Community to decide how to use $2M
Thirteen local everyday people will be at the driver’s seat with power to say how to use $2M locally – thanks to State Bill 617, sponsored by Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia.
Belen Leon-Lopez, Air Pollution Control District, said it was an exciting opportunity for community involvement.
“They’re going to be the voice. So, if they, the community, tells them, this is needed, this is what we see, we see emissions from this source, what is it? Then we can pinpoint and maybe produce a project there that would produce those impacts,” Leon-Lopez said.
Matt Dessert, I.C. Air Pollution Control Officer, said, “We’re in the process of taking applications to be on the steering committee. Those are open for the next week.”
The group will be made up of concerned residents and representatives from local environmental agencies tasked with coming up with projects affecting Calexico, Heber and El Centro.
Comite Civico del Valle Director Jose Luis Olmedo said, “A very rare opportunity where the community will be at the driver’s seat. We’re looking for the housewives; we’re looking for the teachers.”
ASB 617 was passed last year. It requires this group to come together no later than the end of the month.
“There’s time requirements to get the ball moving. We’re a little bit late at this time, but we’re going to get caught up very fast,” Dessert said.
Olmedo said the bill forces areas to be more proactive.
“Creates a much stronger commitment and a greater directive for both the state, the local air districts to work with the community and be able to bring and implement targeted strategies to zero in on where those emissions exist,” Olmedo said.
Organizers of Thursday’s public meeting said the committee could have far-reaching impact in the area.
“It could be paving projects at school parking lots, school buses or anything else that’s needed for the communities,” Leon-Lopez said.
“We want to make sure that those investments come here,” Olmedo asserted.
The first meeting is on November 14 th at Kiki Camarena Memorial Public Library in Calexico in the evening.
Anyone interested in being part of the committee can contact the Air Pollution Control District in El Centro at (442) 265-1800.
