2.4 million renters to benefit

SACRAMENTO – California renters who have been drowning in unaffordable housing costs would see much-needed relief under a bill unveiled Wednesday by State Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa), Assembly members Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County), Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), and 28 co-authors.

The legislation, SB 248, would increase California’s renter’s credit for the first time in 40 years and would represent significant help to single parents in particular.

“Housing costs are going through the roof in California and families are struggling to pay the rent,” Glazer said. “Forty years have passed since the last time the renter’s credit was increased, so it’s about time we provide this needed financial relief to renters.”

“It is no secret that our state is facing a homelessness epidemic, and a housing shortage,” said Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva (D – Orange County), a principal co-author. “Hard working families are ending up on our streets because they cannot afford to pay the exorbitant cost of rent in our state. Students in Orange County, in particular, are commuting more than an hour, because their rent is too high. We must do more, and this bill is the solution.”

SACRAMENTO — Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva (D - Orange County) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court reinstated President Trump's ban on transgender service members in the military:

“First off, I thank everyone in military service of this great country for sacrificing so much; including the many transgender people already openly serving. They should understand that they have the support of many of their representatives right now in government.”

“Any citizen with the courage and fortitude to don a uniform of the United States military, and put their life on the line to serve their country deserves the opportunity to do so,” said Quirk-Silva. “No one should be banned from engaging in service to their country solely based on gender identity. This is a civil rights issue, and we should speak out against this discriminatory decision.”

Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom released is 2019-20 initial budget proposal, and shared a mult-tiered approach to address the state’s homelessness and housing crisis. The approach the Governor has proposed aligns with the bills authored by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, as she continues her efforts to support the needs of Orange County, and address their homeless and housing issues.

“I look forward to partnering with the Governor in this effort to confront our housing crisis.  Housing affordability is the biggest public policy issue affecting our state today.  Every day, communities are being torn apart as more and more people struggle with affordable housing, and stave off homelessness.” said Quirk-Silva. “This is why I authored affordable housing and homelessness legislation immediately after being sworn-in to serve Orange County in 2019 and 2020. Not responding immediately would continue to create dire consequences on our quality of life and our economy.”

“For California to lead the nation in tackling homelessness and housing shortages, we must use all possible resources at our disposal to combat this crisis on all fronts,” said Quirk-Silva.

Assembly Bill (AB) 139 updates California Housing Element law to reflect the state’s homeless crisis and the need for every community to better assess the number of individuals and families facing homelessness and implement more targeted transition strategies to long term permanent housing for these Californians.

AB 143 expands emergency housing to include homeless shelters and permanent supportive housing when Orange County, or cities within Orange County, declare a shelter crisis.  This will allow for streamlining California Environmental Quality Act processes, a key point of Governor Newsom’s call to action.

AB 146 would authorize CalTrans to lease airspace under state highways or excess real property acquired for highway purposes to provide emergency shelter or feeding programs.  This program has proved effective in communities across the state, and Governor Newsom called for this strategy to be implemented statewide.

AB 148 expands the scope of the Sustainable Communities Strategy to track and report on real housing development as part of implementation.  This includes the development of affordable housing, and provision of emergency shelter beds.  The Governor declared the need for statewide goals, not just target figures set by state agencies, and regional planning focused on housing development.

SACRAMENTO â€“ Moments ago, Governor Gavin Newsom released his 2019-20 Budget Plan which proposes to fully fund two years of free community college in California at a cost of $40 million.  These funds were proposed in the 2019-20 state budget, from the $200 million voter-approved Proposition 98 General Fund. This proposal extends the California College Promise to waive enrollment fees for first-time, full-time students for a second academic year.

Assembly Bill 2 (AB 2), jointly authored by Assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva, Miguel Santiago, David Chiu, Kevin McCarty, Rob Bonta, Laura Freidman, Lorena Gonzalez, and Sabrina Cervantes was introduced to strengthen the California College Promise policy. This budget proposal takes an important step towards guaranteeing a completely free community college experience for California students. 

“We must be sure that California’s students have access to higher education, yet high tuition costs deny students and their families the dream of obtaining a degree,” said Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D – Orange County). “Expanding the College Promise Program will give working class students, and their families, assurance that the cost of higher education, and the American Dream, will be within their reach. A reinvestment in our students is an investment in California; its educated students, skilled workforce, economy, and its future.”