California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) is holding Californians hostage by refusing to fully fund Proposition 36 – a measure that passed in a landslide in November 2024 that increases penalties for theft.
Proposition 36 passed in California in a landslide 71% to 21%.
California voters overwhelmingly voted to increase penalties for theft and drug trafficking after a record number of brick-and-mortar retailers closed down due to smash-and-grab robberies.
Governor Gavin Newsom (D) opposed Prop 36 because he said it’s “too harsh.”
Per LA Public Press, Prop 47 “scaled back punishments for certain nonviolent offenses for drugs and theft, which were reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors.”
Under Prop. 36, penalties will be increased, and sentences will be lengthened for drug possession and for the theft of items valued at less than $950.
Prop. 36 rolls back some of the soft-on-crime policies that California voters passed in 2014 with Prop. 47.
Newsom has only approved $100 million for prop 36 – far below the $400 million needed to fully pay for the new law.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman blasted Newsom for not funding prop 36.
“We will call [Newsom],” Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. “We will send him social media. We will DM him. I’ll say it right to the camera, Governor Newsom if you’re watching, get us this funding. If you want to save lives, get us this funding.”
WATCH:
#repost @foxla
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman argues that without the needed funding, the implementation of Prop. 36 is “slower” and jails are not equipped to act as treatment centers.Despite the push for more funding, Governor Newsom’s office reports that… pic.twitter.com/0XD1dn1tyd
— Nathan Hochman (@NathanHochmanDA) August 30, 2025
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