Press Releases

Wieckowski housing bills advance in state Senate

April 25, 2018

SACRAMENTO – The Senate Governance and Finance Committee today passed two significant housing bills authored by Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to reduce the cost of building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and to require California charter cities follow state planning and zoning laws for housing.

SB 1333 strengthens the obligation of the 121 California charter cities to make sites available for housing development to meet the needs of their residents at all income levels.

Senate Committee passes Wieckowski bill to help homeowners build accessory units

April 17, 2018

SACRAMENTO – Senator Bob Wieckowski’s (D-Fremont) new bill to make it easier and less costly for homeowners to construct accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property, passed the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee today. Senate Bill 831 will now go before the Senate Governance and Finance Committee.

Senate hearing on state's climate adaptation programs shows increased coordination vital to protecting California

April 11, 2018

SACRAMENTO – Longer fire seasons, floods and increasing heat waves are already affecting California’s residents and natural environment, and as these and other dangers posed by climate change threaten more aspects of everyday life the state is working to adapt by investing in coordinated programs that integrate information, modern science and best practices to protect the public.

With climate threats increasing, Senate committee explores implementation of state's adaptation policies

April 10, 2018

SACRAMENTO – Increasing threats posed by climate change, including sea level rise, diminished snow pack, longer fire seasons, rising temperatures and the spread of vector-borne diseases into new habitats, are having a profound impact on all areas of California. The state has sought to aggressively fight climate change and become more resilient to protect the health and safety of California lives and livelihoods.

Wieckowski honors Alameda, Santa Clara counties' Poetry Out Loud champions

Castro Valley High, Live Oak Academy students recognized for their recitations

March 19, 2018

SACRAMENTO – State Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) honored Stephanie Bucuroaia of Castro Valley High School and Luke Cho of Live Oak Academy in the state Capitol today as the California Poetry Out Loud champions for Alameda and Santa Clara counties.

“Stephanie and Luke understand the power and magic of words and their ability to inspire, move and educate us,” said Wieckowski, whose district includes parts of both counties. “They are two outstanding students who have excelled in this competition.”

Wieckowski bill to improve flood protection in South Bay approved by Natural Resources and Water Committee

March 13, 2018

SACRAMENTO – A bill by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to improve flood protection, restore ecosystems and enhance recreation along the southern San Francisco Bay unanimously passed the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee today. SB 881 now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Wieckowski names Alanna Robin Powell Woman of the Year

March 12, 2018

SACRAMENTO – After developing Alopecia Universalis, an illness causing total hair loss, when she was 2 years old, Alanna Robin Powell struggled for years with mental and emotional health issues as she got older. But in 2012 she took charge of her life and fully accepted her illness. She began to use her personal experience to help others overcome their suffering. Now she is the founder and president of Boldly Me, a nonprofit organization she started in 2012 that has served over 17,000 children, including more than 150 with suicidal thoughts or plans to hurt themselves in some way.

Senate report shows how California can optimize benefits of state-funded research

Following key principles can foster economic growth, bring new products, services to the market, SOR report says

March 8, 2018

SACRAMENTO – A Senate Office of Research (SOR) report requested by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) highlights nine key principles state-funded research programs should use to optimize benefits to the public. The report was released this morning by SOR.

Wieckowski joins more than 225 coastal state legislators on letter to Interior Secretary opposing offshore oil drilling

March 5, 2018

Sacramento – In response to the Trump Administration’s announcement of increasing offshore oil and gas drilling, Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, and 226 legislators from 17 coastal states signed a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke in opposition to the plan. The letter was released today at a Bureau of Open Energy Management in Olympia, Washington.

Wieckowski, Cover highlight accessory dwelling units as a way to increase state's housing supply

Cover launches new backyard home planner tool for residents who want to build an ADU

March 2, 2018

GARDENA – State Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), who is leading a successful statewide effort to reduce over-regulation of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), joined the founder of Cover, a Los Angeles-based technology company that designs and builds backyard homes, today to highlight their role in providing more affordable housing in California.