Author: CEJA

Press Release: 19 Candidates Earn Environmental Justice Support Ahead of November Election 

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<strong>Press Release: 19 Candidates Earn Environmental Justice Support Ahead of November Election </strong>

CEJA Action endorses 2022 “Environmental Justice Crew” September 13, 2022 | Sacramento, CA – Today, the California Environmental Justice Alliance Action (CEJA Action), announced their legislative endorsements ahead of a hotly contested November election cycle. CEJA Action has endorsed the most progressive candidates who will appear on the ballot this fall. These candidates will advance policy for frontline Californians and our climate future. The environmental justice slate includes the following leaders: Dave Jones (SD-8), Aisha Wahab (SD-10), Steve Padilla (SD-18), Caroline Menjivar (SD- 20), Lola Smallwood Cuevas (SD -28), Sara Aminzadeh (AD-12), Liz Ortega (AD-20), Gail Pellerin (AD-28),Gregg Hart (AD-3), Assemblymember Steve Bennett (AD-38), Pilar Schiavo (AD-40), Christy Holstege (AD-47), Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (AD-50), Rick Zbur (AD-51), Tina McKinnor (AD- 61), Fauzia Rizvi (AD-63), Fatima Iqbal-Zubair (AD-65), Assemblymember Chris Ward (AD-78), and Georgette Gómez (AD-80). As the largest environmental justice alliance in California, CEJA Action vets and endorses candidates for statewide office on the basis of their demonstrated commitment to environmental health and climate progress.   “The oil and gas industry has strong-armed the California legislature for far too long. Voters have the chance to wrest critical legislative seats back from Big Oil this November. Our slate of candidates have

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Press release: California leads the nation by passing 3,200 ft oil and gas safety buffer zones policy, ban on captured carbon for enhanced oil recovery

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   September 2, 2022 Contact: Raquel Mason, CEJA Action Policy Manager, raquel@caleja.org California leads the nation with 3,200 ft oil and gas safety buffer zones policy, ban on captured carbon for enhanced oil recovery Advocates praise climate investments and setbacks bill headed to Governor’s desk while calling out dangerous reliance on carbon capture usage and storage Sept 2, 2022 –  This week, the California legislature concluded midnight votes on the last bills in the 2022 legislative session.  Raquel Mason, Policy Manager of the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA), released the following statement in response to the climate provisions passed by state legislators: “This week, CEJA and our member organizations celebrate. From the oilfields across Kern County to the neighborhood wells in Los Angeles, organizers and residents have fought for decades for the health and safety buffer zones as outlined in the landmark legislation, SB 1137 (Gonzalez, Limon). Together, we take a collective sigh of relief knowing their work will result in cleaner air safer neighborhoods for the millions of working class Californians living near oil and gas drilling.  Communities across California will benefit from key climate legislation, including a ban on captured carbon for enhanced oil recovery (SB

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Primary Environmental Justice Voter Guide 2022

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Primary Environmental Justice Voter Guide 2022

Our Environmental Justice Crew are committed to economic, environmental, racial, gender, and housing justice. Through their lifetimes as public servants, organizers, and community leaders, these candidates have demonstrated their commitment to working for clean and healthy neighborhoods; for the transformation into a clean and renewable economy with union represented workforce and family sustaining wages; and committing to safe and affordable housing. 

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Tumultuous Budget Surplus Year Ends With Critical EJ Investments

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Contact: Raquel Mason, raquel@caleja.org Advocates praise funding for resilience centers, TCC program in a year of legislative shortfalls  September 9, 2021 | Sacramento, CA – Today, after months of hard-fought advocacy by environmental justice organizations, the Legislature passed SB 170 and SB 155, concluding budget negotiations for 2021. As Californians face a looming eviction cliff and an escalating climate crisis, legislators in Sacramento voted to allocate $585 million to critical environmental justice programs with an additional $600 million in federal funding earmarked for a Just Transition through the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF).  These budget bills dedicate $420 million to the Transformative Climate Communities Program over the next three years and $100 million for Community Resilience Centers over two years, representing critical investments for working class communities and communities of color on the frontlines of poverty and pollution.  “As California responds to escalating wildfires, drought, and extreme heat, we must recognize and prioritize the leadership and needs of communities on the frontlines of climate change. By embracing our holistic vision for resilience centers, this year’s budget takes a huge step in that direction. We are excited to shape this community-led solution to ensure our neighborhoods are equipped

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Assembly, Senate Budget Falls Short on Key Environmental Justice Priorities

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June “Placeholder Budget” Requires Deeper Investments in Low-Income, Communities of Color Sacramento, CA — On June 14th, the California State Legislature narrowly passed a placeholder budget before the June 15 budget deadline with substantially different allocations than those proposed in Governor Newsom’s May Revision. Negotiations on the June budget are anticipated to continue into July. This week, the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) continues to urge lawmakers to pass an equitable 2021–2022 Budget through a letter to the Governor and Senate and Assembly Leadership. In the letter, CEJA requested that State leaders incorporate key environmental justice priorities into the final budget. In response to the passing of a June placeholder budget, CEJA Policy Manager Raquel Mason issued the following statement: As California residents brace for yet another year of severe drought and record-setting wildfires, CEJA calls upon Governor Newsom and the Legislature to eliminate funding for costly and dangerous false solutions that derail our state’s efforts for a just recovery; and, instead, invest deeply in programs that strengthen community well-being and address environmental and climate-related crises. With a record budget surplus, now is the time to prioritize life-sustaining programs and infrastructure such as community resilience centers, and make

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