Top California Democrats announce ballot measure targeting retail theft.

Top California Democrats have announced a ballot measure targeting retail theft, despite a tough-on-crime initiative already supported by retailers and law enforcement. Led by Governor Gavin Newsom, the lawmakers' plan aims to put fewer people behind bars for stealing compared to the retailers' proposal. Both plans would make shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders and increase penalties for fentanyl-related charges, but the lawmakers' plan is narrower in scope. Republican lawmakers have criticized the Democrats' plan, calling it a sham to confuse voters, while district attorneys and business groups accuse lawmakers of refusing to provide written proposals for negotiation. The Democrats' last-minute plan is an attempt to override another initiative backed by a broad coalition of businesses, district attorneys, and local officials. The coalition and state leaders have clashed over how to address retail theft crimes, with district attorneys and business groups seeking to roll back parts of Proposition 47, a progressive ballot measure approved in 2014 that reduced certain theft and drug possession offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. The retailers' proposal would also make possession of fentanyl a felony and allow judges to order treatment for those with multiple drug charges. Lawmakers argue that the retailers' plan is too broad and could disproportionately incarcerate low-income individuals and those with substance use issues. State leaders, including Governor Newsom, have previously rejected calls to unravel Proposition 47 or seek further crime reforms from voters. Democrats are concerned that the retailers' tough-on-crime proposal could mobilize more Republicans and conservative voters in contested [Extracted from the article]