FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 9, 2018 CONTACT: Kay Cuajunco, 619-889-7865 Los Angeles, CA — This election year, communities of color overburdened by economic inequality and health disparities have the power to elect progressive leaders who will courageously defend communities from corporate polluters and pass bold and visionary policies. As the climate crisis worsens and existing environmental health and justice issues persist, working families and people of color have the opportunity to pass ballot measures with critical solutions to our environmental and climate change crises. CEJA Action mobilizes people of color to vote for progressive leaders and advance critical environmental health and justice policies in California. On November 6th, communities of color have an opportunity to lead California in electing progressive candidates with proven leadership on environmental and social justice issues and rise to the challenge to defend all Californians who make up our vibrant and resilient communities. This year, there are a number of ballot measures of critical importance to communities on the frontlines of pollution. CEJA Action urges voters to help secure access to clean drinking water; accessible and affordable housing that sustains the long-term health and livelihoods of our communities; resources that directly improve our schools; good local
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The Fight to Stop Prop 70: Communities of Color Say No to Big Oil
Proposition 70 Resounding Defeat Shows Californians Reject Deals with Polluters and Amplifies Call for Bolder Climate Leadership As recent wildfires, storms, and other extreme weather events have shown, the climate crisis is only getting worse. Everyday we see attacks from the Trump administration on communities of color, the environment, and climate science. Now more than ever, California needs bold, transformative action and real climate leadership, starting with our Governor, to stop bowing to industry pressure to enact bad deals like Proposition 70, and other policies that undermine our climate action and hurt our communities. On June 5th, voters in California resoundingly rejected Proposition 70, the most controversial proposition on the June primary ballot, that was part of a long-term effort by Big Oil to attack and undermine efforts to address climate change. The toxic measure would have seized climate funds that are protecting health and cleaning the air in communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. That’s why communities of color rose up to lead the fight against Proposition 70 — and we won, with 63% of Californians voting no. The Proposition lost in every singly county in the state, reflecting voters’ healthy disdain for ballot initiatives born from
Read morePress Release: California Votes Down Industry Backed Attack on Climate Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 6, 2018 CONTACT: Kay Cuajunco, kay@caleja.org, 619-889-7865 California Votes Down Industry Backed Attack on Climate Action Defeat of Prop 70 Demonstrates CA Climate Policy Will Not Be Held Hostage by Big Oil; Victory Unites Communities of Color, Environmental Organizations, & Labor Unions Oakland, CA — As the climate crisis worsens, California needs bold, transformative action and real climate leadership that will not bow to industry pressure to enact ineffective climate policies. The defeat of Proposition 70 during the June 5th primary election sends a strong message to decision makers that they cannot continue to pass watered down, poorly conceived policies negotiated with the Big Oil industry. Proposition 70 would have undermined climate investments that are improving health, cleaning the air, and fighting climate change. By requiring a supermajority vote to approve climate spending starting 2024, it would have led to budget gridlock and increased the power of corporate interests in our climate policy. The campaign to Stop Prop 70 was led by communities of color on the frontlines of pollution and united community groups, environmental organizations, and labor unions against Big Oil, corporate lobbyists, and compromising politicians who are blocking the bold climate progress California needs.
Read moreCalifornia Environmental Justice Alliance Action Endorsements Show Growing Force of Environmental Justice in California Politics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2018 CONTACT: Kay Cuajunco, 619-889-7865 California Environmental Justice Alliance Action Endorsements Show Growing Force of Environmental Justice in California Politics Los Angeles, CA — This election year, communities of color living on the frontlines of pollution overburdened by economic inequality and health disparities have the power to elect progressive leaders who will courageously defend communities from corporate polluters and pass bold and visionary policies. As the climate crisis deepens and existing environmental health and justice issues persist, people of color have emerged as strong supporters of aggressive environmental and climate change policies. CEJA Action mobilizes the voter base among people of color and builds political support for elected officials that will advance policies addressing the critical environmental health and justice issues in California.
Read moreCalifornia Democratic Party Stands With Environmental Justice Against Corporate Attack on Climate Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kay Cuajunco, 619-889-7865 California Democratic Party Stands With Environmental Justice Against Corporate Attack on Climate Action California Democratic Party Votes to Oppose Proposition 70 San Diego, CA I February 27, 2018 — On Sunday during the California Democratic Convention, the California Democratic Party unanimously voted in opposition to Proposition 70, a corporate-led attack on climate action opposed by environmental justice, environmental and social justice organizations. Prop 70 would subject climate investment spending to a two-thirds vote in 2024, leading to legislative gridlock. If passed, it would seize funding that is currently used to fight pollution and improve community health. “We thank the California Democratic Party for opposing Proposition 70. Prop 70 would put our state’s climate funding at the mercy of corporate lobbyists, jeopardizing the integrity of California’s climate programs, our environment, and the health of Californians. It would set a dangerous precedent for climate action that is riddled with industry loopholes. We cannot afford to let corporate polluters control our climate policy.” — Gladys Limon, Executive Director of California Environmental Justice Alliance and CEJA Action
Read moreWill California’s next Governor prioritize environmental justice?
With many important elections in 2018, CEJA Action is working hard to ensure that environmental and climate justice issues are a key part of the debate. With the recent wildfires and droughts, severe hurricanes battering so many places across the country, and climate inaction and denial at the federal level, our movement must make it perfectly clear that it is time for a Governor who will make our state a true model of just, equitable climate policy. California must protect our most vulnerable communities — low-income communities of color that are most impacted by climate change and have the fewest resources to adapt — while creating the most aggressive policies in the nation to address the root causes of climate change. CEJA Action was proud to co-host a Gubernatorial Forum in Los Angeles to hear from the 2018 candidates what their vision and top priorities are as Governor of California. We thank our co-hosts CBE Action, California League of Conservation Voters, and United Food and Commercial Workers for their partnership and opportunity to build across EJ, labor, and environmental sectors. We wanted to know which of the 2018 candidates for Governor will stand for climate justice in 2019 and beyond
Read moreJoin us at our 2018 Gubernatorial Forum on February 6th!
Where do the 2018 candidates stand on the issues that matter to you? Join us Tuesday, February 6th, 6:30-8:30pm for our 2018 Gubernatorial Forum at the Huntington Park Community Center in Los Angeles to hear about the candidates’ vision and top priorities as Governor of California. Come learn about the candidates’ positions on environmental justice, uplifting working families, and key social justice issues, as we build community across EJ, labor, and environmental sectors. Don’t miss this engaging and fruitful discussion with the 2018 Gubernatorial Candidates: John Chiang, Delaine Eastin, and Antonio Villaraigosa. CEJA Action is excited to co-host this important event with the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV), CBE Action, and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). Food and translation will be available. Help spread the word by downloading the flyer in English and Spanish, and please take a minute to invite your friends! Make sure to follow CEJA Action on Facebook and Twitter and look out for the release of our 2018 Environmental Justice Voter Guide in March! Please RSVP today for our 2018 Gubernatorial Forum!
Read moreBallot Initiative Teach-In event
Will California Democrats succeed in winning a supermajority that can advance environmental justice?
People of color are the majority in California and represent a critical, growing voting bloc in our state. The changing statewide demographics in our state have also diversified our legislature. More elected officials are people of color, often from districts highly impacted by pollution and we know that these demographic shifts can translate into enormous power and policy shifts. That’s why CEJA Action mobilizes the untapped voter base among people of color to build political support for elected officials that share our values.
Read moreSan Bernardino Environmental Leaders, Families Outraged “Chevron Cheryl” Brown’s Environmental Track Record Ranked Among Worst In Nation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 18, 2016 CONTACT: Penny Newman, 951-360-8451 Strela Cervas, 213-284-4923 James Johnson, 213-494-8688 San Bernardino Environmental Leaders, Families Outraged “Chevron Cheryl” Brown’s Environmental Track Record Ranked Among Worst In Nation “Chevron Cheryl” Sullies California’s Perfect Record; Brown is 1st Ever-California Official Named to League of Conservation Voters’ “Dirty Dozen in the States list” San Bernardino, CA — San Bernardino environmental leaders, community leaders, workers and parents expressed outrage today that Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown has amassed one of the most anti-environmental records of any state candidate in the nation. On Tuesday, the League of Conservation Voters announced Brown was the first-ever California official named to its “Dirty Dozen in the States” list, based on her record of selling out her constituents to big oil companies and massive polluters. “It’s no coincidence San Bernardino residents are breathing some of the nation’s dirtiest air because we are being represented by a candidate with one of the nation’s grimiest environmental records,” said Penny Newman, Executive Director of Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, based in Cheryl Brown’s district. “Selling out the people of her district to Big Oil is the reason she earned the name ‘Chevron Cheryl.’” The event took place
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