Press Releases

Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) issued the following statement on the verdict reached in the Derek Chauvin Trial. The former Minneapolis Police officer was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd:

“While many of us are relieved that some measure of justice was served through this verdict, today only serves as a reminder that there is still so much work to be done to dismantle the systemic injustice that pervades our law enforcement and criminal justice systems. Rest in peace George Floyd.”

All Home released a new Regional Action Plan this week to bring together all nine Bay Area counties in an effort to house unsheltered people indoors and reduce the number of people becoming homeless. The plan is put forth by the Regional Impact Council (RIC) convened by All Home in April 2020.

Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) issued the following statement during today’s Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee about the Legislature’s $536 million wildfire prevention package, (details can be found in budget bills SB 85 and AB 79):

Negotiations with Bay Area Legislators and Governor’s Office Lead to Increased Funds for Vaccine Distribution to Integrate Hardest-Hit Communities in the Bay Area

Today, Assemblymember’s Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) and Evan Low (D-Campbell) announced the introduction of AB 812, and Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) introduced SB 530; both are bills that aim to bring California’s rape statues into parity by requiring the same standards for spousal rape that are currently in the penal code for rape. These bills will eliminate the “spousal rape exception” in the California Penal Code (Section 262) to ensure that “spousal rape” is treated and punished as seriously as rape of a non-spouse.