GOOD MORNING BEFORE WE GAVEL
DOWN AND BECAUSE OF ASSEMBLY
RULES WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
THE MAYOR OF WEST HOLLYWOOD.
JOHN UH, ERICSSON BEFORE WE
BEFORE WE PROCEED. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. OF ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING
, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO WEST
HOLLYWOOD BRIGHT AND SHINY, 9
A.M. IT'S SO EASY TO GET HERE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. UM MY
NAME IS JOHN ERICSSON. I'M THE
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WEST
HOLLYWOOD. WELCOME TO OUR
FABULOUS CITY. UM BEFORE I JUST
MAKE ONE QUICK REMARK. I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT, UM SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES IN THE ROOM WE HAVE
COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN HEILEMAN.
RIGHT IN THE BACK. WE'VE GOT
COUNCIL MEMBER LAUREN MEISTER
RIGHT THERE, AND WE HAD VICE
MAYOR CHELSEA BUYERS. YEP AND
THEN I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
PRESIDENT OF CALIFORNIA CONTRACT
CITIES AND MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
BEVERLY HILLS. DOCTOR JULIAN
GOLD RIGHT OVER HERE. AND I JUST
REALLY WANT TO THANK THIS
AMAZING, UH, COMMITTEE AS WELL
AS OVER ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WELCOME
TO WEST HOLLYWOOD. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING THIS IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION. IT'S REALLY
IMPACTING ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES
. AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
BEING ACTIVE PARTNERS WITH YOU
HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND
THANK YOU AGAIN.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CHÁVEZ WEBER
FOR BEING A CONTINUED ADVOCATE
FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY. I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A
SAFE WEEKEND AND ENJOYS THE
PANEL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MR MAYOR. I CALL
THIS MEETING TO ORDER GOOD
MORNING. WE ARE BRINGING THE
HEARING TO ORDER. I WANT TO
WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE SECOND
HEARING OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSEMBLY SELECT COMMITTEE ON
RETAIL THEFT, AND WE'RE PLEASED
TO HOST THIS AS A JOINT HEARING
ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. WE HAVE
SELECT COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON
RETAIL STEPPED ON THIS SIDE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ON THIS SIDE OF ME, UM AND WE'RE
LOOKING FORWARD TO EXAMINING THE
SERIOUS ISSUE OF RETAIL CRIME IN
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR
STATE. FIRST I'D LIKE TO WELCOME
EVERYONE TO THE 51ST ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT AND TO WEST HOLLYWOOD,
THE HEART OF MY DISTRICT, AND I
WANT TO THANK, UM ARE THE
ASSEMBLY STAFF THAT'S HELPED
MAKE TODAY HAPPEN, INCLUDING MY
CHIEF OF STAFF TOMMY MARTIN AND
DISTRICT DIRECTOR ROBERT OLIVER,
AS WELL AS PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE CHIEF, UM, CHIEF
CONSULTANT SANDIA RIB POLICY
CONSULTANT TO THE SPEAKER, SEAN
NAIDU. AND GARY OLSON AND
REPUBLICAN AND GARY L. SAID THE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS CONSULTANT AND
ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF
WEST HOLLYWOOD FOR HOSTING US
TODAY. CITY MANAGER DAVID
WILSON, HER NON MOLINA,
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS LIAISON, AND,
OF COURSE, MAYOR ERICKSEN, VICE
GOVERNOR, BUYERS AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS, HEILMAN MEISTER AND
SHINE. AT OUR FIRST HEARING. IN
DECEMBER. WE HEARD FROM THREE
PANELS OF EXPERTS REPRESENTING A
RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES, INCLUDING
LAW AND DATA. EXPERTS RETAILERS,
WORKERS, PROPERTY MANAGERS,
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. WE HEARD
FROM EXPERTS THAT SOME OF WHAT
WE'RE DEALING WITH ARE CRIMES OF
SURVIVAL, BUT ALSO THAT A VERY
LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM IS DUE
TO ORGANIZED CRIME RINGS,
PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS THAT ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR A PRETTY LARGE
PERCENTAGE OF RETAIL THEFTS
OCCURRING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE
HEARD FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES THAT THEY NEED BETTER
TOOLS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF
REPEAT OFFENDERS AND THESE
PROFESSIONAL CRIME RINGS. WE
HEARD THAT DIVERSION PROGRAM
SHOULD BE SHOULD BE PART OF A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO
SOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT
THE BEST DETERRENCE IS NOT
NECESSARILY INCREASING
IMPRISONMENT BUT INSTEAD
ASSURING THAT THERE IS
ENFORCEMENT AND A CERTAINTY OF
CONSEQUENCES FOR BREAKING THE
LAW. WE HEARD FROM BUSINESS
OWNERS BEARING THE BRUNT OF
RETAIL CRIME IN THEIR STORES,
NOT JUST THE LOSS OF INVENTORY,
BUT THE ADDED COSTS OF LOCKING
UP MERCHANDISE AND PAYING FOR
ADDITIONAL STAFF AND SECURITY.
AND WE'VE HEARD THAT RETAILERS
HERE NOT ONLY FOR THEIR BUSINESS
OPERATIONS, BUT ALSO FOR THE
WELL BEING OF THEIR WORKERS AND
CUSTOMERS. WE'VE HEARD FROM
WORKERS THEMSELVES WHO REALLY
RELAY THEIR CONCERNS OVER THEIR
SAFETY, TOO. AND WHO FEAR
DISCIPLINE SHOULD THEY INTERVENE
TO TRY TO PREVENT OR STOP RETAIL
CRIME THEMSELVES? WE HEARD FROM
FOLKS WHO BELIEVE THAT THE
FELONY DOLLAR LIMIT THRESHOLD
SHOULD BE REDUCED. BUT WE ALSO
LEARNED THAT CALIFORNIA'S 950
THRESHOLD DOLLAR FOR THE
THRESHOLD IS ACTUALLY RELATIVELY
LOW COMPARED TO OTHER STATES,
AND THAT THE PROBLEM OF RETAIL
THEFT IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM. WE
REPRESENTED WITH DATA INDICATING
THAT SHOPLIFTING IS ACTUALLY
DOWN IN SOME PLACES YET WE WATCH
YET WE WATCH AS MORE AND MORE
STORES LOCK UP THEIR INVENTORY
AND REPORT LOSSES. THERE SEEMS
TO BE A GAP BETWEEN SOME OF THE
DATA AND THE ON THE GROUND
EXPERIENCES OF SO MANY
BUSINESSES, WORKERS, RESIDENTS
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN
OUR STATE. NUMBERS ON A
SPREADSHEET CAN ONLY TELL US SO
MUCH. OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE TOLD
US THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS
PROBLEM WITH RETAIL CRIME AND
HAVE ASKED US FOR HELP, AND I
WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE
LISTENING. I WANT TO ASSURE YOU
THAT WE INTEND TO TAKE
MEANINGFUL STEPS TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM IN THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION. SPEAKER REVIS HAS MADE
SOLVING THIS ISSUE ONE OF HIS
TOP PRIORITIES AND HAS ASKED ALL
OF US ON THE DAIS HERE TO ACT
EXPEDITIOUSLY. AS WE WORK TO
FIND SOLUTIONS TO THESE ISSUES,
THOUGH WE ARE ALSO WORKING
ALONGSIDE WITH BOTH OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND OUR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM PARTNERS. WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT NEW POLICIES
TO ADDRESS RETAIL CRIME ARE
THOUGHTFUL AND TRULY EFFECTIVE,
AND THAT WE PROVED THAT WE
PRESERVE THOSE REFORMS THAT HAVE
BEEN THAT HAVE BOTH MADE OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFER, AND THEY HAVE
REDUCED THE PRACTICE AND THE
FINANCIAL AND HUMAN COST OF
IMPRISONING PEOPLE FOR MINOR
INFRACTIONS. SO TODAY WE'RE HERE
TO DIG DEEPER. WE'RE LOOKING NOT
TO JUST UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM,
BUT FOR THE SOLUTIONS AND
REFORMS THAT WILL MAKE OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFER FOR EVERYONE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OPEN ISSUES.
WHAT IS BEING DONE AT THE STATE
AND LOCAL LEVEL TO PREVENT AND
ADDRESS RETAIL CRIME. WHAT IS
WORKING WELL AND WHAT IS NOT.
HOW CAN WE SHUT DOWN THE MAIN
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS FOR STOLEN
GOOD AND THESE ARE OFTEN ONLINE
MARKETPLACES. HOW CAN DIVERSION
PROGRAMS BE PART OF THE
SOLUTION? AND I DON'T MY
COLLEAGUES HERE WILL HAVE MANY
MORE QUESTIONS. CALIFORNIA'S
MANY AREAS OF COMMERCE SHOULD BE
SAFE, VIBRANT CENTERS OF
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND UPWARD
MOBILITY. THEY'RE THREATENED BY
ANY INCREASE IN RETAIL CRIME,
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN GET
THINGS BACK ON TRACK.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MCCARTY, WHO
WILL BE WITH US SHORTLY. HE HAD
A MISSED A FLIGHT THIS MORNING
IS ON HIS WAY. HE'LL BE HEARING
PROBABLY ABOUT 35 40 MINUTES.
THE TWO OF US ARE WORKING ON
COMPANION BILLS TO BRING
BALANCED, EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO
DEAL MEANINGFULLY WITH THESE
ISSUES WHILE CONTINUING TO LIVE.
LISTEN TO EVERY STAKEHOLDER AS
SPEAKER RIVAS HAS ASKED US TO DO
TODAY WE WILL HEAR FROM THREE
PANELS AND ON EACH PANEL. WE
HAVE A SET OF PERSPECTIVES THAT
BUILD UPON THOSE FROM OUR FIRST
HEARING, INCLUDING A FOCUS ON
ONLINE FENCING OPERATIONS. AND
THE ADEQUACY OF EXISTING TOOLS
TO ADDRESS ONLINE CRIME FOR
THOSE WHO WISH TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT. AT THE END OF TODAY'S
HEARING, WE WILL OPEN THE MIC
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON
HERE IN THE WEST HOLLYWOOD CITY
COUNCIL CHAMBERS WITH THAT I'D
LIKE TO WELCOME OUR PANELISTS
AND AUDIENCE TO THE FORUM. UM
AND GIVE THE MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMITTEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PROVIDE THEIR OPENING COMMENTS
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME. I'D
LIKE TO ASK EACH MEMBER TO LIMIT
THEIR OPENING COMMENTS TO ABOUT
TWO MINUTES. TO ENSURE EVERYONE
HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UM,
WHO WOULD LIKE TO START? YES.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. UH
STEPHANIE WHEN I REPRESENT
DISTRICT 10, WHICH INCLUDES A
SACRAMENTO AND OUT GROVE, AND IT
LOOKS LIKE I'M HOLDING THE FORT
ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE ON MY
OWN. FOR NOW, UNTIL MY
COLLEAGUES GET HERE. I WANT TO
THANK WEST HOLLYWOOD FOR
INVITING US HERE, HOSTING US
HERE FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE OUT
THERE NOT JUST HERE TO HEAR WHAT
WE HAVE TO SAY, BUT ALSO ONLINE
AND LISTENING AS WELL TO YOU
HEARD THE CHAIR, S¼ BALANCE AND
SOLUTIONS AND I THINK BRINGING
US ALL TOGETHER HERE GIVES US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY HEAR
FROM THESE PANELISTS AND THE
EXPERTS BUT ALSO GIVES US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO EACH
OTHER TO FIND WAYS WHICH WE CAN
FIND A BALANCE. AH A BALANCE
ENVIRONMENTS AND ALSO SOLUTIONS
TO SOLVING MANY OF THE THINGS
THAT WE'VE HEARD EARLIER TODAY.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME BEING ON THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AS A NEW
COMMITTEE MEMBER. I LOOK FORWARD
TO HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS AND
MAKING OUR STATE BETTER. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
WHEN REMEMBER, BANTA, THANK YOU
SO MUCH. I WANNA THANK AND
APPRECIATE CHAIR TRAVÉS SERVER
FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FOCUS IN
ON RETAIL CRIME. I'M
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MIA BANTA. I
REPRESENT THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
OF OAKLAND, ALAMEDA AND
EMERYVILLE IN 8018 AND HAVE SAT
FOR SEVERAL YEARS ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE PRIOR TO THIS
TERM. AND CURRENTLY CHAIR THE
HEALTH COMMITTEE, WHICH I THINK
IS A NOTABLE ASPECT OF ENSURING
THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF
THE ROOT CAUSES ASSOCIATED WITH
CRIME AND PROPERTY, CRIME AND
VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES
SPECIFICALLY, AND I'VE ALSO HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT ON TO
CHAIR BUDGET SUB, THEN BUDGETS
OF FIVE, WHICH WAS FOCUSED ON
PUBLIC SAFETY. I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR COMING TOGETHER AND
THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF WEST
HOLLYWOOD FOR HOSTING US FOR
THIS VERY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION. I TOO AM VERY
INTERESTED, INSURING THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT SMART SOLUTIONS
ASSOCIATED WITH RETAIL THEFT. WE
SHALL CRIME THROUGHOUT THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. UH, PARTICULARLY,
I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT WAYS IN WHICH THAT
ARE EVIDENCE BASED TO BE ABLE TO
CURTAIL THE CRIME AND HARM THAT
IS COMMITTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS ROUND
OF CONVERSATIONS TO ENSURE THAT
WE ARE ACTUALLY FOCUSED IN ON
THE DETAILS OF THE PROBLEM THAT
WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE AND THEN
MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SOLUTIONS
THAT ARE GOING TO ENSURE THAT WE
HAVE THE INTENDED IMPACT THAT WE
WANTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BANTA. WE WILL
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF OTHER MEMBERS THAT ARE
ON THEIR WAY HERE. THEY'VE BEEN
CAUGHT IN TRAFFIC OR HAD SOME
FLIGHT DELAYS, SO WE'LL HAVE
GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY. MAKE
OPENING STATEMENTS LATER WHEN
THEY GET HERE, SO WITH THAT, I'D
LIKE TO WELCOME OUR FIRST SET OF
PANELIST, WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF STATEWIDE EFFORTS ON
THIS ISSUE WOULD LIKE TO BRING
THE PANELISTS UP TO THE CHAIRS
HERE IN THE FRONT.
WELCOME THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US TODAY. UM WE'RE
GRATEFUL TO BE JOINED TODAY BY
SPECIAL ASSISTANT MICHAEL
READING FROM THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL
COMMISSIONER SHAWN DURING
EARLIER DID I HOPE I PRONOUNCED
THAT CORRECTLY. CLOSE ENOUGH.
CLOSE ENOUGH. UM CAPTAIN CHYNA
PACHECO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE CALIFORNIA BOARD OF STATE
AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS.
KATHLEEN HOWARD. UM PLEASE
PROCEED WHEN YOU'RE READY. MR
READING. WOULD YOU LIKE TO START
PITTSBURGH. CHAIRMAN MCCARTY.
HE'S THERE WE GO. NOW MY COOKING
ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS MICHAEL
READING. AS YOU SAID, I'M A
SPECIAL ASSISTANT ATTORNEY
GENERAL AT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. PRIOR TO
JOINING THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, I SERVED
AS A STATE AND FEDERAL
PROSECUTOR. ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB
BONTA. WE APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN
TODAY'S HEARING AND LOOK FORWARD
TO THE DISCUSSION. THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL IS EXCITED TO
COLLABORATE WITH EVERYBODY ON
THE COMMITTEE. WE MET EARLIER
THIS WEEK WITH SPEAKER REVIS. UH
THE LEGISLATIVE STAFF. THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MYSELF HAD
A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME WE'RE
COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH SENATE
PROTEST POOR MCGUIRE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO THIS HEARING AND
FUTURE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW
TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. THE
DEPARTMENT IS HERE, CONTINUING
THAT SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION.
THE PROBLEM OF ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME IS MULTIFACETED AND THE
ANSWERS WILL BE MULTIFACETED. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK TO KEEP OUR WORKERS SAFE
AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR
COMMUNITIES REMAIN FREE OF
CRIME. I HAVE THREE KEY MESSAGES
TODAY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE. FIRST SOLVING THIS
PROBLEM WILL TAKE HARD WORK, AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS
DOING THAT WORK. DOJ SPECIAL
AGENTS ARE INVESTIGATING THESE
CASES AND DOJ DEPUTY ATTORNEYS
GENERAL ARE BRINGING THEM TO
JUSTICE. THE PROOF IS IN THE
PUDDING. THESE CASES INVOLVED
HIGH DOLLAR THEFTS IN 2022. WE
ANNOUNCE GUILTY PLEAS FOR A
GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO STOLE
$1 MILLION IN JEWELRY FROM
STORES AND NINE COUNTIES
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA ONE YEAR
AGO. THIS VERY DAY WE ANNOUNCED
ARRESTS AND CHARGES OF EIGHT
INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN A
STATEWIDE ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT
OPERATION, TARGETING PRIMARILY
APPLE STORES AND RESULTING IN
THE LOSS OF ANOTHER MILLION
DOLLARS. THE CASES SPAN THE
STATE, AS EVIDENCED BY BOTH
THOSE CASES AND OFTEN, THE GLOBE
IN 2021. CASE WE INVESTIGATED
AND PROSECUTED INVOLVED $200,000
WORTH OF THEFT FROM CALIFORNIA
AND NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA AND
WASHINGTON, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING TO EXPEDITE THOSE
INDIVIDUALS BACK FROM ROMANIA.
AND WHILE NOT EVERY SMASH AND
GRAB IS CONNECTED TO A LARGER
WEB, THESE CASES ARE OFTEN
DANGEROUS JUST OVER A WEEK AGO,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED
PLEAS AND SENTENCING FOR THREE
DEFENDANTS WHO STOLE $130,000
WORTH OF MERCHANDISE, OFTEN BY
WAY OF VIOLENT ROBBERIES AT
TARGET AND WAL MART HERE IN LOS
ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTY,
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTY, SAN DIEGO AND VENTURA
COUNTY. DOJ INVESTED. THE CASE
PROSECUTED THE CASE AND THANKS
TO THE HARD WORK OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS, THE LEAD DEFENDANT
WAS SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN
STATE PRISON. THESE CASES DID
NOT SPRING UP OVERNIGHT. THEY
WERE THE PRODUCT OF LONG HOURS,
GOOD POLICING AND HARD WORK. TO
THAT END MY SECOND MESSAGES THAT
SOLVING THIS PROBLEM WILL TAKE
PARTNERSHIP. WE'RE PROUD TO
COLLABORATE WITH THE CALIFORNIA
HIGHWAY PATROL IS ORGANIZED
RETAIL THEFT TASK FORCE ON THE
ISSUE, AND WE HAVE SINCE THE
BEGINNING. WE WELCOME THE MONEY
THAT BE SCC IS DISTRIBUTING TO
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE LOCALS AS
WE DEVELOP THE MOST SERIOUS AND
COMPLEX CASES. OUR WORK HERE IS
A PRODUCT OF THAT PARTNERSHIP AT
THE STATE LEVEL, THE LOCAL LEVEL
AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE DEVELOPED
EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR
RETAILER AND ONLINE MARKETPLACES
WHO ARE DEVELOPING EVERYDAY NEW
METHODS TO DETECT AND PREVENT
THEFT FROM THEIR STORES AND ON
THEIR PLATFORMS, AND, IN MANY
INSTANCES, BRINGING THOSE CASES
TO US FOR INVESTIGATION AND
PROSECUTION. FINALLY SOLVING
THIS PROBLEM WILL TAKE
LEADERSHIP. JUST OVER TWO YEARS
AGO, NOT FAR FROM HERE. THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL CONVENED THE
CONSORTIUM OF SOME OF THE
LARGEST RETAILERS AND ONLINE
MARKETPLACES IN THE COUNTRY AND
TOLD THEM THAT THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA EXPECTED BETTER. IT
TOOK TIME IT TOOK CREATIVE
THINKING, AND IT TOOK SOME
DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS. BUT
LAST JUNE, HE ANNOUNCED A FIRST
OF ITS KIND PARTNERSHIP WITH
THESE GROUPS TO COLLABORATE TO
SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. RETAILERS
AGREED TO BRING BETTER EVIDENCE
EXCUSE ME TO BETTER EVIDENCE
RETENTION AND TO PROPER
REPORTING OF INCIDENTS TO POLICE
ONLINE MARKETPLACES AGREED TO
SHARE INFORMATION AND DEVELOP
TOOLS TO AFFIRMATIVELY DETECT
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME ON THEIR
SITES. THE DETAILS ARE IMPORTANT
AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THEM. BUT
THE KEY IS THAT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL REORIENTED THIS GROUP'S
TOWARD COLLABORATION, AND IN
DOING SO WE ARE TAPPING THEIR
OWN UNIQUE SKILL SETS AND
KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR OWN STORES
AND PLATFORMS TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM. SO IN SUMMATION, I
WOULD JUST SAY, DEAR J IS ON THE
JOB WORKING HARD PARTNERING AND
LEADING. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF
YOU FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING,
BRINGING ATTENTION TO THIS VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE AND WELCOME YOUR
QUESTIONS AFTER THE PRESENTATION
OF MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU.
COME AND SHARE DURING LIKE TO GO
NEXT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR,
MEMBERS OF THE JOINT SELECT
COMMITTEE. IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS SEAN DORY AND THE
COMMISSIONER OF THE CALIFORNIA
I'M TRUMP JOINED WITH CAPTAIN
SHANNON PACHECO, WHO LEADS ONE
OF OUR TEAMS AND LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING HER INSIGHT ON SOME
OPERATIONS AND SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT WE FACE. I
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS OF MY
COLLEAGUE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE AND WILL DO MY BEST NOT
TO REPEAT THE THINGS THAT HE
SAID. JUST GIVE YOU SOME OF THE
OUR PERSPECTIVE IN THE EFFORTS
OF THE CHP HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN
THIS SPACE. AND THEN MAYBE AFTER
SHAWNA FILLS IN ON SOME OF THE
OPERATIONS, I COULD OFFER SOME
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE. THE CHP FIRST GOT
INTO THIS IN 2018 THROUGH
LEGISLATION THAT AUTHORIZED THE
CHP TO ESTABLISH AN ORGANIZED
RETAIL THEFT CRIME TASK FORCE.
WE DID THAT INITIALLY WITH THREE
LOCATIONS LOS ANGELES, SAN DIEGO
AND THE BAY AREA THAT ORIGINAL
AUTHORIZATION HAD A SUNSET DATE
THAT WAS REMOVED IN 2021 THAT
WAS EXTENDED THROUGH THE END OF
2026. AND THAT'S WHERE WE SIT
NOW WITH A SUNSET DATE OF 2026
WITH THE REAUTHORIZATION
RECENTLY THAT WAS SIGNED BY THE
GOVERNOR, UM THE CHP EXPANDED
OUR EFFORTS INTO THE SACRAMENTO
REGION AND IN THROUGH THE
CENTRAL VALLEY, SO DOWN THROUGH
FRESNO, DOWN THROUGH THE HEART
OF THE STATE. UM ONE OF THE
FIRST QUESTIONS WE GOT WAS WHY
THE CHP WHY THE CHP AND RETAIL
THEFT AND WE HAVE NOTICED MANY
OF THESE CASES WILL START IN ONE
JURISDICTION. BUT THEY'LL GO
BEYOND THAT. THEY'LL GO OUTSIDE
THE STATE. THEY'LL GO INTO OTHER
CITIES, OTHER COUNTIES AND WE
ARE ABLE TO STATEWIDE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO CONNECT
THOSE DOTS AND PUT THOSE CASES
TOGETHER. I HAVE TWO CASES IN
MIND THAT COULD ILLUSTRATE THAT
ONE STARTED IN SAN FRANCISCO,
AND WE TRACK THAT PRODUCTS BEING
RESOLD IN A SMALL FLEA MARKET IN
THE LITTLE TOWN OF GOLF AND
SACRAMENTO COUNTY. ANOTHER CASE
WE RECENTLY WORKED STARTED IN
THE BAY AREA, AND THE ARRESTS
WERE MADE DOWN IN OCEANSIDE. ONE
OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID IS WE
STOOD UP RETAIL THEFT TEAM AS WE
STARTED COLLABORATING WITH THE
RETAILER'S ASSOCIATION IN MY
EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES
OF PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP.
AS WE TACKLE THIS TOGETHER, THE
CHP HAS BUILT A RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE RETAILER'S ASSOCIATION.
THROUGH THAT WE OFFER TRAINING
AND EDUCATION, NOT JUST THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT, BUT OTHER RETAILERS
. WE'VE OPENED UP LINES OF
COMMUNICATION THAT WE CAN SHARE.
INTELLIGENCE AND PRACTICES. IN
FACT, I WON'T SHARE THE DETAILS,
BUT WE HAVE A CASE PENDING WHERE
RETAILERS ARE FLYING AND
ASSOCIATES THAT ARE GOING TO
HELP US RECOVER PRODUCT AND HELP
IDENTIFY STONE PRODUCT. SINCE
THE INCEPTION IN 2019 THE FIRST
YEAR I WANT TO JUST SHARE SOME
STATS ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
THE HIGHER TRUST BEEN ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH. 2300 INVESTIGATIONS
2235 SUSPECTS ARRESTED THREE
QUARTER OF A MILLION PRODUCTS
RECOVERED DIFFERENT STOLEN ITEMS
AT A VALUE OF $41 MILLION. IN
2019 WHEN WE FIRST STOOD THIS UP
, CAPTAIN SHAUNA PACHECO WAS A
SERGEANT ON OUR BAY AREAS TEAM.
SHE SUPERVISED THE TEAM. SHE'S
VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE
OPERATIONS, AND I ASKED HER JUST
TO SHARE WHAT WE FACE AND MAYBE
SOME OF THE TRENDS THAT WE'RE
SEEING NOW. THANK YOU,
COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US HERE. I APPRECIATE IT.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS A IT'S A
WIDE RANGING PROBLEM, AND IT
AFFECTS ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES
AND, AS THE COMMISSIONER SAID IN
2019, I WAS A SERGEANT THAT
OVERSAW NOT ONLY ARE ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME TASK FORCE BUT ALSO
OUR CARGO THEFT TASK FORCE. UM
AND THAT PARTNERSHIP THAT WE
STARTED TO DEVELOP WITH OUR
ALLIED AGENCIES AND WITH THE
RETAILERS WAS KEY IN HOW WE WERE
ABLE TO ACTUALLY START SOLVING
SOME OF THESE ISSUES. SO I JUST
WANT TO TOUCH BASE REAL QUICK ON
SOME OF THE METHODS THAT ARE
USED FROM THE CRIMINALS IN ORDER
TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR THEIR
CRIMES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
THEY DO, UM, IT'S CALLED A GRAB
AND GO SO OFTEN TIMES THAT WILL
BE INDIVIDUALS SO RUN INTO A
STORE AND THEY GRAB WHATEVER
THEY CAN SHOVING IT IN THEIR
JACKETS, BAGS, PURSES AND LARRY
THE STORE. THE OTHER ONE IS A
FLASH MOB. I'M SURE THAT YOU
HAVE SEEN THAT ON SOME OF THE
NEWS. THAT'S WHERE LARGE GROUPS
OF PEOPLE GO IN AND THEY WILL
TAKE WHATEVER PRODUCT TARGETING
APPLE STORES ANY KIND OF
RETAILER. PERFUMES ALTA, THEY'RE
HIT HARD. THERE WAS SOME BIG
EVENTS BACK IN AUGUST OF 2023
THAT WERE HUGE IMPACTS WE HAD.
YEAH IVES SAINT LAWRENCE THAT
WAS IN GLENDALE, AND THEY WERE
HIT BY 30. APPROXIMATELY 30
INDIVIDUALS WITH A LOSS OF OVER
$300,000 OF PRODUCT. THAT SAME
MONTH. NORDSTROM'S OVER AT THE
TIPPING OF MALL WAS ALSO HIT
WITH ABOUT 30 TO 50 PEOPLE IN A
FLASH MOB AND THEY TOOK AWAY
$100,000 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE,
JUST AS A RETAILER. THAT'S A
HUGE LOSS. BUT AS A CONSUMER
BEING IN A STORE AND SEEING THIS
HAPPEN, IT'S FRIGHTENING AND
IT'S FRIGHTENING FOR THE WORKERS
THAT ARE THERE. SOME OF THESE
PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING IN AND
COMMITTING THESE CRIMES ARE
GETTING MORE VIOLENT, AND THAT
IS ALSO A CONCERN OF OURS. AND
IT'S A CONCERN OF THE RETAILERS
AND ITS CONCERN OF THE PUBLIC.
SMASH AND GRABS IS ANOTHER
METHOD THAT IS UTILIZED AND
THAT'S BASICALLY WHEN THEY GO IN
. WHETHER IT'S A JEWELRY STORE,
SOMETHING THAT'S LOCKED UP. THEY
SMASH IT WITH HAMMERS OR
WHATEVER THAT THEY HAVE, AND
THEY'LL GRAB IT AND THEY TAKE
OFF. AND THEN, OF COURSE,
THERE'S METHODS OF FRAUD AND
FRAUD CAN HAPPEN IN TWO
DIFFERENT WAYS. THEY CAN GO
AHEAD AND COME IN WITH RETAIL
THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN STOLEN AND
FRAUDULENT. RETURN THAT RETAIL
FOR THE CASH PROFIT. OR THEY CAN
USE POINT OF SALE FRAUD AND
BASICALLY, THEY'RE FRAUDULENTLY
CREATING RECEIPTS AND BRINGING
THAT UP AND AGAIN MAKING PROFIT
OFF OF THAT. CARGO THEFT HAS
BEEN AN INCREASE AS WELL. AND
BEING THE SERGEANT OVER CARGO
THEFT. I WAS WELL AWARE THAT THE
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME WAS
OCCURRING WELL BEFORE ANY OF THE
LEGISLATION HAD HAPPENED. THAT
WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
WORKED AT, AND I WOULD ALWAYS
REFERENCE. IT IS THE FRONT OF
THE HOUSE AND THE BACK OF THE
HOUSE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS,
OF COURSE, WHAT WE'RE DEALING
WITH WITH ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME. BACK OF THE HOUSE IS YOUR
CARGO THEFT AND THAT IS A HUGE
PROFIT AS WELL WHEN THEY CAN
EASILY TAKE A TRAILER FULL OF
PRODUCT AND NOW THEY HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THAT TO A
FENCE AND MAKE TONS OF MONEY
VERY EASILY. SO THAT IS WHY WE
ARE HERE. WHY DID THE CRIMINALS
DO THIS? WELL IN OUR INTERVIEWS
WITH THEM, IT'S BEEN VERY CLEAR
THAT IT'S EASY. IT'S VERY
PROFITABLE AND THERE'S LOW
PENALTIES AND THEY KNOW THAT AND
I CAN TELL YOU THERE WAS ONE
PARTICULAR TIME WHERE WE MADE AN
ARREST ON AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAD
AN ANKLE MONITOR AND HAD JUST
BEEN RELEASED. A FEW DAYS BEFORE
AND WAS OUT COMMITTING THESE
CRIMES AGAIN. SO OBVIOUSLY THE
FEAR OF PENALTIES IS VERY LOW
FOR THESE CRIMINALS, AND AS I
SAID, THE PROFITS ARE VERY, VERY
HIGH. SO SOME OF THE WAYS THAT
AS A UNIT THAT WE'VE COMBAT THIS
IS WE HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT
METHODS. WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL
BLITZ OPERATIONS IN WHICH WHAT
WE DO IS WE GO TO THE RETAILERS
THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO US THAT
ARE EXPERIENCING HIGH LEVELS OF
THEFT. THEY OFTEN TIMES NO SOME
OF THESE SUSPECTS THAT HAVE
REPEATEDLY HIT THEM. WE WORK
WITH THOSE RETAILERS, AND WE
WORK WITH ALLIED AGENCIES IN AND
AROUND THAT CITY IN VICINITY. UM
HOW THAT WORKS IS ESSENTIALLY WE
HAVE OFFICERS THAT WILL BE IN AN
UNDERCOVER CAPACITY AS WELL AS
MARKED UNITS IN FULL UNIFORM AND
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. AND UM
APPREHENDING ARE THOSE SUSPECTS
THAT ARE MAKING THOSE IMMEDIATE
GRAB AND GOES, SMASH AND GRABS.
AND LEAVING THE STORES THAT
ALLOWS US TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE
ARREST AND AN IMMEDIATE
RECOVERY. AND IT ALSO SHOWS BOTH
THE PUBLIC AND THE RETAILERS
THAT WE ARE OUT THERE AND WE
CARE ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND THAT
WE'RE TELLING THE CRIMINALS THAT
WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
WORKING TO APPREHEND THEM AND
PREVENT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THOSE ARE VERY QUICK OPERATIONS,
AND THEY USUALLY HAPPEN WITHIN A
DAY. WE DO HAVE VERY LONG TERM,
UM, PLANNING AND INVESTIGATIONS,
AND THAT'S HOW WE ARE REALLY
EFFECTIVE AND TAKING DOWN
FENCING OPERATIONS. AH AS YOU
CAN IMAGINE, AND AS HAS BEEN
SAID THESE CRIMINALS WILL CROSS
JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES, AND
THEY OFTENTIMES DON'T CARE WHERE
THEY'RE GOING BECAUSE THEY'RE
GIVEN A LIST BY STORE OR A
FENCING OPERATIONS AS TO WHAT
PRODUCTS ARE SELLING AND WHAT
THEY ARE TO GO AND GET WHAT THEY
WILL DO. THEN THESE BOOSTERS IS
WHAT WE CALL THEM THE CRIMINALS
AT THE LOWER LEVEL THEY WILL GO
OUT AND THEY WILL ACQUIRE THE
LIST AND THEY WILL GO BACK TO
THE FENCING OPERATIONS. THE
CHALLENGE FOR US ON THAT IS
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
ACTUALLY IDENTIFY EACH AND EVERY
BOOSTER. KNOWING THAT THEY ARE
STEALING AND THEN TIE THAT BACK
TO A FENCING OPERATION WHO IS AN
INDIVIDUAL OR A SET OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO KNOW THAT THEY
ARE PURCHASING STOLEN GOODS. AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT
CORRELATION FIRMLY AND
CONCRETELY SO THAT WE CAN
PRESENT A SOLID CASE SO THE
PROSECUTION CAN OCCUR. THOSE
TAKE A LONG TIME FOR US TO
DEVELOP SOMETIMES MONTHS UP TO A
YEAR, BUT ONCE WE HAVE IT, WHAT
WE ARE ABLE TO DO FROM THERE IS
WE'RE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE
AN ARREST AND TAKE DOWN. FENCING
OPERATION, WHICH IS THE HEAD IF
YOU WILL OF WHERE ALL THESE
BOOSTERS ARE GOING, AND WE
RECOVER. LOTS OF PRODUCT AND
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS AND
SOMETIMES INTO THE MILLIONS OF
PRODUCT. THESE FENCING
OPERATIONS CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE
OFTENTIMES THERE THEY CAN BE
ONLINE. BUT OFTENTIMES THEY'RE
IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THE
RESIDENTS HAVE NO IDEA REALLY
WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. THE CARS
ARE COMING AND GOING AND
BRINGING BAGS OF STUFF TO A
HOUSE. THESE CAN SPAN OUT FROM
THERE AND ENTER INTO STORAGE
FACILITIES, WAREHOUSES OR ALSO,
UM. THEY CAN BE IN OTHER STORAGE
FRONTS. GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF
SOME OF THE OPERATIONS THAT WE
FACE. WE CAN JUST OFFER SOME
THINGS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE THAT
ARE REALLY WORKING THAT WE FEEL
SHOULD CONTINUE AND MAYBE SOME
OTHER POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. FIRST
AND FOREMOST IS THE FUNDING. THE
CHP FROM THE BEGINNING HAS
BENEFITED FROM CONSISTENT
FUNDING IN THE BUDGET THAT HAS
ALLOWED US TO DO WHAT WE DO FROM
A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE,
ONE OF THE BIGGEST GAME CHANGERS
WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN THIS IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND I
WON'T STEAL DIRECTOR HOWARD
THUNDER. BUT THIS FUNDING THAT'S
BEEN AVAILABLE TO LOCALS AND
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS THAT HAS
ALLOWED NUMEROUS TASK FORCES TO
DO WHAT CAPTAIN PACHECO WAS
DESCRIBING TO STAND UP
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I'M
EXCITED WHEN I READ WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH LAPD LAST CENTRAL
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, RIVERSIDE
COUNTY, SACRAMENTO COUNTY. THERE
ARE MORE PEOPLE NOW ENGAGED IN
THIS. WE NEED THAT. THE CHP
CAN'T DO THIS ALONE AND NOT
ANYONE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR
THE LEGISLATURE CAME DOWN ALONG
WITH. WE HAVE TO BE A TEAM
EFFORT IN THIS, SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT, AND WE WOULD BE STRONG
ADVOCATES FOR CONTINUING THAT,
IF AT ALL POSSIBLE
ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY
HAS TO PLAY A ROLE IN THIS, AND
PROSECUTORS HAVE TO PLAY THEIR
ROLE AND LET ME BE CLEAR. AND I
THINK WE'VE WE'VE DONE A GOOD
JOB TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE THIS.
WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH
SHOPLIFTERS. WE'RE NOT DEALING
WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE STEALING TO
SURVIVE. WE ARE DEALING WITH
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZED CRIMINALS
THAT ARE BENEFITING PROFITING
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
OFF OF CALIFORNIANS AND IT NEEDS
TO STOP AND TO DO THAT. WE HAVE
TO HAVE PROSECUTION. WE HAVE TO
HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY. WE'VE
TEAMED UP WITH SOME PROSECUTORS
AND I WILL. I WILL CALL OUT A
COUPLE OF BEEN VERY, VERY
SUCCESSFUL. IN ADDITION TO OUR
EFFORTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE.
ORANGE-COUNTY-REGISTER-TOO-SOON-COUNTY-VOTE-CENTERS
. IT HAS TO BE THERE FOR THE FOR
THE LOCALS TO PARTICIPATE. ABOUT
ONE MORE MINUTE. THANKS MAKES
SURE I'LL JUST SEND WITH THIS.
THE INCREASED PENALTIES THAT'S
FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DECIDE.
BUT WE DO THINK THERE IS SOME
SPACE FOR INCREASED PENALTIES
WHEN IT COMES TO THE ONES THAT
ARE BENEFITING FROM THIS THE
MOST, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES
THAT ARE THE CRIMINAL COWARDS
THAT ARE HIDING BEHIND ONLINE
STORES AND SELLING THIS IN THE
TUNE OF HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS. IT'S UM IT'S
INTERESTING. WE CALL THIS
ORGANIZED CRIME. IT'S TIME FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE PROSECUTORS
TO GET ORGANIZED ON THIS EFFORT
TO SO THANKS FOR HAVING US, SIR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MR
HOWARD. GOOD MORNING. GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
I'M KATIE HOWARD I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOARD
OF STATE AND COMMUNITY
CORRECTIONS, OR B S. C. C AND
THE B. S C C IS ADMINISTERING
TWO MAJOR GRANT PROGRAMS
CONNECTED TO THIS TOPIC OF
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT. UM,
FOLLOWING ON THE WORK THAT THE
CHP REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR
INITIATED IN 2022 AND THE
LEGISLATURE STRONGLY SUPPORTED
SIGNIFICANT GRANT PROGRAM AND
FUNDING LEVEL TO ADDRESS
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT
PREVENTION AND VERTICAL
PROSECUTION. I'M GOING TO TELL
YOU ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE AND
WHERE WE STAND TODAY. THE O R T
PREVENTION GRANT WAS DESIGNED AS
A COMPETITIVE GRANT FOR CITY
POLICE DEPARTMENTS, COUNTY
SHERIFFS AND PROBATION
DEPARTMENTS TO SUPPORT EFFORTS
TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT AS WELL
AS MOTOR VEHICLE OR MOTOR
VEHICLE ACCESSORY THEFT, AS WELL
AS CARGO THEFT. THE PARTY
PREVENTION GRANT WAS A MAJOR
INVESTMENT AT OVER $242 MILLION
OVER THREE YEARS. THE SECOND AND
COMPLEMENTARY GRANT IS THE RT
VERTICAL PROSECUTION GRANT ALSO
ESTABLISHED IN 2022, AND THIS
COMPETITIVE GRANT SUPPORTS
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS TO ADDRESS
INCREASED LEVELS OF RETAIL
THEFT. PROPERTY CRIMES USING
VERTICAL PROSECUTION MODEL,
WHICH IS WHERE ONE ATTORNEY AND
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM HANDLES ALL
PHASES OF A CASE. UM THE O R T
VERTICAL PROSECUTION GRANT
PROVIDED $28.5 MILLION OVER
THREE YEARS. UM IN RESPONSE TO
THE RFP FOR ORGANIZED RETAIL
THEFT PREVENTION, WE RECEIVED
114 PROPOSALS. THE TOTAL AMOUNT
OF FUNDING THAT WAS REQUESTED
WAS $379 MILLION. AND THAT WAS
137 MILLION MORE THAN WE HAD
AVAILABLE TO OFFER. SO THIS HIGH
LEVEL OF RESPONSE REFLECTS THE
SIGNIFICANT NEED AND INTEREST IN
THE FIELD FOR RESOURCES TO
ADDRESS O R T. UM WE HAD A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FUNDING
LEVELS THAT WERE AVAILABLE FOR
THE PROPOSALS TO GO INTO AND
AFTER THEY WERE ALL SCORED AND
RANKED IN A COMPETITIVE PROCESS,
THERE WAS FUNDING TO AWARD THE
TOP 38 APPLICANTS, AND I ASKED
SIRI THIS MORNING. WHAT'S 114
MINUS 38, AND WE HAD 76
APPLICANTS THAT UNFORTUNATELY,
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET FUNDING.
AS WELL AS SOME OTHER
CIRCUMSTANCES OF APPLICATIONS.
NOT GETTING IN. ON TIME. I HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA AROUND
THE TIME THAT THE GRANTS WERE
AWARDED, AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO
HEAR FROM THE FIELD ABOUT THE
INTEREST IN RESOURCES FOR THIS,
WE APPROVED THE RT PREVENTION
AND VERTICAL PROSECUTION GRANTS
AT THE SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING,
AND YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND OUT A
LIST OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES AND PARTNER AGENCIES
THAT RECEIVED THE PREVENTION
GRANTS. UM WE WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF
THE DATA THAT WAS CITED IN THE
GRANT PROPOSALS FOR WHY, UM,
THESE WERE SOME OF THE GRANTS
THAT WERE AWARDED WHAT WAS
HAPPENING OUT IN THE FIELD AND
THE CITY OF SAN JOSE REPORTED IN
95% INCREASED IN GRAND THEFT
SHOPLIFT BETWEEN 21 AND 22, THE
CITY OF ANAHEIM, REPORTED A 47%
SPIKE IN RT CRIMES IN THE 18
MONTHS PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION
PERIOD. AND THE CITY OF CHULA
VISTA HAD 995 REPORTS OF VEHICLE
THEFT AND 180 REPORTS OF
CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS IN
THE YEAR PRIOR TO THE
APPLICATION, SO TURNING TO THE
SOLUTIONS THAT THESE GRANTEES
ANTICIPATE PUTTING INTO PLACE,
THERE WILL BE REAL TIME WATCH
CENTERS AND INTEGRATED TIME
INTER INTEGRATED CRIME CENTERS.
THESE ARE OUR APPROACHES THAT
HAVE BENEFITS TO MORE OF A
REGION, AS THE CHP HAS BEEN
TALKING ABOUT. THERE WILL BE
EXPANSIONS AND CREATION OF RT
TASK FORCES AND, UM INCREASED
OPERATIONS AT KEY HOTSPOT
LOCATIONS. OF COURSE, THERE'S A
THERE'S A NEED TO HIRE
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS TO DO ALL OF
THIS KIND OF WORK, AND A GREAT
DEAL OF EQUIPMENT IS INVOLVED AS
WELL. MOST OF THE GRANTEES ARE
PURCHASING AND INSTALLING A
VARIETY OF KINDS OF SURVEILLANCE
TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING AUTOMATED
LICENSE PLATE READERS AND REAL
TIME INFORMATION SOFTWARE.
CAMERAS THAT CAN COLLECT A WHOLE
LOT OF INFORMATION OUT INTO THE
FIELD. UM WE JUST LAUNCHED THE
GRANT BACK IN SEPTEMBER AS I
MENTIONED, AND IN JANUARY OF
THIS YEAR, WE SENT OUT A SURVEY
TO ALL OF THE RT GRANTEES TO, UM
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEIR
PLANNED ACTIVITIES AND A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE
IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS. UM SO
THE MAJORITY OF GRANTEES OR
CONDUCTING RT OPERATIONS LIKE
TASK FORCES AND BLITZES AS CHP
MENTIONED. SOME HAVE ALREADY
IMPLEMENTED THESE OPERATIONS AND
HAVE HAVE INDICATED THERE HAVE
BEEN OVER 900 ARRESTS IN THAT
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. UM ALMOST
ALL THE GRANTEES 98% PLAN TO
PURCHASE AND INSTALL THE KIND OF
SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT AND
INVESTIGATIVE TRACKING EQUIPMENT
THAT I MENTIONED. UM AND OF
COURSE, ABOUT 70% OF THESE
GRANTEES ARE HIRING NEW STAFF.
UM I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
NOW ABOUT THE RT. VERTICAL
PROSECUTION GRANTS. ELIGIBLE
APPLICANTS WERE THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICES, AND WE
RECEIVED 13 PROPOSALS FOR THAT,
UM. WHAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT IS
THAT THE O R T VERTICAL
PROSECUTION GRANTS HAVE
ESTABLISHED THEIR O R T UNIT AND
IN ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING
STAFF. UM AND JUST PUTTING THOSE
MODELS INTO PLACE, SO WE ARE
REALLY PLEASED TO HEAR FROM THE
GRANTEES ALL OF THE EFFORT AND
ACTIVITY THAT THEY'RE PUTTING
INTO PLACE. THERE'S ALWAYS A
RAMP UP PERIOD AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE GRANTS, SO UM, IT'S
SIMILAR TO WHAT SOME OF THE
OTHER PANELISTS HAVE BEEN
SAYING. THIS WORK TAKES TIME TO
SET UP AND WE WILL HAVE A LOT
MORE INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH
YOU AS THE IMPLEMENTATION
CONTINUES HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I'D
LIKE TO OPEN THIS UP FOR
QUESTIONS. UM SOMETHING WHERE
WHEN DO YOU HAVE ANY. OKAY OKAY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT? THANK
YOU. THANKS SO MUCH CHAIR FIRST.
I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR HOWARD
FOR THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO HAVE ABOUT THE, UH,
THE RT GRANTS THAT YOU WERE ABLE
TO, UM, FOCUSING ON AS WELL AS
THE VERTICAL PATH PROSECUTION
GRANTS AND THANKFUL THAT ALAMEDA
COUNTY WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO
RECEIVE ONE OF THOSE, AND I
THINK WE'RE AND THESE COMING
DAYS GOING TO SEE THAT IN FULL
ACTION. I WAS INTERESTED TO HEAR
MORE. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE
ABOUT SPECIFICALLY THEIR REAL
TIME INFORMATION CENTERS THAT
SEEMED LIKE ONE OF THE
STRATEGIES THAT THE GRANTEES
WERE USING. CAN YOU JUST PUT
SOME TEXTURE ON WHAT THAT IS AND
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. I DON'T HAVE
A WHOLE LOT OF ADDITIONAL DETAIL
TO ADD HERE. I KNOW THAT SOME
MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM VISITED THE
ELK GROVE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, AND THERE'S
A PARTNERSHIP THERE THAT'S DOING
MORE OF A REGIONAL APPROACH. I'D
BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE
COMMITTEE WITH MORE DETAILS ON
WHAT'S GOING ON. I THINK
COMMISSIONER MIGHT ALSO HAVE
SOME ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVE.
REAL TIME CRIME CENTER REAL TIME
FUSION CENTER IS JUST DATA
SHARING INTELLIGENCE SHARING. AS
INFORMATION COMES IN, WE'RE
SHARING THAT WITH OTHER LAW
ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS WHERE IN
THE PAST. WITHOUT THAT
TECHNOLOGY, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN
OPERATING IN A SILO AND LIMITED
TO THE INFORMATION THAT YOU KNEW
AT THE TIME, FOR EXAMPLE, WE
COULD PUT IN DATA LIKE A CRIME
RING USING CERTAIN TECHNIQUES OR
CERTAIN VEHICLES, ENTER THOSE
VEHICLES INTO AND SHARE THEM AND
FIND OUT THAT THEY'RE LINKED IN
OAKLAND, SACRAMENTO, LONG BEACH
AND TYLER CASE TOGETHER SO AND
IS THAT DOES THAT IS THAT
ENABLED BY CROSS JURISDICTIONAL
DATA SHARING IS THEIR ABILITY TO
DO IT. I'M SORRY, BUT THERE IS
THE ABILITY TO DO THAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT IS COMING ONLINE
WITH THIS NOW WE'RE SEEING REAL
TIME CRIME CENTERS STAND UP
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AND THEN
AS AS THEY BECOME ONLINE, THE
ABILITY TO SHARE THAT
INFORMATION WOULD BE THERE.
THINK BASED ON THE TESTIMONY
THAT YOU OFFERED, WHERE THERE'S
ACTUALLY A LOT OF MOVEMENT
ACROSS THE STATE. IT'S
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT WE
ENABLE WE GET SMARTER ABOUT
ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THAT KIND
OF INTEROPERABILITY AND OUR DATA
SYSTEM. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO THAT. THAT OPPORTUNITY
DIRECTOR. JUST ANOTHER QUESTION
FOR YOU. UM I KNOW THIS BECAUSE
I SAT AND TALKED TO YOU ABOUT
THIS A LOT. AND SO YOU JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT
THAT YOU SAID THERE WERE 76
APPLICANTS THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO
GET FUNDING BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY,
THE PROGRAM WAS OVERSUBSCRIBED.
UH DO YOU HAVE A SENSE ABOUT
FROM THOSE APPLICANTS THAT
DIDN'T RECEIVE FUNDING WHETHER
THEY ARE STILL IN NEED OF
ENSURING THAT THEY RECEIVE FUNDS
TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THEIR PLANS. I THINK THE
EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL OF INTEREST
REFLECTS THAT THAT ONGOING NEED.
WE WERE NOT SURPRISED TO SEE
THAT LEVEL, BUT IT WAS. IT'S
REALLY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE A
COMPETITIVE GRANT LIKE THIS. THE
RULES OF THE RFP DIRECT WHAT THE
MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNT THAT CAN BE
REQUESTED AND ALL THE SCORING
CRITERIA AND ALL OF THAT, UM AND
IT JUST YOU KNOW, IT TURNED OUT
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FUND 38
REALLY GOOD PROGRAMS, AND
THERE'S STILL TREMENDOUS NEED
OUT THERE. THANK YOU. AND JUST A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR
COMMISSIONER COURIER. DID I SAY
THAT RIGHT? SAY YOUR NAME RIGHT
FOR US, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER JURY. I WANT TO
FIRST THANK THE CHP FOR ITS
RECENT EFFORTS IN EXPANDING, UH,
THAT THAT NUMBER OF
OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO LEND
THE STATE SUPPORT TO THE BAY
AREA IN THIS MOMENT. UH VERY
MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT, UM, ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS
REALLY CRITICAL FOR US TO FOCUS
IN ON IS THIS INTER
JURISDICTIONAL EFFORT, CHP IS
UNIQUELY SITUATED TO BE WELL TO
DO THAT. UM AND I'M WONDERING IF
THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL
SPECIFIC RESOURCES THAT WOULD
ENSURE THAT CHP HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TRACK UH, RETAIL
CRIME ACROSS ACROSS
JURISDICTIONS. NO I APPRECIATE
THE QUESTION AND I DON'T HAVE
ANY SPECIFICS TO OFFER TODAY.
BUT OTHER THAN A PHILOSOPHY THAT
AS THE CHP IN THIS STATEWIDE
POSITION WE SHOULD PROBABLY BE
BACKING OUT NOW OF THE ACTUAL
OPERATIONS AND INTO MORE OF THIS
COORDINATING WITH OUR LOCAL
AGENCIES AS THEY COME ONLINE,
AND SO, AS WE DO THAT, MAYBE
EVOLVE INTO THAT ROLE. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THE OPERATIONS,
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT DON'T
HAVE THE CAPABILITY. IF I COULD
JUST GIVE A LITTLE CONTEXT FOR
THAT. ALL OF THESE CASES START
IN A LOCAL JURISDICTION RIGHT?
THEY HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT,
NORTH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND
WE TRY TO WE DO COORDINATE WITH
THOSE AGENCIES. MANY OF THEM NOW
WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO
DO. THOSE OTHERS WON'T AND SO
MAYBE THE CHP COULD BE A LITTLE
MORE STRATEGIC ON WHERE WE'RE
DOING OUR WORK, BUT WE COULD BE
IN THE STATEWIDE COORDINATION
ROLE, AND I THINK THAT'S THE
NEXT LEVEL TO GET THIS ALL TO
THE NEXT LEVEL. WE SHOULD LOOK
AT THAT. SO AS WE IDENTIFY
SPECIFIC THINGS, WE'RE HAPPY TO
BRING THOSE FORWARD. THANK YOU.
AND JUST FOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT
READING. THANK YOU FOR BEING
WITH US TODAY. I'M PARTICULARLY
INTERESTED IN THE INVESTIGATORY
ASPECTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN RETAILERS AND
MARKETPLACES. SO TO SPEAK. CAN
YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO
THE VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS THAT
YOU WERE ABLE TO HAVE? UH SOME
RETAILERS AND MARKETPLACES ENTER
INTO AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
SURE IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO
ON THE SO YEAH, EXACTLY. THIS
WAS WE HAD ABOUT 1215 RETAILERS
AND MARKETPLACES THAT WE WERE
MEETING WITH REGULARLY AND
ULTIMATELY HAD SORT OF A BROKER
NEGOTIATION, MEANING THERE ARE
THINGS THAT THE MARKETPLACE IS
REALLY WANTED. THERE WERE THINGS
THAT THE RETAILERS WANTED. THERE
WERE THINGS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND PROSECUTORS WANTED. AND
THERE WERE A FEW DIFFERENT
OBSTACLES. ONE OBSTACLE IN EVERY
CASE IS IDENTIFICATION FOR
LOOKING AT. MULTI DEFENDANT
MULTIJURISDICTIONAL ON MULTI
INCIDENT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
IDENTIFY THOSE DEFENDANTS AND
EVERY SINGLE CASE AND THAT
REALLY TURNS ON THE EVIDENCE
COLLECTION. UNFORTUNATELY AT THE
AT THE RETAILER SIDE, SO IT WAS
ASKING THEM TO BOTH. DO A BETTER
JOB OF RETAINING THE EVIDENCE
COLLECTING THE EVIDENCE. UM, AND
THEN ALSO IMMEDIATELY REPORTING
INCIDENTS TO US. IT'S DIFFICULT
TO TELL AT THE STREET LEVEL,
WHETHER SOMETHING IS ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME OR WHETHER IT'S
JUST A ONE OFF INCIDENT. OFTEN
THEY LOOK THE SAME. SO REALLY,
THAT WAS THE FOCUS WAS GETTING
RETAILERS TO DO MORE OF THAT. ON
THE MARKETPLACES SIDE. YOU KNOW,
THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE
OBVIOUSLY THE DEVELOPMENT FROM
HAVING TO SELL STOLEN GOODS ON
THE STREET WHERE EVERYBODY HAS A
SENSE THAT THIS IS PROBABLY
STOLEN AND MOVING THAT INTO, YOU
KNOW, SORT OF SANITIZING IT AND
PUTTING ON THE MARKET PLACE.
IT'S NOT THE FAULT OF THE
MARKETPLACES. THEY JUST CREATED
THE PLATFORM. BUT YOU KNOW, AT
THAT POINT, IT WAS THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S BELIEF THAT THAT THEY
HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO A
BETTER JOB OF LOOKING AT THAT,
UM BECAUSE THAT WAS FOR BETTER
FOR WORSE, ONE OF THE DRIVERS OF
WHAT WE WERE SEEING SO YOU KNOW
AGAIN, I DON'T PERSONALLY HAVE
THE ABILITY TO GO IN AND TELL
ANY OF THESE MARKETPLACES WILL.
YOU SHOULD WRITE THE ALGORITHM
LIKE THIS. OR YOU SHOULD LOOK AT
IT LIKE THAT, BUT WHAT WE NEEDED
THEM TO DO WAS BECAUSE THEY KNEW
THEIR PLATFORMS BECAUSE THEY
KNEW THEIR SITES TO DO THAT
THEMSELVES. SO THAT WAS REALLY
THE COMMITMENT THAT WE ASKED
FOR. FROM THEM WAS ONE TO REALLY
COME TO THE TABLE. THE RETAILERS
HAD A BUILT IN REASON TO COME TO
THE TABLE. PEOPLE WERE STEALING
FROM THEM. THE MARKETPLACES
DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH AND SO WE
WERE TRYING TO BRING THEM TO THE
TABLE WITH THAT PRESSURE. AND
GET THEM TO AFFIRMATIVELY DETECT
AND REPORT CRIME ON THEIR SITE
AND THEN ALSO DO A BETTER JOB OF
INFORMATION SHARING. SO YOU KNOW
REALLY CANDIDLY. WE WERE LOOKING
AT THE WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE
AND SP 301 WAS GOING THROUGH AT
THE TIME. WE WERE LOOKING AT THE
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE. AND THAT
WAS A QUESTION THAT YOU KNOW
WHEN WE INITIALLY CONVENED
EVERYBODY IN NOVEMBER OF 2021.
THESE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT CAME UP AND WE WANTED TO
CARVE OUT A DIFFERENT LANE AND I
WILL JUST SAY I CAN'T REPORT ON
SPECIFIC CASES, BUT YOU KNOW, IN
IN THE SUBSEQUENT MONTHS WE HAVE
SEEN AND I HAVE SEEN PERSONALLY
THE OUTGROWTH OF THAT. SEED WE
PLANTED BACK IN JUNE. I JUST
WANT TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL
KIND OF SPECIFIC INFORMATION
ABOUT THAT. WE'RE THANKFUL TO
RECEIVE THEIR I GUESS. A COPY OF
THE AGREEMENT LETTER THAT
EVERYONE SIGNED ONTO SO
SPECIFICALLY, RETAILERS
COMMITTED TO FILING POLICE
REPORTS FOR ALL INCIDENTS
DETERMINED TO BE RELATED TO R C
WITH SPECIFIC INFORMATION
RELATING TO THEFT. UM STORE
LOCATION SUSPECT INFORMATION
ETCETERA RETAILER AS WELL
MAINTAIN POLICIES RELATED TO THE
RETENTION OF VIDEO. OF COURSE,
HE RELATED INCIDENTS. AND
RETAILERS WILL ENSURE LOSS
PREVENTION PERSONNEL ARE TRAINED
AND GATHERING REPORTING
ENTERTAINING THE EVIDENCE AS
WELL AS MAINTAINING RECORDS OF
RC RELATED THUS IN A CASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, ONE OF THE,
UH, COMMENTS AND THINGS THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST HEARING
WAS JUST A LACK OF ACTUAL DATA
COMING FROM THE RETAILERS ABOUT
SPECIFIC INCIDENTS AND, UM AND I
THINK I WAS CERTAINLY EXPRESSED
SOME FRUSTRATION AND NOT REALLY
BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT RESOURCE
. UM AND I'M SURE JUST AS
SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT HAVING TO
INVESTIGATE. UH IT'S INCREDIBLY
HELPFUL TO ACTUALLY HAVE THESE
KINDS OF COMMITMENTS FROM THE
RETAILERS TO PROVIDE THAT
INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN
SUPPORT UM THOSE EFFORTS, UM I
ALSO JUST WANTED TO HAVE YOU HIT
A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE
COMMITMENTS FROM THE MARKETPLACE
IS, UH, ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS
TO END RETAIL THEFT IS TO NOT
MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR VALUABLE
PRODUCTS. YES ABSOLUTELY. AND SO
EXACTLY, SO WE WERE ASKING THEM
AND THEY AGREED TO DO MORE
AFFIRMATIVE DETECTION TO HAVE
STAFF THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE
THAT ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS
TO HAVE A POINT OF CONTACT OR A
PORTAL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO
IN LAW ENFORCEMENT REACHES OUT
TO THEM WITH LEGAL PROCESS, THEY
HAVE AN EASY PLACE TO GO TO HAVE
A POINT OF CONTACT OR A PLATFORM
FOR RETAILERS. SO WHEN ONE OF
THE ISSUES THAT WE RAN INTO WAS
GETTING TO THE POINT OF
DEVELOPING LEGAL PROCESS OF
FINDING THEM AH, FINALLY GETTING
TO THE POINT OF HAVING PROBABLE
CAUSE TO GET THIS INFORMATION
REQUIRED NOT NECESSARILY SHARING
INFORMATION. WELL, I SHOULD SAY
NOT NECESSARILY, NOT AT ALL
SHARING INFORMATION THAT WAS NOT
OTHERWISE PUBLIC, BUT SOMETIMES
HELPING GUIDE SOMEBODY THROUGH
IT AND SAY, OKAY, THE SITE IS
DESIGNED FOR SALES IS NOT
DESIGNED FOR DETECTING CRIME.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THIS
PERSPECTIVE, YOU CAN FIND AN
INDIVIDUAL TRACK THERE. UH SALES
AND PURCHASE HISTORY AND LEARN
MORE SO DEVELOPING A PLATFORM SO
THAT THEY COULD WORK TOGETHER ON
THAT, AND THEN AGAIN, REALLY
DOING A BETTER JOB OF YOU KNOW,
YOU'LL HEAR LATER TODAY FROM
FROM EBAY, AND THEY'VE DONE AN
EXCELLENT JOB OF LOOKING AT, YOU
KNOW, ITEMS THAT ARE COMMONLY
STOLEN. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE
ENGAGED AND BEHAVIOR THAT WOULD
STRIKE ANYBODY AS SUSPICIOUS AND
, UH, SORT OF RAISING A FLAG ON
THAT AND SAYING THERE MAY BE AN
ISSUE HERE. JUST QUICKLY IT
COMMISSIONER JURY DOES THE CHP
HAVE ACCESS TO THAT DATA
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM? SAY THAT
AGAIN, WHICH IS THE CHP HAVE
ACCESS TO THE CASE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM. NOT THAT I KNOW OF, BUT
WE MAY YET SO THIS IS, UM THIS
IS MORE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING
TO BE A VERY EXCUSE ME THAT IS
AVAILABLE AND SHOULD BE
AVAILABLE AT EACH OF THE SITES
SO THEY DO, AND THEY MAY BE
ACCESSING IT. AND I DON'T KNOW
THAT SOME OF IT CAME FROM THIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU
SO MUCH EVERYBODY TO HAVE A
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS. UM SO I
THINK PICKING UP ON WHAT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA WAS
ASKING ABOUT WITH RESPECT TO THE
VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS. AND UM,
YOU KNOW, I THINK THOSE ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT. WANT TO, YOU
KNOW, THANK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
FOR, UM, REALLY TRYING TO TAKE
STEPS TO PROVIDE MORE DATA TO
HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN
HEARING IS IN SOME AREAS, UM
RETAILERS ARE BEING THREATENED
FOR COMPLYING WITH THOSE
AGREEMENTS. UM, BEING, UM,
THREATENED WITH, UH, YOU KNOW,
BEING CITED AS NUISANCES. UM AND
UM AND CHARGED WITH. UH FOR THE
COST OF ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. I'M
WONDERING IF YOU'VE HEARD THAT,
UM AND WHAT WE MIGHT DO TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE REPORTING THAT YOU
HAVE CAUSED PEOPLE TO AGREE TO
IS IT THWARTED? CANDIDLY I HAVE
NOT HEARD THAT. UM IT SOUNDS IT
SOUNDS SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR, BUT I
HAVE NOT HEARD THAT SPECIFICALLY
. YOU KNOW, WHAT I CAN TELL YOU
IS LOOK WHEN WE STARTED HAVING
THESE CONVERSATIONS, I WAS
SURPRISED AT THE LEVEL OF
DISCOURSE, WHICH WHICH, I KNOW
SOUNDS LIKE HIGH DISCOURSE. BUT
I MEAN THAT THAT THE RETAILERS
DIDN'T COME AND SAY, WELL, WE'RE
LOSING A BUNCH OF MONEY. THEY
CAME AND SAID, LOOK, WE'RE
TRYING TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT
WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING WHERE
THEY CAN BE SAFE, WHERE THEY CAN
COLLABORATE WHERE OUR WORKERS
CAN BE SAFE. AND YOU NO. THAT
FOCUS WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY
SPOKE TO ALL OF US AND REALLY
SPOKE TO THE ATTORNEY. GENERALLY
SOMEBODY THAT CARES A LOT ABOUT
WORKERS CARES A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE
, YOU KNOW WHO ARE COMING AND
JUST TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB.
WHAT THE FOCUS WAS FROM US AND
WHAT I THINK THE RETAILERS IN
THE MARKETPLACES AND DID VERY
WELL WAS RECOGNIZED THAT THEY
ARE A PART OF THIS. THEY ARE
PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND FOR
BETTER FOR WORSE PART OF THE
COMMUNITY. BEING PART OF THE
COMMUNITY MEANS THAT YOU'RE
MAKING REFERENCES WHEN THERE'S A
CRIME THAT IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY
WHO'S DOING SOMETHING WRONG THAT
YOU'RE POINTING THAT OUT AND NOT
JUST SAYING, WELL, I DON'T WANT
TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS
BUSINESS, SO TO THE EXTENT THAT
THAT IS HAPPENING, I WOULD LOVE
TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT OFFLINE
AND SEE WHAT SPECIFICALLY, WE
CAN DO. BUT BROADLY, THE
RETAILERS ARE PART OF THE
COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS A
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE ALL HAVE
TO CITIZENS. WOULD YOU LOOK INTO
THAT WITH THE RETAILERS BECAUSE
WE'VE BEEN HEARING A FAIR AMOUNT
ABOUT THAT, AND I THINK IT IS AN
OUTGROWTH OF I THINK THE VERY
GOOD WORK THAT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL IS DOING, YOU KNOW,
ASKING FOR VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS
FROM THESE RETAILERS, UM, ON, UM
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING
AT IS HOW WE MIGHT STRENGTHEN.
UM THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE IN
THESE DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS BOTH
ONLINE AND, UM, IN, UH, YOU KNOW
, IN PHYSICAL LOCATIONS AND
COMMUNITIES, UM, AND ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED,
IS THAT THERE MIGHT BE AH,
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
RECORDKEEPING FOR TO ASSURE THAT
GOODS THAT ARE SOLD, AT LEAST
WITH THE ONLINE UM, FOLKS, THAT
THEY'RE SORT OF CHAIN OF CUSTODY
RECORD KEEPING THAT IT'S YOU CAN
DEMONSTRATE THAT IT CAME FROM A
LEGITIMATE SOURCE. I'M WONDERING
IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THAT
AND WHETHER OR NOT ONE OF THE
THINGS I'M NERVOUS ABOUT BEYOND
ONLINE IS HOW THAT MIGHT BE
MISUSED WITH RESPECT TO STREET
VENDORS, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE
THAT IS ACTUALLY A DIFFERENT
CATEGORY OF THE KIND OF FOLKS
THAT COULD BE ENGAGING IN THINGS
IN A MORE INNOCENT WAY. AND SO I
JUST WANT TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY
COMMENTS ABOUT THAT. WE'VE BEEN
HAVING THOSE THOSE CONVERSATIONS
AS WELL. CONVERSATIONS AS WELL.
AND YOU KNOW, I THINK I THINK IT
SPEAKS TO SOMETHING THAT WOULD
BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO HAVE
OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE
INTERESTED IN DOING IS MAKING
SURE THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING
SYSTEMS THAT ARE WORKABLE THAT
THAT MARKETPLACES CAN COMPLY
WITH. I THINK, OBVIOUSLY THE
BENEFIT OF BEING AN ONLINE
MARKETPLACES. YOU HAVE A LOT OF
DATA, SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY
THE CASE THAT SOMEBODY HAS TO
SIT AND TYPE IN THIS
INFORMATION. THEY CAN COLLECT IT
ON THE FRONT END. BUT BUT I
THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. THAT'S
THAT'S ALSO WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED
WITH. SMILING AS YOU WERE ASKING
THE QUESTION BECAUSE THE GLASS
IS FULLY I BUY A LOT OF USED
BOOKS ONLINE, AND MANY OF THOSE
BOOKS COME FROM LIBRARIES THAT
HAVE HAD THE BOOKS FOR 20 YEARS,
AND EXACTLY, THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO HAVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT
WHERE THEY GOT IT BECAUSE
THEY'VE HAD IT FOR A LONG TIME.
SO I THINK THE DEVIL IS IN THE
DETAILS THERE AND WORKING OUT
EXACTLY HOW YOU WOULD DO IT, BUT
ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S I THINK
THAT'S THE IDEA THAT THAT I'M
TRYING TO CONVEY IS THAT YOU
KNOW THESE ARE INFORMATION HUBS.
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THERE IS
ALL KINDS OF DATA. AND IF YOU'RE
LOOKING AT IT IN THE RIGHT WAY,
AND YOU HAVE IT, THEN YOU CAN
SAY THESE ARE ABNORMAL. THIS IS
ABNORMAL ACTIVITY HERE, AND THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO
SPEAK TO IT AND I COMMEND THE
WORK OF THE CHP OBVIOUSLY COME
INTO WORK THAT THAT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE IS DOING
BUILDING THESE CASES FROM THE
GROUND UP. BUT IF YOU'RE REALLY
GOING TO WANT TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM FIGURING OUT A WAY TO
START ON THE BACK END AND SAY,
OKAY, YOU KNOW, IN IN DRUG CASES
YOU WORK YOUR WAY ALL THE WAY UP
HERE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT THE
STOP. WE CAN START WITH THE
CARTEL LEADER. WE CAN START WITH
THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION AND
SAY OKAY, THIS IS WE'RE VERY
CLOSE TO THIS AND THEN BUILD OUT
THE REST OF THE OPERATION. SO
YOU KNOW ALL THAT IS TO SAY THE
DEVIL IS THE DETAILS. WE'RE
DEFINITELY TALKING ABOUT THAT,
BUT I THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD
BE LOOKING AT, IS MAKING SURE
THAT WE'RE COLLECTING AND
GETTING THAT INFORMATION. BUT
AGAIN IN A WAY THAT RECOGNIZES
YOU KNOW THAT THE MARKETPLACES
IT IN COME TO THE TABLE, SAYING
WE DON'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN
THIS. THEY CAME TO THE TABLE,
SAYING WE'RE MARKETPLACES. WE
CREATED A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
COULD, YOU KNOW, SELL GOODS TO
EACH OTHER AND RESELL OLD
LIBRARY BOOKS, YOU KNOW, SO THIS
IS THIS IS IT'S NOT NEW FOR THEM
NOW, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT
THEY HAD TO DEVELOP. SO ALL THAT
TO SAY ABSOLUTELY. IT JUST SORT
OF SEEMS THAT YOU KNOW WHEN I
BUY SOMETHING ON EBAY OR AMAZON,
I HAVE A RECORD OF WHERE IT CAME
FROM, YOU KNOW, I THINK MOST
RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS WHEN THEY
PURCHASE SOMETHING FROM A
MANUFACTURER WHOLESALER. THEY'VE
GOT A BILL OF LADING AND THEY
KEEP THOSE RECORDS. IT DOESN'T
SEEM LIKE IT WOULD BE
UNREASONABLE TO REQUIRE ONLINE
RETAILERS TO ACTUALLY HAVE
SOMETHING THAT SHOWS THAT THEIR
STUFF CAME FROM A ILLEGITIMATE
SOURCE. I'M WONDERING IF YOU
WOULD SORT OF HELP US THINK
THROUGH THIS AND PROVIDES SOME
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HOW THAT MIGHT
OCCUR WITHOUT OVERREACH. UM AND
SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
WE'RE DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, UM GOING
TO, UM COMMANDER PACHECO.
CAPTAIN. CAPTAIN PACHECO. I'M
SORRY. SORRY. YEAH YES. UM, SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WAS VERY
INTERESTED IN YOUR TESTIMONY. UM
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT RELATED
TO WE HAVE SOME LAWS ON THE
BOOKS ALREADY THAT CREATE
PENALTY ENHANCEMENTS WHEN YOU
ACTUALLY HAVE A FELONY, UM,
ROBBERY, BUT THIS IS THE CONTEXT
OF THE SMASH AND GRAB IN WHICH
THERE IS PROPERTY DAMAGE. THAT
IS ALMOST INTENTIONAL THAT
OCCURS WITH THE THEFT. SO
SOMEONE COMING INTO A STORE
REALLY JUST TRASHING THE WHOLE
STORE. THE CABINET, THE GLASS
PANELS, ALL OF THAT, UM, I'M
WONDERING IF YOU CAN GIVE US A
SENSE OF SHARED SORT OF HOW AND
ONE OF THE REQUESTS THAT IS OUT
THERE. THAT'S FOLKS HAVE ASKED
US CONSIDER IS ACTUALLY LOWERING
THE LEVEL OF UM, WHEN THAT
ENHANCEMENT MIGHT HAPPEN IN
TERMS OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT CAN
YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF SORT OF
YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT THE
WHEN FOLKS COME IN AND TRASH
THESE STORES WHAT THE VALUE OF
THE PROPERTY DAMAGE SORT OF
LOOKS LIKE. UM I CAN SPEAK TO
THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T CARE
ABOUT THE PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT
THEY'RE CREATING AT THE TIME OF
THEM, GATHERING WHATEVER
MERCHANDISE THEREAFTER, AND I
CAN ALSO SAY THAT MANY OF THESE
CRIMINALS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT
THRESHOLD IS, AND THEY WILL GO
UP ALMOST RIGHT TO THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT JUST BELOW IT SO THAT
THEY ARE NOT IN THAT FELONY
CATEGORY. AND THAT CAUSES A BIT
OF AN ISSUE WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO
GO IN ON THESE BLITZ OPERATIONS.
WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY RIGHT
THERE TO TAKE THAT PERSON INTO
CUSTODY AND THEN MAKE THE
CHARGES ADDING ON PROPERTY
DAMAGE CAN ABSOLUTELY BE A
CHARGE IN ADDITION TO WHAT
THEY'VE STOLEN SO THAT THE
FAMILY LEVELS 950, SO OBVIOUSLY
THE PROPERTY DAMAGE ALMOST
ALWAYS IS OVER THE 915. WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT ENHANCEMENTS THAT
I THINK ARE TRIGGERED WITH
$50,000 OR $100,000 IN PROPERTY
DAMAGE ABOVE THAT. UM AND I
THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
FOLKS HAVE SAID IS THAT OFTEN
THERE'S SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT ARE BELOW
$100,000. SO I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE
A SENSE? DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA
THAT COULD HELP US UNDERSTAND?
SORT OF WHAT THESE DOLLAR
AMOUNTS LOOK LIKE WHEN PEOPLE
COME IN AND TRASHED AN ENTIRE
STORE. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT
THE INDIVIDUAL TEAMS WILL GATHER
DATA ON. UM BUT WORKING WITH THE
RETAILERS. I MEAN, WE DO MEET
WITH THEM QUARTERLY AND SOME OF
THEM MONTHLY. THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND START
ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS AND START
LOOKING INTO THAT AND GATHERING
THAT DATA. YES. THANK YOU. AND
THEN I THINK THE LAST THING IS
THAT, UM IS PROSECUTION ACROSS
DISTRICTS. I'D LIKE TO SORT OF
GET THE VIEWS FROM MR READING
AND COMMISSIONER DURING A ABOUT
CURRENTLY THERE. MAYBE. UM YOU
KNOW, FELONY. FELONY THEFT
THAT'S OCCURRING IN DIFFERENT
COUNTIES. UM I THINK TODAY FROM
WHAT I UNDERSTAND, UM MULTIPLE
THEFTS THAT MAY OCCUR IN
DIFFERENT COUNTIES CAN BE
PROSECUTED BY THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE, BUT NOT BY A
LOCAL D A. UM AND SO I'M JUST
WONDERING IF YOU COULD SORT OF
GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT
THE PROS AND CONS WOULD BE ABOUT
ALLOWING PROSECUTION BY A
DISTRICT D A AND ONE IN ONE AREA
WHEN THERE'S BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW,
FELONY THEFT IN MORE THAN ONE
COUNTY AND ALSO, I THINK UM,
THINKING ABOUT SORT OF THE ISSUE
OF SORT OF WHERE THE FENCING IS
OCCURRING. YEAH. SO? SO YOU'RE
CORRECT. SO CORRECT. EXCUSE ME,
SO RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY EXACTLY
THAT THAT PROVISION THAT
ALLOWED, UH ONE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY TO BRING IN MULTIPLE
THEFT SUNSET A FEW YEARS AGO.
NOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS THE
ONLY PROSECUTORIAL AGENCY IN THE
STATE THAT CAN BRING IN MULTIPLE
THEFTS, UM FROM FROM FROM
DIFFERENT COUNTIES. WITH SOME
ZOE SOME EXCEPTIONS, BUT YEAH. I
MEAN, LOOK THAT THAT PUTS, UM IT
PUTS PRESSURE ON US TO TAKE
THOSE CASES. DÍAS OFFICES RANGE
FROM HUNDREDS TO SOMETIMES JUST
TWO OR THREE AND IN DIFFERENT
PLACES. UM, AND SO THE WE HAVE
OUR OWN. THRESHOLDS AND OUR OWN
CHARGING GUIDELINES WE'RE
LOOKING AT. LIKE WE SAID LARGER,
COMPLEX CASES. WE HAVE A LIMITED
NUMBER OF PROSECUTORS. THEY'RE
TAKING THESE CASES VERY
SERIOUSLY, BUT HAVE LOTS OF
CASES TO DO AS WELL. UM AND SO
WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS
THAT THERE IS NO GAP WHERE
SOMETHING DOESN'T REALLY MEET
OUR THRESHOLD BUT IS TOO BIG OR
DÍAS OFFICE DOESN'T HAVE THE
ABILITY. TO LOOK AT THE BROAD
SCOPE. SO YOU KNOW, TWO MORE
DIRECTLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD
ABSOLUTELY BE INTERESTED IN
DISCUSSING AGAIN. I THINK I
UNDERSTAND THE COUNTER ARGUMENTS
AND WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE A
SITUATION WHERE DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS ARE FIGHTING OVER
CASES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW THE LIMIT IN THESE
CASES. AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT
. WE'RE NOT REACHING THE BOTTOM
OF BARREL AND SAYING, YOU KNOW,
WE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE
COMMITTING LARGE CASES. THE
LIMIT IS, UM THE RESOURCES WERE
ABLE TO PUT IN THE CASE AND THE
INVESTIGATION AND CERTAINLY IT
IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S BELIEF
THAT BEING ABLE TO SINK IN THOSE
CASES SINKING THAT INVESTIGATION
AND COME TO A MORE BROAD AND
MORE FULL PICTURE OF WHAT AN
INDIVIDUAL IS INVOLVED IN. BE IT
IN SAN BERNARDINO OR RIVERSIDE
OR LOS ANGELES IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULD BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY
AND SHOULD IN THOSE CASES BE
BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURT. I
THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, GIVEN
THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS A
SORT OF A STATEWIDE PERSPECTIVE
OF HELPING US THINK THROUGH THAT
ISSUE. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
INTEREST TO ALLOW THIS CROSS
JURISDICTIONAL ENFORCEMENT. BUT
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE
SOME DOWNSIDES TO THAT. AND I'D
LIKE TO SORT OF UNDERSTAND WHAT
THOSE DOWNSIDES ARE AND IF
THERE'S ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE COULD
GIVE US ABOUT WHAT KIND OF GUARD
RAILS THERE MIGHT BE IF WE WENT
IN THAT DIRECTION WOULD BE
HELPFUL, ABSOLUTELY HAPPY TO
HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. I SEE.
WHAT IS THAT FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE SO MANY OF
THESE CASES DO CROSS YOUR
BOUNDARIES, AND MAYBE SOME OF
THEM DON'T MEET THE THRESHOLD AT
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
PROSECUTING THAT THERE WOULD BE
AN ADVANTAGE FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE TO ALLOW THAT IN
CERTAIN INSTANCES NOW WHAT THAT
POLICY LOOKS LIKE WE'RE HAPPY TO
LEND OUR VOICE FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE AND HELP WORK
THROUGH THAT WITH THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS AND THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE. I WOULD
APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD DO
THAT. SO WITH THAT I DON'T HAVE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. BUT I'D
LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ASSEMBLER
MEMBER ALWAYS RAISE GÓMEZ WANT
TO GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE SHORT OPENING STATEMENT IF
SHE'D LIKE. AND IT'S AND IT'S
GETTING QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT
HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. APPRECIATE, UM THE
INVITATION TO BE PART OF THIS
JOINT. COMMITTEE HEARING AND I
THANK YOU AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
CARDI FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
I'M ONE OF THE NEW MEMBERS OF
THE ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE AND SINCE BEING
APPOINTED, I'VE BEEN SPENDING A
LOT OF TIME OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS, DIVING DEEPER INTO THIS
POLICY AREA AND GETTING A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHO THE
STAKEHOLDERS ARE. WHAT THE
PROBLEM IS THAT EXISTS
SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO THIS
AND WITH THE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
BEING CONSIDERED CONSIST OF I DO
WANT TO BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT
IT'S CLEAR THAT OUR COMMUNITY
DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE. OUR
RETAILERS DESERVE TO OPEN THEIR
DOORS AND KNOW THAT THEIR
CUSTOMERS ARE ARE SAFE AND OUR
SHOPPERS DESERVE TO BE SAFE.
JUST THIS WEEK, I HAD A MEETING
WITH THE CALIFORNIA RETAILERS
ASSOCIATION ABOUT THEIR
CONCERNS. SPECIFICALLY WITH THE
BIG BOX STORES ACROSS OUR STATE.
BUT THOSE VERY CONCERNS WERE
ALSO ECHOED BY MY LOCAL SMALL
BUSINESSES IN MY COMMUNITY. WE
HAD A MEETING WITH OUR REDLANDS
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THAT MY
STAFF ATTENDED. ALONG WITH OUR
POLICE CHIEF, RACHEL TOBER, WHO
REPORTED THE INCREASE IN THESE
THESE PARTICULAR CRIMES. WE KNOW
THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF
STATISTICS ABOUT THE DECREASE IN
CRIME AND MANY OTHER AREAS AND
PROBABLY ALMOST ALL OTHER AREAS,
ESPECIALLY VIOLENT CRIMES. BUT
THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE WE HAVE
SEEN AN INCREASE. A COUPLE OF
MONTHS AGO. I'VE ALSO HAD A
MEETING WITH A NUMBER OF MEMBERS
OF THE SICK COMMUNITY WHO WERE
SHARING THAT NOT ONLY WAS THERE
AN INCREASE IN RETAIL THEFT, BUT
ALSO AN INCREASE IN VIOLENCE,
AND WE HAD THEN THE CROSSOVER
NOT ONLY OF RETAIL THEFT BUT
ALSO OF, UM, HATE CRIMES
COMMITTED AGAINST THE SICK
COMMUNITY. WITH SOME HORRIBLE UM
EXAMPLES THAT WERE SHARED. IT'S
CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO SERIOUSLY
EXAMINE CRIME AND ITS CAUSES.
BUT ANOTHER THING I ALSO WANT TO
BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT AS A
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE I'M NOT INTERESTED IN
POLITICAL RHETORIC AND I WANT TO
BE FOCUSED ON REAL SOLUTIONS TO
COMBAT ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT
AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES. WE NEED TO ANSWERS
AND I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING TO
ACHIEVE THEM. BUT ALSO WITHOUT
QUESTION SOLUTIONS. THAT THAT
I'VE SEEN THAT THAT HAD BEEN
OFFERED DO NOT APPEAR TO ME TO
ADDRESS THE ROOT OF THE VERY
SPECIFIC PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE
EXAMINING. WE CANNOT GO BACK. TO
MASS INCARCERATION.
WE HAVE WE HAVE LAWS UNDER
ASSEMBLY RULES. IF WE COULD JUST
ASK FOLKS TO NOT APPLAUD. WE LET
IT HAPPEN ONE OTHER TIME, SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT GO.
YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END
OR YOU CAN SUBMIT COMMENTS TO
US. BUT PLEASE DON'T DON'T, UM,
APPLAUD, OR, UM, MAKE OTHER
GESTURES AS PEOPLE SPEAK, SO
THANK YOU. ESPECIALLY NO
NEGATIVE GESTURES, PLEASE. UM I
THINK THAT WE ALREADY HAVE LAWS
ON THE BOOKS AND THOSE ARE LAWS
THAT WE NEED TO ENFORCE, AND
THEY NEED TO BE ENFORCED.
EQUITABLY UM, WITH WITH
EVERYONE. UM WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT REPEAT OFFENDERS OF RETAIL
THEFT, ESPECIALLY ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIMES. OH WE HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THAT IS AT A
DIFFERENT LEVEL. WE'RE NOT
TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS. WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING MUCH
BIGGER. THAT IS TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF OUR VERY COMMUNITY WHO IS
VERY VULNERABLE. UM SUSCEPTIBLE
TO A LOT OF ORGANIZED CRIME IS
TRYING TO OFFER TO THEM. THESE
CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES ARE
TERRORIZING NOT ONLY OUR
COMMUNITIES BUT STORES. AND
THERE HAS TO BE THE PUNISHMENT
TO THE ORGANIZED CRIME WITHOUT A
DOUBT. THE IF THERE ARE CONCERNS
REGARDING OUR ABILITY TO CARRY
OUT THE LAW AGAINST THESE
INDIVIDUALS, I AM HERE TO HEAR
ABOUT THE SUGGESTIONS. WE HAVE A
LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND THERE'S
NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. UM I
THINK THAT, UM IT FOR ME. IT'S A
PRIVILEGE TO SIT ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. BECAUSE PUBLIC
SAFETY IS A PRIORITY FOR
EVERYONE. FOR EVERYONE. AND I DO
LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION
THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY. UM AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
INFORMATION THAT IS BEING
PROVIDED. I DID WANT TO, UM,
ALSO COMMENT ON THE WORK THAT
OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL IS DOING
SPECIFICALLY IN THIS AREA. UH
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS,
THE SOLUTION CANNOT BE JUST ONE
PERSON. ONE ORGANIZATION. IT IS
HAVING SOMEBODY AT HIS LEVEL. UM
ALSO BE ABLE TO ORGANIZE
EVERYBODY. UM AND THAT'S
ORGANIZED EVERYBODY TO COME UP
WITH SOLUTIONS. AND I THINK THAT
WHEN WE BRING ALL THE
STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER, THAT'S
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO
IT. SO IT'S THOSE WHO COME TO
SEE US FROM, UH, THAT WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT
CRIMINALIZING POVERTY. BUT ALSO
THOSE WHO ARE THE OWNERS OF
THESE RETAIL STORES SAYING
YOU'VE GOT TO HELP US KEEP OUR
DOORS OPEN AND YOU'VE GOT TO
HELP US SO THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR
CUSTOMERS COME IN. SO I DO.
THANK YOU. AND I'M SORRY THAT I
MISSED THE FIRST PART OF THIS,
BUT THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN VERY
INFORMATIVE FROM BOTH MISS MISS
BRONTE AND MR ZUBER. THANK YOU.
I THINK WE'RE AT TIME FOR THIS
PANEL. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL
THE PANELISTS FOR MAKING IT UP
TO MAKE IT DOWN TO CALIFORNIA.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO TRAVELED TO
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WELCOME TO
WEST HOLLYWOOD AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. VERY,
VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. NOW LIKE TO ASK OUR SECOND
SET OF PANELISTS, UM TO COME UP
AND TAKE SEATS AT THE AT THE
TABLE.
SO THANK YOU ALL WELCOME. OUR
NEXT PANEL IS INCLUDES FOLKS
THAT ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING
MORE OF A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE ON
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS RETAIL CRIME
IN OUR COMMUNITIES WERE GRATEFUL
TO BE JOINED TODAY BY DEPUTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY PAUL KIM FROM
THE LOS ANGELES UM, DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HEAD DEPUTY
FOR THE HEAD, DEPUTY PUBLIC
DEFENDER SEAN MCDONALD. FROM THE
LOS ANGELES PUBLIC DEFENDER'S
OFFICE. ERICA LUSH SHAHEEN,
DIRECTOR OF LEAD IN THE OFFICE
OF DIVERSION AND RE ENTRY AT THE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES, AND SEAN HOW ON
BEHALF OF SHIELDS FOR FAMILIES?
UM WHICH ONE OF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO START, MR KIM? DOES THAT MAKE
SENSE? YES. AND PLEASE, PLEASE
LET YOUR COMMENTS TO FIVE
MINUTES. THANK YOU. I THINK YOU
MIGHT HAVE TO TURN BUTTON ON THE
RIGHT IN FRONT. THERE'S A BUTTON
THAT SAYS PUSH. OKAY THANK YOU.
UH MY NAME IS PAUL CAM AND I AM
THE ASSISTANT HAD DEPUTY OF THE
ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION. LOT OF
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, THE
ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION
PROCESSES ALL OF THE RETAIL
THEFT CASES IN THE COUNTY OF LOS
ANGELES. UH AND I SHOULD SAY WE
HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP, AND
THE PARTNERSHIP IS WITH THE LOS
ANGELES SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT TASK
FORCE AND THE LAPD ORGANIZED
RETAIL THEFT TASK FORCE. THESE
TWO TASK FORCE LED BY CAPTAIN
PEACOCK AND CAPTAIN BOATING
COLLECTIVELY EACH HAVE A TEAM OF
ABOUT 30 DETECTIVES THAT ARE
FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON COMBATING
RETAIL THEFT HERE IN THE COUNTY
OF LOS ANGELES. I THINK THE BEST
WAY FOR ME TO INFORM THIS
COMMITTEE OF THE MANNER IN WHICH
LEDA IS COMBATING RETAIL THEFT
IS BY GIVING YOU SOME EXAMPLES.
I'D LIKE TO START WITH SOME OF
THE REACTIVE SIDE THE REACTIVE
SIDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN WE
REACT TO THE PROBLEMS THAT WE
ARE CONFRONTING. WE HAD A CASE
THAT OCCURRED RECENTLY WERE
SACKS AND BEVERLY HILLS WAS HIT
BY A FLASH. A FLASH MOB 10
PEOPLE CAME IN ALL MASKED,
WEARING HOODIES. THEY CAME IN
ONE AFTER ANOTHER. THEY HAD
GETAWAY CARS NEARBY, ONE FACING
NORTH ONE FACING SOUTH. THEY
WENT INTO THE CHANEL STORE AND
STARTED GRABBING BAGS. AND YOU
CAN SEE ON THE VIDEOS. CHANEL
EMPLOYEES FRIGHTENED, HORRIFIED.
UH JUMPING OVER COUNTERS TO GET
AWAY. THEY WENT TO THE
LOUISVILLE ATON STORE, ALSO IN
SEX AND STILL PURCHASED FROM
THERE AS WELL. NOW. THE L A. D A
S OFFICE FILED ROBBERY CHARGES
IN THIS CASE AND WHEN WE WENT TO
THE PRELIMINARY HEARING, AND I
CAN TELL YOU THESE FACTS BECAUSE
THERE ARE PART OF THE PUBLIC
RECORD. WE ARGUE THAT THE
INTIMIDATING NATURE IN WHICH
THESE INDIVIDUALS CAME IN THE
FORCE THAT THEY USE AND THAT THE
FEAR THAT WAS INSTILLED WITHIN
THE STORE EMPLOYEES MADE THIS A
ROBBERY AND THE BENCH OFFICER
THAT PRESIDED AT THE PRELIMINARY
HEARING, AGREED WITH THAT
CONCLUSION, AND THE DEFENDANTS
WERE ALL HELD TO ANSWER ON
ROBBERY CHARGES. SO THAT'S ONE
OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO
COMBAT THESE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE
HAVING. NOT JUST HERE IN LOS
ANGELES, BUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY. NOW THAT'S THE REACTIVE
SIDE TO PROSECUTION. THERE'S
ALSO A PROACTIVE SIDE, AND I
THINK THAT'S ALSO BEST EXPLAINED
BY EXAMPLE. WE HAD A CASE THAT
WAS BROUGHT TO US BY THE LAPD
COMMERCIAL CRIMES DIVISION. AND
THEY HAD BEEN WORKING ON A
FENCING OPERATION. THESE TYPES
OF OPERATIONS TAKEN INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF RESOURCES. YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE
WATCHING THE FANCY LOCATION LATE
AT NIGHT, USING NIGHT VISION
GOGGLES. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
UNDERCOVER OFFICERS. YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT CONFIDENTIAL,
RELIABLE INFORMANTS. YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT HAVING TO ARREST
INDIVIDUALS AT THE END. WHAT WE
NOTICED FROM THIS OPERATION IS.
THERE WOULD BE A LINE OF PEOPLE
STARTING AT LET'S SAY SEVEN
O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. ALL WITH A
BUNCH OF TRASH BAGS, AND THESE
TRASH BAGS WOULD BE FULL OF
ITEMS THAT HAD BEEN STOLEN FROM
LOCAL RETAILERS GENERALLY
SUNDRIES. LOTIONS DEODORANTS,
RAIDER RAZORS, SHAMPOOS. AND
THEY WOULD BE PAID BY A
MIDDLEMAN AND THEN IN THE BACK
WOULD BE A VERY LARGE U HAUL
TYPE TRUCK WHERE ALL THE STOLEN
GOODS AT THE END OF THE NIGHT
WOULD BE DROPPED OFF. NOW AFTER
THIS OCCURS AT THIS POINT IN THE
DISTRIBUTION STREAM. THE
MIDDLEMAN IS GOING TO TAKE THIS
TO A BRICK AND MORTAR STORE. AND
THIS BRICK AND MORTAR STORE IS
GOING TO SELL THESE ITEMS AND
WHEN THE BRICK AND MORTAR STORE
WAS SEARCHED FROM FLORIDA,
RAFTER UH, EVERY SQUARE INCH
WHERE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN
STOLEN, UH, TOTALING A COUPLE
$100,000 FROM LOCAL RETAIL THEFT
MERCHANTS. THE INDIVIDUALS THAT
WE'RE BRINGING THE ITEMS TO
BOOSTERS. A LOT OF THESE MEMBERS
WE'RE ON HOUSED. A LOT OF THESE
INDIVIDUALS HAD SUBSTANCE ABUSE
PROBLEMS. THEY WERE GETTING
PROBABLY 10 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR.
BUT WHEN WE RAIDED THE FACILITY
WHAT WE SAW INSIDE OF THE
FACILITY WEREN'T JUST STOLEN
GOODS. WE FOUND HUNDREDS OF
LAPTOPS. HUNDREDS OF PHONES.
THESE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE BEING
TAKEN FROM AUTO BURGLARIES. SO
THERE'S THIS NEXUS AND SO WE DO
WANT TO BE PROACTIVE WITH OUR
PROSECUTIONS. WE WANT TO GO
AFTER THE RETAILERS. UH NIKE
RECENTLY CAME TO A PRESS
CONFERENCE AT THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY ANOTHER MINUTE AND
THEY'VE ALSO BEEN A VERY GOOD
PARTNER BECAUSE NIKE SHOES ARE
KIND OF LIKE BASEBALL CARDS.
THEY'RE COLLECTIBLES AND WORKING
WITH. I THINK THE PRIVATE SECTOR
AND WORKING WITH OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS. I THINK
WE'RE DOING AN EFFECTIVE JOB
COMBATING RETAIL THEFT, BUT
OBVIOUSLY WE NEED HELP. WE NEED
HELP FROM OUR RETAILER PARTNERS.
WE NEED BETTER CAMERAS. WE NEED
BETTER SENSORS. THERE WAS ONLY
ONE RETAILER OUT OF ABOUT 10
THAT HAD A SPECIAL WAND THAT
THEY COULD USE TO DETECT THAT
THE PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN
RECOVERED HAD NEVER GONE THROUGH
A CASH REGISTER. AND FINALLY, WE
NEED TO ADDRESS THE VERY ROOT
PROBLEMS. UH, THAT WAS MENTIONED
BY ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
EARLIER TODAY, WHICH IS WE HAVE
TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF
POVERTY. HOMELESSNESS SUBSTANCE
ABUSE AND MENTAL ILLNESS THAT
ARE ALL CONTRIBUTING TO THIS
PROBLEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR
MCDONALD. BORING. MORNING I'M
SEAN MCDONALD WITH THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S
OFFICE. I'M AHEAD, DEPUTY UM I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
US TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
HEARING TODAY ON THE JOINT
HEARINGS SELECT COMMITTEE ON
RETAIL THEFT AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
I NOTICED THE AGENDA. TIED ALL
IN QUOTATIONS. RETAIL CRIME
EXPLORING SOLUTIONS THAT WORK.
AND I'D LIKE TO START OFF. JUST
BY SAYING THAT INCREASING THE
INCARCERATION RATES, UH, IS NOT
A SOLUTION, AND IT DOESN'T WORK.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, I'D LIKE TO
ADDRESS UM RECENT PROPOSALS. TO
AMEND AMENDMENTS TO CURRENT
STATUTES THAT INCREASE. THE
PUNISHMENT FOR SHOPLIFTING. THEY
THERE'S SOME PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
TO ELEVATE. UM SHOPLIFTING WITH
PRIORS FROM A MISDEMEANOR WITH A
MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF SIX MONTHS
IN JAIL TO A FELONY WITH A
MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF THREE YEARS
IN JAIL. THESE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TARGET THE WRONG
OFFENDERS. YOU'RE TARGETING
SHOPLIFTERS. YOU'RE NOT
TARGETING TARGETING THE
ORGANIZED CRIME THAT THE
PREVIOUS PANEL ADDRESSED, UM
COMMISSIONER. UH. DIRTY
INDICATED THESE YOU'RE NOT.
WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH
SHOPLIFTERS. WE ARE FOCUSING ON
THE WALL AND THE ONES WHO ARE
BENEFITING THE MOST. THAT'S NOT
WHAT THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
DUE TO THE SHOPLIFTING CRIMES
THEY FOCUS ON THE OFFENDERS THAT
ARE MOST VULNERABLE OR MENTALLY
ILL ARE ON HOUSED. UH ARE PEOPLE
LIVING IN POVERTY AND IT THE
INCREASED PENALTIES. THEY'RE NOT
A DETERRENT. THEY'RE NOT A
SOLUTION. THEY DO NOT WORK. WE
HAVE. LAWS CURRENTLY ON THE
BOOKS SPECIFICALLY TARGETING
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT AND THOSE
LAWS ARE SUFFICIENT. AND THEN IF
THE. THE ASSEMBLY IS INTERESTED
IN INCREASING PENALTIES. AND THE
MISGUIDED. BELIEF THAT THAT WILL
SOMEHOW COMBAT THE STAFFS. THEN
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU FOCUS
ON RETAIL, THE ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME. WITH ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE
TAKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF
ENHANCEMENT. SO IF YOU YOU KNOW,
30,000. DOLLARS OF GOODS. YOU
GET AN EXTRA AMOUNT OF TIME
50,000 YOU GET AN EXTRA AMOUNT
OF TIME. I THINK, STATISTICALLY
SPEAKING. IT WILL NOT CHANGE.
INCARCERATION AND THE THREAT OF
INCARCERATION IS NOT A DETERRENT
TO CRIME. WHAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IN WASHINGTON, D C. IS THAT THE
BIGGEST DETERRENT TO THIS TYPE
OF CRIME IS A CERTAINTY OF
GETTING CAUGHT AND THAT, UH,
WOULD BRING UP OTHER ISSUES
REGARDING THE RETAILERS TAKING
PROACTIVE ACTIONS. WHICH UH,
MAKING SECURITY MORE PRESENT,
MAKING THE. RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT
MORE SECURE SO THAT YOU ARE
MAKING THAT PERSPECTIVE,
SHOPLIFTER AFRAID THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO GET CAUGHT AT THE TIME.
UM.
I WOULD JUST IMPLORE THIS
COMMUNITY NOT TO GO BACK. TO THE
FAULTY REASONING AND POLICIES
THAT LED TO MASS INCARCERATION.
AND YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
THE SHOPLIFTING. UH, STATUTES
ARE DOING EXACTLY THAT. NEXT
YEAR, THEY WILL BE BACK ASKING
FOR INCREASED PENALTIES FOR THE
RECIDIVIST WHO JUST GOT OUT OF
PRISON. LET'S WHAT'S REINSTALL
THE ONE YEAR PRIOR. OH, THIS
PERSON HAS PRIOR VIOLENT CASES.
LET'S DOUBLE HIS SENTENCE YOU
WERE, YOU WILL FALL RIGHT BACK
INTO THAT FAULTY. REASONING IF
WE ABANDON THE PROGRESS WE HAVE
MADE. THANK YOU. WELCOME JUST
WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE DON'T
HAVE ANY PROPOSALS OUT ON THE
TABLE YET. WE'RE JUST LISTENING
TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND
CONSIDERING THEM, BUT THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT, UM MR HAIN. GOOD MORNING.
AH THANK YOU, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
AND THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT LEAD
LEAD US THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
ASSISTED DIVERSION PROGRAM. IT'S
A NATIONAL EVIDENCE BASED
PROGRAM THAT BEGAN IN SEATTLE IN
THE EARLY 20 TENS IN RESPONSE TO
FAILED POLICIES RELATED TO THE
WAR ON DRUGS AND MASS
INCARCERATION. IT'S NOW AN OVER
70 JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE U. S
AND OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL.
LEADERS OF PUBLIC SAFETY
PROGRAM. THAT PROVIDES A
COMMUNITY BASED SYSTEM OF
RESPONSE AND CARE TO ADDRESS
FREQUENT CONTACT WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT THAT IS RELATED TO
EXTREME POVERTY, SUBSTANCE USE
AND ARE UNMET MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS. LEAD. THE AIM IS TO
INTERVENE AT THE EARLIEST POINT
POSSIBLE IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY
HARMS THAT RESULT FROM ARREST
AND INCARCERATION, WHILE ALSO
SAVING THE PUBLIC MONEY ON LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND COURT
INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE HIGHLY
EXPENSIVE AND DO LITTLE TO
ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF WHY A
PERSON CONTINUES TO BE ARRESTED.
HERE IN L. A COUNTY LEADERS, A
PARTNERSHIP AMONG THE OFFICE OF
DIVERSION AND REENTRY. LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT, LAPD, LONG BEACH PD
AND PROSECUTION OFFICES, THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE CITY
ATTORNEY AND THE CITY OF LONG
BEACH PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. WE'VE
BEEN OPERATING LEAD PROGRAMS
SINCE 2017. WE CURRENTLY COVERED
THREE AREAS IN THE COUNTY AND
SUTHERLAND LONG BEACH. HOLLYWOOD
RAMPART, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET
AND EAST L A, WERE ALSO IN THE
PROCESS OF EXPANDING SERVICES.
LEADERS INTENDED TO BE A
SOLUTION FOR THOSE WHO ARE
GENERATING MULTIPLE CALLS FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WHO ARE
FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS OF
TRADITIONAL SYSTEM OF CARE. AND
MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES THERE
ARE PEOPLE WHO TEND TO BE IN THE
SAME PLACE IS ENGAGING IN THE
BEHAVIOR THAT THE PUBLIC HAS
CONCERNS ABOUT. THIS CAN LOOK
LIKE SOMEONE USING DRUGS AT THE
GAS STATION OR STEALING FOOD
FROM A GROCERY STORE STATUS QUO
RESPONSES TO CALL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
AT THAT POINT REALLY HAS TWO
OPTIONS TO DEAL WITH THE
SITUATION. IGNORE OR ARREST WITH
LEAD. WE PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT
WITH THE THIRD OPTION. THEY CAN
ASK THE PERSON IF THEY'D LIKE
MORE HELP. AND IF THE PERSON
AGREES A LAID CASE MANAGER
RESPONDS IN THE FIELD. UH
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS
BUSINESSES OR CITY COUNCIL
OFFICES OR EVEN COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS CAN ALSO REFER
INDIVIDUALS TO LEAD PARTICIPANTS
AGREE TO BE IN LEAD VOLUNTARILY.
MANY SAY YES TO LEAD WHEN THEY
HAVE DECLINED OTHER PROGRAMS,
INCLUDING COURT ORDERED PROGRAMS
BECAUSE WE MAKE IT EXTREMELY
EASY TO BE IN LEAD. WE FOCUSED
ON BUILDING LONG TERM, TRUSTING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTICIPANTS
AND WORK WITH THEM ON THINGS
THEY IDENTIFY AS PRIORITY, NOT
GOALS THAT ARE ARTIFICIALLY AND
PUNITIVELY IMPOSED ON THEM.
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO
MAINTAIN SOBRIETY OR GO TO
TREATMENT. IN LEAD. THE
RELATIONSHIP IS THE
INTERVENTION. THERE IS SOMETIMES
THE SENTIMENT THAT VOLUNTARY
PROGRAMS LACK ACCOUNTABILITY.
HOWEVER LEAD IS ACTUALLY MORE
ACCOUNTABLE TO COMMUNITY
CONCERNS THAN MANY PROGRAMS WITH
LEAD. THE COMMUNITY GETS OUR
OFFICE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
AND A TEAM OF COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, ALL WORKING TOGETHER
TO TAKE COMMUNITY SAFETY
CONCERNS SERIOUSLY AND PROVIDE
APPROPRIATE CARE FOR LEAD
PARTICIPANTS, SO THEY'RE NO
LONGER AT RISK OF ARREST. WE
MEET REGULARLY WITH STAKEHOLDERS
SUCH AS LAW ENFORCEMENT
PROSECUTION CITY COUNCIL CBOS SO
THAT IF A LEAD PARTICIPANT
CONTINUES TO CAUSE DISRUPTION IN
THE COMMUNITY, THESE
STAKEHOLDERS CAN COME TO LEAD
INSTEAD OF CALLING LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND WE CAN PROBLEM
SOLVE THE SITUATION IN A WAY
THAT REDUCES HARM FOR ALL
INVOLVED. PARTICIPANTS IN LEAD
GOT WRAPPED AROUND INTENSIVE
CASE MANAGEMENT FOR AS LONG AS
THEY WANT IT. WE COMMIT TO SERVE
THEM INDEFINITELY. THERE'S NO
TIME LIMIT CASE MANAGERS HAVE
SMALL CASELOADS, SO THEY HAVE
TIME TO BE CREATIVE AND NIMBLE.
THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES
MOTELS, PERMANENT HOUSING, HARM
REDUCTION SERVICES AND SUPPLIES,
FIELD BASED PRIMARY CARES AND
SUPPORT TO RESOLVE AND CLEAR
THEIR LEGAL CASES. WE'VE
ACTUALLY FOUND THAT GETTING
SOMEONE INSIDE AND HELPING THEM
RESOLVE COMPLEX MEDICAL ISSUES
IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE WANT AND
NEED. WE'VE SEEN PARTICIPANTS
VOLUNTARILY REDUCE OR STOP
SUBSTANCES SIMPLY BY GOING
INDOORS ARE FINALLY GETTING
APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE, SO
THEY'RE NOT IN PAIN ANYMORE. AN
EVALUATION SO THAT LEAD
PARTICIPANTS HAVE BETTER
OUTCOMES. NATIONAL EVALUATIONS
OF LEAD CONSISTENTLY SHOW
REDUCED RECIDIVISM AMONG
PARTICIPANTS AND L A. THE
RESULTS ARE THE SAME AFTER 12
MONTHS OF PARTITION
PARTICIPATION, LEAD PARTICIPANTS
WERE BETTER OFF THAN THE
COMPARISON GROUP. THEY
EXPERIENCED FIVE TIMES LESS
FELONY ARREST HAD FIVE TIMES
LESS FELONY CASES FILED, SPENT
FOUR TIMES LESS TIME ON
PROBATION AND HAD 35% LESS
MISDEMEANOR ARRESTS. BECAUSE OF
THESE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES AND
THE 2023 ANNUAL REPORT, THE
CALIFORNIA COMMITTEE ON THE
REVISION OF THE PENAL CODE GAVE
ITS SUPPORT FOR LEAD AND
SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDED THAT
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL
JURISDICTIONS REFER PEOPLE
ARRESTED FOR LOW LEVEL OFFENSES
TO COMMUNITY BASED CARE AND LOU
OF JAIL AND PROSECUTION. WE HAVE
DECADES OF RESEARCH THAT SHOWED
THAT TOUGH ON CRIME POLICIES DO
NOT WORK AND ACTUALLY
DESTABILIZED COMMUNITIES
FURTHER. WHAT'S NEEDED FOR
LONGSTANDING PUBLIC SAFETY AS
INVESTMENT AND EFFECTIVE
COMMUNITY FOR PROGRAMS THAT
OFFER MORE FLEXIBILITY, MORE
COMPASSION AND MORE CARE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR.
HOW DID I PRONOUNCE THAT RIGHT?
HUFF HUFF. NICE TO MEET YOU.
THANK YOU. NICE NICE TO MEET YOU
AS WELL. FIVE MINUTES, PLEASE. I
AM THE VOCATIONAL SERVICES
ADMINISTRATOR WITH SHOES FOR
FAMILIES, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING SOUTH
SOUTH L. A FAMILY SINCE 1991. I
THINK WHAT WE HAVE HEARD HERE
CONSISTENTLY IS THAT WE HAVE TO
LIVE THE EXPERIENCE THAT INFORMS
US THAT WE CANNOT SIMPLY ARREST
AND INCARCERATE OUR WAY TO THE
DURABLE SAFETY. WE ALL DESIRE
AND DESERVE. TO BE SURE OUR
RETAILERS DESERVE SAFETY, AS DO
OUR SHOPPERS AND AS YOU ALL
CALIFORNIA'S THIS IS NOT UP FOR
DEBATE. IT ALSO SHOULDN'T BE UP
FOR DEBATE IS THAT WE MUST FOCUS
ON REAL SOLUTIONS AND WHAT WE
KNOW WILL WORK TO COMBAT
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT AND OTHER
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES. AND SO
I'M THANKFUL AND HONORED FOR
THIS COMMISSION HERE. THAT'S
REALLY LOOKING TO SEE WHAT ARE
THE SOLUTIONS REFORM FROM THE
PAST 10 YEARS, INCLUDING 2014
PROPOSITION, 47. HAS BEEN
CRITICAL IN MOVING CALIFORNIA
AWAY FROM ITS MASS INCARCERATION
CRISIS. AND HAVE SHOWN US WHAT
IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE PRIORITIZE
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY
INVESTING IN CRIME PREVENTION
INTERRUPTION, SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES THAT ACTUALLY LEAD TO
PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY WELL
BEING THE PREMISES OF REFORMS
SUCH AS PROP 47 WAS
STRAIGHTFORWARD IF WE STOP
SENDING TO STATE PRISONS, PEOPLE
CONVICTED OF SIMPLE POSSESSION
OF DRUGS AND PETTY THEFT AND
INSTEAD MADE THESE FOLKS
ELIGIBLE FOR A SENTENCE OF UP TO
ONE YEAR IN LOCAL JAIL WOULD
SAVE A LOT OF MONEY. THAT MONEY,
THEN COULD BE RE ALLOCATED BACK
TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT COULD
USE IT TO BUILD CRIME PREVENTION
PROGRAMS AIMED AT PEOPLE
VULNERABLE FOR RECIPROCATING,
THUS INCREASING PUBLIC SAFETY BY
ENDING THE REVOLVING DOORS THAT
HAVE BEEN THE MAIN DRIVERS OF
OUR MASS INCARCERATION PROBLEM.
THIS SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD
APPROACH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
MOST SUCCESSFUL REFORMS IN STATE
HISTORY HAS PRODUCED
EXTRAORDINARILY SUCCESSFUL
PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES AND
CONTINUES TO SHOW US WHAT IS
POSSIBLE IF WE PRIORITIZE
INVESTING IN ACTUAL PUBLIC
SAFETY. SO THERE ARE FOUR LOCAL
PUBLIC SAFETY SOLUTIONS THAT
I'LL HIGHLIGHT AMONGST MANY THAT
YOU HAVE HEARD AND WILL CONTINUE
TO HEAR. ONE. IS INVESTING IN
THE ROOT CAUSES AND NOT THE
SYMPTOMS SINCE PROP 47 WENT INTO
EFFECT, CALIFORNIA HAS INVESTED
APPROXIMATELY 800 MILLION INTO
PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS
CALIFORNIA TO INCREASE SERVICES
AVAILABLE TO SURVIVORS
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED RECIDIVISM
RATES REDUCE HOMELESSNESS RATES
INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL
HEALTH. INCREASE ACCESS TO
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
PROGRAMS AND INCREASED
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
LOS ANGELES ALONE HAS RECEIVED
MORE THAN 60 MILLION TO DATE
FROM PROP 47 SAVINGS AND HAS
USED THOSE RESOURCES TO BUILD AN
EXTENSIVE REENTRY INTENSIVE CASE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT HELPS
PEOPLE WITH OLD RECORDS FIND
EMPLOYMENT. HOUSING MENTAL
HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE
TREATMENT THEY NEED TO REGAIN
STABILITY. A RECENT INDEPENDENT
ANALYSIS OF THE COUNTY'S PROP 47
FUNDED PROGRAM FOUNDED HAS
REDUCED RECIDIVISM BY 17. SLASH
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AMONG PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS FROM 59% TO 29. AND
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE
SHIELDS FOR FAMILIES JERICHO
VOCATIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO THESE DECLINES BY
SERVING OVER 1600 COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AS ONE OF THE RS CMS
PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENT
AWARDEES. ANOTHER PROGRAM FUNDED
BY PROP 47 RUN BY THE LOS
ANGELES MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS CUT
EMPLOYMENT AMONG PARTICIPANTS
FROM 88% TO 34. THESE AMAZING
OUTCOMES ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO LOS
ANGELES IN ALAMEDA COUNTY, HAS A
PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SERVICES
FOCUSED ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE,
HOUSING DIVERSION AND MEDICAL
ASSISTANT TREATMENT. CONTRA
COUNTY COST CONTRA COUNTY'S
PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE HAS A
PROGRAM THAT UNLESS THAN TWO
YEARS HAS SEEN THE FAILURE TO
REPAIR RATE FOR CLIENTS AT ONLY
12.33% AND HAS FURTHER 50% OF
THE CLIENTS HAD NO ADDITIONAL
CHARGES FILED. IN MARIN COUNTY.
WE SEE A FUNDED PROGRAM THAT HAS
REDUCED HOMELESSNESS AMONG
PARTICIPANTS FROM 19% TO 6% AND
HAS BOOSTED INDEPENDENT LIVING
FROM 19% TO 43% A SUCCESSFULLY
FUNDED PROGRAM AND SAN FRANCISCO
. THE STAR PROGRAM HAS JUST A
1.8% RECIDIVISM RATE AMONG
PARTICIPANTS OVER THREE YEARS.
RECENT DATA FROM BSC SEE SHOWS
US THAT MORE THAN 70,000.
CALIFORNIANS HAVE RECEIVED
TREATMENT THROUGH PROGRAMS
FUNDED THROUGH THE PROP 47
GENERATED PUBLIC SAFETY
INVESTMENTS. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE
REDUCED HOMELESSNESS BY 64%
REDUCED EMPLOYMENT BY 32% AND
INCREASE FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT BY
180. ADDITIONALLY PROGRAMS THAT
FOCUS ON REDUCING CRIME BY
JUSTICE INVOLVED, PEOPLE
REPORTED A RECIDIVISM RATE OF
12% THIS IS A 76% REDUCTION OVER
STATE AVERAGES. IT SHOULD ALSO
BE NOTED THAT ALL OF THIS WAS
ACCOMPLISHED WHILE CRIME RATES
IN CALIFORNIA WERE DECLINING.
PROPERTY CRIME RACE IN
CALIFORNIA DECLINED FOR FIVE
CONSECUTIVE YEARS AFTER REFORMS
THAT PROP 47 WENT INTO EFFECT
AND IN 2019 AND 2020 PROPERTY
CRIME RATE HIT SOME OF THEIR
LOWEST LEVELS IN RECORDED
HISTORY. AND ALTHOUGH CRIME
RATES CONTINUE TO TICK UP IN
2021 AND 2022 ON THE HEELS OF
THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, IT MUST BE
SAID THAT CRIME RATES TODAY ARE
STILL LOWER THAN THEY WERE. PRE
PANDEMIC. YOU GOT IT. NUMBER TWO
INVESTING AND R K THROUGH 12
SCHOOLS WE SAW OVER 1200 SCHOOLS
RECEIVED INVESTMENT PUBLIC
SAFETY DOLLARS, WHICH SERVE
734,000 OF OUR YOUNG ADULTS.
ALSO PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING
IS INVESTING IN THOSE MOST
HARMED ARE SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS
OF CRIME. WHEN PROP 47 WAS
ENACTED IN 2014. WE HAD ONE FROM
RECOVER CENTER AND THE STATE NOW
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 22. AND
NUMBER FOUR. THE WORK THAT OUR
LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DOING. WE
COMMEND GOVERNOR NEWSOM, CHP.
AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
LEADERSHIP IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS
OUR STATE FOR TAKING ORGANIZED
RETAIL THEFT SERIOUSLY AND
SEEKING STRATEGIES TO COMBAT IT.
WE'VE HEARD SOME AMAZING EFFORTS
AND RESULTS FROM THEIR EFFORTS.
AND SO WE COMMEND THEM FOR THAT.
I WILL CONCLUDE BY SAYING THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF PROP 47 OTHER
REFORM EFFORTS DEMONSTRATE THAT
CHANGING COURSE FROM BEING
EMOTIONALLY REACTIONARY TO
THOUGHTFULLY RESPONSIVE IS FAR
MORE EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE
PUBLIC SAFETY AGENDA AND THE
RECENT L A TIMES ARTICLE OUR
CITY MAYOR WHILE STANDING WITH
CHIEF MORE AND SPEAKING ABOUT
THE REDUCTION IN CRIME, NOT ONLY
CREDITED CHIEF MORE IN THE WORK
THAT HE AND HIS TEAM ARE DOING,
BUT ALSO UPLIFTED, UH, THAT THE
EFFORTS BEING TAKEN TO GET
PEOPLE HOUSE. AND THE $50
MILLION THAT WERE INVESTED IN
COMMUNITY BASED VIOLENCE
PROGRAM. THESE ARE LOCAL
PARTNERSHIPS AND APPROACHES THAT
WORK. HOWEVER EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS
ARE TOO OFTEN NOT FUNDED TO
SCALE OR PROVIDED WITH ONGOING
SUPPORT. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES
OF STRONG LOCAL PROGRAMS WORKING
TO PREVENT INTERRUPT, STOP,
REPEAT, OFFENDING, PROVIDE
HEALING AND REDIRECT PEOPLE
TOWARDS STABILITY. IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO NOT FORGET
THAT PUBLIC SAFETY PUBLIC SAFETY
INVESTMENTS LIKE THOSE MADE
POSSIBLE THROUGH FORMS SUCH AS
PROP 47 CONTINUE TO WORK AND
CONTINUE TO SHOW US THAT TRUE
SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE PRIORITIZED
CRIME, HARM PREVENTION, PUBLIC
SAFETY AND COMMUNITY. WELL
BEING. THANK YOU. OKAY SO WE
HAVE ABOUT 20 MINUTES. UM, FOR
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, THE TWO COMMITTEES
I'D LIKE TO ASK FOLKS TO SORT OF
LIMIT THEIR SERIES OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT FOUR MINUTES WHO WOULD
LIKE TO START ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
WHEN THANK YOU, SIR. UM THANK
YOU. AND UH, MISS XI'AN. I COME
FROM THE LINE OF WORK OF
SERVICES AND RESOURCES. AND SO I
ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU THAT
THAT DOES WORK WHEN PEOPLE HAVE
THE RIGHT TOOLS IN FRONT OF THEM
THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, AND
YOU MENTIONED SOME FIGURES, HE
SAID, FIVE TIMES MORE FIVE TIMES
BETTER, BUT I DIDN'T NECESSARILY
HERE. OF THE PERCENTAGE. HOW
MANY ARE REFERRED TO YOU? HOW
MANY OF THOSE ACTUALLY UM
SUCCEED DO WELL COMPLETE OR
WHATNOT. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU
CAN KIND OF GIVE ANY OF THOSE
FIGURES. ALSO YOU SAID YOU'RE IN
70 JURISDICTION. I HEARD THAT
CORRECT AND I WAS WONDERING IF
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IN ANY OF
THOSE AREAS WHICH HAS WHICH DOES
BETTER THAN OTHERS. AND WHAT
WERE THE SUCCESS? WHAT WERE THE
REASONINGS WHY THEY WERE
SUCCESSFUL. UH THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTIONS AND HAPPY TO TRY AND
COMMENT AS BEST AS I CAN. SO FOR
LEAD. UM, WE DON'T HAVE A
GRADUATION. REALLY PEOPLE STAY
WITH US INDEFINITELY. SO THE
OUTCOMES ARE, UM, WHAT I
REPORTED IN TERMS OF EVALUATION,
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS
BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE IN OUR
PROGRAM HAVE EXPERIENCED
DECADES. OF BEING AN HOUSED AND
TRAUMA AND WE JUST UNDERSTAND
THEY MAY WANT SUPPORT FOR MUCH
LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. SO WE
REALLY LEAVE IT UP TO THE
PARTICIPANTS. HOW LONG THEY
WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN THE
PROGRAM, SO THERE'S NOT REALLY
SORT OF COMPLETION RATES FOR
LEAD. IF THAT MAKES SENSE, SO WE
LOOK AT OTHER OUTCOMES SUCH AS
RECIDIVISM, AND WE'RE WORKING ON
OTHER EVALUATIONS THAT CAN MAYBE
LOOK AT HEALTH OUTCOMES AND
THINGS LIKE THAT. OKAY YEAH, I
UNDERSTAND THERE WOULDN'T BE A
GRADUATION RATE OR EXIT PLAN.
BUT HOW ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF HOW
MANY ARE REFERRED TO YOU? WE'VE
WE'VE SERVED 469 PEOPLE SINCE
THE PROGRAM BEGAN REALLY HAPPY
TO GET BACK TO YOU ON REFERRAL
NUMBERS. UM WE TYPICALLY WHAT
HAPPENS IS BECAUSE LAW
ENFORCEMENT IS REFERRING, UM,
FOLKS IN THE FIELD. IF THEY SAY
NO TO ENFORCEMENT. WE MAY NOT
GET THAT INFORMATION. SO WE TEND
TO GET THE YESES RATHER THAN THE
NOSE. BUT I'M HAPPY TO GET YOU
MORE DATA ON THAT. AND THEN THE
JURISDICTIONS. UM SO THERE'S A
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT
PROVIDES SUPPORT TO LEAD
JURISDICTIONS ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY. THEIR WEBSITE IS IN THE
HANDOUT YOU RECEIVED AND I'M
HAPPY TO ALSO MAKE CONNECTIONS.
UM, I THINK SEATTLE WAS THE
FIRST. JURISDICTION AND THEY DID
A LOT OF EXTENSIVE RESEARCH. UM
I THINK THE THINGS THAT WE'VE
SEEN AND WHAT WORKS IS BUY IN
FROM ALL THE PARTNERS. SO
LEADERS REALLY IT'S A SERVICE
PROGRAM. BUT IT'S ALSO A
POLITICAL INTERVENTION. SO IT
WORKS REALLY WELL, AND I THINK
THAT'S WHY WE'VE HAD SUCCESS
HERE WHEN WE GET LOCAL BUY IN
FROM ALL THE VARIOUS PARTIES,
YOU KNOW, AND OUR HEALTH
DEPARTMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
PROSECUTION, SO WE'RE ALL WITH
THE SHARED GOAL OF REDUCING THAT
LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTACT AND
DIVERTING PEOPLE INTO CARE AND
OUT OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM. UM SO I
, YOU KNOW, LEADERS ALSO BASED
ON A HARM REDUCTION APPROACH.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S COME UP
IN EVALUATIONS AND EVEN IN OUR
OWN EVALUATION HERE, THAT
FIDELITY TO THAT MODEL AND THEIR
CORE ELEMENTS OF LEAD ACROSS
JURISDICTIONS. AND SO A LOT OF
WHAT THE NATIONAL TEAM DOES IS
HELP SITE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE STAYING IN FIDELITY TO
THAT HARM REDUCTION MODEL.
GREAT. AND THEN CAN YOU TELL ME,
UM EXAMPLE OF ONE AREA WHERE YOU
FEEL LIKE THIS IS THEY'VE GOT IT
DOWN RIGHT? LIKE IS IT? SEATTLE
IS IT YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ALL THE
PARTNERS ARE ENGAGED AND
INVOLVED AND ALL THE PLAYERS ARE
THERE. YEAH I DO FEEL LIKE
SEATTLE IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. THEY'VE EXPANDED IT
TO, UM MANY, MANY JURISDICTIONS.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE CLOSE TO
STATEWIDE AND WASHINGTON. UM, I
ALSO THINK WE'RE DOING A REALLY
PRETTY GOOD JOB. HERE ARE
HOLLYWOOD STATION HAS BEEN GREAT
PARTNERS. WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF
LOCAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM
AND I THINK WHAT IN MY MIND.
WHAT'S ALSO A KEY ELEMENT IS
BEING MUMBLED TO CHANGING
SITUATIONS LIKE WHEN COVID
HAPPENED, EVERYBODY BEING ABLE
TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE. AH HOW WE
RESPOND TO CHANGES IN WHAT WAS
HAPPENING ON THE GROUND WITH
POLICING AND ZERO BAIL AND
PEOPLE BEING, YOU KNOW, JUST
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT THINGS
SO OKAY. GREAT. ONE MORE. I'M
SORRY. JUST ONE MORE. UM, NOT
FOR HER. BUT FOR MR MCDONALD,
YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT UM YOU
FELT THAT MAYBE HAVING MORE
SECURITY PRESENCE WOULD BE MORE
OF AN EFFECTIVE TOUR, RIGHT? NOT
INCREASING INCARCERATION RATE
DOESN'T WORK, RIGHT? I KIND OF
SCRIBBLED DOWN SOME STUFF. I
WOULD SAY, THOUGH, AND PLEASE
FOR FREE. I'D LOVE TO HAVE THE
CONVERSATION WITH YOU IS THAT IN
CERTAIN COMMUNITIES HAVING MORE
SECURITY DOESN'T NECESSARILY
SERIAL WORK, AND YOU'RE SEEING
THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK WOULD
WORK AND THEN YOUR COMMENT ABOUT
SECURING MERCHANDISE AND WE
HEARD EARLIER FROM THE PANELISTS
EARLIER THAT MERCHANDISE ARE
BEING SECURED, AND YET THEY'RE
STILL BRINGING THINGS IN TO
BREAK INTO IT TO GRAB IT AND
WHATNOT AS WELL. SO I WAS HOPING
YOU CAN COMMENT ON THAT A BIT.
WELL, I THINK THE COMMITTEE WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WAS
TALKING ABOUT WAS THE CERTAINTY
OF GETTING CAUGHT. AND, UH,
WHICH IS THE WHICH IS THE
BIGGEST DETERRENT FOR CRIMES
THAT THEY WHEN THEY WHEN THEY
WERE LOOKING AT RETAIL THEFT,
SHOPLIFTING. IT'S THE IT'S THE
CERTAINTY OF GETTING CAUGHT THAT
DETERS PEOPLE, NOT THE SEVERITY
OF THE PUNISHMENT OR HOW MUCH
TIME THEY'RE GOING TO GET THAT
THEY'RE IF THEY APPROACH A
RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT, AND THEY
FEEL LIKE IF I GO IN THERE AND
STEAL, I'M GOING TO GET CAUGHT.
THEN THAT'S THAT'S THE PRIMARY
DETERRENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
YEAH OKAY. SORRY. GO. WHO'D LIKE
TO BE NEXT? SOMEBODY. MEMBER
RACE COVERS. I APPRECIATE THE
VARIOUS OPINIONS. QUITE FRANKLY,
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HEAR
FROM THE D A. TO HEAR THE THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE DONE. THE THINGS
THAT HAVE BEEN DONE THAT ARE
EFFECTIVE AND HOW YOU'RE LOOKING
AT THE ENTIRE ORGANIZED CRIME
ISSUE. BUT KNOWING ALSO THAT
THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE THAT WE OBVIOUSLY NEED
TO PUT MORE FUNDING INTO 469
PEOPLE IN L. A COUNTY. UM THAT'S
A LOT, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT
ENOUGH. IF WE WANT TO HAVE AN
IMPACT, WHEN I THINK ABOUT
HOMELESSNESS OR THOSE WITH
HOUSING AND SECURITY, I REALIZED
THAT IF WE GET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
WHEN THEY'RE VERY YOUNG THEY
BECOME CHRONIC, CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS, AND I THINK IT'S THE
SAME THING WITH THE PROGRAM THAT
YOU HAVE IS WHEN WE GET THEM,
ESPECIALLY IF WE HELP THEM WHEN
THEY'RE YOUNG, AND I APPRECIATED
ALL THE ISSUES THAT YOU TALKED
ABOUT. UM SUBSTANCE USE UNMET
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND EXTREME
POVERTY. IF WE LOOK AT THE ROOT
CAUSES OF A LOT OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING, AND WE TREAT THAT
THEN WE AS A SOCIETY ARE GOING
TO BENEFIT. AH, UM AND THERE'S
NO DOUBT IN MY MIND ABOUT THAT
IN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE
STATISTICS THAT YOU PROVIDED.
ONE QUESTION THAT I DID HAVE WAS
THE AGE. UH AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW
WHAT MY ASSUMPTION AND I WANT TO
KNOW IF THIS IS ACCURATE THAT
YOU HAVE GREATER SUCCESS. THE
YOUNGER THE PERSON IS THAT IS
REFERRED TO YOUR PROGRAM. OR IS
THAT A STATISTIC THAT'S KEPT
YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION, AND I COULD DEFINITELY
GET THAT TO YOUR APOLOGIES. IT
WASN'T IN THE HANDOUT. WE
ACTUALLY SEE THAT LEAD
PARTICIPANTS TEND TO BE, UM 40
ABOVE, MAYBE 40 TO 60. THIS IS
BECAUSE LEAD IS DESIGNED TO WORK
WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY
FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS OF
OTHER PROGRAMS. AND SO, UM
ESPECIALLY HERE IN L, A COUNTY,
WE DO HAVE QUITE EFFECTIVE YOUTH
PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND EVEN
YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS. AND ONCE
PEOPLE BECOME OLDER, IT IT DOES
BECOME A BIT TOUGHER FOR THEM.
SO IT IS, BUT I COULD GET YOU
THAT EXACT NUMBER. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND FOR PUBLIC
DEFENDER. I KNOW THAT IN SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTY. WE WORKED
VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR PUBLIC
DEFENDER. UM BECAUSE OFTENTIMES
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REPEAT
OFFENDERS, YOU ARE THE VERY
ORGANIZATION THAT GETS TO SEE
THEM BECAUSE YOU'RE REPRESENTING
THEM. OFTENTIMES THEY DON'T HAVE
THE MONEY TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR
OWN COUNSEL. AND SO YOU ARE
PROVIDING THAT UM, THAT
REPRESENTATION DO YOU FIND THAT
THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE?
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS
HELPFUL TO YOU IN THEN WORKING
OUT A PLEA DEAL WITH THE D A S
OFFICE, OR IS IT THE SAME
WHETHER YOU HAVE PROGRAMS OR
NOT? IT'S A SHORT ANSWER SHORT
ANSWER SO WE CAN GET TO THE NEXT
SET OF QUESTIONS. ABSOLUTELY
PROGRAMS FOR SHOPLIFTERS. AND,
UH, PEOPLE ACCUSED OF MINOR
OFFENSES ARE INSTRUMENTAL AND
BRINGING THEM BACK INTO SOCIETY
AND ALLEVIATING OR INCARCERATION
PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. AND FARLEY
FROM MR HOFF. YES. UM THANK YOU
FOR PROVIDING THE STATISTICS
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROP 47. IT
WAS PASSED BY 60% OF THE VOTERS.
AND NOW I KNOW THAT WE HEAR A
WHOLE LOT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS
WITH PROP 47. WE KNOW THAT THERE
THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITHIN AND I
APPRECIATE THAT. BOTH CHAIRS
HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT
EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE.
NOTHING IS OFF THE TABLE. BUT
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR THE
STATISTICS ABOUT THE FUNDING
THAT HAS BEEN USED THROUGH.
ESPECIALLY THROUGH THROUGH. UH
THE INVESTMENTS IN 12
HOMELESSNESS, REDUCING
HOMELESSNESS, REDUCING CRIME. UM
IT THOSE SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN
PROVIDED THROUGH THE FUNDING
THAT THROUGH PROP 47. NO MATTER
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
NOTHING IS PERFECT, BUT I
APPRECIATE THAT. YOU HAVE
PROVIDED, UM THOSE STATISTICS
NOW, DID YOU SAY A TOTAL OF
70,000 PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED
SERVICES SINCE PROP 47? YES YES.
TODAY OVER 70,000 PEOPLE ACROSS
THE STATE HAVE RECEIVED SERVICES
WITH AMAZING OUTCOMES. AND SO I
THINK TO THE POINT THAT YOU MADE
WHAT IT SHOWS IS IF WE INVEST TO
SCALE NO MATTER WHAT WE MAY FEEL
ABOUT PROP 47 WHEN WE INVEST TO
SCALE AND PROGRAMS THAT REACH TO
THE ROOT CAUSE AND SAYS YOU
BROUGHT UP AS HAS BEEN SHARED
HERE, THEN WE SEE RESULTS. WE
HAVE NOT ONLY THE DATA, BUT THE
PERSONAL TESTIMONIES OF THE
RESULTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED. AND
WE CAN COMPARE THEM WITH WHAT WE
KNOW THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PRE
REFORM AREA AND THE TOUGH ON
CRIME, MASS INCARCERATION THAT
DESTRUCTION THAT THAT DID TO OUR
COMMUNITIES. AND JUST ONE LAST
QUESTION. IF I MAY, THERE WAS A
QUOTE THAT YOU SAID TOWARDS THE
END, AND I TRIED TO WRITE IT
DOWN THAT INSTEAD OF BEING
EMOTIONALLY REACTIONARY, WE
SHOULD BE REACTIVE. YES, MA'AM,
AND I HAVE IT IN MY QUOTE, AND I
WANTED TO GET IT RIGHT. I WILL
HAVE IT RIGHT HERE. AND SO, UM.
INSTEAD OF, UM. YOU CAUGHT ME
OFF GUARD. I HAVE ALL MY NOTES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH HOW
ABOUT I GO BACK HERE? I'LL MOVE
ON AND I'LL GET BACK TO YOU.
VERY GOOD. I WOULD LIKE TO GET
THAT QUOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR LIKE TO
WELCOME ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MCCARTY
, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE WANT TO THANK
HIM? HE HAS HAD A AN ORDEAL
GETTING HERE THIS MORNING WITH
SOME CANCELED FLIGHTS AS SUCH,
SO I JUST WANT TO WELCOME HIM
TODAY. AND UM, WOULD LIKE TO
ACTUALLY TURN THE MIC OVER TO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BANTA FURTHER
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO
THIS PANEL. I THINK ONE OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS IS THAT I'M TAKING
TWO THINGS AWAY. FIRST IS JUST A
REITERATION OF THE REALITY AND
THE EVIDENCE BASED APPROACH THAT
THE CERTAINTY OF GETTING CAUGHT
IS THE PRIMARY DETERRENT TO
CRIME. SO UM, I JUST WANTED TO
HAVE A DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
KIM AND, UH, HAD DEPUTY PUBLIC
DEFENDER MCDONALD'S SPEAK TO HOW
THAT ACTUALLY PLAYS OUT WITHIN
THE CONTEXT OF ORGANIZED RETAIL
THEFT. SHOOTING. FOCUSING ON
THIS CERTAINTY OF GETTING
CAUGHT. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE CERTAINTY OF BEING CAUGHT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK, COULTER SAID.
WE SHOULD FIRST DEFINE OUR TERMS
. I'M NOT REALLY QUITE SURE WHAT
THAT MEANS, BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK
AT A LOT OF THE ORGANIZED RETAIL
THEFT, UH, A LOT OF HIS ON VIDEO
CAMERA AND A LOT OF THESE VIDEO
CAMERAS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN
INDIVIDUAL THAT'S WATCHING IT.
LET'S SAY A SECURITY OFFICER FOR
ANY MAJOR RETAILER, AND THEN
THAT SECURITY OFFICER IS SEEING
THE SAME PERSON COME IN.
SOMETIMES DOZENS OF TIMES.
SOMETIMES UH MANY DOZENS OF
TIMES, SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE
WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY THIS
CERTAINTY OF BEING CAUGHT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA. I WOULD.
I WOULD SAY THERE'S A
DISTINCTION BETWEEN YOUR
SHOPLIFTER AND YOU'RE ORGANIZED
RETAIL THEFT. I THINK YOUR
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN ORGANIZED
RETAIL THEFT PROBABLY MAKE A
MUCH MORE CALCULATED DECISION ON
ON THEIR CRIME THAN THE
SHOPLIFTER AND THE AND THE WHO
WOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF THE
STATUTE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT
AND SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE. MINOR PARTS. SS SPENT
SHOPLIFTERS THE VERY BOTTOM
LEVEL PEOPLE INVOLVED, I THINK
GETTING CAUGHT IS GOING TO BE A
MUCH LARGER DETERRENT FOR THEM
AND NOT PART OF THE CALCULATION
PROCESS THAT WOULD GO IN INTO
THE ORGANIZERS. APPRECIATE THAT,
AND I JUST ALSO WANT TO THANK
THE PANEL FOR FOCUSING IN ON THE
EFFICACY OF HARM REDUCTION
STRATEGIES, MR HALF AND MACHINE.
MISS SHANE BOTH SPOKE TO THAT.
SO JUST WITH THE LEAD PROGRAM, I
WANT YOU TO JUST DO TWO THINGS.
ONE IS FOCUSED A LITTLE BIT MORE
ON THE PARTICIPANT OUTCOMES.
ASSOCIATED WITH IT, UH,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WHEN ASKED A
QUESTION ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF
THAT. I'M LOOKING AT A SHEET
HERE THAT SAYS THAT LEAD
PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCED FIVE
TIMES, LESS FELONY ARRESTS AND
FIVE TIMES LESS FELONY CASE
FELONY CASES FILED AND OR FOUR
TIMES LESS TIME. PARTICIPANTS
SPENT ABOUT FOUR TIMES LESS TIME
AND PROBATION. SO CLEARLY, UH,
PROGRAM HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMS
LIKE LEAD WORK AND ARE
INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE. CAN YOU
SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE?
YES THAT'S MY THINKING HERE.
THANK YOU. UM I THINK THE REASON
THAT LEADERS EFFECTIVE IS
BECAUSE, UM YOU KNOW, RELATED TO
THE RECIDIVISM OUTCOMES WE SEE
IS WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY HELP
PARTICIPANTS NAVIGATE AN
EXTREMELY COMPLICATED LEGAL
SYSTEM. MANY PEOPLE WILL COME TO
US NOT KNOW IF THEY HAVE
WARRANTS DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE
ON PROBATION. DON'T KNOW WHEN
THE NEXT COURT DATE IS JUST
SMALL THINGS LIKE THAT EVEN
HELPING A PARTICIPANT HAVE
ENOUGH TRUST IN THEIR CASE
MANAGER THAT CAN GO WITH THEM TO
COURT. SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY
APPEAR. THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR
AND DEALING WITH THAT SYSTEM,
AND SO MANY OF OUR PARTICIPANTS
WILL OPT OUT OF DOING ANYTHING
AT ALL. AND JUST SORT OF, YOU
KNOW, THAT'S HOW THEY'VE BEEN
SURVIVING. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE
REALLY FOCUSED ON BUILDING THAT
TRUST. UM THE REASON ANOTHER
REASON THERE'S NO TIME LIMIT SO
WE CAN GO AT THEIR PACE. UM AND
THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE SEE THE
MEANINGFUL OUTCOMES AND THERE'S
NO IN TERMS OF HARM REDUCTION.
LIKE I SAID, THERE'S NO
REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO, UM YOU
KNOW, SUBSTANCE USE OR EVEN IF
THEY'RE ON A CORNER AND NOBODY
WANTS THEM ON THAT CORNER. WE
REALLY WORK WITH THEM AND LET
THEM KNOW LIKE THESE ARE THE
NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF STAYING
HERE. AND IF THEY'D LIKE TO
MOVE, WE CAN HELP THEM. UM AND
IT TAKES TIME, BUT I THINK WE DO
SEE LONG TERM OUTCOMES. WE UM WE
HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
THAT WELL, SEE YOU'RE
PARTICIPANT AFTER THEY'VE BEEN
IN LEAGUE TWO YEARS, AND THEY
DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE THE PERSON
ANYMORE AND THERE UM, THEY'VE
JUST TOTALLY CHANGED. AND SO I
THINK WE REALLY WANT TO THE LEAD
PERSPECTIVE IS THAT OUR
PARTICIPANTS ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT
THEY NEED, AND THEY JUST NEED
THAT SUPPORT TO GET THERE. AND
SO THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE A
PRESCRIPTIVE MODEL, BUT REALLY
JUST WORK WITH THEM AND GETTING
OTHER THINGS DONE, BUT THEY NEED
TO GET DONE. JUST MR MCDONALD
VERY QUICKLY IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THESE
PROGRAMS TO BE COMMUNITY BASED,
UH AND ALSO, UM, I'M SORRY. MR
HUFF FOR THESE PROGRAMS TO BE
COMMUNITY BASED AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF THESE PROGRAMS
BEING VOLUNTARY, SO I THINK THE
IMPORTANCE OF THEM BEING
COMMUNITY BASED IS THAT THEY ARE
LED BY MEMBERS THAT THE
COMMUNITY TRUST THAT CAN'T BE
OVERSTATED WHEN YOU HAVE
AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEEN IN
COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE WORKING
FOR THOSE AGENCIES THAT THE
COMMUNITY CAN RELATE TO PEOPLE,
OFTEN WITH THE LIVED EXPERIENCE
TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT IS POSSIBLE
WHEN WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE
INVESTMENTS, THEN WE SEE A LOT
MORE INVOLVEMENT A LOT MORE
VOLUNTARY INVOLVEMENT. WHICH TO
YOUR POINT IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S THE
PLACE WHERE CHANGE IS READY TO
HAPPEN. UM WHEN I GET TO THE
PLACE WHERE I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I
WANT TO SUPPORT WHEN I GET TO
THE PLACE WHERE I MAKE THE
DECISION INTERNALLY THAT I WANT
TO GO TO THIS OFFICE, WHATEVER
WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT WHERE THERE WAS
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WHETHER THEY'RE
DOING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OR
EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, OR IT'S YOU
KNOW, PARTICIPATING IN MY
CHILDREN'S SCHOOL AT THAT POINT,
THEN I'M OPEN. INTO THE HELP.
THAT'S THERE. AT THAT POINT THAT
I'M OPEN TO RECEIVING THE
SUPPORT THAT'S AVAILABLE ANYTIME
IT IT WILL SAY ANYTIME. IT'S
HIGHLY POSSIBLE THAT WHERE WE
HAVE A COURT MANDATED SITUATIONS
, THERE ARE SOME AMAZING
TESTIMONIES. NEVERTHELESS THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT I AM REACTING TO,
IN MANY CASES JUST TO GET THE
LOWEST SENTENCE POSSIBLE, BUT
WHEN I GET TO THE PLACE WHERE I
VOLUNTARY WALK INTO AN OFFICE OR
CANVAS ON MY OWN, MAKE THE
CHOICE TO PARTICIPATE WITHOUT A
STICK HANGING OVER MY HEAD. THEN
WE SEE GREATER RESULTS FROM AND
GREATER OUTCOMES AND SUSTAINED
OUTCOMES FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THANK YOU. AND IF I MAY, YET HE
FOUND THE QUOTE. YES YOU GOT
YOUR QUOTE VERY QUICKLY. YES YES
, AND IT WAS IN REGARDS TO THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF PROP 47 AND
OTHER REFORM EFFORTS, AND IT'S
IT SAYS THAT THEY THESE EFFORTS
DEMONSTRATE THAT CHANGING COURSE
FROM BEING EMOTIONALLY
REACTIONARY. Tð THOUGHTFULLY
RESPONSIVE IS FAR MORE EFFECTIVE
AND SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC SAFETY
AGENDA. THANK YOU. I HAD A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS MYSELF. UM I
THINK THE FIRST ONE RELATES. TO
UM, YOU KNOW, I CLEARLY BELIEVE
THAT, UH YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO
LOOK AT THIS TWO DIFFERENT
LENSES. ONE LENS ARE CRIMES OF
SURVIVAL CRIMES OF POVERTY,
WHICH NEED A DIFFERENT SET OF
APPROACHES AND ANOTHER CRIMES
THAT ARE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZED
CRIME RINGS THAT I THINK NEED
OTHER APPROACHES WITH RESPECT TO
BOTH OF THEM, THOUGH, I GUESS
YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAVE READ ALL
OF THE STUDIES. AND I, UM DON'T
DOUBT AT ALL THE FACT THAT OVER
TIME UM, WE KNOW THAT INCREASING
INCARCERATION AND LENGTH OF
PRISON TERMS IS NOT IS NOT AN
EFFECTIVE DETERRENT. BUT I WAS
YOU SAID, CERTAINTY OF GETTING
CAUGHT IS I THINK THE QUESTION I
HAVE, UM IS, UM AND I THINK I'D
LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, DIRECT THIS
TO, UM TO THE, UH TO THE L. A.
D. A S OFFICE, UM, AS WELL AS TO
THE PUBLIC DEFENDER IS WHEN I
HEAR THE STORIES OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING HERE IN MY DISTRICT,
RIGHT? YOU END UP HAVING FOLKS
THAT ARE COMING IN. SOME OF THEM
ARE SO I THINK THE PROFESSIONAL
THIEVES, SOME OF THEM ARE NOT
ARE NOT. UM AND THEY WALK INTO A
STORE AND I'LL ASK THE STORE,
FOLKS. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU
SEE THAT THE SHOPLIFTING HAS
OCCURRING AND THEY SAY, WELL, WE
INSTRUCT OUR EMPLOYEES NOT TO
ENGAGE BECAUSE WE'RE WORRIED,
LEGITIMATELY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR
SAFETY. IF WE HAVE A SECURITY
GUARD ON SITE, THEY WILL MAKE AN
ASSESSMENT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
THAT PERSON IS DANGEROUS AND
WILL INTERVENE IF THEY'RE NOT.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU
INTERVENE AT THAT POINT SAID,
WELL, IF THEY'RE NOT DANGEROUS,
WE CONFISCATE THE GOODS. I ASKED
IF THEY CALL CALL THE POLICE,
THEY SAY WELL, THEY WILL REPORT
IT TO THE POLICE. BUT THEY DON'T
CALL BECAUSE THE POLICE DON'T
RESPOND UNLESS THERE'S A USE OF
FORCE. AND SO THEY BASICALLY
WILL GIVE A TRESPASS TICKET,
WHICH ASKED THEM NOT TO COME
BACK TO THE STORE. I SAID, WELL,
WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE
TRESPASS TICKET? SAID IT HAS NO
EFFECT. THEY PEOPLE JUST KEEP
COMING BACK AND THEY HAVE THE
SAME PEOPLE COMING BACK. SO IN
L. A COUNTY. IT SEEMS IT'S SORT
OF THE OPPOSITE HAPPENING, AT
LEAST WITH RESPECT TO BOTH
FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR LEVELS.
THEY ALMOST HAVE A CERTAINTY OF
NOT HAVING. GETTING CAUGHT. SO I
GUESS I'M JUST WANTED TO SORT OF
ASK. HOW WE DEAL WITH THAT
WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT
INCREASES IN POLICING, WHICH IS
SOMETHING THAT I'VE NEVER
SUPPORTED. SO JUST WANTED TO ASK
YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT. YOU KNOW,
THAT'S UH YOU KNOW THAT'S
SOLUTION. IS I BELIEVE WHY THIS
COMMITTEE'S ASSEMBLED UM. WE DO
HAVE INSTANCES WHERE. EMPLOYEES
AND LOSS PREVENTION WILL MAKE
CONTACT AND WHEN THEY DO,
THERE'S OFTEN A STRUGGLE OVER
THE MERCHANDISE. AND AT THAT
POINT, WHAT BEGAN AS A PETTY
THEFT, UH, GRADUATES INTO A
ROBBERY AND STS ROBBERY, AND IN
THOSE INSTANCES, WE DO FILE THE
ROBBERY CASES. UH IN MY
EXPERIENCE, AND I AM SPEAKING
FROM THE DATE THAT WE BEGAN
WORKING WITH THE TASK FORCES. I
BELIEVE ELLA'S LAPD'S TASK FORCE
WAS CREATED AROUND AUGUST 21ST
OF LAST YEAR. I KNOW THAT SINCE
FROM THAT DATE LAPD, WHICH IS
OUR LARGEST SINGLE AGENCY, HAS
BEEN TAKING POLICE REPORTS. AH
ON ALL THESE PETTY THEFTS, AND I
KNOW SIMILARLY, THE LOS ANGELES
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DOES
BECAUSE ALL THOSE CASES COME TO
THE ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION FOR
FILING DECISIONS, SO AT THAT
TIME WE MAKE THE DECISION AND
THE 4 90.4 SECTION THAT WAS
RECENTLY ENACTED THE ORGANIZED
RETAIL THEFT AND GIVES US SOME
DISCRETION. BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE
SOMEBODY WHO'S STEALING OVER THE
COURSE OF A YEAR THAT'S CAN BE
AGGREGATED INTO A FELONY. BUT IF
IT'S SOMEBODY WHO WITHOUT A
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, IT'S NOT A
REPEAT OFFENDER THAN YOU WOULD
THAT. THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WOULD
DO. YOU WOULDN'T YOU WOULDN'T
HAMMER THE PERSON YOU WANT. YOU
WANT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM? TO BE
FAIR, YOU WANT JUSTICE TO BE
EQUALLY FAIR FOR THE PUBLIC TO
PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT TO
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT
EACH INDIVIDUAL IS VERY
DIFFERENT. SO IN MY EXPERIENCE,
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT SINCE I'VE
BEEN INVOLVED HERE, WHICH HAS
BEEN SINCE OCTOBER, 17TH AS FAR
AS THE OPERATION SIDE, UH, THE
LAPD AND LSD HAVEN'T TAKEN
REPORTS OF FOR EVERY EVERY THEFT
RELATED INCIDENT THAT GETS
REPORTED TO THEM AND WHEN THE
LOSS PREVENTION AGENTS GET
INVOLVED, AND THERE IS CONTACT,
THEN WE DO TAKE THAT CONDUCT
SERIOUSLY BECAUSE IS DANGEROUS
IS HAPPENING DURING DURING
DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS,
AND IF YOU COULD SEE SOME OF THE
VIDEOS THAT THAT COME INTO THE
OFFICE, UH AND THAT WILL BE
PRESENTED THE JURY'S WHEN THESE
CASES GO TO TRIALS, YOU WILL SEE
THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS THEY MAY
NOT HAVE ANY WEAPONS, THEY MAY
NOT BE EVEN MAKING THREATS, BUT
THE AMOUNT OF FORCE THAT THEY'RE
USING IN THE STRUGGLES IS
TERRIFYING THE PUBLIC. AND
SOMETIMES EVEN CHILDREN ARE
BEING KNOCKED OVER. SO THERE IS
AN IMPACT AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE
TAKING THESE ORGANIZED RETAIL
THEFT CASES SO SERIOUSLY HERE IN
LOS ANGELES IF YOU HAD A SHORT
RESPONSE. I WOULD ADD ALSO THAT
IT JUST GOES BACK TO, UM,
COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, AND, UH
THE LAWS ARE ALREADY ON THE
BOOKS. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO
INCREASE PUNISHMENTS. THE LAWS
ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS AND
THAT WHEN YOU HAVE RETAILERS WHO
AREN'T REPORTING THE CRIMES WHO
AREN'T CALLING THE POLICE
BECAUSE THE POLICE SAY THEY
WON'T SHOW UP? I THINK THAT'S A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ISSUE, AND
I WOULD IMPLORE OUR STATE
ASSEMBLY PEOPLE NOT TO FALL BACK
ON THE SAFETY OF WELL, WE'RE
GOING TO INCREASE PUNISHMENT
BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO WORK.
AND I THINK THE ASSEMBLY NEEDS
TO FOCUS ON WORKING WITH THE
RETAILERS, UH, AGAIN TO TRY AND
HELP THEM PREVENT THE THEFT AT
THE START. YEAH. I MEAN, I. AND
WE JUST WITH ANYTHING YOU SAID.
I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A BIG
GAP THERE ABOUT CERTAINTY OF
GETTING CAUGHT, ESPECIALLY WITH
MISDEMEANOR CRIMES AND GENERAL,
EVEN WITH FELONY ONES WHERE
BASICALLY WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE
REPEATEDLY COMING INTO STORES,
AND BASICALLY NOTHING HAPPENS.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT. I THINK THAT IS
REALLY ONE OF THE BIG NUTS WE
HAVE TO CRACK, AND I WOULD
ENCOURAGE BOTH OF YOU. IF YOU
HAVE IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE DEAL
WITH THAT, YOU KNOW THIS
CONSISTENT WITH I THINK WHAT
YOU'RE ADVOCATING WOULD BE VERY
OPEN TO CONSIDERING THOSE
THINGS. I HAVE ONE LAST
QUESTION. I KNOW THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MCCARTHY HAS A
QUESTION FOR THE D A. I HAVE ONE
MORE FOR THE D A. AND THAT IS
MACARTHUR PARK. UM CAN YOU JUST
GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT SOME OF
THE CHALLENGES ARE AND WHY THAT
CONTINUES TO BE AN ONGOING
PROBLEM IN THE COUNTY AREA? I
SUSPECT. MR CHAIRMAN, THAT WHEN
YOU SAY MACARTHUR PARK YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE RESELLING
ENVIRONMENT THAT THE RESELLING
ENVIRONMENT IN MACARTHUR PARK
YES. AND YOU KNOW THAT'S A
THAT'S ALSO IT'S A BIG SOCIAL
QUESTION. I MEAN, YOU KNOW THE
IF WE WANT A HEALTHY IF YOU WANT
IF WE WANT TO LIVE A HEALTHY
LIFE AS AN INDIVIDUAL, WE CAN'T
JUST MEDICATE OURSELVES. UH YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE TO EAT WELL, WE
HAVE TO EXERCISE. IF WE WANT TO
PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY, WE CAN'T
JUST GO TO CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE HAVE TO BE INVOLVED AS AS
PART OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
WE NEED THE COMMUNITY'S HELP. SO
WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING LIKE
THAT, AND O R T TIP LINE WOULD
BE HELPFUL BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD
KNOW. HEY, THESE ARE THE VENDORS
THAT ARE SELLING IT AND SOMEBODY
COULD CALL IN AND SAY, LOOK,
THERE'S THIS STORE THAT'S GOT
ALL THESE ITEMS. IT'S GOT THIS
LABEL OF THIS. OTHER
MANUFACTURERS GOT ALL THIS
MAKEUP FROM SEPHORA. BUT YOU
KNOW THIS RAISES SIGNIFICANT
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES ABOUT
WHETHER PRODUCTS ARE BEING
ADULTERATED AND THE
PHARMACEUTICALS WHETHER OR NOT
THEY'RE EXPIRED. A LOT OF MAKEUP
THAT IS SOLD IN THESE PLACES ARE
BEING DIVERTED FROM THE
FACTORIES WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN
DESTINED FOR DESTRUCTION. SO
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES
AROUND THAT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS,
WE DO NEED COMMUNITY HELP. WE
NEED THE COMMUNITY TO HELP ALERT
US, AND I THINK IF THE COMMUNITY
WERE AWARE THAT A LOT OF THIS
DOES RELATE TO ORGANIZED CRIME
AND THAT SOME OF THESE ORGANIZED
CRIME ELEMENTS MIGHT EVEN
INVOLVE ELEMENTS OF FORCED
CRIMINALITY. THAT THEY WOULD
CARE. AND THEY WOULD SAY, HEY,
I'M GONNA NOT PARTICIPATE IN
THIS. UH THIS PRODUCT MAY BE
DANGEROUS. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE
THIS PRODUCT HOME, AND I'M GOING
TO CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE
CLEARLY WAS BEING SOLD HERE WAS
STOLEN FROM ANOTHER RETAILER. I
MEAN, I THINK IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO US. I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY, THE THING THAT I'M
WORRIED ABOUT IS REALLY, YOU
KNOW, UNINTENTIONALLY HARMING
STREET VENDORS WHO ARE LAW
ABIDING CITIZENS AND REALLY JUST
TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING AND SO,
BUT THE ISSUE WE KEEP HEARING
OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT A LOT
OF THE STOLEN GOODS ARE BEING
FENCED IN PLACES IN MACARTHUR
PARK, AND THAT IS A BIG AREA
THAT NEEDS FOCUS. AND SO I WOULD
ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT
SOME THINGS THAT WE MIGHT BE
ABLE TO CONSIDER THAT FOCUS ON
THAT. AND SO WITH THAT, LET ME
TURN IT OVER TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
CARDIO, I KNOW HAS A QUESTION.
AH YES, THANK YOU. I WANTED TO
ASK A FEW QUESTIONS OF OUR OUR
DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, MR
KIM. NICE TO MEET YOU. SO WE'VE
BEEN, UM, CONVERSING ON THIS
POLICY TOPIC WITH LAW
STAKEHOLDERS OF WHAT TO DO WITH
RETAIL THEFT AND SOME POTENTIAL
REMEDIES TO PROP 47. AND AS YOU
KNOW, THERE'S SOME PROPOSALS PUT
FORTH BY THE BY THE D A S
ASSOCIATION. WHICH MARRIED MAY
NOT BE THE PATH THAT WE WANT TO
GO IN CALIFORNIA, BUT THAT'S A
PROPOSAL OUT THERE. SO I JUST
WANTED TO DIG IN ON THAT THE
CERTAINTY OF GETTING CAUGHT. I
KNOW THAT MR SUBURB MENTIONED
THAT AND A FEW MOMENTS AGO.
SUDDENLY MY RESPOND TO TALKED
ABOUT THAT AS ONE OF THE REASONS
AND PEOPLE'S HEAD THAT THEY DO
OR DON'T DO IT AND YOU ALLUDED.
ONE OF YOU THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS
THAT SUPER COMPLICATED BY WHO
THEY ARE, AND I THINK I'M
THINKING A LOT ABOUT YOU KNOW,
RETAIL THEFT. BUT THERE'S REALLY
TWO SEPARATE CATEGORIES OF
PEOPLE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE, BUT
KIND OF TWO BUCKETS, AND IT
REALLY DAWNED TO ME LAST WEEK
BECAUSE I WENT TO GO TOUR HOME
DEPOT IN MY DISTRICT IN
SACRAMENTO, AND, UH, THEY HAD A
WHOLE TEAM OF PEOPLE WITH LOST
PREVENTION, THEIR CORPORATE THAT
JUST WALK ME THROUGH WHAT
HAPPENS AT A STORE AND, YOU KNOW
, SUPER ORGANIZED PEOPLE COME IN
THERE WITH A LIST. THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR THIS, YOU KNOW RYOBI
OR MAKITA MILWAUKEE TOOL, AND
SOMETIMES THEY CLIMB THE RAFT
THAT THEY CALL US ONE GUY
SPIDERMAN. HE CLIMBS UP THERE TO
GET THE STUFF THROWS IT DOWN. SO
THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE
DOING, SO I KIND OF THOUGHT THAT
IN MY HEAD LIKE THAT'S A PIECE
OF THIS RETAIL THEFT COHORT,
WHETHER IT'S TARGET CVS, WHAT
HAVE YOU, YOU KNOW, AND THEN
THEY FENCED IT ONLINE OR GO TO
MACARTHUR PARK. WE'LL GET TO
THAT LATER. AND A FEW HOURS
LATER, UM IN MY SAME DISTRICT, I
WENT TO A LOCAL LIQUOR STORE
THAT WAS FAMILY OWNED THE NIGHT.
AND I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN WHO
WAS THE OWNER OPERATOR. AND I
SAID, HOW OFTEN ARE YOU HAVE
RETAIL THEFT? HERE IS THAT EVERY
DAY AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?
WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN
IT HAPPENS TO DEPENDS, AND HE
SAID THAT HE LOOKED AT HIS RIGHT
AND HE HAD A BASEBALL BAT DOWN
THERE, SO I SAID IT DEPENDS ON
WHAT SITUATION IS. OKAY SO VERY
DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, AND IT'S
STILL SO CALLED RETAIL THEFT. UM
DIFFERENT POPULATIONS. DIFFERENT
REASONS. THEY'RE DOING IT, YOU
KNOW, SUMMER MONETARY SELLING IT
TO JOB SOME ARE, YOU KNOW? LIKE
YOU KNOW, TOUGH LUCK IN LIFE.
WHAT'S HAPPENING SITUATIONS
GOING IN THEIR SURVIVAL,
WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU KNOW THE
PETTY THEFT WITH A PRIOR TYPE
CROWD. SO THERE'S THOSE THOSE
ARE PROBABLY THE TWO MOST, YOU
KNOW COMMON SCENARIOS OF THE
RETAIL THEFT BUCKETS. SO IN YOUR
EXPERIENCE IN L, A COUNTY DO YOU
THINK? YOU HAVE ADEQUATE TOOLS.
TO HOLD THESE INDIVIDUALS
ACCOUNTABLE. AND THE AND THE
CERTAINTY OF GETTING CAUGHT IS
THE CERTAINTY OF GETTING CAUGHT
LIKE APPREHENDED A CUFF OR
CAUGHT AS IN SEEING DEPUTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAVING SOME
JULIE CATIONS BECAUSE THERE'S
ALL THESE IDEAS ABOUT WE NEED TO
REPEAL FIXED MEN REFORM 47 SO IN
THE TOOLS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR
JOB. MAYBE YOUR PEOPLE BELOW YOU
BECAUSE YOU'RE THE SUPERVISOR.
MY UNDERSTANDING. GIVE US AND
GIVE US AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
IS THERE AND WHAT YOU HAVE OR
DON'T HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS
SITUATION. I WANT TO START OFF
BY SAYING THAT PROP 47 IS A
POLICY DECISION, AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT'S MADE BY THE
ELECTED OFFICIAL AND HIS
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM. I RUN
AN OPERATION, AND IT'S CALLED
THE ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION AND
WHAT WE DO IN THE ORGANIZED
CRIME DIVISION AS WE FOCUS ON
SERIOUS OFFENDERS. NOW WE DO
FILE WE DO THE INTAKE. FOR ALL
THE RETAIL THEFT CASES THAT ARE
BROUGHT TO US BY THE TASK FORCE,
AND I DO THINK THAT LAPD AND LSD
DO A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS JOB.
I WAS MEETING WITH. LAST NIGHT,
THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THEY PUT
IN ON A CASE THAT WE FILED FOR
TODAY INVOLVING A CREW THAT WAS
TARGETING JEWELERS WAS
INCREDIBLE. AND I CAN'T TALK
ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION, BUT THE
AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WAS PUT IN
BY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THAT CASE
WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE. AND I HAVE
TO SAY THAT I AM IMPRESSED EVERY
SINGLE DAY. BY THE IMPRESSIVE
WORK THAT LAPD L. A. S D AND OUR
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS
ARE PUTTING IN DAY IN AND DAY
OUT. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO TALK
ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS AND HOW
THINGS CAN BE IMPROVED, YOU
KNOW, I DID HAVE THE PLEASURE.
I'M GOING TO THE BEVERLY HILLS
REAL TIME WATCH CENTER RECENTLY
AND I WANT TO THANK CAPTAIN MAX
SHUBIN FOR INVITING ME AND MY
SUPERVISOR OUT THERE TO SEE THAT
THEY HAVE OVER 2000 CAMERAS. UH
A COUPLE 100 LICENSE PLATE
READERS. THEY HAVE DRONES WHERE
THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE IN THAT
REAL TIME WATCH CENTER. NOT JUST
IN TERMS OF PREVENTING CRIMES IN
BEVERLY HILLS. BUT IN TERMS OF
IDENTIFYING CRIMINALS THAT
HAPPEN TO BE COMING INTO THEIR
CITY THAT ARE PART OF OTHER
CRUISE IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. I
THINK THAT SANTA MONICA IS
MOVING FORWARD IN THAT SAME
DIRECTION. I HAD A CONVERSATION
WITH GLENDALE THE OTHER DAY.
THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD IN THAT
DIRECTION AS WELL. AND I THINK
IF WE WERE TO INVEST MORE
RESOURCES INTO SOME OF THE
TECHNOLOGY THAT IS AVAILABLE TO
HELP US NOT JUST IN TERMS OF
LICENSE PLATE READERS AND
CAMERAS. BUT IN TERMS OF, UH,
WORKING TOGETHER SO THAT THIS
INFORMATION IS SHARED ADEQUATELY
ACROSS THE COUNTY, BECAUSE WE
ARE WE ARE. WE ARE THE MOST
POPULOUS COUNTY OR ACTUALLY, THE
MOST POPULOUS ANNOUNCED EIGHT
ENTITY IN THE UNITED STATES. I
DO THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE AN
EXCELLENT WAY OF HELPING US
IMPROVE AND COMBAT. NOT JUST
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT BUT
PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY ALTOGETHER
. SO LET ME ASK IT IN ANOTHER
WAY. SO WE ARE, OF COURSE,
LAWMAKERS WRITE LAWS THAT THE
VOTERS THE PUBLIC CREATED A LA
VIA PROP 47. SO DO YOU THINK
THAT YOU L A COUNTY HAVE
ADEQUATE TOOLS FROM A
PROSECUTORIAL? TOOLBOX NEEDED TO
ADDRESS. RETAIL THEFT, OR DO YOU
THINK THAT THAT THAT WE NEED TO
PROPOSED ALTERATIONS IN STATUTE,
WHETHER THEY'RE PETTY THEFT WITH
A PRIOR OR THE AGGREGATION. UM
ISSUE AS WELL AGAIN. I'M NOT
HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE POLICY
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. SER I
HAVEN'T READ ALL THE STUDIES,
AND I DON'T KNOW ALL THE FACTS.
THESE TYPES OF POLICY MAKING
DECISIONS SHOULD BE MADE BY
SOMEBODY WHO HAS ALL THE FACTS
AVAILABLE, HAS REVIEWED ALL THE
STUDIES AND CAN MAKE AN INFORMED
ADVISEMENT TO THIS COMMITTEE
THAT THIS SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T BE
DONE AGAIN. I JUST WORK ON THE
OPERATION SIDE AND AS FAR AS THE
OPERATION SIDE AS FAR AS GOING
AFTER CRIMINALS. THEY'RE
COMMITTING ORGANIZED RETAIL
CRIME. VIOLENT CRIME,
TRANSNATIONAL GANGS, EURASIAN
GANGS, UH AND WE ALSO PROSECUTE
ALL THE HATE CRIMES IN THE
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. I THINK
WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO THAT
EFFECTIVELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
RESPONSE. THANK YOU WERE OVER
TIME. NOW I JUST WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
NOW YOU'RE ALL VERY BUSY PEOPLE
AND, UH, JUST BEEN VERY
INFORMATIVE. WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR TAKING PART OF YOUR DAY WITH
US TODAY? THANK YOU. UM, LET'S
GO AHEAD AND BRING THE NEXT
PANEL UP. MHM. OH GREAT. I ALSO
WANT TO WELCOME ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
DAVID ALVAREZ, WHO'S FROM SAN
DIEGO. AND WHILE WE'RE BRINGING
THE NEXT PANEL UP, I'D LIKE TO
GIVE HIM TWO MINUTES TO MAKE A
STATEMENT. IF HE'D LIKE YOU TO
WAIT UNTIL THE END. OKAY, GREAT.
WELCOME UM, LAST, BUT NOT LEAST,
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR THIRD
SET OF PANELISTS, WHICH WILL
LEAD US IN A DISCUSSION REALLY
REGARDING FENCING AND RESELLING
BOTH ONLINE AND ON THE GROUND.
UM SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TODAY TO BE
JOINED BY COMMANDER J. MASTIC
FROM THE LOS ANGELES POLICE
DEPARTMENT, ANDREA DEVO ON
BEHALF OF TECHNET. AND MIKE
CARSON ON BEHALF OF EBAY. THANK
YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'VE ALL
DISCUSSED IN ORDER OR NOT, UH,
SO I WILL START WITH WITH MR
WITH MR MASTIC. THANK YOU. AND
FIVE MINUTES APIECE. GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIRMAN AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. REMAINS A
PROBLEM IN LOS ANGELES ARE MOST
NOTORIOUS LOCATION IN LOS
ANGELES IS MACARTHUR PARK.
MACARTHUR PARK IS SURROUNDED BY
THE ALVARADO CORRIDOR,
SPECIFICALLY BETWEEN WILSHIRE
BOULEVARD TO THE SOUTH SIXTH
STREET TO THE NORTH. ALONG WITH
THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT
AUTHORITY LINE B STATION. UH
IT'S A KNOWN LOCATION FOR STREET
VENDORS WHO CAN BUY AND SELL
STOLEN PROPERTY AND POLICING.
REFER TO THIS AS FENCING. LOS
ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
DETECTIVES HAVE MADE NUMEROUS
ARRESTS FOR GRAND THEFT. UH AND
SHOPLIFTING FROM ALL THE BIG BOX
LOCATIONS THAT SURROUND THAT
AREA, INCLUDING TARGET RITE AID,
THE 99 CENT STORE AND OTHER
LOCAL BUSINESSES. THE SUSPECTS,
WHO ARE PRIMARILY FROM THE
HOMELESS POPULATION AND
SUFFERING FROM NARCOTICS
ADDICTION, OFTEN SELL THE STOLEN
PRODUCTS TO STREET VENDORS
STORES ALONG ALVARADO FOR MONEY
AND OTHER THINGS SUCH AS FOOD
HOTEL STAYS IN NARCOTICS. IN
TERMS OF STRATEGIES FOR LOS
ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE A
MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON BOOSTING
AND FENCING CRIMES. LOS ANGELES
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S FOCUSED ON
UM CAREER CRIMINALS, PLACES AND
ACTIVITIES. CONDUCTED AND WE
CONDUCT SHOPLIFTING BLITZ
OPERATIONS BOOSTER OPERATIONS,
STREET VENDOR OPERATIONS, AS
WELL AS SEARCH WARRANTS AT BRICK
AND MORTAR STORES THAT SELL THE
STOLEN GOODS. I THINK THEY'VE
BEEN REFERRED TO PREVIOUSLY BY
THE L. A COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY. DETECTIVES HAVE
REGULAR MEETINGS WITH RETAILERS
TO DISCUSS CRIME TRENDS. THE
ACTIVITY OF SUSPECTS WITHIN
THEIR STORES. INFORMATION IS
PROVIDED TO THE RETAILERS WITH
REGARD TO BEST PRACTICES AND
TRAINING FOR THINGS LIKE REPORT
WRITING. CRIME REPORTING
DOCUMENTATION, SURVEILLANCE
CAMERA USAGE, AND WE RECENTLY
REFORMED THE LAW. RCA COMMITTEE
WITH RETAIL THEFT VICTIMS OF
RETAIL THEFT. WE HELD A SUMMIT
LAST SEPTEMBER THAT WAS HERE IN
RAMPART AREA WHERE WE HAD 250
RETAILERS AT THE AT THE MEETING.
DETECTIVES AND VICE OFFICERS
TYPICALLY WORK WITH RETAILERS TO
IDENTIFY FENCING LOCATIONS. THE
ANOTHER. VENDORS IN THE AREA
ALSO NOTIFY US BECAUSE
TYPICALLY, THEY'RE IN
COMPETITION WITH THOSE FOLKS WHO
SELL MERCHANDISE OR BY STEAL
MERCHANDISE, SELL IT TO OTHER
MERCHANTS AND THEN COMPETE WITH
THEM IN THAT IN THAT LOCAL AREA.
OR OFFICERS PREPARE SEARCH
WARRANTS, VENTING LOCATIONS,
RECOVER PROPERTY, COLLECT
EVIDENCE AND EFFECT ARRESTS.
ALTHOUGH SHOPLIFTING IS GROSSLY
UNDER REPORTED THE ONGOING
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OUR
INVESTIGATORS, RETAILERS AND
MORE ACCURATE FEEDBACK REGARDING
THE INCREASE OR DECREASE IN
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE LOCAL
AREA. LOS ANGELES POLICE
DEPARTMENT REMAINS EAGER TO
ADDRESS FENCING ACTIVITIES IN
THE CITY'S PURSUIT TO REDUCE
THEFT CRIME IN THE AREA AND
REMAINS COMMITTED TO THIS GOAL.
IN TERMS OF CASE STATISTICS
SINCE, UM WE ROLLED OUT OUR
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT OPERATION
BACK ON OCTOBER. 21ST WE'VE
CONDUCTED 36 BLITZ OPERATIONS.
WE'VE AFFECTED 179 ARRESTS 160
MISDEMEANOR ARRESTS. 18 OF THOSE
ARE FELONY ARRESTS AND ONE
SUBJECT WAS A JUVENILE. WE
CONDUCTED TWO FENCING OPERATIONS
, WHICH RENDERED NINE
MISDEMEANOR ARRESTS. THE
CHALLENGE REMAINS. IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT TO WORK THESE
OPERATIONS FROM THE BACK END. IT
IS VERY MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE. TO
WORK THESE OPERATIONS FROM THE
FRONT END AT THE TIME OF THE
THEFT. SEARCH WARRANTS. UM
UNIQUE IDENTIFIERS TAGS, THINGS
OF THAT NATURE. TRACKING DEVICE.
IS THERE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL, BUT
THEY REALLY HAVE A VERY LIMITED
IMPACT ON ALL THE PROPERTY
THAT'S TAKEN AND THE RECOVERY,
SO WE RECOVER A VERY, VERY SMALL
PORTION OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY
TAKEN. WITH REGARD TO RECIDIVISM
. I KNOW THAT'S BEEN SPOKEN
ABOUT TO SOME DEGREE THIS
MORNING. AH RECIDIVISM REMAINS
OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE. AH I HAVE
SEVERAL CASES I'VE OUTLINED. I'M
NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF
THEM TODAY. BUT THERE ARREST,
FOLLOWED BY RELEASE, FOLLOWED BY
CONTINUED CRIMES, FOLLOWED BY
ADDITIONAL ARRESTS THAT COME
THROUGH, UM ONE PARTICULAR
EGREGIOUS. CASE. ON JULY 7TH. WE
ARRESTED TWO SUSPECTS. UH THEY
WERE AFFILIATED WITH THE TOPANGA
WESTFIELD MALL, RETAIL THEFT
CRIMES THAT WAS ON TV. THAT WAS
REALLY THE INCIDENT THAT KICKED
OFF OUR TASK FORCE. AH THEY WERE
BOTH CHARGED WITH SEVEN COUNTS
OF GRAND THEFT. THEY WERE
RELEASED ON ZERO BAIL HERE IN L.
A COUNTY. AND THEN AFTER BEING
RELEASED, RELEASED, BOTH
SUSPECTS COMMITTED ADDITIONAL
GRAND THEFT CRIMES. UH AND
ROBBERIES. ONE INCIDENT WAS ON
AUGUST 14TH ANOTHER INCIDENT ON
AUGUST 24TH. ANOTHER INCIDENT ON
SEPTEMBER 10TH. SEPTEMBER 10TH
INCIDENT INVOLVED BOTH THESE
SUSPECTS AS WELL AS FOR AN
ADDITIONAL SUSPECTS WHO ARE
ENGAGED IN A FLASH MOM. THEY
ENTERED THE MACY'S AT THE NORTH
RIDGE. UH FASHION CENTER, WHERE
THE UTILIZED FORCE TO BREAK OPEN
DISPLAY CASES. THEY INSTILL FEAR
IN BOTH THE EMPLOYEES AND
CUSTOMERS AND FLED WITH SEVERAL
ITEMS OF PROPERTY. DETECTIVES
WERE ABLE TO LOCATE BOTH
SUSPECTS AND OBTAIN ARREST AND
SEARCH WARRANTS FOR BOTH. AH IN
THE COMPLETION OF THOSE SEARCH
WARRANTS, GHOST GUN WAS
RECOVERED. AND BOTH WERE
ULTIMATELY HELD TO ANSWER. WE DO
LOOK FORWARD WITH THE
PARTNERSHIP IN THE SUPPORT OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND
DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS TO THIS
VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. THAT'S
IMPACTING LOS ANGELES. THANK
YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, MR MASTIC
REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I JUST
WANT TO, UM ESPECIALLY EXPRESSED
BY THANKS TO MISS DEVOE AND MR
CARSON FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
I KNOW THAT PART OF THE REASON
WHY WE'VE ASKED YOU HERE IS
BECAUSE YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN
FOCUSING. I THINK IN THE
INDUSTRY ON WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN
MAKE SURE THAT THE GOODS THAT
ARE BOUGHT ONLINE OR A
LEGITIMATE AND THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN THINKING ABOUT THESE KINDS
OF ISSUES, EBAY HAS IMPLEMENTED
MANY PRACTICES THAT ARE
CONSIDERED BEST PRACTICES AND SO
VERY INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS
, AND BEFORE YOU GO, I JUST WANT
TO RECOGNIZE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
PILAR SHIAVO, WHO HAS JOINED US
WILL GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE A COMMENT A LITTLE BIT
LATER. SO GO AHEAD. PLEASE
PROCEED. GOOD MORNING. STILL, UM
, THANK YOU. COMMITTEE CHAIRS
AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANDREA
DEVO. I'M HERE TODAY
REPRESENTING TECHNET. TECHNET IS
A BIPARTISAN NETWORK OF
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
COMPANIES ARE MEMBERS REPRESENT
DIVERSE SUBCATEGORIES OF THE
INDUSTRY, INCLUDING CLEAN ENERGY
SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS. DEVICE
MANUFACTURERS AND RELEVANT TO
OUR PURPOSE TODAY, ONLINE
MARKETPLACES AS IT RELATES TO
OUR MEMBER COMPANY ACTIONS. WE
ARE PROUD TO BE ENGAGED, ACTIVE
AND STAND READY TO CONTINUE OUR
PARTNERSHIP AND COMBATING RETAIL
THEFT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME IS A
SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FACING ALL
RETAILERS TODAY AND THAT ONLINE
PLATFORMS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
TO BE A PART OF THAT SOLUTION.
TECHNIC MEMBERS TAKE THE ISSUE
OF ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME VERY
SERIOUSLY. IT IS IN EACH ONLINE
MARKETPLACES INTEREST TO
MAINTAIN TRUST, WITH THE
CONSUMERS USING THEIR PLATFORMS
AND THE PUBLIC ARE MARKETPLACE.
MEMBER COMPANIES TAKE A HOLISTIC
APPROACH TO COMBAT THE SALE OF
ILLEGAL AND COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS
BY HEAVILY INVESTING IN
TECHNOLOGIES, PERSONNEL AND
PROCESSES THAT IDENTIFY BAD
ACTORS AND REMOVE THEM FROM THE
PLATFORMS. THESE TOOLS ARE
CONSTANTLY BEING ASSESSED AND
IMPROVED TO ENSURE THAT THEY
TARGET THE BAD ACTORS ON THEIR
PLATFORMS AND TO MOVE QUICKLY
MOVE MORE QUICKLY TO SPOT A
RANGE OF ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME
SCHEMES LIKE THEFT TO RETAIL
CONCESSIONS, CARGO THEFT AND
POTENTIAL RESALE OF STOLEN GOODS
. ARE MEMBERS REVIEW EVERY
INSTANCE OF SUSPECTED ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME. AND WHEN THERE IS
SUSPICION OR EVIDENCE THAT BAD
ACTORS ARE MISUSING AND
MARKETPLACE TO SELL, STOLEN OR
ILLICIT GOODS ARE MEMBERS WERE
DIRECTLY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
RETAILERS AND BRANDS TO BRING
OFFENDERS TO JUSTICE WOULD LIKE
TO HIGHLIGHT THE MEASURES THAT
ONLINE MARKETPLACES TAKE TO
FIGHT BACK AGAINST ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME. THESE INCLUDE
MAINTAINING ACCESSIBLE AND EASY
TO USE, REPORTING FORMS,
EMPLOYING NOTICE AND TAKEDOWN
TEAMS TO INVESTIGATE SUSPICIOUS
ACTIVITY. PROMPTLY REMOVING
REPORTS REPORTED LISTINGS
BLOCKING SUSPICIOUS LISTINGS
FROM BEING PUBLISHED BANNING
SELLERS WITH MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS
. SHUTTING DOWN RETAIL SORRY,
SHUTTING DOWN RELATED SELLERS
AND PREVENTING BANNED USERS OR
SELLERS FROM RETURNING TO THE
PLATFORM, ASSISTING LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER PARTNERS
AND ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS. AND
TYPICALLY, WHEN A PLATFORM
IDENTIFIES AN ISSUE. THEY WORK
CLOSELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
RETAILERS AND BRANDS TO STOP
ABOUT ACTORS AND HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE, INCLUDING
WITHHOLDING FUNDS, TERMINATING
ACCOUNTS AND MAKING LAW
ENFORCEMENT REFERRALS. IN
ADDITION, I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME
OF THE EFFORTS REMEMBER?
COMPANIES UM, ARE HAVE IN TERMS
OF RELATED PARTNERSHIPS. TECHNET
AND OUR MEMBERS ARE ALSO
PARTICIPATING, ADVOCATING FOR
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
TO TAKE A UNIFIED APPROACH TO
COMBATING THE ISSUE ARE MEMBERS
WORK DIRECTLY WITH BRANDS AND
RETAILERS TO INVESTIGATE
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME SCHEMES,
AS MENTIONED. BUT ALSO WORK
REGULARLY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
PROSECUTORS AND STATES'
ATTORNEYS GENERAL SEVERAL OF OUR
COMPANIES SIT ON STATE RETAIL
AND ORGANIZED CRIME ASSOCIATIONS
IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OR
SERVE ON ATTORNEY GENERAL LED RC
TASK FORCE. FORCES THESE PUBLIC
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, WORK
COLLABORATIVELY ON ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME SHARING INFORMATION
INVESTIGATING CASES, TAKING
ENFORCEMENT ACTION AND
COLLABORATING ON LEGISLATIVE
EFFORTS TO STOP BAD ACTORS. WE
SUPPORTED THE FEDERAL INFORM
ACT, WHICH I DO WANT TO NOTE
ONLY WENT INTO EFFECT SIX MONTHS
AGO. UM AND WE ARE EAGER TO SEE
THE SORT OF HOW THAT
IMPLEMENTATION TAKES PLACE
BEFORE WE SEE ANY MODIFICATIONS
THAT POTENTIALLY MIGHT BE NEEDED
. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH MANY OF
YOU AND THE LEGISLATURE IN
SUPPORTING AND PASSING SP 301
ENACTING THE CALIFORNIA VERSION
OF THE INFORM ACT. ABOUT ONE
MORE MINUTE. GOT IT?
ADDITIONALLY TECHNICIAN OUR
MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN A ROBE
HAS PARTICIPATED IN A ROBUST
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS, WHICH WAS
ALLUDED TO EARLIER BY MR READING
, ORGANIZED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL
ROB BONTA AND HIS TEAM TO
DEVELOP A JOINT STATEMENT OF
PRINCIPLES. I HAVE THOSE
PRINCIPLES, BUT I WILL FOR THE
SAKE OF BREVITY. SAVE THOSE. IF
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, SO IN
SUMMARY, WE AS AN INDUSTRY ARE
HERE TO PARTNER COLLABORATE AND
HELP COMBAT RETAIL THEFT. WHILE
THE INDUSTRY AND OUR WORK
ALONGSIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
RETAILERS HAS MADE A LOT OF
PROGRESS, MORE WORK IS ALWAYS
GOING TO BE REQUIRED. IT'S BEEN
MADE CLEAR THAT ORGANIZED RETAIL
THEFT OPERATIONS ARE
SOPHISTICATED AND OUR RESPONSES
AND TOOLS THAT ARE TRACKING
PREVENTING AND REMOVING BAD
ACTORS AND ILLEGAL PRODUCTS THAT
ARE WORKING TODAY. CONSTANTLY
NEED TO BE ADVANCING AND
ADAPTING TO THOSE THREATS. WE
REMAIN COMMITTED AND THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. THANK
YOU. SO ON THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME TODAY. MY NAME IS MIKE CARSON
AND I'M, A SENIOR DIRECTOR IN
EBAY'S REGULATORY POLICY GROUP,
AND I'VE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY
FOR OVER 18 YEARS. OUR TEAM
MANAGES EBAY'S PROHIBITED AND
RESTRICTED ITEMS POLICIES AND
ALSO OVERSEES OUR CRIMINAL AND
REGULATORY INVESTIGATIONS TEAM,
WHICH WORKS CLOSELY WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND RETAILERS ON
ISSUES RELATED TO CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY, INCLUDING ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME. EBAY HAS COMMITTED
TO PROVIDING A SAFE, SECURE
ONLINE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE TO
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE GLOBALLY AND
PLAYS AN INDUSTRY LEADING ROLE
IN UTILIZING A COMBINATION OF
SOPHISTICATED DETECTION TOOLS,
AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT AND
STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH BRAND
OWNERS, RETAILERS AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO
EFFECTIVELY COMBAT THE SALE OF
STOLEN COUNTERFEIT OR ILLEGAL
GOODS. AND PRESENT OUR CUSTOMERS
WITH THE SAFEST, MOST TRUSTED
SHOPPING EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE.
THROUGH OUR PARTNERING WITH
RETAILERS OFFENSIVELY AGAINST
CRIME AND THEFT PROGRAM, BETTER
KNOWN AS PROACT. EBAY
COLLABORATES WITH MORE THAN 60
RETAIL LOSS PREVENTION
DEPARTMENTS IN NORTH AMERICA
THAT ARE SEEKING ASSISTANCE WITH
INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO R. C.
THE PROGRAM ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS
TO REPORT EVIDENCE OF THEFT TO
EBAY FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
EBAY ALSO MAINTAINS A DEDICATED
LAW ENFORCEMENT PORTAL TO ENABLE
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO
SUBMIT INVESTIGATION RELATED
REQUESTS TO EBAY TO US QUICKLY
AND SECURELY. WE'RE PROUD TO
MAKE THIS INVESTMENT TO FIGHT
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME BECAUSE
IT ENABLES OUR CUSTOMERS TO SELL
AND BUY WITH CONFIDENCE. KNOWING
EBAY HAS THE PEOPLE, POLICIES
AND PROCESSES IN PLACE TO
PROTECT THEM. UM I JUST WANT TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE
PROACT PROGRAM AND THEN HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. OUR
PRODUCT PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN
PLACE SINCE 2007 AND WE OVER
THAT TIME PERIOD. WE'VE SEEN
REAL PROGRESS ENCOUNTERING O R C
AND BRINGING ORGANIZED CRIME
RANKS TO JUSTICE. IN FACT, WE'VE
BEEN TOLD BY A NUMBER OF
RETAILERS THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY
OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE A
LEADER IN THIS SPACE, AND THEY
WOULD LOVE TO SEE OTHER ONLINE
PLATFORMS MODEL. OUR EFFORTS,
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH
THEM TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THAT.
THE PRODUCT SYSTEM WAS REALLY A
TWO WAY TOOL THAT ENABLES
RETAILERS TO PROVIDE US WITH
INFORMATION THAT WE MIGHT NOT
HAVE, AND LIKEWISE WE CAN
PROVIDE THEM WITH INFORMATION.
THEY MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY HAVE
ACCESS TO, AND THESE
PARTNERSHIPS ARE ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT FOR STOLEN GOODS
BECAUSE STOLEN GOODS ARE GENUINE
AND LEGITIMATE PRODUCTS. THEY
CAN BE DIFFICULT TO DETECT WITH
THE FILTERS THAT WE NORMALLY
APPLY. TO ILLEGAL OR COUNTERFEIT
GOODS, SO WE REALLY RELY ON THAT
SPECIFIC INTELLIGENCE. WE GET
FROM RETAILERS TO HELP US BETTER
DETECT THOSE ITEMS. SO TO PUT
THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, ONE EXAMPLE
I CAN USES AWAY EBAY CAN DETECT
IT. A BRAND NEW SELLER COMES TO
THE SITE LIST. 200 IPHONES
THEY'VE NEVER SOLD BEFORE AND ON
EBAY AND AT ALL THAT'S GOING TO
RAISE SOME RED FLAGS. ON OUR
END. WE'RE GOING TO HALT THAT.
ASK FOR SOME MORE INFORMATION
BEFORE IT GOES FORWARD ON THE
OTHER SIDE. IF A RETAILER HAS A
STOLEN, UH YOU KNOW A THEFT IN
THEIR STORE OF, SAY, 100 OF A
SPECIFIC TYPE OF POWER TOOL. UM
THEY CAN TELL US WHERE THAT
STORE WAS THAT ZIP CODE. WE CAN
THEN DO A SEARCH ON OUR SIDE TO
SEE IF THERE'S BEEN RECENT
ACTIVITY FROM SELLERS IN THAT
AREA, WORK WITH THEM AND WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAIN TO AFFECT
AN INVESTIGATION THERE. WITHOUT
THAT INTEL, THOSE POWER TOOLS
MAY HAVE LOOKED LIKE THE
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE ITEMS ON
OUR SITE EVERY DAY. AND THEN IN
CLOSING, JUST WANT TO GIVE ONE
EXAMPLE OF A PROACTIVE PROGRAM
IN ACTION IN MAY OF 2002. WE
WORKED WITH THE NEW YORK CITY A
GS ORGANIZED CRIME TASK FORCE ON
A RETAIL THEFT OPERATION
INVESTIGATION INVOLVING 41
PEOPLE THAT WERE CHARGED FOR
THEIR ROLES IN THIS CRIME RING
THAT STOLE LUXURY CLOTHING AND
GOODS AND THOUSANDS OF ITEMS
FROM DRUGSTORES. LAW ENFORCEMENT
. AS A RESULT OF THIS
INVESTIGATION AND OUR
PARTNERSHIP, LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS
ABLE TO SEIZE MORE THAN $3.8
MILLION WORTH OF STOLEN RETAIL
ITEMS MORE THAN 550 STOLEN GIFTS
AND CASH CARDS AND MORE THAN
$300,000 IN CASH. THANK YOU AND
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WE'VE
GOT SIX OF US HERE. UM WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE AND WE
ONLY HAVE ABOUT 15 MINUTES LEFT
FOR THIS PANEL I WANTED TO AFTER
THIS PANEL. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. I WAS WONDERING IF
THOSE WHO ANTICIPATE WANTING TO
MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT COULD
RAISE THEIR HANDS. I KNOW HOW
MUCH TIME WE'RE GOING TO NEED
2468. SO IT LOOKS LIKE THAT LOOK
LIKE ABOUT 30 PEOPLE IS THAT IS
THAT A GOOD ESTIMATE? IS THAT
RIGHT? CORRECT OKAY. GREAT.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. OKAY
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS COME BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ASK
EVERY COMMITTEE MEMBER TO LIMIT
THEIR QUESTION TO ONE QUESTION
WITHOUT FOLLOW UP SO THAT WE CAN
GET THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ASK SOMETHING SO WHAT'S THAT?
YOU WANNA START IT? YOU WANNA
START OVER? UNTIL THAT, OKAY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK ANYTHING,
MISS SHABA? YEAH MY APOLOGIES
FOR BEING LATE TODAY, BUT I WAS
LISTENING WHILE I WAS DRIVING UP
FROM ORANGE COUNTY. AND SO I
JUST WANTED TO. YOU KNOW, THIS
HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT I'VE
HEARD FROM FOLKS IN OUR
COMMUNITY ABOUT AN ESPECIALLY
SMALLER RETAILERS. UM YOU KNOW,
JUST REVIEWING ALL OF THE WORK
THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID LAST
YEAR, WE HAVE ACTUALLY PUT YOU
KNOW GRANTS IN PLACE TO ADDRESS
RETAIL THEFT, AND I THINK PART
OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THAT
WE ALSO NEED TO ALLOW THAT TO
WORK. AND BE ABLE TO SEE THE
FRUITS OF OUR LABOR BECAUSE
THAT'S REALLY JUST STARTING. UM
AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, I
THINK THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN
REALLY GOOD, SIGNIFICANT WORK
THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THIS SPACE
TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT AROUND
RETAIL THEFT THAT WE HAVE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE THROUGH.
UM AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN
MAKE TWEETS TWEAKS AND
ADJUSTMENTS AS WE GO FORWARD. UM
I KNOW THE PANEL BEFORE THIS WAS
TALKING A LITTLE BIT MORE
AROUND. UM YOU KNOW THE MORE
PETTY THEFT AND WHEN IT AS IT
RELATES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
EXTREME POVERTY. AND I KNOW THE
SMALLER RETAILERS. THAT'S MORE
WHERE, YOU KNOW THEY SEE THE
INTERACTION AND I THINK, YOU
KNOW, FOCUSING A LOT OF OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AROUND
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME MAKES
SENSE BECAUSE IT'S A WHOLE
LARGER NETWORK AND RINGS THAT WE
NEED TO ADDRESS. MY CONCERN
AROUND, YOU KNOW SMALLER, WHICH
I THINK WAS ADDRESSED A LITTLE
BIT IN THE EARLIER PANEL. UM YOU
KNOW, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
THINGS RELATED TO THAT IS THAT
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST CREATING A
CYCLE RIGHT OF MAYBE CITE AND
RELEASE OR IT'S NOT, UM, REALLY
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSE, AND I
WONDER, YOU KNOW WHEN LAPD IS
INTERACTING WITH. WITH FOLKS IN
THIS SITUATION. WHAT ARE THE
WHAT ARE THE ACTIONS YOU CAN
TAKE? THERE'S YOU KNOW YOU CAN
CHARGE YOU CANNOT CHARGE LIKE
WHAT ARE WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS TO
YOU? AND WHAT ARE THE ONES THAT
YOU SEE? CAN BE THE YOU KNOW THE
DETERRENT THAT CAN MAYBE GET
PEOPLE SUPPORT AND HELP THAT
THEY NEED SO THAT THEY'RE NOT IN
A SITUATION WHERE THEY NEED TO
GO STEAL FOOD OR NEED TO GO
STEAL SOMETHING TO SELL IT TO BE
ABLE TO BUY FOOD. UH, THANK YOU,
MA'AM. IN TERMS OF OUR CONTACT.
WHEN WE CONTACT A SUSPECT IN A
CRIME, IT WOULD BE TO AFFECT OR
NOT TO AFFECT AN ARREST. UM,
THAT IS SELLING THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES VERY, VERY MUCH SHORT IN
OUR HOMELESS ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.
THAT'S JUST A VERY, VERY SMALL
PART. THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE A
POLICE OFFICER AFFECTED ARREST.
UM, PROCESSING BOOK THEM TAKE
THEM INTO CUSTODY. THAT KIND OF
A THING. UH THERE ARE SEVERAL
OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE WITH THE
LOS ANGELES CITY, UM, HOMELESS
AUTHORITY THAT THAT DEALS WITH
THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN THAT
REGARD, BUT IN TERMS OF A POLICE
OFFICER COMING IN CONTACT WITH
SOMEONE, UH, THE VENDOR RETAILER
THAT'S BEEN A VICTIM OF A CRIME
THAT CAN AFFECT THE PRIVATE
PERSONS ARREST. IF THEY CHOOSE
TO DO SO WE WOULD WE WOULD
ACCEPT THE PRIVATE PERSONS
ARREST. ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED
ITS FORWARD TO THE PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE MISDEMEANORS GOOD OR L. A
CITY PROSECUTOR, AND THERE ARE
MANY ALTERNATIVES TO CHOOSING TO
PROSECUTE IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO
SO, BUT FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ASPECT, UM IF WE'RE
CONFRONTED WITH PRIVATE PERSONS
ARREST OR I'LL OBLIGATED BY
STATE LAW TO ACCEPT THAT PRIVATE
PERSONS ARREST THE OFFICER ON
THE SCENE DOESN'T HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO SAY NO. I GOT
PERMISSION TO BREAK THE RULES
AND ASK ONE FOLLOW UP SINCE I
HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND, UM SO I
KNOW THE LEAD PROGRAM WAS
TALKING EARLIER ABOUT. YOU KNOW,
SOMETIMES FOLKS CAN GO TOWARDS
THAT AVENUE RIGHT OF GOING INTO
THE LEAD PROGRAM. SO HOW IS THAT
CONNECTED? LIKE OUR OFFICERS
AWARE OF THAT PROGRAM IS THAT
AVAILABLE AS A RESOURCE FOR THEM
TO CHOOSE THAT DIRECTION OR HOW
HOW DOES THAT COME INTO PLAY?
OFTEN IT WOULD BE AFTER THE
ARREST. OTHERWISE THEY WOULD
NEVER THERE WOULD BE NO
DOCUMENTATION. THEY NEVER WOULD
HAVE EVEN BEEN BEEN ARRESTED.
THERE WOULD BE NO TRACKING THERE
WOULD BE NO ANYTHING. UM, HAVING
SAID THAT? I DON'T HAVE THE
NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME. YOU'D
HAVE TO ASK THE LOS ANGELES CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ABOUT
MISDEMEANOR PROSECUTIONS. I
WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU THAT THERE
ARE VERY, VERY, VERY FEW I DON'T
HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.
UM THEY DO HAVE ALTERNATIVES TO
INCARCERATION. AH THERE'S A WIDE
PANEL OF HOW THOSE ARE
IMPLEMENTED. UM BUT FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENTS PERSPECTIVE,
WE DON'T DO THAT. WE ACCEPT AN
ARREST. IF IT'S A PRIVATE PERSON
TO REST, THERE'S A STATE LAW
THAT MANDATES THE POLICE OFFICER
EXCEPT A PRIVATE PERSONS ARREST.
IF OUR OFFICER DIDN'T DO THAT HE
WOULD BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINE
SO IT'S NOT THE OFFICER'S
DECISION TO ACCEPT IT OR NOT.
THAT'S A REQUIREMENT BY STATE
LAW. OKAY, GREAT. OKAY. PERFECT
MADE TO GERMANY. OKAY. I HAVE
ONE QUESTION AND I'LL JUST ASK
YOU ALL TO RESPOND TO IT QUICKLY
. UM SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
HAS BEEN RAISED AS POTENTIALLY A
NEW REQUIREMENT THAT WOULD
REQUIRE FOLKS TO MAINTAIN
RECORDS THAT SHOW THE PROVIDENCE
OF THEIR GOODS WONDERING IF YOU
COULD COMMENT WHAT THE PROS AND
CONS OF THAT MIGHT BE. UM AND I
THINK OFFICER WITH RESPECT TO
PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT
MISUSE OF THAT WITH STREET
MENDERS, AND I'M JUST WONDERING
IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THAT ISSUE,
AND THEN YOU ARE THE ONLINE
ISSUE. I SEE IT BEING THE
PROBLEM OF IMPLEMENTATION IF YOU
WERE TO LIKE IT'S EITHER ALL OR
NOTHING. SO IF YOU WERE TO
REQUIRE IT FOR EVERYTHING SMALL
STREET VENDORS ON THE STREET, UM
TO REQUIRE. THEM ANYBODY SELLING
ANYTHING TO HAVE THE SOURCE OF
WHERE IT CAME FROM? IT'S ALMOST
AN UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION. NOW
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ONLINE
RETAILERS. I'M NOT GONNA IT'S
NOT REALLY MY EXPERTISE. UM BUT
ANYBODY TO SELL ANYTHING TO
REQUIRE WHAT IT IS AND WHERE IT
CAME FROM. IT ALMOST SEEMS. I
WANT TO SAY UNREASONABLE. I MEAN
, THAT'S THAT'S MY GOD, I WOULD,
BUT I WANTED TO JUST GET YOUR
PERSPECTIVE. AND THEN IF YOU
COULD ANSWER, THE QUESTION WILL
RESPOND ALMOST SIMILARLY,
SIMILARLY, FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
. I MEAN, IT'S IT IS THAT THIS
IS A ONE SIZE FITS ALL PROOF OF
PURCHASE IS JUST A REQUIREMENT
THAT IN SOME INSTANCES COULDN'T
BE MET. I AIN'T JUST FOR A FEW
EXAMPLES, HANDMADE GOODS. RIGHT
GIFTS THAT YOU RECEIVE THAT YOU
WANT TO RESELL GOODS SPOT IN AN
ESTATE SALE OR YARD SALE.
ANTIQUES REFURBISHED ELECTRONIC
RIGHT. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.
SO THESE ARE JUST REAL LIFE
PRACTICAL EXAMPLES THAT COULD
REACH PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
THRESHOLDS IN TERMS OF DOLLAR
AMOUNTS, BUT THERE'S NEVER A
PROOF OF PURCHASE. SO UM, I
THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER
THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WHEN
PUSHING, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD I
THINK? BE A WITHIN GOOD
INTENTIONS POLICY THAT MIGHT PUT
A SMALL SELLERS IN A POSITION OF
NOT BEING ABLE TO RUN THEIR
BUSINESS. YES SIMILAR FROM FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE, CREATING THAT
HUGE BARRIER OF ENTRY FOR
EVERYBODY I THINK WOULD BE WOULD
BE OVERWHELMINGLY BURDENSOME.
THAT SAID, THERE ARE CERTAIN
AREAS WHERE AGAIN THROUGH THESE
PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS
WHERE WE CAN FOCUS ON HIGH RISK
ACTIVITY AND BEING ABLE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT AND TARGET
PUTTING THOSE BURDENS IN PLACE
WHERE THEY SHOULD APPLY AS
OPPOSED TO THE 99% OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING
AND PUTTING THOSE YOU KNOW THOSE
EXTRA REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVE
POLICIES WHERE IN CERTAIN AREAS
WE MAY ONLY ALLOW PRE APPROVED
SELLERS TO LIST CERTAIN ITEMS OR
SELLERS THAT PROVIDE US WITH
DOCUMENTATION UPFRONT, BUT NOT
ACROSS THE BOARD IS THAT WOULD
BE, UM, YOU KNOW IMPOSSIBLE FOR
SELLERS TO MEET. IF I COULD JUST
ADD ON 11 FINAL POINT WITH THAT.
I THINK SOMEONE HAD SUGGESTED
EARLY ON. IT MAY HAVE BEEN YOU,
MA'AM, VERY HIGH IN DATA WAS
MAYBE A THRESHOLD THAT THAT
MIGHT BE A CAP OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT SPECIFIC ELECTRONIC
SPECIFIC, EXPENSIVE HANDBAGS. A
CERTAIN THRESHOLD MIGHT BE
APPROPRIATE. I'M GONNA JUST
FOLLOWED MY OWN RULE AND GO TO
MR MCCARTY. JUST ONE TURD IF YOU
COULD FOLLOW UP ON, UM, MR
ROBERTS AND KIND OF THE EARLIER
WHAT? WHAT? WHAT MORE TOOLS DO
YOU THINK WE NEED? WE HEAR THIS
IS THE INDUSTRY SIDE. SO YOU'RE
THAT ON THE FRONT LINES HERE AND
WHETHER IT'S MACARTHUR PARK OR
ONLINE OR OFFER UP OR FACEBOOK?
WHAT HAVE YOU? SO WHAT TOOLS? DO
YOU THINK THAT WE NEED TO
PROVIDE TO HELP YOU DO YOUR JOB
WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
FANTASTIC TOOLS THAT ARE OUT
THERE AND THE RETAIL THEFT.
THERE WAS A GRANT THAT LOS
ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
RECEIVED. IT WAS $15.6 MILLION
WAS JUST RECENT. UM WE HAVE
CHOSEN TO INVEST IN TECHNOLOGIES
BY AND LARGE, ALMOST OF ALL OF
THAT GRANT WILL GO INTO
TECHNOLOGIES AND NOT INTO
OVERTIME OR THINGS LIKE THAT,
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL
IN TERMS OF CRIME SOLVING AND
PROSECUTION. THOSE MONIES USED
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE RESELLING
AND THE FENCING SIDE THERE
ACROSS THE BOARD THERE, MAYBE
ASK YOU DIFFERENT. WHAT TOOLS?
WHETHER IT'S MONEY IN THE BUDGET
OR LEGISLATIVE TOOLS. DO YOU
THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER
TO DEAL WITH THE RESALE, FENCING
PEACE, ESPECIALLY THE ONLINE
FENCE, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE
WHERE IT IS NOW. IN TERMS OF
WHAT THE COMMITTEE COULD DO WHAT
THE STATE LEGISLATURE COULD DO.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE A SUGGESTION
ON WHAT A LAW WOULD BE, OR I
CAN'T REALLY ADVOCATE A POSITION
AS A POLICE OFFICER. I JUST SORT
OF CLOSED. YOU KNOW, WE'D LOVE
TO WORK WITH WITH ALL OF YOU. I
THINK THERE IS A DESIRE FOR US
TO DO MORE. WE SEE THAT THAT
CONTINUES TO BE A PATHWAY.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT OUR GOAL TO
SHUT DOWN LEGITIMATE SMALL
BUSINESSES. BUT I THINK IF YOU
COULD HELP US WITH SOME THINGS
THAT ARE NOT AS BROAD MAYBE IS
THE QUESTION I POSED, BUT THAT
WOULD HELP BE EFFECTIVE. WE'D
APPRECIATE A PARTNERSHIP ON
THAT. SO LET ME GO TO UM SOME
PEOPLE ARREST COMERS. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS
THAT WERE MENTIONED THAT I THINK
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. I
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS,
COMMANDER MASSA QUÊ TALKED ABOUT
THE FACT THAT SHOPLIFTING IS
GROSSLY UNDER REPORTED. THAT'S
AN ISSUE AND I THINK THAT, UM,
OUR CHAIR. MR ZUBER TALKED ABOUT
THAT EARLIER. AND WHAT IS IT
THAT KEEPS OUR RETAILERS FROM
REPORTING IT AND PART OF IT IS
AND MAYBE IT'S ANECDOTAL. MAYBE
IT'S RUMOR, BUT WE HEAR IT THAT
THE CHARGES THAT THEY'RE BEING
CHARGED TO IF THEY OVER REPORT
JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
UM REPRESENTATIVE, UM, ANDREA,
YOU YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FACT
THAT ONLINE RETAILERS HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT IF THEY
ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY AS AS
IT'S CLEARLY SHOWN HERE, AND
EVEN FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH
AMAZON, THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT
AS WELL. THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND YOU SAID,
MAINTAINING EASY TO USE
REPORTING FORMS. TAKES US BACK
TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
EARLIER. UM FROM EBAY. YOU
MENTIONED THE FACT THAT YOU WORK
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND YOU
HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT PORTAL.
THAT'S WORKING TOGETHER,
OBVIOUSLY IS GOING TO BE THE
BEST WAY TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
WHERE THE REAL PROBLEM IS, AND
THEN WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
ON THAT I MY QUESTION IS, AND I
THINK I GO BACK TO, UM WHAT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CHAIR MCCARTHY
IS TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS. THIS
IS REALLY THE PERFECT TIME TO BE
ABLE TO GIVE THE SUGGESTIONS.
IT'S CLEAR THAT GOVERNOR NEWSOME
HOUSE THIS THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE FROM, UH
GOVERNOR NEWSOM TO BOTH OUR
CHAIRS TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS. WE
WANT TO FIND SOLUTIONS. WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL
SAFE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR RETAILERS DON'T HAVE TO SHUT
THEIR DOORS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE
TO HAVE THE ADDED EXPENSE OF
HIRING LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE
WE'VE HEARD OF THOSE EXAMPLES AS
WELL. IT IS JUST SECURITY GUARDS
. THEY WILL GET SOMEBODY WHO IS,
UH, UNIFORMED OFFICER TO COME IN
DURING OFF HOURS. BUT NOT
EVERYBODY CAN AFFORD THAT. MAYBE
THE BIG BUCKS. UM RETAILERS CAN
AND THEY'VE SHARED THAT SOME OF
THEM ARE DOING THAT. BUT THAT'S
A BIG EXPENSE. AND THEN DO YOU
WANT TO WALK INTO A STORE? WHERE
YOU THE FIRST PERSON YOU SEE IS
A UNIFORMED OFFICER. UM THAT'S A
THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT OTHERS
TALK ABOUT. SO I GO BACK TO THE
QUESTION, AND EVEN IF THE
QUESTION IF THE ANSWER ISN'T
AVAILABLE AT THIS MOMENT, YOU
WERE ALL IN THE BEST POSITION TO
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AND THAT GOES
FOR ALSO FOR THE OTHER
PANELISTS. THIS IS THE PERFECT
TIME. TO ENTER THE DIALOGUE TO
TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
IT IS VERY EASY FOR EITHER SIDE
TO SAY NOPE. YOU'RE NOT DOING IT
LEGISLATORS AND WE'RE JUST GOING
TO DO OUR OWN THING OR
LEGISLATORS. YOU'RE TOO MUCH ON
ONE SIDE AND WE'RE JUST ALWAYS
GOING TO BE AGAINST YOU. IT'S
YOU'RE HEARING FROM US AT THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE A JOINT
COMMITTEE HEARING. MEANS THAT
THIS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR US.
UM AND I GO BACK TO THE
GOVERNOR'S. HE'S MADE COMMENTS,
AND THERE'S EXTRA FUNDING THAT
IS BEING BROUGHT IN. THIS IS A
TIME TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT
SOLUTIONS. AND IF ONE OF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SOMETHING
THAT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN
MENTIONED. UM, I WOULD
APPRECIATE THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO
RESPOND TO A FEW THINGS THAT YOU
MENTIONED IN TERMS OF CRIME
REPORTING WE LOS ANGELES POLICE
DEPARTMENT RECENTLY INTRODUCED
ARE COMPUTERIZED ONLINE
REPORTING SYSTEM. AND IF
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINES
THROUGH ONE OF THE PANELS HAVE
LED YOU TO BELIEVE THAT WE DON'T
WANT THAT REPORTED THAT IS
CATEGORICALLY UNTRUE. UM, AND TO
THINK THAT THE DEPARTMENT OR THE
CITY WOULD CHARGE SOMEONE FOR
REPORTING ON CRIME REPORT ALSO
CATEGORICALLY AND TRUE. WE
ABSOLUTELY ENCOURAGE IT. WE
ABSOLUTELY FACILITATED. THESE
THINGS CAN BE REPORTED ONLINE.
IF THERE'S NO LEADS OR FOLLOW
UPS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE,
IF IT'S JUST A PROPERTY LOSS AS
A WHOLE FROM A BIG BUCK STORE,
FOR EXAMPLE, THAT COULD BE
REPORTED ONLINE. AH THE SECOND
PIECE IN AND YOU HAD ALLUDED TO
IT. AH! IN TERMS OF THE
EDUCATION PIECE FROM OUR
DEPARTMENT AND WHAT WE TELL
RETAILERS. UM CERTAINLY,
SECURITY WOULD BE FANTASTIC, BUT
I AM IN THE L. A COUNTY
PROSECUTOR HAD HAD MENTIONED
THIS. UM WHEN THE SECURITY GUARD
ENGAGES A THIEF AT THE TIME OF
PROPERTY LOSS IF THEY STRUGGLE
OVER THAT PROPERTY, IT TURNS
INTO A ROBBERY. THERE WAS A CASE
IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, WHERE A
SIMPLE STS ROBBERY THAT'S WE
REFER TO IT. AS WHICH IS A
FELONY, UM, SECURITY GUARD BEEN
SHOT HAD BEEN SHOT AND KILLED.
BASED ON THAT ARE OUR PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT. OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION
PIECES. DON'T PHYSICALLY ENGAGE
THEM CALLED. THE PROFESSIONALS
WILL COME OUT. WE'LL DO IT. I
REALIZED IT IS PROBLEMATIC.
THAT'S WHY THE PANELS ASSEMBLED.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET SOMEONE
GET GET HURT OR KILLED OVER
PROPERTY. SO AS A PRIORITY
BETWEEN PROPERTY LOSS AND, UM
AND THE CRIME AGAINST THE
PERSON, ESPECIALLY WHERE SOMEONE
GETS HURT OR KILLED. I WOULD
PREFER THE PROPERTY LOSS. I WILL
TELL YOU AND I ALLUDED TO THIS
WHEN I GAVE MY OPENING COMMENTS
VERY SAD SITUATION, WHICH IS IN
WEST COVINA IN OCTOBER OF LAST
YEAR, WHEN A LIQUOR STORE CLERK
CLERK WAS TRYING TO STOP A
ROBBERY, UH CHARAN SINGH AND HE
WAS SHOT AND KILLED. 17 YEAR OLD
WAS LATER ARRESTED. AND SO I
ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU SO
TRYING TO FIND THE SOLUTIONS, UM
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. WE
ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, AND IT
CANNOT BE ONE SIDED. YOU CAN
TELL FROM THE MEMBERS THAT ARE
PART OF THIS COMMITTEE THAT WE
HAVE DIFFERENT LIVED EXPERIENCES
AND WE WANT TO COME UP WITH A
SOLUTION THAT TAKES CARE OF THE
ISSUE IN A THOUGHTFUL AND
INTENTIONAL WAY. WHAT TO GIVE.
EITHER OF YOU ADMIT IT. IF YOU'D
LIKE, AND THEN WE'VE CLOSED JUST
VERY BRIEFLY. I THINK, UM
THERE'S NOT ONE SOLUTION. I
THINK IT'S A THEME OF SOLUTIONS
TO LEAD US TO. HOPEFULLY WHAT WE
WILL SEE IS IMPROVEMENT AND
ULTIMATELY RESOLVING AN
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME. SOME OF
THE MEMBER BONTA ALLUDED TO
EARLIER I THINK ON THE FIRST
PANEL ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT DATA
IS, I WOULD JUST UNDERSCORE THAT
SIGNIFICANTLY, DATA IS GOING TO
TELL US WHERE, WHEN HOW AND WHAT
UM, I THINK SOME WOMEN SZABO,
SHE MENTIONED LETTING POLICIES
WORK. I THINK THAT'S ALSO
IMPORTANT, CONTINUING TO
INNOVATE, AS EBAY HAS DESCRIBED
AND BEST PRACTICES ALWAYS BEING
MET, AND FINALLY JUST PARTNERING
RETAILERS. LAW ENFORCEMENT
ONLINE MARKETPLACES AS WE ARE SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ONE THING
I WOULD, I WOULD JUST ADD, IS
HOW DO WE BETTER MAKE EVERYBODY
AWARE OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE
ALREADY OUT THERE, FOR INSTANCE,
ARE PROACT PROGRAM ARE THE
RETAILERS THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW
WE OFFER THAT ARE LAW
ENFORCEMENT PORTAL ARE THEIR LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OUT THERE
THAT WOULD THAT ARE DYING TO USE
IT. BUT JUST DON'T KNOW OTHER
WAYS WE CAN GET THE MAJOR
PLAYERS TOGETHER MORE. INVOLVED
SHARING THE SOLUTIONS THAT EACH
ONE ALREADY HAS. AND JUST MAKING
SURE, LIKE AS OPPOSED TO ALWAYS
LOOKING FOR NEW SOLUTIONS. THERE
COULD BE THINGS ON THE TABLE
ALREADY THAT PEOPLE JUST AREN'T
AWARE OF, AND THAT'S LOW HANGING
FRUIT THAT WE COULD REALLY TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF, AND WORK. MR MR
MCCARTHY AND I HAVE BOTH BEEN
ENGAGING IN A LOT OF DISCUSSION
WITH THE FOLKS AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO SORT OF SITTING DOWN
WITH YOU AND THINKING THROUGH
SOME THINGS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO
DO. SO THINK I WANT TO THANK
THIS PANEL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
KNOW SOME OF YOU CAME FROM FAR
AWAY AND I KNOW YOU'RE VERY
CLOSE, BUT SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AND BY THE WAY, THE RUMORS
WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE
ENFORCEMENT ISSUES ABOUT
REPORTING OR NOT IN THE L A
AREA, SO JUST JUST SO YOU KNOW
THAT SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
OKAY WITH THAT, UM, DO WE HAVE
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PANEL THAT
NEED TO LEAVE SOONER THAN 30
MINUTES OUT? WOULD YOU LIKE TO
MAKE A COMMENT NOW? OKAY OKAY.
I'M GONNA LET WE HAVE TIME FOR
CLOSING COMMENTS, UM, AFTER
PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT I'M GOING TO
ALLOW MR ALVAREZ TO MAKE HIS
COMMENT NOW AND IT OKAY. THANK
YOU TO OUR CHAIR. I WANT TO MAKE
THIS COMMENT NOW BECAUSE I HOPE
THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT, IS IT
SOMEWHAT IN RESPONSE. AH TO MY
COMMENT, AND MY COMMENT IS THAT,
UM. THAT THIS PROCESS FOR ME AND
THIS HEARING AND THE HEARING
THAT WAS HELD BEFORE AND HEARING
THAT WILL BE HELD AFTER THIS, UH
, IN SOME TIME IS ABOUT
LISTENING TO THE TO THE PUBLIC
ABOUT THE INPUT ON HOW TO BEST
PROCEED. UM I THINK THERE WAS A
PANELIST A LITTLE BIT EARLIER
AND I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE ARRIVED
LATE, BUT WITH TECHNOLOGY, I WAS
ABLE TO HEAR ALL OF THE
DISCUSSION FROM PREVIOUS PANELS
AND SOMETIMES LISTENING IS
BETTER THAN TALKING. AND I GOT
TO DO THAT FOR A COUPLE HOURS ON
MY WAY UP HERE. AND UH AND
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO FOR THE
NEXT 30 MINUTES AS YOU ALL SPEAK
AND AS WE GO ON, BECAUSE I'M
ACTUALLY SOMEONE WHO AH, I'M NOT
REALLY SURE WHAT THE SOLUTION
IS. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I
BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
OTHER LEGISLATORS THAT MIGHT
FEEL THE SAME WAY. I CAN TELL
YOU FROM OUR TWO CHAIRS WHO WERE
LOOKING TO IN THE ASSEMBLY TO
HELP US GUIDE US THROUGH THIS
CONVERSATION. THEY'RE NOT WEDDED
TO ONE DECISION ANOTHER HOW TO
MOVE FORWARD. AND I THINK THAT'S
A GOOD THING. I THINK THAT IT'S
REALLY, UH, HELPFUL AND USEFUL
TO HAVE A CONVERSATION IN THAT
WAY. BUT I ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE SOME
PEOPLE WHO SAY YOU JUST GET RID
OF PROP 47 AND ALL THE PROBLEMS
GO AWAY. AND THAT'S NOT TRUE.
AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO
SAY, JUST LET EVERYTHING BE THE
SAME. HOW IT IS TODAY. AND THERE
ARE NO PROBLEMS. THAT IS ALSO
NOT TRUE. THE REALITY IS THAT WE
DO HAVE SOMETHING IS HAPPENING.
THERE IS RETAIL CRIME HAPPENING.
UM AND UM AND WE SEE THAT OUR
EVERYDAY LIVES AS WE ALL GO WITH
OUR FAMILIES. TO EITHER YOUR
LOCAL CORNER STORE OR TO A
LARGER RETAIL STORE. AND SO WE
KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS HAPPENING
AND WHAT I WOULD ASK ALL OF YOU
AS YOU PROVIDE YOUR INPUT AND
YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR EXPERTISE
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
PANELISTS IS THAT WE RE WE HELP
ELECTED OFFICIALS RESIST THE
URGE TO JUST DO SOMETHING TO SAY
THEY DID SOMETHING. BECAUSE
OFTEN THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. AND
UP AND DOWN THE STATE TODAY. I
THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SAYING, LET'S DO SOMETHING JUST
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PUT THAT AS
A CHECK BOX OR ON THEIR CAMPAIGN
LITERATURE. THERE ARE A LOT OF
US WHO DON'T JUST WANT TO DO
SOMETHING JUST TO SAY WE DID
SOMETHING. YOU WANT TO DO
SOMETHING BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY
WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, SO
AS YOU PROVIDE YOUR TESTIMONY AS
PANELISTS, UM IN THE FUTURE
GOING FORWARD AS THE LEGISLATURE
MEMBERS PRESENT DIFFERENT IDEAS
AND SUGGESTIONS. I ASKED YOU
THAT YOU GIVE THOUGHTFUL
CONSIDERATION TO WHAT YOUR
RESPONSE IS TO THAT. I ASK YOU
THAT YOU PROVIDE, UH, INPUT AND
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE THAT
BETTER. I HAVE NOT INTRODUCED
ANY LEGISLATION. I AM NOT A CO
AUTHOR 20 LEGISLATION. I BELIEVE
THAT IS THE MOST PRUDENT THING
TO DO AT THIS MOMENT IS TO
LISTEN AND TO BE GUIDED BY FACTS
, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTS
THAT ARE STILL NOT ON THE TABLE.
AND FOR US TO SAY, LET'S NOT DO
ANYTHING OR LET'S DO ALL OF THIS
BEFORE WE HAVE THE FACTS WOULD
BE IRRESPONSIBLE IN THIS
CONVERSATION, SO I ASK ALL OF
YOU TO HELP US IN YOUR PUBLIC
INPUT INPUT TO IDENTIFY YES, THE
PROGRAMS THAT WORK BECAUSE
PROGRAMS DO WORK. BUT HOW DO WE
MAKE SURE THAT MORE PEOPLE GET
INTO THOSE PROGRAMS? IS THERE A
DIFFERENT WAY TO DO THAT?
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE
JUST REFUSED TO AND CHOOSE NOT
TO. AND YET THEY CONTINUE TO BE
PART OF THE RETAIL CRIME
SITUATION THAT WE HAVE, AND WE
HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT IS
HAPPENING. SO HELP US UNDERSTAND
AND HELP US IDENTIFY HOW WE CAN
ENSURE THAT MORE PEOPLE GET THE
HELP. THAT THEY NEED TO DO THE
RIGHT THING. THAT IS WHAT I'M
HOPING THAT I WANT TO THANK THE
CHAIR FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK
AT THIS MOMENT. I HELD BACK FROM
QUESTIONS EARLIER AND BEFORE YOU
PROVIDE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT,
WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME,
BECAUSE I HOPE THAT IN YOUR
TESTIMONIES IN YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT THAT YOU HELP US
UNDERSTAND A PATHWAY FORWARD SO
THAT WE CAN CRAFT THE BEST
SOLUTIONS FORWARD. FOR THE STATE
. SO I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR
YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR ALVAREZ.
OKAY SO EVERYONE ELSE WILL HAVE
AN ABILITY TO CLOSE AFTER THE
PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE ANYONE
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO YEARS
BEFOREHAND? YOU WOULD LIKE IT.
YEAH GO AHEAD. MR OVID MIGHT
NEED TO LEAVE. SO WE'LL LET HER
THEN WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC
COMMENT RIGHT AFTER THAT. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. UM YOU KNOW, I
THIS IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE, AND
, UM, WE DIDN'T GET HERE
OVERNIGHT AND WE DIDN'T GET HERE
BECAUSE ONE THING WENT WRONG.
AND I THINK THAT, UM WE HAVE TO
BE REALLY THOUGHTFUL AND
INTENTIONAL ABOUT LOOKING AT
SOLUTIONS, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
SOLUTIONS THAT WORK. UM YOU
KNOW, I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ALVAREZ'S
COMMENT ABOUT YOU KNOW? JUST
WANTING TO SAY YOU DID
SOMETHING. I DON'T WANT TO SAY
WE DID SOMETHING. I WANT
SOMETHING THAT WILL WORK. UM AND
I THINK THAT YOU KNOW THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH HERE
NOW, RIGHT SEEING THE DATA.
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S REALLY HARD
TO GET DATA FROM RETAILERS ON
THIS ISSUE. UM, BUT YOU KNOW,
TRYING TO DIG INTO THE DATA THAT
WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T AND WE
KNOW WE KNOW A LOT OF THINGS
THAT DO AND DO NOT WORK. WE KNOW
THAT ENHANCEMENTS AND
PUNISHMENTS DON'T REALLY WORK TO
DETER CRIME, RIGHT? WE KNOW THAT
, UM THAT ANTI RECIDIVISM AND
SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE DOES. AND
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THINGS THAT
WE HAVE RECENTLY IN THE STATE
MADE A SHIFT TO REALLY INVEST IN
AND I THINK IT'S TO MY POINT
EARLIER ABOUT NEEDING TO GIVE
TIME FOR THESE THINGS TO START
WORKING, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO
BETTER. AND I THINK WE CAN DO
MORE. UM AND I THINK THAT
ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW WHEN, AS
SOMEONE WHO CO FOUNDED AN
ORGANIZATION WORKING ON
HOMELESSNESS AND FOCUSES ON THAT
A LOT AH, UM YOU KNOW, I AM
ALWAYS THINKING OF EXAMPLES LIKE
RICHMOND THAT USED TO HAVE
REALLY HIGH GUN VIOLENCE AND
TOOK A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THAT AND,
UM AND, YOU KNOW, GOT IT DOWN TO
ALMOST NOTHING, BUT IT WASN'T
THROUGH ENHANCED PENALTIES AND
PUNISHMENTS IT WAS THROUGH. YOU
KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THE
HANDFUL OF PEOPLE THEY FIGURED
OUT WE'RE ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR MOST OF THE GUN VIOLENCE
WERE SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTS AND
SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR A
DIFFERENT PATH AND UNFORTUNATELY
, WE ARE SYSTEM IS SET UP IN A
WAY FOR MOST PEOPLE TO SET THEM
UP FOR A FAILURE THAT WHEN YOU
GET OUT OF JAIL, YOU'RE GIVEN
$200. AND IF YOU NEED TO GET A
BUS TICKET THAT'S DEDUCTED FROM
IT. AND IF YOU NEED SOME CLOTHES
THAT'S DEDUCTED FROM IT. AND SO
MAYBE YOU HAVE 100 BUCKS OR 50
BUCKS TO START YOUR NEW LIFE. UM
I DON'T KNOW WHY. WE'RE
SURPRISED THAT IT'S NOT WORKING,
AND, UM AND SO YOU KNOW, THERE'S
I'M ENCOURAGED ABOUT A LOT OF
WORK THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN
THE LEGISLATURE EVEN BEFORE I
GOT HERE. I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A
YEAR, UM, TO MAKE THIS SHIFT AND
TO INVEST IN THINGS THAT WE
KNOW, DO WORK AND DO SET PEOPLE
UP FOR SUCCESS FOR A DIFFERENT
PATH. UM AND I THINK WE NEED TO
DO A BETTER JOB OF REALLY
FIGURING THAT OUT AROUND
HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE I THINK IF
PEOPLE HAVE HOUSING AND FOOD AND
THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET, THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO BE REPEAT OFFENDERS
. UM YOU KNOW, AND HAVING TO,
YOU KNOW, BE IN A SITUATION OF
STEALING TO EAT OR SURVIVE. UM
AND YOU KNOW, I'M ENCOURAGED BY
A LOT OF THE ONLINE STRATEGIES
THAT ARE BEING TAKEN, AND I
THINK THAT THERE'S MORE THAT CAN
BE DONE THERE AROUND REALLY
LARGE SCALE. UM AND ORGANIZED,
YOU KNOW, THE ORGANIZED CRIME
SIDE OF THE WORK THAT, UM, THAT
WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND I KNOW
THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS THERE
WHICH I'M ENCOURAGED BY, BUT YOU
KNOW, I THINK WHATEVER POLICY
THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON
THE DAY TO FOCUS ON WHAT REALLY
WORKS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
DOING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO
BE EFFECTIVE BECAUSE I DON'T
WANT TO JUST RUBBER STAMP
SOMETHING TO SAY WE DID
SOMETHING, AND I KNOW THAT YOU
KNOW, MY COLLEAGUES ARE REALLY
INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE
THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOW WE'RE
THE LENS THAT WE'RE LOOKING
THROUGH THINGS THAT SO WE
APPRECIATE. UM YOU KNOW, I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE PANELISTS
WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND THEIR
INSIGHTS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE PUBLIC. COMMENT AND JUST
WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR. BOTH
CHAIRS FOR, YOU KNOW, HOSTING
THIS TO TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD
TO THE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS
AND REALLY COMING UP WITH
SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE
EFFECTIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
REMEMBER SZABO? OKAY, SO IT'S
NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THERE WERE ABOUT 30 PEOPLE HAVE
ABOUT 30 MINUTES, SO IF YOU
CANNOT LINE UP BEHIND THIS
MICROPHONE THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE A COMMENT, YOU'RE GOING
TO BE LIMITED TO UM DO WE STILL
HAVE THIS STILL 30 PEOPLE? OKAY
WE'RE GONNA BE LIMITED TO ONE
MINUTE. IF YOU COULD DO IT
SHORTER. DO IT SHORTER. OKAY, GO
AHEAD, THEN WELCOME. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS KATHERINE
PERKINS. I'M A RESIDENT OF LOS
ANGELES. I AM A MEMBER OF CRIME
SURVIVORS FOR SAFETY AND
JUSTICE. I AM A SURVIVOR OF
CRIME. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME
THIS OPPORTUNITY. BUT WHAT I
WANT WHAT I WANT. WHAT I REALLY
WANT. BEING A SURVIVOR OF CRIME.
WHAT I REALLY WANT I'M SORRY.
IT'S REALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME
BECAUSE BEING A SURVIVOR IN MY
VOICE IS BEING HEARD IS THAT I
DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO GO
THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH. SO
WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AND MY
FAMILY? I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE
TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I
WENT THROUGH. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT NEXT,
PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS ALEX. MISS ROPEY IN AND I AM
HERE ON BEHALF OF BUSINESS FIT
THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BUSINESS
FEDERATION, AN ALLIANCE OF OVER
240 BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS WHO
REPRESENT OVER 420,000 EMPLOYERS
WITH 5 MILLION EMPLOYEES HERE IN
LOS ANGELES COUNTY. FIRST WE
WOULD LIKE TO THANK BOTH
COMMITTEES HOLDING THIS
IMPORTANT HEARING TODAY. FOR THE
PAST FOUR YEARS CRIME AND IN
PARTICULAR RETAIL THEFT HAS BEEN
LISTED AS ONE OF THE TOP THREE
ISSUES. NATIVELY IMPACTING THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY WITHIN A
REGION. WE APPRECIATE THAT MORE
ATTENTION AND RECOGNITION IS
BEING BROUGHT TO THIS ISSUE AND
WE ARE HOPEFUL MORE MEANINGFUL
REFORMS WILL BE CONSIDERED. WE
WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE. TO THE
COMMITTEE'S THAT RETAIL THEFT
ISN'T JUST LIMITED TO RETAIL. IT
INCLUDES OUR COMMUNITIES AND
IMPACT THAT UNADDRESSED CRIME
HAS ON OUR HOMES, OUR VALUES AND
ON FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE HOPE
THE COMMITTEES WILL TAKE THE
CONCERNS ADDRESSED TODAY
SERIOUSLY AND WORK TOWARDS
ACTIONABLE ITEMS THAT WILL BRING
REAL RESULTS AND LASTING CHANGE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. UM MY NAME IS
CARILLO SHARROCK. I'M THE
SECRETARY OF A FRANCHISE OWNERS
ASSOCIATION OF A LARGE NATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL RETAIL
ORGANIZATION THAT I'M NOT
SUPPOSED TO NAME. UH, I'M ALSO
AN ATTORNEY. UH, I'M ALSO A
RETAIL STORE OWNER. SOMEONE WHO
THIS WEEKEND WAS PROVIDED TO
VIDEOS. UH SEPARATE VIDEOS OF
ONE MAN WALKING BEHIND MY
REGISTER BEHIND MY CASH
REGISTER. POINTING A GUN AT MY
CLERK ASKED HIM TO EMPTY THE
REGISTER OUT. THEN THE NEXT DAY,
THREE PEOPLE CAME IN AND OF MY
OTHER STORE, JUMPED OVER THE
COUNTER AND BASICALLY TOOK OUT
THE CASH REGISTERS. THESE ARE
THESE ARE WAY MORE SERIOUS
CRIMES, BUT YOU KNOW HOW THESE
GET GOING. BECAUSE YOU START TO
ESCALATE. YOU GET AWAY WITH
TAKING THE SNICKERS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE THAT. SORRY TO HEAR
THAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS YOUR
VENDOR SING AND I'M A 711 OWNER.
I USED TO HAVE A TO STORE BUT
JUST TO GIVE A BUNCH STORE BACK
TO THE COMPANY AND LANGUAGE
BECAUSE OF THE THEFT TOWN OF ALL
KIND OF GOING ON, AND, UH,
PLEASE NEVER SHOWED UP. THEY
NEVER ANSWER THE CALLS, AND I
HAVE ENTERED THE STONE AND
LAKEWOOD, CALIFORNIA BENEATH
YOUR HELP. AND WE NEED A STOP
THIS A CRIMES AFTER GOING ON.
THANK YOU. SORRY TO HEAR THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HELLO MY
NAME IS PAUL ISLAND, AND I AM
ALSO A SMALL RETAIL OWNER. I
HAVE STORES THROUGHOUT LOS
ANGELES. AND I WANTED TO TALK
ABOUT HOW SMALL RETAILERS ARE
NOT FACING ORGANIZED CRIME RINGS
IN THE SAME WAY, AS WAS BROUGHT
UP, AND SO EVEN NOW, WHEN WE
CALL THE POLICE, IT'S NOT LIKE
WE'RE GOING TO THE ORGANIZED
CRIME CENTER. ANYTHING UH,
NOBODY COMES. NOBODY CARES AND
THEFT HAS BECOME NORMALIZED. SO
WE'VE JUST STOPPED REPORTING IT.
I CAN ATTEST THAT MOST ALL OF US
AND EVERYONE I KNOW IN OUR
FRANCHISE ORGANIZATIONS. HAS
JUST STOPPED REPORTING. SO YOU
CAN SAY HEY, CRIME IS DOWN, BUT
IN FACT IT'S JUST WE'RE WE THROW
OUR HANDS UP, AND WE'RE NOT
REPORTING IT ANYMORE. SO WE
WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP WITH
THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ASHUTOSH
BORRADOR. I AM THE 711 OWNER
COME FROM LONGEST DOWNTOWN. YEAH
A LOT OF HOMELESS ISSUE AND A
LOT OF PROBLEMS LAST YEAR GOT
SEPTEMBER BACK TO BACK TWO
PEOPLE KILLED IN FRONT OF MY
STORE. SO WE CALLED THE POLICE
ALONG WITH POLICE DEPARTMENT. UM
TWICE, 911. THEY COME LITTLE BIT
LATE. WE SAW THE GUN. BUT WE
HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. I WANT
TO SELL THAT A STORE, BUT NOBODY
WANTS TO BUY IT NOW. SO PLEASE,
WE NEED REALLY HELP. WE HAVE TO
SURVIVE OUR LIFE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR INTENTIONS. MY NAME IS
SERAFIN SERRANO. I CURRENTLY
LIVE IN LONG BEACH, AND I AM
WITH CRIME SURVIVORS FOR SAFETY
AND JUSTICE. AND AS A
PRACTITIONER FOR THREE DECADES.
UM. THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING
HEALING WORKS. TRAUMA RECOVERY
CENTER WORKS. IT IS COMPLEX, BUT
IT'S A PARADOX OF SORT. BECAUSE
IT'S PROVIDING THOSE BASIC NEEDS
THAT HUMAN BEINGS. UH REQUIRE
BEFORE LEADING, SO IN CLOSING IS
THAT WE NOT CONTINUE TO BE
REACTIVE. A RATHER BE
RESPONSIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS MARCEL ROEDER TÂM, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE
CALIFORNIA CONTRACT CITIES
ASSOCIATION. WE ARE AN
ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS 80
CITIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SINCE 1957. OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO,
UH SUPPORT CITIES AND LOCAL
CONTROL. UH PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE
UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO OUR MEMBER
CITIES. WE WANT ALL OF OUR
RESIDENTS TO FEEL SAFE. WITH ALL
ASPECTS OF DAILY LIFE SET
INCLUDES WHEN THEY WERE SHOPPING
AT LOCAL BUSINESSES. RETAIL
THEFT IS NOT JUST THE PUBLIC
SAFETY CONCERN, THOUGH IT'S A
MAJOR ECONOMIC ISSUE. A LOT OF
OUR CITIES RELY ON THE SALES TAX
REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE
STORES AND WHEN STORES CLOSE OR
THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY
DO BUSINESS PEOPLE START
SHOPPING ONLINE MORE, WHICH
AFFECTS THE SALES TAX REVENUE OF
THOSE CITIES. AND AFFECTS THE
ABILITY OF THOSE CITIES PROVIDE
A CENTRAL, UH, SERVICES TO
RESIDENTS, SO WE'RE ENCOURAGED
BY SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT
WE'RE SEEING US UP IN
SACRAMENTO. RIGHT NOW. I INVITE
YOU TO USE US AS A RESOURCE. WE
ARE ABLE TO REACH A LOT OF
CITIES. WE WILL BE TAKING
POSITIONS ON MANY OF THE BILLS.
UH SUPPORT FOR ANYTHING AND
EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO
TO HELP CURB THE ISSUE THAT
WE'RE SEEING THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS MATT MATTOO. UH I'M AN
AEROSPACE ENGINEER FROM ENGLAND
AND SOMEHOW I GOT INTO RETAIL. I
DON'T KNOW HOW. BUT MY WIFE KIND
OF FORCED ME INTO IT SO ANYWAYS,
LIKE THE GIRL DOWN THERE, SAID A
SIKH DIED. IN CONVENIENCE STORE.
711 OWNER. I OWN STORES IN LOS
ANGELES, 1000 OAKS, NORTH
HOLLYWOOD, UM AND WE REPRESENT
THE WHOLE NATION WITH 40,000
STORES AND HMM. HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES. AND
THESE EMPLOYEES ARE GOOD,
HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES AND NOW
LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID SOMEBODY
TOOK HIS REGISTERS. YES, THEY
TOOK MY REGISTERED EVERY DAY. I
GET ROBBED IN DOWNTOWN EVERY
DAY. AND WE DON'T REPORT THAT
BECAUSE POLICE DOES NOT COME.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT USED TO BE. SO
WE DO NEED HELP. PLEASE HELP US
AND IT'S TOTALLY TOTALLY UNDER
REPORTED AND PLEASE LISTEN TO
THE RETAILERS. WHAT THEY FEEL
AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH
THEIR GOING THROUGH HELL. YES
THANK THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS NICK
ON AND I HAVE A SMALL STORE. AND
TIFS ARE COMING AND STEALING THE
BEER IN FRONT OF US AND GOING IN
THE PARKING LOT AND SELLING IT
RIGHT THERE AND THEN COME BACK
AGAIN TO STEAL IT. WE CALLED THE
POLICE, THEY SAY OR IT'S NOT A
IT'S NOT A URGENT, SO THEY'RE
GONNA SOMEBODY GOING TO COME
SHOW UP. WE HOLD THE PHONE FOR A
COUPLE HOURS. NOBODY PICKS UP
THE PHONE, AND THEN WE STOPPED
REPORTING CRIME IS UNDER
REPORTED IN OUR EYES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS ANDREW LEVIN AND I'M
COMING TO REPRESENT THE COMPANY
ELITE INTERACTIVE SOLUTIONS.
WE'RE A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY THAT
DEALS IN CRIME PREVENTION. SO
THROUGH OUR TECHNOLOGY
PARTNERSHIPS WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT. AND CITIES AS WELL
AS HUMAN INTERACTION. LAST YEAR,
WE WERE ABLE TO PRESENT 72,000
CRIMES WITH ONLY HAVING TO
DISPATCH LAW ENFORCEMENT 1600
TIMES. I WOULD LOVE TO BE PART
OF THE SOLUTION. I APPRECIATE
THE CARE AND EFFORT THAT YOU'RE
TAKING TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION
AND I OPENED MYSELF UP AS A
RESOURCE. THANK YOU. PLEASE GIVE
US YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO
MY STAFF HERE ON THE SIDE. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
NICK TIARA. FIRST WE MET THAT
PILAR CHICAGO'S OFFICE DISTRICT
OFFICE HERE. AND BROUGHT UP OUR
ISSUES OF THEFT. THE CROP THEFT
CRIME HAS GONE UP AND IS GOING
UP. I REPRESENT FRANCHISE.
OWNERS ASSOCIATION, A VERY LARGE
GROUP IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
EVERY DAY EVERY MORNING. YOU
KNOW, I HEAR THE NAILS THAT
SOMETHING HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.
SO WE NEED HELP. YOU KNOW, IT'S
NOT THE ORGANIZED CRIME WERE
AFFECTED BY THE RANDOM CRIME
EVERY DAY. EVERY YOU KNOW EVERY
MOMENT WE HAVE TO BE WATCHFUL
THAT YOU KNOW WHO'S GONNA DO
WHAT EMPLOYEES DON'T WANT TO
WORK BEFORE THIS ESCALATION. I
HAD 11 STORES NUMBER DOWN TO
FOUR AND I COULDN'T SELL THEM. I
HAD TO TURN BACK. HAND THEM BACK
TO THE COMPANY BECAUSE WE JUST
COULDN'T HANDLE THE CRIME. PART
OF IT. WE NEED HELP AND
DESPERATELY. A LOT OF CRIMES ARE
NOT REPORTED. WHEN WE START
REPORTING, THE INSURANCE
COMPANIES WALKED AWAY FROM
CALIFORNIA, AND NOW I'M PAYING
24,000 INSURANCE LIABILITY
INSURANCE INSTEAD OF $1000 A
YEAR. SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE
FACING, AND THEN HE HAS WALKED
INTO OUR HOMES. I LIVE IN
GRANADA HILLS EVERY DAY. I HEAR
OUR ROBBERIES, YOU KNOW, AT
GUNPOINT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR
TAKING OUR OPINIONS. MY NAME IS
JOHN GARTER. I AM A CONVENIENCE
STORE OWNER. I HAVE STALLED IN
SANTA MONICA GLENDALE MONTROSE
AREAS. UM THERE NEEDS TO BE A
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN THAT
STATES RETAIL THEFT IS NOT OKAY.
THERE'S A CONSENSUS AMONGST
THESE CRIMINALS. THAT IT'S OK TO
WALK INTO A STORE WALK OUT WITH
SOMETHING. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
IS HUGE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST
TRYING TO SURVIVE HERE. NO ONE
HERE IS MAKING A TON OF MONEY.
UM AND I THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY
PATIENT FOR A SOLUTION. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS A GREAT
START, AND WE WISH TO CONTINUE,
UM, SUPPORTING THIS CAUSE AND
WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU APPRECIATE IT.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIRMAN DANIEL
CONWAY WITH THE CALIFORNIA
GROCERIES ASSOCIATION. FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU FOR A REALLY
FANTASTIC SET OF PANELS TODAY. I
THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD
DISCUSSION ACROSS THE BOARD AND
I THOUGHT WE ALL HAD A LOT TO
LEARN. DIDN'T WANT TO RESPOND. A
COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT WERE
MADE AT ONE POINT IT WAS
SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS WE SHOULD
MAKE IT, UH, LESS ENTICING TO
STEAL FROM STORES GROCERY
STORES. OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF MONEY
HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT ON
HARDENING STORES, YOU KNOW,
LOCKING UP MERCHANDISE AND
THINGS LIKE THAT. AT THE END OF
THE DAY. WE WANT OUR STORES TO
BE SAFE AND WELCOMING. AND SO I
THINK I APPRECIATED SOME OF THE
COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY BY
YOU ALL KIND OF RECOGNIZING THAT
THAT NO, LET'S LET'S FIND OTHER
WAYS TO KIND OF COURSE, CORRECT
RATHER THAN MAKING IT LESS
WELCOMING FOR CUSTOMERS. UM THE
OTHER THING I WOULD MENTION I
APPRECIATED YOUR QUESTION
CHAIRMAN ABOUT, UM, SOME
JURISDICTIONS LOOKING AT
PUNITIVE MEASURES. IN FACT, THE
CITY OF CALABASAS DID IN FACT,
UM PUT SUBMIT AN ORDINANCE THAT
WAS GOING TO PUNISH PEOPLE FOR
REPORTING THESE TYPES OF CRIMES.
SO THAT IS OUT THERE REAL QUICK,
BIG PICTURE. I KNOW THAT YOU
GUYS ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK IN
THE SPACE. IT SEEMS LIKE FROM
THE DISCUSSION TODAY. YOU KNOW,
WE'RE ALMOST LOOKING AT LIKE
THREE TYPES OF CRIMES. RIGHT?
LIKE THERE'S THE SOPHISTICATED
ONLINE ORGANIZED STUFF THAT
WE'RE HEARING ABOUT, LIKE
MULTIJURISDICTIONAL. THERE'S
KIND OF THE RANDOM CRIME THAT
YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT HERE TODAY
OF JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF A SYSTEM THAT
DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ADEQUATE
COSTS AND BENEFITS. THE THIRD IS
KIND OF THE SURVIVAL ISSUES THAT
YOU TALKED ABOUT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AND I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONNECT
THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.
AH WITH SOME OF THE OTHER WORK
THAT LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN DOING
TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO PEOPLE
WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH SUBSTANCE
USE SO THAT WE CAN TRULY
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THESE
POPULATIONS AND REALLY PROVIDE
THE HELP THAT PEOPLE NEED BUT
ALSO PERHAPS THE PENALTIES THAT
OTHERS DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. HI GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT'S
REALLY GREAT TO SEE THAT WE'VE
GOT A JOINT COMMITTEE HERE. I'M
A GROCERY RETAILER AND VICE
PRESIDENT OF ASSET MANAGEMENT
FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GROCERY
COMPANY. WE HAVE 20 STORES UP
AND DOWN CALIFORNIA AND WE HAVE
TO RIGHT HERE IN THE HOLLYWOOD
AREA. SO WHAT I JUST WANTED TO
TALK ABOUT IS REALLY PUBLIC
SAFETY. SO WE WANT OUR CUSTOMERS
TO COME INTO OUR STORES TO FEEL
SAFE. AND WE WANT OUR EMPLOYEES
TO BE SAFE. WE'VE HEARD IT
TODAY. WE DO HAVE A HANDS OFF
POLICY BECAUSE OUR EMPLOYEES
MEAN MORE THAN THE PRODUCT
WALKING OUT THE DOOR. BUT AS A
BUSINESS WE'VE GOT TO STOP THAT
PRODUCT GOING OUT THE DOOR.
WE'VE GOT PRODUCT GOING OUT THE
DOOR IN SHOPPING CARTS FULL AND,
UM PURSES AND HANDBAGS AND
REUSABLE BAGS. AND SO WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING FOR IS REALLY THOSE
REPEAT OFFENDERS THAT KEEP
COMING INTO OUR STORE AND WE
FEEL THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES
THERE. UM I WILL SAY THAT AS A
GROCERY RETAILER WE DO REPORT UM
AND I CAN TELL YOU JUST
LISTENING TO WHAT WE HEARD FROM
TODAY. I THINK THERE'S A
DISCONNECT IN WHEN WE REPORT
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE REPORTS.
THERE'S NOT A FOLLOW UP THERE,
SO I'M LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WE
CAN DO. MAYBE THAT'S A SOLUTION
THAT THERE'S SOME FOLLOW UP
THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. COULD YOU GIVE US YOUR
CARD TO BUY STAFF OVER HERE SO
WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF
THESE IDEAS? OKAY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIRS,
MCCARTHY, CHAVEZ A BOARD AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
MAYA LITTLEJOHN AND I'M SPEAKING
TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE ELLA
BAKER CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON WHAT WE
SHOULD BE DOING INSTEAD OF
DISCUSSING REENACTING FAILED
POLICIES, SOLUTIONS LIKE
INCREASING PENALTIES,
PUNISHMENTS AND INCARCERATION
FOR RETAIL THEFT AS CALIFORNIA
FACES AT $38 BILLION BUDGET
DEFICIT WE SHOULD REALIZE THAT
WE DIDN'T GET IN THIS WHOLE FROM
SOME STOLEN SHAMPOO AND WE WON'T
GET OUT OF IT BY REFILLING
PRISONS AND JAILS IN THIS YEAR
OF ECONOMIC STRUGGLE FOR THE
STATE. OUR COMMUNITIES ALSO
CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE WHILE
DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE SOCIAL
SAFETY NET WAS AT AN ALL TIME
HIGH. WE HAVE SINCE PULLED BACK
HOW WE INVEST IN THE ECONOMIC
SAFETY OF LOW AND NO INCOME
CALIFORNIANS. THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE THEFT. WE'RE HERE TO
ADDRESS IS A NOT CRIMINAL OR
VIOLENT AND B IS OFTEN OUT OF
NECESSITY, NECESSITY TO FEED A
FAMILY MAKE AN INCOME OR SIMPLY
SURVIVED THE DAY. THE SOLUTION
REINVEST BACK INTO CALIFORNIA TO
DESPERATELY NEEDED INVEST IN JOB
CREATION INITIATIVES FOR THE
SAME PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE
BEFORE IT TURNED TO THEFT
SUPPORT ROBUST REENTRY PROGRAMS
FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED
PEOPLE. AND THEIR FAMILIES SO
THEY AREN'T FORCED BACK INTO A
CYCLE OF INCARCERATION AND
PRESERVE AND ENHANCE FUNDING FOR
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. NON
POLICE RESPONSE UNITS AND
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERY DAY AND
THANK YOU AND PLEASE SUBMIT, UH,
YOU CAN SUBMIT SOME ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS IN WRITING AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. FRANK
FARRELL, CHIEF POLICY OFFICER
FOR THE GREATER STOCKTON CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE. I WAS IN THE AREA,
SO I THOUGHT I'D STOP ON BY WITH
THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF
CHAMBER EXECUTIVES. WE HAD A
CONFERENCE DOWN IN YOUR NECK OF
THE WOODS. UH BUT, UH, WE
STARTED A PROGRAM IN STOCKTON
CALLED THE STOCKTON TAKES ACTION
AGAINST RETAIL THEFT. IT'S A
COALITION. IT'S A GRASSROOTS
EFFORT WITH THE D R. RUN TRADERS
OR D A. R STOCKTON PD, OUR CITY
COUNCIL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,
SHERIFF AND ALL OF OUR SECURITY
OFFICERS ARE SECURITY COMPANIES
THAT ARE IN THE CHAMBER
MEMBERSHIP. GETTING TOGETHER
LOOKING AT PUTTING TOGETHER NEW
WAYS OF COMMUNICATING OUT THERE,
INCREASING THE REPORTING BY
DEVELOPING AN APP FOR YOUR PHONE
, SO MAKE IT EASY TO REPORT
CRIMES AND YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT
THE D A IS, UH, ADVOCATING FOR
IS YOU NEED TO REPORT NOR TO
PROSECUTE SO I'M HERE. WE'RE
RESOURCE. WHAT FUTURE? THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITTEE. IF
YOU DROP OFF YOUR CARD WITH OUR
STAFF, WE'D BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW
UP. THANK YOU. I'M A LITTLE ON
THE SHORT SIDE. SORRY. HELLO MY
NAME IS KATHERINE ASANO. I AM A
COMMUNITY MEMBER. UM AND A
PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE SHIELDS
FOR FAMILIES JERICHO PROGRAM
THAT PROVIDES AND SPECIFIC CASE
MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN
IMPACTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
I HAVE WORK SERVING THE REENTRY
POPULATION FOR 12 YEARS, SIX OF
THOSE YEARS WORKING TO PROVIDE
SERVICES UTILIZING PROPERTY
SEVEN FUNDS THAT HAVE PROVEN TO
REDUCE POVERTY CRIME BECAUSE
THEY THEY INVEST IN SERVICES
THAT PROVIDE ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE, HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL
HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE,
EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND
VIOLENCE. INTERVENTION SERVICES.
THESE SERVICES HAVE DRINK IN
PUBLIC SAFETY BY REDUCING THE
LIKELIHOOD OF CRIMES BEING
COMMITTED BECAUSE THEY ENGAGED
IN THE SERVICES THAT HELP
ADDRESS THE RULE CAST OF
INCARCERATION. WHEN PEOPLE HAVE
ACCESS TO THESE SERVICES, SUCH
AS EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT OR CAREER
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THEY
ARE LESS LIKELY TO TURN TO
COMMITTING CRIMES SUCH AS THE
RETAIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE. HI MY NAME
IS DANIEL SHARP FIELDS. I'M A
LONGTIME RESIDENT. AND I WORK
FOR THE FELONY MURDER PROJECT.
UM I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I
REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
COMMITTEE'S, UH, COMMITMENT TO
BALANCE AND SMART SOLUTIONS HERE
, BUT I'M WORRIED THAT PASSING
ANY LEGISLATION THIS YEAR GIVEN
THE FACT THAT THIS COMMUNITY
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE ISN'T
REALLY ENOUGH DATA TO ACTUALLY
SUBSTANTIATE SOME OF THE AH,
PROBLEMS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT
IS, UM YOU KNOW A LITTLE TOO
SOON AND A LITTLE TOO, UH,
RUSHED AND ALSO LIKE TO REMIND
THE COMMITTEE THAT THIS IS ALL
HAPPENING IN THE CONTEXT OF
SOARING PROFITS AT BIG BOX
RETAILERS ACROSS THE STATE AND
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WHILE
THEY CUT RETAILERS. MEANWHILE,
THEY CUT EMPLOYEES AND STAFF. UM
AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT'S ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED AS WE
MOVE FORWARD IN POLICY
DECISIONS, AND ALSO LIKE TO
FINALLY SAY THAT THERE ARE A
BUNCH OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS
AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE PUSHED VERY
HARD FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
IN OUR STATE, AND THOSE PEOPLE
ARE EXPERTS AND I'D LIKE TO
ENCOURAGE THIS COMMITTEE TO MEET
WITH THOSE PEOPLE AS THEY MOVE
FORWARD IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
YEARS, AND WE HAVE BEEN MEETING
WITH THEM SO, BUT THANK YOU
APPRECIATE IT. GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS B
DERRINGER. AND I'M THE PRESIDENT
OF THE L. A COUNTY DIVISION FOR
THE LEGAL CALIFORNIA CITIES
REPRESENTING 86 CITIES, AND I'M
ALSO A 43 YEAR VETERAN OF THE L,
A COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THAT THE PROBLEM RETAIL THEFT IS
THE WORST IT'S EVER BEEN IN OUR
COUNTY. AND FOR THE SAKE OF
TIME. I'M GOING TO QUICKLY GO
THROUGH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. IN
MY OPINION, WE NEED TO BRING
BACK PETTY SELF WITH A PRIOR
TWO. WE NEED TO THE ABILITY TO
AGGREGATE PETTUS EFT AMOUNTS
FROM MULTIPLE RETAIL STORES.
REPEAT OFFENDERS. THREE. WE NEED
TO CHANGE THE LAW TO ALLOW
POLICE TO ARREST FOR A FELONY,
EVEN WHEN THE THEFT WAS NOT
COMMITTED IN THEIR PRESENCE WHEN
THERE'S PROBABLE CAUSE AND FOUR
FOR RETAIL THIEVES WHO ARE DRUG
ADDICTED, WE NEED TO HAVE STRONG
ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL. FOR DRUG
PROGRAMS WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE
PRE SCREENED BY THE PROSECUTION
AND PROGRAM STAFF AND QUICKLY
BROUGHT BACK INTO THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM WHEN THEY FAILED
TO COMPLY WITH PROGRAM RULES
WERE AVAILABLE AS A RESOURCE AND
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THANK YOU. WE'D LOVE TO GET YOUR
RECOMMENDATIONS IN WRITING.
THANK YOU. MR CHAIR MEMBERS.
JULIAN DIVORCE ON BEHALF OF THE
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES
REALLY APPRECIATE THIS HEARING
AND YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE
COMMUNITY. UM CAL CITIES DOES
WANT TO ADDRESS REACH OUT DEATH,
BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO GO
BACK TO THE MASS INCARCERATION.
SO WE KNOW WE HAD THE THREAT
HAVE TO THREAD THIS NEEDLE. WE
ARE PART OF A BROAD COALITION OF
BUSINESS. LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW
ENFORCEMENT THAT IS TRYING TO
APPROACHES AND COMPREHENSIVE WAY
AND NOT PIECEMEAL. ADJUSTING
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT IS GREAT,
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO ADDRESS
THE WHOLE BUCKET OF ISSUES THAT
WE'RE HAVING, WHICH IS CREATED
THIS PROBLEM. AND REALLY
APPRECIATE IT AND LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE IN
THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. HI
ALL THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS STEVEN
POST. I AM A RESIDENT OF WEST
HOLLYWOOD AND ALSO A
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER WITH LAST
PRISONER PROJECT FIRST, I WANTED
TO THANK ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA
FOR ALL OF HER WORK ON OUR BILL,
A B 1706 THAT HAS HELPED CLEAR
PLENTY OF RECORDS IN CALIFORNIA
AS IT RELATES TO CANNABIS OVER
50% OF THOSE THAT WERE STILL
HELD UP. UM BUT THERE'S STILL AT
LEAST 13,000 RECORDS STILL TO BE
CLEARED THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH
THE DOJ TO MAKE SURE THAT
HAPPENS AND APPRECIATE ALL THE
WORK THERE, AND I THINK IT'S
JUST TO BE SAID THESE INSTANCES
HAVE AFFECTED THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY GREATLY AS WELL. AND
ANY ADVOCACY THAT ON THE STATE
AND FOLKS CAN DO TO CONTINUE TO
HELP LEGALIZE CANNABIS AND
PROVIDE FUNDING FOR RE ENTRY
MECHANISMS LIKE THOSE THAT WE
PROVIDE, INCLUDING BASIC INCOME
TO FOLKS THAT ARE RETURNING FROM
PRISON WOULD BE GREATLY
APPRECIATED. AND THANKS FOR THE
ADVOCACY THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. I UM MY NAME IS BRIAN
STADIUM OR WESTSIDE RESIDENT AND
ALSO A MEMBER OF THE L. A
CHAPTER OF CRITICAL RESISTANCE.
AND I'M SOMEONE WHO'S LOST A
FAMILY MEMBER TO POLICE VIOLENCE
AT A VERY YOUNG AGE, SO THAT'S
PART OF THE REASON I'M IN THIS
ORGANIZATION, WHICH CHALLENGES
THE USE OF PRISONS AND POLICING
FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL
INEQUITIES. AS MANY OF THE
PANELISTS POINTED OUT TODAY,
IT'S TRULY AH! ONE OF THE STAKES
OF THE HEARING, WHICH IS SHAPING
THE NARRATIVE AROUND RETAIL
THEFT IS TO KIND OF INFORMED
DECISION ABOUT HOW TO MANAGE THE
SOCIAL INEQUITIES, SO IT'S TRULY
ALARMING THAT THIS IS COMING
INTO THE NEW YEAR WHERE THE
PROPOSED BUDGET SEES INCREASES,
LOOKING LIKE INCREASES FOR
PRISONS AND PLACING COMING AFTER
2023, WHICH WAS A RECORD SETTING
YEAR FOR PLACE VIOLENCE. THE
VIOLENCE MAPPING PROJECT FINDS
THAT THERE ARE 1200 PEOPLE
KILLED BY US, PLEASE. AND THIS
IS LIKE AN AVERAGE OF THREE
PEOPLE PER DAY. SO IN TERMS OF
RETAIL THEFT, THINK ABOUT PEOPLE
LIKE 10 AND WILSON, BANCO BROWN
AMANDA ABUSE. THESE ARE PEOPLE
WHO DIED BECAUSE OF THEFT
ALLEGATIONS, SO I'M URGING
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S KEVIN MCCARTY
TO KEEP THIS IN MIND TO HOLD ON
TO THIS BECAUSE THESE NARRATIVES
CAN BE LIKE DESTROYING THE
SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM TO
RETAIL THEFT IS ALSO THE
SOLUTION TO THE BUDGET DEFICIT
THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT.
CLOSED PRISONS, INVEST IN PUBLIC
GOODS THAT KEEP US SAFE BY
KEEPING BASIC NEEDS MET. THEIR
COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE
CALIFORNIANS UNITED FOR
RESPONSIBLE BUDGET. THANK YOU DO
THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS OLIVIA GLEASON. AND I'M,
A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH,
CALIFORNIA AND A MEMBER OF
CALIFORNIANS UNITED FOR A
RESPONSIBLE BUDGET AND
ORGANIZATION OF OVER 80
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS,
SPEAKERS AND COMMENTS TODAY MADE
IT CLEAR THAT THERE IS GENERAL
AGREEMENT THAT WHAT THE STATE IS
DOING NOW ISN'T WORKING. UM
EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE SAFE AND
WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW IS GIVING
BILLIONS TO OUR POLICE AND
CORRECTIONS SYSTEMS AND FACING
THE ONGOING CONSEQUENCES AND
THREATS OF TOUGH ON CRIME
LEGISLATION. AS SPEAKERS POINTED
OUT TODAY, THE DATA IS IMPORTANT
IN THE DATA UNDERSCORES THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF ADDRESSING ROOT
CAUSES OVER PUNITIVE MEASURES.
RETAIL THEFT IS DOWN NATIONALLY
AND IN CALIFORNIA, THIS POINT TO
THE SUCCESSES OF COMMUNITY BASED
INTERVENTIONS BY INVESTING IN
MENTAL HEALTH HOUSING
INITIATIVES. EMPLOYMENT SUCH AS
RAISING WAGES WERE NOT ONLY
REDUCING CRIME, BUT ALSO
FOSTERING A STRONGER, MORE
RESILIENT COMMUNITY. BOTH OF OUR
RETAIL WORKER COMMUNITY AND
COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MY
NAME IS DAX, PROCTOR. I'M A
MEMBER OF CALIFORNIANS UNITED
FOR RESPONSIBLE BUDGET OR CURB
FOR SHORT, I'D LIKE TO USE MY
TIME TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT THE VERY
REAL HUMAN COST OF OVER POLICING
THE TRAGIC CASE OF BANCO BROWN,
A YOUNG BLACK TRANS MAN AND
AMANDA ABUSE WHO DIED IN CUSTODY
IN AN L. A COUNTY JAIL ARE STARK
REMINDERS OF THE DANGERS OF AN
ENFORCEMENT DRIVEN APPROACH TO
RETAIL THEFT. BANCO BROWN AND
AMANDA ABUSE ARE NOT ISOLATED
INCIDENTS BUT INDICATORS OF A
SYSTEMIC ISSUE THAT
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. WE
MUST ADVOCATE FOR A SHIFT
TOWARDS SMART SOLUTIONS AND
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES LIKE
ACCESS TO STABLE HOUSING AND
EMPLOYMENT THAT ADDRESS THE
UNDERLYING ROOT CAUSES OF THEFT.
WE MUST ENSURE JUSTICE AND
SAFETY FOR ALL COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. BUSINESS OWNERS AND
STRUGGLING PEOPLE ALIKE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS DON. I AM
WITH A NEW WAY OF LIFE AND THE
CHAPTER OF FOR ALI OF ALL OF US
OR NONE. I JUST WANT TO STAND
HERE AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, A
WE DO NOT DISREGARD THE
STRUGGLES THAT ARE RETAIL. UM
THERE THE LOSSES THAT THEY'RE
HAVING, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO
DISREGARD ALL THE WORK THAT WE
HAVE DONE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFORM. 36 47-57, AND I KNOW A
FEW OF YOU HAD TOUCHED THE TOPIC
OF REALLY LOOKING AT THE ROOT
CORE OF THE PROBLEM, AND IT'S
NOT THE THEFT. IT'S WHERE IT'S
COMING FROM. IT'S THE UNDER
HOUSED OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
ARE DRUG ABUSE, AND WE REALLY
NEED TO GO BACK TO THE CORE OF
THAT AND ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES
FIRST. IF WE DON'T GO TO THE
CORE, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET
TO THE END OF IT. IT'S JUST
GOING TO CONTINUE UNTIL YOU TO
GROW. SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. HI GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS MERCY SOLORZANO WITH THE
ALLEY ALLIANCE FOR A NEW ECONOMY
, PANIC AROUND RETAIL THEFT AS A
CONVENIENT SCAPEGOAT USED BY BIG
CORPORATIONS TO AVOID THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMPLEX
ISSUES. WE AS LEAN URGED THIS
COMMITTEE TO MOVE AWAY FROM
CRIMINALIZATION EVERY PROBLEM
THAT HAS BEEN LARGELY CREATED BY
CORPORATION. HARSH CRIMINAL
PENALTIES FOR SHOPLIFTING DO NOT
WORK AND DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
WE FIRMLY OPPOSE THIS. THERE ARE
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO THIS. AS
A FORMER RETURN EMPLOYEE, I CAN
SAY RETAILERS HAVE PUT THEIR
EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS AT
GREATER RISK BY SIGNIFICANTLY
SLASHING STAFFING LEVELS AND
TRAINING. EMPLOYERS BEAR THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR CREATING A
SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR BOTH STAFF
AND CUSTOMERS. SAFE STAFFING
LEVELS ARE COMMON SENSE SAFETY
SOLUTION THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED
TO PREVENT RETAIL THEFT. THIS
INCLUDES EMPLOYERS AND RESTING
IN THE WORKPLACE AND
IMPLEMENTING MINIMUM STAFFING AT
THE FRONT OF THE STORE ROLLING
BACK PROP 47 IS NOT THE
SOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR BEING
HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
TINA VARGAS AND WITH INITIATE
JUSTICE ACTION AND ALSO A PERSON
DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY
INCARCERATION AND HAVE HAD
SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED BY CRIMINALIZATION
WHEN ACTUALLY WHAT THEY NEEDED
WAS INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY. I'M
HERE WITH TWO QUICK
RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY FOR THIS
COMMITTEE, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS
YES. WHILE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN
RETAIL CRIME OVER RECENT YEARS
WE THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE DON'T BLAME PROPER 47,
WHICH IS AN INITIATIVE THERE'S
ALMOST 10 YEARS OLD. WHAT HAS
HAPPENED IN RECENT YEARS HAS
BEEN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT HAS
RESULTED IN INCREDIBLE ECONOMIC
AND EMOTIONAL HARDSHIP FOR MOST
OF US IN CALIFORNIA, AND WHAT WE
NEED TO INVEST IN IS REBUILDING
FROM THE PANDEMIC AND INVESTING
IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND NOT
INCREASING CRIMINALIZATION. WE
HAVE SOARING COST OF LIVING.
FOOD PRICES HAVE GONE UP UP TO
25% RENT IS UP BETWEEN 25 AND
40% IN MAJOR CITIES AND FUEL
COSTS HAVE RISEN BY 28. THAT THE
SECOND RECOMMENDATION THAT I
WANT TO MAKE IS THAT I BELIEVE
THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD BE, UM,
SHOULD PRIORITIZE LISTENING TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED
BY INCARCERATION AND FINDING THE
SOLUTION. TODAY WE HEARD A LOT
FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FROM A
SMALL NUMBER OF SERVICE
PROVIDERS, BUT WE SHOULD BE
TALKING DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE WHO
ARE ON HOUSED WHO ARE SUFFERING
FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SO
THEY CAN SAY DIRECTLY. WHAT
SERVICES ARE NOT BEING MET IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. UH THEY'RE
SERVING A ZOMBIE WITH INITIATE
JUSTICE ACTION. THANK YOU. SO
MUCH TO BOTH COMMITTEES WANT TO
START BY SHARING THE THREE
RECOMMENDATIONS WE PUT FORTH IN
OUR WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT ONE
ADDRESS WAGE THEFT, WHICH IS
COSTING CALIFORNIA'S 2 BILLION A
YEAR OR MORE, ADDRESS THE GAPS
IN OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND
ADDRESS CORPORATE PROFITEERING.
IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR, THE
NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION PUT
OUT A STATISTIC, SAYING THAT
HALF OF THE RETAIL SHRINK THE
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE WAS DRIVEN
BY ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT CLAIM
THAT WAS SO OUTLANDISH AND
PROVEN TO BE FABRICATED. THEY
RETRACTED IT SIX MONTHS LATER.
IN DECEMBER. BUT BY THAT POINT,
THE IMPACTS OF PUBLIC PERCEPTION
ALREADY BEEN DONE. AND SO HOW
COULD THIS HAPPEN? WHILE THOSE
SAME RETAILERS ARE OPENLY
BOASTING ON THEIR EARNINGS CALLS
OF HAVING THE HIGHEST PROFIT
MARGINS EVER HOW CAN BOTH THOSE
THINGS EXIST? PERHAPS IF, FOR
EXAMPLE, COMPANIES LIKE UNILEVER
WEREN'T ALLOWED TO INCREASE THE
COST OF A BAR OF DOVE SOAP BY
25% WHILE SHRINKING IT BY OVER
AN OUNCE. THOSE STEPS WILL NOT
BE HAPPENING TO BEGIN WITH.
THANK YOU. PLEASE INVEST IN REAL
SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. I WORKED IN RETAIL
FOR HALF OF MY LIFE, MOST
RECENTLY AT SEX WITH AVENUE. I'M
DISTURBED BY THE RHETORIC THAT
LAW ENFORCEMENT PARENTS WHEN
LESS THAN 2% OF SHOPLIFTING
INCIDENTS INVOLVE ANOTHER CRIME
IN JUST OVER 1% INVOLVE ASSAULT
SCARE. TACTICS OF VIOLENCE AND
FEAR ARE A DISSERVICE TO PUBLIC
SAFETY. THE STRONGEST LOSS
PREVENTION IS A FULLY STAFFED
STORE, A WELL PAID STAFF THAT
OFFERS GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE.
IN MY TENURE. MY TEAMMATES AND I
HAVE PREVENTED COUNTLESS THEFTS
WITHOUT FEAR OR SAFETY OF ART
FOR OUR SAFETY. I'VE HEARD NO
MENTION ABOUT INTERNAL THEFT OR
CUSTOMERS RETURNING NEWS
MERCHANDISE, WHICH BOTH
CONTRIBUTE TO INFLATION DATA
THAT'S BEEN MISATTRIBUTED TO
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT. I URGE
YOU TO CRACK DOWN AND WAGE THEFT
AND HOLD BIG CORPORATIONS
ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROFITEERING.
IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT
RETAIL THEFT HAS SPIKED OVER THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS
CORPORATE PROFITS HAVE SOARED.
50% OF RECENT INFLATION HAS BEEN
DRIVEN BY CORPORATE
PROFITEERING. STUDY AFTER STUDY
SHOWS THAT HARSHER PENALTIES
INCLUDING PRIORS WILL NOT
EFFECTIVELY COMBAT RETAIL THEFT
RATHER THAN INCREASING
SENTENCING FOR MAKING IT EASIER
TO CHARGE FELONIES. WE SHOULD
FOCUS ON ADDRESSING THE REASONS
PEOPLE SHOPLIFT THE COMMUNITY,
THE STRONGER COMMUNITY IS
ECONOMICALLY THE LOWER THE CRIME
RATE IS WE MUST FOSTER CRIME
PREVENTION BY STRENGTHENING OUR
SOCIAL SAFETY NET IN BRINGING
CALIFORNIANS OUT OF POVERTY.
THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE. I FORGOT
TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS
MICHELLE KING. I'M A RESIDENT OF
90015. AND I SPLIT MY TIME
BETWEEN 94114. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE IN LOS ANGELES. WE
APPRECIATE AND HOPEFULLY THERE'S
MORE OPPORTUNITIES QUICKLY WANT
TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE FACTS
WITH REGARDS TO RETAIL CRIME?
CALIFORNIA HAS SEEN AN INCREASE
WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS, EVEN
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND IT'S TO
THE POINT NOW, WHERE THREE
CITIES SAN FRANCISCO, SACRAMENTO
AND LOS ANGELES ARE NOW IN THE
TOP 10 LIST OF RETAIL AND
PROPERTY THEFT INCIDENCES. WITH
LOS ANGELES BEING NUMBER ONE FOR
THE LAST FIVE YEARS. SO ON TOP
OF THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE
ORGANIZED CRIME ASPECT OF IT. IT
HAS BECOME A LOT MORE
SOPHISTICATED, SO BEING ABLE TO
ADDRESS THESE MATTERS WITH
REGARDS TO, UM, EXPANDING THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO ACTUALLY
CONDUCT PROSECUTION ACROSS
JURISDICTIONS AND ACROSS STATE
LINES, WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL
PARTNERS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND
THEN ALSO WORKING WITH THE DOJ
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO ENSURE
THAT WE'RE GETTING RESOURCES AS
WELL AS PERSONNEL TO HELP
ADDRESS THESE MATTERS, RIGHT.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND HAVE
VARIOUS SUNSETS. BUT WE KNOW
THAT CRIME DOES NOT HAVE A
SUNSET ITSELF. IN ADDITION TO
THAT, WE ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT
WANT TO RETURN TO MASS
INCARCERATION, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE
WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS WITH THOSE THAT ARE
REPEAT OFFENDERS AND THOSE THAT
MANAGE ORGANIZED FINANCE ALL OF
THESE ORGANIZED CRIME RINGS.
THANKS SO WITH THAT, YES. THANK
YOU SO MUCH AND LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU GUYS APPRECIATE
I SHALL BE BRIEF. HELLO EVERYONE
. I AM BRIAN STAMP OF THE UFCW
LOCAL 770 OFFICE SINCE 2016. I
WORKED FOR THE CVS PHARMACY,
PRIMARILY AT THEIR 24 HOUR
HOLLYWOOD LOCATION. I'VE BEEN
WITNESSED TOO MUCH RETAIL THEFT,
WHICH CAN AND HAS LED TO
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE. ONE
PARTICULAR TIME I AM WORKING A
BUSY SELF CHECKOUT AREA ALONE.
SOMEONE ENTERS THE STORE ACCUSES
ME OF SOMETHING. HITS ME AND
LEAVES. THE STORES HAVE A LACK
OF PROPER STAFFING. SELF
CHECKOUTS ARE ALSO AN ISSUE. WE
NEED MORE STAFF AND
ACCOUNTABILITY TO HELP CREATE A
100% SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU KINDLY FOR YOUR TIME
AND UNION POWER. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. HMM. HELLO THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US TODAY. MY NAME IS
MARIA GONZALES AND THE LEGAL
SUPPORT COMMUNITY COORDINATOR
FOR, UH UM, YOU JUSTICE
COALITION? I AM ALSO THE FOUNDER
OF PRIDE. IN TRUTH, I AM A
MEMBER OF THE REENTRY HEALTH
ADVISORY COLLABORATIVE WRECK,
ALLEY COUNTY AND ALSO ALEX
COUNTY ALTERNATIVES.
INCARCERATION I'M HERE TO SHARE
A SUCCESS STORY. I HAVE A
STUDENT THAT WAS ACTUALLY
CHARGED WITH RETAIL THEFT, SMASH
AND GRAB. HE WAS NOT GETTING A
MISDEMEANOR HE WAS GETTING A
STRIKE THREE YEARS IN PRISON.
FIRST TIME OFFENDER AFTER
ADVOCATING FOR THIS STUDENT, WE
WERE ABLE TO MANAGE TO GET HIM
TO A MISDEMEANOR AND TWO YEARS
PROBATION. THIS STUDENT IS NOW
WORKING AS A SECURITY GUARD. HE
IS NOW GOING TO COME TO COLLEGE,
AND HE IS ALSO PART OF THE YOUTH
JUSTICE COALITION DIVERSION
PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY
HELPING HIM WITH HIS FUTURE.
THERE IS NO REASON FOR US TO BE
GIVING PUNITIVE PUNISHMENT
INCARCERATION TO PEOPLE THAT
ACTUALLY NEED FURTHER HELP US.
EVERYONE ELSE HAS TALKED ABOUT
HERE, AND I DON'T THINK I NEED
TO REPEAT MYSELF. UM, AND
FURTHERMORE, I WANT TO SPEAK
ABOUT A TRAGEDY, RIGHT? I WILL
MENTION HER NAME. HER NAME IS
AMANDA. THANK YOU. BUT COULD YOU
LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION
WITH OUR STAFF SO WE CAN FOLLOW
UP WITH YOU. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
HELLO MY NAME IS CYNTHIA MESSA.
I'M WITH BUT YOU JUST AS
COALITION I'M, THE LEGAL CLINIC
ASSISTANT IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS
ANGELES. I AM FORMERLY, UM YOUTH
IMPACTED BY CARSON AERATION. I
CAN SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE.
INCARCERATION DOES NOT HELP A
PERSON. WHAT HELPS IS HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE OF
CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THE
BEHAVIOR THAT CAUSES AN
INTERACTION WITH JUSTICE SYSTEM.
SOLUTIONS WE NEED ARE MORE
WILLINGNESS FROM PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE WHEN ADVOCATES LIKE
MYSELF SUGGEST DIVERSION AND
ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION.
CRIMINALIZING POVERTY ISN'T THE
ANSWER AND RUNNING BACK. 47
ISN'T THE ANSWER. THERE ARE MORE
THAN ENOUGH PROGRAMS WILLING TO
HELP THE COMMUNITIES SUCH AS MY
ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU. WE'RE
ONLY GOING TO TAKE THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE IN LINE NOW BECAUSE
WE'RE REALLY RUNNING OUT OF
TIME, AND I WANT TO GIVE
EVERYONE WHO'S IN LINE. THEY'RE
FULL MINUTES, SO BUT WE'RE
STOPPING WITH THE LAST PERSON IN
LINE THERE, SO GO AHEAD. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
CLAIRE SIMON ITCH. I LIVE IN LOS
ANGELES. AND I'M, THE ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR AT VERA, CALIFORNIA.
FIRST IN PURSUING SOLUTIONS. THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE MUST
SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION. THE
CALIFORNIA RETAILERS ASSOCIATION
HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS
NO COMPREHENSIVE AND RELIABLE
DATA ON THEFT. WHAT WE DO KNOW
IS THAT SHOPLIFTING IN
CALIFORNIA IS DOWN 8% FROM PRE
PANDEMIC LEVELS. SECOND AND
ACTING HARSHER PENALTIES WILL
NOT WORK. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN
THAT INCREASING PUNISHMENT FOR
REPEAT OFFENSES DOES NOT DETER
CRIMES, AND INSTEAD, THESE
POLICIES WOULD SEND MORE BLACK
AND LATIN X PEOPLE TO PRISON,
TAKING CALIFORNIA BACK TO THE
TYPE OF MASS INCARCERATION IT
SAW BEFORE PROP 47. IN TERMS OF
SOLUTIONS. WE SHOULD HAVE
POLICIES IN PLACE THAT MAKE SURE
PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO COMMIT
CRIMES OF DESPERATION AGAIN.
THINGS LIKE NEW YORK CITY'S
COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, AND
THE LEAD PROGRAM DISCUSSED HERE
TODAY SHOULD BE FULLY FUNDED. WE
SHOULD ALSO SUPPORT LOCAL
BUSINESSES AND INVEST IN OUR
WORKERS AS THE LOWEST CEO
RECENTLY EXPLAINED THE GREATEST
DETERRENT FOR ANY TYPE OF THEFT
IS EFFECTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE
AND CALIFORNIA SHOULD SUPPORT
RETAIL WORKERS BY ENSURING
LIVING WAGES AND WORKPLACE
SAFETY TRAINING. INSTEAD OF
FALLING BACK ON HARSH
PUNISHMENT. CALIFORNIA SHOULD
FOLLOW THE FACTS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. HI UM
HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JESS
FERRIS. I'M AN ANGELENO AND ALSO
SENIOR POLICY COUNSEL AT SO CAL
WITH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE TEAM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN TODAY, I
ECHO MANY OTHERS AND URGING THAT
ANY ACTION YOU TAKE ON RETAIL
THEFT IS ONE ROOTED IN
PREVENTION AND INVESTMENT AND
TRUE COMMUNITY SAFETY, RATHER
THAN ANY LEGISLATIVE ACTION THAT
WOULD INCREASE PENALTIES. WE
DON'T NEED ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL
PENALTIES FOR RETAIL THEFT, BUT
WE DO NEED IS MORE INVESTMENT
IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES THAT WILL
PREVENT THEFT LIKE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING GUARANTEED INCOME
PROGRAMS, MORE LEADS STAFFING
AND FOLLOWING PLANTS AT FOURTH
IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CARE
FIRST ALTERNATIVES TO
INCARCERATION ROADMAP, FOR
EXAMPLE, SO WE URGE YOU TO FOCUS
ON THESE REAL SOLUTIONS THAT
ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF
THEFT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU TO CREATE A
SAFER, HEALTHIER, MORE JUST
CALIFORNIA FOR ALL. THANKS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KHEDIRA'S
OB. I'M A RESIDENT OF LOS
ANGELES, AND I'M ALSO THE POLICY
COORDINATOR AT THE COUNCIL ON
AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS.
GREATER LOS ANGELES CHAPTER. I'D
LIKE TO BEGIN BY FURTHER
EMPHASIZING THAT INCREASINGLY
PENALIZING LOWER LEVEL OFFENSES
IS NOT SUSTAINABLE AND IS
EXTREMELY HARMFUL TO PEOPLE
LIVING IN POVERTY, AS WELL AS
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN
WHICH THERE IS CONTINUOUS
MISINFORMATION SURROUNDING
RETAIL THEFT, LEADING TO
DISPROPORTIONATE REACTIONS.
ROBUST RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EVEN
24 HOURS IN JAIL IS SO
DESTABILIZING THAT IT MAKES
SOMEONE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE
LIKELY TO BE REARRESTED AGAIN,
AND SO RATHER THAN POURING
INVESTMENTS INTO INCARCERATING
AND CRIMINALIZING COMMUNITIES, I
ASK THAT THIS COMMITTEE POUR
THEIR ENERGY INTO STRENGTHENING
CALIFORNIA SAFETY NET AND
FINDING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
ADVANCE PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU CAN
DO SO BY INVESTING IN WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, POVERTY ALLEVIATION,
PROGRAMMING AND OTHER SERVICES.
INCLUSIVE OF IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. HI MY NAME IS
DEANNA PITTMAN. AND I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE YOUNG WOMAN'S
FREEDOM CENTER, WHERE A
STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP AND
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS
WITH YOUNG GIRLS AND TRANS
YOUTH, UM THAT OUR SYSTEM IMPACT
IT. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR HOLDING THIS CONVERSATION
REALLY SHEDS LIGHT ON THE FACT
THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES
THAT FOLKS IN CALIFORNIA ARE
STRUGGLING WITH RIGHT NOW IS
POVERTY. THERE'S NO DENYING THAT
RETAIL THEFT IS AN ISSUE BUT WAS
ALSO TRUE IS THAT INCARCERATION
AND OTHER CARCERANO METHODS ARE
NOT PROVEN WAYS TO SOLVE THE
ISSUE AT THE YOUNG WOMAN'S
FREEDOM CENTER. WE BELIEVE THAT
YOUTH HAVE THE RIGHT TO REDEEM
THEMSELVES AND WE OFFER
REDEMPTION THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS
LIKE TRANSFORM YOUR HUSTLE AND
BEYOND SURVIVAL. THESE ARE TWO
PROGRAMS THAT OPEN UP DOORS FOR
YOUTH THAT HAVE BEEN
INCARCERATED FOR CRIMES OF
POVERTY. UM AND HUSTLING TO
SURVIVE AND ALSO FOR YOUTH THAT
ARE ON THAT TRAJECTORY TO
INCARCERATION. WE INVITE YOU ALL
TO COME TO US TO LEARN FROM US
AND TO SEE US AS EXPERTS,
EXPERTS WE HAVE TO STAY AWAY
FROM CARCEL SOLUTIONS, BECAUSE
WHEN YOU TREAT SOMEONE LIKE A
CRIMINAL, THEY'RE GOING TO ACT
LIKE A CRIMINAL. WHEN YOU TREAT
SOMEONE AND SEE SOMEONE AS A
LEADER AND INVEST IN THEM, THEN
THAT'S WHAT WE COULD BECOME
LEADERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. COULD YOU LEAVE YOUR CARD
WITH US SO WE CAN CONTACT YOU?
THANK YOU. EXCELLENT. HI YES. MY
NAME IS AMBROSE BROOKS. I'M A
CONSTITUENT OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
OF WORD AND CAMPAIGN AND
ADVOCACY MANAGER AT DIGNITY AND
POWER, NOW A LOCAL GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZATION, FIGHTING FOR THE
DIGNITY AND POWER OF THOSE
DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY IMPACTED
BY INCARCERATION AND SHERIFF
VIOLENCE ALONG. WELL FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS
HEARING TODAY. HERE IN WEST
HOLLYWOOD, WHERE YOU HEARD FROM
MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHOSE
LIVES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE
OVERLY PUNITIVE AND RACIST
STRUCTURES INHERENT IN
CALIFORNIA'S PENAL CODE.
INCREASING PENALTIES FOR RETAIL
THEFT WILL NOT STOP RETAIL THEFT
. IT WILL JUST WIDEN THE NET OF
MASS INCARCERATION. WE KNOW
SENTENCING ENHANCEMENTS ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY APPLIED TO
BLACK AND LATIN X COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AS ENHANCEMENTS ARE
SOUGHT MORE FREQUENTLY AGAINST
PEOPLE OF COLOR AS COMPARED TO
WHITE PEOPLE FACING SIMILAR
CHARGES. THE NATION OFTEN LOOKS
TO CALIFORNIA AS A BEACON OF
PROGRESSIVE VALUES. A STATE THAT
QUOTE OFTEN DOES THE RIGHT THING
. DON'T SEND CALIFORNIA
BACKWARDS WHEN YOU'RE FACED WITH
A MOMENT WHERE YOU CAN DIRECTLY
INVEST RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR
THOSE WHO NEED IT, THE MOST I
HAVE HERE OVER 100 LETTERS FROM
RESIDENTS WHO URGED THE
COMMITTEE'S NOT TO ROLL BACK
PROP 47 NOT TO INCREASE RETAIL
THEFT PENALTIES AND INSTEAD
INVEST IN COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SYSTEMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
PLEASE DROP THE LETTERS OFF.
WE'D LEFT TO REVIEW THEM. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
DOING THAT. THANKS. HI MY NAME
IS KATE MCINERNEY. I'M A
RESIDENT OF L, A ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT 61 AND RESEARCHER AT U
C L. A I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE
CAUSE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
ARE URGING YOU TO NOT ROLL BACK
PROP PROP 47 EXCUSE ME. UM WE'VE
SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN KARSA,
REL AND PUNITIVE SOLUTIONS TO
THESE ISSUES THAT ARE ISSUES OF
POVERTY ISSUES WHERE WE NEED,
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE NEED SUPPORT
SYSTEMS AND ALL OF THE THINGS
THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE
NAMED AN UPLIFTING THOSE WHO ARE
MOST IMPACTED BY INCARCERATION
AND IMPACTED BY POVERTY THAT
NEED COMMUNITY BASED SOLUTIONS,
WHICH COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE
OUTLINED. TIME AND TIME AGAIN,
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
TAKING THE TIME TODAY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
HI GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
LUIS CASTRO. I AM ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND INCLUSIVE
ACTION FOR THE CITY. WE ARE
LEADERS IN THE STATEWIDE STREET
VENDOR CAMPAIGN. UM, AND WE ALSO
WORK WITH HUNDREDS OF L, A
COUNTY SMALL BUSINESSES AND
MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO TRANSFORMATIVE CAPITAL
TODAY, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS
INCLUSIVE ACTIONS. CONCERNS
REGARDING EFFORTS TO EXPAND
SENTENCES FOR SHOPLIFTING AND
RETAIL THEFT. WE HAVE FURTHER
LEARNED ABOUT EFFORTS TO
CRIMINALIZE INDIVIDUALS WHO
MIGHT SELL STOLEN GOODS, WHICH
WOULD EFFECTIVELY FEED
IMMIGRANTS INTO THE DEPORTATION
PIPELINE FOR SIMPLY LOOKING TO
FOOD TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.
RATHER THAN ADVOCATING FOR
INCREASED POLICING AND EXTENDED
PRISON SENTENCES. WE STRONGLY
URGE YOU TO ADDRESS RETAIL THEFT
BY FOCUSING ON THE FOLLOWING
THINGS FIRST STRENGTHENING
CALIFORNIA SOCIAL SAFETY NET.
SECONDLY ADDRESSING THE ROOT
CAUSES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY
PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES IN THE
FIRST PLACE. AND HOW LIMITED
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES LEAD TO
NEED DRIVEN THEFT. THIRDLY ARE
RESISTING FEAR BASED PUNITIVE
MEASURES THAT DON'T MAKE OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFER AND COST
TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY EACH
YEAR. CALIFORNIA DESERVES CARE
AND INVESTMENT, NOT INCREASED
INCARCERATION. I HOPE THAT YOU
WILL CONSIDER THIS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. GOOD MORNING CHAIRS A BIRD
CHAIR. MCCARTHY ERIC HENDERSON,
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE FROM
CALIFORNIA ACTION, PLAY PLEASED
TO JOIN YOU FROM SACRAMENTO FOR
THIS VERY IMPORTANT HEARING. I
ALIGN MY COMMENTS WITH MY
COLLEAGUES FROM A C L U, SO CAL
C. S. J VERA INITIATE JUSTICE,
BBC CURB YOUNGER AMENDMENT'S
FREEDOM CENTER IN THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE
AND THAT WE'RE UNABLE TO BE HERE
TODAY. WE NEED TO INVEST IN
PREVENTION EFFORTS THAT
IDENTIFIED PEOPLE'S NEEDS AND
NOT THEIR RISKS. WE NEED TO
INVEST IN PUBLIC HEALTH
APPROACHES LIKE HOUSING,
HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, SUBSTANCE
USE AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.
A CL YOU, AS YOU KNOW, IS
COMMITTED TO PARTNERING WITH THE
LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS REACH
RETAIL STAFF, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING YOU BACK IN
SACRAMENTO. THANKS FOR TRAVELING
TO BE HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS JAMES PHINNEY CONLAN. I
AM A CONSTITUENT OF CHAIRMAN
RICK CHAVEZ BARBER, AND I'M, THE
SENIOR PUBLIC POLICY MANAGER FOR
THE L. A AREA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE. I'M HERE TODAY
REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY
RETAIL THEFT AND ORGANIZED
RETAIL THEFT. THESE ISSUES ARE
AFFECTING CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN
BRICK AND MORTAR STORES AND ARE
ALSO IMPACTING SMALL BUSINESSES
WHO ARE TODAY NOT RECEIVING ANY
RESOURCES FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN
ORDER TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO E COMMERCE
PLATFORMS INSTEAD, AND A LOT OF
BRICK AND MORTAR SHOPS ARE
CLOSING BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT
FEEL SAFE GOING IN OR ALSO
SHOPPING, AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT
A LOT OF SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES.
SO IF THEY ARE LOSING FUNDS,
THEY ARE ABLE TO SECURE THEM AND
THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY OPEN IN LOS
ANGELES. AND CONTINUING TO BRING
MONEY BACK INTO OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. HELLO MY NAME IS ANNE A
MERINO AND I'M ALSO HERE WITH
THE YOUNG WOMEN'S FREEDOM
CENTER. I WANTED TO POINT OUT
THAT PRIORITIZING THE FINANCIAL
INTERESTS OF CORPORATIONS IS
OFTENTIMES DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED
TO SAFETY FOR WORKERS OR THE
PUBLIC AT LARGE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN
2021, THE LONG BEACH CITY
COUNCIL ORDAINED A $4 AN HOUR
HAZARD PAY INCREASE FOR GROCERY
STORE WORKERS WHO ARE RISKING
THEIR LIVES DURING THE HEIGHT OF
COVID. AND COVID UP, KROGER
OPTED INSTEAD TO SHUT DOWN THE
LOCAL RALPHS AND FOOD FOR LESS
STORES IN RETALIATION.
MEANWHILE, CORPORATIONS ARE
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE
CRIMINALIZATION OF CONSUMERS AND
DO NOT TRUST BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES TO BUY TOOTHPASTE IF
IT IS NOT LOCKED UP, BUT ARE
CONSISTENTLY IN OPPOSITION TO
REGULATION OF THEIR OWN
PRACTICES, REGARDLESS OF IMPACT.
THANK YOU. HONORABLE MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS STANLEY THERMIDOR. I AM
THE POLICY AND ADVOCACY
STRATEGIST WITH A NEW WAY OF
LIFE. WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD
DISCUSSION TODAY. YOU KNOW THE
THING THAT STOOD OUT MOST OF MY
MIND WAS THE PROSECUTOR WHO SAID
HE HAD ALL THE TOOLS HE NEEDED
TO ACTUALLY DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE
. UM SO AS A BLACK MAN, YOU KNOW
THE TOUGH ON CRIME NARRATIVE. I
AM KEENLY AWARE OF HOW IT
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BLACK
PEOPLE AND BROWN PEOPLE. UM YOU
KNOW WHAT? I'M IN PUERTO RANCH
VISITING A FRIEND. I REALLY SEE
THE POLICE WHEN I'M IN WHAT? I
SEE THE POLICE ALL THE TIME. AND
SO WHEN WE CONSIDER THAT PRE
INCARCERATION. FOLKS WHO ARE
INCARCERATED ONLY MAKES $19,000
THAT THAT'S A BIG INDICATOR. WE
SPEND 100 AND $20,000 A YEAR
DURING INCARCERATED PERSON.
WHILE WE COULD SPEND $80,000
OVER FOUR YEARS TO CINEMA CSU
AND GET AN EDUCATION. SHE HAS A
TAXPAYER. THAT'S THE KIND OF
MATH THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THANK YOU FOR WAITING SO
LONG IN LINE. OKAY THANK YOU ALL
FOR TESTIFYING TODAY. I'D LIKE
TO ACTUALLY TURN IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE TO MAKE CLOSING
STATEMENTS AND WOULD LIKE TO
START WITH CHAIRMAN CARDI. THANK
YOU, MR ZEBRA AND MY FIRST TIME
IN WEST HOLLYWOOD. WHAT'S THE
NICKNAME HERE WE HAVE WE HAVE
OKAY. FIRST TIME HERE, IT SNAZZY
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS HERE AND,
UM YOU KNOW OUR JOB IN
SACRAMENTO, WHICH IS MY
DISTRICT. IS TO IS TO WRITE LAWS
TO GET AT IT. BUT YOU KNOW OUR
JOB, TOO IS TO IS TO LISTEN AND
THINK SO. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE'RE HERE. HAVE THIS
SELECT COMMITTEE AND AS MR
ALVAREZ NOTED, THIS IS OUR
SECOND ONE. AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW
WE HAVE OTHERS AND CONCURRENTLY
WE GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS. SO YOU KNOW TWO THINGS
HAPPEN AT ONCE. BUT YOU KNOW, I
WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID
. MR ALVAREZ. YOU LAID OUT THESE
TWO SCENARIOS OF YOU KNOW,
THROWING THE BABY OUT WITH THE
BATHWATER OR OR DOING NOTHING,
AND OUR JOB IS TO BE NEW TO BE
MORE NUANCED. AND SO THAT I
THINK TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE A REAL
CONCERN ABOUT RETAIL THEFT AND
THE REMEDIES AND TOOLS WE HAVE
FOR COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND ALSO KNOW THAT PROP 47 DID A
LOT OF GOOD. IN ADDRESSING MASS
INCARCERATION. THE WAR ON DRUGS
AND SO FORTH, SO I DON'T THINK
THAT THEY ARE EITHER OR
SCENARIOS AND, UH, WE ARE
DELVING INTO, UM, PROPOSALS TO
RESPOND. AND I WILL NOTE THAT
THE LEGISLATURE THE ASSEMBLY
WILL RESPOND. WE WON'T DO
NOTHING THIS YEAR. CERTAINLY
THERE ARE OUTSIDE ENTITIES AS
WELL. TRYING TO RESPOND WITH.
PROCESS THROUGH THE THROUGH THE
BALLOT, AND YOU KNOW THAT THERE
IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT THAT
THAT'S OCCURRING AS WELL. BUT WE
CERTAINLY WILL BE VERY, VERY
ACTIVE AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S OF
BERNARD GATHERING THESE IDEAS.
THIS INPUT MANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES HAVE IDEAS ON THIS AS
WELL. I THINK THERE'S ALREADY
MORE THAN TWO DOZEN BILLS
INTRODUCED OR WILL BE INTRODUCED
ON THIS TOPIC, AND WE'RE GOING
TO KIND OF GET TOGETHER AND KIND
OF BRING SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT
WE'VE HEARD FROM THIS, UM UH,
SELECT COMMITTEE PROCESS AND
FROM JUST OUR COLLECTIVE WILL
AND MOVE FORWARD. SO YOU KNOW,
STAY TUNED, BUT I THINK, UH, YOU
AND OTHER ENTITIES HERE
TESTIFYING IT IN AND GIVING US
INFORMATION, BUT I'LL GO BACK TO
WHAT I SAID EARLIER. AND WHAT MY
COLLEAGUE FROM GRAND TERRACE
ASKED, AS WELL AS YOU KNOW WHEN
WE ASK YOU WHAT IDEAS DO YOU
HAVE FOR US IS NOT ALWAYS
HELPFUL. IF YOU SAY WE DON'T
HAVE ANY, LIKE WE ASKED YOU HERE
FOR A REASON. AND SO EITHER YOU
GIVE US IDEAS. WE'RE GONNA WRITE
THEM OURSELVES, AND YOU MAY NOT
LIKE THEM. SO YOU KNOW, BUT
CHOOSE YOUR POISON. SO YOU KNOW,
HELP US ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND
YOU KNOW, EVEN IF YOU MAY NOT BE
SUPPORTIVE OF SOME OF THE
PROPOSALS TELL US THE IMPACTS OF
HOW SOME OF THESE THINGS WOULD
PLAY OUT. AND SO WE HAVE A
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. IT'S NOT
GOING TO BE OVER AT OUR FIRST
COMMITTEE HEARING. HEARINGS WITH
THESE BILLS IN APRIL. IT'S MULTI
MONTH PROCESS THROUGH THE
SUMMER, SO KEEP ENGAGING THIS.
YOUR INPUT IS VALUABLE. NO
MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE EQUATION
YOU COME ON TODAY. BUT THIS WILL
BE AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO
TAKE SERIOUSLY AND ADDRESSED IN
24. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
RAISE GÓMEZ. THANK YOU. THIS HAS
BEEN VERY INFORMATIVE. I
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS,
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO
STAYED TILL THE END TO PROVIDE
YOUR COMMENTS. I APPRECIATE
THOSE VERY MUCH. UM I WILL
CONTINUE MY DISCUSSIONS BACK IN
MY DISTRICT WITH MY RETAILERS
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WITH
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
ORGANIZATIONS. I TRULY BELIEVE
WE CAN COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.
AND AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, YOUR
INPUT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND I HOPE YOU BELIEVE THAT AND
I HOPE YOU DO PARTICIPATE.
NOTHING WE DO IS EVER PERFECT.
BUT THE MORE PARTICIPATION WE
HAVE FROM THOSE WHO ARE MOST
AFFECTED. THE BETTER. THE
LEGISLATION IS SO I HOPE YOU
WILL WORK WITH US. THANK YOU.
SILLY EVERYONE TO THANK YOU TO
OUR CHAIRS FOR ENSURING THAT WE
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME
TOGETHER. I WAS ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE LAST HEARING
AND WILL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO
SHOW UP. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
HOLISTICALLY ADDRESSING ISSUES
AROUND RETAIL THEFT AND PROPERTY
THEFT. I FUNDAMENTALLY AGREE AND
KNOW THAT RETAIL THEFT IS A
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS ALSO
AN ECONOMIC ISSUE AND A PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUE. WE'VE BEEN ASKED
BY THE PANELISTS AND OUR
TESTIMONIALS TODAY FROM PUBLIC
COMMENTS THAT TO RESIST THE
TEMPTATION TO MOVE BACK TO A
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT APPROACH TO
INCREASING PENALTIES, SENTENCING
ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE KNOW
ACTUALLY LEAD TO GREATER
INCARCERATION. PARTICULARLY
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND
ULTIMATELY, A LACK OF PUBLIC
SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I
CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT ARE
MOST CERTAIN PATH TO PUBLIC
SAFETY IS TO ADDRESS THE
ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES AND THE
ROOT CAUSES OF AFFORDABILITY.
POVERTY LACK OF HOUSING,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL
HEALTH NEEDS THAT PLAGUE OUR
COMMUNITIES IN ABUNDANT NUMBERS,
AND THAT WERE EXACERBATED IN
LARGE PART TO THE HIT OF COVID
AND THE IMPACT THAT COVID 19 HAD
IN TERMS OF DECIMATING OUR OUR
FABRIC OF ECONOMIC WELL BEING
AND THE ECONOMIC ENGINES THAT WE
NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT AND
THAT WE'RE STILL RECOVERING FROM
AND I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT IN
PARTS OF CALIFORNIA AND I AM THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FROM
REPRESENTING 8018, OAKLAND,
ALAMEDA AND EMERYVILLE. UH THERE
ARE STILL ISSUES OF PROPERTY
THEFT, RETAIL THEFT THAT WE NEED
TO ABSOLUTELY BE CONCERNED WITH,
UM, THAT ARE BUCKING THE TRENDS
OF A STATEWIDE DECLINE IN
PROPERTY CRIME BY THE WAY IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES
ARE HURTING. I SPEND MY TIME
TALKING TO WORKERS IN HOME DEPOT
AND IN CVS AND WALGREENS. I
SPEND MY TIME TALKING TO
RESTAURANT OWNERS AND SMALL MOM
AND POP RETAILERS WHO ARE
HURTING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF A
SENSE OF A LACK OF SAFETY. THERE
ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AS
A STATE AND COLLECTIVELY, WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
MAKING INVESTMENTS IN PROMOTING
POLICIES THAT WILL LEAD TO
BETTER CROSS JURISDICTIONAL
INVESTIGATORY INVESTIGATORY
TOOLS. I HEARD THAT TODAY I
HEARD THAT WE ARE STILL SHORT OF
THE DATA AND COLLECTIVE ABILITY
TO USE THAT DATA AND INFORMATION
IN A WAY THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING
TO TAMP DOWN ON ON OUR ON THE
KIND OF THEFT THAT LEADS TO
GOODS MOVING FROM FROM OAKLAND.
Tð SAN JOSE TO WE KHÓ. I KNOW
THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE ACTUALLY INVESTING IN
PROACTIVE HARM REDUCTION
STRATEGIES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
THEY ACTUALLY WORK AND THEY
PROMOTE MORE AND BETTER PUBLIC
SAFETY AND REDUCTION IN THE
COMMISSION OF MISDEMEANORS AND
FELONIES. AND WE ALSO HEARD FROM
LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE. C H P D A
S ARE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BE SEC? WE KNOW THAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT TOOLS THAT ACTUALLY
PROMOTES UH, THE ABILITY FOR
PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GET
CAUGHT FOR A CRIME IT ACTUALLY.
MATTERS. AND WELL, ACTUALLY, IS
IT THE STRONGEST TO TURN THAT WE
HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE
ENABLING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN
YOU COMMIT A CRIME AND YOU
COMMIT A HARM IN OUR COMMUNITY?
THERE'S A CONSEQUENCE. I BELIEVE
THOSE CONSEQUENCES SHOULD BE
ROUTED. IN RECOGNIZING THE
STRUCTURAL RACISM. AND THE
SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES THAT HAVE
LONG STOOD BEFORE THIS MOMENT IN
TIME WHERE WE ARE EXPERIENCING
INCREDIBLE, UM, ISSUES WITH
RETAIL THEFT, AND I ALSO BELIEVE
THAT ENABLING REPORTING CROSS
JURISDICTIONAL COOPERATION AND
ENSURING THAT BOTH ARE PRIVATE
RETAILERS ARE WORKING IN CONCERT
WITH WITH OUR PUBLIC AGENCIES IS
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. WE ALL
STAND AND MUST TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE
ARE ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED TO
HOW THOSE GOODS ARE MOVED.
WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ACTUALLY
REPORTING THOSE, UH, THE SALE OF
GOODS THAT ARE ILLEGALLY GOTTEN
AND ULTIMATELY WHETHER OR NOT WE
ARE ADDRESSING THE ONLINE AND
PHYSICAL MARKET PLACES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE RESALE OF
THOSE GOODS. ULTIMATELY I KNOW
THAT THIS IS OUR COLLECTIVE
RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS. MY COMMUNITY IS
HURTING. WE DON'T FEEL SAFE. WE
ALSO KNOW THAT THE EXTENT TO
WHICH THIS IS AN ISSUE IS
GROUNDED IN MANY, MANY ISSUES
RELATED TO SYSTEMIC HARMS THAT
GO FOR DECO ON FOR DECADES, SO
I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO
WORK. AH IN THE SPACE AS A
LEGISLATOR, AND TO USE MY VOICE
REPRESENTING A COMMUNITY THAT IS
BOTH THE SUBJECT OF. ISSUES
RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND
PROPERTY THEFTS IN THIS MOMENT,
BUT ALSO AS A SUBJECT OF
INCREDIBLE CONSEQUENCE RELATED
TO MASS INCARCERATION, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY
COLLEAGUES TO ENSURE THAT WE
HAVE AN APPROACH THAT ULTIMATELY
RESULTS IN SMART SOLUTIONS.
THANK YOU, MEMBER. BANTA MR.
ALVAREZ WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A
COUPLE OF MINUTES. THERE'S SO
MUCH OF THAT CHAIR. THANK YOU.
AS I STATED BEFORE YOU BEGAN
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WAS
INTERESTED IN HEARING YOUR
TESTIMONY AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO
SHARE SO THAT WE COULD HELP YOU
COULD HELP US FORMULATE SOME
SOLUTIONS. WHAT I WAS SAYING.
LISTENING TO YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT
IS THAT I WAS STILL WALK AWAY
TODAY WITH A LOT OF QUESTIONS
AND THAT TODAY UH, WE ARE NOT AT
THE FINISH LINE, WHICH IS GOOD
BECAUSE IT'S CHAIR, MCCARTHY OF
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SAID AND
CHAIR OF THIS SELECT COMMITTEE,
UH, HAVE SAID THERE IS STILL A
PROCESS AHEAD OF US HAVE
CONVERSATIONS. LET ME LIST FOR
SOME OF YOU WHO WISH TO ENGAGE,
PARTICULARLY WITH ME IN SOME OF
THESE QUESTIONS, HOW YOU CAN BE
HELPFUL IN ME GETTING MORE
INFORMATION, BETTER INFORMATION
AND HELPING ME FORMULATE. UM, A
POSITION. I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE CONTINUED RISE OF COSTS. OF
GOODS FROM RETAILERS AS A RESULT
OF THE SUGGESTED POTENTIAL
INVESTMENTS THAT THEY CAN MAKE
TO HELP CURB THE SITUATION. AT
THE END OF THE DAY, IF THEY'RE
EXPENDING MORE MONEY, WHETHER
IT'S PERSONNEL TECHNOLOGY. OR
BASIC, UH, LOCKING UP OF
SUPPLIES THAT COST US. THOSE WHO
GO AND SHOP IN THOSE STORES.
MORE MONEY. THERE IS AN IMPACT
TO THAT. I'D LIKE TO KNOW. UM
MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE PANELS
ABOUT IF WE JUST CATCH. PEOPLE
GET THEM CAUGHT. THAT THAT
SOMEHOW IS A DETERRENT. I
REMAIN, UM. LACK AND
UNDERSTANDING HOW THAT ACTUALLY
HAPPENS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
GETTING CAUGHT. UM AND YET IT IN
SOME INSTANCES HAS CONTINUED.
AND IN SOME INSTANCES BEING
CAUGHT. BY A SMALL RETAILER OF A
SMALL STORE. MEANT A TRAGIC END
TO THAT. SO WHAT IS GETTING
CAUGHT? GET US TO HOW DOES
GETTING CAUGHT ACTUALLY LEAD
INDIVIDUALS? TO DO WHAT THEY
NEED TO DO, UH, THE HELP TO GET
THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. WHICH
ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE THE
MOST EFFECTIVE. THERE'S A LOT OF
MONEY THAT THE STATE HAS GIVEN
OUT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. IN
THIS SPACE. END OF THE YEAR
WHERE OUR BUDGET IS CONSTRAINT.
WE NEED TO IDENTIFY. WHAT ARE
THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING.
AND THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL, AND WE
NEED TO HEAR WHAT THE DATA
DEMONSTRATES FROM THOSE
PROGRAMS. ARE WE COORDINATING?
THE LAST PANEL? I KNOW YOU
CAUGHT THIS. BUT THERE IS SOME
GOOD WORK HAPPENING, AT LEAST AT
THE LARGE SCALE OF RETAIL THEFT.
IS THERE COORDINATION ACTUALLY
HAPPENING? ARE PEOPLE TALKING TO
EACH OTHER ENOUGH? OR A LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AWARE OF
WHAT IN THAT CASE, THE ONLINE.
PLATFORMS ARE DOING IN ORDER TO
USE TECHNOLOGY AND DATA TO HELP
WITH THIS PROBLEM IS THAT
HAPPENING ENOUGH AND THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE STATE? BUT THE
ULTIMATE QUESTION, I THINK IS
HAVE WE ACTUALLY DELIVERED ON
THE PROMISE OF PROPOSITION 47?
WHICH WAS TO REDUCE MASS
INCARCERATION. BUT ALSO MAKE IT
SAFER FOR EVERYBODY. AND WHAT
HAS HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF
PROPOSITION, 47. WE STILL NEED
TO UNDERSTAND THE REALITIES OF
THOSE IMPACTS, AND I WAS JUST
ASKED AS I SAID, IN MY PREVIOUS
COMMENTS, AND AS THIS CONTINUES
THAT WE AVOID WE RESTRAIN
OURSELVES. FROM ACCUSATIONS.
THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO DO
SOMETHING. ON THIS ISSUE. THAT
MEANS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE MASS
INCARCERATION ONCE AGAIN. I
THINK I CAN. THIS IS ONE THING I
CAN SPEAK CONFIDENTLY ON. I
DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS THAT
INTENTION IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE. AND I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT WE WILL HAVE A POLICY. THAT
IS ANALYZED, AND IF IT'S
DETERMINED THAT IT LEADS TO MASS
INCARCERATION, THAT THIS
LEGISLATURE WILL NOT HAVE MY
VOTE. AND I THINK I CAN
CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT IT WILL NOT
HAVE THE LEGISLATURE SUPPORT.
BUT, UM. BUT IF ALSO REFRAIN
OURSELVES FROM SAYING YOU DIDN'T
DO ENOUGH. BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING
TO DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS A
VERY NUANCED PROBLEM, AND THERE
ARE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT JUST WANT
TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND
CALIFORNIA AND CERTAINLY THOSE
WHO ARE ON CABLE NEWS NETWORKS
IS JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S A
COMPLETE FAILURE. AND THAT'S
ALSO NOT TRUE. SO LET'S AVOID
AND RESTRAINED FROM TRYING TO
PUT INDIVIDUALS. LEADERS
DECISION MAKERS INTO THOSE TWO
BUCKETS AND INSTEAD ENGAGE
MEANINGFULLY CONTINUE TO ENGAGE
MEANINGFULLY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE
A SOLUTION TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM
THAT WE I THINK HAVE ALL NOW
ACKNOWLEDGED EXISTS IN OUR
STATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR
CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR ALVAREZ. SO
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I
WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF
BOTH COMMITTEES FOR TRAVELING TO
THE 51ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT TO
PARTICIPATE IN THESE IMPORTANT
CONVERSATIONS TODAY. UM YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT
CHARGE AHEAD OF US. IT'S GOING
TO BE COMPLICATED AS I THINK WE
ALL HAVE GLEANED FROM THE TWO
COMMITTEE HEARINGS THAT WE'VE
HAD SO FAR. UM I AGREE WITH MR
ALVAREZ AND I THINK ALL OF THE
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE THAT
NONE OF US WANT TO SEE SCOPE
BACK TO MASS INCARCERATION. I
THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE ARE. DIFFERENT CATEGORIES
THAT FALL WITHIN RETAIL CRIME.
SOME UH SOME RETAIL CRIME IS DUE
TO CRIMES OF SURVIVAL AND
POVERTY AND MENTAL ILLNESS, AND
WE NEED TO TREAT THOSE THOSE
THINGS DIFFERENTLY. UM SOME,
THOUGH, HAS TO DO WITH ORGANIZED
CRIME RINGS. THEY ARE CRIMINALS
AND I THINK WHEN WE TALKED TO
MANY OF THE RETAILERS, THEY WILL
TELL US THAT AT LEAST IN SOME
PARTS OF THE STATE A VERY, VERY,
VERY LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE.
HAVE TO DO WITH THESE LARGE
RETAIL CRIME RINGS. IN SOME
CASES, THE LARGE RETAIL CRIME
RINGS. I THINK PREY ON PEOPLE
THAT ARE ACTUALLY, UM, THAT ARE
ACTUALLY LIVING IN POVERTY. AND
SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF
OVERLAP AND THOSE ARE SOME OF
THE AREAS WHERE I THINK WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE DIFFICULT
DECISIONS TO MAKE. AND I THINK
THAT YOU KNOW WE WANT THE
OUTCOME OF THIS PROCESS TO BE
ONE. THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
VALUES OF CALIFORNIA, WHICH ARE
VALUES OF MAKING SURE THAT, UM,
THAT THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE EARNED
A GOOD LIVING HERE THAT THEY
HAVE CERTAINTY IN TERMS OF WHAT
THEIR FUTURE LOOKS LIKE, UM, BUT
ALSO THAT WE ARE HOLDING THOSE
ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DO,
BUT ALSO DOING THAT
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DON'T ALL
START IN THE SAME PLACE AND WE R
I STATE THAT IS COMPASSIONATE.
UM SO. UM YOU KNOW, WE LEARNED A
LOT OF THINGS TODAY WE LEARNED
THAT, UM, THAT THE CLEAR THAT
THE CERTAINTY OF GETTING CAUGHT
AND IT'S GETTING CAUGHT WITH A
CONSEQUENCE. IT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THE
CONSEQUENCE NEEDS TO BE LONGER
PRISON TERMS OR PRISON AT ALL
RIGHT. I MEAN, WE HAVE TRAFFIC
LAWS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT
PEOPLE GENERALLY ABIDE BY, AND
THAT'S BECAUSE IN THAT AREA
THERE IS A FAIRLY HIGH
LIKELIHOOD THAT OVER TIME IF
YOU'RE PARTICIPATING, YOU KNOW
IF YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW
REPEATEDLY THAT YOU WILL GET
CAUGHT AND THERE WILL BE A
CONSEQUENCE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT WHEN WE WHEN MOST PEOPLE
BREAK A TRAFFIC LAW THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO JAIL, I MEAN,
GENERALLY, YOU KNOW THEY HAVE TO
GO TO COURT. THEY END UP
SOMETIMES HAVING TO GO TO
TRAFFIC SCHOOL. MOST PEOPLE
DON'T LIKE DOING STUFF LIKE
THAT. AND THEN IT ESCALATES INTO
OTHER THINGS. UM WE'VE LEARNED A
LOT ABOUT THE FACT THAT ABOUT
DIVERSION PROGRAMS THAT NEEDS TO
BE PART THINK OF THE. THE
ANSWER, AND I THINK WE NEED TO.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT SORT OF
WHAT TRIGGERS THOSE AND TO THE
EXTENT TO WHICH, UM, WE CAN HELP
PEOPLE MOVE INTO DIVERSION
PROGRAMS. UM WE REALLY DO NEED
TO FOCUS. I THINK MORE ON. I
APPRECIATE THE FOLKS THAT WERE
HERE TODAY. I THINK THEY TEND TO
BE SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE
BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS BOARD
AND THEY'RE SORT OF THE GOOD
ACTORS OUT THERE. BUT I THINK
WE, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT A
LARGE AMOUNT OF THE GOODS ARE
CONTINUING EVEN WITH THE WITH
THE FEDERAL LAW ARE CONTINUING
TO BE FENCED ONLINE, AND WE NEED
TO DO SOME MORE THINGS ABOUT
THAT. UM YOU KNOW WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS
UNACCEPTABLE. AND I KNOW THAT WE
NEED TO ACT WITH URGENCY. I KNOW
SPEAKER REVIS HAS BEEN HAS HAS
RAISED THIS AS ONE OF HIS KEY
PRIORITIES THIS YEAR, AS HAS
GOVERNOR NEWSOM. UM AND, UM AND
I THINK YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THIS
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE FACT
THAT I'VE GOT PARTS OF MY
DISTRICT IN HOLLYWOOD PARTS OF
SANTA MONICA, OTHERS WHERE I AM
VERY, VERY WORRIED THAT WE'RE
GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE RETAILERS
CLOSING DOWN AND SHUTTERED SHOPS
AND SMALL BUSINESSES AROUND THEM
LOSING FOOT TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF
THAT, AND THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE
TO DO SOMETHING, SOMETHING ABOUT
IT. UM SO THIS ISN'T EASY. UM I
THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT
MORE CONVERSATION AND A LOT MORE
CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THE DATA.
I APPRECIATE THAT. WE'VE GOT A
NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING
ON PROVIDING DATA AND I'LL SAY
THAT AGAIN. THIS ISN'T THE END
OF THE PROCESS. THIS IS THE
BEGINNING. I APPRECIATE. UM
CHAIRMAN MCCARTHY'S PARTNERSHIP
IN THIS AND THE MEMBERS OF BOTH
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND
THE SELECT COMMITTEE. AND I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU TODAY WE WILL
BE HAVING SOME MORE HEARINGS AND
JUST STAY TUNED AS WE SORT OF
WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THIS ISSUE.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO
PROVIDE WRITTEN COMMENTS IF YOU
HAVEN'T TO THE COMMITTEE, YOU
CAN ACTUALLY GET INFORMATION
FROM THE STAFF HERE TODAY ABOUT
HOW TO DO THAT. AND I JUST WANT
TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.