California Gov. Gavin Newsom scrapped a last-minute push with legislative leaders to put a second crime-fighting measure before voters this fall, making a dramatic about-face before he heads to Washington to defend President Biden. The measure would have toughened penalties for repeat shoplifters and drug dealers who lace substances with fentanyl. It was an effort to compete with another tough-on-crime measure, backed by prosecutors and big-box retailers, that will appear on November’s ballot, reports Politico. The announcement came one day before it would have needed to win votes from a majority of each house to make it on the ballot before lawmakers break for a monthlong summer recess.
The bill had already faced opposition from moderate and progressive Democrats who were frustrated by what they saw as a hastily-concocted plan to snub political opponents. Newsom blamed the California District Attorneys Association, which is supporting the other crime measure, and which he argued did not engage with the administration and legislative leaders to reach a deal for averting a showdown on the ballot. “They refused, opting to instead push a ballot measure that would revive policies from the era of mass incarceration and the failed War on Drugs,” he said. Newsom said his proposal had the necessary legislative votes, but that leaders “were unable to meet the ballot deadline to secure necessary amendments to ensure this measure’s success and will be withdrawing it from consideration.” Greg Totten of Californians for Safer Communities, the coalition behind the other crime-related ballot measure, praised the governor’s decision.