{"id":2327786,"date":"2024-08-20T17:47:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-20T21:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-democrats-divided-over-changes-to-proposition-47-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-20T17:53:54","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T21:53:54","slug":"california-democrats-divided-over-changes-to-proposition-47-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-democrats-divided-over-changes-to-proposition-47-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"California Democrats divided over changes to Proposition 47 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-democrats-divided-over-changes-to-proposition-47-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2327786&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In California, a significant debate is unfolding among\u200c Democrats regarding\u2063 amendments to Proposition 47, \u200da \u2062law passed \u2063in\u2064 2014 that reformed the \u200bstate&#8217;s\u200c approach to low-level nonviolent crimes. With Proposition 36 on the\u200c November ballot, \u2063voters will\u2064 decide on how to adjust\u200b penalties for repeat \u2063offenders\u2063 of\u2062 theft and drug-related\u2064 crimes, specifically addressing the issues \u200cexacerbated by fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. <\/p>\n<p>Supporters of \u2062Proposition 36 argue that it\u2063 is necessary to combat rising crime and drug use, ensuring \u2064that\u2064 repeat\u200b offenders face harsher penalties, while \u2062critics, particularly \u2062from the\u2063 progressive wing, worry that it \u200bcould unfairly impact\u200b lower-income communities. Figures like Assemblyman Isaac Bryan express concern \u200cregarding the long-term structural issues affecting crime rates, \u200dadvocating for solutions that address those root\u2063 causes rather than\u2063 punitive measures.<\/p>\n<p>Opponents claim that Proposition 47 \u2063has \u2064led to increased property crimes, making it harder to penalize\u200b repeat offenders and contributing to a perception that theft will \u200bgo unpunished. Proposition\u200b 36 aims to modify \u200cthese perceptions by imposing new penalties and treatment \u200crequirements for drug\u2064 offenses, and categorizing fentanyl as a felony-level drug. The outcome of this ballot \u200dmeasure may reshape the discussion surrounding criminal justice reform and public\u2064 safety in \u200dthe state.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">California Democrats divided over changes to Proposition 47<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1556682\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The&nbsp;battle lines are being drawn in a bitter feud between centrist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Democrats\">Democrats<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/progressives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"progressives\">progressives<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"California\">California<\/a> over changes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/559058\/proposition-47-at-a-glance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"progressives\">Proposition 47<\/a>, a decade-old law blamed for the rise in drugs and theft in the state.<\/p>\n<p>California voters will decide in November on <a href=\"https:\/\/lao.ca.gov\/BallotAnalysis\/Proposition?number=36&amp;year=2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Proposition 36\">Proposition 36<\/a>, a measure that will determine how the state should punish people who have repeatedly been convicted of stealing or committed&nbsp;crimes involving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/drugs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Proposition 36\">fentanyl<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/20-million-of-fentanyl-seized-at-u-s-mexico-border-and-los-angeles-county-officials\/\" title=\" Million Of Fentanyl Seized At U.S.-Mexico Border And Los Angeles County: Officials\">deadly synthetic opioid<\/a> up to 100 times more potent than morphine.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Democratic Assembly members, from left, Avelino Valencia of Anaheim, James Ramos of Highland, Esmeralda Soria of Fresno, and Freddie Rodriguez of Pomona, watch as a bill is voted on in the Assembly on June 1, 2023, at the Capitol in Sacramento, California. Ramos and Valencia have introduced a bill that would require voters&rsquo; approval to roll back some parts of Proposition 47. (AP Photo\/Rich Pedroncelli, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Proposition 36 will ask voters to change parts of the infamous Proposition 47, a measure that was passed in 2014 and faulted for spikes in retail and personal property theft, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/video-shows-school-bus-full-of-children-get-off-in-front-of-open-air-drug-den-in-san-francisco\/\" title=\"Video Shows School Bus Full of Children Get Off in Front of Open Air Drug Den in San Francisco\">open-air drug dens<\/a>, and other crimes that largely go unpunished in California.<\/p>\n<p>A group of influential progressive state lawmakers rallied against Proposition 36 on Monday, calling it an &ldquo;expensive&rdquo; crime reform that&nbsp;would unfairly penalize people stuck in poverty or living in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/at-home-covid-test-deliveries-delayed-after-wild-west-style-train-robberies\/\" title=\"At-Home Covid Test Deliveries Delayed After \u2018Wild West-Style Train Robberies\u2019\">lower-income neighborhoods<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;For decades, Californians have been calling for real safety solutions and to address the root causes that lead to symptoms like petty crime and substance abuse,&rdquo; said <a href=\"https:\/\/a55.asmdc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"California Assemblymember Isaac Bryan\">California Assemblyman Isaac Bryan<\/a>, the incoming vice chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. &ldquo;Because we know where petty crime and substance abuse occur. It occurs in the same communities that have underfunded schools, that don&rsquo;t have food infrastructure, that don&rsquo;t have public health infrastructure, where the rent is too high.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Bryan said Proposition 36 is similar to the &ldquo;bipartisan failures&rdquo; from past decades that sent thousands of black and brown people to prison for low-level, nonviolent drug and property crimes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sd09.senate.ca.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"State Sen. Nancy Skinner\">State Sen. Nancy Skinner<\/a>, a member of the Progressive Caucus, has also spoken out on the ballot measure, telling the&nbsp;<em>Los Angeles Times<\/em>&nbsp;that even though there was an &ldquo;uptick in crime after the pandemic,&rdquo; it had leveled off and that now &ldquo;is not the time&rdquo; to enact Proposition 36.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sd16.senate.ca.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"State Sen. Melissa Hurtado\">State Sen. Melissa Hurtado<\/a> disagrees.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>&ldquo;<\/em><\/strong>Proposition 36 is a crucial and long-overdue measure,&rdquo; she said in a statement to the&nbsp;<em>Washington&nbsp;Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;We must do more to hold bad actors accountable and protect our communities from rising crime and rampant drug use that&rsquo;s plaguing our communities. Californians need to feel safe in their communities, and this measure is the right approach to get the Golden State back on track.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Hurtado is among a growing group of Democrats who have thrown their support behind the measure. Among them is <a href=\"https:\/\/sd34.senate.ca.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"state Sen. Tom Umberg\">state Sen. Tom Umberg<\/a>, a former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senator-john-kennedy-more-people-trust-dr-pepper-than-dr-fauci\/\" title=\"Senator John Kennedy: \u2018More People Trust Dr. Pepper Than Dr. Fauci\u2019\">drug policy adviser<\/a> for former President Bill Clinton.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I fully support Proposition 36,&rdquo; he told the&nbsp;<em>Washington&nbsp;Examiner&nbsp;<\/em>in a statement.&nbsp;&ldquo;This initiative addresses the devastating impact of homelessness, the fentanyl epidemic, and retail theft that are wreaking havoc on our communities and small businesses.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Assemblyman James Ramos also backs the measure.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;For too long, we&rsquo;ve failed to address this problem, and now crime and illegal drug use are out of control and plaguing our communities,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;By supporting Proposition 36, I stand with my fellow legislators to fix this crisis.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Proposition 47 dates back to 2011 and came about after the U.S.&nbsp;Supreme&nbsp;Court upheld a decision against the state that required reducing the prison population to avoid overcrowding. State prisons had been functioning at 180% over capacity in 2010.<\/p>\n<p>A federal panel ordered California state prisons to reduce its population to 137.5% within two years. State lawmakers approved a bill that changed how the state prosecuted low-level offenses, allowing some lawbreakers to spend time in county jails rather than transferred to state prisons.<\/p>\n<p>Liberal advocacy groups then pushed for Proposition 47 as another way to reduce the prison population.&nbsp;The measure, introduced in 2014, had three major components. It included reducing some felonies to misdemeanors, giving &ldquo;time served&rdquo; credit to prisoners who had been convicted of felonies that had become misdemeanors, and&nbsp;using the money saved from reduced jail time for programs in local communities.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past decade,&nbsp;California has been able to bank about $100 million annually, which has resulted in sentencing changes made under Proposition 47.<\/p>\n<p>The measure also reduced most drug possession offenses to misdemeanors and increased the&nbsp;threshold for misdemeanors to $950 from $450.&nbsp;It&nbsp;allowed more than 1 million people to reduce nonviolent felonies on their record to misdemeanors.<\/p>\n<p>Critics say the law has led to a spike in property crimes. They claim it has made it harder to punish repeat offenders and emboldened people who believe they can steal without facing consequences. Proposition&nbsp;47 has been blamed for large retailers, including Macy&rsquo;s, leaving certain parts of the state, such as San Francisco, where the law has limited law enforcement officers&rsquo; ability to go after repeat offenders and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/we-need-to-solve-our-violent-crime-epidemic-the-el-salvador-way\/\" title=\"Solve violent crime like El Salvador\">solve violent crime<\/a>.&nbsp;In California, those guilty of misdemeanors do not have to provide DNA samples.<\/p>\n<p>Proposition 36 would tweak Proposition 47. It would add new penalties for some theft and drug offenses and sentencing enhancements that would apply to crime. It would also mandate treatment for some drug crimes.<\/p>\n<p>Most notably, it would add fentanyl to the list of &ldquo;hard drugs,&rdquo; which include cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin. Hard drugs are &lsquo;felony drugs.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Under Proposition 36, it would be up to a judge to sentence someone possessing any amount of hard drugs if the person has two or more drug-related offenses on their record. It would also allow judges to determine whether a person is eligible for drug treatment. If a person successfully completes the court-mandated drug treatment, their charges would be dismissed.<\/p>\n<p>Proposition 36 also gives the state the power to go after hard drug dealers whose fentanyl kills or injures someone who uses it.&nbsp;When it comes to theft, Proposition 36 would make theft of money or property worth $950 or less a felony if the person has two or more theft-related crimes on their record.<\/p>\n<p>Proposition 36 is endorsed by San Francisco Mayor&nbsp;London Breed, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Gov. Gavin Newsom\">Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/a> (D-CA) has spoken out against the measure, arguing that Proposition 36 would not reduce retail theft.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER \">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;re lying to you,&rdquo; Newsom said. &ldquo;That initiative has nothing to do with retail theft. That initiative is about going back to the 1980s and the War on Drugs.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Newsom recently addressed the matter by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3125180\/newsom-signs-retail-theft-package-to-kill-momentum-for-tough-on-crime-proposition-36\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"signing a package\">signing<\/a> 10 bills relating to property and drug&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/crime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">crime<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1556682\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1556682\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California Democrats are experiencing a rift over proposed modifications to Proposition 47, a law enacted ten years ago that is often cited as a factor in the increase of drug-related issues and theft across the state. In November, voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on Proposition 36, which seeks to establish new penalties for individuals with multiple theft convictions or those involved in fentanyl-related crimes\u2014a potent synthetic opioid. <\/p>\n<p>Democratic Assembly members Avelino Valencia, James Ramos, Esmeralda Soria, and Freddie Rodriguez observed a bill vote at the Capitol on June 1, 2023. Ramos and Valencia have introduced legislation requiring voter approval for any rollback of certain aspects of Proposition 47.<\/p>\n<p>Proposition 36 aims to amend parts of Proposition 47\u2014passed in 2014\u2014which has been criticized for contributing to increases in retail theft and other crimes that often go unpunished. Progressive lawmakers have voiced strong opposition to Proposition 36, labeling it an &#8220;expensive&#8221; reform that could disproportionately affect low-income individuals. Assemblyman Isaac Bryan emphasized the need for solutions addressing underlying issues like poverty rather than punitive measures.<\/p>\n<p>State Senator Nancy Skinner also expressed concerns about timing given recent crime trends post-pandemic. Conversely, State Senator Melissa Hurtado supports Proposition 36 as necessary for holding offenders accountable amid rising crime rates.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters like Senators Tom Umberg and James Ramos argue that action is needed against homelessness and drug abuse affecting communities negatively impacted by crime.<\/p>\n<p>Proposition 47 was established following a Supreme Court ruling mandating California reduce its prison population due to overcrowding issues. It redefined certain felonies as misdemeanors and allowed many nonviolent offenders to reduce their charges over time.<\/p>\n<p>Critics assert that this law has led to increased property crimes by making it difficult to penalize repeat offenders effectively. They claim it has emboldened criminals who believe they can steal without facing serious consequences.<\/p>\n<p>Proposition 36 proposes stricter penalties for specific thefts and drug offenses while introducing treatment mandates for some drug-related cases. It would classify fentanyl alongside other hard drugs like cocaine and heroin under felony laws if an individual has prior offenses related to drugs or thefts exceeding $950 in value.<\/p>\n<p>The measure enjoys endorsements from several mayors but faces opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom who argues it won&#8217;t effectively address retail theft issues but rather revert back policies reminiscent of past failed approaches during the War on Drugs era<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2327787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/fentanyl.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[4045,3685,4762,5894,38732],"class_list":["post-2327786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-california","tag-democrats","tag-legislation","tag-politics","tag-proposition-47"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/fentanyl.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2327786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2327786"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2327786\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2327787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2327786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2327786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2327786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}