Sacramento, CA) – Yesterday, Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) introduced legislation to provide additional funding to support the cleanup efforts around the Exide Technologies facility in Vernon, California.
“It’s become increasingly clear that the $176.6 million in state funding that was provided in 2016 will only just scratch the surface in terms of cleanup in my district,” said Assemblymember Santiago. “My community remains rightfully concerned about their exposure to lead and heavy metal contamination from this derelict facility, and this funding will help to continue to mitigate exposure to residents and families.”
In 2016, Assemblymember Santiago authored AB 118, a key component of the Exide Clean-Up Package, to expedite state funding for the purposes of testing, clean-up, and job training in the community. As a follow-up, Santiago introduced AB 2189 yesterday to serve as a vehicle for both funding and language regarding parkway testing.
In addition, the Assemblymember is requesting that the County of Los Angeles, to the extent feasible, use any lead-based paint remediation federal or grant funding it has received to provide household clean-up and wrap around services on an ongoing basis to individuals and families impacted by high lead levels. The County of Los Angeles was awarded $3.4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for this purpose last year. The measure will likely encourage the County to make additional changes in this arena, as well.
AB 2189 was introduced on February 12th, 2018 and will likely be referred to hearings in the Assembly Budget and Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committees in March.
Assemblymember Miguel Santiago is the Chair of the Assembly’s Communications and Conveyance Committee, and a member of both the Assembly Health Committee and the California Latino Legislative Caucus. He represents the 53rd District composed of the
cities of Los Angeles, Huntington Park, and Vernon.
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