STATEMENT FROM CEO MARIA S. SALINAS ON GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S EFFORTS TO TACKLE RAIL THEFT

by L.A. Area Chamber

LOS ANGELES, CA - Yesterday, Governor Newsom, while visiting a Union Pacific railroad site in Los Angeles, announced a multi-agency collaborative effort to tackle railroad cargo theft, hold perpetrators accountable and to clean up the littered rail lines. For months, thieves have been raiding rail cargo near downtown Los Angeles. These trains transport goods from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to businesses and consumers across the United States, and are leaving behind vast amounts of empty boxes and debris.

"We appreciate Governor Newsom's commitment to utilizing state support to tackle the ongoing rail theft in Los Angeles and hold the perpetrators accountable," said L.A. Area Chamber President and CEO Maria S. Salinas. "We look forward to working with government offices, law enforcement, and business partners to stop and prevent the crimes that are disrupting the supply chain and goods movement through our region," she continued.

Newsom has highlighted bolstering the already established Organized Retail Theft Task Force in order to investigate and prosecute thieves. He is adding $255 million to local law enforcement to beef up police presence in impacted areas. Newsom also plans to include $18 million to establish a unit in the California Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute statewide organized retail theft. The Los Angeles DA's Office has arrested 280 people for rail cargo theft, but it is yet unclear if any of these arrests have led to convictions.

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