The Chinatown Chamber of Commerce in Oct. 13 held a large press conference with a large number of Chinatown merchants and residents to protest loudly against the recent violent crimes against the Asian community and to deliver a strong message to the community and the media, firmly opposing SB82, which was proposed by State Senator Nancy Skinner to turn some felony robberies into misdemeanor theft crimes, believing that the proposal is to condone and encourage crime and punish the victims. The community will join with other ethnic groups to forcefully block the proposal through signatures, letters to state legislators and other means.
Misdemeanor charges for beating but no serious injury?
Recently, there has been a marked increase in crimes against Asians, and on the morning of the 9th, Pak Ho, a 75-year-old immigrant from Hong Kong, was pushed to the ground and died of his injuries by the suspect, Teaunte Bailey, who was robbed.
And Skinner’s SB82, which seeks to redefine the difference between robbery and theft. Create petty theft in the first degree, which would be punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine for theft under $950 that may involve force or fear, but does not cause serious injury or involve a deadly weapon. Petty theft that does not involve force or fear is classified as petty theft in the second degree and is punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Prohibits prosecution of any class of petty larceny as robbery or burglary. The proposal would apply retroactively and allow those convicted of robbery to apply for resentencing if they meet the criteria.
Chan Sik Pang, president of the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce in Oakland, said he strongly opposes SB82, which condones crime. (Reporter Liu advanced / photo)
Chinatown Chamber of Commerce President Chen Xipeng said, and Skinner had a long communication, the other side thought he was not very clear proposal content, “on the contrary, I have communication with a number of prosecutors, it is because of understanding the proposal and the problems in the prosecution, it is strongly opposed.”
Chen Xipeng, for example, said that according to the proposal, as long as no deadly weapon was used or no serious injury was caused, it is the crime of petty theft, not robbery. At a Time when Asians are facing unprovoked violent hate crimes, it would mean that the offender could injure the victim, leaving him with a bruised nose, causing bleeding noses, black eyes, bruises, sprains and other similar injuries, yet only be charged with a misdemeanor at most. Not to mention, the victim would have emotional victimization in addition to physical damage. By this standard, the recent violent attack on an elderly Asian man and the robbery of hundreds of dollars from a San Francisco laundromat was only misdemeanor theft. The proposal also retroactively allows many people convicted of robbery to be released early, endangering more people. The maximum sentence of one year in prison for first-degree petty theft would, in practice, result in release in less than a year. If a similar crime is defined as a misdemeanor, the misdemeanor may not even be prosecuted, given that prosecutors are busy prosecuting felonies such as murder. “Skinner said the proposal would save California money (the cost of prisons, etc.), but leave the victims and families footing the bill to pay the cost.”
Citizens: The new proposal does nothing to help maintain law and order
Weng Kee Fu, owner of Golden Jewel Bakery in Chinatown, said the outbreak of the Epidemic, coupled with a lack of police presence, made security in Chinatown a concern for a while. Some people came to the store to rob, some people took women’s handbags, and people were in fear. Wendy was even robbed three times in a month and joined volunteer patrols. After the volunteer patrols and the return of the police force, security in Chinatown improved. “Now that it is clear that Proposition SB82 condones crime and hurts orderly citizens, we Chinese must unite and speak out against it.”
Chinatown Golden Jewel Bakery owner Hongji Fu (first from left) also pulled Wendy (second from left), a citizen who was robbed three times in January, to speak out and denounce the soaring crime in Chinatown. (Reporter Liu advanced / photo)
Cheryl Ho said the proposed misdemeanor theft, which would be punishable by up to a year or less in jail and a 1,000 fine, is a symbolic punishment (slap on the wrist) that will do nothing to maintain law and order and curb crime against Asians. The suspect is not expected to get off with a petty theft charge, only to commit a serious crime or even kill another victim.
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