Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
California Legislature Returns Amid Homeless, Climate Crisis
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
January 7, 2020

Share

SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers returned to work on Monday to tackle a daunting list of challenges that include climate concerns and a growing homeless population — problems magnified by election-year politics.

California is already one of the most aggressive states when it comes to addressing climate change, including a state law that requires all of the state’s energy to come from renewable and zero-carbon sources by 2045.
Members of the state Assembly’s Democratic majority kicked off the second year of the two-year legislative session by announcing California’s version of the “Green New Deal” — an ambitious climate proposal that could impose new rules to reduce emissions from cars and trucks.
California is already one of the most aggressive states when it comes to addressing climate change, including a state law that requires all of the state’s energy to come from renewable and zero-carbon sources by 2045.
“We think that’s not fast enough,” said Assemblyman Rob Bonta, a Democrat from Alameda and the primary author of the legislation.
It’s unclear what changes the bill would make. An early version of the legislation sets goals for doubling the availability of affordable housing and public transportation by 2030 while also reducing “disparate standard of living indices for historically impacted communities of color.”
But Bonta said the proposal could also address emission standards for cars and trucks.
“This is not something we just decided to do. This is something science is telling us we have to do,” Bonta said.

About 3 Million Californians Were Left in the Dark Last October

Complicating any big legislative proposal this year: A compressed election calendar. Lawmakers now will face primary elections in March instead of June, potentially making it more difficult to vote on politically sensitive issues.

“About 3 million Californians were left in the dark last October with little to no support from the very same companies they pay monthly. [The utilities’ poor communication, sloppy rollout, lack of support and proper compensation] were unacceptable. I want to hold these companies accountable and ensure that these power shutoffs are not the norm.” — Assemblyman Kansen Chu of San Jose
Aside from the environmental proposal, state lawmakers announced Monday that they were introducing bills addressing hot-button topics including the planned power outages that blacked out much of the state last fall.
Democratic Assemblyman Kansen Chu of San Jose said two of his bills will deal with the power outages that utilities used to try to prevent their equipment from sparking wildfires.
The first would require power utility companies to provide information about the shutoffs in languages earmarked for individual ratepayers and provide help for those who rely on electricity for their medical needs. The second would give the California Public Utility Commission authority the power to decide if the shutoffs are necessary and reasonable and if the utility company should have to compensate those affected.
“About 3 million Californians were left in the dark last October with little to no support from the very same companies they pay monthly,” Chu said in a statement. He added that the utilities’ poor communication, sloppy rollout, lack of support and proper compensation “were unacceptable. I want to hold these companies accountable and ensure that these power shutoffs are not the norm.”
Separately, Chu said he would introduce bills making it easier for people to take time off from work or school to seek mental health treatment.

DON'T MISS

Musk PAC Tells Philadelphia Judge the $1 Million Sweepstakes Winners Are Not Chosen by Chance

DON'T MISS

Bass’ Record 61-Yard Field Goal Lifts Bills Over Dolphins in Thriller

DON'T MISS

Big Spenders: These Companies Are Giving the Most to California Legislative Candidates

DON'T MISS

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Drifts Ahead of Election Day, While Oil Rises and Yields Sink

DON'T MISS

Saints Fire Head Coach Dennis Allen After Seven-Game Losing Streak

DON'T MISS

Raiders Fire Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy and 2 Other Offensive Coaches

DON'T MISS

Storm in the Caribbean Is on a Track to Likely Hit Cuba as a Hurricane

DON'T MISS

Israel Ends Agreement With UN Agency Providing Aid in Gaza

DON'T MISS

Demarcus Robinson’s One-Handed Catch in OT Gives Rams Win Over Seahawks

DON'T MISS

Trump, Musk and an American Masculinity Crisis

UP NEXT

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

UP NEXT

Lyft Pays $2.1 Million to Settle Case Alleging the Ride-Hailing Service Deceived Drivers

UP NEXT

Southern California County Official Pleads Guilty to Bribery Charge in COVID Funds Scheme

UP NEXT

Visalia Rollerblader Suffered Major Injuries After Being Struck by Vehicle

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Indicted for Possessing Stolen Guns

UP NEXT

Anti-Semitic Incident at Oakland Cafe Raises Concerns About Rising Intolerance

UP NEXT

Schwarzenegger Endorses Harris, Warns Against Another Trump Term

UP NEXT

Will Noncitizens Be Able to Vote? This California City Will Decide Their Fate

UP NEXT

California Voters Consider Controversial Vacation Homes Tax in Iconic Lake Tahoe Area

UP NEXT

Los Angeles Sees Bus Burned, Store Thefts and Rowdy Crowds After Dodgers Win World Series

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Drifts Ahead of Election Day, While Oil Rises and Yields Sink

21 mins ago

Saints Fire Head Coach Dennis Allen After Seven-Game Losing Streak

25 mins ago

Raiders Fire Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy and 2 Other Offensive Coaches

29 mins ago

Storm in the Caribbean Is on a Track to Likely Hit Cuba as a Hurricane

32 mins ago

Israel Ends Agreement With UN Agency Providing Aid in Gaza

37 mins ago

Demarcus Robinson’s One-Handed Catch in OT Gives Rams Win Over Seahawks

1 hour ago

Trump, Musk and an American Masculinity Crisis

1 hour ago

What One Tossup District Says About the Trump-Harris Battle for the Suburbs

1 hour ago

Herbert Shines, Chargers Defense Dominates in Win Over Browns

1 hour ago

US Confirms Reports That Iran Arrested an Iranian-American Citizen

1 hour ago

Musk PAC Tells Philadelphia Judge the $1 Million Sweepstakes Winners Are Not Chosen by Chance

PHILADELPHIA — A lawyer for Elon Musk’s political action committee told a judge in Philadelphia on Monday that so-called “winner...

1 min ago

1 min ago

Musk PAC Tells Philadelphia Judge the $1 Million Sweepstakes Winners Are Not Chosen by Chance

7 mins ago

Bass’ Record 61-Yard Field Goal Lifts Bills Over Dolphins in Thriller

21 mins ago

Big Spenders: These Companies Are Giving the Most to California Legislative Candidates

21 mins ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Drifts Ahead of Election Day, While Oil Rises and Yields Sink

25 mins ago

Saints Fire Head Coach Dennis Allen After Seven-Game Losing Streak

Raiders
29 mins ago

Raiders Fire Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy and 2 Other Offensive Coaches

32 mins ago

Storm in the Caribbean Is on a Track to Likely Hit Cuba as a Hurricane

37 mins ago

Israel Ends Agreement With UN Agency Providing Aid in Gaza

Search

Send this to a friend