Jump to content

User:Hookahsmoker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Max Austin (talk | contribs) at 19:23, 24 June 2010. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Leland Yee
余胤良
Member of the California State Senate
from the 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 2006
Preceded byJackie Speier
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 12th district
In office
December 2002 – December 2006
Preceded byKevin Shelley
Succeeded byFiona Ma
Member of the
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
from District 4
In office
January 1997 – December 2002
Preceded bydistrict created in 2000; prior terms were for city-wide seat
Succeeded byFiona Ma
Personal details
Born (1948-11-20) November 20, 1948 (age 75)
Guangdong, China
NationalityUnited States
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)San Francisco, California
Alma materUC Berkeley
San Francisco State University
University of Hawaii
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionChild psychologist
Websitedist08.casen.govoffice.com

Leland Yee (Chinese: 余胤良; pinyin: Yú Yìnliáng, born November 20, 1948 in China) is a California State Senator in District 8 which represents the western half of San Francisco and most of San Mateo County. Prior to becoming state senator, Yee was a California State Assemblyman, Supervisor of San Francisco's Sunset District, and was a member and President of the San Francisco School Board. In 2004 Yee became the first Asian American to be appointed Speaker pro Tempore, making him the second highest ranking Democrat of the California State Assembly.

Early Life and Education

Leland Yee immigrated to San Francisco from Taishan[1], Guangdong, China when he was three years old and later became a naturalized United States citizen. His father served in the U.S. Army and the Merchant Marines.[2] Yee attended San Francisco's Mission High School and earned a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley, a master's from San Francisco State University and a Ph.D. in Child Psychology from the University of Hawaii.

Early Career

After obtaining his PhD in Child Psychology, Yee worked as a therapist in the Mental Health Department of San Franicisco, the Oakland School District and with Asian American for Community Involvement, a non-profit that serves low-income people. [3]

Political Career

San Francisco School Board Member and President

Yee was elected to the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education in 1988 and served two, four-year terms on the board including one as Board President. During his tenure, Yee called for audits of all schools in the San Francisco Unified School District and fought to establish performance standards for educators.[4]

District 4 Supervisor

After serving eight years on San Francisco's School Board, Yee successfully ran for supervisor in 1996. As District 4 supervisor Yee was appointed to chair of the Finance Committee where he helped establish the "Rainy Day" budget reserve and introduced General Obligation Bond Accountability Act. He was re-elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2002. [5]

District 12 Assemblyman

Yee was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2002 to represent the 12th Assembly District.

In his first year in the Legislature, he was appointed to the Speaker’s leadership team as the Assistant Speaker pro Tempore. In 2004 Yee became the first Asian Pacific American to be appointed Speaker pro Tempore in the California State Assembly and was elected President of the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators.[6]

State Senator

On June 6, 2006, Yee defeated his opponents Mike Nevin and Lou Papan to win the Democratic nomination for the California State Senate, representing the 8th District. In the final vote tally certified on June 27, 2006 by San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum,[7] Yee gathered 51.9 percent, Nevin received 35.4 percent and Papan took 12.7 percent of the vote. Since Jan. 1, Nevin spent $887,562.80 of campaign contributions, Yee spent $673,372.59 and Papan ran a modest campaign, spending just $289,862.64. He was elected to the California State Senate in the November 7, 2006 election by a landslide of 77.5% of votes cast [3]. With San Francisco and San Mateo County having a high Democratic base Yee was elected as Senator for the 8th District on November 7, 2006 [4]. This was a notable election making him the first Chinese-American elected to the California State Senate in 156 years. Yee replaced Jackie Speier, who left office due to term limits [5].

Yee actively serves on the following Senate committees[8]:

  • Appropriations
  • Business, Professions and Economic Development
  • Governmental Organization
  • Human Services
  • Labor and Industrial Relations
  • Select Committee on Biotechnology
  • Select Committee on California's Wine Industry
  • Select Committee on California's Horse Racing Industry
  • Select Committee on Integrity of Elections
  • Select Committee on International Business Trade

Additionally, Yee chairs the following Senate committees[9]:

  • Select Committee on California's Public Record and Open Meeting Laws
  • Select Committee on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs
  • Select Committee on Bay Area Sustainable Development and Economic Progress

Legislative Accomplishments

2010

Senator Yee has introduced a number of bills which focus on job creation, health care reform, environmental protection, child safety, government transparency, domestic violence prevention, improving the economy and juvenile justice. [10]

2009

Senator Yee had 9 bills chaptered into law in 2009.[11]

Notable bills include SB 340 which protects consumers by requiring businesses to clearly and conspicuously enumerate all automatic renewal offer terms and obtain customers affirmative consent, SB 786 which protects the right of individuals to enforce open government laws without fear of a significant financial burden and ensures that public entities act with greater transparency, SB 13 which restores $16.3 million for 94 domestic violence shelters and centers throughout California, SB 447 which protects children from sexual predators by reforming the criminal background check law at youth organizations, and SCR 48 makes California the first state to officially declare October as Filipino American History Month.[12]

2008

Senator Yee had 14 bills chaptered into law in 2008.[13]

Notable bills include SB 1356 which protects domestic violence victims from the threat of incarceration when they refuse to testify against their abuser in court, SB 697 which bans the predatory practice of balance billing for low-income families, SB 1217 which provides public oversight of the state bar pilots commission, SB 1370 which protects teachers from retaliation by school administrators as a result of student speech, SB 1419 which protects San Francisco pedestrians by declaring a double-fine zone on 19th and Van Ness Avenues, SB 1696 which allows greater public access to government contracts as well as audits and reviews of public agencies.[14]

In a surprising twist of events in the LPGA English language controversy, Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco and Assemblyman Ted Lieu of Los Angeles were able to help rescind the LPGA Tour Commission’s suspension-penalty policy. Both officials publicly challenged the legality and galvanized community attention to the LPGA’s policy in August 2008 when it was released, which resulted in revision of policy by the end of 2008.[15] This resulted in Yee introducing SB 242, which prohibits businesses from denying services to customers that don't speak English. Yee received hate emails and messages in response to this legislation and the bill was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on October 11, 2009.

2007

Senator Yee had 11 bills chaptered into law in 2007.[16]

Notable bills include SB 190 – the Higher Education Governance Accountability Act which brings major transparency reforms to the governing boards of the University of California and California State University, SB 230 which grants the Broadmoor Police Department with all the powers and responsibilities of a municipal police force, SB 279 which addresses illegal organized vehicle sales which cause a public nuisance and safety concerns.  SB 523 increases the number of child support payments collected in San Mateo County by establishing a program to allow judges to order an unemployed child support obligor to seek work at the initial support hearing.  SCR 52 calls for shared governance by workers of the University of California employee’s pension plan. [17]

2006

Yee had 10 bills chaptered into law in 2006.[18]

Notable bills include AB 2581 made California the first state in the nation to specifically prohibit censorship of college student press, including school newspapers and broadcast journalism.  AB 450 requires disaster preparedness agencies to consider household pets, service animals, equines, and livestock in emergency evacuation planning.  AB 1969 increases the production of renewable energy in California by allowing water and wastewater agencies to sell environmentally-friendly energy – such as small hydro, solar, and biogas – produced by their treatment and delivery facilities to electrical companies.  AB 1207 adds sexual orientation to the list of protections in the Code of Fair Political Practices.  AB 409, emergency legislation, establishes new health standards to protect nail salon consumers.  ACR 106 officially declares California’s White Ribbon Campaign, an effort of men against violence. [19]

2005

Yee had 12 bills chaptered into law in 2005. [20]

Notable bills include AB 1179 which protects children from the harmful effects of ultra-violent video games, AB 451 which returns millions of dollars to airport communities across the state, AB 1116 allows properly trained foster parents to administer life-saving shots for their foster children, AB 800 which guarantees a patient’s spoken language is included in his/her medical records, and AJR 14 officially declares California’s opposition to any weakening of the federal offshore oil drilling moratorium[21]

2004

Yee had 11 bills chaptered into law in 2004.[22]

Notable bills include AB 3042 which helps protect children from being exploited through prostitution and AB 2412 which helps part-time community college faculty to access earned unemployment benefits.[23]

2003

In his first term the Legislature, Yee had 15 bills signed into law in 2003. [24]

Notable bills include AB 1371 which strengthens informed consent requirements for mentally handicapped patients that take part in medical research[25], AB 504 which increase fines for littering in open space districts and AB 938 which offered incentives to mental health workers in medically under-served communities.[26]

Awards

Lee was named the California Legislator of Year by San Francisco Women’s Political Committee, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME Local 3299), California Society of Certified Public Accountants, Associated Students of the University of California (Davis) [27] and the California Faculty Association[28] among many others. [29]

Because of his commitment to public service, Yee has been awarded numerous awards including:

  • Distinguished Service to Journalism Education Award by the Journalism Association of Community Colleges [33]
  • Service Award by Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse of San Mateo County[34]
  • Scholastic Journalism Award by the Journalism Education Association[35]
  • Leadership Award from the California Animal Association[37]
  • Public Official Award by the Society of Professional Journalists [39]

Controversies

Investigation into Funds Used for Sarah Palin's CSU, Stanislaus Speech

This year, Yee has been a vocal critic of the California State Stanislaus Foundation's decision to hire and pay former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin $75,000 to speak at the school's 50th anniversary celebration on June 25. [40]

Yee filed a public records request in April to discover if any state funds would be used to pay Palin's speaking fee.[41]

The foundation responded by refusing to divulge the any information about fees paid to Palin. [42]

As a result, Yee introduced SB 330 which would require groups to abide by California's Public Records Act. [43]

On May 28, the Los Angeles Times reported that two California State sources disclosed that Sarah Palin will receive $75,000 for her speaking engagement. Officials would not confirm the amount of the disclosure. [44]

In response to the disclosure, Yee said, "It's rather disappointing that Sarah Palin is asking for nearly $100,000 to speak at this anniversary event when we're looking at state increases in student fees, cancellations of classes and the fact that this money could be going to scholarships… She could do wonders for all of us … by taking this money and donating it back to the foundation."

Video Game Restrictions to Protect Youth

In 2005, Yee criticized Rockstar North for the Hot Coffee Mod in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and claimed that the ESRB knew about it in advance and criticized them for not rating it "adults only".[45] The controversy resulted from the Hot Coffee mod created by PC users of the game using hacking tools to create a mod to play a mini game which was otherwise inaccessible to players.[46] In response, Rockstar removed the content used for the mod. That same year, Yee passed California Assembly Bills 1792 & 1793, a video game bill that criminalizes sale of videogames rated M to children under 18 and require retailers to place M-rated games separate from other games intended for children. Yee's bills passed in part to mass media concentration on the speculative link between video game violence and real world violence, as well as several support of concerned parent groups. The bill was signed into law on October 7, 2005 and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) filed a lawsuit 10 days later. After the bill passed, it was ruled to be unconstitutional by Judge Ronald Whyte.[47] The adverse ruling required the state to pay $324,840 to the ESA in legal fees.[48] The ruling was then appealed by Governor Schwarzenegger in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court.

On April 12, 2007 Yee criticized the US Army’s program to will spend $2 million in tax dollars to sponsor the Global Gaming League. Yee claims the military individuals on the site who are "desensitized to real-life violence through the online violent video games."[49]

On August 29, 2007 Leland Yee criticized the ESRB for not disclosing what content was removed from Manhunt 2 to re-rate the game from an AO rating for violence to the ESRB Mature rating.[50] Yee asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the change in rating. In response, ESRB president Patricia Vance stated the details for a product that has not yet been released will not be disclosed.[51] On July 22, 2009, Leland Yee filed an amicus brief in support of Governor Schwarzenegger's appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the passing of a law which would criminalize the sale of extremely violent video games to minors, claiming that unlike books, movies and CDs, video games "can contain up to 800 hours of footage with the most atrocious content often reserve for the highest levels and can be accessed only by advanced players after hours upon hours of progressive mastery.”[52]. This action has been met with criticism from gamers that the Californian state senator is wasting resources on a law already judged unconstitutional at a time when the state is already facing economic problems[53]

Allegations

In 1992, Yee was allegedly accused of the petty misdemeanor crime of shoplifting a small bottle of sunscreen in Hawaii. In 1993, the case was closed without prejudice.[54]

Yee has also been pulled over by SFPD under the suspicion that he was cruising for prostitutes in the Mission District of San Francisco on South Van Ness Avenue. In each case, he was questioned by police and let go with no charges filed.[55]

Personal Life

Leland Yee met and married his wife Maxine in 1972 and together they raised four children who attended SF public schools. He currently lives in San Francisco's Sunset District.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ http://www.asianamerican.net/bios/Yee-Leland.html
  4. ^ http://www.asianamerican.net/bios/Yee-Leland.html
  5. ^ http://www.asianamerican.net/bios/Yee-Leland.html
  6. ^ http://totalcapitol.com/?people_id=12
  7. ^ "CA June 6, 2006 Primary Results". 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-10-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_LIST&SEC={961EC3F6-2749-4496-8936-F676D9BA4389}
  9. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_LIST&SEC={961EC3F6-2749-4496-8936-F676D9BA4389}
  10. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={DB36A2CD-223B-4DD3-82AF-BC42FA0D67DE}
  11. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={5D860270-3CFF-4A37-AC7D-2D05FF965067}
  12. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={5D860270-3CFF-4A37-AC7D-2D05FF965067}
  13. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={EEB24B66-76BE-4AB1-97B4-C99A9968387E}
  14. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={6A0A28A9-AE31-4858-9BC6-B9DB274510AB}
  15. ^ "Lieu and Yee Help Rescind LPGA English Language Policy Penalty". AsianWeek. Retrieved on 2008-09-08.
  16. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={EEB24B66-76BE-4AB1-97B4-C99A9968387E}
  17. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={EEB24B66-76BE-4AB1-97B4-C99A9968387E}
  18. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={0A580249-1356-4148-985C-11C5171E324F}
  19. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={0A580249-1356-4148-985C-11C5171E324F}
  20. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={95C875E5-F599-49C3-B186-B31E8A2EA4DE}
  21. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={95C875E5-F599-49C3-B186-B31E8A2EA4DE}
  22. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={193FE664-7445-4F92-A6B2-65D6F6B8DA65}
  23. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={193FE664-7445-4F92-A6B2-65D6F6B8DA65}
  24. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={56692EB5-9098-46C7-9D6D-7CB1B343C5BB}
  25. ^ http://www.cmta.net/legsample.php?leg=yee_leland
  26. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={56692EB5-9098-46C7-9D6D-7CB1B343C5BB}
  27. ^ http://www.asianjournal.com/community/community-news/3922-several-new-laws-to-take-effect-january-1.html
  28. ^ www.asianjournal.com/data/PDF/2010.../2010_05_07_SF_B%206.pdf
  29. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={CDF69DB5-7977-4494-9AFB-DAF8CEE64FC5}
  30. ^ http://www.cnpa.com/full_story.cfm?id=1621
  31. ^ http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/under-the-dome/Yee-to-be-honored-for-work-against-human-trafficking-83783417.html
  32. ^ www.calsilc.org/SILC_Quarterly...2009/9-Leeland_Yee_biography.doc
  33. ^ http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/?q=node/7220
  34. ^ http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Yee-honored-for-work-saving-domestic-violence-shelters-93048254.html
  35. ^ http://www.asianjournal.com/community/community-news/3922-several-new-laws-to-take-effect-january-1.html
  36. ^ http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2009/10/first-amendment-coalition-names-free-speech-award-winners-and-one-loser/
  37. ^ http://www.asianjournal.com/community/community-news/3922-several-new-laws-to-take-effect-january-1.html
  38. ^ www.nasponline.org/press/06awards.pdf
  39. ^ http://sfpublicpress.org/blog/2010-02/sf-public-press-wins-local-journalism-award
  40. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/08/palin-stanislaus-speech-l_n_529629.html
  41. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/08/palin-stanislaus-speech-l_n_529629.html
  42. ^ http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/13/local/la-me-calstate13-2010apr13
  43. ^ http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/13/local/la-me-calstate13-2010apr13
  44. ^ http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/28/local/la-me-calstate-palin-20100528
  45. ^ "Leland Yee on Hot Coffee mod". 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-10-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  46. ^ "Gamasutra". 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-02-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  47. ^ "California 2005 Video Game Law Ruled Unconstitutional". 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-02-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  48. ^ "Leland Yee Zings Army over Video Game Recruiting Effort". 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-10-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  49. ^ "California's Leland Yee Demands Answers on Manhunt 2 Re-rate". 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-10-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  50. ^ "ESRB Refuses to Detail Manhunt 2 Re-rate". 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-10-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  51. ^ http://dist08.casen.govoffice.com/vertical/Sites/{BF15804D-042F-4DCF-8803-86441E95CD9F}/uploads/{F338F527-8D2E-4B9B-8A2F-B6D865D54A31}.PDF On petition for a writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Cicuit
  52. ^ http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/07/sensationalist-legal-brief-aims-to-revive-ca-game-law.ars
  53. ^ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2000/10/13/MN116316.DTL&hw=leland+yee+record&sn=002&sc=701
  54. ^ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/11/22/MN91849.DTL&hw=leland+yee+prostitution&sn=002&sc=610
Template:Incumbent box
Political offices
Preceded by
Election was not district specific
 Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
District 4
1997–2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
 Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore
2003-2006 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Hookahsmoker&oldid=369962861"