Californians Against Retail and Residential Theft Comments on Changes to Assembly Public Safety Committee

Reforms Are Needed to Address California’s Growing Crime Problem

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Californians Against Retail and Residential Theft (CARRT) has released the following statement in response to Speaker Robert Rivas' decision to replace Reggie Jones-Sawyer with Kevin McCarty as Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

“Over the past two years, the Assembly Public Safety Committee has failed to address the increasing problem of retail theft. Despite having more than two dozen bills proposed by both Democrats and Republicans aimed at addressing this issue, none of them were able to pass through the committee. The Chair treated these crimes as if they were victimless, but in reality, retail theft puts the personal safety of business owners, customers, and employees at risk.

“We cannot ignore this problem any longer. While we remain hopeful that Speaker Rivas and Assemblyman McCarty will take retail theft and other crimes seriously, we expect more of the same approach.

“The only way to truly protect all Californians is by reforming Proposition 47.”

CARRT is a broad-based coalition calling for needed changes in California's criminal justice system. CARRT is pushing to undo the damage done by Proposition 47 and put an end to retail and residential theft on Main Street and in our neighborhood streets.

CARRT's coalition members include local Chambers of Commerce, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, California Autobody Association, California Business Properties Association, California Business Roundtable, California Chamber of Commerce, California Delivery Association, California Grocers Association, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, California Peace Officers Association and California Small Business Association. To get more information on CARRT, please visit our website at www.carrt.org.