Official election season has begun. Many residents received or will soon receive the Official Ballot to vote by mail. First on the ballot is the choice for District Attorney. Nathan Hochman is Gascon’s rival.
George Gascon, Los Angeles County District Attorney, sent a lengthy memo in March 2021, ordering prosecutors, to stop seeking tough prison sentences. For those who are not aware Gascon previously served as the District Attorney of San Francisco from 2011 to 2019, as an Assistant Chief of Police for the LAPD; Mesa, Arizona and San Francisco. He is considered a criminal justice reformist. He was sworn in as the 43rd District Attorney of Los Angeles County on December 7, 2020.
The Union representing prosecutors quickly retaliated and sued their new boss to block the policies.
Taking office on December 7, 2020 Gascon imposed his campaign agenda, not seeking the death penalty; not prosecuting juveniles as adults; ending cash bail for misdemeanors’ and non violent felonies and no longer filing enhancements that enforce stiff sentencing for certain crimes.
Gascon’s new policies have been seen as reckless, so much so that a campaign to have him recalled from office was initiated just 100 days after being placed in office. He retaliated saying that anyone surprised with his policies wasn’t paying attention during his campaign, “It’s a simple message, scare the heck out of people and hopefully that will work for you.”
On Tuesday, April 27, 2021 prosecutor and Deputy DA Jonathan Hatami announced city leaders from Lancaster, La Mirada and Whittier voted for “no confidence” in DA George Cason’s policies. These cities joined Beverly Hills, Pico Rivera and Santa Clarita who had voted ‘no confidence’ in Gascon’s reform policies. The cities of Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs also considered the same vote at their council meetings.
On March 31 and April 21 two members of La Mirada City Council and Staff met with representatives of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office to discuss the city’s concerns regarding the special directives. After this meeting it was advised that La Mirada City council adopt Resolution 21-14 voting ‘no confidence’ District Attorneys George Gascon’s policies.
“Public Safety is our number one concern and should be our highest priority,” stated then Councilman John Lewis, “The current policies of the DA’s office should not be designed to give pause to the offender; it should give them a deterrent to committing a crime.”
Nathan Hochman supports common sense reforms to improve public safety. As the former president of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission, Hochman supports effective criminal justice reform. He believes we should be acting with compassion to prevent first-time, non-violent offenders from engaging in future offenses, and we need to restore rehabilitation opportunities for those suffering from mental illness or drug addiction. He wants to remove politics from the DA’s office. A registered independent, Hochman will restore independence and integrity to the office, working with stakeholders on both sides of the political spectrum.
Violent crime is up in Los Angeles County under DA George Gascon. While the homicide rate decreased nearly 16% statewide, in Los Angeles County, homicides increased 8% last year. During the first three years of George Gascon’s term as District Attorney, violent crimes in LA County rose 12%, robberies are up 16%, property crimes are up 20%, shoplifting is up 133%, auto theft is up 23% and burglaries are up 8%.
George Gascon refuses to prosecute criminals, leaving victims behind. When Gascon came to office, he banned his office from prosecuting a wide range of crimes, including resisting arrest, drug possession, and making criminal threats. Under DA Gascon, prosecutors filed charges in just 43% of misdemeanor cases presented by police in his first year in office. More than 42,000 misdemeanor cases were rejected countywide in 2021. Some cities in LA County have become so frustrated with Gascon’s refusal to file charges that they have sought to reclaim jurisdiction from his office. It has also been reported that the LA District Attorney’s office has a backlog of 15,000 unfiled cases it has not prosecuted. The law needs to be enforced.
Los Angeles County Voters Have Lost Confidence in George Gascon. Hochman’s blueprint for success will restore the purpose of the District Attorney’s Office; restore the integrity and independence of the District Attorney; eestore the trust in the District Attorney; repair partnerships between law enforcement and the DA’s office; prioritize protecting vitims intereste and restore opportunities for rehabilitation.
For more information on Hochman’s Blueprint for Justice including his positions on a variety of issues including retail theft, reproductive rights and environmental crimes visit nathanhochman.com.
This election is one of the most important seasons I think that we will have. It will determine the future of the United States for generations to come. Please choose wisely. Vote for a change.
Source: LA Times, 7/4/24; ABC 7 News, 7/11/24
Source: ABC 7 News, 12/10/20; LA Times, 4/1/22; Washington Examiner, 6/13/24
