MCGUIRE ANNOUNCES PUBLIC SAFETY POLICY PROPOSAL
“Within my first month we'll be advancing one of the most aggressive master plans to tackle the fentanyl crisis, retail theft and community-based crimes that we've seen in years.” — California Senate Leader Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg)
Just weeks into his position as leader of the California State Senate, Mike McGuire (DHealdsburg) announced a package policy proposal that aims to address retail theft, fentanyl addiction and other crimes at a press conference Monday morning.
“Within my first month we'll be advancing one of the most aggressive master plans to tackle the fentanyl crisis, retail theft and community-based crimes that we've seen in years,” said McGuire.
A proponent of addressing addiction, he said the policies have been informed by nine months of senate hearings studying growing overdoses across the state.
He said the proposal will focus on increasing access to services, enhancing services to those in the criminal justice system and penalizing xylazine.
He noted the disproportionate impact on underserved communities such as Black, Latino and Native American people in California. In Humboldt County, the Hoopa Valley Tribe faces a fentanyl death rate of eight times greater than the state average, according to the California Department of Public Health.
A bundle of officials spoke on the need for addressing retail theft and spoke on the public's desire for strengthening the state's response to crime.
Although Senator Aisha Wahab, chair of the public safety, noted that shoplifting has gone down since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus at the presser was on organized crime, which has risen in commercial burglaries, with Wahab noting an increase studied by the Public Policy Institute of California.
“The bills we are announcing today in the Senate plan are aimed at stemming the rising tide of retail theft here in California and prioritizing the rights of victims first and foremost,” said Wahab.
Wahab said the policy aims to increase penalties for crime, cracking down on stolen goods, deterring repeat offenders and making a law on organized retail theft permanent. Online sale of stolen goods was noted as an area of concern. Officials noted they must do so under Proposition 47, a law that changed certain low-level crimes from potential felonies to misdemeanors in 2014.
After a question on mass incarceration, McGuire noted the mass incarceration of communities of color in the 1990s was a clear mistake.
The bipartisan nature of the proposal was noted — Brian Jones, minority leader of the
California State Senate said “for years Senate Republicans have been calling for action on the fentanyl and retail crisis plaguing our state. We are pleased to see Pro Tem McGuire lead us in it and to act on these important issues early in his tenure,”
McGuire has taken on the position amid a budget crisis, and said last week his number one priority is to land a balanced and on-time budget. His role involves negotiating the budget. CalMatters reported the Legislative Analyst's Office has projected a 2024-25 shortfall at $73 billion.
“It's the first time in 147 years someone from the North Coast has been able to serve as the President Pro Tem of the State Senate. And I am forever grateful to the North Coast and to the voters of Humboldt County. for allowing me this amazing opportunity,” he said in an interview with the Times-Standard last week.
The announcement can be viewed in full at https://sd02. senate.ca.gov/videos