SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, California Business Properties Association (CBPA) announced its endorsement and financial support of the proposed Homelessness, Drug Addiction, Retail Theft Reduction Act designed to hold repeat offenders of retail and drug crimes accountable and improve community safety. CBPA joins a coalition of groups representing community leaders, law enforcement and the business community to qualify the initiative for the November 2024 ballot.

“Retail crime is not just a significant problem for employees and customers, it’s a growing threat to the safety and well-being of residents across California,” said Matthew Hargrove, President & CEO of CBPA. “At a minimum to get retail theft under control there must be enforceable consequences to hold repeat offenders accountable; prosecutors must have that ability to aggregate theft cases; and California must reinstate effective enhancements for higher levels of theft.”

According to the National Retail Federation, organized retail crime (ORC) accounts for nearly $30 billion in economic loss per year. ORC is characterized by organized criminal rings that steal property with the intent to sell and distribute or return stolen merchandise for value. ORC takes many forms, from coordinated thefts of specific goods to brazen attacks on local retailers.

“This measure is a balanced approach that brings back accountability to improve safety that benefits employees, customers and residents,” said Anne Marie Schubert, co-chair of the ballot initiative. “We have growing momentum with over 360,000 signatures from California voters with recent endorsements from San Jose Mayor Mahan and San Francisco Mayor Breed who represent some of the state’s most populous cities.”

The proposed initiative would create accountability for repeat smash and grab offenders who are costing all Californians more and forcing retailers to leave some areas of the state. The measure also mandates drug treatment and job training programs for those arrested multiple times for hard drug offenses and establish penalties for those involved in the sale of fentanyl.

Polls show the measure currently has a 70% favorability rate with voters. In addition to CBPA, the measure has gained support from California District Attorneys Association, California Grocers Association, California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs’ Association, Crime Victims United, California Retailers Association, and countless other organizations and elected officials. For more information about the measure or to donate, go to www.CASafeCommunities.com.

“Business leaders and elected officials must come together to explore all avenues to address this problem and take action,” continued Hargrove. “This initiative must be brought to the voters in November in conjunction with some legislative fixes to set California on a path towards addressing its biggest challenges.”

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Established in 1972, CBPA proudly serves as the legislative and regulatory advocate for property owners, tenants, developers, retailers, contractors, land use attorneys, brokers, and other professionals in the commercial real estate industry representing their legislative and regulatory interests in California’s Capital and in Washington, D.C.

CBPA is the largest commercial real estate consortium with over 10,000 industry members and is the designated legislative advocate for ICSC, the California Chapters of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP Cal), the Building Owners and Managers Association of California (BOMA Cal), the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), and the Association of Commercial Real Estate – Northern and Southern California (ACRE), and AIR CRE.