Time is Running Out for California to Take Action on Policing

By Anne Spevack with help from IEB’s Police Funding and Accountability Workgroup – join our next meeting here. 

URGENT Deadline: August 31, 2020

TAKE ACTION THIS WEEK! Earlier this summer we asked you to support our priority California bills for this year’s legislative session. The August 31 constitutionally-mandated deadline for bills to be passed, is almost here, and we’re highlighting activism on issues of over-policing and police brutality, with two important police accountability and public safety bills.

These bills are very close to being passed by the legislature and sent to the Governor for signature – but they aren’t there yet. First, they need the support of legislators in their respective houses. Then, they need the Governor’s signature – and we’ve heard concerns from organizers with the Anti Police-Terror Project that the Governor may not be supportive of either of these bills. 

What you can do:

Ask your state legislators to push for hearings and votes before the August 31 deadline, and ask Governor Newsom to support these critical bills:

1. Tell your state Senator to support AB 2054 – the CRISES Act using the script below. Alternatively, you can send them an email using this form from ACLU California.

What to say:

My name is _____, my zip code is ____, and I’m a member of Indivisible East Bay. Please make sure that AB 2054, the CRISES Act, gets a floor vote by August 31. We need this legislation to support community organizations that help vulnerable populations in emergencies. AB 2054 will help people get emergency services from trained professionals with connection to their communities. Please help vulnerable Californians in crisis by supporting the CRISES Act and making sure it gets a floor vote by August 31.

Contact info: 

• Senator Steve Glazer: email; (916) 651-4007; Orinda (925) 258-1176; Antioch (925) 754-1461
• Senator Nancy Skinner: email; (916) 651-4009, Oakland (510) 286-1333
• Senator Bob Wieckowski: email; (916) 651-4010, Fremont (510) 794-3900

2. Tell your Assemblymember to Support SB 731, allowing for decertification of police officers who have been convicted of certain crimes. You can also use this form from ACLU Northern California to send an email to your legislators. 

Note: If you are a constituent of Buffy Wicks, you can also ask her to make sure it is heard in the Assembly Rules Committee.

What to say:

My name is _____, my zip code is ____, and I’m a member of Indivisible East Bay. I’m calling in support of SB 731, which will allow police officers who commit misconduct to be investigated and decertified. California is one of only five states that has no process to decertify abusive cops. SB 731 will improve community safety by keeping abusive officers off the streets. Please support SB 731 and make sure it gets a floor vote by August 31. 

Contact info:

• Buffy Wicks: email; District: 510-286-1400; Capitol: 916-319-2015
• Rebecca Bauer-Kahan: email; Capitol (handles legislative calls): 916-319-2016; District: 925-328-1515
• Bill Quirk: email; Capitol: 916-319-2020; District 510-583-8818
• Rob Bonta: email; District: 510-286-1670; Capitol: 916-319-2018
• Timothy Grayson: email; Capitol: 916-319-2014; District: 925-521-1511

3. Call Governor Newsom and tell him to support and commit to signing both AB 2054 and SB 731. 

What to say:

My name is _____, my zip code is ____, and I’m a member of Indivisible East Bay. I’m calling in support of  two bills related to policing: AB 2054 – the CRISES Act and SB 731. AB 2054 will help people get emergency services from trained professionals with connection to their communities. SB 731 will improve community safety by keeping abusive officers off the streets. Please support both AB 2054 and SB 731 and commit to signing them once they are passed by the legislature. 

Contact Info: email; Phone: (916) 445-2841

 

Anne Spevack is a longtime member of IEB who is learning more every day about how to support local and national groups organizing to fight police brutality.