Author: Amber Westbrook

Portland Economy Suffers at the Hands of Violent Protesters

by · Mar 22, 2021 11:58 am

In an article this morning by Ian Lovett of the Wall Street Journal, the months of protests that often led to riots and violence in Downtown Portland are now hindering the recovery of the economy. Lovett points out, “The violence downtown has become a persistent roadblock in Portland’s attempts to reopen and revive its economy as vaccinations spread, Covid-19 cases fall, and business restrictions are loosened.” Many small businesses have been forced to close their doors for months, while others have had to close them permanently due to the riots that began last June. 

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Fentanyl Deaths Skyrocket, Policy Responses Vary

by · Mar 16, 2021 12:00 pm

An article by Joe Nelson of The Press-Enterprise from last week, highlights a few of the policy responses by California counties in regards to fentanyl-related overdoses. Mike Hestrin, district attorney of Riverside County explained, “In the last five years, the number of fentanyl deaths has doubled every year.” This increase is alarming, and is cause for immediate action to punish the drug dealers that are selling this lethal drug with the knowledge that it is deadly.  “During a Feb. 22 press conference, Hestrin announced Riverside County’s first Fentanyl-related murder charge…[for a man] who in October allegedly sold Fentanyl-spiked drugs to [an] 18 year old.” Hestrin is responding to the spike in deaths by attempting to deter the sale of drugs containing Fentanyl by charging the sellers with murder if an individual has a fatal overdose due to the ingestion of the drug. 

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Newsom Grants More Pardons and Commutes More Sentences of Violent Offenders

by · Mar 15, 2021 12:58 pm

Fox News published an article yesterday by the Associated Press discussing the latest acts of clemency and commuted sentences as of Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The most recent commuted life sentence is for a woman who was convicted of murder, she allegedly killed her stepfather. According to Newsom’s statement in the article, “[She] has worked hard to better herself by earning an associate degree, a business certificate and participating in extensive self-help programming”. Due to the decision made by Newsom, she is now eligible for immediate release on parole, regardless of her sentence of 25 years to life in Alameda County in 1992. This is just one of many sentences that Newsom has commuted. 

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Hostility and Hatred Toward Police Officers Leads to Increase in Crime

by · Mar 11, 2021 11:58 am

Many large U.S. cities are experiencing a spike in violent crimes, the question is what is causing this? Although there are many elements that likely have a role in the increase, one reason offered here is the lack of officers to deter crime by their presence and to respond to critical calls. In an article written this morning by Cameron McWhiter of the Wall Street Journal, there are statistics and statements from residents of Atlanta, Georgia that offer an explanation. From their perspective the negative picture presented and pushed about law enforcement officers in protests last year has impacted their communities. One resident of Atlanta, Lauren LeNoir was attacked and her purse stolen in her driveway this January, she stated, “They’ve stolen something I cannot get back, and that is my sense of security.” This is a common sentiment shared by many residents of Atlanta. Some have formed groups to make plans for the future to feel safe again. According to McWhiter, “Some Buckhead residents are so alarmed by the crime wave that they have launched a committee to explore seceding form Atalanta, which would mean having its own police department.” 

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Death Penalty Off the Table for Child-Abusing Murderers in L.A. County

by · Mar 9, 2021 11:06 am

An article by Roman Chiarello of Fox News this morning highlights the demand to restore the option to seek the death penalty for the worst murderers in Los Angeles County. On June 21, 2018, a 10-year-old boy named Anthony Avalos was pronounced dead at a hospital in Los Angeles County after suffering from a horrific brain injury. Years of abuse from Anthony’s mother and boyfriend came before the untimely death of Anthony.

According to Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami, “The decision [to seek the death penalty] was made by a committee through a rigorous process. This happened over a year ago, with discussions with the family, taking into consideration the mitigation of the defendants, taking into consideration any evidence that the defense attorneys presented.” Now with Gascón’s movement in favor of offenders, and in this case murderers, there is no ability to seek the death penalty in this case. 

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Study Shows…What the Interest Group Wants it to

by · Mar 8, 2021 2:03 pm

In an article published by The Washington Post on March 2, written by Tom Jackman, there are many references to a ‘new study’ by the Sentencing Project. The argument being made by Jackman via the study is that no individual in the United States should receive a prison sentence for more than 20 years, no matter the level of crime. Are we to believe that if an individual murders a child, or brutally murders a family member, we should ensure they have another chance at being a member of society? 

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George Gascón Cites Misleading Poll of L.A. County Crime Victims

by · Mar 5, 2021 1:05 pm

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón issued a statement yesterday which released the results from a survey of crime victims in Los Angeles County. The polling results were described by Californians for Safety and Justice (CSJ), a sentencing reform group funded by George Soros.  In the their release yesterday the following was said, “According to polling, 65 percent of respondents favored taking individual circumstances into account over automatically adding extra years onto a sentence because of prior convictions”. This statement addresses one of the many questions included in this survey that were framed in a leading manner. 

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Homicides Surge in Oakland as Defunding of Police Departments Continues

by · Mar 5, 2021 10:52 am

Fox News writer Lucas Manfredi explains in an article yesterday afternoon, “Homicides in Oakland, California have surged 400% citywide in 2021, according to the latest crime analysis data shared by the city’s police department.” The article states that there has been a surge in homicides in 4 of the 5 Areas of Oakland. As of December 2020, the City of Oakland began making budget cuts in response to a movement to reallocate funding and defund the Oakland Police Department. 

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Newsom Expected to Appoint a Death Penalty Opponent to Attorney General

by · Mar 1, 2021 12:44 pm

Governor Gavin Newsom will soon be appointing a new attorney general of California. In a LA Times article yesterday Patrick McGreevy stated, “…he is preparing to appoint a state attorney general from a field of potential candidates that includes some of the state’s leading critics of the death penalty.” The concern here is that the death penalty will not be applied to those individuals who commit heinous violent crimes when it remains a legal and protected means of sentencing under the California state constitution. 

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