| (Oct. 12, 2020, 11:00 a.m.) -- It's fact, not opinion, that any Long Beach City Council incumbents(s) or Mayor Robert Garcia could have agendized an item to support Proposition 20 that would correct problems in parts of current California law that currently invite business thefts and shoplifting as well as neighborhood thefts and other quality of life crimes.
For years, LB residents, businesses and some LB politicians have blamed the inability of police and prosecutors to deal with LB neighborhood nnd business impacting crimes on state laws that require change. As summarized in the official California Voter Information Guide, a "yes" vote on Prop 20 means "people e who commit certain theft-related crimes (such as repeat shoplifting) could receive increased penalties (such as longer jail terms). Additional factors would be considered for the state’s process for releasing certain inmates from prison early. Law enforcement would be required to collect DNA samples from adults convicted of certain misdemeanors. It also closes a loophole that now allows the early release from prison of certain convicted child molesters, sexual predators and expands DNA collection to help solve rapes, murders and other serious crimes, and strengthens sanctions against habitual thieves who steal repeatedly.
A "no" vote would maintain the status quo.
Here's the LB City Council's record on the matter.
In April 2018, Councilmembers Suzie Price and Stacy Mungo advanced a Council item to support the ballot measure that is now Prop 20 (LBREPORT.com coverage . They immediately encountered opposition from Council incumbent Jeannine Pearce and the usual suspects among allied groups (LBREPORT.com coverage here.
Hours before the April 17 Council meeting, Councilwoman Mungo Tweeted that she pulled the item off that night's Council agenda, writing "Thank you to all who have reached out to our office on the Safe Communities agenda item - I am pulling the item from tomorrow's agenda to allow for more time to meet with individuals who want to be heard."
Of course the Mungo-Price agenda item never returned. Opponents gloated in a follow-up release that Mungo's action "is a direct result of the community pressure from systems-impacted individuals and Long Beach residents who made it loud and clear that this agenda item is inconsistent with our Long Beach values."
Bottom line: faced with even clumsy leftish Council pushback, Mungo and Price shrank.
That was two years ago...so what have Price and Mungo done now that the measure is on Nov, 3 ballot? Zzzzzz....
Just compare that to Councilman Rex Richardson, who didn't shrink at advancing a divisive agenda item to put City of LB on record favoring Prop 15 (would change Prop 13 to reassess business properties, good way to kill small businesses already struggling during pandemic economic recession) and Prop 16 (allows race to decide college admissions and gov't hiring/contracting.). (LBREPORT.com coveage here.
The Richardson-backed Propositions were all in lockstep with Sac'to Dem backed policies, which we doubt reflect the views of many LB independents or independent-minded Dems.. .
Meanwhile, the politically incompetent LB Area Republican Party (whose priority is socializing at BBQs not meaningful political change) followed their familiar failed playbook. They told their members to vote "yes" on Prop 20 but shrank at publicly urging the Council to agendize the issue for voted action. The latter would have forced Richarson, his allies and Mayor Garcia to defend their support for the status quo. On that they might win the Council majority vote but they would lose LB hearts and minds. Council incumbents Price or Mungo or any other incumbent could have agendized Prop 20 for Council voted support. They didn't.
We believe most people, regardless of party, recognize that a check and balance is a good thing against a one-party viewpoint. On Prop 20 on crime, as well as on multiple LB Council spending and taxpayer issues, the LB Area Republicans squandered that opportunity. Their common excuse is that they don't have five Council votes to prevail...but no politically respectable group gains a majority by repeatedly shrinking at failing to challenge and confront their adversaries on matters that matter.
Prop 20 was an opporutnity to show LB voters who stands with crime-impacted businesses and neighborhoods against a Council majority following Sacramento orthodoxy to maintain the status quo.
California voters statewide will decide Prop 20 in the coming days.
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