Half Moon Bay Review: [Senator] Becker began with a synopsis of the issues he is trying to tackle with legislation in Sacramento. The daunting list includes climate change and reaching net zero greenhouse emissions by 2035, universal early childhood education, homelessness and mental health infrastructure, providing health care and other support for the farmworker community, and building broadband infrastructure that will serve areas like the Coastside. Those in attendance asked the senator questions on topics ranging from bike path infrastructure to public-private partnerships and breaking up PG&E.
In the News
Mercury News: On Monday, dozens of workers holding picket signs and shouting slogans like “enough is enough” and “4% won’t pay the rent” gathered at Dove Beeger Park in front of Sequoia Hospital alongside sympathetic elected officials like state Senator Josh Becker...
San Jose Spotlight: On June 15, state Sen. Josh Becker wrote a letter urging Palo Alto to look into wage theft claims janitors recently filed against their employer, SWA, for contracted work performed for Palo Alto. Becker noted property service industries tend to have track records of high turnover, poor quality of service and wage theft—and that these issues are particularly prevalent in the janitorial industry where exploitation, sexual harassment and violations of wage and hour laws are commonplace. He concludes by encouraging the city to find solutions to prevent these abuses and states it is critical for local governments to adopt a higher level of standards for these subcontracted services.
Daily Journal: The Bay Area’s myriad transit agencies could soon utilize a single mapping system after the region’s transportation planning agency approved a contract to streamline transit information and guidance. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Operations Committee approved a $6 million contract Friday with the mapping company Applied Wayfinding Inc. to develop a streamlined system of maps, signage and information at every transit station in the nine-county Bay Area.
NBC Bay Area: State Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, introduced a bill in February that would require all 27 agencies in the Bay Area to implement a standardized fare system and align their schedules by mid-2024. Becker argued after introducing the bill that the region’s transit agencies have multiple fare structures, discount and loyalty programs and trip planning systems and lack integrated schedules and live transit data. Taken together, he said, riders often find transferring between multiple transit systems to be burdensome and force them to wait for needlessly long amounts of time.
The Almanac News: Menlo Park is receiving $4.5 million from the state of California to fund the city’s electrification program in partnership with BlocPower, aiming to make the switch from natural gas more affordable to residents.
Daily Journal
By Corey Browning
The California Legislature passed this year’s $300 billion state spending plan Wednesday evening, with San Mateo County’s representatives securing several important earmarks to bring a slice of the pie to the Peninsula.
California legislature approves $12 million in Peninsula investments proposed by Senator Josh Becker
InMenlo: The California Legislature approved more than $12 million in Peninsula investments proposed by Senator Josh Becker in the package of trailer bills that were passed and sent to Governor Newsom the evening of June 29.