Assembly Member Garcia appointed to state resources committee

Brawley environmental group Comite Civico del Valle director Luis Olmedo said he’s concerned for the area.

“We’re facing very difficult challenges ahead,” Olmedo said.

He said environmental health hazards plague Imperial County.

“We need enormous amount of attention. We need solutions now,” Olmedo said.

For this reason, he applauds the recent appointment of state Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia to chair the state’s Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee.

“This new appointment is going to bring a lot of positive attention to our area. It’s going to create a lot more access for organizations like Comite Civico del Valle to be more involved, to be helping inform policies and to be helping inform this committee which he’ll be chairing,” Olmedo said.

Garcia said the committee oversees issues affecting the region such as drought, the new river, and Salton Sea among others.

Garcia said, “Challenges we have in water quality on the border, in the riverside county area, I’m honored to be able to serve in this capacity.”

The appointment covers the present legislative session to the next which is about two years.

“The goal would be to be there long enough to be able to implement some short term and long term goals,” Garcia said.

Garcia said he’ll also focus on working to find sustainable solutions for renewal energy developments.

“Making sure that we’re also taking care of our economy in the region as it relates to agriculture,” Garcia said.

Olmedo said Garcia knows how to bring together stakeholders at local and state level to work together.

“Representing the challenges that we face in regards to the new river, to the Salton Sea, and even the agricultural industry,” Olmedo said.

And that makes him believe the right attention for imperial county may be just around the corner.