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Sacramento - Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement about the Governor’s May Revision for the 2020-21 state budget:

“We have learned from this COVID-19 pandemic that swift, decisive action saves lives – every day, every minute, matters. Countries, states and cities that moved quickly have seen the benefits and those that delayed have suffered dire consequences. We must act as urgently to help our residents who don’t have the means to weather the loss of a paycheck.

Before this pandemic, with most Californians working, we knew many families were unable to save even $400. Since this economic downturn, more than 4 million Californians have applied for unemployment. California must focus its fiscal resources to ensure those families are housed and economically stable. If we are asking people to stay at home, we must commit to keeping a roof over their heads. Support from the federal government will be critical, but we must chart our own course and make bold, creative decisions now to protect working families – otherwise, we will have to spend significant state resources to help them in the future.

The Governor’s May Revise explores many tough choices and is a good starting point for our budget discussions. I look forward to spending the next month working with our Speaker and my fellow Assemblymembers, the Senate and the Governor to deliver a balanced, on-time budget by June 15^th.”

The Assembly Budget Committee released a preliminary analysis of the Governor’s budget proposal on its website.

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Sacramento - Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement about California’s latest fiscal outlook from the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO):

We’ve known the impacts of COVID-19 to our state budget would be staggering, given the resources needed to respond to the pandemic. Fortunately, California built up its Rainy Day Fund and reduced debt over the last decade in preparation for the unexpected. Such vigilance has allowed the state to quickly address urgent coronavirus needs in real time.

As we begin work on a new budget, the LAO’s analysis is no surprise. While there are slight differences with the Department of Finance over the size of the deficit, either way you slice it, we have a significant shortfall to bridge over the next few weeks. All options will be on the table.

We recognize Californians will need help with economic recovery, but we must also fulfill our duty to balance the budget. Like many households, we now face some tough choices ahead, amid declining state dollars and increasing demand for programs and services. Revenue options and expenditure reductions will be explored at the same time.

The 2020-21 fiscal plan is just the beginning of our adjustment to the state’s new financial reality. But California is resilient, and I am confident we will rebound.

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Sacramento – A beloved leader in the Bay Area’s Filipino community may soon have a highway segment named after her. The Assembly Transportation Committee today approved ACR 165, a resolution by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) that designates the Daly City portion of State Route 35 as the Alice Peña Bulos Memorial Highway.

“Every May, we celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month to commemorate the important contributions Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have provided our country,” said Ting.  “With this in mind, it is my honor to recognize Alice Peña Bulos, who is considered the Godmother of Filipino American politics and empowerment.  Her career in community organizing epitomizes leadership not just in the Filipino community, but also throughout the state of California. I am proud to represent the district where Bulos’ activism was rooted and her legacy lives on.”

Bulos was born on March 31, 1930 in the Philippines. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in social and behavioral science at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila where she later served as professor and chair of the Department of Sociology.  In 1972, she and her family moved to San Francisco and later to Sacramento. Over the span of four decades, Bulos dedicated herself to empowering generations of Filipino Americans to amplify their voices through civic participation. Her influence includes serving on the Filipino American Caucus for the California Democratic Party, the National Filipino Women’s Network, and the National Asian Pacific Democratic Council.

“Throughout her life, ‘Tita Alice’ was committed to opening doors for young Fil-Ams who wanted to enter public service and politics but did not see themselves represented in those places of power. While she is no longer with us, her memory lives on in her family and the numerous friends, supporters, and pupils she inspired over her decades of service,” said the Filipino American Democratic Club of San Mateo County, whose members include Daly City and South San Francisco Council members, as well as other prominent San Mateo County Filipino American leaders.  

ACR 165 has a few more stops in the legislative process. If it’s signed into law, supporters may raise money for the cost of signage. Non-state funds are required for the creation of all memorial highway signs.

Photo Courtesy: Filipino American Democratic Caucus