Exacerbated Drug & Retail Theft
The decade-old law reclassified certain nonviolent drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors and has been criticized for allegedly worsening drug abuse and retail theft.
Source: Freepik
Newsom sided with pro-business moderates who supported stricter penalties for crimes such as repeat shoplifting, putting him at odds with progressives who were concerned about racial disparities in arrests and prosecutions.
Stricter Measures
With the Democratic compromise failing, only a stricter measure supported by the California District Attorneys Association will appear on the November ballot.
Source: Office of the Governor of California/Wikimedia Commons
Democrats were “unable to meet the ballot deadline to secure necessary amendments to ensure this measure’s success,” Newsom stated late Tuesday.
Surrendering to Realities
Conceding to political realities, Newsom announced the withdrawal of the initiative.
Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Party leaders had developed the initiative over the weekend after unsuccessfully trying to block the district attorneys’ measure.
Newsom’s “Robust Public Safety Package”
Despite this setback, Newsom stated he would “soon sign a robust public safety package that expands criminal penalties, bolsters police and prosecutor tools, and cracks down on retail theft.”
Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
He criticized the district attorneys association for endorsing a measure that would “revive policies from the era of mass incarceration and the failed War on Drugs.”
Support for Newsom’s Decision
Greg Totten, head of the district attorneys group, expressed satisfaction with Newsom’s decision to withdraw the Democrats’ proposal.
Source: Wikimedia
“We are pleased the governor and legislature have dropped their countermeasure and welcome them to join our campaign to responsibly amend Proposition 47 to deal with retail theft, the fentanyl crisis, and homelessness,” Totten said.
Preparing for Meeting with Biden
Newsom abandoned the ballot initiative as he prepared to attend a meeting of Democratic governors with President Joe Biden, who is facing backlash after his poor performance in last week’s debate with former President Donald Trump.
Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are also traveling to Washington, with Pritzker urging Biden to communicate more effectively with Americans as he drops in the polls.
Potential Presidential Candidate
As the top elected official in the nation’s most populous state, Newsom has been frequently mentioned as a potential presidential candidate.
Source: Wikimedia
However, the governor, a prominent Biden supporter, continues to stand by the president following the contentious debate.
Newsom Stands by Biden
“All this other talk… it’s unhelpful and unnecessary,” Newsom wrote in a fundraising email the day after the debate.
Source: Wikimedia
“We aren’t going to turn our backs because of one performance. What kind of party does that?”
Deadly Heatwave in California
Newsom’s sudden departure for Washington comes as California contends with a deadly heat wave and wildfires. A fire near Oroville, California, has forced about 13,000 residents to evacuate, according to a Butte County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.
Source: Freepik
The fire caused power lines in the area to be shut down and led to the closure of a hydroelectric power plant at Oroville Dam.
Midnight Deadline
Additionally, there is a midnight deadline on Wednesday for bills passed in the legislature to be included on the November ballot.
Source: Joshua Woroniecki/Unsplash
California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who typically acts in Newsom’s absence, is also out of the state on a previously scheduled trip, leaving state Senate leader Mike McGuire as acting governor, a spokesperson for Newsom confirmed.
Newsom’s Busy Schedule
Before the Newsom left for the Democratic governors’ meeting with Biden, his spokesman made a statement.
Source: Wikimedia
“The Governor’s been in around-the-clock conversations with the legislature, briefings, emergency management with wildfires and heat, reviewing paroles, reviewing memos, on calls, and in regular meetings.”