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September, 2009 District Office State Capitol |
September 2009 Newsletter
Dear Friends:
Since my last newsletter, the Legislature passed an extremely challenging state budget that finally garnered the required two–thirds support only to have Governor Schwarzenegger issue several line–item vetoes that slashed funds for critical programs, including HIV/AIDS prevention, children’s health insurance, women’s shelters and assistance to the elderly and disabled. These cuts have further diminished our social safety net while also adding an additional burden to the city of San Francisco’s already tenuous economic situation.
In other news, I am happy to announce that Speaker Karen Bass recently appointed me as Chair of the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee. This important new role will allow me to have much greater influence on many critical issues facing the state, including prison reform, sentencing, and juvenile justice. In this new role, I will continue working with members of the Assembly and with the law enforcement community to develop an appropriate system of alternative custody that can bring additional savings without endangering the public.
Additionally as Chair of Public Safety, one issue that I will also continue to work on is the creation of a strong civilian oversight body for BART’s police force. Unfortunately, we were unable to pass legislation this session but I expect to hear the BART police oversight bill that I introduced earlier this year, AB 312, as well as Assemblymember Swanson’s legislation at the beginning of the new legislative session in January.
Thank you for your support and please don’t hesitate to contact my office regarding any issues of concern to you or if there is anything we can help with.
Sincerely,
Tom Ammiano
Legislative Update:
This has been a tough year for California and while we focused much of our efforts on addressing the recession, we still made progress on several fronts. A number of my bills passed the Legislature and are awaiting final approval from Governor Schwarzenegger to become law. My bill AB 767, which would extend funding for homeless and family housing, was signed into law by the Governor in August. The bill received unanimous support from both houses.
Listed below are some of my bills introduced this year:
AB 690 – Requires the CSU and urges the UC to allow the four publicly elected ex–officio members (Gov, Lt. Gov, Speaker, and OSPI) to designate alternates to serve on their behalf in their absence. This will help ensure appropriate oversight to the actions taken by these bodies.
AB 772 – Municipal ID Act. Based on the successful San Francisco Municipal ID program, it would allow every county to implement a similar program that would make ID cards accessible to any person without regard to gender identity or immigration status.
AJR 13 – Blood Non–Discrimination Act. Requests the Department of Health and Human Services, under the Federal Food and Drug Administration, to revoke their current discriminatory policy prohibiting the donation of blood or tissues from gay men. Passed the Assembly and will be heard in the Senate in the new legislative session.
AJR 15 – Urges the Congress of the United States to pass, and President Obama to sign, the Uniting American Families Act and support the removal of legal barriers to immigration by permanent same–sex partners. Current federal policy does not recognize same–sex partners in the same way as heterosexual partners are recognized, hindering the ability of families to fully immigrate to the United States. Jointly authored with Assemblymembers De León and John Pérez.
AB 382 – Transgender Prisoners. Adds sexual orientation and gender identity of an inmate or ward to the list of factors to be considered under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation inmate classification and housing assignment procedures. Recent studies have proven that transgender and gay inmates are far more likely to become victims of sexual violence in prison. This bill would help to prevent thousands of the countless cases of sexual assault that happen each year in the state prisons. Passed and awaiting action by the Governor.
AB 295 – Adoption Services. Extends the sunset date of the Older Foster Youth Adoptions Pilot Program, allowing continued access to the roughly $2 million to provide pre– and post–adoption services to specified foster children. This measure embraces and reaffirms California’s commitment to fostering permanency and maintaining lifelong connections for at–risk and troubled youth.
AB 1176 – Port of SF Financing. This would allow the Port of San Francisco to create a new vibrant neighborhood that reflects the community’s needs by providing a method for the state to help close the $50 million gap in needed funding to get the land ready for construction.
AB 277 – SFMTA Transportation Loophole Closure. Sponsored by San Francisco County Transportation Authority. The bill closes a “loophole” for the Bay Area County Traffic and Transportation Funding Act to preserve local authority. This bill was vetoed by the Governor.
AB 767 – Homeless Youth/BEGIN. Sponsored by the Department of Housing and Community Development. This bill extends the deadline to exhaust Prop. 1C funds in the Homeless Youth Multifamily Housing and BEGIN programs. This measure ensures the State’s continued commitment to assisting low–income Californians in realizing home ownership and assisting youth transitioning off of the streets, out of group homes and out of tent cities. The bill was signed into law by the Governor.
Community Events:
2009 San Francisco Homeownership Fair–www.medasf.org/homeownershipfair.htm
When: Saturday, October 10
Location: St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street San Francisco, CA.
Time: 10am to 3 pm
What: The Homeownership Fair introduces a diverse cross section of San Francisco residents to homeownership opportunities available in the city and throughout the Bay Area. Information will be provided by a variety of exhibitors including lenders, realtors, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Understanding the difficulties potential homebuyers face, the fair will incorporate a range of information about affordable and market–rate homeownership opportunities, special assistance programs available to first–time homebuyers, tips on avoiding predatory lending, renter information, and foreclosure intervention resources.
*The event will be completely trilingual in English, Cantonese, and Spanish
Castro Street Fair – www.castrostreetfair.org
When: Sunday, October 4
Location: Castro and Market Streets
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Italian Heritage Parade – www.sfcolumbusday.org
When: Sunday, October 11
Location: The Parade action begins at 12:30 pm at the foot of Jefferson and Stockton Streets in Fisherman’s Wharf, proceeds south through North Beach on Columbus Avenue, and ends in Washington Square in front of Sts. Peter and Paul Church
Time: 12:30 pm
What: San Francisco’s 141st ANNUAL ITALIAN HERITAGE PARADE is the City’s oldest civic event and the nation’s oldest Italian–American parade and community celebration. It winds its way from Fisherman’s Wharf to North Beach. A San Francisco institution since it was established in 1868, the 2009 Parade is promising to be bigger, better and more colorful than ever.
21st Annual Fiesta on the Hill – www.bhnc.org/fiesta
When: Sunday, October 18
Location: Cortland Avenue
What: The Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center invites you to be part of one of the City’s premier street festivals, Fiesta on the Hill. Fiesta celebrates the diversity that is part of the rich fabric of Bernal Heights and its surrounding neighborhoods. Every year 15,000 people from Bernal Heights, the Mission, the Excelsior and from all over the Bay Area come to enjoy this family friendly, alcohol–free festival featuring activities and entertainment for all ages including a pumpkin patch, pony rides, petting zoo and the ever popular dunk tank.
Contact Us:
Office of Assemblymember Tom Ammiano
455 Golden Gate Avenue, 14300
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415.557.3013
Fax: 415.557.3015
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a13/
Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 14300, San Francisco, CA 94102
www.assembly.ca.gov/ammiano * Assemblymember.Ammiano@assembly.ca.gov * (415) 557–3013