Local officials in Los Angeles are urging California Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a bill that would help curb copper wire theft across the state.

At a news conference in downtown LA on Monday, Assemblymember Mark González was joined by LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna and other officials calling on Newsom to sign Assembly Bill 476 (AB 476) Metal Theft.

González said the rise of copper wire theft has left neighborhoods across the state in darkness, with millions of dollars in repairs.

"Copper wire theft is not a victim-less crime," González said. "Every stolen wire is more than metal ripped from the ground; it's light ripped from our communities."

Officials said in 2024, LA received nearly 46,000 streetlight outage reports due to copper theft.

Gon

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