The number of Real IDs issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles is lagging behind projected demand. If you anticipate needing one, I advise you go to the DMV now because I expect the lines to worsen as we get closer to the summer months.
Beginning October 1st, the federal...
Today is World Mental Health Day, a time to raise awareness about this issue. In California, nearly one in six adults experiences some sort of mental illness. While suicide hotlines have been around for years, we shouldn’t wait until people are in crisis to help them.
I’m excited to...
The legislative year ended Friday, and while there's still work to do to make California a better place to live, I'm proud of our accomplishments. Through the state budget, I was able to secure nearly $40 million more dollars for San Francisco to help address its homeless crisis. Funds from the...
Gilroy. El Paso. Dayton.
The latest mass shootings have renewed talk about the need for strong red flag laws, which create a court process to temporarily take away someone’s firearms because of the danger they pose to themselves or others. 17 states have a...
Facial recognition technology is not ready for prime time. Case in point: the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently ran the photos of all 120 California lawmakers against an arrest database, and the software incorrectly matched mugshots with 26 legislators, including me – even though I...
California is in the midst of a housing and homeless crisis. For decades, we have not been building enough housing units. As demand exceeded supply, prices skyrocketed, pushing families to live farther from their jobs, or worse, forcing them onto the streets.
I’m proud the new 2019-2020...
Roughly half of the country’s zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), 613,000 clean cars, can be found on California roads today. But the state has a long way to go to reach its goal of five million clean cars by 2030. That’s why I introduced AB 1046, which reforms the way we give rebates to consumers...
California begins its new fiscal year with an incredible and historic state budget - one that makes me proud to be the Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. Throughout the month of July, I'll highlight some of the investments we've made and how they will make life better for our residents....
Dear Friend,
I’ve never been more proud to hail from California. Our state has the largest LGBT population in the country and is home to more than 40 local pride celebrations, from San Francisco to Palm Springs. We have always unofficially observed the month of June as LGBT Pride Month....
As Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, I'm happy to report the state’s finances are stronger than ever. Thanks to unparalleled prosperity, we have a surplus of nearly $21 billion. I see this as an opportunity to invest in priorities that make life better for all...
It's time to talk about our plastic problem. All those plastic beverage bottles we use are piling up in landfills. Why? Because there's very little demand for used plastic materials, and China and other overseas markets are refusing to buy any more of our waste. These containers now have nowhere...
Momentum is building to move California toward e-receipts. A few days ago, the Los Angeles Times Editorial Board endorsed my bill, AB 161, which allows consumers to choose whether they want a paper proof-of-purchase, an electronic version, or nothing at all. In today’s digital age, the Board...
San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street sees more than two million visitors a year. The crowds and traffic congestion have become too much for the neighborhood, especially during the summer months. The problem has increasingly become a public safety issue and is negatively affecting the quality of...
On Monday, April 22, we will celebrate the 49th anniversary of Earth Day, a recognition of our support and commitment to the environment. As Californians, it’s in our DNA to do what’s best for our planet. We adopted the nation’s first vehicle emissions and energy efficiency standards; enacted...