Californians deserve a governor who prioritizes them

OPINION – The Governor continues to play the public and the Legislature like a fiddle. He has no regard for the Legislative process or respect for transparency, and that was on full display as he tried to undermine a citizen-led effort to improve public safety by reforming the disastrous Proposition 47.

Instead of supporting a measure that over 900,000 citizens advanced, the Governor and the Democrat supermajority met behind closed doors to concoct a scheme to confuse California voters. Thankfully, public outcry and the bright light of media exposure caused him to abruptly abandon his misguided effort.

On July 1, the Governor, along with Democrat legislative leaders, announced their counter proposal they deemed “a robust ballot measure to tackle property crime and the fentanyl crisis, including through targeted reforms to Proposition 47.”

The Governor, however, abandoned the measure the next day, saying he couldn’t make additional changes in time for the deadline for the November ballot.

Then he promptly left the state – leaving Democratic lawmakers holding the bag to defend him.

These are not the actions of a person who wants to govern this state.

Retailers, mom-and-pop shops and jewelry stores throughout California are being robbed at unprecedented rates.

Violent retail thefts and smash-and-grabs —along with the worsening fentanyl crisis—have eroded the public’s sense of safety and left our communities to deal with the aftermath of damaged property, stolen goods, higher prices and lost lives.

Last month, officers seized loaded firearms, false government IDs and fentanyl in connection with thefts at Camarillo Premium Outlets. In Palmdale, thieves stole $60,000 worth of jewelry in an overnight smash-and-grab. Californians have seen it on the news and witnessed it in their communities. Proposition 47 fueled this crisis.

Family-owned businesses are suffering. Workers are facing dangerous situations. Shoppers know that the days of running into the store to quickly grab allergy medicine or cosmetics are gone as retailers have locked everyday necessities behind plexi-glass.

Frustrated by the lawlessness and the Governor’s inaction and lack of leadership, a bipartisan coalition of sheriffs, police chiefs and district attorneys throughout the state partnered with retailers like Home Depot, Walmart and small businesses to take action.

They proposed to repeal parts of Proposition 47 to reinstate consequences for repeat thieves and prison time for fentanyl dealers. Under the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, a person would face a felony for their third conviction for stealing.

The Governor not only dismissed this proposal; he advocated for phony reforms. For months, he claimed reforms to Proposition 47 would not need to go back to the voters.

Things got so low that his Administration threatened the proponents of the people’s initiative.

The threats, the secret meetings, the posturing – these are not behaviors of a person who wants true reform to restore public safety. This is manipulation of the democratic process to fit his agenda.

Governor Newsom has one foot out the door. Maybe both – with him zigzagging through the battleground states to do the presidential media circuit. While he is off charming residents of other states, he is harming the Californians who just want safe communities for their families and neighbors.

Assemblyman Tom Lackey is the Vice Chair of the Assembly Elections Committee, Member of the Assembly Public Safety Committee and a former CHP Sergeant. He represents the 34th Assembly District.