Comment Log Display

I'm commenting for a South Sacramento advocate who fears
retaliation if he speaks out.

"Congratulations on another year of AB 617 and associated funding.
I'm sure this meeting will be filled with praise from CARB staff
and Board for CARB's successes. 

"CARB is potentially incentivizing a Sewage to Power plant across
the street from South Sacramento's AB 617 community. The community
was not informed about this; it's CEQA exempt, despite trenching
and significant construction work that will occur there. Do you
envision a scenario where they don't get LCFS or Cap & Trade
credits? A Title V facility located there managed to escape AB 617
scrutiny because the boundary was drawn across the street. The Air
District fought for that.  

"We talked to a resident whose home is located about 150 feet short
of the AB 617 boundaries. His neighborhood, home to logistics
centers and large auto body shops, suffers from worse pollution
than 95% of the AB 617 area. He's never heard of AB 617 or the
Sewage to Power plant. We talked to about 15 of his neighbors, and
none of them had heard about it either. This resident said he has
asthma, as do many of his neighbors.   

"Your Board includes folks who also serve on Air District Boards
and are politicians tasked with bringing in business, which is part
of the problem. The Board is paralyzed by its moderates' desire for
a "peace based on lack of tension," as described Dr. King. The rest
of the Board will defer to them if the issues lie in their area. Is
that how justice works?  

"To the best of our knowledge, the South Sacramento Steering
Committee has still not taken the tour of permitted facilities. 
They took a tour that purposefully avoided them.

"So, as you celebrate another year of success, I hope you're aware
that the injustices inflicted on this community in the name of AB
617 have been swept under the rug. And every praise for future
communities, while the injustice continues in this community,
tarnishes that praise, and it makes the injustice against the many
disadvantaged even worse.  

"South Sacramento is more of a sacrifice zone than a vibrant
community at this point. I hope you will not add insult to injury
and allow this project to move forward."