Long Beach business owners were scheduled to meet Tuesday night to discuss crime prevention and how the passage of Proposition 36, which increases penalties for retail theft, will affect their lives.
Business owners from downtown Long Beach and north Long Beach to Belmont Shores say they are struggling after repeated attacks in recent years.
“I’ve been the victim of a burglary myself, but we’re just focused on moving forward and how we can make our community safer,” said Emilita Garcia, who runs East Village Café in the Arts District. said. “I think everyone is frustrated.”
Business owners also said they are interested in Proposition 36 and the Supreme Court’s ruling that allows cities to ban people from sleeping or camping in public places.
“Los Angeles County has many challenges, and Long Beach is no different,” Long Beach City Attorney Doug Haubert said. “Those challenges are crime and homelessness, and I really think there are a lot of things we can do to improve.”
Proposition 36, which passed with overwhelming support from California voters, would create felonies for repeat offenders in some theft and drug possession cases, while requiring offenders to undergo treatment for some drug offenses. It creates a “mandatory treatment” felony that requires completion or up to three years in prison. In prison.
“The homelessness issues and criminal cases that we have didn’t start overnight,” Haubert said. “I’m actually optimistic. I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
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