Does Gascón Want a Crime Wave?

Writing in the Santa Clarita Valley Signal, California  Board of Equalization member Ted Gaines suggests that policies announced by newly-elected Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón indicate that he is planning a crime wave for the nation’s most populous county.   “In the latest example of a state gone haywire, Los Angeles County’s recently elected District Attorney George Gascón laid out a stunning pro-crime agenda that would be viewed as satire in most parts of the country.  In Los Angeles County, here is only a partial list of what will no longer be prosecuted: trespassing; drinking in public; under the influence of a controlled substance; public intoxication; disturbing the peace; criminal threats; driving without a license; and, remarkably, resisting arrest.”

“This is not a quirky little local policy – it affects a quarter of the state. San Francisco’s District Attorney, Chesa Boudin, actually beat Gascón to the punch in adopting the pro-crime, non-enforcement and prosecution model for his county, meaning that two of the Golden State’s major population centers are close to criminal free-for-alls….A civil society only remains civil when actions have consequences. Law enforcement is the supporting framework for the peaceful society we all deserve. California can’t tear it down by giving criminals a free hand to abuse innocent victims.”

Only one correction here;  SF District Attorney Chesa Boudin is carrying on the pro-criminal policies Gascón initiated during his eight years as the top prosecutor in the city by the bay.  During his tenure, homelessness, homicide and fatal drug overdoses increased while drug dealing, vehicle burglary, assault, car theft, even the organized looting of stores became a routine part of daily life and went largely unpunished.   Gascón and Boudin call these policies “social justice.”  Other than criminals, who benefits from this?