Officials spar over ‘criminalization’ of copper wire theft

A member of a historic church in South Los Angeles identified to Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson on Sunday {that a} landmark merchandise was lacking from the constructing: a bronze plaque.

The plaque at Bethel A.M.E Church had withstood the Nice Despair, segregation and different financial downturns, solely to vanish a few weeks in the past, Harris-Dawson stated. The plaque could have been stolen amid a surge of copper wire and bronze thefts throughout town.

“I do suppose we now have a mutation of petty theft that we have to take a look at in a critical and deep method,” stated Harris-Dawson, whose district has additionally seen “stretches” of streets focused by thieves.

The anecdote was shared on the finish of an almost one-hour debate Wednesday — during which greater than half of the Metropolis Council spoke — over whether or not to approve motions by Councilmembers Kevin de León and Traci Park to curb copper wire theft. Past wire theft, the invigorating dialog illuminated the council members’ differing approaches to crime, with some wishing for extra preventive efforts and others pushing for accountability.

The motions, which handed on a 13-2 vote, will create a activity power with the Los Angeles Police Division and the Bureau of Avenue Lighting and set up a rewards program to encourage the general public to submit data relating to the thefts.

Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez stated the rewards program “misses crucial steps in understanding the foundation of this drawback.”

“Moderately than increase metropolis efforts and assets on a reward program that doesn’t intervene till after the injury is finished and focuses on punitive measures, why aren’t we trying into how we will stop this cycle collectively?” stated Hernandez, who voted no on the motions.

Hernandez praised a Jan. 9 movement by Councilmember Heather Hutt that requested an examination of changing copper wires with solar-powered lighting. Efforts like these, Hernandez stated, tackle the foundation causes of the issue as an alternative of spending cash on “options which can be Band-Aids.” (Hutt didn’t communicate throughout Wednesday’s dialogue however voted to approve each motions.)

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez stood by the rewards program, noting that accountability was crucial to stop additional expense to taxpayers.

“We are able to’t make it simpler for them to proceed to interrupt into these programs, steal the copper wire, money it in and create a much bigger public security risk,” Rodriguez stated of the thieves.

Council President Paul Krekorian redirected the council’s consideration to the “unscrupulous purchasers of stolen steel,” who he stated had been the “actual supply” of the issue.

Since November, Krekorian and Metropolis Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto have been concentrating on those that obtain the stolen steel. He stated the best way to stop the crime was to make it not worthwhile.

From inside his district, Harbor-area Councilmember Tim McOsker lamented the lack of plaques on the American Service provider Marine Veterans Memorial in addition to at different memorials devoted to fishing business households and longshore staff.

McOsker famous that the Los Angeles Port Police had arrested three people — Dionzay Tisby, 42, Brittany Draper, 37, and Deona Jackson, 28 — on suspicion of grand theft associated to the plaque thefts.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez joined Hernandez in opposing the motions, although he had initially supported the concept. He requested his colleagues to grasp that the thefts is perhaps dedicated by individuals dwelling in poverty who’re pushed into acts of desperation.

Soto-Martínez urged the council to be “good legislators” and pursue prevention efforts.

“It’s not nearly getting rewards and criminalizing, and I get that’s most likely a part of the answer. However on the finish of the day, it’s not going to unravel the problem,” Soto-Martínez stated.

In response, Councilmember Imelda Padilla acknowledged Soto-Martínez’s level about poverty however disagreed that the accountable people had been “impoverished criminals.”

“That is actually excessive, refined, good, intelligent, organized crime,” she stated.

Councilmember John Lee additionally pushed again in opposition to Soto-Martínez, noting that the funds he needs he may spend on youth facilities or group applications are as an alternative going to expensive measures to discourage thieves.

“We deal with the individual committing the crime and never the sufferer anymore,” he stated. “I don’t perceive why we shouldn’t be each single factor at our disposal.”

De León stated he appreciated the vary of views on the problem however clarified that the motions had been meant to offer precedence to public security and communicate to the issues of residents.

In late December, thieves stole a third of the 6th Street Viduct’s copper wires. De León, whose district consists of the construction, stated the people may obtain a “road worth” of $11,000 for the stolen materials. However repairs will price taxpayers $2.5 million.

“This isn’t criminalizing this act,” De León stated, “as a result of it’s already against the law.”