Business
Gov. Newsom Signs New Laws Strengthening State’s Crackdown on Organized Retail Crimes
On Aug. 16, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of 10 bills aimed at strengthening the state’s ability to prosecute people involved in organized retail crimes. According to Newsom’s office, “the new laws provide tougher criminal penalties for repeat offenders and additional tools for felony prosecutions.”

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
On Aug. 16, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of 10 bills aimed at strengthening the state’s ability to prosecute people involved in organized retail crimes.
According to Newsom’s office, “the new laws provide tougher criminal penalties for repeat offenders and additional tools for felony prosecutions.”
“Let’s be clear, this is the most significant legislation to address property crime in modern California history,” said Newsom speaking at a news conference in San Jose.
“I thank the bipartisan group of lawmakers, our retail partners, and advocates for putting public safety over politics.”
Among other infractions, the news laws cover smash-and-grabs, sale of stolen property and car break-ins.
Earlier in the week, Newsom announced that the state’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) has recovered stolen goods worth more than $7.2 million and has made 884 arrests since the beginning of the year.
The ORCTF’s efforts have led to a 212% increase in criminal investigations statewide. These investigations have led to a 106% increase in arrests in recent months.
Since 2019 when Newsom first appointed the task force, the state has invested over $1.1 billion to fight crimes and bolster local law enforcement efforts in communities across the state. This included an allocation of over $267 million across 55 cities and counties to hire more police and invest time and resources in more criminal investigations to make arrests and file felony charges against suspects.
Some of that funding was allotted last year as part of the governor’s Real Public Safety Plan, partnering with police and sheriff’s departments and district attorney offices to curb organized retail theft.
“The state’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force is responding readily and at record pace to crack down on organized criminals attempting to rip off California’s storefronts — demonstrating a continued commitment to enforcing public safety and protecting our communities,” said Newsom.
The task force helped the California Highway Patrol (CHP) make over 2,900 arrests and seize more than $45 million worth of stolen property since 2019 when it was first created.
Sean Duryee, the commissioner of the CHP, said that pursuing organized retail crime has yielded significant results each month.
“Through targeted investigations and numerous arrests, we are actively disrupting and dismantling these crime rings that threaten our communities and businesses,” said Duryee.
“Our message is clear: we will not allow organized retail crime to go unchecked in California,” he said.
The task force’s special operations and anti-crime initiatives have helped remove guns and drugs off the streets in hot spots such as Oakland, Bakersfield, and San Francisco with the backing of CHP officers, Newsom office stated.
California Retailers Association (CRA) President and CEO Rachel Michelin joined the Governor at the bill signing, along with Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), Senate Pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), and other officials.
“These bills’ swift movement through the state Legislature and into law make it clear that retail theft policy priorities have shifted this year,” wrote Michelin on Facebook.
“This seismic shift is a testament to the California Retailers Association team’s strategic and persistent work with state leadership including the Governor’s office, Speaker’s office, Senate Pro Tempore, various members of the legislature and other key stakeholders to ensure the safety of our customers, stores and neighborhoods in which we operate in,” she added.
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Oakland Post: Week of February 5 – 11, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 5 – 11, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of January 29 – February 4, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of January 29 – February 4, 2025

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Oakland Poll: Tell Us What You Think About the Cost of Groceries in Oakland
Food banks and grocery giveaways are a large part of the resources nonprofits in Oakland prioritize, particularly in areas like East and West Oakland where low-income families of color tend to reside. These neighborhoods are often labeled as “food deserts” or communities that have limited access to affordable and nutritious foods.

By Magaly Muñoz
In 2023, the average spending on groceries increased by nearly $30 each month from the year before;people are spending over $500 a month to put food on the table.
Through previous reporting by the Post, we’ve learned that families in Oakland are depending more and more on free or low cost groceries from food banks because they can no longer afford the rising costs of food at the store.
Food banks and grocery giveaways are a large part of the resources nonprofits in Oakland prioritize, particularly in areas like East and West Oakland where low-income families of color tend to reside. These neighborhoods are often labeled as “food deserts” or communities that have limited access to affordable and nutritious foods.
We’ve recently spoken to families across these two areas of Oakland and have heard several stories that all point to one problem: food is expensive. Some individuals are spending upwards of $150 a week for themselves or double if they have teens or small children in the family.
We’ve also heard stories of people with chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure struggling to maintain their diets because they’re having a hard time affording the food that helps them stay healthy.
Do these experiences sound similar to what you or your family are dealing with every month? Are you struggling to afford your basic groceries every week? Do you depend on food banks to help you get by? Are there any chronic illnesses in your household that need to be managed by a special diet?
We want to hear about your experiences and ideas for solutions!
The Oakland Post is investigating food access in Oakland and how residents are surviving as the cost of living continues to increase. Your experiences will help shape our reporting and show local leaders the need to invest in our communities.
In order to get as much feedback as possible, we ask that you click this link to fill out a brief questionnaire or visit tinyurl.com/Oakland-Post-food-survey. You can also scan the QR code above to reach the survey. After you fill it out, please consider sharing the link with your friends and family in Oakland.
If you have questions, please reach out to our Oakland reporter Magaly Muñoz at mmunoz@postnewsgroup or text/call her at (510) 905-5286.
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