NRDC: The California legislature has a big opportunity to cut greenhouse gas emissions from one of the world’s most carbon-intensive products – concrete – by passing Senate Bill 778 authored by Senator Josh Becker. The bill would add concrete to the Buy Clean California Act, which requires the state to use low-carbon building materials in public works projects.
In the News
Daily Journal: Legislation that would require greater regional transportation cooperation between Bay Area transit agencies passed the state Senate last week and is on its way to the Assembly for consideration. Introduced by State Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, it also gives MTC the responsibility of ensuring transit agencies comply with regional efforts.
Daily Journal: A push to electrify buildings and transportation — and make sure the grid is powered by clean energy and can handle the added load — got a boost this week with a package of bills by state Sen. Josh Becker clearing the Senate.
Half Moon Bay Review: There was a consistent theme to the public comments at the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors meeting on the morning of May 24. It all revolved around the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and a growing effort to enact civilian oversight over the institution...Though no supervisor has publicly supported the idea, the proposal has been endorsed by several elected officials and organizations, including U.S. Reps. Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo, Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, State Sen. Josh Becker, and numerous mayors and city council members...
Stateline: (M)ost fans who attend minor league games have no idea the players they’re cheering for don’t earn a living wage.“I was really surprised,” said California state Sen. Josh Becker, a Democrat. “I’m a big baseball fan, but I didn’t know. I’ve started to hear a lot of different stories.” Becker introduced the Minor League Baseball Players’ Bill of Rights earlier this month. The bill would allow players to seek new contracts after four years of service and negotiate wages based on their market value.
StreetsBlogSF: “We should have a world-class transit system. We have the bones of it,” said State Senator Josh Becker, whose district spans parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, at an event near the Hillsdale Caltrain station. “If we just do fare and schedule integration, that would make a tremendous difference.”
California Current: SB 887 by Sen. Josh Becker (D-San Mateo) aims to advance grid modernization by extending the electricity planning horizons of the California Energy Commission and Public Utilities Commission from 10 to 15-years. It also would require approval of at least one of the 23 projects proposed in the California Independent System Operator’s 2022-23 transmission plan. The nearly two dozen projects would cost an estimated $3 billion. “We can’t get to 100 percent clean energy without needed transmission,” Becker said.
Sierra Sun Times: State Senator Josh Becker announced a bill on Wednesday to eliminate all telecommunication fees in California’s county jails and state prisons, a change that would rid incarcerated people and their families of the financial burden that results from connecting by phone, electronic messaging or video calling systems in state and local lockups. “Staying connected with family and friends is integral to the mental health and well-being of all people, but especially incarcerated Californians,” said Senator Becker, D-Peninsula, the author of Senate Bill 1008, the Keep Families Connected Act.