The Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved a legislative advocacy agenda for 2023 focused on healthcare access, housing and transportation improvements in Riverside County, but the issue that didn’t land on the very top of the list was the one that generated the greatest buzz — public safety.
“The state has gone too far in not holding criminals accountable for their acts,” Moreno Valley resident Darryl Terrell told the board ahead of the vote on the Legislative Platform. “They take the position that every time a law is broken, society is guilty, rather than the lawbreaker. But each individual should be held accountable.”
Terrell has appeared before the board on multiple prior occasions, calling for action to stop the rampant theft that he and fellow employees at a Moreno Valley hardware store regularly observe, and he underscored the same issue Tuesday.
“People are stealing, and we’re not able to do anything about it,” Terrell said.
He asked that the board include a component in the platform that argues for “bringing the felony threshold (for thefts) back down to $400, instead of $950.”
Under voter-approved Proposition 47, grand theft, along with other offenses, was reclassified, making what had previously been felony acts into misdemeanors. Shoplifting has skyrocketed in many locations as a result, with thieves taking items with impunity, Terrell and fellow Moreno Valley resident Roy Bleckert said.
“The main focus of your legislative advocacy platform should be public safety,” Bleckert told the board. “There needs to be an open, honest discussion about what we should be doing. I don’t know how you rest easy. I don’t. We keep having the same policies, the same people, and we wonder why nothing happens.”
The speakers pointed to the recent slaying of 32-year-old sheriff’s Deputy Isaiah Albert Cordero as an example of the need for revisions to state laws regarding crimes and the early release of convicted felons from jails and state prisons.
The matter also rated high for Supervisor Karen Spiegel, who asked Chief Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen for an explanation as to why public safety seemed to garner so little space in the platform.
“We’re working with all of the state and federal elected officials concerning issues to support in this platform,” said Van Wagenen, a former defense attorney. “It’s a broad umbrella. Public safety is an issue, certainly, and nothing about that has changed. Public safety remains our No. 1 priority for the county. Our efforts around public safety continue, both with funding and legislation (oriented to) keeping residents safe.”
The county maintains contracts with lobbying firms for advocacy work at both the state and federal levels.
Van Wagenen pointed out that the platform is a work in progress, and specific bills will be brought before the board for endorsement or rejection during the year.
The 10-page advocacy list included the following priorities:
— “support measures that improve the quality, operational efficiency and a systems-based approach to emergency medical services;”
— “creation of new judgeships and funding formulas that support local needs;”
— “support maximum reimbursement of costs and damages associated with (natural disasters);”
— “pursue an update to the allocation of state funds for healthcare;”
— “support efforts to reduce health disparities and improve health equity;”
— “promote and protect the agricultural industry of the county;”
— “pursue legislation and funding to increase safety on local roads and highways;”
— “support policies that ensure all residents have equal access to broadband internet service;”
— “support legislation that expands rental subsidy programs;” and
— “advocate for policies and meaningful investments in (water) storage capacity, improved conveyance, new supply and regulatory certainty of water supply.”
The platform, which can be amended throughout the year, was not changed in response to Terrell’s specific request.