Press Releases

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.

“We are in a housing crisis, and ADUs are one of the quickest ways to expand our affordable housing supply,” said Ting. “While the state has already removed some of the red tape, we need to do more to spur widespread adoption.”

According to the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley, applications for ADU permits have jumped significantly since the Legislature eased some regulations, but  homeowners still face challenges when it comes to building codes, limiting the full potential of ADUs.

Ting’s ADU bills aim to:

•     Speed up the approval process to 60 days

•     Prohibit restrictive local requirements pertaining to lot size and parking

•     Allow more types of units, such as units in multi-family dwellings, to be approved with less bureaucratic review

•     Create a Small Home Building Standards Code to make construction more cost-effective and safe

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.

“We’ve invested wisely to keep California moving forward. Our goal is to maintain those investments that resulted in higher funding for education, poverty reduction, healthcare, housing and other priorities,” said Ting. “At the same time,  we need to protect the state against a recession by saving even more.”

Highlights of Funding Progress | Protecting Tomorrow include:

 ·         Focusing on One-Time Investments: bigger reserve, debt payment, infrastructure needs

·         Funding Promises Made: wildfire assistance, poverty reduction, enrollment expansion at UC & CSU; more financial aid; climate change policies

·         Measured Investments in Long-Term Goals: housing, homelessness, healthcare access, early childhood care/education

To read more about Funding Progress | Protecting Tomorrow, click here.

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.

• Java Beach Coffee Roasters: 3620 Wawona Street
• Word A Café: 5114 Third Street
• Old Skool Café: 1429 Mendell Street           
• Corinne Chuitang Pusawong: 2244 Taraval Street
• Bayview Pasta: 5009 Third Street                             

“I’m excited for the neighborhoods that’ll see more jobs, foot traffic and social spaces,” said Ting. “It’s also an opportunity for a new generation of restauranteurs who previously couldn’t afford a license.”

A Type 87 liquor license differs from a traditional one (Type 47) in the following ways:

• Location: Restaurants must be located in: the Sunset, along Noriega and Taraval Streets; the Excelsior,  on Ocean Avenue and Mission Street; Visitacion Valley, on Leland Street and Bayshore Avenue; the Portola’s San Bruno Avenue; and the Bayview’s Third Street.
• Affordability: Cost is about $15,000 instead of the nearly $300,000 that conventional liquor licenses cost on the secondary market. Restaurants in outer neighborhoods typically lack the revenue to recoup such a large investment, placing them at a competitive disadvantage.
• One-Time Use: These licenses cannot be re-sold or transferred. If a business closes or relocates, it is canceled and a new one is created in its place.

Before Ting’s legislation was enacted, new liquor licenses hadn’t been issued in San Francisco in over 80 years. New restaurants and bars typically have to buy their liquor licenses from other businesses that have closed or want to sell their license.

AB 471 allows for 30 Type 87 licenses total, five awarded per year until 2023. When more than five businesses apply for one in any given year, a random drawing is held. The first wave of restaurants were approved last year. Today’s lottery was the second wave.

A. P. Giannini Middle School, the most populous public middle school in San Francisco, is set to undergo much needed safety repairs and improvements. Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, helped to secure $4 million for the rehabilitation project.

“Students need a safe, modern learning environment in order to succeed. After years of deferred maintenance, we’re at the point where we can no longer postpone making upgrades,” said Ting. “I’m glad the state could step in to help this valuable community asset.”

The scope of the work will include updating the electrical wiring in the gym, repaving the uneven school yard, upgrading the auditorium and fixing the locker room ceiling, which leaks. San Francisco Supervisor Katy Tang first brought the school’s condition to the attention of Assemblymember Ting.

The Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council approved more than $113 million this week in the first wave of block grants available under the new Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP). The money is part of a $500 million 2018-19 state budget program championed by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and the Big 11 Mayors, in negotiation with the Governor, to help local governments address California’s homeless crisis.

“This is welcome news. I’ve been a strong advocate of state and local partnerships when it comes to solving our biggest problems. This is the first of many steps in getting people off the streets and into housing,” said Ting, Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee.

Grant Recipients:

            Oakland                                  $ 8.67 million            

            San Diego                               $ 14.1 million            

            Los Angeles                            $ 85 million

            Long Beach                            $  2.8 million

            Bakersfield/Kern

Continuum Of Care (CoC)        $ 2.6 million

In 2017, California’s homeless population was more than 134,000. The council, which is under the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, began taking applications for the HEAP block grant on September 5. Cities and Continuums of Care (CoC) county partners are eligible. Once approved, the money can be spent on services, such as:

• Emergency housing vouchers
• Rapid rehousing
• Emergency shelter construction
• Temporary shelters in armories

Grant applications are accepted through December 31, 2018. For more information, please visit: https://www.bcsh.ca.gov/hcfc/aid_program.html.

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.

“The Governor’s signature on AB 748 signifies a strong commitment to police transparency in California. Public access to body camera footage is necessary to boost confidence and rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” said Ting.

Current California law provides no clear or consistent policy regarding the release of body camera recordings. In April, the Los Angeles Police Commission adopted a policy similar to AB 748. But other departments commonly cite “pending investigation” as a reason to withhold the recordings under the Public Records Act. Such secrecy fosters mistrust after critical incidents occur. The new law does not supersede a department’s ability to set its own disclosure rules, so long as the rules comply with the general guidelines set forth in AB 748.

Footage from body-worn cameras can help shed light and provide clarity when there is confusion in the community after tragic events. The footage can even help clear law enforcement of any perceived wrongdoing. If releasing body camera recordings interferes with an investigation, AB 748 also allows for 30-day delays.

Californians serving unjustly long prison sentences may get a second chance under a bill signed by Governor Brown today. AB 2942 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) gives prosecutors the discretion to review cases and recommend a sentence reduction, if warranted. The recommendation is then submitted to a sentencing court, which would make the final determination.

“District attorneys have found that certain prison sentences, upon further review, are no longer in the interest of justice. Let’s give them a tool to revisit cases in which defendants were sentenced under outdated guidelines, have been rehabilitated and would benefit from a second chance,” said Ting, author of AB 2942. Under current California law, only the Board of Parole Hearings may recommend a change to defendant’s sentence.

While public safety remains a key priority, emerging research suggests past policies should be revisited. A University of Chicago report found longer prison sentences have marginal effects on reducing recidivism. In addition, results from a separate study by the Brennan Center for Justice indicate that prison sentences could by shortened by 25% across the board without a negative effect on public safety.

Passage of AB 1184 first step to securing $30 million from TNC Impact Tax to fund transit operations & infrastructure

San Francisco - City leaders kicked-off Transit Week Monday with the news that Governor Brown has signed Assembly Bill 1184, the first step in securing critical funding for San Francisco transportation projects. This past July, Supervisor Aaron Peskin withdrew his Private Transportation Tax from the November ballot, after negotiating a deal with ride-share companies to pursue an alternate tax on TNC net ride revenue through state and local processes.  The City's Chief Economist estimates the tax will generate $30 million annually, which would be dedicated to transportation infrastructure and operations. Assemblymember Phil Ting authored AB 1184 to affirm San Francisco's agreement with the private transportation industry to become the first city in California to levy a TNC impact tax.

"As San Francisco's economy grows, it must find ways to move people around safely.  The Governor's signature on AB 1184 is an important first step to raise much-needed revenue that'll improve roads, bike lanes, public transit and other transportation projects," said Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco.)

Supervisor Peskin co-chaired a six-month long Transportation Task Force 2045 (TTF2045) in his capacity as Chair of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA). The Task Force, comprised of a diverse cross-section of business, resident and advocate representatives, identified a $22 billion funding need over the next 27 years, without sustained local sources of funding to cover the need. One of the recommendations of the Task Force was to levy a TNC impact tax to mitigate the impacts of TNCs on congestion, declining public transit revenue and general wear-and-tear on City infrastructure. The negotiated agreement caps the proposed tax at 3.25 percent of net ride revenue for TNCs and driverless passenger vehicles, and 1.5 percent for shared rides. With the State-affirming legislation passed, the next step will be to put the TNC Impact Tax onto the November 2019 ballot.

California is taking steps to make sure driverless cars are operating safely on roads throughout the state. Governor Brown signed AB 87 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) today, giving law enforcement the authority to impound unpermitted autonomous vehicles (AVs). The legislation comes as Sacramento is poised to become the first California city where AVs with no occupants will be tested on public streets. 

“I’m excited about this technology because of its potential to create new transportation opportunities, but companies can’t just put an AV on the road whenever they feel like it. Lives are at stake,” said Ting, author of AB 87. “By giving police the power to seize unpermitted AVs, we’re incentivizing operators to go through the proper channels first. We need assurances AVs can interact safely with drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.”