A proposed ban on “legacy admissions,” favorable treatment for college applicants whose parents were alumni or financial donors, hit a brick wall in the California Legislature in 2019. But the author of the measure says it’s time to take another look now that the Supreme Court has outlawed affirmative action for racial minorities at the nation’s colleges and universities.
Despite a massive budget shortfall, California will increase spending on financial aid for foster youth attending California colleges, and offer more housing support to young adults who live in high-cost areas of the state and are aging out of the child welfare system.
... On the housing front, a bill to increase rent payments for young adults in extended foster care failed to make it through the Legislature, but was revived in the budget by San Francisco Democrat Assemblymember Phil Ting, who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee.
California saw several new laws take effect on July 1. Here is an overview at some of them.
... TOLL PENALTY FEES
Let's face it, $15 doesn't go far in a city as pricey as Los Angeles.
Currently, that's the daily stipend a juror in California is paid for serving in a trial. And critics say, low jury pay is having a negative impact on the criminal justice system.
"We had been hearing from all of our justice partners that juries were trending towards being full of people of means and white people predominantly," says Anne Stuhldreher, who runs The Financial Justice Project at the city and county of San Francisco.
... All the while, the Student Coalition for Fair Admissions formed to keep the pressure up with protests, press conferences and organizing the student body. After previously adopting a name specifying Asian Americans, the group changed its name to expand the fight for other historically excluded students, Chang said.
Starting July 1, drivers who have received violation notices for nonpayment after crossing any of the Bay Area’s state-owned toll bridges or using Bay Area express lanes will get a chance to settle all or part their bill with penalties waived, under AB 2594 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). An installment plan for bridge, express lane tolls and DMV fees is also available for income-eligible households.
“The penalties added to unpaid tolls created a financial hardship for lower income drivers, especially unbanked individuals who aren’t able to get a FasTrak without a debit or credit card. By considering fairness and equity in our toll system, we give people a chance to settle their debt without the added charges,” said Ting.
The California State Library has awarded $8.1 million in grants to 62 ethnic media outlets and media collaboratives serving communities impacted by hate incidents and hate crimes.
A joint venture with the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, the grants aim to raise awareness of the Stop the Hate Program administered by the California Department of Social Services. The Stop the Hate Program helps survivors of hate incidents and hate crimes – and works to prevent those incidents from happening in the first place.
“It’s important that multilingual communities know we, as a state, are taking steps to address hate. Our investments in victim services and violence prevention programs say we see them and are prioritizing their needs. Partnerships with trusted ethnic media outlets help us get the word out about the new or expanded resources available,” said Assembly Budget Chair Phil Ting (D-San Francisco).
California leaders hope a new law, the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act (AB 1594) by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), will help reduce gun violence and strengthen victims’ rights to seek justice and accountability in court. When it takes effect on July 1, this law will require firearm industry members to implement certain responsible business practices to help protect public safety in California.
The law will also provide a cause of action for victims of gun violence, as well as the state Attorney General and local government officials, to sue companies that manufacture and sell firearms and whose unlawful conduct causes harm. AB 1594 aims to push the gun industry to be more responsible in preventing the illegal sale and theft of firearms, promote a more level playing field for responsible businesses, and strengthen gun violence victims’ rights and legal tools.
Governments on both coasts of the U.S. want to persuade the small percentage of drivers who use the most gas to switch to electric vehicles – and some leaders are taking the first steps toward incentives to make it happen.
To help BART and other Bay Area transit agencies avoid cutting rail and bus service, a group of progressive state lawmakers is proposing raising tolls on seven state-owned bridges in the region.