Recent News in the 17th District

SACRAMENTO – The California Assembly today passed AB 4, the TRUST Act, Assemblymember Ammiano’s bill to reign in excesses committed under the federal Secure Communities program and repair damages it caused to community trust in law enforcement.  The Assembly also approved AB 755, a bill to require consideration of suicide prevention measures on state bridges, and AB 868, to ensure that relevant judicial employees have training in cultural competency on LGBT issues.

All three bills now move to the Senate for consideration.

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SACRAMENTO – The California Assembly today passed AB 1266, a bill that ensures that transgender students in California have equal and full access to programs and facilities on the basis of their gender identity.

“This shows the nobility of what a Legislature can do,” bill author Assemblymember Tom Ammiano said on the Assembly floor.

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SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, a longtime leader on marijuana policy, released the following statement regarding today’s ruling by the California Supreme Court in the City of Riverside case. To the extent that he has time, Mr. Ammiano will call reporters who contact this office. We appreciate your awareness of his limited time. His statement:

“As I understand it, the court ruling says Riverside County can, under current state law, prohibit dispensaries. However, it allows a big hole for the legislature to drive through. The court wrote:

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SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Tom Ammiano introduced 30 bills and one resolution in the current session. This legislative package is notable not only for its quantity, but for its ambitious scope. The bills include measures tackling major issues in immigration, public safety, the environment, labor rights, social discrimination and reform of California tax policy. The great majority of these bills passed policy committees in April or on the first day of May. None has been voted down.

“April is always a grueling month for legislators, but going into my last term in the Assembly, I’m trying to work even harder to further the issues my constituents elected me to pursue,” Ammiano said. “These are bills they care about and issues I care about.”

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Assemblymember Tom Ammiano speaks at Feb. 20 media event to promote Assembly legislative package to address the drinking water crisis in many low-income communities in California.

Assemblymember Tom Ammiano welcomed members and staff of the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District to the Assembly Floor. Assemblymember Ammiano, Board President James Eddie, General Manager Denis Mulligan, Past President Janet Reilly, Governmental Affairs Chair Gerald Cochran, Assemblymember Marc Levine, Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro. February 4, 2013.

By Assemblymember Ammiano – Huffington Post

In Los Angeles recently, a Skid Row resident named Efrain sat down on a curb at 4th and Towne streets with a bucket of water and a rag to wash his tired, smelly feet. It was 11:30 p.m. There were no cars on the street and he had moved to where he wouldn't bother anyone.

A policeman drove up and told Efrain to get up. "He told me to get up and if I didn't I will go to jail. He gave a ticket for jaywalking," Efrain said, describing his experience to the LA Community Action Network.

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January 8, 2013 -- Assemblymember Ammiano poses with Giants President Larry Baer, at left, and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, center.

January 8, 2013 -- Assemblymember Tom Ammiano holds his custom Giants jersey while the 2010 and 2012 World Series trophies are displayed in Assembly Chambers.

In this issue:

• Thanking the Voters
• Celebrating the Champions
• What We're Doing in Sacramento
• Honors
• Getting Graded
• Coming Events

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Washington, D.C. -- Assemblymember Ammiano attended the anniversary dinner for the National Domestic Workers Alliance Wednesday, where he posed with actress Viola Davis. Davis was honored by the NWDA for her role in “The Help.” “I appreciate you and I appreciate your sacrifice. I stand here in solidarity with you,” Davis told the attendees. Ammiano plans to reintroduce his Domestic Workers Bill of Rights again in the coming legislative session. It was passed by the Legislature but vetoed by the Governor.

Ammiano was in Washington, D.C. this week to participate in panels at the Progressive States Network conference. He was scheduled to talk about what states can do to address immigration issues, given his past leadership on the TRUST Act and other measures. The Assemblymember intends to bring the TRUST Act back to the Assembly, as well.

September 11, 2012 - The TRUST Act, AB 1081 by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, continues pick up new and broad support as it awaits signature by Gov. Jerry Brown.

August and September endorsements have come from prominent sheriffs and police chiefs, law school deans and professors and a Washington D.C. think tank known for its conservative positions.

Law enforcement has been a major supporter of the bill, which seeks to curb the excesses of the federal Secure Communities (S-Comm) program.

Abuse of the detainer process has led to deportation of more than 50,000 productive Californians not suspected of serious crimes. It has eroded community trust for local law enforcement in communities where deportations have taken place.

For that reason, the TRUST Act has recently picked up the backing of Greg Suhr, San Francisco Chief of Police; Laurie Smith, Sheriff of Santa Clara County; E.G. Prieto, Sheriff of Yolo County; and police chiefs in Oakland, Palo Alto, National City and other cities.

In letters to Gov. Brown, the law enforcement officials have stressed the difficulty of conducting community policing under current S-Comm conditions.

Underscoring the law enforcement support of TRUST, the legal community has spoken out to say that TRUST is fully in compliance with federal law.

In a 10-page analysis sent to the Governor, the Law School Deans of UC Irvine and UC Berkeley were joined by more than 25 other law professors and experts in saying that S-Comm detainers are voluntary and that TRUST poses no conflict with federal statutes. They endorsed the bill.

Today, the Competitive Enterprise Institute wrote in the Huffington Post to suggest that Immigration and Customs Enforcement was using “deceit” when it tries to convince local authorities that detainers are not voluntary. The CEI article went further, saying that the detainer practices would be unconstitutional if they were mandatory.

Under the TRUST Act, local law enforcement would be able to respond to detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement when the requests apply to people convicted of a serious or violent felony. Local officials could also use their discretion to detain people for ICE if they are formally charged with a serious or violent felony.

The Governor has until September 30 to sign the bill.

(Sacramento) -- Law abiding people are being sent to jail for minor infractions that most of us would merely get a ticket for, simply because they are undocumented. California State Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) wants to change that with his legislation, Assembly Bill 1081, also called the TRUST Act. AB 1081, which passed the legislature would end unnecessary holds for productive community members in the state's already overcrowded jails. Assemblymember Ammiano led a march and a rally at the State Capitol to urge Governor Brown to sign the TRUST Act into law. Learn more in this Assembly Access Video.

(Washington, D.C.) -- A bi-partisan delegation of lawmakers from California travelled to our nation's capital to reach out to federal officials. California State Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) was part of the group and advocated for California's children. Assemblymember Ammiano wants to find a way for the federal government to help restore cuts to the Healthy Families program. Learn more in this Assembly Access Video.

Sacramento - Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) announced Mary Magee as his 2012 Woman of the Year.

“I am thrilled to announce Mary Magee as the Woman of the Year for Assembly District 17”, said Ammiano. “Mary is the epitome of a dedicated nurse – she is compassionate, caring and committed to the public health of those who need it most. She is a champion for the rights of her fellow workers and is an example of the best of what San Francisco’s healthcare system has to offer.”

Mary Magee has been a registered nurse with the San Francisco Department of Public Health for the past 25 years. In 1987, while working at the HIV/AIDS inpatient ward at San Francisco General Hospital, she sustained a needle stick. Six weeks later, she learned that she had acquired HIV. While dealing privately with what was then a life-threatening diagnosis, she fought as Nurse Jane Doe and won groundbreaking workers compensation rules. Together with fellow healthcare workers and her union, SEIU, she advocated for regulations and practices that would require the use of engineered safety devices in healthcare settings. After the passage of AB 1208, Mary served on the SF Department of Public Health Safe Devices Committee, which evaluating and selected safety devices with healthcare worker input, creating guidelines for device training and safe work practices, and maintaining and evaluating sharps injury data. The Committee has developed what are now recognized as universal safety standards to protect healthcare workers from occupational exposure.

After 16 years as a nurse at San Francisco General Hospital’s Labor and Delivery unit, Mary now works at a DPH run supportive housing residence for formerly homeless people. She is proud to count herself among other HIV positive grandmothers who hope for a safer and healthier world for their grandchildren.