Big stores want people to think higher prices are due to petty theft, so they won't notice the large element of corporate greed. MAGA Republicans push fear and chaos to manipulate voters. But wtf is Newsom going along with the con?
Newsom is protecting an exposed flank. In a perfect world, politics would only be about policy, but here, politics has to reflect public perception as well. Ultimately, this is a good argument to re-regulate the print and TV ownership, limit market concentration and reestablish the fairness doctrine.
I was here to post "part of politics is perception" but you've covered it. You can't govern if you're not in office- and Newsom is smart to act on this, because it's a widespread sentiment that these crimes are taking place because the laws are too loax.
I agree. These increases are a hell of a lot more than their "shrinkage" costs. But that best the question as to whether this type of criminal should get away with a slap on the wrist. This is happening to a lot of "mom & pop" businesses who are failing from these type of losses. I know as I am a consumer & small business DEBTOR'S attorney. With the corporations, who can sustain these type pof losses, the rise in prices has more to do with as you say, corporate greed then is warrented from actual cost incresases. MAGA Republicans do push fear and chaos to manipulate voters every chance they get. Newsom is not "going with the con." He is trying to keep it from being even worse if the ballot measure passes, and it likely is going to pass. His ploy may or may not work to stop this ballot measure.
He says so from his exclusive liberal gated community where his stores don't have products under lock and key and don't eventually close due to the loss from theft.
So, why do the media and the Republicans demand the dramatic displays of crime? Entertainment? Fomenting fear so that Republican politicians can be elected and come to our rescue? Instead, we are learning that crime is down in all areas: from immigrants, from border towns, from inner cities, from large cities governed by Democrats! Thanks to Judd and team we learn about these statistics.
Here's what IS important: "Some of the money saved from a reduced prison population after the passage of Proposition 47 — nearly $100 million annually — was redirected to fund drug treatment, mental health, and reentry programs." Loss of these funds which bring down recidivism rates would be a problem.
Some folks don't want this type of initiative. They seem to think being compassionate is being soft on crime. Perhaps they get paid from the industrial prison complex and are compromised.
But if you keep locking up more folks for less and longer while defunding treatment, you will surely reap what you sow.
America’s desire to throw people away for the smallest thing is morally disgusting. The fact that 56% of Californian (most of whom are probably white) who think that more and longer jail time is the solution to everything disgusts me.
I have an idea. Here’s who to put in prison…A deadly seditionist inciter, a 34-count FELON, a rapist, a fascist trying to destroy our country. If trump isn’t in orison, nobody else should be!
Can I offer another perspective? I live in the Bay Area. I have noticed that CVS and other companies that complain about shoplifting are minimally staffed. When I need a medication under lock and key, it takes at least 10 minutes, if not longer to summon an employee to unlock the plastic cover. Maybe if stores went back to pre pandemic levels of staffing there would be fewer smash and grab incidents.
With respect and a bit of reluctance to chime in lest I get slimed as "pro-carcereal", I'm torn on this one, frankly. I live in Alameda County and have been shopping in Oakland and
Alameda (cities adjacent to each other) when takeover thefts occur--I'm talking about thefts where at least three people (in one case, it was 8-10) come in and start clearing the shelves. One at an independent dollar store, two at national chains (CVS, Walgreens). I felt terribly for the dollar store owners, who are immigrants and some of the kindest people in the community. I've seen them extend credit to people when they are short (try asking for that at CVS or Walgreens!). While I feel *much less* sympathy for the national chains, one thing that is missing from this conversation is fear. Yes, to be present when this happens--as a customer or employee--gets your heart racing and cortisol pumping. The people who do these crimes *know* they have nothing to fear, and it emboldens them. In at least one instance, the thieves had guns. These are not "down on your luck" folks--it is organized crime. They aren't Robin Hoods, and by and large they aren't stealing food because they are hungry---they are re-selling goods from laundry detergent to cigarettes to diapers at flea markets and online. It's their job, to steal.
And there are collateral victims, even when nobody gets shot. A friend was present at one of these robberies when the thieves rushed out the door to their waiting vehicle, in the process knocking over an old woman who was just entering the store, unaware anything was happening; an ambulance came for her as she broke a bone, and possibly had internal injury as well. In at least one other instance, a getaway driver broadsided another vehicle as it sped out of the parking lot, gravely injuring an innocent driver who was just minding their own business. Who are the victims here? Do their voices or injuries count for anything?
Now CVS has nearly everything locked up, and because they want to maximize profit they understaff their stores, so you can be standing in an aisle for several minutes pressing a stupid button for assistance just to buy a tube of toothpaste. I have to say though, the upside of all this locked-up merchandise is that I haven't seen a takeover robbery in more than a year now.
And that's kind of the irony here, too--law and policy always lag behind the moment! Things seem to be getting better, for the most part. There are still takeovers, but they happen less frequently than they did two years ago. I don't know what the answer is, as I'm not pro-incarceration. I think there should be tougher penalties for ringleaders who recruit teens to do this, and for the teens there should be diversion programs.
But what I do know is that if you haven't been affected by this kind of crime personally, you have *no clue* as to how scary it is, and the fear it instills.
Well, while the big box stores can recover and compare to wage theft, this is minimal, it’s the mom and Pop shops in Oakland and other cities that are struggling. So I think there needs to be repercussions for people who destroy those shops over and over again. Many stores have had to close because of it.
Newsom is protecting an exposed flank. In a perfect world, politics would only be about policy, but here, politics has to reflect public perception as well. Ultimately, this is a good argument to re-regulate the print and TV ownership, limit market concentration and reestablish the fairness doctrine.
I have to disagree with you on this one. Yes, MAGA has pushed fear and chaos. Yes, crime is down overall. BUT the smash and grabs, looters in stores, petty theft of drugstores is visible to everyone who lives in S.F. and LA. The blatant activity of these criminals does need to be stopped and misdemeanor charges are a slap on the wrist that doesn’t even warrant police time. Thugs know this and feel no pressure to stop stealing. The sidewalks are filled with stolen items openly on display.Newsom is responding to the community that has said “enough”. Tourists see it, residents see it. We deserve better and being “tough on crime” is a start.
Prisons are the only place left where slavery is legal. The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime.
So what is Governor Newsome’s motivation? Why does he seem to think he needs to be tough on crime rather effective against crime? Is it that drug treatment and mental health programs don’t produce striking visuals like smashed cases?
Of course Trump provided no evidence to back up his claim. He just lied, as he breathes. And it’s pretty ironic to hear him complain about shoplifting and the $950 limit, when his grifting, fraud, and theft account for so much more (many more zeroes to add to the number). Irony, of course, is not a word in his 4th grade vocabulary, though I think those language analysts insulted other 4th graders with the comparison.
Great report on the impact of this Proposition, Judd, which I never would have figured out on my own. The one aspect I still don’t understand is why increased penalties increase recidivism?
Because people who spend time in jail do not learn marketable skills. Lose connections to their families and communities and people convicted of felonies, even non-violent ones can’t get jobs. So what do you do if the only skill you have is a crime and the connections you have are people in the same boat as you? You tend to fall back to what you know.
That is it in a nutshell. And when your probabtion officer tells you to "avoid known felons, criminals and gangbangers" what do you do? That's family, friends they grew up with and neighbors in their hood. Consequently, an attitude of "fuck it" prevails in their thinking and outlook and as you say, they go to what they know. You gotta eat, right?
Adam, you and Shervyn are serving up hot slices of facts. I'll just sit in my pew here in the back and keep nodding along while shouting out the occasional, "Amen!"
The mega wealthy, right wing would be plutocrats have more than enough resources to undermine any and all attempts to create a fairer, more just and equitable society. They are aided by a mainstream media that they own and control. Against this constant onslaught, underfunded federal, state and local governments are forced to make difficult choices to hold them at bay. They can be beat. It’s been done before. And it’s looking more and more like we’re on track to do so. If and when we do, we can never stop fighting to hold them in check. Because they will never, ever stop fighting to regain power.
This is not new knowledge. I retired 16 years ago from 4 decades of teaching Criminology. The data showed this back then. When big box stores want to close stores in various locations because of internal reasons related to diminishing profits; they want to have a publicly displayable reason to blame it on the "bad element" among the public, not their diminishing profits. Corporate shareholders would frown on managers who have trouble maintaining profits.
Excellent article on an issue that trump is lying about and using to support his hate. The MSM has a habit of reporting on issues that trump bellyaches about falsely, and generate clicks, but fail to cover the nuances of the issue and the negative impact of dealing with issues severely. Keep up the great work.
Big stores want people to think higher prices are due to petty theft, so they won't notice the large element of corporate greed. MAGA Republicans push fear and chaos to manipulate voters. But wtf is Newsom going along with the con?
Newsom is protecting an exposed flank. In a perfect world, politics would only be about policy, but here, politics has to reflect public perception as well. Ultimately, this is a good argument to re-regulate the print and TV ownership, limit market concentration and reestablish the fairness doctrine.
I was here to post "part of politics is perception" but you've covered it. You can't govern if you're not in office- and Newsom is smart to act on this, because it's a widespread sentiment that these crimes are taking place because the laws are too loax.
Agreed. That move was purely tactical.
I agree. These increases are a hell of a lot more than their "shrinkage" costs. But that best the question as to whether this type of criminal should get away with a slap on the wrist. This is happening to a lot of "mom & pop" businesses who are failing from these type of losses. I know as I am a consumer & small business DEBTOR'S attorney. With the corporations, who can sustain these type pof losses, the rise in prices has more to do with as you say, corporate greed then is warrented from actual cost incresases. MAGA Republicans do push fear and chaos to manipulate voters every chance they get. Newsom is not "going with the con." He is trying to keep it from being even worse if the ballot measure passes, and it likely is going to pass. His ploy may or may not work to stop this ballot measure.
He says so from his exclusive liberal gated community where his stores don't have products under lock and key and don't eventually close due to the loss from theft.
So, why do the media and the Republicans demand the dramatic displays of crime? Entertainment? Fomenting fear so that Republican politicians can be elected and come to our rescue? Instead, we are learning that crime is down in all areas: from immigrants, from border towns, from inner cities, from large cities governed by Democrats! Thanks to Judd and team we learn about these statistics.
Here's what IS important: "Some of the money saved from a reduced prison population after the passage of Proposition 47 — nearly $100 million annually — was redirected to fund drug treatment, mental health, and reentry programs." Loss of these funds which bring down recidivism rates would be a problem.
Some folks don't want this type of initiative. They seem to think being compassionate is being soft on crime. Perhaps they get paid from the industrial prison complex and are compromised.
But if you keep locking up more folks for less and longer while defunding treatment, you will surely reap what you sow.
Actually, you will surely reap MORE than what you sow. It's all exponential now you know.
And don’t get me started on executives of big box stores. May they step on Lego barefoot every day for the rest of their life.
America’s desire to throw people away for the smallest thing is morally disgusting. The fact that 56% of Californian (most of whom are probably white) who think that more and longer jail time is the solution to everything disgusts me.
YES!!!
More and longer jail time for everyone else but themselves and whoever they like. 'Iron bars for thee but none for me.'
I have an idea. Here’s who to put in prison…A deadly seditionist inciter, a 34-count FELON, a rapist, a fascist trying to destroy our country. If trump isn’t in orison, nobody else should be!
" If trump isn’t in prison, nobody else should be!"
Eureka!
Can I offer another perspective? I live in the Bay Area. I have noticed that CVS and other companies that complain about shoplifting are minimally staffed. When I need a medication under lock and key, it takes at least 10 minutes, if not longer to summon an employee to unlock the plastic cover. Maybe if stores went back to pre pandemic levels of staffing there would be fewer smash and grab incidents.
With respect and a bit of reluctance to chime in lest I get slimed as "pro-carcereal", I'm torn on this one, frankly. I live in Alameda County and have been shopping in Oakland and
Alameda (cities adjacent to each other) when takeover thefts occur--I'm talking about thefts where at least three people (in one case, it was 8-10) come in and start clearing the shelves. One at an independent dollar store, two at national chains (CVS, Walgreens). I felt terribly for the dollar store owners, who are immigrants and some of the kindest people in the community. I've seen them extend credit to people when they are short (try asking for that at CVS or Walgreens!). While I feel *much less* sympathy for the national chains, one thing that is missing from this conversation is fear. Yes, to be present when this happens--as a customer or employee--gets your heart racing and cortisol pumping. The people who do these crimes *know* they have nothing to fear, and it emboldens them. In at least one instance, the thieves had guns. These are not "down on your luck" folks--it is organized crime. They aren't Robin Hoods, and by and large they aren't stealing food because they are hungry---they are re-selling goods from laundry detergent to cigarettes to diapers at flea markets and online. It's their job, to steal.
And there are collateral victims, even when nobody gets shot. A friend was present at one of these robberies when the thieves rushed out the door to their waiting vehicle, in the process knocking over an old woman who was just entering the store, unaware anything was happening; an ambulance came for her as she broke a bone, and possibly had internal injury as well. In at least one other instance, a getaway driver broadsided another vehicle as it sped out of the parking lot, gravely injuring an innocent driver who was just minding their own business. Who are the victims here? Do their voices or injuries count for anything?
Now CVS has nearly everything locked up, and because they want to maximize profit they understaff their stores, so you can be standing in an aisle for several minutes pressing a stupid button for assistance just to buy a tube of toothpaste. I have to say though, the upside of all this locked-up merchandise is that I haven't seen a takeover robbery in more than a year now.
And that's kind of the irony here, too--law and policy always lag behind the moment! Things seem to be getting better, for the most part. There are still takeovers, but they happen less frequently than they did two years ago. I don't know what the answer is, as I'm not pro-incarceration. I think there should be tougher penalties for ringleaders who recruit teens to do this, and for the teens there should be diversion programs.
But what I do know is that if you haven't been affected by this kind of crime personally, you have *no clue* as to how scary it is, and the fear it instills.
Thank you for this insight and nuance
Well, while the big box stores can recover and compare to wage theft, this is minimal, it’s the mom and Pop shops in Oakland and other cities that are struggling. So I think there needs to be repercussions for people who destroy those shops over and over again. Many stores have had to close because of it.
Newsom is protecting an exposed flank. In a perfect world, politics would only be about policy, but here, politics has to reflect public perception as well. Ultimately, this is a good argument to re-regulate the print and TV ownership, limit market concentration and reestablish the fairness doctrine.
I have to disagree with you on this one. Yes, MAGA has pushed fear and chaos. Yes, crime is down overall. BUT the smash and grabs, looters in stores, petty theft of drugstores is visible to everyone who lives in S.F. and LA. The blatant activity of these criminals does need to be stopped and misdemeanor charges are a slap on the wrist that doesn’t even warrant police time. Thugs know this and feel no pressure to stop stealing. The sidewalks are filled with stolen items openly on display.Newsom is responding to the community that has said “enough”. Tourists see it, residents see it. We deserve better and being “tough on crime” is a start.
Shervyn, yet the orange fascist coup inciter & 34-count felon is NOT in prison!
Exactly because prison isn’t about justice. It’s about punishing brown and black folk.
AND making money from their (the prisoners) pain. Same old story, same old song and dance.
It’s why the 13th amendment ended slavery for everyone but prisoners.
Prisons are the only place left where slavery is legal. The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime.
So what is Governor Newsome’s motivation? Why does he seem to think he needs to be tough on crime rather effective against crime? Is it that drug treatment and mental health programs don’t produce striking visuals like smashed cases?
See Edward G. Bryants reply near the top for clarification.
Of course Trump provided no evidence to back up his claim. He just lied, as he breathes. And it’s pretty ironic to hear him complain about shoplifting and the $950 limit, when his grifting, fraud, and theft account for so much more (many more zeroes to add to the number). Irony, of course, is not a word in his 4th grade vocabulary, though I think those language analysts insulted other 4th graders with the comparison.
Great report on the impact of this Proposition, Judd, which I never would have figured out on my own. The one aspect I still don’t understand is why increased penalties increase recidivism?
Because people who spend time in jail do not learn marketable skills. Lose connections to their families and communities and people convicted of felonies, even non-violent ones can’t get jobs. So what do you do if the only skill you have is a crime and the connections you have are people in the same boat as you? You tend to fall back to what you know.
That is it in a nutshell. And when your probabtion officer tells you to "avoid known felons, criminals and gangbangers" what do you do? That's family, friends they grew up with and neighbors in their hood. Consequently, an attitude of "fuck it" prevails in their thinking and outlook and as you say, they go to what they know. You gotta eat, right?
Adam, you and Shervyn are serving up hot slices of facts. I'll just sit in my pew here in the back and keep nodding along while shouting out the occasional, "Amen!"
Many thanks for clarification. I could not think that one through!
The mega wealthy, right wing would be plutocrats have more than enough resources to undermine any and all attempts to create a fairer, more just and equitable society. They are aided by a mainstream media that they own and control. Against this constant onslaught, underfunded federal, state and local governments are forced to make difficult choices to hold them at bay. They can be beat. It’s been done before. And it’s looking more and more like we’re on track to do so. If and when we do, we can never stop fighting to hold them in check. Because they will never, ever stop fighting to regain power.
This is not new knowledge. I retired 16 years ago from 4 decades of teaching Criminology. The data showed this back then. When big box stores want to close stores in various locations because of internal reasons related to diminishing profits; they want to have a publicly displayable reason to blame it on the "bad element" among the public, not their diminishing profits. Corporate shareholders would frown on managers who have trouble maintaining profits.
Excellent article on an issue that trump is lying about and using to support his hate. The MSM has a habit of reporting on issues that trump bellyaches about falsely, and generate clicks, but fail to cover the nuances of the issue and the negative impact of dealing with issues severely. Keep up the great work.