30 Facts About Phil Ting

Philip Yu-Li Ting was born on February 9,1969 and is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly from 2012 to 2024.

Phil Ting is a Democrat who represented the 19th Assembly District, which encompasses western San Francisco and northwestern San Mateo County.

Phil Ting previously served as the executive director of the Asian Law Caucus, as the president of the Bay Area Assessors Association, and on the board of Equality California.

In 2005, Phil Ting was appointed San Francisco Assessor-Recorder by Mayor Gavin Newsom, becoming San Francisco's highest-ranking Chinese-American official at the time.

Phil Ting was then elected to the post in November 2005, garnering 58 percent of the vote.

In February 2012, Phil Ting commissioned the country's first real study of mortgage fraud that spurred national action, uncovering "widespread mortgage industry irregularity" in San Francisco foreclosures.

Phil Ting was chair of the Assembly Committee on Budget and was the first Asian-American to hold the position.

Phil Ting previously served as chair of the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation and Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus.

Phil Ting is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.

On his first day in office Phil Ting was appointed to the Assembly Leadership, being named the Democratic Caucus chair by Speaker John Perez.

Phil Ting helped protect seniors by enabling local governments access to state funds to make pedestrian crossing safer near senior centers.

In 2014, Phil Ting announced his support for a $100 million property tax-break for large corporations in San Francisco's Mid-Market District.

In 2015 Phil Ting authored legislation that was signed into law which ensured free pedestrian and bicycle crossing of the Golden Gate Bridge, and a created an incentive program to double the amount of food assistance benefits Californians receive if they purchase California grown fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables.

In 2016 Phil Ting was appointed Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee by Speaker Rendon.

Phil Ting's appointment was historic as he was the first Asian Pacific Islander to chair the Assembly's Budget Committee.

Phil Ting successfully authored a number of new laws including; requiring single occupancy restrooms to be designated as gender neutral restrooms.

Phil Ting authored a bill to expand the list of individuals who could petition for a Gun Violence Restraining Order, to help increase their use, however it was vetoed by Governor Brown.

In 2017 Phil Ting helped secure $10 million in the State Budget to create an additional Homeless Navigation Center in San Francisco.

Phil Ting reintroduced his bill to expand the list of individuals who could petition for a Gun Violence Restraining Order, however it was again vetoed by Governor Brown.

In 2019 Phil Ting took action when the California Redemption Value program virtually shuttered around the state, first by securing $5 million in the State Budget to support 400 low-volume recycling centers, and then by creating a mobile recycling pilot program to replace the hundreds of closed redemption sites around the state.

Phil Ting responded to the Operation Varsity Blues college admissions scandal by authoring a law to require colleges to disclose preferential admissions practices to the State.

In 2020 Phil Ting wrote laws which increased housing across California.

Phil Ting authored a law directed at creating green jobs in the state, by redirecting state budget funds to help public schools replace HVAC and plumbing, and requiring the California Public Utilities Commission to act on pending electronic vehicle infrastructure applications.

Phil Ting was able to get numerous pieces of legislation enacted include banning harmful PFAS chemicals from food packaging and authorizing a pilot program for San Francisco to pay jurors more to see if that resulted in more diverse juries.

In 2022, Phil Ting led the Assembly Budget Committee through another budget surplus, crafting a historic state budget; with the centerpiece of the spending plan was tax rebates to fight inflation.

In 2023, Phil Ting spearheaded the effort in the California Senate to pass AB 1633, which prevents use of the California Environmental Quality Act to block new housing developments that already comply with local and state land use and environmental regulations.

Phil Ting ran in the San Francisco Mayoral election of 2011 but was defeated by incumbent Mayor Ed Lee.

Phil Ting set a California record for highest campaign expenditures per vote after spending $500,000 on his 2011 campaign for San Francisco Mayor only to finish in 12th place.

On June 20,2020, Phil Ting admitted to having a "years-long" affair with Carmel Foster, a domestic worker whom he had met through a dating website.

Phil Ting later released a statement denying that the affair had any influence on his voting record.