After years of bargaining, waiting, pleading and bargaining some more, having a bill in hand that would kill California’s predatory cash bail industry should be a cause for celebration. Instead, it has been more like the cause of an ulcer.
On Tuesday, Senate Democrats passed Senate Bill 10 after acknowledging, but ultimately dismissing, the warnings of progressive groups that the legislation could do the opposite of what’s intended and put more poor and minority defendants behind bars while awaiting trial.
On Monday, Assembly Democrats did the same, but by a far thinner margin. It was an uncomfortable political two-step, to say the least.
“This might not go as far as people may want, either to the so-called left or the so-called right,” Assemblyman David Chiu said Monday before the vote. “But we need to do something.“
