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Comment 16 for Volkswagen Settlement – California ZEV Investment Plan (vwzevinvestplan-ws) - 1st Workshop.
First Name: EK
Last Name: McCarthy
Email Address: campaignliz@att.net
Affiliation:
Subject: Volkswagen's ZEV Investment Plan: Reject Redlining of Disadvantaged Communities
Comment:
I applaud the San Jose Mercury News for its March 29, 2017 editorial, "California must put brakes on VW's EV plan". http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/29/editorial-california-must-put-brakes-on-vws-ev-plan/ The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is now reviewing a proposal by Volkswagen (VW) to use the first round of the hefty $800 million settlement, resulting from VW's gaming of diesel emission tests, to build Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations around the state. This part of the settlement requires VW to spend 35 percent on charging stations in low-income areas, not just cater to upmarket consumers. However, it appears that VW's proposal is guilty of redlining disadvantaged communities, by placing EV stations near freeway offramps, rather than embedding them in the community - at apartment buildings, grocery stores, movie theaters, shopping centers, public spaces, and parking structures - where people can use them while going about their day. VW's deliberate, multi-year campaign to defeat auto emission standards violated the public trust, to the detriment of our air quality and public health. It is not up to corporate managers to decide how to apply funds intended to remedy VW's misconduct. Please make sure spending under VW's ZEV Investment Plan, as overseen by the ARB, incorporates substantial investments in underserved communities, and is not driven by VW's sales and profit goals - yet again. Make sure the spirit - not just the letter - of the settlement is enforced.
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2017-04-05 16:36:19
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