Assemblyman Mark Gonzalez speaks at a Oct. 6 press conference asking Gov Gavin Newsom to sign Assembly Bill 476. The bill would stiffen penalties for people stealing copper wire or those who buy stolen wire.

Courtesy photo

Wave Wire Services

LOS ANGELES — As Southern California continues to grapple with widespread copper wire thefts that have left neighborhoods in the dark, elected officials Oct. 6 urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign new legislation aimed at cracking down on the crimes.

Assemblyman Mark González, D-Los Angeles, led a news conference in downtown Los Angeles with L.A. County and city leaders to encourage Newsom to sign AB 476, which they said would strengthen enforcement tools and help protect critical infrastructure from copper wire theft.

In the L.A. area, more than 38,00

See Full Page