Latest news with #DaveCortese
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats support bills guaranteeing cash for low-income
(NewsNation) — A group of Democratic lawmakers from 17 states is hoping to garner support for legislation that would provide recurring cash payments to low-income residents as a way of alleviating poverty in the United States. The group of 20 Democrats launched 'Legislators for a Guaranteed Income' this week. The newly formed group will partner with a network of 245 mayors and local officials who have attempted to introduce similar pilot programs around the country, according to a news release issued by the group. The organization said that there are 25 proposed bills across 11 states that are seeking to establish some sort of guaranteed payments to low-income residents. Proposed legislation has been introduced in California, Illinois, Tennessee and North Carolina. Where do the DOGE stimulus checks stand? The California bill, introduced by State Sen. Dave Cortese, would provide recurring guaranteed cash payments to homeless teens as they transition into adulthood. The Tennessee bill, which is sponsored by State Rep. Justin Pearson, would offer eligible residents $3,000 per year. Under the California bill, eligible teens would receive four monthly $1,000 payments as part of a program that would cost $40 million to $50 million, reported. Despite the cost, Democrats see value in the investment. Cortese said he believes homeless teens deserve more than a chance to survive, but instead 'a real chance to thrive,' Cortese said in a statement issued by the organization. Other Democrats agreed that those in need would benefit from legislation aimed at cutting down on poverty. 'We need leaders of moral courage who see the world as it is and are ready to fight for a vision of what it can be,' Pearson, the Tennessee Democrat, said in a released statement. 'The call for guaranteed income that Dr. (Martin Luther) King put out is being answered today by hundreds of cities and counties across the nation, and I'm proud to expand the movement by joining Legislators for a Guaranteed Income.' How Karen Read's past media interviews could hurt her at trial The mayor's group claims that more Americans are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living continues to rise. Many of those work multiple jobs, the organization said, and yet more than one in three Americans are considered to be part of the working poor. In addition, 63% of working Americans do not have enough money saved to cover a $500 emergency if needed. The push for guaranteed income arose after a 2019 experiment in Northern California, where 125 residents received $500 per month for two months. Researchers found that participants saw their financial stability increase after being assisted through the pilot program, reported. 'The work-around guaranteed income is moving from cities and counties to states,' Michael Tubbs, the former mayor of Stockton, Calif., where the experiment took place, told the online news organization. 'We're going to be organizing state officials across the country who see what we all see: that affordability is an issue, that the Trump tariffs and gross mismanagement of the economy has made the problem even worse.' Yet, as Democrats push to gain support for more legislation to assist low-income residents, Republicans argue that those types of legislation encourage those people not to work. 'If you get people addicted to just getting a check from the government, it's going to be really hard to take that away,' former South Dakota Republican State Sen. John Wiik told Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
24-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Proposal seeks to improve cleanup of abandoned shopping carts in California
A proposal brought on by Northern California lawmaker is seeking to improve the process of cleaning up abandoned shopping carts in the state, which are often a source of blight on streets and waterways. State Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) announced Monday that he introduced Senate Bill 753, a measure that is also being backed by officials in the Bay Area's largest city, including Mayor Matt Mahan. "My bill eliminates blight and creates incentives for retailers to work collaboratively with local governments," Cortese said in a statement . Under SB753, the measure would make multiple changes to the state's current laws on abandoned shopping carts, which his office said were "ineffective" at preventing carts from being abandoned and incentivizing proper recovery. Currently, cities are required to store carts at an impound lot and wait for retailers to pick them up. If approved, cities would be able to return abandoned carts directly to retailers, instead of impounding them. Cities would also be able to recover costs by billing stores for retrieval services. Other provisions of the proposal include cities and counties being able to set their own fines, which are currently capped at $50. Violations would also be re-defined, according to Cortese's office, to "each instance where a retailer fails to retrieve a cart within three business days after being notified by the city or county, rather than being based on a single day's collection of carts under the current law." "I am sick and tired of seeing shopping carts litter our streets and waterways, and I know I'm not alone," Mahan said. "I appreciate Senator Cortese's shared urgency — letting cities return stolen carts immediately and creating avenues to recover costs keeps them where they belong — in stores, not on our streets." It was not immediately known when the measure would be considered in the legislature.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bay Area lawmaker introduces bill targeting abandoned shopping carts
(KRON) — A Bay Area lawmaker has introduced a bill aimed at tackling abandoned shopping carts on city streets, sidewalks, and creek beds. Senate Bill 753 was introduced by State Sen. Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley) and has the backing of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. SB 753 would allow local governments to return carts directly to retailers, pick up carts immediately and return them to retailers without delay. The bill would also allow local governments to recover the costs of managing the program. 'My bill eliminates blight and creates incentives for retailers to work collaboratively with local governments,' said Sen. Cortese. As deadline looms, Sen. Scott Wiener introduces bill to fund Bay Area transit 'I am sick and tired of seeing shopping carts litter our streets and waterways, and I know I'm not alone,' said Mayor Mahan. 'I appreciate Senator Cortese's shared urgency — letting cities return stolen shopping carts immediately and creating avenues to recover cots keeps them where they belong — in stores, not on our streets.' Under SBB 753: Cities would be able to return abandoned shopping carts directly to retailers rather than impounding them They would be able to recover costs by billing retailers for retrieval services A 3-day waiting period would be eliminated, allowing cities to pick up and return carts immediately If a retailer fails to retrieve carts within 3 days, cities can still impound them The $50 fine cap would be removed, allowing cities and counties to set their own fines A violation would be defined as an instance where a retailer fails to retrieve a cart within 3 business days after being notified by the city or county 'Current state law has proven ineffective at preventing shopping cart abandonment and incentivizing proper recovery,' Sen. Cortese's office said in a news release. 'Existing law requires cities to store carts in an impound low and wait for retailers to pick them up, which is inefficient and very costly for large cities.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
California to consider guaranteed income pilot for homeless youth
A bill that would establish a guaranteed income pilot for homeless 12th-grade students in California will hit the state Senate Education Committee floor Wednesday. Why it matters: Youth homelessness has been on the rise across the state, with many at higher risk of dropping out of school, turning to substance use and struggling with mental health challenges and chronic illnesses. Roughly 17,000 12th graders in California experienced homelessness during the 2023-24 academic year, census data shows. Driving the news: The legislation, introduced by state Sen. Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley), would establish a statewide guaranteed pilot program that provides $1,000 in monthly direct cash payments to homeless students as they transition out of high school. How it works: The goal is to bolster access to housing, employment and college opportunities. Participants would still be eligible for public assistance programs, student financial aid and California's earned income tax credit. Administered by the Department of Social Services, the California Success, Opportunity and Academic Resilience (SOAR) program would run from May 1 through Aug. 1 next year. The state agency would be required to work with an independent research institution to measure educational and economic security outcomes. What they're saying:"In California, we have the unfortunate designation of having the largest homeless youth population in the nation, and many of our large cities are trying to turn that around," Cortese said in a statement. The idea for the pilot originated at San José State University, where 11% of the student population is unhoused in "one of the costliest areas in California," according to Cortese. State of play: In San Francisco, there are almost 1,200 homeless youth — defined as unaccompanied minors under 18 and young adults ages 18-24 — on any given night, per the city's 2024 homelessness "point-in-time" count. That's up from roughly 1,100 in 2022 but less than the roughly 1,250 recorded in 2019. Black youth continue to account for a disproportionately high share. Zoom in: The leading contributing cause of homelessness was financial struggles. 44% of homeless youth surveyed by the PIT count said they have psychiatric or emotional issues, while 29% said they have at least one disabling condition. 42% also reported being assaulted or attacked in the past year. The intrigue: There was a 9% decrease from 2022 to 2024 in unsheltered youth homelessness, which covers those sleeping on streets, in vehicles or other places not meant for people to live. At the same time, there was a 76% increase in sheltered youth homelessness, including those who sleep in emergency shelters and transitional housing, which the city attributed to greater shelter capacity and utilization. Yes, but: The city identified a 94% increase in family homelessness from 2022, a trend local advocates have warned can perpetuate cycles of poverty between generations.
CBS News
14-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Bay Area State Sen. Dave Cortese seeks audit of MTC, BATA over bridge toll hikes
A lawmaker is seeking a state audit of two agencies involved in the setting of Bay Area bridge tolls, claiming there is a lack of accountability. On Thursday, State Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) asked the state auditor for an audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTC) and the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA). In a statement, the senator cited a series of bridge toll hikes that are set to go into effect in 2026, following a toll hike that took effect in January. "People who drive the seven Bay Area state-owned bridges want answers," Cortese, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said in a statement. Beginning next year, tolls are set to rise annually through 2030 on the Antioch, Bay, Benicia, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo bridges. Tolls on the Golden Gate Bridge are administered by a separate agency. For drivers in regular two-axle cars and trucks, tolls would rise to $8.50 in 2026. FasTrak users would pay $9.00 in 2027, $9.50 in 2028, $10.00 in 2029 and $10.50 in 2030. To encourage FasTrak use, drivers who use license plate accounts or invoiced tolling would also pay a premium ranging from 25 cents to $1.00 beginning in 2027. Tolls for large freight trucks and other vehicle/trailer combinations with three or more axles would also see increases. Officials had previously stated the toll increases would fund the Toll Bridge Capital Improvement Plan, which includes almost $2 billion in projects to preserve the bridges, including painting, repairs and operational improvements. The upcoming toll hikes are separate from a $1 increase that went into effect on Jan. 1, which is the last in a series of toll hikes brought on by Regional Measure 3. Approved by voters nearly seven years ago, the measure uses money collected for bridge tolls to fund multiple road and transit improvements. "While prior toll increases approved in 2018 were supposed to be spent on bridge maintenance and repair costs, it is unclear exactly where that money went. Now BATA is increasing tolls again saying additional maintenance and repair costs were not factored into the 2018 measure. No wonder the public is so confused," Cortese said. Cortese is asking the auditor to evaluate the process the MTC used to determine that the toll hike was necessary and to check the effectiveness of an MTC risk management policy aimed at avoiding cost overruns. The audit also seeks analysis of four toll-funded programs overseen by MTC and BATA, which includes analyzing annual toll revenue and expenditures. John Goodwin, a spokesperson for MTC and BATA, told CBS News Bay Area Thursday, "We at MTC look forward to working with the State Auditor to answer all the questions identified in the audit request from Senator Cortese's office."
