California crime reform gets 'unheard of' support from DAs, small businesses, progressive mayors

A measure to reform California’s crime referendum that downgrades penalties for petty theft and drug possession will be on the ballot in November after garnering an "unheard of" number of signatures. 

The 2014 law in question, Proposition 47, reclassified several felonies, including retail and property theft, as misdemeanors. 

Under Prop 47, petty theft of goods valued under $950 is classified as a misdemeanor, even for multiple offenses. It also took a broad swath of narcotics possession...