Gov. Gavin Newsom is scrapping his plan to put another crime question on the California ballot, three sources involved in the effort confirmed Tuesday night. State lawmakers on Wednesday night were scheduled to vote on whether to send the proposal to add new penalties for drug dealers and repeat thieves, crafted by Newsom and some Democratic state lawmakers, to the November ballot. The governor said in a statement that changes he wanted to make to the measure would not allow for him and legislature to meet a key deadline for it to land on the ballot. Sources close the negotiations who spoke on the condition they remain anonymous rebuffed that comment Tuesday night, claiming the governor was not fully focused on getting the proposal on the ballot and failed to build a coalition of law enforcement groups to back the measure.The development comes shortly after Newsom’s campaign announced the governor would be leaving California to attend a meeting at the White House on Wednesday with President Joe Biden and other Democratic governors. Newsom had spent the weekend whipping votes for his proposed ballot initiative, which was meant to compete with another that had qualified for the ballot and was backed by district attorneys and business groups. That initiative would broadly ramp up penalties for drug dealers and repeat thieves. “We are pleased the Governor and Legislature have dropped their countermeasure and welcome them to join our campaign to responsibly amend Prop 47 to deal with retail theft, the fentanyl crisis and homelessness,” said Greg Totten, a representative for Californians for Safer Communities, a campaign that backs the qualified measure to reform Proposition 47, which reduced drug and theft penalties in California a decade ago. Lawmakers in the Assembly Public Safety Committee spent part of Tuesday morning pushing the measure forward and defending the proposal with business groups, criminal justice groups, and Democratic lawmakers who were divided over the issue. Lawmakers Tuesday night met in a closed-door meeting, where they learned about the development. The governor later shared a statement with KCRA 3 after this story was initially published, confirming the proposal would not move forward, and promoting a set of public safety bills moving through the state legislature. “Building on the state’s $1.1 billion investment to hire more police and tackle crime, I will soon sign a robust public safety package that expands criminal penalties, bolsters police and prosecutor tools, and cracks down on retail theft — the most significant reform in decades. I look forward to working with the Legislature and our public safety and retail partners to go even further in the days ahead, without returning to the damaging policies of decades past,” Newsom said in a lengthy statement. “For months, attempts were made to engage the California District Attorneys Association in this effort. They refused, opting to instead push a ballot measure that would revive policies from the era of mass incarceration and the failed War on Drugs.“Working with stakeholders and the Legislature, we chose to introduce an alternative measure for Californians to consider that represented a balanced and comprehensive strategy that put public safety first without reverting to outdated and ineffective policies of decades past. It included stiff new penalties for repeat offenders, stricter measures to take down fentanyl dealers, and expanded access to drug treatment programs in our communities. “Despite these efforts and having the votes necessary to pass the measure, we are unable to meet the ballot deadline to secure necessary amendments to ensure this measure’s success and we will be withdrawing it from consideration. “I’d like to thank the Legislature and countless stakeholders who came to the table to work on meaningful reforms and look forward to our work ahead,” the governor said. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is scrapping his plan to put another crime question on the California ballot, three sources involved in the effort confirmed Tuesday night.
State lawmakers on Wednesday night were scheduled to vote on whether to send the proposal to add new penalties for drug dealers and repeat thieves, crafted by Newsom and some Democratic state lawmakers, to the November ballot.
The governor said in a statement that changes he wanted to make to the measure would not allow for him and legislature to meet a key deadline for it to land on the ballot. Sources close the negotiations who spoke on the condition they remain anonymous rebuffed that comment Tuesday night, claiming the governor was not fully focused on getting the proposal on the ballot and failed to build a coalition of law enforcement groups to back the measure.
The development comes shortly after Newsom’s campaign announced the governor would be leaving California to attend a meeting at the White House on Wednesday with President Joe Biden and other Democratic governors.
Newsom had spent the weekend whipping votes for his proposed ballot initiative, which was meant to compete with another that had qualified for the ballot and was backed by district attorneys and business groups. That initiative would broadly ramp up penalties for drug dealers and repeat thieves.
“We are pleased the Governor and Legislature have dropped their countermeasure and welcome them to join our campaign to responsibly amend Prop 47 to deal with retail theft, the fentanyl crisis and homelessness,” said Greg Totten, a representative for Californians for Safer Communities, a campaign that backs the qualified measure to reform Proposition 47, which reduced drug and theft penalties in California a decade ago.
Lawmakers in the Assembly Public Safety Committee spent part of Tuesday morning pushing the measure forward and defending the proposal with business groups, criminal justice groups, and Democratic lawmakers who were divided over the issue. Lawmakers Tuesday night met in a closed-door meeting, where they learned about the development.
The governor later shared a statement with KCRA 3 after this story was initially published, confirming the proposal would not move forward, and promoting a set of public safety bills moving through the state legislature.
“Building on the state’s $1.1 billion investment to hire more police and tackle crime, I will soon sign a robust public safety package that expands criminal penalties, bolsters police and prosecutor tools, and cracks down on retail theft — the most significant reform in decades. I look forward to working with the Legislature and our public safety and retail partners to go even further in the days ahead, without returning to the damaging policies of decades past,” Newsom said in a lengthy statement.
“For months, attempts were made to engage the California District Attorneys Association in this effort. They refused, opting to instead push a ballot measure that would revive policies from the era of mass incarceration and the failed War on Drugs.
“Working with stakeholders and the Legislature, we chose to introduce an alternative measure for Californians to consider that represented a balanced and comprehensive strategy that put public safety first without reverting to outdated and ineffective policies of decades past. It included stiff new penalties for repeat offenders, stricter measures to take down fentanyl dealers, and expanded access to drug treatment programs in our communities.
“Despite these efforts and having the votes necessary to pass the measure, we are unable to meet the ballot deadline to secure necessary amendments to ensure this measure’s success and we will be withdrawing it from consideration.
“I’d like to thank the Legislature and countless stakeholders who came to the table to work on meaningful reforms and look forward to our work ahead,” the governor said.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
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