Governor Newsom signed AB 1587 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) today, bringing in financial institutions as partners to help prevent gun violence. The legislation requires banks and credit card companies to implement the newly-developed merchant category code (MCC) assigned to gun dealers in California, allowing them to flag suspicious activity. 

“We must use every tool possible to end our gun violence epidemic. Financial institutions can now be a part of our efforts since they are in a unique position to flag buying patterns that no one else can. Merchant codes are already assigned to other retailers, and the gun industry should be included. Identifying large purchases of firearms and ammunition can be instrumental in helping California prevent tragedies and to save lives,” said Ting.

New funding from the California state budget will help the Alcoholics Rehabilitation Association (ARA) better serve the City’s residents as they seek to re-enter society after achieving sobriety. Assembly Budget Chair Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) announced the organization will receive $2.5 million to address deferred maintenance needs and make capital improvements at its 47-bed residential facility, ARA First Step Home, on Haight Street. Serving clients since 1955, it is in dire need of repair and renovation.

“ARA has helped thousands of people in our community successfully regain their lives with supportive housing, job searches, and counseling. The need for these services is great, and the state funding I championed ensures my district will continue to have re-entry programs available for decades to come,” said Ting. 

Financial institutions will play a role in the prevention of gun violence under a bill by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) approved by the California Legislature today. AB 1587 requires banks and credit card companies to implement in California the newly-developed merchant category code (MCC) assigned to gun dealers, enabling them to flag suspicious activity. 

“For too long gun violence has plagued communities across the country and we must look to utilize every tool possible to end this epidemic. Identifying large purchases of guns and ammunition would be instrumental in helping California prevent tragedies and to save lives. Financial institutions can now be our partners in ending gun deaths since they are in a unique position to flag buying patterns that no one else can,” said Ting.

California must build more residences to address its housing shortage. One solution, AB 1633 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), is on its way to the Governor, after final legislative approval today. The bill strengthens the state’s Housing Accountability Act (HAA) so that neighbors and local jurisdictions can no longer abuse the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to unnecessarily delay or block housing projects, if all legal requirements have been met.

“We’re in a housing crisis, and we can no longer afford to let opponents of a development abuse CEQA to unnecessarily prolong the approval process that prevent projects from moving forward. That only keeps the availability of housing units low and prices high,” said Ting. 

AB 1633 promotes climate-friendly infill housing in the most location-efficient areas, and opponents would no longer be allowed to require “more study,” once legally-sufficient environmental review has been conducted.

A “backyard revolution” is underway in California, thanks to the policy and budget actions taken by the state Legislature in recent years on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – affordable housing more commonly known as backyard cottages, granny flats or in-law units. They are now poised to play an even great role in easing these state’s housing shortage.

In SB 104, a budget bill now headed to the Governor, there’s an additional $25 million for the highly successful ADU Grant Program, which provides approved homeowners with up to $40,000 in pre-development costs like design and site prep. This funding would complement the $100 million allocated last year and could result in up to 2,500 new ADUs. But these funds were exhausted within months because of demand.

The California Legislature today approved AB 881, the Be the Jury pilot program, by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), allowing five counties to increase jury pay in criminal trials from $15 a day to $100 a day for low-to-moderate income jurors. The pilot program seeks to see whether a higher stipend results in juries that are more racially and economic diverse. 

“Californians from all backgrounds are entitled to serve on juries. When financial hardship determines whether someone can be participate in our democracy, we miss out on a diversity of perspectives. Studies show when juries are more reflective of the communities they serve, they spend more time in deliberations and are less likely to presume guilt, which help defendants get a fair trial,” said Ting. “AB 881 helps ensure the accused gets a jury of their peers.”