The Santa Clarita City Council is set to consider taking a vote of no confidence for Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, as several City officials believe that his actions since being sworn “risk safety of the general public.”
The council is scheduled to discuss a vote of no confidence for the new district attorney during their regular meeting Tuesday.
“The City of Santa Clarita, California, values and places the highest priority on public safety and protecting its community,” the proposed no-confidence vote reads. “(The City) emphasizes supporting public safety policies to prevent and reduce criminal activity in its adopted 2021 Executive and Legislative Platform.”
During their previous meeting on Feb. 23, the city council requested that time be set aside to discuss the nine special directives Gascón issued within his first hours in office.
The next day, officials presented the special directives to the City Council Public Safety Committee, identifying three that they said could have “a potential immediate and detrimental impact to public safety,” which are:
- Special Directive 20-06, which essentially eliminates cash bail within L.A. County for “any misdemeanor, non-serious felony, or non-violent felony offense.”
- Special Directive 20-07, which directs prosecutors to decline or dismiss a series of misdemeanor charges, including trespassing, drug possession, and resisting arrest
- Special Directive 20-08, which originally eliminated sentencing enhancements for most charges. It has since been amended to allow for such enhancements for serious charges such as child abuse, sex trafficking, and hate crimes
“The District Attorney’s Office has a legal and ethical responsibility to execute laws enacted by voters or the legislature that are intended to protect the public and uphold prosecutorial policies,” the agenda item for Tuesday’s meeting reads. “However, the Special Directives unilaterally issued by District Attorney Gascón undermine the legislative and ballot process and risk safety of the general public.”
Furthermore, City officials contend that Gascón’s directives “violate state law,” as many of the directives either undermine or conflict with previously passed legislation and ballot initiatives.
“It is of the utmost importance for the City of Santa Clarita, California, that policies that aim to restructure or amend prosecutorial directives are consistent with state law and issued with reasonable intent and priority to enhance public safety and protect the general public and victims’ rights,” the proposed no-confidence vote reads.
The full agenda for Tuesday’s meeting can be read here.
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