Steve on CA Safety

In the New Majority’s debut podcast episode, Steve Cooley, former Los Angeles County District Attorney, provides a candid and illuminating interview on the intricacies of public safety in California. Delving deep, he traces historical crime patterns, highlighting significant spikes in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The period between 2000-2012 brought some relief as the determinate sentence law led to a notable decline in crime. Yet, the landscape shifted post-2012 with the roll-out of Propositions 47 and 57 and AB 109, resulting in unintended spikes in crime rates—most noticeably thefts, which had a domino effect on business closures. Emphasizing the pressing need to strike a balance between rehabilitation and accountability, Cooley advocates for community programs and fostering partnerships between law enforcement entities. This groundbreaking interview serves as a compelling call for collective action toward forging a safer California.