AB 617 Community Air Protection Program: Stockton is the largest metropolitan area in the Northern Region of the Valley Air District, with a current estimated population over 310,000. A number of heavily trafficked freeways pass through the City of Stockton, including interstate 5 and highways 99 and 4, contributing a significant amount of PM2.5 emissions in the community. Specifically, the Stockton AB 617 area is a densely populated community within the City of Stockton directly impacted by large freeways, the Port of Stockton, freight locomotives, industrial sources, and emissions traveling downwind from the northern portion of the city. More info can be found through the report from the SJV EJ Steering Committee. With Catholic Charities EJ program and Little Manila Rising as the co-leads of the process, we will ensure residents’ voices are heard and prioritized. Each month, the Community Steering Committee virtually meets to discuss strategies for the Community Emission Reduction Plan as well as the Community Air Monitoring Plan. The committee is composed of 25 residents being the majority, with environmental justice organizations, schools, school administration, public health agencies, local government, businesses, industry, and the Port of Stockton. To learn more about Stockton’s AB 617 process, please like and follow the Valley Air District’s FB page at https://www.facebook.com/valleyair.

Establishes a setback of 2,500 feet between oil and gas drilling and homes, schools, healthcare sites, daycare facilities, and prisons. This bill stands with frontline communities impacted by the climate crisis. We know that 2,500 feet is the bare minimum to protect people from the adverse health outcomes of living near oil and gas production. Communities of color and lower-income communities in the San Joaquin Valley are dealing with some of the most toxic air quality in the state. Our neighbors to the south are particularly vulnerable to the air pollution impacts of fossil fuel production, which drives higher rates of asthma, cancer, high-risk pregnancy, and increased risk for a serious case of COVID-19.

AB 1087 creates a pilot grant program to provide holistic whole building upgrades in critical community facilities located in disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. By enabling the transformation of trusted community spaces into resilience hubs, AB 1087 ensures those most impacted by climate change have access to critical services to cope with ongoing and future climate disasters in the immediate term while simultaneously stabilizing communities for the long haul.

The Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program will fund community-led development and infrastructure projects aimed at increasing environmental, health and economic impacts for disadvantaged communities residing within the TCC project area. These community-led projects are a result of a $10.8M grant from California’s Cap-and-Trade program funds, and administered by the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC). The TCC projects, including energy and water efficient upgrades, residential solar programs, and green jobs will be aimed at servicing historically underserved and under-resourced communities in the 5-square mile TCC project area in South Stockton, a historically underserved area. While there are many projects outlined in the program, the three main objectives are to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve public health and environmental benefits, and expand economic opportunity and shared prosperity. The Environmental Justice Program will support the TCC projects by conducting community engagement and communicating TCC progress to the community.

The City of Manteca is in the process of updating its General Plan, a policy document that informs future land use decisions. It is essentially a city’s blueprint for future development, foreseeing a vision of 20-40 years of local land-use planning. Some elements of the plan include: land use, housing, circulation, conservation, open space, noise and safety. In 2016, California’s legislature passed SB 1000, a bill that requires local governments to identify environmental justice communities (referred to as “disadvantaged communities” per the CalEnviroScreen mapping tool) in their jurisdictions and address environmental justice in their general plans. Our role in the update process of Manteca’s general plan is to emphasize SB 1000 and ensure environmental justice is addressed throughout the general plan document. We are also advocating for authentic community engagement of Manteca residents, stakeholders and community members in order to facilitate transparency and promote healthy communities for all.

The Supplemental Environmental Project administered by Catholic Charities and IQ Air is located at Washington Elementary School in the Boggs Tract Community of Stockton. The community surrounding the school has multiple environmental justice concerns that impact the health, quality of life and overall well being of residents. The project entails installing air filtration systems and air quality monitors in various locations at the school. The community already experiences a significant pollution burden and is in the 90th percentile for multiple pollution exposures, according to CalEnviroScreen data. Air quality data at Washington Elementary School is available for review at any moment, and notifications will be immediately sent if the air quality poses any risk to the health of the students, faculty and staff. It is imperative to direct resources and knowledge to communities who bear a disproportionate burden of environmental injustices.

The City of Manteca will undergo a proposed project to develop a plan to improve multimodal connectivity and access and promote transit-oriented development in the Downtown area. The proposed project aims at developing a coordinated transportation and land use strategy to transform the Downtown into a well-connected, walkable district. Our role is to promote community and civic engagement through education and outreach to historically disadvantaged communities in Manteca to help them take an active role and leverage social action on environmental concerns to improve community health, equity and sustainability. Catholic Charities will be responsible for outreach to residents and businesses in the Downtown Transit Center area and conduct pop-up events to ensure robust community engagement and input.

The Agriculture Improvement Act provides reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2023. Its purpose is to reverse food insecurity in domestic and foreign territories as climate change and loss of biodiversity affect the worldwide food chain.

This bill amends the Agricultural Labor Relations Act to facilitate the ability of farmworkers to vote for or against unionization. The bill expands voting options for farmworkers by allowing them to choose if they want to vote at a physical location, or vote by mailing or dropping off a representation ballot card to the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) office. Farmworkers would be able to receive assistance in filling out and returning their representation ballot card as long as the person assisting them co-signs it, and it is returned to the ALRB office in a sealed and signed envelope.

Climate Pollution Reduction Beyond 2020 (Pavley). California’s 2006 climate law, AB 32 (see below), requires a reduction in greenhouse gas pollution to 1990 levels by 2020 and we are over halfway toward meeting this goal. SB 32 continues this success calls for reducing greenhouse gas pollution to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. This legislation is necessary to continue improving air quality, public health, and protecting poor communities from greenhouse gas pollution. You can read our SB 32 Backgrounder from Catholic Advocacy Day, as well as the California Interfaith Power and Light SB 32 Letter of Support, signed by Stockton Bishop Stephen Blaire and Elvira Ramirez of Catholic Charities.

Active Transportation Program (Bloom). This measure would require 5% of Active Transportation Program funds be allocated for community master plans in disadvantaged communities, and 10% of ATP funds be allocated for non-infrastructure safety education and encouragement programs. Learn more about AB 2796 from the California Bike Coalition.

Adds Environmental Justice Element to General Plans (Leyva). This bill would ensure that local governments include an environmental justice element in General Plans when they are updates, which will promote a healthier community for all by mitigating existing adverse conditions and prohibiting new development from negatively impacting vulnerable populations. Having a General Plan with specific environmental justice policies will help position local governments to access state funding to support projects that can benefit local environmental justice communities. Learn more about SB 1000 from the California Environmental Justice Alliance.

Heavy duty trucks are cumulatively one of the largest sources of toxic diesel particulate and ozone- and PM Forming NOx in the San Joaquin Valley. SB 210 would mandate an inspection and maintenance (I&M) program for in-state heavy-duty vehicles to ensure compliance with clean truck rules. SB 210 would prohibit the operation of a heavy-duty vehicle on a public road if the vehicle were to have an illuminated malfunction indicator light displaying a specified engine symbol. Learn more from the CA Legislative Information website.

Air Resources (Pavley & Atkins). This measure adds two seats to the California Air Resources Board. Both are to be representatives from environmental justice communities in California. Diane Takvorian is founder of the Environmental Health Coalition in San Diego, and Dean Florez is a former Senator from the San Joaquin Valley and advocate for clean air. He meets regularly with San Joaquin Valley environmental justice advocates. Read our AB 1288 Letter of Support.

Multifamily Affordable Housing Solar Roofs Program (Eggman). Also signed by Governor Brown in October, 2015, this bill allocates $100 million annually to a new program installing solar panels on multifamily affordable housing complexes. Tenants then have savings on their energy bills, easing some financial burden for low-income families and allowing everyone to benefit from the green economy. Read our AB 693 Letter of Support and “Ray of Hope for Solar Power” from the Stockton Record.

Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Nunez & Pavley). Passed in 2006, this legislation requires a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. We are over halfway toward meeting this goal through numerous state programs. Funds generated under this legislation by the state’s largest polluters are being successfully re-invested in local communities. Our partners at California Delivers have put together some great resources to help you understand the programs and benefits of AB 32, including specific factsheets on health, equity, and more.