Sacramento – A bill by Assemblymember Philip Y. Ting (D-San Francisco) to give property tax breaks to owners of vacant or blighted property who allow urban farming on their land earned final approval in the legislature today, and now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature.

The bill, AB 551, allows localities in urban areas with a population of 250,000 or more to offer reduced assessed values to property owners who transform their properties into urban farms. It passed concurrence in the state Assembly today with strong bipartisan support.

Sacramento – Legislation by Assemblymember Philip Y. Ting (D-San Francisco) that will help transform 13 acres of polluted and nearly unusable San Francisco waterfront at Piers 30-32 into a world class public attraction – if local and state regulatory approval is granted to the project – won final approval in the legislature today and now heads to the Governor’s desk.

The bill, AB 1273, authorizes the State Lands Commission to approve a proposal that would privately finance restoration and revitalization of the property by the Golden State Warriors that would include construction of a new arena for the franchise.  The measure further specifies that any such project must provide significant public access and public amenities.

San Francisco – Communities across California will have an easier time making their local streets and roads safer for senior citizens under a bill signed into law Friday by Governor Jerry Brown. AB 707 by Assemblymember Philip Y. Ting (D-San Francisco) allows local governments to access funding from the Pedestrian Safety Account in the State Transportation Fund for placement of “SENIOR” pedestrian warning signs near senior centers and other areas primarily used by seniors.

“Inexplicably, state law made local governments find private sources of funding before senior pedestrian warning signs could be required near intersections frequented by seniors,” Ting said. “In the past, it was easier to place wildlife crossing signs than proper warnings to protect older Californians. My bill is a modest change to state law that will encourage more cities and counties to take advantage of their ability to limit speed to 25 mph near places where seniors are seeking medical, recreational and other services.”

Sacramento – The California State Senate today passed legislation by Assemblymember Philip Y. Ting (D-San Francisco) that will help transform 13 acres of polluted and nearly unusable San Francisco waterfront at Piers 30-32 into a world class public attraction – if local and state regulatory approval is granted to the project.

The bill, AB 1273, authorizes the State Lands Commission to approve a proposal that would privately finance restoration and revitalization of the property by the Golden State Warriors that would include construction of a new arena for the franchise.  The measure further specifies that any such project must provide significant public access and public amenities.

Sacramento - Assemblymember Philip Y. Ting (D-San Francisco) won support for legislation today that would protect California’s tourism industry by ensuring the viability of Tourism Marketing Districts (TMDs) and other Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).  The measure, AB 483, passed the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on a bi-partisan vote of 7 – 0.

TMDs and BIDs have been critical to the success of the tourism industry, especially during the recent economic downturn when support for this industry --that previously was provided by local governments – dried up due to budget constraints.  However, the 2010 passage of voter-approved Proposition 26 created potential legal uncertainty over these Districts’ ability to privately fund tourism marketing and promotional activities.

Sacramento - Assemblymember Philip Y. Ting released the following statement regarding the decision announced today by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges to terminate CCSF's accreditation effective July 31, 2014.

"The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) has made their decision, and now it's the time to move forward and respond. The ACCJC evaluation report of 2012 was a clear and well documented roadmap to fix the problems that led to this decision. Those fixes must continue during the appeal process.

Sacramento - Assemblymember Philip Y. Ting (D-San Francisco) received unanimous support in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee today for legislation to encourage urban farming. AB 551 would authorize counties to create urban agriculture incentive zones, and allow for reduced property taxes when a landowner allows small-scale food production on their land.

"By creating a tax incentive for property owners to dedicate property for urban farming, we are offering a creative option for unused, often blighted land, and providing the community a new source of locally grown, fresh food," Ting said.