Drivers looking to buy electric cars or other zero-emission vehicles in California will get less financial help from the state than many had hoped.
Lawmakers have killed San Francisco Assemblyman Phil Ting’s bill that could have tripled the state’s rebate for drivers who buy electric or hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. His proposal sought to increase a typical consumer’s rebate to as much as $7,500 and provide a stable pot of funding for the payments.
The Senate Appropriations Committee rejected Ting’s bill, AB1046, without any public discussion in late August.
Ting, a Democrat, said there’s no chance the measure can be revived before lawmakers adjourn for the year on Friday. He said California’s existing rebate program for zero-emission cars isn’t working.
Under a proposal by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), California is on the verge of giving people a second chance in life after they’ve served their time. The State Assembly today sent Governor Newsom AB 1076, which uses technology to automate arrest and conviction relief for those already entitled to record clearance under existing law. The current paper system is burdensome and expensive and discourages individuals from going through the process.
“A clean slate opens the doors to employment, housing and educational opportunities that help can individuals succeed and reduce the chance of recidivism. We must automate the records clearance process so former offenders can get back on their feet and lead productive lives,” said Ting. “Otherwise, our economy and society pay the price when job-seeking workers are shut out.”
“We advance public safety by removing barriers to employment, housing and educational opportunities,” said District Attorney George Gascón, who worked with Ting on this legislation. “That is why this landmark bill is so important and why we are working hard to be the first state in the country to enact it into law.”
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 records clearance system more fair and equitable, while also improving public safety through reduced recidivism.
Amendments adopted during the legislative process now only apply automatic record clearance to individuals whose arrest occurs after January 1, 2021. AB 1076 originally included prior cases. Still, supporters say it’s a step in the right direction and will continue working to expand the process to past convictions.
Ting participated in a rally in August calling for more gun safety laws. Courtesy: SF Brady United Against Gun Violence
California is poised to expand its red flag law after a recent study suggested such policies may be effective in reducing the risk of mass shootings. The Assembly sent Governor Newsom AB 61 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) today, which gives more Californians access to a court process that could temporarily take away someone’s firearms through a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO), if they pose a danger to themselves or others. Current law only allows law enforcement and immediate family members to file a GVRO. Ting’s proposal adds educators, employers and co-workers.
“There’s no question in my mind that California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order law is a powerful tool that helps save lives. With school and workplace shootings on the rise, it’s common sense to give the people we see every day a way to prevent tragedies,” said Ting.
From 2016 (when California’s red flag law took effect) through 2018, more than 600 people had weapons removed from their possession via GVROs. Researchers at the Violence Prevention Research Program at UC Davis closely examined a sample of these individuals and found none were involved in subsequent gun-related violence. While it is hard to say how many incidents were prevented, it is reasonable to conclude GVROs play a role in reducing the chance of gun-related violence.
Seventeen states have a version of red flag laws on the books. Twelve enacted their measures after the 2018 Parkland, FL shooting. In California, there are two ways a GVRO can be granted:
For a duration of 21 days, immediately, which can be extended for up to one year after a court hearing, or
For a duration of one year after a court hearing, which changes to five years, if AB 61 is signed into law.
For GVRO requests in the latter category, Ting has a companion bill, AB 1493, which allows the subject of a GVRO to surrender their firearms to authorities without contesting the order. Under current law, even a subject who agrees guns should not be in their possession must still go through a court hearing, wasting time and resources.
As with all bills sent to the Governor this month by the September 13th deadline, he has until October 13th to act. If signed into law, AB 61 & AB 1493 will take effect September 1, 2020.
SACRAMENTO — Californians could petition a judge to confiscate their coworkers’ or employees’ guns if Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a proposal twice rejected by his predecessor.
The Assembly gave final approval Monday to AB61, which would expand the state’s gun violence restraining order law, and sent it to the governor’s desk.
The existing restraining-order law allows police, immediate family members and roommates to ask a court to remove firearms and ammunition from people they believe pose a danger to themselves or others.
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AB61, by Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, would add employers, coworkers and school employees to the list of people who can petition a court for a gun violence restraining order.
“With school and workplace shootings on the rise, it’s common sense to give the people we see every day a way to prevent tragedies,” Ting said in a statement.
Democrats running for president had a message for Americans on Wednesday night: you are going to have to wean yourselves off your gas-powered cars.
“It’s not something you have to do. It’s awesome,” entrepreneur Andrew Yang joked.
That didn’t satisfy CNN host Wolf Blitzer, who pressed Yang during Wednesday’s live presidential town hall on climate change. “What’s the answer? Are we all going to have to drive electric cars?” Blitzer asked.
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California lawmakers have aired proposals in the past to ban gas-powered cars. Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, proposed one in 2017. His bill didn’t pass.
“Our climate crisis has worsened since I first introduced my bill less than two years ago to ban the sale of new, gas-powered vehicles in California by 2040. To make a lasting impact on the planet, we really need to get the whole country to start driving clean cars. It’s a relief to see this pressing issue discussed by the Democratic Party’s Presidential candidates,” Ting said.
As frustrations over traffic congestion on San Francisco’s Lombard Street heighten, the city is one step closer to being able to test a solution. The California State Assembly sent AB 1605 to the Governor today, allowing a Reservation and Pricing System Pilot Program on the Crooked Street, which sees more than two million visitors a year. The bill by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) is necessary because existing law prohibits a local agency from imposing a tax, permit fee, or other charge for the use of its streets or highways.
“It has become increasingly difficult to manage the crowds and traffic congestion on Lombard Street,” said Ting. “Neither the presence of parking enforcement officers, nor the closure of the crooked segment has changed the current situation. AB 1605 offers a fix worth trying to improve public safety and the quality of life for residents.”
The San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) concluded in a 2017 study that access to the popular tourist attraction must be better managed and recommended a Reservation and Pricing System to do so. Lombard Street draws up to 17,000 visitors per day on busy summer weekends. Queues of motorists often form at 10am and run as late as 8pm, with wait times extending to 45 minutes per vehicle.
The proposed strategy would regulate demand and flow at the entrance while reducing the length of cars lined up, and could be implemented through an all-electronic system supported by a website, mobile app or on-street kiosks. Recent amendments to the bill require the SFCTA to identify ways to accommodate low-income, disabled or elderly visitors at Lombard Street. The SFCTA must also compile regular reports to assess the program’s effectiveness and ensure it is working as intended.
In an effort to make the college admissions process more fair and equitable, the California State Assembly sent Governor Newsom AB 697 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). Ting’s bill would require colleges to disclose to the state whether they give preferential admissions treatment to applicants related to donor or alumni, and detail how many students were admitted under such practices.
“If we’re allowing CalGrants and other state-funded benefits to go toward a school, we need to ensure every applicant has a level playing field during the application process,” said Ting.
In March, a handful of Assembly Democrats unveiled a package of six college admissions reform proposals in response to the scandal dubbed “Operation Varsity Blues.” That investigation alleges that well-connected families used a side door to get their children admitted into elite schools through illegal bribes and/or donations. Additionally, the scandal shed light on the many legal ways that wealth and relationships skew the college admissions process. AB 697 is the first reform measure to reach the Governor.
Other proposals by lawmakers include:
AB 1383 strengthens checks and balances on special admissions (McCarty)
ACR 64 studies phasing out the use of SAT and ACT scores for admissions (McCarty)
AB 1312 establishes a registration process for college admission consultants (Low)
AB 136 prohibits fraudulent tax write-offs for individuals charged in the scandal (Quirk-Silva)
Audit request of the University of California’s admission policies and practices (Boerner Horvath)
As with all bills sent to the Governor this month by the September 13th deadline, he has until October 13th to act. If signed into law, AB 697 will take effect January 1, 2020.
Congress repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act on December 17, 1943. Today, the California State Assembly approved AJR 22, a resolution by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) that would recognize the 76th anniversary of this historic moment, a significant point in the immigrant struggle for fairness and equality in America. The resolution also calls on President Trump to revoke his anti-immigrant orders and actions.
“Asian Americans see echoes of the past in the President’s rhetoric and policies. AJR 22 is a necessary reminder that progress is fragile, and that California must stand up against an administration determined to turn back the clock,” said Ting.
The resolution’s passage is timely, given the latest example of anti-immigrant policies at the federal level. Beginning October 15, a revision to the “public charge” rule is set to take effect, which makes it more difficult for immigrants to obtain a green card if they benefit from government programs, such as food, housing and medical assistance. Ting attended a rally in Oakland last week, denouncing the change. It joins a long list of actions by the Trump Administration directed against groups based on race, ethnicity, religious beliefs and immigration status, repeating mistakes of the past.
The Chinese Exclusion Act was enacted in 1882 and stood for more than sixty years before its repeal. It was the United States’ first law prohibiting immigration based solely on ethnicity because “the coming of Chinese laborers endangers the good order of certain localities.” For those who were already in America, the act also denied a pathway to citizenship, bearing striking similarities to federal actions today.
AJR 22 reaffirms that California welcomes all immigrants and refugees and now heads to the state Senate for consideration. The resolution’s co-authors include the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.
Looking to take a drive down the famed twisty segment of Lombard Street? There’s an app for that—or so California State Assemblyman Phil Ting hopes there will be in the near future.
When residents built the hairpin turns in 1922 on the brick road, they hoped to tackle its 27-degree grade, which made it difficult for cars in that era to climb. Never could they imagine they were laying the foundation for what would become one of the city’s most popular tourist spots, attracting more than 2 million visitors per year. In fact, between cars queuing up to take their turns down the road and people capturing selfies at the bottom of the street, what once was an answer to transportation woes has now become the exact opposite.
“On a busy summer weekend, that street can see 17,000 visitors a day on one block,” says Ting. “What ends up happening is that the block gets overrun; then, at the bottom of the hill, you have people taking pictures while all the cars are coming down. You also have all the traffic on the side streets, with cars queuing within four blocks from that street in gridlock. We want to make it a better experience for tourists and residents.”
In 2018, at a car sales lot in San Diego, employees felt something was off.
In a break room, an employee allegedly praised the perpetrator of the Las Vegas mass shooting, remarking that he was genuinely impressed by the death toll. The man said that he had toyed with the idea of attempting a similar attack, perhaps at a church or synagogue. The dealership’s employees grew especially anxious when their co-worker, who they knew owned an assault rifle, said he would kill them all if he were ever to be fired.
The man’s co-workers called the police, fearing for their safety. Officers didn’t have enough evidence to arrest the man. But they did have enough to take away his guns. Using statements from employees of the dealership, police requested a Gun Violence Restraining Order, which allows a court to remove a person’s firearms if they pose a threat to themselves or others. The order was granted, and police seized the man’s two handguns, two shotguns, and an AR-15.
It was a textbook implementation of a GVRO, which are known colloquially as red flag laws.
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In the California Legislature, lawmakers are also paying more attention to the spread of GVROs. In December of 2018, California Assemblymember Phil Ting introduced a bill that would allow school workers, employers, and coworkers to file GVROs. The bill is currently pending in the state Senate Appropriations Committee.
