Press Releases

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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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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CA Environmental Justice Alliance Action Announces 2021 Legislative Agenda

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Oil and gas safety buffer zones and community resilience investments lead the 2021 EJ agenda  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Contact: Isa Flores-Jones | isa@caleja.org Sacramento, California  | April 20, 2021 – On Tuesday, the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) Action announced its priority bills for the 2021 Legislative session. As the state enters the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, CEJA Action is prioritizing a health and safety buffer zone between homes and to neighborhood oil drilling in California with SB 467 (Wiener and Limon), and critical investments in clean energy infrastructure with AB 1087 (Chiu).  CEJA Action is adopting supporting positions on SB 222 and 223 (Dodd),to ensure access to clean and affordable drinking water to low-income Californians; SB 342 (González), to add two environmental justice board members to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD); and AB 339 (Lee), to ensure that all local agency meetings are accessible to frontline residents. Read more about our priority bills here at ceja-action.org.  “California cannot claim to be a climate leader while it continues the dangerous practice of oil drilling next to where people live, work, learn, and play,” said Martha Dina Arguello, Executive Director with Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles

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California’s Leading Environmental and Environmental Justice Groups Reject Recall

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March 29, 2021 For Immediate Release Contact: Kathryn Phillips, Director, Sierra Club California (mobile: 916-893-8494) Denis Dison, Communications Director, NRDC Action Fund (mobile: 202-280-0018) Mabel Tsang, Civic Engagement Manager, California Environmental Justice Alliance Action (mobile: 650-387-8638) Stefanie Lao, Press Associate, California League of Conservation Voters (mobile: 424-282-0922) Sacramento– Today three major statewide environmental groups and an environmental justice alliance representing more than 10 local and regional organizations, announced their opposition to the gubernatorial recall measure expected to be on a fall ballot. The groups are Sierra Club California, NRDC Action Fund, California Environmental Justice Alliance Action, and California League of Conservation Voters. The ballot measure is the sixth effort to recall Governor Gavin Newsom since he took office in 2019. Through a decision by a Sacramento Superior Court judge, the latest petition was given an additional 120 days to circulate due to COVID restrictions on gatherings. As spelled out in the petition circulated for signatures, the proponents are trying to recall Newsom because they disagree with common-sense policies that most Californians embrace. These include policies as varied as those that protect Californians who are immigrants from harassment, eliminate the use of the death penalty, and require water conservation. California is

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2020 Voter Guide Endorses Bold Environmental Justice Leadership in California Primary

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2020 Voter Guide Endorses Bold Environmental Justice Leadership in California Primary

Sacramento, CA | January 15, 2020 – Today, the California Environmental Justice Alliance Action released their 2020 Primary Election Environmental Justice Voter Guide. The guide recommends eight women of color – all environmental justice champions – for seats in the Assembly, state Senate and US House. More information on the candidates, as well as the recommended YES vote on Proposition 13, is available at www.ceja-action.org/voterguide..

Katie Valenzuela, CEJA’s Political and Policy Director, stated: “This is a pivotal moment for environmental justice communities. This voter guide builds on the strong foundation of our statewide advocacy by enumerating environmental justice principles – in order to set clear expectations for elected officials in California. We can pass strong policy only when we have strong allies in elected office. We hope to see the field of EJ Champions grow.”

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Press Release: California Environmental Justice Alliance Action Endorsements Show Growing Force of Environmental Justice in California Politics

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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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