(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, called on Fox News to fire television news host Bob Beckel after racist comments uttered on air when referring to Chinese people last week.

“Racism has no place in our society.  Unfortunately, last week’s incident on Fox News is just the latest slur uttered by Bob Beckel when referring to Chinese people.  No apologies will do.  We’ve already gotten empty apologies from Beckel in the past.  He once laughed on the air mid-apology while saying that the term ‘Chinamen’ is not a racial slur.  It’s time for Beckel to go.  There should be no place for a serial racist on television.”

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Legislature unanimously passed a resolution authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to honor the memory of Hanren Chang with a commemorative plaque on Sloat Boulevard, in San Francisco, near where she was hit and killed by a drunk driver while crossing the street on her seventeenth birthday last year.

"Losing Hanren was a wakeup call," said Ting. "We must do more to improve pedestrian safety and I salute the Chang family for its courageous leadership to ensure that we act. Today's vote builds our momentum for change and enables our community to commemorate Hanren's life with a meaningful memorial."

From left to right in the photo, we have Assemblymember Ting with Matt Cohen (owner and founder) and Alex Welch (market director) at Off the Grid

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Off the Grid was honored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) as Small Business of the Year during a gathering of entrepreneurs and elected state leaders observing California Small Business Day.

“San Franciscans changed how the nation eats but Off the Grid has revolutionized how the City eats,” said Ting.  “Food trucks brought food to locations where options were limited.  By bringing food trucks together, Off the Grid has brought people together and created hot spots in our community.  The company’s growth has helped launch a new generation of talented chefs and fueled even more food diversity in our state’s culinary capitol.”

(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, issued the following statement about the legislature’s passage of a budget for California.

“This is an exciting budget because it makes large investments in education and infrastructure to ensure that our economy and our people have the tools for long term prosperity.  After going through the toughest recession in generations, it is rewarding to start lifting up more Californians who have been waiting to see the benefits of our recovery.  This budget improves care for our seniors, citizens living with disabilities and veterans.  It also makes a long term commitment to the development of sustainable housing, affordable housing and high speed rail.  Equally important is the adoption of a real rainy day fund.  If approved by the voters in November, California can stop marching into the future without the stability that comes with a savings account.  No one should go through life without one, living hand to mouth.  The state cannot continue to do so or we invite suffering to return when tough times inevitably return.”

Contact: Anthony Matthews, tel. (916) 319-2019, anthony.matthews@asm.ca.gov

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Assembly passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to expand access to financial aid for thousands of students by helping them complete their applications.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2160 passed with a 73-0 vote and heads to the State Senate for further review.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Assembly passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, that would include computer science education into the curriculum for every California student in grades 1-6.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2110 passed with a 75-0 vote.  It now moves to the State Senate for further review.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Assembly passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, that will help Californians with limited English proficiency (LEP) access critical services through strengthening how they report language barrier problems.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2253 passed with a 68-8 vote.  It now moves to the State Senate for further review.

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Phil Ting, Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, and Senator Mark Leno have introduced companion resolutions in the Legislature urging the Accreditation Commission on Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) to acknowledge City College of San Francisco’s progress in making improvements toward retaining its accreditation and give the school more time to continue making progress.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Assembly passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, that will help increase the supply of affordable housing in California by making new land available for affordable housing construction.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2135 passed with a 53-22 vote.  It now moves to the State Senate for further review.