Local Business Owner Takes on Prop 47: Fighting Crime in San Diego’s College Area

Arkan Somo, a local business owner with convenience stores near downtown and the College area, has been facing a nightmare for many years due to thefts at his stores. He estimates that there have been dozens of thefts, if not more, near the College area. The problem has been exacerbated since the passing of Prop 47 in 2014, which changed certain low-level theft and drug offenses from felonies to misdemeanors.

According to the San Diego Police Department’s yearly crime stats, there has been a nearly three percent drop in crime overall. District Attorney Summer Stephan of San Diego County believes that this shows the hard work of police officers and the community in ensuring safety. However, she and other local leaders have been advocating for the reform of Prop 47, as it has not led to a decrease in theft and drug-related crimes.

Stephan pointed out that theft and drug offenses have gone up by more than 5 percent and almost 10 percent, respectively. Many retail crimes fall under the larceny category, but a lot of them are not being reported to the police. Store owners like Somo have stopped reporting theft incidents because the result is usually just a citation. Both Stephan and Somo are pushing for reform to be included on the November ballot to address the issues caused by Prop 47. They believe that ensuring community safety is essential, not just in terms of violent crime but also in addressing crimes that impact people’s daily lives. Somo emphasized the importance of making communities safer for everyone.