PROP 47 Overhaul

Good Morning,

It’s Monday, April 22, we are covering:

✔ Prop 47 Overhaul

✔ Governor Newsom’s abortion production

✔ How much the minimum wage law impact is already costing you

✔ Where the world’s largest Costco will be built in Cali

 We know you have a busy day ahead and we appreciate you starting it with us.

Netter News Team

📱NETTER’S X-FACTOR 

REBUILD CALIFORNIA

PROP 47 REFORM

On this Monday, some good news. Californians have had enough and are taking matters into their own hands to finally tackle Prop 47.

The Californians for Safe Communities Coalition has submitted 900,000 voter signatures in support of a ballot measure aimed at overhauling the proposition blamed for exacerbating issues like drug addiction, retail theft, and homelessness in the state.

THE BALLOT INITIATIVE

The Homeless, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act aims to amend Proposition 47 which was passed by voters in 2014.

THE DETAILS

Here’s what it would do if passed:

• Toughen penalties for retail theft (like the rash of smash and grabs)

• Hold repeat offenders accountable

• Define fentanyl as a hard drug

• Punish drug dealers

• Require mandatory mental health and drug treatment for people charged with simple possession

DEEP POCKETS

Everyday citizens, small business owners, and yes, big-time corporate giants like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot are funding this initiative. So far, the campaign has raised close to 8 million dollars.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Election officials will now start to verify the voter signatures to make sure they are legitimate California voters.

The Secretary of State requires at least 545, 641 signatures by April 23 (yep, that’s tomorrow) to qualify for the November ballot.

POLITICS, ECONOMY, EDUCATION & SCIENCE

NEWSOM’S ABORTION PLAN

Curious about Governor Newsom’s recent activities? Well, Netter News has been. Despite Californian’s ongoing crises, he’s been occupied with producing abortion ads that start airing in Alabama today. This is political red meat. Newsom wants to take on this GOP hot-button issue in this election year.

NEWSOM’S ABORTION AD

Newsom said he is paying for these ads through his Campaign for Democracy PAC.

He also plans to announce a new law that will make it easy for Arizona women to get abortions in California.

Critics question his priorities amidst pressing issues in California. We are left wondering if the White House is on his radar.

RISING GAS PRICES

⛽Speaking of crisis, Californians can’t afford rising rents and the cost of groceries. And yep, the price of gas keeps spiking. The experts are blaming the latest increase on “refinery maintenance” and the switch to the “summer blend”. 🙄 

⛽We’re shelling out almost $2 more per gallon compared to the national average. Over the past month alone, prices have surged by nearly 50 cents per gallon.

⛽And here’s a pro tip: if you are traveling to Arizona, try to make it across the state line to fill up your tank. Look at the difference in potential savings per gallon!

MINIMUM WAGE LAW IMPACT

We knew it was going to happen and now the numbers are in. On average, California restaurants increased prices by nearly 8% in response to the new $20 per hour minimum wage law that went into effect April 1.

Kalinowski Equity Research did a comparison of prices at 25 restaurants for each chain. This is what researchers found:

On top of increased menu prices, the new law has also prompted job reductions across the industry.

CAMPAIGN MONEY FOR PERSONAL USE?

We encourage you to check out Jennifer Van Laar’s investigation in Red State: Los Angeles Congressman Ted Lieu reportedly tapped into campaign funds to support his wife’s bid for a local school board position.

MOST MISERABLE CITIES IN CALIFORNIA

If you want to know where NOT to live in the US, take a look at the most miserable cities in America, courtesy of the US Census results. Two Southern California cities ranked in the top 10 with dozens more from the Golden State making the top 100. While misery is subjective, factors like crime rate, median income, and commute time heavily influence the rankings. You find the full list here.

1. Cleveland, OH

2. Compton, CA

3. Huntsville, TX

4. Trenton, NJ

5. Newark, NJ

6. Newark, NJ

7. Miami Gardens, FL

8. Hammond, IN

9. Palmdale, CA

10. Harlingen, TX

HOT TAKES

🚨TRUMP HUSH MONEY TRIAL: Opening statements are expected this morning in the criminal trial over President Trump’s alleged hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Former Newport Beach Attorney Michael Avenetti now says he could testify for Mr. Trump.

🚨 LA MAYOR HOME BREAK-IN: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s official residence, the Getty House, was the target of burglars overnight. The Mayor and her family were home at the time of the break-in and not hurt. The LAPD got there quickly and arrested the suspect. Doesn’t she have a personal security team?

🚨 IF THE FIRST BAN DOESN’T WORK… BAN AGAIN: Lawmakers passed a bill to close a loophole in the state’s single-use plastic bag ban that allowed stores to get around the first plastic bag ban.

🚨 EV LOVE AFFAIR WANES: Many analysts express concern over global and California EV sales. While first-quarter sales figures in the US won’t be available until next month, Europe’s love affair is cooling. In the last half of 2023, new EV sales declined across California, the first negative growth ever reported.

🚨AB5 FALLOUT:  A California shipping/freight company is shutting down after 25 years. The Owner points the finger at Assembly Bill 5 (AB5)- the independent contractor law and California’s unwelcoming business climate.

🚨 BRAIN FUEL: Eating Junk food can mess with teenage brains for the long haul (USC researchers)

GOLDEN STATE GLOW

🌴 Could this help US-China Relations: San Francisco Zoo is getting giant pandas from China.

🌴 Sin City Bullet train: Construction begins today on a high-speed rail line linking Las Vegas to Los Angeles.

🌴Attention free sampler lovers, brace yourselves because the world’s LARGEST Costco will be built in this California town.

🌴 Guess which A-list Hollywood couple just bulldozed a historically significant California ($12.5 Million!) home and sent the internet into a frenzy? (SF Gate)

 🗓THIS DAY IN CALI-HISTORY

April 22: 

1970: We all know Californians played a pivotal role in launching Earth Day, but you can blame these folks at Cerritos College, on this day in 1970 they kicked off the movement with hot air balloonist George Stokes.

1992: A plane crash at Perris Valley Airport claimed the lives of 16 parachutists, yet miraculously, 6 people survived. News footage helped investigators piece together the moments before the crash.

1994: President Richard Nixon died at a hospital in New York, after suffering a stroke. He was 81. As a reminder, the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda offers visitors an opportunity to explore his legacy.