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Press Releases

Asm Phil Ting Secures $4.5 Million in State Funding For Historic Japantown Language School

Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) today announced $4.5 million from the California budget to transform Kinmon Gakuen’s auditorium into a premiere community space. This state funding for the 114-year-old Japanese language school kicks off a multi-phase rehabilitation that ensures the preservation of Japantown history.

“Japantown residents and their families have endured so much pain since immigrating to San Francisco. We must make it right by investing in their community. Revitalizing a neighborhood asset gives visitors a chance to connect and learn about the area’s history,” said Ting.

Ting Brings Back Legislation To End Legacy Admissions Practices To Make College Access More Fair & Equitable

Sacramento – In response to last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that bans race considerations in the college admissions process and more than 27 years of California’s affirmative action ban, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) will spearhead AB 1780, prohibiting California’s private colleges and universities from receiving state funding through the Cal Grant program, if they give preferential treatment to certain applicants. The practice is commonly known as “legacy admissions” and heavily tips the scales towards someone related to a donor or alumni of the university or college. The legislation aims to level the playing field by giving all students a fairer shot when applying to schools.

Asm Ting Proposes Targeting High Gasoline Users By Updating CA’s Clean Car Rebate Program

The small percentage of California drivers who put a lot of miles on their aging, high-polluting, gas-powered cars could be pivotal in helping the state cut its greenhouse gas emissions. Assemblymember Phil Ting (D- San Francisco) introduced AB 2401, which targets this group of “superusers” - especially from communities of color - and incentivizes their transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). The bill modernizes California’s Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A) program by expanding it statewide, making higher rebates available specifically to lower income, high-mileage drivers with older, high-polluting vehicles. 

“Clean car rebates have previously gone to drivers who typically don’t need the financial help. It’s time to focus on working families who cannot afford to make the switch. This will bring fairness and equity to the program, while also accelerating the environmental benefits for the state,” said Ting.

New Legislation By Assemblymember Ting Keeps Bridge Crossings In California Free for Pedestrians and Bicyclists

Against the backdrop of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) today unveiled AB 2669, which would ensure that people walking or bicycling across a toll bridge in California will never pay a fee. Ting and advocates for pedestrians and bicyclists believe that ensuring cost-free access to our state’s bridges will result in continued environmental benefits, while also encouraging exercise and healthy living. 

“We have spent decades promoting active lifestyles to improve our health and carbon-free transportation alternatives to combat our climate crisis. We must continue the progress we’ve made. A toll charge on non-drivers will only set us back,” said Ting. “My bill ensures everyone has free access to bike and walk across California’s bridges, encouraging more people to get out of their cars and enjoy the outdoors.”

New Improvements Unveiled at Lake Merced South

The upgrades will ensure the park remains a destination for relaxation, exercise, and activities like bird watching

 

Press Contact: San Francisco Recreation and Park Department RPDcommunications@sfgov.org 

Assemblymember Phil Ting, District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today the completion of several new upgrades at Lake Merced South, including ADA improvements, the addition of a fitness court and new benches and tables.

The renovations at the park surrounding the freshwater lake in the city’s southwest corner are part of the larger Lake Merced Trail Improvement Project. The project was guided by a community process that allowed residents to voice what improvements they wanted to see at the park.

New Legislation By Assemblymember Ting Targets Law Enforcement Use of Facial Recognition Technology To Protect Californians

Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) introduced a bill today to set parameters on the use of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) in California. AB 1814 prohibits law enforcement from proceeding with a search, arrest or affidavit for a warrant, based solely on an FRT match. There must be other supporting factors. AB 1814 also requires the peace officer to examine the facial recognition match with care and consider the possibility it could be inaccurate. The goal is to prevent mistaken arrests or inappropriate tracking when this public safety tool is used.

“While facial recognition technology can be helpful in solving cases, one person arrested from an incorrect match is one too many. By requiring additional evidence, we can help protect people’s privacy and due process rights,” said Ting. 

Legislation Addressing CA’s Housing Shortage Leads The List of Bills By Asm Ting Taking Effect Jan 1

To effectively address California’s housing crisis, the state must simply build more places to live. In fact, the Department of Housing and Community Development says about 180,000 units need to be added every year to keep up with housing demand. Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) has four bills taking effect next month that aims to increase the housing supply.

The most impactful may be the strengthening the state’s Housing Accountability Act (HAA) under AB 1633, which clarifies that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) cannot be used to endlessly delay or block housing projects, once all legal requirements have been met. The legislation does not alter CEQA in any way and will promote climate-friendly infill housing.

Ting Secures $1 Million To Help Angel Island Rebuild Julia Morgan Cottages

It’s been 52 years since the Julia Morgan-designed cottages on Angel Island burned down during a fire training exercise, which was caught on film and used in the movie, “The Candidate.” Now, some of the iconic buildings will be coming back to life, as a result of $1 million in state funding that Assembly Budget Chair Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) successfully secured.

“Not many people know that Angel Island was the entry point for thousands of immigrants on the West Coast, especially for Asians looking for a new life in the United States. I want to make history come alive for visitors, providing an invaluable opportunity to learn about the past and imagine a more inclusive future,” said Ting.

Ting Secures $1 million for San Francisco YMCA YBike Program

New funding from the California state budget secured by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) will enable the YMCA of San Francisco YBike program to bring bicycle availability, maintenance and safety education to youth and families for the next ten years.

“YBike is an incredible program that supports San Francisco youth becoming skilled bicyclists,” said Ting, who Chairs the Assembly Budget Committee. “Providing access to a bicycle creates a new avenue for clean and green transportation, and can enable the young people in the city to access work opportunities, after-school programs, or other programs that can help them in school or in life. I was proud to support YBike’s request to ensure that they can continue their mission of delivering bikes and bike programming for our youth for the next decade.”

The $1 million in funding will support the following: 

CA’s Housing Supply Gets a Boost With Governor’s Signature On Ting Bills

One of the most important housing bills this legislative session has been signed by the Governor. AB 1633 promotes climate-friendly infill housing in the most location-efficient areas by ending “more study” requirements, once legally-sufficient environmental review has been conducted.

“California is in a housing crisis, and one way out of it is to build more places to live as fast as we can. Unnecessary delays to projects that have already gone through the mandatory environmental steps are only slowing us down. The Governor’s signature on my bill puts developments on a faster track to completion and helps ease housing shortages that keep prices high,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco).