Sacramento – Shortly after being sworn in today, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) renewed efforts to fight global warming with cleaner cars. He introduced AB 40 for 2040, which requires the California Air Resources Board to develop a comprehensive state strategy to achieve complete electrification of the transportation sector in 22 years, by year 2040.
“Much of the research today says climate change is happening at a much faster rate than anticipated. Since transportation accounts for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions and 80% of transportation emissions come from passenger vehicles, our vehicles are both the problem and solution. Cleaner cars would make the biggest impact in reducing this pollution,” said Ting.
The urgency to adopt zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) more aggressively is highlighted in last month’s federal report that delivered a dire warning about the consequences of climate change if we don’t act, including greater instances of illness and premature deaths.
“It’s clear that we need to shift to zero-polluting electric cars and trucks. We simply have to stop exposing children to harmful air pollution and to stop wrapping the planet in climate pollution,” said Kathryn Phillips, Director of Sierra Club California. “The question is not whether we will have an electric car future or even when. The question is how do we get there as quickly as possible? This bill will help answer that.”
The global car market is already moving toward ZEVs. National governments, including Great Britain, France, China, Norway, Ireland, Netherlands and India, have announced policies to electrify vehicles. At the state and local levels, bans on gas and diesel powered vehicles have been announced by the Canadian Province of British Columbia and the cities of Copenhagen, Rome, Athens, Paris, Madrid, Mexico City, and Brussels.
“Moving toward a clean cars future is not just important, it's necessary,” said Mary Creasman, CEO of the California League of Conservation Voters. “With climate change impacts worsening daily and federal progress on clean cars being gutted, California must take bold action.”
AB 40 requires the report to be completed by 2021 and is one of many Ting bills intended to put California on a path to cleaner cars.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), commonly known as “in-law units” or “granny flats,” are poised to play an important role in alleviating California’s housing crisis. After being sworn in to a fourth term this week, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) introduced AB 68 and AB 69, making it even easier and faster for homeowners to build livable space in their backyards.
Sacramento – Due to a remarkable economy and responsible budget practices, California’s finances are in good shape today. However, a more robust reserve is needed to weather a recession. With that in mind, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, unveiled his budget blueprint, Funding Progress | Protecting Tomorrow, calling for an incremental expansion of economic opportunities for all Californians while building up the reserve and paying down debt.
Some of San Francisco’s underserved business corridors are about to get a boost, thanks to five new liquor licenses awarded to restaurants by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control today. Type 87 liquor licenses are made possible by AB 471, which was championed by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and signed into law last year. With three in the Bayview and two in the Sunset, the 2018 recipients are:
In a major to move to increase police transparency in California, Governor Brown today signed AB 748 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). The landmark bill requires the release of recordings from body-worn cameras within 45 days of a critical incident, which is defined as the discharge of a firearm or use-of-force that causes death or great bodily harm.