Gascón's liberal policies, which Hochman said led to increased crime and a lack of consequences for juvenile offenders. Read On The Fox News App Menendez Brothers: Los Angeles Da Nathan Hochman Asks To Withdraw Predecessor's Motion To Free Killers He also previously served as the president of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and accused Gascón of "catastrophic incompetence" on the campaign trail and vowed to restore order and common sense. While in office, Gascón survived two recall attempts as voters voiced concern over his policies. He also co-authored the infamous Proposition 47, a 2014 voter-approved measure that downgraded most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen were under $950, and reclassified some felony drug offenses as misdemeanors. Despite political differences between voters, public safety is a crossover issue, said Hochman. Click To Get The Fox News App "I spoke to ultra-left liberals, independents and conservative Republicans. And it turns out that even though they don't agree on much, they do agree that making sure that the district attorney prioritizes their safety and implements policies that will hold criminals accountable for their actions in a smart and proportional manner really matters," he article source: LA County DA Nathan Hochman promises crackdown on illegal immigrants: 'The fun is over'
Fox News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
LA County DA Nathan Hochman promises crackdown on illegal immigrants: 'The fun is over'
Tough-on-crime Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is doubling down on border crossings and vowed that criminals will now be held "fully accountable for their illegal actions." Hochman, a Republican-turned-Independent, defeated incumbent progressive prosecutor George Gascón by a 20-point margin. Gascón was considered by many voters to be soft on crime. "I am standing at the border between LA County and San Bernardino County where criminals used to enjoy crossing in the LA direction, thinking that little to no consequences would occur if they stole, robbed and engaged in criminal conduct," Hochman shared in a video posted on his X account on Sunday. "Times have changed! The fun is over. A new DA was elected. And criminals in LA County will now be prosecuted and held fully accountable for their illegal actions," he continued." Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and lifelong Los Angeles resident, campaigned as a "hard middle" candidate, rejecting both mass incarceration and the "public safety failure" of Gascón's liberal policies, which Hochman said led to increased crime and a lack of consequences for juvenile offenders. He also previously served as the president of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and accused Gascón of "catastrophic incompetence" on the campaign trail and vowed to restore order and common sense. While in office, Gascón survived two recall attempts as voters voiced concern over his policies. He also co-authored the infamous Proposition 47, a 2014 voter-approved measure that downgraded most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen were under $950, and reclassified some felony drug offenses as misdemeanors. Despite political differences between voters, public safety is a crossover issue, said Hochman. "I spoke to ultra-left liberals, independents and conservative Republicans. And it turns out that even though they don't agree on much, they do agree that making sure that the district attorney prioritizes their safety and implements policies that will hold criminals accountable for their actions in a smart and proportional manner really matters," he said. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
California police department makes retail theft policy crystal clear
Police in one Southern California city are laying down the law—literally—when it comes to retail theft. In a social media post showing a woman being arrested for allegedly stealing flowers from a Target store on Mother's Day, the Seal Beach Police Department outlined its 'zero-tolerance stance' on theft affecting businesses both large and small. 'Post-COVID, retail theft surged across California. In some jurisdictions, it's become so normalized that it's barely reported, let alone prosecuted,' the department said. 'But in Seal Beach, we made a conscious choice to take a different path.' The department explained that shoplifters in Seal Beach are not released with a ticket or warning—they are taken to jail. 'We decided that allowing criminals to steal without consequence wasn't just bad policy—it was a betrayal of the residents and businesses we swore to protect,' police said. 'This isn't about being harsh. It's about protecting a community that still believes in accountability.' Retail theft has surged across California in recent years, leading to a statewide, multi-agency crackdown and changes to the law as communities grew weary of viral videos showing smash-and-grab and flash-mob-style burglaries. In 2024, California voters essentially repealed 2014's Proposition 47, which had reclassified nonviolent offenses, such as shoplifting goods valued under $950, as misdemeanors. The overwhelming passage of Proposition 36 reinstated stiffer penalties for theft and drug crimes, and lowered the felony threshold for shoplifting back to $450. In Los Angeles County, District Attorney Nathan Hochman campaigned on a promise to work with law enforcement to curb retail theft. He soundly defeated incumbent George Gascón, whom he painted as being soft on crime. In its social media post, Seal Beach police also addressed those who defend shoplifters as victims of Southern California's high cost of living. 'Every time we make an arrest for theft, there's a corner of social media that rushes in to justify it,' the department wrote. 'They say it's 'just a big corporation,' or that the thief 'probably needed it.' But no one ever considers the cashier who had to confront the thief, or the family who pays more for groceries next month because of what walked out the door unpaid.' 'Seal Beach is not a place where crime gets a pass,' they continued, 'And that's exactly how our community wants it. Don't Steal in Seal. Sincerely -Management.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
