{"id":418647,"date":"2024-03-25T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/?p=418647"},"modified":"2024-03-25T21:11:19","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T04:11:19","slug":"retail-theft-bill-california-democrats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/_ko\/politics\/capitol\/2024\/03\/retail-theft-bill-california-democrats\/","title":{"rendered":"Why California Democrats are divided on retail theft bill"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Democratic lawmakers are debating how a bill to reduce retail theft would affect Black and Brown Californians. While some say it would unfairly target shoppers, others say jobs are at stake.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n

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Legislators may be off for spring recess, but debates about their bills are still happening outside committee rooms. One spicy intra-party exchange between Democratic Assemblymembers focuses on a measure about retail theft \u2014 underscoring the difficult balance for lawmakers responding to public concerns about crime<\/a>, while not over-policing historically targeted communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Los Angeles Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo<\/a>, vice chairperson of the Legislative Progressive Caucus, introduced Assembly Bill 1990<\/a>, which would allow police officers to make warrantless arrests for misdemeanor shoplifting offenses (as in, items that total $950 or less) if officers have probable cause. Officers do not need to be present when the crime occurred. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warrantless arrests when police don\u2019t witness the crime aren\u2019t new \u2014 officers can already arrest people on misdemeanor charges for domestic violence, violating a restraining order or for carrying a concealed gun at an airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill has bipartisan support with the backing of Assemblymember \ud6c4\uc548 \uc54c\ub77c\ub2c8\uc2a4<\/a>, a Republican from Modesto and vice chairperson of the Public Safety Committee. In a statement, Carrillo said that by \u201cincreasing enforcement against suspected shoplifters, we are sending a clear message: we will not tolerate these acts that threaten our public safety and economic vitality.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Inglewood Assemblymember Tina McKinnor<\/a>, a fellow progressive caucus member, urged lawmakers to reject the bill, saying on social media<\/a> that it was \u201cbad for black and brown folks.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an emailed statement, McKinnor told CalMatters that AB 1990 is unnecessary and will promote mass incarceration: \u201cWe need our law enforcement partners to enforce the laws on the books, not discourage retailers from asking for help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 2019 report from the \uce98\ub9ac\ud3ec\ub2c8\uc544 \uacf5\uacf5\uc815\ucc45\uc5f0\uad6c\uc18c<\/a> found that African Americans in nearly all California counties have higher arrest rates than whites, and that misdemeanors have increased as a share of all arrests. (Latinos, however, were arrested at lower rates than whites in 26 out of the 58 counties.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carrillo pushed back, however, arguing that her bill \u201cis committed to fairness, equity, and the protection of all individuals\u2019 rights, regardless of race or background.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an email to CalMatters, Carrillo also said that McKinnor hasn\u2019t met with her to talk about the measure, and that while she is \u201calways open\u201d to discuss policy with colleagues, \u201cI don\u2019t legislate via social media.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gardena Assemblymember Mike Gipson<\/a>, who is one of the bill\u2019s co-authors, also stood by Carrillo<\/a>, arguing that \u201ccommunities of color are hurting\u201d because of retail theft and job loss. Gipson also posed a question to his (unspecified) colleague on social media: \u201cWhat do you offer besides throwing rocks? What do you offer, I ask, as any form of a solution to a statewide problem?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

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Wendy Carrillo<\/p>\n

Democrat, Former State Assembly, District 52 (Los Angeles)<\/p>\n <\/a>\n \n \n

Tina McKinnor<\/p>\n

Democrat, State Assembly, District 61 (Inglewood)<\/p>\n <\/a>\n \n \n

Mike Gipson<\/p>\n

Democrat, State Assembly, District 65 (Gardena)<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The debate is emblematic of the tightrope progressive lawmakers attempt to walk on public safety. And it\u2019s an issue that Assemblymember Kevin McCarty<\/a>, chairperson of the Public Safety Committee, will have to navigate as Carrillo\u2019s bill heads to the committee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While McCarty\u2019s office said he was not available for comment today, he spoke with CalMatters earlier this month<\/a> about his approach to retail theft. The Sacramento Democrat said that lawmakers are \u201cat the forefront\u201d to address the issue, and that he aims to have a \u201cbalanced response\u201d that does not \u201covercorrect\u201d with unintended consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McCarty, Assembly Speaker \ub85c\ubc84\ud2b8 \ub9ac\ubc14\uc2a4<\/a> \uadf8\ub9ac\uace0 \uc758\uc6d0 Rick Zbur<\/a>, chairperson of a select committee appointed by Rivas, have their own retail theft legislation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The potential to \u201covercorrect\u201d is particularly pertinent with retail theft, as the severity of a perceived crime wave remains up for debate (or as the Brookings Institution put it, \u201cgreatly exaggerated<\/a>.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to another \uce98\ub9ac\ud3ec\ub2c8\uc544 \uacf5\uacf5\uc815\ucc45\uc5f0\uad6c\uc18c<\/a> study, shoplifting rates in California remained 8% below pre-pandemic levels in 2022. Last September, a handful<\/a> ~\uc758 \uba54\ub514\uc544<\/a> outlets<\/a> poked holes in Target\u2019s rationale to close some of its locations due to crime. And in December, the National Retail Federation had to walk back its claim that half of the $94.5 billion merchandise loss the industry experienced in 2021 was due to organized retail theft (experts put the figure closer to 5%<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\t\n\t\t

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How California lawmakers want to target retail theft<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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