Seeing a daily barrage of trashings in national media blaming California’s progressives for crime, drugs, and violence? They get reality exactly backwards.
Well-said. I will add though that for California as a whole, both red and blue areas, one can literally draw a straight line from the passage of Prop 47 (combined with conspicuous non-enforcement) and the increase in shoplifting. Which is now mostly done by organized crime syndicates who know they can get away with it now if they steal less than $950 worth of goods per person per occasion.
Actually, shoplifting fell after Prop 47 took effect in late 2014, from 97,301 then to 81,955 in 2022 (see https://openjustice.doj.ca.gov/exploration/crime-statistics/crimes-clearances ). The $950 felony limit is not the problem; that revision was necessary to keep up with 30 years of inflation. California still has the nation's 10th toughest felony theft limit (In Texas, for example, the limit is $2,500, and other states average over $1,200). New approaches may be needed to stem both organized retail theft and car-breakin rings, though.
Well-said. I will add though that for California as a whole, both red and blue areas, one can literally draw a straight line from the passage of Prop 47 (combined with conspicuous non-enforcement) and the increase in shoplifting. Which is now mostly done by organized crime syndicates who know they can get away with it now if they steal less than $950 worth of goods per person per occasion.
https://gvwire.com/2024/01/18/a-fix-for-ca-homelessness-das-say-prop-47-reform-initiative-offers-one/
Actually, shoplifting fell after Prop 47 took effect in late 2014, from 97,301 then to 81,955 in 2022 (see https://openjustice.doj.ca.gov/exploration/crime-statistics/crimes-clearances ). The $950 felony limit is not the problem; that revision was necessary to keep up with 30 years of inflation. California still has the nation's 10th toughest felony theft limit (In Texas, for example, the limit is $2,500, and other states average over $1,200). New approaches may be needed to stem both organized retail theft and car-breakin rings, though.
Interesting