Governor Newsom signs bill to improve retail, property crime – California Globe

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday that would increase penalties and fines for certain retail and property crimes, officially toughening laws against robberies and other crimes.

Assembly Bill 1960, authored by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), would specifically create increased penalties for taking, damaging or destroying property in the commission or attempted commission of a felony. Increased penalties begin at thefts of $50,000 or more. If the loss or value of the property exceeds $50,000, the court shall add an additional year in prison. At $200,000 or more, it increases to two additional years. At $1 million, it increases to three years, and at $3 million, it adds four additional years. For each additional loss or value of the property exceeding $3,000,000, the court shall add one year. The same increased penalties shall also apply to those who knowingly receive stolen property or resell such property.

However, the bill has many limitations. It does not increase penalties for thefts under $50,000. It is also a limited-time bill, as the new law is set to expire on January 1, 2030.

“Californians have spoken loud and clear: they want to feel safe, whether they’re shopping, walking down the street, or taking their kids to the park,” Rivas said earlier this year of AB 1960 and similar anti-theft and anti-crime bills. “These bills are a turning point for California. We’re saying enough is enough of organized shoplifting. I thank my colleagues in the Assembly for protecting shoppers, workers, and business owners by passing these bills through the Assembly. Now that we’ve taken action, I expect the Senate to move quickly and send these bills to the governor for his signature.”

While many left-leaning Democrats opposed AB 1960 out of fear that it could lead to even tougher crime laws in future sessions and undo years of progressive criminal justice reform, a slim majority of Democrats supported the bill as crime rates continued to rise. Many others also come from districts that have been hit by robbery, with voters who wanted tougher laws to deter criminals. Supporters also needed Republican legislators to push the bill through. While they hoped for a bill that would add more penalties for criminals and add prison sentences to more types and amounts of shoplifting, they agreed that the bill would be a good first step toward even tougher shoplifting laws.

Liberal lawmakers fought to block the bill late last month, but ultimately they didn’t have enough votes. It passed the Senate 34-2, 4-0, and the Assembly 64-4, 11-0. All eyes were on Newsom. The governor, who has increasingly backed away from his previous progressive policies in recent years, passing tougher laws and executive orders, was expected to sign the bill into law. Those expectations proved true Thursday, when Newsom signed AB 1960 into law.

We’ve all seen videos of violent flash mob attacks on local shops and businesses, organized gangs with sledgehammers and baseball bats. This has to stop now. I’ve created a new law to properly hold those who damage shops and property accountable, because our business…

— Speaker Robert Rivas (@CASpeakerRivas) September 12, 2024

“California already has some of the toughest retail and property crime laws in the country — and we made them even tougher with our recent legislation,” Newsom said in a statement Thursday. “We can be tough on crime and smart on crime at the same time — we don’t have to return to the broken policies of the last century. Mass incarceration has proven ineffective and is not the answer — we need real accountability and strategies that strengthen our world-leading efforts to address crime. I thank Speaker Rivas for his leadership in strengthening California’s law enforcement tools.”

Rivas also added that “violent sledgehammer crimes and flash mob attacks by organized gangs must stop now. I have created this new law to appropriately hold those who damage stores and property accountable, so our business owners and employees should not have to live in fear of these crimes arriving at their doorstep. I thank Governor Newsom for signing this law into law so we can keep our communities safe.”

While the bill had bipartisan support and its passage was generally viewed favorably, many have said the laws need to go further in deterring crime. Many noted Thursday that Proposition 36 is a more realistic law, with significantly stiffer penalties not only for shoplifting crimes, but also for theft of all types and drug crimes.

“The general feeling now is that AB 1960 was a good amuse snack“Californians really want to see a lot more done to stop these criminals,” Rita Walker, a pollster who focuses on crime-focused proposals and ballot initiatives, told the Globe on Thursday. “A lot of people see AB 1960 and the other bills in the package as kind of a stopgap measure. You know, the Legislature and the governor passed these new laws, so there’s no need to pass Prop 36 this year. But to give Californians credit, polls have shown that they can see how far father Prop 36 goes. AB 1960 is too little, too late for many.”

“The bigger issue for many is Prop 47 and fixing it. AB 1960 and the other bills just don’t go far enough. For many, Prop 36 is the real first step forward in the fight against all of this crime.”

Governor Newsom has until September 30 to act on the remaining bills awaiting his veto or signature.