Riverside County, California, Sheriff Chad Bianco is helping lead the effort to repeal the 2012 ballot measure, saying it directly contributed to the Golden State’s homelessness and crime crisis, and has asked Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to help. I’m calling out.
“California, we are in a very difficult time right now in terms of public safety, and from a law enforcement perspective, most of the problems we have are almost always our fault. Or at least there’s some kind of correlation with the passage of Prop. 47 in 2012,” Bianco told FOX News Digital.
Proposition 47, passed in 2012, reclassified many felonies as misdemeanors, such as retail theft and property theft. Under Proposition 47, petty theft of merchandise valued at less than $950 would be classified as a misdemeanor, even if it is a multiple crime. It also broadly targeted drug possession crimes, which were previously felonies, and converted them to misdemeanors.
Bianco told Fox News Digital that voters were “deceived” about the measure, which he claimed contributed to the worsening security situation.
California Democratic Party urges tougher penalties for shoplifters, angered by progressive leftists amid rising crime
California’s Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (right) supports changes to Proposition 47 against Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom, who he believes is contributing to the state’s statewide homelessness and crime crisis. I am appealing to you. (Fox News)
”“Frankly, we were fooled and misled by the state in that the name and description on the ballot was not what we were getting,” Bianco explained. “We voted for a proposal called Safe Schools and Safes.” Streets Initiative has nothing to do with Safe Streets or Safe Schools and directly contributes to increases in homelessness, mental health, and drug addiction. , everything that is bad for public safety right now. It had a direct result on the crime problems we see today, such as serial thefts, retail thefts, and home invasions.. ”
The bill Bianco hopes to see on the ballot this November is what he calls “the bill.” Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, Reversing the reduction of drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor, allowing judges to recommend rehabilitation for drugs and substance abuse, and increasing the amount of multiple thefts for prosecutors to meet the $950 threshold set in Proposition 47. to be able to add up. Crackdown on serial theft.
”If you need help resolving your issue, we should be able to help. If you flatly refuse and continue to use drugs and continue to victimize us all through addiction, theft, and everything else, you will suffer the consequences of a prison sentence.” Bianco said.
Social media explodes as government slams news of new anti-crime policy promoting ‘surveillance state’
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco
”It’s simple and clear. But the reality is that there is no reason for anyone to change their behavior if there are no consequences. We need to get over this feel-good approach that our lawmakers are playing with this issue right now, which is that it’s someone else’s fault and it’s not your fault. Take responsibility for your actions. We need to get past that and go back to the days of common sense where if we can get you into a rehab facility and help you, that’s great. we helped you. We have contributed to society. But if you don’t, you will receive a prison sentence, so we will stop you from victimizing the rest of us. ”
Newsom has expressed opposition to changes to Prop. 47, which Bianco said is an example of leadership failure.
“ This is 100% complete common sense, so the governor has no choice but to get on board with it,” Bianco said. “We have a completely failed political agenda in this state. It was a social experiment led by the governor leading up to , made worse by an attorney general who has no desire to solve these problems, eliminate crime, and protect Californians.”
”What they’re up against now, from a rudimentary perspective, is the disaster they’ve been trying to protect for years since Proposition 47 was passed, and they have to acknowledge the reality of leaders, real leaders. I think it’s because it doesn’t. , someone who can say, “Look, we had some good intentions, but we had some unintended consequences, and now we need to fix them.” That would have been a leadership way for our government to get out of this situation going forward. But instead, they have spent the past decade completely defending Proposition 47 and lying to the public.”
When Newsom released his budget earlier this year, he disputed accusations that he was unwilling to change Prop. 47 and argued there was no need to send the issue back to voters in November.Newsom too pointed to his plan They suggested that no amendments to Proposition 47 were needed as they were intended to address crime issues.
California lawmakers warn thieves to stay away: ‘We’re throwing books at criminals’
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that the city of Oakland would install hundreds of new security cameras to crack down on crime, drawing condemnation from critics. (California Governor Gavin Newsom YouTube Channel)
“That’s not the case,” the governor said, referring to a presentation slide showing that the $950 retail theft threshold is the 10th lowest in the nation. “Everyone I know is rushing to reform Proposition 47 to raise the threshold, okay, that’s not the underlying problem, the problem is with other issues not related to 47. Yes, that’s what we’re moving forward with yesterday and working with Congress. The nature of retail theft has changed, it’s not just costumes, yes, that’s the problem, that’s what we’re spending hundreds of millions of dollars on. I don’t deny that it’s a reason, but it’s also deeply organized, and that’s what we need to chase, and that’s quite another thing.”
Mr. Newsom continued, “When someone said we have to reform the 47 Party, I said it would take this year. I said I was interested in the evidence and I was open to the arguments. I’m not an idealist about this. Remember, I’m the only guy who can say, “I’m the only guy who reformed Proposition 47.” I ran a ballot initiative related to gun standards and reformed that standard by making illegal possession of a gun less than $1,000 a felony. There is credibility to this, and at least on that basis I believe we need to put more money into it, but many of the same people who are criticizing us are not willing to invest in these new funds. Voted no. ”
Newsom said critics are using Proposition 47 as an “excuse” and are “oblivious” to some facts.
“I think it’s important to be equal with people,” Newsom added. “Again, I’m not saying the 47-year-old is all cranky and perfect. We would like to correct some of the ambiguities, but we can do that without reforming or going back to the voters themselves.” .That’s what we proposed yesterday.”
Bianco rejected the idea that Prop. 47’s problems could be solved with new legislation or adjustments by Sacramento officials, saying politicians who support Prop. 47 know it’s unpopular in an election year. He said he was only placating voters by suggesting there was a solution. problem.
“They have a bill this Congress that appears on its face to make necessary changes to the proposal we put on the ballot,” Bianco said.
“Here’s the problem. What they’re telling us with the bill they put forward is empty. Even if the bill passes, Prop. 47 is a ballot initiative and a law created by voters. “The only way we can fix it is to take it back to the voters and let them fix it. Prop. 47, which we really need for a better California.” We need to pass this proposal to make changes.”
Sheriff: ‘Safe Schools’ initiative ravages California, fuels drug addiction and homelessness
A robbery occurred in Manhattan Beach, California. (Manhattan Beach Police Department)
Not all California Democrats agree with Newsom, including San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who has expressed support for changes to Proposition 47 and I believe that will bring about positive change.
“The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act makes targeted and impactful changes to fentanyl laws that will help tackle chronic retail theft that harms retailers, workers, and cities. Deaf,” Breed said. “I fully support this measure and know it will bring meaningful change to cities across California.”
According to public opinion polls from the past few years, the majority of Californians Bianco supports the changes to Proposition 47, and Bianco told FOX News Digital that the majority of voters he speaks to feel that way.
“Voters have had enough,” Bianco said. “Voters are tired of seeing these extortions on TV. They’re tired of seeing their property stolen. They’re tired of seeing major retailers close in California and move their businesses out of state. We’re tired of seeing people facing a crisis here and government leaders doing nothing to combat it.”
Organizers are currently gathering signatures for the proposal to meet the 546,000 signatures needed by the deadline later this month. Bianco said the campaign has “much more” enough signatures, but he won’t know the final number until the signatures are verified.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
February 1, 2023 at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. (Justin Sullivan/Justin Sullivan)
Bianco said he’s optimistic the measure will appear on the ballot, but if it doesn’t, the sheriff told FOX News Digital, the crime situation in the Golden State will get even worse.
”We just go further downhill,” Bianco said. “Crime will continue to spread. Drugs will continue to spread. Fentanyl and the devastation suffered by fentanyl dealers will continue to grow. More people will die from fentanyl overdose and addiction. The increase in smash-and-grab theft by this daring criminal is only going to get worse.”
