By Cristine Soto DeBerry
After trafficking in fear and misinformation since the day George Gascón took office, a recall effort bankrolled by fringe conservatives has submitted signatures in an attempt to force an off-cycle election. It’s a power grab fueled by the same political operatives and mega-donors that put Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell in office.
Criminal justice reform has broad support from people across the political spectrum as voters know the status quo has failed them on every level. This is a system defined by soaring rates of recidivism, shocking levels of racial disparities, and wasteful spending of taxpayer money. It is a system that created a revolving door from the streets to our jails and prisons while ignoring the underlying problems that drive crime in the first place.
After 30 years in the LAPD and three terms as an elected prosecutor, George Gascón was elected to reform this system and prioritize safety, accountability, healing and justice. He has reduced violent crime in every leadership position he has held, and his proven leadership is an asset to LA County. He kept his promises to voters when he refused to walk a path long defined by failure. The voters will stand by the values and vision he is fighting for.
Reform isn’t a threat to community safety, it’s a threat to a system that has failed to make us safer.
Christine Soto DeBerry is the founder and executive director of the Prosecutors Alliance of California.
The Prosecutors Alliance of California is fiscally sponsored by Tides Advocacy, a social welfare organization. For more information about the Prosecutors Alliance, go to www.ProsecutorsAlliance.org and keep up with their work on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.