Antelope Valley Press: Palmdale: No confidence in DA
PALMDALE — The City Council joined more than two dozen other cities in registering a vote of no confidence in Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón on Tuesday.
The approval of the resolution stating the Council had no confidence in Gascón was a 4-1 vote, with Councilmember Juan Carrillo casting the lone dissenting vote.
The Council a month ago discussed the impact of Gascón’s policies on the City and asked staff to bring back a vote of no confidence resolution for the Council to consider.
Gascón was elected in November and immediately set in motion sweeping criminal justice reforms, including a halt to seeking harsher sentences through special enhancements and the elimination of cash bail for any misdemeanor.
Additionally, he directed deputy district attorneys to reject filing 13 types of charges, with some exceptions, including items such as trespassing, driving without a valid or a suspended license, disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, criminal threats, public intoxication, minor in possession of alcohol, loitering, drug possession and under the influence of control substances, according to City Attorney Christopher Beck.
Gascón faces a recall effort and public pushback from many of the deputy district attorneys.
The Palmdale resolution cites Gascón’s policies regarding rejecting filings for certain types of cases, the elimination of cash bail and ending sentencing enhancements for certain crimes as reasons for the vote of no confidence.
“I think it’s a dereliction of duty by the district attorney not to prosecute these crimes,” Councilmember Richard Loa said.
