Latest news with #Proposition36
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.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Inside California Politics: June 21, 2025
(INSIDE CALIFORNIA POLITICS) — State Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) is speaking out about a lack of funding for Proposition 36 in Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed budget. Blakespear joined Inside California Politics this week as Gov. Newsom and the legislature work to reach a budget agreement before the July 1 deadline. Prop 36, which stiffens penalties for repeat drug and theft offenders, passed by an overwhelming majority in 2024. Despite the widespread support, Gov. Newsom did not allocate any funding for the law in his revised budget proposal, citing the state's $12 billion deficit. 'We just shouldn't be playing politics with the voters' will,' Blakespear said. 'The voters supported this at 68%. At the end of the day, we need to fund it. We need to implement this. We need to carry through on what the voters asked for, and that should be the bottom line.' Gov. Newsom, who openly campaigned against the proposition over concerns that it would drive up incarceration rates, argues it is up to local officials who supported the law to find the money. Host Nikki Laurenzo also sat down with political strategists Rob Stutzman (R) and Andrew Acosta (D) to discuss the funding battle. 'The petulance is playing out,' Stutzman said. 'This is a measure that passed in every county, 70% statewide, over [Newsom's] opposition. He famously said when polling came out before the election showing widespread support, 'Oh, I don't recognize my state anymore.' And then behind the scenes, his administration was telling business leaders, 'If you support this, we're just not going to fund it.' He's already lost on this.' The interview also touched on whether Gov. Newsom has emerged as the leader of the Democratic Party, immigration enforcement in Los Angeles and Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent call for unity among democrats and republicans. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Big state budget questions linger about crime, Medi-Cal, Delta tunnel
SACRAMENTO — California really does still have a Legislature, even if you haven't been reading or hearing much about it. In fact, it's currently making a ton of weighty decisions. They'll affect many millions of Californians — with a gamut of new laws and hefty spending. But the lawmakers' moves have been slipping under the news radar because of our focus on more compelling non-Sacramento events — including protests against overzealous federal immigration raids in Los Angeles, President Trump's power trip of calling up the California National Guard over Gov. Gavin Newsom's objections and Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla's being shoved to the floor and handcuffed for simply trying to ask Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a question. Plus congressional wrangling over Trump's 'Big Beautiful' ugly, debt-hiking bill — and the eruption of a Middle East war. Meanwhile, it's one of the busiest and most important periods of the year in the state Capitol. This is budget time, when the Legislature and governor decide how to spend our tax dollars. The Legislature passed a $325-billion so-called budget June 13, beating its constitutional deadline by two days. If it hadn't, the lawmakers would have forfeited their pay. But although that measure counted legally as a budget, it lacked lots of details that still are being negotiated between legislative leaders and Newsom. The final agreements will be tucked into a supplementary measure amending the main budget bill. That will be followed by a long line of 'trailer bills' containing even more policy specifics — all currently being hammered out, mostly in back rooms. The target date for conclusion of this Byzantine process is Friday. The annual budget will take effect July 1. Some budget-related issues are of special interest to me and I've written about them previously. So, the rest of this column is what we call in the news trade a 'follow' — a report on where those matters stand. For starters, there's Proposition 36 funding. Californians cast more votes for Proposition 36 last year than anything else on the ballot. The measure passed with 68% of the vote, carrying all 58 counties. Inspired by escalating retail theft, the initiative toughened penalties for certain property and hard-drug crimes, such as peddling deadly fentanyl. But it offered a carrot to drug-addicted serial criminals. Many could be offered treatment rather than jail time. Proposition 36 needs state money for the treatment, more probation officers to supervise the addicts' progress and additional law enforcement costs. The measure's backers estimate a $250-million annual tab. Newsom, however, was an outspoken opponent of the proposition. He didn't provide any funding for it in his original budget proposal and stiffed it again last month when revising the spending plan. But legislative leaders insisted on some funding and agreed on a one-time appropriation of $110 million. Woefully inadequate, the measure's backers contend. They're pushing for more. But some fear Newsom might even veto the $110 million, although this seems doubtful, given the public anger that could generate. Greg Totten, chief executive of the California District Attorneys Assn., which sponsored the initiative, says more money is especially needed to hire additional probation officers. Treatment without probation won't work, he insists. Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) is trying to change the $110-million allocation mix. There's nothing earmarked for county sheriffs who now are handling lots more arrests, she says. 'I want to make sure we uphold the voters' wishes and are getting people into drug treatment,' Blakespear says. 'This passed by such a high percentage, it should be a priority for elected officials.' Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) predicts the Legislature will still be fiddling with the budget until it adjourns in September and vows: 'I'll continue to advocate for adequate funding for 36.' He asserts the budget now being negotiated won't hold up because of chaos under Trump, who's constantly threatening to withhold federal money due California. Another sticky issue is state-provided healthcare for immigrants living here illegally. Newsom and the Democratic-controlled Legislature decided a few years ago to generously offer all low-income undocumented immigrants access to Medi-Cal, California's version of federal Medicaid for the poor. But unlike Medi-Cal for legal residents, the federal government doesn't kick in money for undocumented people. The state foots the entire bill. And it didn't set aside enough. Predictably, state costs ran several billion dollars over budget. The Newsom administration claims that more adults enrolled in the program than expected. But, come on! When free healthcare is offered to poor people, you should expect a race to enroll. To help balance the books, Newsom proposed $100 monthly premiums. The Legislature reduced that to $30. They both agreed to freeze enrollments for adults starting Jan. 1. The Legislature also wants to freeze Medi-Cal enrollment for even more people who are non-citizens: those with what it considers 'unsatisfactory immigration status.' What does that mean? Hopefully it's being negotiated. And there's the matter of the governor's proposed water tunnel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Newsom tried to squeeze the controversial issue into the budget process, although it had nothing to do with the budget. But as a budget trailer bill, it could avoid substantive public hearings in the Legislature. The governor wants to 'fast-track' construction of the $20-billion, 45-mile tunnel that would transmit more Northern California water to Southern California. Delta farmers, local residents and coastal salmon interests are adamantly opposed. Fast-track means making it simpler to obtain permits and seize property. Legislative leaders told the governor absolutely 'No': come back later and run his proposal through the ordinary committee process. Don't try to fast-track the Legislature. The must-read: 'A good day': Detained U.S. citizen said agents bragged after arresting dozens at Home Depot The visit: Vice President JD Vance rips Newsom, Bass and mocks Padilla during visit to Los Angeles The L.A. Times Special: Welcome to the deportation resistance, Dodgers. What's next? Until next week,George Skelton —Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘We shouldn't be playing politics with the voters' will': Democratic lawmaker slams Gov. Newsom over Prop 36 funding
(INSIDE CALIFORNIA POLITICS) — State lawmakers from both parties are calling out Governor Gavin Newsom and leadership in the legislature over a lack of funding for Proposition 36. The law, which stiffens penalties for repeat drug and theft offenders, passed by an overwhelming majority in 2024. Despite the widespread support, Governor Newsom did not allocate any funding for the proposition in his revised budget proposal, citing the state's $12 billion deficit. Democratic State Sen. Cathrine Blakespear expressed frustration over the funding battle on this week's edition of Inside California Politics. 'We just shouldn't be playing politics with the voters' will,' Blakespear said. 'The voters supported this at 68%. At the end of the day, we need to fund it. We need to implement this. We need to carry through on what the voters asked for, and that should be the bottom line.' Inside California Politics: June 14, 2025 The former mayor of Encinitas was one of several Democrats who unveiled their own budget proposal last week, which includes $110 million in one-time funding for Prop 36. However, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office says it's not enough. 'I don't know if that's the right number or not, because there are so many numbers that are floated,' Blakespear said. 'But I do know that we need to have money for courts and we need sheriffs to have money and we need probation officers to have money, district attorneys. Implementing it means that there are going to be more people who are involved in the criminal justice system.' Governor Newsom, who openly campaigned against the proposition over concerns that it would drive up incarceration rates, argues it is up to local officials who supported the law to find the money. His office released a statement Wednesday saying he will nonetheless 'ensure the law is operationalized.' Never miss a story: Make your homepage 'There are 400 more people in jail in San Diego County than there were before Prop 36,' Blakespear said. 'So clearly the idea that there's no money available and that the money's not needed. That's just clearly not true.' Gov. Newsom must reach an agreement with the legislature before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. Inside California Politics airs this weekend during the following times: KTLA: Sunday, June 22 at 5:30 Saturday, June 21 at 6:30 Saturday, June 21 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 22 at 8:30 Sunday, June 22 at 5:30 a.m. and 11:00 Sunday, June 22 at 8:30 Saturday, June 21 at 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 22 at 7:30 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov Newsom ‘handcuffed' police as LA riots expose ‘reactionary' leadership failure: former sheriff' s deputy
As violent protests erupted in Los Angeles, Calif., L.A. County GOP Vice Chair and former L.A. County sheriff's deputy Patrick Gipson issued a scathing rebuke of state and local leadership, accusing officials of negligence and political opportunism. "These riots, they're completely unnecessary," Gipson told Fox News Digital. "We didn't have to go to this length to see cars burning, businesses looted, livelihoods destroyed. It could've all been avoided." Gipson pointed the finger squarely at Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom, blaming him for failing to deploy the National Guard in time to prevent chaos. "Newsom is reactionary instead of pro-action," he said. "If he had called in the National Guard earlier, we would've saved billions of dollars in insurance claims and protected our small businesses." California Candidate For Governor Blasts Newsom While Walking Through La Riot Aftermath The protests, which began as demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), escalated into street violence and theft. The protests highlighted, for many conservatives, the consequences of the state's left-leaning approach to progressive criminal justice reform and immigration. Read On The Fox News App "ICE is here to enforce federal law. And if we can't enforce federal law in this state, what does that say about us?" he asked. Gipson also alleged that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was unable to act independently, suggesting that she has been taking her queues from Newsom. "I know Karen Bass did go in and said, 'this is not the way to protest.' They wanted peaceful protest, but that's not what we had," Gipson said. "She's taking her instructions from Sacramento and Gavin Newsom. If she had better leadership from him, I think we would have been off a lot better that we are now." WATCH: Newsom says people will be prosecuted to fullest extent of law Newsom attempted to cast blame on President Donald Trump for escalating the protests, claiming that they were peaceful demonstrations before the National Guard and his rhetoric accelerated the conflict. "Gavin Newsom does not have a handle on California," he said. "If he had said, '[President] Trump, can you come and help us prepare for this? I think he [Trump] would have helped. "Newsom is obviously setting up for his race in 2028 and he is going to cast the blame on Trump, saying that Trump didn't do his job." Steve Hilton: How One-party Democratic Rule Led To Riots, Burning American Flags And Attacks On Police In La The consequences of what Gipson described as "soft-on-crime" policies are, in his view, compounding the unrest. He cited the state's failure to properly fund Proposition 36, which was overwhelmingly passed in 2024 to curb back the radical policies of Proposition 47, as proof of Sacramento's disregard for public safety. "Gavin Newsom is not funding Prop 36. Store owners can't even go after criminals. Patrons are scared to shop. People won't even get on the freeway toward LA now," Gipson said. "They're afraid a brick's going to come flying through their car window." Reflecting on his experience as a former sheriff's deputy, Gipson said the state of law enforcement morale in L.A. is dire. "Law enforcement has not been able to do their job," he said. "Officers are afraid, literally afraid, to do their jobs because they don't want to go to jail for following their training. There's no backing from Newsom, none from Bass." "They're handcuffed," he added. "For over 10 years, Gavin Newsom has not protected law enforcement in California. They've been defunded, defamed and demoralized. And now they wait. They hesitate. And when you hesitate in this line of work, people get hurt." Gipson also faulted the bureaucratic chain of command for paralyzing law enforcement at critical moments. "The sheriff answers to the Board of Supervisors. The LAPD chief answers to the mayor. And when they can't arrest people right away, the violence just keeps going," he said. The solution, Gipson argued, is straightforward: consequences. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Newsom's office said that the Trump administration "didn't even tap into the additional resources available to clean up their mess." "Let's be clear: The National Guard wasn't needed in Los Angeles. State and local law enforcement were responding, and federal agencies didn't even tap into the additional resources available to clean up their mess. Calls for troops to handle a protest show a basic misunderstanding of how public safety works — which is rather shocking for someone who used to have a badge." Fox News Digital reached out to Bass' office for article source: Gov Newsom 'handcuffed' police as LA riots expose 'reactionary' leadership failure: former sheriff' s deputy
