By Assemblymember Phil Ting–
With Earth Day here, it’s time once again to reflect on the things we can do to save the Earth. Perhaps we can use a refillable water bottle instead of buying water in single-use plastic beverage containers, which are made with petroleum and often end up as litter. We could also use public transit or walk and bike to places to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions.
If you’re looking to do something in the community, I invite you to join my team on Saturday, April 23, to volunteer with the Golden Gate Audubon Society. From 10 am to noon, we will work to restore the habitat at Golden Gate Park’s North Lake, removing invasive plants and maintaining the gardens for migrating birds.
We are meeting at Chain of Lakes and JFK Drive. Be sure to dress warmly and wear closed-toe shoes. Gloves and equipment will be provided. Just RSVP and sign a volunteer waiver found on my website: https://a19.asmdc.org/events
Beyond Earth Day, I continue to work on legislation that addresses our climate crisis. This year, I have several bills focused on our transportation sector, which accounts for roughly half of our state’s greenhouse gas emissions. My proposal, AB 2731, for instance, speeds up the transition of our children’s school buses from fossil fuels to electricity ten years—from 2045 to 2035. This will not only help our planet, but also our kids’ health. Even though they spend only a few hours a week on a school bus, their young lungs are particularly susceptible to the asthma-causing particles that get trapped inside these vehicles.
I am also focusing on the cars we drive every day. I’ve introduced AB 2816, which prioritizes lower income Californians who drive farther with less fuel-efficient cars. By incentivizing this group to make the switch with clean car rebates, fewer zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) are needed on the road to meet our near-term climate goals. ZEV rebates currently don’t take gas usage into account, and by doing so, we’ll see much a greater impact.
And finally, with more and more clean vehicles on our streets, we must make sure drivers can easily access chargers. Many Californians are hesitant to replace their gas cars because of a fear they’ll be stranded somewhere with no place to plug in. My bill, AB 2061, requires reliability data for charging stations to be made publicly available. Drivers need confidence locations are properly working. As an EV driver, I know personally how frustrating it can be to get to a charger, only to find it broken. The information will also help ensure all communities have access to charging stations.
I hope you participate in any number of Earth Day celebrations happening in our area. Now is the time to take even bigger steps to preserve our health, our planet, and our future. Don’t underestimate our power. When our voices and actions are united, we are inclusive, impactful, and impossible to ignore.
Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the Westside of San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma, and Daly City.
Published on April 21, 2022
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