(San Francisco, CA, September 3) Climate activist, NextGen America founder, and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer released the following statement today calling on the California state legislature to pass a suite of police reform bills. Specifically, Steyer called for the Legislature to reconsider critical, common sense legislation to decertify police officers who break the law, release personnel records following certain serious incidents, and to give the Attorney’s General office the resources to investigate police shootings.
“Every one of us must stand against the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Stephon Clark and too many others. But we have an even greater responsibility to address the racist, systemic conditions and policies that led to their deaths. California is no exception. Although the Legislature made strong strides on several key reforms like the Racial Justice Act, too many of our elected officials settled for the status quo. That’s why I’m calling on the Legislature to reconsider critical legislation to decertify police officers who break the law, release personnel records following serious incidents, and immediately give the state’s Attorney General’s office the resources to investigate police shootings once the Governor signs AB 1506 into law and hold them accountable despite the Attorney General’s objections. Over the last several decades, California’s progressive policies have served as a model for the rest of our country. Police reform should be no exception.”