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California Moves a Step Closer to Allowing Private Citizens To File Civil Lawsuits Against Gun Industry

On the heels of the Texas mass shooting in which 19 elementary children died, the California State Assembly today passed AB 1594 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) to hold the gun industry more accountable. It empowers California citizens, the state Attorney General and local governments to sue manufacturers and sellers of firearms for the harm caused by their products when the state’s strict gun laws aren’t followed. The possibility of civil litigation aims to push the gun industry to be more responsible and improve their practices, as the number of mass shootings in the United States surpasses 200 this year.

Assembly Approves Ting Proposal To Mandate Hate Crime Policy At All California Law Enforcement Agencies

Ting's AB 1947 Passes Assembly
Legislation is in response to rising hate incidents against AAPI Community

 

Sacramento – All California law enforcement agencies may soon be required to adopt a hate crimes policy after the state Assembly today passed AB 1947 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). Protocols for how authorities should recognize, report and respond to hate crimes would be standardized under this legislation, bringing consistency to responses victims receive and the information being collected. The bill’s passage comes as the number of hate crimes and incidents targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have increased.

Podcast: The AAPI Equity Budget

May is AAPI Heritage month and this year its also the first anniversary of the AAPI Equity Fund – which was created to assist Community Based Organizations fight back against a rising tide of anti-AAPI hate crimes. Assemblymember Phil Ting – who led the effort to create the AAPI Equity Fund – explains why the State Legislature approved the funds, how the money is being spent and what more needs to be done. Plus - Manjusha P. Kulkarni, Executive Director of the AAPI Equity Alliance, tells us about the CBOs working to stop AAPI hate. Click on the May 26th episode.

Assembly Approves Ting’s Bill To Reform Bridge Toll Penalties That Unfairly Burden Working Californians

Toll Notice

The California State Assembly today took a step towards making the payment system for missed bridge tolls more fair and equitable by approving AB 2594 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). The bill gives drivers opportunities to resolve their toll charges before they escalate into crippling debt that started out as $6 or $7, but ballooned to hundreds, and sometimes thousands of dollars, after late fees and penalties are assessed multiple times.

“The switch to using technology to pay tolls has disproportionately impacted drivers who don’t have debit or credit cards. The resulting penalties for unpaid tolls are worse than those given for traffic violations,” said Ting. “We must give people the chance to settle their account before we saddle them with balances they can never pay off.”

Assembly Approves Ting Proposal to End Unnecessary Jaywalk Ticketing

Man jaywalking in San Francisco

 

In a continued effort to seek fairness in fines and prevent potentially escalating police stops for jaywalking, the California State Assembly today approved AB 2147, The Freedom To Walk Act, by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). The legislation legalizes street crossings outside of an intersection when safe to do so, essentially ending law enforcement’s ability to cite pedestrians for jaywalking when roadways are clear. Jaywalking is arbitrarily enforced throughout California with tickets disproportionately given to people of color and individuals of modest means.

“We should be encouraging people to get out of their cars and walk more for health and environmental reasons. But when expensive tickets and unnecessary confrontations with police impact only certain communities, it’s time to reconsider how we use our law enforcement resources and whether our jaywalking laws really do protect pedestrians” said Ting.

Spectrum TV News: Proposed legislation aims to curb Anti-Asian Violence, Harassment Through Public Education Campaign

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through 2021, there have been almost 11,000 hate incidents reported in the U.S., according to Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition that tracks these racially motivated attacks. 

.... To help curb the violence against women and other vulnerable groups, Stop AAPI Hate is supporting three pieces of proposed California legislation that frame harassment and violence as a public health issue.

KQED: CA Has Nearly $100 Billion Extra to Spend — Newsom Wants to Offset Inflation

California is flush with nearly $100 billion in extra cash for the fiscal year that will begin in July, but Gov. Gavin Newsom says he sees economic storms ahead, and wants to spend that money on programs that will help the state and its residents weather an uncertain future.

 ... As happens every year, Newsom’s May proposal is really the starting point for negotiations with lawmakers. San Francisco Democrat Phil Ting, who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee, said lawmakers will be pushing back on Newsom’s plan to send cash to car owners.

Ting Statement on the Governor’s May Revise

Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement about the Governor’s May Revision for the 2022-23 state budget: