Many politicians around the world are still annoyed by Elon Musk’s interventions. California Governor Gavin Newsom was the most recent to take revenge on the tech billionaire and owner of Twitter/X after he criticized the official’s management of the wildfires in Los Angeles.
On Saturday, January 11, Musk posted a video from another Twitter/X account in which Newsom is heard declaring that there is no room for looting in the wake of the catastrophe.
Musk shared the picture with a clown and a world emoji, claiming that Newsom and California Democrats had literally decriminalized looting by prohibiting [sic] police from making arrests and prosecutors from bringing charges against them.
Musk’s backing for the allegations was swiftly rejected by Newsom, who urged the billionaire to quit lying and convincing people that looting is no longer illegal.
It’s not. As always, it’s against the law. He said that criminals would be apprehended and charged.
Quit lying and informing people that looting is no longer illegal. It isn’t.
It is, and always has been, prohibited.
Criminals will be detained and brought to justice.This link: https://t.co/EImJwFdyzZ
January 11, 2025, Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom)
California’s Proposition 47 from 2014, which reclassified stealing as a misdemeanor (a less serious offense) if the goods stolen totaled less than $950 (778), is cited as proof of looting’s decriminalization in both the planned Community Notes on Newsom’s tweet and many reactions.
This is true even though a misdemeanor is still a crime, according to several dictionaries, whereas decriminalization is defined as no longer considering a certain activity to be illegal.
Shoplifting was reintroduced as a felony for repeat offenders by Proposition 36 after a public vote in November 2024.
Shortly after answering Musk, Newsom declared that a website named California Fire Facts would be launched to guarantee that the public has access to accurate information regarding the wildfires in Southern California.
There is a lot of false information available.
To guarantee that the public has access to fact-based information regarding the wildfires in Southern California, a new website was just developed.
The truth is that our firefighting budget was not reduced by CA. Our firefighting force has almost doubled in size, and we have constructed the world’s
January 11, 2025, Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom)
The FACT: Our firefighting budget was not cut by California. We have built the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world and roughly doubled the number of our firefighting crew.
Since we took office, CA has tenfold enhanced forest management. “Looting will not be tolerated in California,” he added.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.