CALIFORNIA, USA — Stopping organized retail theft was a major focus of the legislature in the recently concluded legislative session, but a vast majority of California voters feel the government hasn't done a good job addressing the issue and supports a citizen-led ballot initiative to increase penalties.
According to a survey by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), 71% of likely voters surveyed said they would support Proposition 36, which would increase criminal penalties for certain drug and theft crimes.
This was a bipartisan view with 63% of Democrats and 85% of Republicans saying they would support the measure. The strong support stayed the same for voters from both urban and rural areas.
Prop 36 received the most support of all 10 measures on the November ballot. The next closest was Prop 3 to enshrine the right to marriage equality with support from 68% of likely voters.
Though a majority of California voters indicated they would support Prop. 36, Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders oppose the measure, as they feel it will roll back progress made in criminal justice reform.
A couple months ago, Newsom attempted to add a competing ballot measure that would have increased penalties for repeat retail theft offenders, but ultimately failed to get it on the ballot.
“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," Newsom said in a statement to ABC10.
In August, Newsom signed a public safety bill package. The new laws go after online marketplaces facilitating the sale of stolen goods and create new investments in law enforcement to go after retail theft.
“While some try to take us back to ineffective and costly policies of the past, these new laws present a better way forward — making our communities safer and providing meaningful tools to help law enforcement arrest criminals and hold them accountable," Newsom said in a statement.
As far as Newsom’s job performance goes, 51% of likely voters approve of his job performance, with almost three in four Democrats approving of his performance.
Looking at how Californians feel about the state as a whole, 55% of California adults say the state is heading in the wrong direction.
The pessimistic view is mainly held by Republicans in the state — 91% of Republicans surveyed feel this way, with 63% of independents agreeing. Only about one-third of Democrats believe the state is heading in the wrong direction.
A majority of Californians, 71%, feel the nation as a whole is heading in the wrong direction.
With less than two months away from the election, close to 70% of California voters would support changing the way presidents are elected from the Electoral College to a popular vote system.
The General Election is Nov. 5. The last day for people to register to vote in California is Oct. 21.
