Cal­i­for­nia Democ­rats go soft on get­ting tough on crime

Cal­i­for­nia Democ­rats have intro­duced a slate of bills tar­get­ing shoplift­ing and drug-deal­ing to put on the bal­lot in Novem­ber, hop­ing to address con­cerns sur­round­ing Propo­si­tion 47.
A coali­tion of retail­ers has gar­nered enough sig­na­tures to bring before vot­ers the choice to amend Propo­si­tion 47, which down­grad­ed some crimes such as drug pos­ses­sion and thefts to mis­de­meanors from felonies back in 2014. 
In an effort to avoid revis­it­ing Propo­si­tion 47, Cal­i­for­nia Democ­rats have intro­duced oth­er leg­is­la­tion show­ing their inter­est in curb­ing crime. Demo­c­ra­t­ic Assem­bly Speak­er Robert Rivas intro­duced leg­is­la­tion mak­ing it eas­i­er for police to make cer­tain arrests and estab­lish a “ser­i­al” theft offense, and Sen­ate Pres­i­dent Pro Tem­pore Mike McGuire, also a Demo­c­rat, intro­duced sim­i­lar leg­is­la­tion. Nei­ther has expressed sup­port for Propo­si­tion 47. 
Both San Diego May­or Todd Glo­ria and Fres­no May­or Jer­ry Dyer said the intro­duced bills may be able to help move efforts away from putting Propo­si­tion 47 on the bal­lot. 
“If the leg­is­la­ture can co …