California Retailers Association

Today is #FightRetailCrimeDay #CalRetailers appreciates all the work our Governor has done to address #organizedretailcrime in California and his leadership in this space. Now Congress needs to act. Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom Gavin Newsom National Retail Federation

Thanks for hosting us in beautiful Long Beach, Mayor. As a AAMA Business Council member, I look forward to continuing to work with you and other AAMA mayors (#ourmayors) to address this pressing public safety issue and drive long term policy solutions for #retail, #lawenforcement and our #communities. ?? Since its 2019 inception, the California’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force has been involved in more than 3,000 investigations leading to the arrest of 3,223 suspects and the recovery of over 880,276 stolen goods valued at nearly $46 million. #loweslife #ORC #bigbox #smallbusiness Rachel Michelin California Retailers Association Lisette Torres National Retail Federation Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)

Amazing collaboration by California Highway Patrol, local law enforcement and #retailers ???????????? https://lnkd.in/g8-qKtRE

#Organizedretailcrime is impacting the economy, businesses and communities at alarming rates. Join NRF for the #FightRetailCrimeDay webinar October 24th at 1 p.m. ET, the retail industry’s day of action to combat #retailcrime. https://lnkd.in/dkCY2hQ5

Some more pictures from last night's wonderful celebration of Equality California 25 year anniversary celebration ?? Pictured: CRA's Ryan Allain Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor CRA member companies Lowe's Companies, Inc. Gap Inc. #equalityca25years

The California Retailers Association is proud to continue to support Equality California and congrats on their 25 Anniversary! #equalityca Pictured: CRA's Government Affairs Director Ryan Allain with our members including Diageo Gap Inc. The Home Depot Lowe's Companies, Inc.

This September the National Retail Federation and the California Retailers Association co-hosted the second annual California Retail Law Summit, exploring the latest?legal trends and regulatory developments. Retail law professionals gathered in Napa Valley to participate in legal deep dives, critical discussions and valuable networking, covering several important topics including privacy, labor standards, PFAS regulations and sustainability responsibilities. https://lnkd.in/dQxBreYb

Talk about a timely panel! Governor Gavin Newsom just signed the 11th and final bill in the legislative package addressing retail theft that was supported by BizFed, championed by our panel moderator Rachel Michelin (California Retailers Association), and spearheaded by our panelist Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, who chairs the Select Committee on Retail Theft. Look for panel highlights and photos in our forum recap newsletter. For now, here are our key takeaways from Rachel, Assemblymember Zbur, Karim Webb (Los Angeles World Airport Commission), LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, and Drew Mercy (Antelope Valley Economic Development & Growth Enterprise). ?? New tools are finally on the horizon for prosecutors and business owners that will allow for aggregation of separate theft offenses, injunctions against repeat offenders, and more effective collaboration across jurisdictions. ?? How did advocates pass the most significant legislative package of retail theft solutions we've ever seen in California history? By leaning on open?dialogue. As Assemblymember Zbur explained it: "Rachel is so successful because she's trusted. We were sometimes on the phone every day. She was honest and authentic about what could and couldn't be done." ?? We already know about cross-jurisdictional issues involving perpetrators from other cities, counties, or states. Organized crime sprees are now being conducted by tourists from other countries! Prosecution of these cross-border crimes will be led at the federal level. ?? Understand the scope of the problem at the local level. So far this year, tere have already been 3,296 theft-related filing referrals (misdemeanors in the city of LA). But the city attorney's focus is not on prosecuting "kids on the ground" committing thefts. Hydee Feldstein Soto is?targeting root causes of organized retail theft by focusing on the people who profit from stolen goods. ?? Restorative justice programs have elements designed to educate and empower young people to make amends (whether it's cleaning up storefronts or working for small businesses) in ways that help put them in the shoes of the retailers they victimized. ?? There's no blanket answer when it comes to prosecutorial discretion because every person who goes through the system should be treated as an individual with appropriate consequences and compassion.

Stephanie Martz,?NRF Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, moderates a session about #PAGA at the California #RetailLaw Summit with Rachel Michelin, President and CEO of the California Retailers Association, Danielle Hohos, Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. and Julie A. Dunne, Partner at DLA Piper.

The National Retail Federation and California Retailers Association’s year-in-the-making California Retail Law Summit could NOT have gone better! From a wedding-level welcome reception at Chandon Vineyards, to a packed room of fresh faces, a full agenda of meaty topics, and goodbyes in the redwoods with a special appearance from our CA Solicitor...Stephanie Martz, Ceara Nicole Flake, Rachel Michelin, and Stephanie Sheridan, you nailed it. Couldn’t be prouder to partner with you, and can’t wait for next year!!