Phil Ting

I’ve done it. You probably have, too. You’re walking on Clement or Irving streets, and a store on the other side of the street catches your eye. Giving in to temptation, you look both ways and cross in the middle of the block once it’s safe to do so. Most of us don’t realize we’re breaking the law, but that’s jaywalking – something you can get a ticket for.

I can’t stomach it anymore. Nearly every day, I see video of innocent Asian Americans being violently slammed to the ground. I cringe at pictures of bruised and swollen faces. Making it even more sickening, a rash of assaults in the Bay Area have involved elderly victims. When will it...

California parents are eager to get their children back into the classroom – and thanks to Assembly Bill (AB) 86, more students will return for in-person learning this month. Last December, I introduced AB-10 to require public schools to reopen under most circumstances during the pandemic when infection rates drop....

SAN FRANCISCO—California Assemblymember Phil Ting is proposing to eliminate jaywalking tickets in the state of California. Ting is a representative from the state’s 19th Assembly District, which encompasses parts of San Francisco and San Mateo County. On Thursday, March 25, Ting introduced AB 1238, The Freedom To Walk Act, which...

Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, announced Thursday that he is introducing a state bill to decriminalize jaywalking in an effort to prevent police encounters that could potentially become life-threatening. Ting’s Assembly Bill 1238, also known as the Freedom To Walk Act, would legalize crossings that are safe and outside of...

Assemblyman Phil Ting is seeking to decriminalize jaywalking in California with the introduction of Assembly Bill 1238, The Freedom to Walk Act. Ting (D-San Francisco) introduced the bill Thursday at a press conference near the City College of San Francisco and said jaywalking is arbitrarily enforced and that enforcement disproportionately affects people of color. In a statement, Ting said:

STATE EVICTION MORATORIUM EXTENDED – LOCAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE. The Bay Area had a housing affordability crisis before the onset of COVID-19, and income and job losses have pushed many to the brink of homelessness. A recent U.S. Census Bureau survey found that nearly two million adult Californians are behind on their rent. State budget officials estimate they owe a total of $400 million in back rent, and federal and independent estimates put that figure at more than $1 billion.

Given the hope surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine and new leadership in the White House, I am optimistic about 2021 and an eventual return to normalcy. But for the time being, California will continue to face pandemic-related challenges. Thankfully, the state is seeing better-than-expected revenues, with an estimated $15 billion one-time surplus. This allows us to address immediate needs and forge a path toward economic recovery.

As a parent of two children in public schools, I worry students are falling behind in their studies as we continue relying solely on remote learning. Additionally, the longer they don’t see their friends and teachers in person, the more social isolation will impact development and emotional intelligence. These concerns...

As Californians remain vigilant, focused on managing the day-to-day challenges of our current COVID-19 reality, it can be hard to imagine what a better, cleaner and stronger California could look like after the pandemic. But that is exactly what we should be doing and planning for – making investments now to ensure we emerge from this health and economic crisis with a more equitable and healthier state.