Assemblymember Mark González and Mayor Matt Mahan Call on the Governor to Sign Legislation that will Crack Down on Organized Copper Theft

LOS ANGELES, CA - Yesterday, Assemblymember Mark González and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan were joined by AT&T and Verizon, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Central City Association of Los Angeles, and community members in calling on Governor Newsom to sign AB 1941, a bill introduced in response to the growing crisis of organized copper wire theft our state is facing.

"If we are talking about building a more affordable California, let's start by protecting our infrastructure from being vandalized," said Assemblymember Mark González (D - Los Angeles). "This bill sends a clear message. If you treat our neighborhoods as salvage, if you destroy our infrastructure for some quick cash, if you endanger our community with these senseless crimes, there will be consequences."

"One theft can knock out an entire stretch of streetlights - impacting kids walking home from school, workers commuting after dark, and businesses trying to keep their employees and customers safe," said San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. "We're doing everything we can to hold criminals accountable at the local level, but here's the problem: cities can repair the lights. We can run sting operations. We can go after the people buying stolen metal. What we can't do on our own is dismantle organized theft operations that cross city and county lines. That's why I'm asking Governor Newsom to sign AB 1941."

A Modern-Day Crime Ring:

Copper wire theft continues to plague communities across the state-leaving neighborhoods in the dark, draining taxpayer resources, and creating significant public safety hazards.

AB 1941 will create new tools for law enforcement to combat copper wire theft by targeting repeat and organized offenders who steal or traffic prohibited metal materials. When caught, thieves can be punished with fines or, in more serious cases, jail time. When caught, thieves can be charged with a misdemeanor, with jail time of up to 1 year, or a felony, with jail time of 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years.

"Network vandalism is not a victimless crime. When thieves cut fiber and copper cables for a quick payout, they put lives at risk by severing access to 911 and critical emergency services," said Rudy Reyes, Regional Vice President of State Government Affairs at Verizon. "While Verizon and our industry partners are aggressively fighting back, robust legislative solutions are essential. We proudly support Assemblymember González's AB 1941 because equipping law enforcement with these necessary tools is the only way to stop the bad actors who are destabilizing our communities and endangering our neighbors."

"Copper theft is not simply a property crime. It threatens public safety and the vital connections California families, businesses, schools and emergency services rely on every day," said Lupita Sanchez Cornejo, Regional Assistant Vice President, External & Legislative Affairs, AT&T. "AB 1941 would give authorities meaningful tools to pursue the organized operations driving these crimes. We thank Assemblymember González for his leadership on this important legislation."

"Cal Cities is pleased to co-sponsor AB 1941 and we urge Governor Newsom to sign it to protect critical public infrastructure that communities rely on," said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO, Carolyn Coleman. "Organized copper wire theft affects everyday life for our residents, whether that means having a safely lit street, ensuring our fire departments have connections available in an emergency, or having reliable electric vehicle charging stations that our residents count on to get to work, pick-up their children from school, or get to a medical appointment. The stolen equipment may be small, but the effects are huge. AB 1941 could significantly deter these organized thefts."

"Copper theft is not a victimless crime," said Janus Norman, President and CEO, California Broadband & Video Association. "These are not simply isolated acts by individuals looking for scrap metal-they are increasingly the work of organized criminal enterprises targeting communications infrastructure for financial gain. These crimes damage the broadband networks Californians rely on to call 911, receive emergency alerts, conduct business, and stay connected. AB 1941 gives law enforcement and prosecutors stronger tools to combat organized crime, protect critical communications infrastructure, and keep Californians connected. We urge Governor Newsom to sign AB 1941."

Copper Wire Theft is Rising, not Declining:

California cities have reported a dramatic rise in copper wire theft. In Los Angeles, over 38,000 feet-or seven miles-of copper wire were stolen from the iconic Sixth Street Bridge alone, causing more than $2.5 million in damages. In 2024, the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting received nearly 45,000 service requests for outages-many due to wire theft-with some repairs taking up to six months to complete.

It is not just streetlights; essential telecommunication networks have been disrupted, with large providers like AT&T reporting 2,200 separate incidents of copper wire theft in 2024 and having spent $60 million in 2025 on copper wire theft repairs. These outages also impact the ability for Californians to call 911 or 988.

AB 1941 builds on Assemblymember Mark González's effort to combat copper wire theft last year through AB 476, which was signed by Governor Newsom. AB 1941 is on Governor Newsom's desk.

Assemblymember Mark González is the Assembly Majority Whip. He serves on the Committees on Appropriations, Health, Public Safety, Rules, and Utilities & Energy. He represents the 54th District, composed of the cities of Los Angeles, Commerce, Montebello, and Vernon.

CONTACT: Kyle Johnson; [email protected]; (925) 549-2030
Nina Suh-Toma; [email protected]