Her previous actions are coming back to haunt her.
A push is underway to reform Proposition 47, a California law from 2014 that has been criticized by various political groups for its impact on the state. Proposition 47 reclassified several felonies, including certain thefts and drug possession offenses, as misdemeanors. Specifically, it made petty thefts involving goods valued under $950 and numerous drug possession offenses less severe by categorizing them as misdemeanors rather than felonies.
A new initiative, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, also known as Prop 36, seeks to amend Prop 47. This proposed measure, which will appear on the November ballot, aims to address rising concerns over crime and drug use. Support for Prop 36 spans both conservative and liberal factions, with endorsements from San Francisco Mayor London Breed, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and various district attorneys across the state.
The proposed changes include adding fentanyl to the list of controlled substances that are illegal to possess with a firearm, imposing stricter penalties for drug trafficking that leads to death or serious injury, and potentially introducing murder charges for drug traffickers whose actions result in fatalities. Greg Totten, co-chair of the group backing the initiative, highlighted public frustration with increased drug use, homelessness, and theft, citing the negative impacts on local businesses and communities.
Critics of Prop 47, including Steve Cooley, former Los Angeles County district attorney, argue that the law has led to unintended consequences such as reduced DNA collection, which affects the ability to solve serious crimes like rape and murder. Cooley and others have accused Vice President Kamala Harris of misrepresenting the law’s potential impact when she was involved in drafting the initiative’s ballot language. Harris, who did not take an official stance on Prop 47, has been criticized for allegedly failing to foresee or address the law’s consequences for public safety. A spokesperson for Harris emphasized her career in law enforcement and her track record of combating crime.
