New Clipper benefits provide incredible savings if you can access them. 👏 👏👏 But many riders who rely on AC Transit 🚌 pay cash 💵 and miss out. I'm pushing for a fairer system because everyone deserves the same access to savings. #FairFares

We stand in unwavering solidarity with @chirla_org and every org defending immigrants, refugees, and working families. When you come for one of us, you come for all of us!

@potus gave Big Oil a huge gift in signing Congressional measures 2 overturn CA vehicle emission rules. @gavinnewsom.bsky.social outraged but #CALeg considering 20-year giveaway to Big Oil he proposed by extending Cap-&-Trade "as is." www.fresnobee.com/opinion/read... @leadershipcounsel.bsky.social

Read our full statement on the May revision of the California budget at: publicadvocates.org/press-releas...

Though Teacher Appreciation Week is coming to an end, here are some ways to create safe, supportive environments for educators and students alike all year round. 🍎

We build stronger and more successful communities when everyone–students, parents, guardians, family members, and neighbors–is included in local decision making. This also applies within a school community, where students and families must be included in the process to recruit educators! 🍎

📢 Housing Policy Alert: Tenant Rights Under Threat "Those forces are feeling emboldened, not just by the rhetoric coming out of the Trump administration, but the actual regulations," warns Liz Ryan Murray, director of strategic campaigns at Public Advocates.

👇Español abajo 🧵Our students—especially students of color and multilingual learners—need and deserve diverse, fully prepared teachers. It’s critical in ensuring that they feel safe, supported, and ready for success.

One way that we can create schools where every student feels belonging and joy is to have a teacher workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and a student’s local community. 🧵 Learn more about how we can create schools of belonging for all at: bit.ly/div_roadmap.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, to existing teachers and all of the potential teachers in our communities. 🍎

Students are set up for success when their teachers are set up for success. Teachers are set up for success when they are assigned by their districts to teach the classes that they are trained for. 🧵:

Affordability starts by stopping handouts to Big Oil. 🛢️❌ $890M in free pollution allowances went to fossil fuel giants last year—while Californians face rising energy bills & dangerous wildfires! Tell @governor.ca.gov it's time to strengthen #CapAndTrade. ⤵️ go.nextgenpolicy.org/Wv7A

This Teacher Appreciation Week, read our Educator Diversity Policy Roadmap and learn how we can build our educator workforce to better support our students and our teachers! ➡️ bit.ly/div_roadmap

Thanks to @spur-urbanist.bsky.social for hosting us today! 👇

It is not illegal to simply have a racial disparity in discipline statistics, Affeldt notes. Instead, disparities serve as a red flag that triggers an investigation to examine whether certain policies or practices are discriminatory and violate civil rights. Read more 👇

The Trump administration said a focus on equity in discipline has harmed student safety while advocates say it’s an excuse to roll back civil rights protections. edsource.org/2025/trump-a... by @emmagallegos.bsky.social & @jfensterwald.bsky.social @edsource.org

California's Cap-and-Trade Program must do more to reduce GHG emissions and help communities burdened by decades of toxic pollution. Voice Your Support for Effective, Equitable Cap and Trade. Email your Assemblymember and Senator Today transformca.org/cap-and-trade/

Imagine what CA could do with $890 million: - Funding public transit - Protect us from wildfires - Build affordable housing Instead, that money went to free pollution passes for Big Oil. Sign @nextgenpolicy.bsky.social's petition and help fix cap-and-trade to start investing in what really matters.

California’s Cap-and-Trade program is supposed to help clean up our air, fight wildfires, and lower energy costs—and it can be used to fund transit and affordable housing, benefiting all Californians. But instead, we’re giving nearly $1 billion in free allowances to Big Oil. 👎 Take action:

Affordability starts by stopping handouts to Big Oil. $890M in free pollution allowances went to fossil fuel giants last year—while Californians face rising costs and dangerous wildfires. Tell @governor.ca.gov it's time to strengthen Cap-and-Trade and fund affordable housing and transit.

Affordability starts by stopping handouts to Big Oil. $890M in free pollution allowances went to fossil fuel giants last year—while Californians face rising energy bills and dangerous wildfires. Tell @governor.ca.gov it's time to strengthen Cap-and-Trade. www.nextgenpolicy.org/protect-cali...

Sign the petition with @nextgenpolicy.bsky.social ky.social to extend & strengthen Cap-and-Trade! www.nextgenpolicy.org/protect-cali...

California’s Cap-and-Trade program is supposed to help clean up our air, fight wildfires, and lower energy costs. But instead, we’re giving nearly $1 billion in free allowances to Big Oil. @governor.ca.gov @isaacgbryan.bsky.social

“We are deeply disappointed in the Court’s decision to deny a new trial in the fight for fully staffed classrooms at Stege, Helms, and Kennedy. Our commitment to advocating for stable, well-supported public schools—especially for students most impacted by systemic neglect—remains unwavering.” 👇

Gov. Newsom essentially signaled that ethnic studies isn’t one of his top education priorities amid a statewide teacher shortage. He is seeking $300 million for teacher retention and recruitment in the budget, a similar price point to what ethnic studies would cost.

The evidence is clear: fines and jail time for homelessness cost more than housing and services. We must stop spending money to make homelessness worse. SB 634 is common-sense fiscal policy. @SenatorJohnLaird @scott_wiener @sencabaldon @JesseArreguin vote #YESonSB634

Fines, fees, and arrests for being unable to pay rent undermines real progress on homelessness. Senator John Laird, @scottwiener.bsky.social, @senatorcabaldon.bsky.social, @jessearreguin.bsky.social — vote #YESonSB634 to support real solutions, not punishment.

It’s National Fair Housing Month and our Housing Justice advocates are getting the word out on ways the state and communities can get more affordable housing though CA’s Housing Element Process which includes some fair housing requirements!

We can’t punish our way out of a housing crisis. Senator John Laird, @scottwiener.bsky.social, @senatorcabaldon.bsky.social, @jessearreguin.bsky.social, vote #YESonSB634 to stop persecuting people for being unhoused.

The evidence is clear: fines/jail for homelessness cost more than housing/services. We must stop spending $ to make homelessness worse @scottwiener.bsky.social @senatorcabaldon.bsky.social @jessearreguin.bsky.social vote #YESonSB634 @michellepariset.bsky.social @naehomelessness.bsky.social

The California Apartment Association's political influence extends throughout state. On the local level, the CAA has fought municipal ordinances on rent control, both openly and behind the scenes, throughout California, including in Concord: sfstandard.com/2025/04/16/l...

Today, a court has continued to allow the West Contra Costa Unified School District to use caretakers with 30-day substitute permits to fill permanent, year-long teaching positions—which will continue to harm the district's most vulnerable students. Learn more: publicadvocates.org/press-releas...

⚖️ Job alert! ⚖️ Join Public Advocates in our work to defend—and transform—public education across the state as our Senior Staff Attorney for our Education Equity team. The priority application deadline is Friday, May 2. Apply now at: publicadvocates.org/get-involved...

Daily reminder to fund transit! 🚌

As the Bay Area looks to increase its housing stock, is there any room for community college students?

Residents across California face struggles to find safe, healthy, affordable housing. Community college students are one population facing this struggle—roughly half are housing insecure, while a quarter are homeless. Students, advocates, and colleges are working together address this issue:

Michael Hursh applied for a new position in Oregon before negotiating with the agency for a cushy adviser role. Now he has both jobs.

Former AC Transit GM Michael Hursh started a new job in Oregon as the Lane County Lane Transit District's new chief operating officer. But he's still operating as a consultant for AC Transit making more than $500K a year, raising eyebrows. oaklandside.org/2025/03/24/a...

AC Transit director Sarah Syed alleges other directors agreed to a fraudulent “sweetheart” deal with outgoing GM Michael Hursh to keep him on at his same salary (~$500k with benefits), for an advisor role without work time specifications. New: oaklandside.org/2024/12/12/a...

"If community-led bench efforts, like SFBA Bench Collective, can install dozens of benches while operating in this quasi-legal space, imagine how much they can do if it were fully legalized?”

Great to see advocate installed benches in use after today's Hands Off protest in downtown Oakland! Bus stops need benches.

⚖️ Job alert! ⚖️ Join Public Advocates in our work to defend—and transform—public education across the state as a Temporary Contract Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney for our Education Equity team. Learn more: publicadvocates.org/get-involved...

Residents of Concord have been fighting for 8+ years for renter protections. Recently, 'activists' attended a City Council meeting and called for these protections to be scaled back. It turns out that they were paid by the California Apartment Association 👇 www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/04/l...

Teacher grants are critical to support a prepared and diverse educator workforce. This legal challenge is being sent back to the lower courts to be resolved and as members of the legal community, we have faith that the courts will ultimately rule for plaintiffs that the cuts are not legal. 🏫✊

CSU has issued guidance advising faculty, staff, and students to “carefully assess the necessity of international travel at this time” following a series of immigration enforcement actions targeting people affiliated with college campuses in recent weeks. Read more: bit.ly/4iSjRNI

Will you join us? 👇🏿Take the pledge today ✊🏾

👇🏽

We are proud to have joined renters, housing advocates, labor leaders, unhoused residents, youth activists, and legislators across the state this morning to rally for the Affordable Rent Act, CA Assembly Bill 1157 (AB 1157). This bill, authored by @ashkalra.bsky.social, would:

Bill text is available now for this year's flagship tenant protection bill in California. AB 1157 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra would strengthen and make permanent 2019's AB 1482 rent cap and tenant protections. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNa...

🚨 STATEMENT: Anti-Immigrant MOU Shows HUD Sec. Turner Misunderstands Own Agency’s Programs Scott Turner is again shifting blame onto vulnerable communities instead of addressing the housing crisis. All while misrepresenting how his agency’s programs actually work Full Statement 🔽