/ STAFF WRITER
Published: Sept. 1, 2016 Updated: 9:27 p.m.
California Assembly rejects a proposal to add three seats to the board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District
The California Assembly has rejected a bill that would have reduced the local control of Southern California’s regional air district’s board by allowing more seats to be appointed by state officials.
Assembly members on Wednesday, Aug. 31, voted 36 to 30 to reject Senate Bill 1387, which would have given state officials the power to appoint three more members to the air district board, bringing the number to 16. Fourteen Assembly members did not vote on the measure sponsored by state Senate leader Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles.
Plan sought advocates
Each new member of the air board would have been from a nonprofit group in Southern California that “advocates for clean air and pollution reductions” on behalf of communities that are more severely affected by air pollution.
This would have diluted the influence of the board’s seven-member Republican majority that in March fired the longtime executive director in an effort to bring a business-friendly approach to air pollution regulation.
Sacking drew fire
The sacking of Barry Wallerstein was widely criticized by environmental and public health groups who believe the air district has made substantial gains in reducing smog during Wallerstein’s nearly 20 years at the helm.
De León has said he introduced the bill because the air district board had abrogated its responsibility to protect the people living in Southern California’s most polluted areas.
Business groups opposed
But the bill has was opposed by business groups, including the Los Angeles County Business Federation, with many fearing it would spur costly regulations and curb local control.
“From the beginning, BizFed members objected to reducing local control so much that the SCAQMD board, or any local board, is no longer considered a local governing board,” Tracy Hernandez, founding CEO of the business federation, said in a news release.
Contact the writer: 951-368-9471 or ddanelski@scng.com
