Press Release

Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) unveiled legislation seeking to tackle the "huge public-safety and public-health issue" in his district, stopping cat defecation in people's yards, flowerbeds and sandboxes, while city officials in Los Angeles unveiled their top 11 gangs to target.  During this time, the Los Angeles City Attorney continued securing injunctions targeting street gangs, including three in Levine's district alone, and Republican legislators unveiled their anti-gang legislation.

While a majority of counties face the early release of convicted criminals and the state's prison system is threatened by way of a federal takeover, Democrat lawmakers point towards early prisoner release over prison construction and cat defecation over a crackdown on gangs as their main concerns.

As Angelinos wonder whether Assemblyman Levine should refocus his priorities, Californians continue to wonder, when will Democrats get serious about fighting crime and ensuring that convicted criminals serve out their complete prison sentences.

Hector M. Barajas, Communications Director, California Republican Party
 

Levine's "Huge Public-Safety Issue and Public-Health Issue"

"'I can't tell you how many people have complained to me about cats defecating in their yards, flower beds...and in sandboxes where kids play.  It's a huge public-safety issue and public-health issue.'"  (Dan Bartholomew, "Levine Want To Put Teeth In Pet Population Control," Los Angeles Daily News, 3/1/07; Mathew Yi, "Lawmaker Wants To Put The Fix On Fido," San Francisco Chronicle, 3/1/07)

Police and City Officials List Top 11 Gangs in Los Angeles

"1. Canoga Park Alabama 2. Avenues 3. Mara Salvatrucha 4. La Mirada Locos 5. 18th Street Westside 6. Black P-Stones 7. Rollin' 30s 8.  Rollin' 40s 9. Rollin' 60s 10. Grape Street Crips 11. 204th Street." (Patrick McGreevy and Richard Winton, "Los Angeles Names And Targets City's Worst 11 Gangs," Los Angeles Times, 2/8/07)

City Attorney Issues Gang Injunctions In Levine's District:

"The Office of the City Attorney Gang Unit presently has gang injunctions in place against gangs throughout Los Angeles, including the Canoga Park Alabama, Blythe Street, Culver City, Harbor City, Harbor City Crips, Harpys, Langdon Street, Mara Salvatrucha, Pacoima Project Boys, Venice Shoreline Crips, and Venice Trece street gangs." (Office of Rocky Delgaldillo, "Gang Injunctions," Accessed: 3/8/07)   cases

Police Chief and Mayor Target Canoga Park Gang, Offer Reward Leading To Arrest

"'Canoga Park Alabama is also on our list of targeted gangs primarily for their propensity to target victims based on their race,' Bratton said.  The mayor and police chief declared an assault on gangs two weeks ago with a 'coordinated, aggressive suppression strategy' that boldly named the city's most dangerous street gangs. They also moved to add 50 officers to fight rising gang violence in the Valley and the City Council has approved a reward of up to $50,000 leading to the arrest of any of the top 10. (Rachel Uranga and Rick Coca, "LAPD Top 10 Suspect Nabbed," Los Angeles Daily New, 3/1/07)

Police Chief and Mayor Target San Fernando Valley Gangs

We are mounting a coordinated, aggressive suppression strategy that targets the worst offenders and the most violent gangs, and we are coming at them with everything we have,' Villaraigosa said....  In addition, 50 police officers will be assigned to a new unit in the San Fernando Valley that will collect information on gang activity and deploy officers to hot spots. (Patrick McGreevy and Richard Winton, "LAPD Targets City's Worst Gangs," Los Angeles Times, 2/9/07)

Three Wounded In Canoga Park Gang-Related Shooting.  (CBS 2 - KCAL 9, "3 Wounded In Canoga Park Gang-Related Shooting," 2/25/07)

32 Of 58 California Counties "Released Inmates Before They Had Completed Their Jail Sentences"

"Last year, 32 of California's 58 counties -- including Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside -- released inmates before they had completed their jail sentences.  Los Angeles County, with the largest jail system in the nation, has led the way.  In the 3 1/2 years before Baca closed jails, about 10,000 inmates were let out prematurely.  In the 3 1/2 years that followed, almost 150,000 were released three or more days early." (Jack Leonard, Megan Garvey, and Doug Smith, "Release Inmates Early Has A Costly Human Total," Los Angeles Times, 5/14/06)

200,000 Inmates Release Early - Vast Majority Only Served No More Than 10% of Time

"Nearly 200,000 inmates have been let go early since mid-2002 -- the vast majority walking out after serving no more than 10% of the time ordered by a judge.  By year's end, officials said, they expect that all inmates sentenced to county jail will serve at least 25% of their sentences.  It's a policy shift that Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley both support." (Megan Garvey and Jack Leonard, "Early Release Rules To Be Revised," Los Angeles Times, 11/9/06) 

The 2007 Democrat Plan Remains An "Empty Canvas"

"Democratic leaders in the state Senate took their first step toward regulating the flow of inmates into California's dangerously jampacked prison system Thursday by introducing a bill to create a sentencing commission.  The proposal contained virtually no details, but the Senate Democrats said they favored a commission with "teeth" -- a departure from the model already sketched out by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that seeks only to research and analyze California's sentencing system and recommend possible changes.  Even though the Democratic version of a commission remains a virtually empty canvas, it came under harsh attack Thursday from legislative Republicans." (Andy Furillo, "Dems Push Sentence Panel," Sacramento Bee, 1/19/07)

Democrats Counter Prison Construction and Seek Sentencing Alternatives

"Some lawmakers said more policy changes were needed to lower the inmate population.  'We can look at bricks and mortar, but we have to look at sentencing reform and parole reform -- that's where change is needed,' said state Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, who carried unsuccessful legislation this year that would have amended the state's three-strikes law to lessen the use of lengthy sentences for some non-violent offenses." (Mark Martin, "Prisons In Crisis, Governor Declares," San Francisco Chronicle, 6/27/06)

Democrats Call For Death Penalty Moratorium And Reject "Jessica's Law"

"That syndrome was displayed last Tuesday when the Assembly's liberal-dominated Public Safety Committee passed a measure calling for a three-year moratorium on executions and both it and the Senate's equally liberal Public Safety Committee rejected Republican bills to enact a 'Jessica's Law' that would increase penalties for sex crimes and provide closer supervision of sexual offenders after their release, including a ban on living within 2,000 feet of schools and parks....  The death penalty moratorium vote came just a week before Clarence Ray Allen was to be executed for arranging the 1980 murder of a witness - plus two bystanders - to another murder in which he was involved six years earlier." (Dan Walters, "Democrats Again handing Republicans Soft-on-Crime Ammo," Sacramento Bee, 1/16/06)

Assembly Democrats Vote To Support Child Pornography Felony "Exemption"

"Early on, AB 50 was filled with loopholes that would make your skin crawl. For instance, Leno provided an 'exemption' from felony charges if a suspect was caught with less than 100 pieces of child pornography.  In a creepy all-time low, Assembly Democrats voted for Leno's plan to go soft on child porn." (Jill Stewart, "Sex Offense Laws In State Are A Crime," The Daily News Of Los Angeles, 2/19/06)

Public Safety Chairman Argues That Sex Criminals Just Need Jobs

"Last year, Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, essentially argued that misdemeanor sex criminals just need jobs.  As quoted by KCRA, Leno said, 'If you deny them secure housing and deny them an opportunity to get on their feet and get a job and to be able to move forward for themselves and for their own children, they're more likely to reoffend, not less likely.' Good Lord.  Sex crimes are not caused by economic troubles.  It was Leno, once again, who oversaw the demise lat year of a bill to close the horrific Atascadero loopholes delineated by the Bee....  To the shock of many, the bill was killed by Leno and his two equally ultraliberal colleagues...." (Jill Stewart, "Molesters' Friends in High Places, Orange County Register, 2/17/06)
 

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