The focus on crime goes beyond Sacramento, of course. Leaders throughout the state, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have been seeking to boost law enforcement in response to increased concerns about public safety.
Joining that effort is Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, who is expected during his State of the City address this evening to announce hiring incentives to put dozens of new police officers on the streets of the seventh largest city in California. He also plans to announce new initiatives to address homelessness. Driving all of this is a mixture of perception and reality. Violent crime and property crime increased during the pandemic but are still at historic lows. Crime has since been dropping across the state. Statistics, however, may not mean much when the public is increasingly frustrated by a record homeless population, an epidemic of car burglaries in some places — and having to ask a store employee to unlock such basic merchandise as shampoo and ice cream. Marcel Rodarte, executive director of CCCA, said thefts have become so brazen that people are increasingly afraid to shop at big box stores. “We're asking the assembly members to push bills, to not necessarily revert back to mass incarceration, but to get some laws that will protect our citizens,” he said. Gov. Gavin Newsom is attempting to thread the needle on the issue, as Jeremy B. White reports today. The governor is asking lawmakers for a mix of new penalties and bills that solidify existing law while resisting calls to reconsider Prop 47. The governor has reached out to lawmakers who will need to carry his proposals along with law enforcement officials and the office of Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta. Despite a shared desire to address retail crimes, Newsom’s firmness on not touching Prop 47 could open fissures with lawmakers who are feeling pressure to act. Lawmakers will also be feeling pressure not to overreact. As Assemblymember Bonta put it in her news conference: “Our path is not to say we need to move forward with eliminating or reforming Prop 47,” she said. “Our path forward is to come up with solutions and investments that will actually make a difference.” IT’S TUESDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check of California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to sgtaylor@politico.com or send a shout on X. DMs are open. WE WANT YOUR HELP — POLITICO is co-hosting the first debate for California's Senate race on Monday, Jan. 22. All four major candidates have accepted our invite to appear onstage: Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee and Republican and former Dodgers player Steve Garvey. This will be a televised battle between those top candidates. Tell us what we should ask them, and we just might use your question during the debate. Fill out this form by Wednesday, Jan. 17, to be considered. | 
