California voters just sent a resounding message to soft-on-crime politicians: your days are numbered.
At a Glance
- California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 36, increasing sentences for drug and theft charges
- Progressive prosecutors, including L.A. County’s George Gascón, were ousted in favor of tougher-on-crime candidates
- The election results signal a shift away from lenient criminal justice reforms and towards stricter public safety measures
- Critics warn of potential increases in incarceration rates and challenges in implementation
California’s Great Awakening: Voters Reject Progressive Pipe Dreams
Well, folks, it looks like the great state of California has finally woken up from its progressive fever dream. In a stunning turn of events that has left liberal elites clutching their kale smoothies, voters across the Golden State have decidedly rejected the “hug-a-thug” approach to criminal justice. The 2024 elections saw Californians give the boot to soft-on-crime prosecutors and overwhelmingly pass Proposition 36, signaling a seismic shift towards actually punishing criminals. Who would have thought?
Proposition 36, which aims to undo the damage wrought by the disastrous Proposition 47, passed with over 70% support in nearly every county. It’s almost as if people don’t enjoy having their cars broken into or stepping over needles on their way to work. This new measure allows felony charges for certain drug possessions and thefts under $950, potentially leading to longer jail sentences for repeat offenders. It’s a radical concept, I know – actually holding criminals accountable for their actions.
Voters favored a tougher approach to crime by passing Prop 36, and appear to have turned on California’s cast of progressive prosecutors not long after they thundered into office. https://t.co/u5VvStp785
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) November 6, 2024
Progressive Prosecutors Get Their Walking Papers
The voters didn’t stop at passing propositions; they also showed progressive prosecutors the door. In Los Angeles County, George Gascón, the poster child for catch-and-release justice, was unceremoniously booted in favor of Nathan Hochman. Alameda County’s Pamela Price faced a similar fate, recalled faster than you can say “criminal’s rights.” It seems Californians have had enough of DAs who treat their job like a social experiment rather than, you know, actually prosecuting criminals.
“For the first time in a very long time, a centrist running as an independent won a race where the media and my opponent were trying to hyper-politicize the race into different political camps”
Hochman, the newly elected L.A. County DA, had the audacity to suggest balancing public safety with effective criminal justice reform. Imagine that – a prosecutor who actually wants to prosecute! His campaign focused on the radical notion that crime has consequences, both for public safety and the economy. Business leaders, tired of watching their storefronts turn into free-for-all shopping sprees, quickly rallied behind him.
The Great Progressive Meltdown
Naturally, the champions of the “hug-a-thug” movement aren’t taking this well. Reform advocates are warning that ousting progressive DAs will somehow undermine efforts to reduce mass incarceration and prioritize rehabilitation. Because clearly, the current system of revolving-door justice and rampant crime is working so well for everyone, right?
“The revolt against progressive criminal justice policies has finally arrived—and with it, the promise that one of the worst humanitarian disasters in American history will eventually come to an end. The question now is, how quickly?”
– @shellenberger for @TheFP https://t.co/hlWvDYcdGx
— Tyler Clancy (@Clancy4Utah) November 8, 2024
“California’s residents have recently taken a significant step towards addressing crime and homelessness with the passage of Proposition 36, which aims to implement stronger penalties for drug and theft crimes.”
The ACLU of Northern California, ever the voice of reason, sees Prop 36 as a dastardly conservative plot to roll back criminal justice reforms. Heaven forbid we prioritize the safety of law-abiding citizens over the comfort of repeat offenders. Meanwhile, some legal experts are wringing their hands over the possibility of higher incarceration rates. Here’s a wild idea: maybe if criminals know they’ll actually face consequences, they might think twice before breaking the law?
A Return to Common Sense
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco hit the nail on the head when he emphasized that public safety is a non-partisan issue. It reflects a collective desire for effective crime deterrence – a concept that seems to have eluded California’s leadership for far too long. The people have spoken, and they’re tired of navigating an obstacle course of needles, human waste, and brazen thieves just to get their morning coffee.
As California embarks on this new era of actually enforcing the law, it’s clear that the progressive experiment in criminal justice has failed spectacularly. The voters have rejected the notion that compassion means letting criminals run amok. It’s about time the Golden State remembered that the first duty of government is to protect its citizens, not coddle offenders. Here’s hoping this wave of common sense spreads to the rest of the country before we all end up living in a progressive utopia of chaos and crime.
