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Tuesday, June 25, 2019

DMV to Close Offices Statewide for Half-Day on July 24Sacramento – The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will close its offices statewide for a half day on July 24, 2019, to better prepare employees to process REAL ID transactions and reinforce training on providing excellent customer service.

Operation Excellence: DMV Training will result in more consistent customer experiences statewide and equip employees with the tools they need to handle an unprecedented volume of REAL ID applications, which are more complex and take more time to process.

The training will take place at 183 DMV field offices, Commercial Drive Test Centers and Industry Business Centers throughout the state. More than 5,000 employees will receive the training at their home offices, which will open for business at 1 p.m.

“Our employees are at the heart of every transaction we perform,” said Kathleen Webb, DMV acting director. “With this commitment to training, we can ensure they have the proper tools, knowledge, and experience to provide excellent customer service to the people of California.”

Operation Excellence is an initiative of the DMV Reinvention Strike Team, which Governor Gavin Newsom created in January to lead a comprehensive modernization and reinvention of the DMV with an emphasis on transparency, worker performance, speed of service and overall consumer satisfaction. The Strike Team was created in response to long wait times in DMV field offices, which were exacerbated by the federal government’s REAL ID requirements.

More info here. 

Know Your Rights

Friday, June 21, 2019

Assemblyman Ting immigration rights cards english

U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) will reportedly move forward with a plan to remove, arrest and deport families with court-ordered removals in 10 cities, starting Sunday, June 23.

It's important to know that, even if you are not a citizen of the United States, you have rights. You are protected.To that end, please review this Know Your Rights Card for more information.

As the proud son of immigrants, whose parents came here for a better life and to pursue the American Dream, I voted for Assembly Bill 450. It prohibits employers from allowing ICE agents on private business property without a warrant.

It also:

  • Prevents employers from voluntarily sharing confidential employee information without a subpoena.
  • Requires employers to notify their workers before a federal audit of employee records.
  • Prohibits employers from re-verifying information on employment verification forms, unless compelled to by federal law.

We will continue to fight in the courts to block dangerous and unjust policies. We will fight in the Legislature to advance our California values of justice, inclusion, equity and opportunity. And we will fight to empower all of our people with information about their rights and existing protections to help keep families from being torn apart.

Thursday, June 13, 2019

STATE BUDGET REFLECTS LONG-HELD VALUES AND PRIORITIES, SAYS TING

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement about the State Legislature’s passage of the 2019-2020 budget for California.  An Assembly Budget Committee overview of the spending plan is available here.  Ting’s statement is as follows:

“California’s long-held values and priorities are prominently reflected in the new state budget. Strong revenues allow us to make investments that ensure our state’s unparalleled prosperity touches all Californians. That includes strengthening social infrastructure to lift families from homelessness and poverty, opening the door to more educational opportunities from pre-school to college, and closing the gap on universal health care. We accomplish all this while still having healthy reserves to protect these programs through the next economic downturn. This is how we demonstrate leadership in California.”

Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Ting Names Two Organizations as District's Non-Profits of the Year

Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) named two organizations as his district's Non-Profits of the Year:

  • The San Francisco Bike Coalition promotes bicycles for everyday transportation, making the city's streets and neighborhoods easier to navigate. You can read more about them here.
  • YBike San Francisco teaches kids how to ride bikes and become more confident on city streets. You can read more about them here.

Congratulations to both and thank you for the work you do in our community!

Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Ting Stands with Housing Coalition Pushing to Solve State's Housing Crisis

Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) is proud to stand with a housing coalition pushing to pass legislation centered around: Production, Preservation & Protection. Their package includes three of his housing bills: 

  • AB 68 and  AB 69 make it easier to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), like in-law units, granny flats and backyard cottages
  • AB 1486 gives more affordable housing projects priority on surplus govt land
Friday, May 31, 2019

Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) shares his commitment to moving California toward clean cars by 2040. If we want clean air, we need clean cars.

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Ting Proposals to Increase California’s Affordable Housing Supply Approved by State AssemblyThe California State Assembly paved the way for more housing units in the state by approving three proposals by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) before a key legislative deadline. Two bills (AB 68 & AB 69) encourage greater adoption of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), commonly known as “in-law units” or “granny flats,” while the third, AB 1486, gives priority to more affordable housing projects when surplus public land becomes available. 

“In a housing crunch like ours, all reasonable solutions should be on the table. I’m a big supporter of ADUs because they are one of the fastest ways to expand our affordable housing supply, but we need to do more to spur widespread adoption,” said Ting. “Regarding surplus land, I can’t think of a better use for property the government no longer needs than to build affordable housing on it.”

Ting’s ADU bills aim to make it even easier and faster for homeowners to build livable space on their properties by:

  • Speeding up the approval process to 60 days
  • Prohibiting restrictive local requirements pertaining to lot size and parking
  • Allowing more types of units, such as units in multi-family dwellings, to be approved with less bureaucratic review
  • Creating a Small Home Building Standards Code to make construction more cost-effective and safe
Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Assembly Approves Ting’s Groundbreaking Criminal Justice Reform Bill, Key to Re-Entry for MillionsSacramento, CA – The California State Assembly opened the doors to employment, housing and educational opportunities for millions of Californians today by approving AB 1076, a clean slate effort by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). The proposal uses technology to automate arrest and conviction relief for those already entitled to record clearance under existing law. The current system is too burdensome and expensive for most people to navigate, resulting in barriers to re-entering society.

“There’s a great cost to our economy and society when we shut out job-seeking workers looking for a better future,” said Ting. “Everybody deserves a second chance. We must use available technology to help people who have already paid their debt to society get back on their feet.”

Studies show that lack of access to jobs and housing are primary factors that drive individuals to reoffend. The obstacles to successful re-entry also disproportionately impact communities of color and those who are socio-economically disadvantaged. By requiring no additional action by petitioners, AB 1076 can make the system more fair and equitable, while also improving public safety through reduced recidivism.

Friday, May 24, 2019

Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement about the 2019-20 Assembly Budget Plan, which was adopted today by the full committee. Ting’s statement is as follows:

Statements on Final Assembly Budget Plan"The Assembly Budget Plan continues investing in priorities that strive to make life better for all Californians. With this spending proposal, we renew focus on ending Great Recession Era cuts and put the state on a path that lifts up more Californians by increasing educational opportunities, expanding access to healthcare and strengthening social infrastructure – all while building robust reserves to sustain these investments in the event of an economic downturn. In times of unparalleled prosperity, there’s no reason we can’t help our most vulnerable residents. I applaud Governor Newsom or starting this process with a responsible, progressive vision for California, and I look forward to working with him and the Senate to deliver a balanced, on-time budget.”

A statement from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) is as follows:

Speaker Statement on Final Assembly Budget Plan

“I’m grateful for the hard work that’s gone into putting forth an Assembly budget package that focuses on the things that will keep California moving forward. Under this budget, we take care of needs, continue strengthening the foundation of early childhood education, and bring $1.5 billion in new, needed cost relief to our school districts, all while adding to our savings for the future. It’s a road map that broadly combines the vision of Governor Gavin Newsom and the ideals valued by the Assembly.”

Thursday, May 23, 2019

In an effort to reduce waste and public health risks from paper receipts, the California State Assembly voted today to approve AB 161, a bill by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) that modernizes proofs of purchase. Starting in 2022, Skip the Slip legislation requires businesses to provide paper receipts only upon request. Two years later, they must allow customers to choose between no receipt, an e-receipt or a paper one. Paper receipts will always continue to be an option.

“Most of us don’t need a physical receipt for every transaction. It doesn’t make sense to kill so many trees and unnecessarily expose people to toxins for something we don’t often need,” said Ting.

According to Green America, up to 3 million trees and 9 billion gallons of water in the United States are used every year to create receipts. In recent years, paper receipts have not only included proof of the items purchased, but also coupons, promotions and surveys, making them unnecessarily long and ridiculed on the internet. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel even joked about it on his late night show a few weeks ago, saying paper receipts should not be tall enough to ride Space Mountain at Disneyland. See video clip below.

The public health impacts are especially alarming. The Ecology Center found 93% of receipts contain Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Bisphenol-S (BPS), which enable text to appear on the receipt. BPA and BPS are known endocrine disruptors and can cause developmental and neurological problems. These additives also mean paper receipts cannot be recycled.

“This policy will reduce the waste of unwanted paper and allow for customers to choose the receipt option that works best for them. It benefits the environment and reduces toxins exposure for workers and customers. Green America supports these goals and California’s leadership on this issue.” Beth Porter, Program Director, Green America.

During the legislative process, a few exemptions were added to AB 161:

  • Retailers and services grossing less than $2 million per year    
  • Businesses using BPA/BPS-free paper & printing only purchase information
  • Cash-only businesses
  • Health care providers

AB 161 allows for two warnings before a $25 per day, $300 per year fine can be imposed on businesses that don’t comply. Ting’s proposal now heads to the Senate for consideration. All bills must reach the Governor’s desk by September 13.