SAN DIEGO COUNTY CA San Diego County supervisors approved Wednesday a roadmap for a new environmental officer that focuses on reducing toxic chemical and air pollution threats to residents. The focus is on minority and low-income communities.
According to county officials the Office of Environmental and Climate Justice roadmap also provides direction and scope, roles and responsibility.
According to the county Land Use & Environment department staff will be able to address regional sustainability issues in underserved communities once they are hired.
The Board of Supervisors approved Nora Vargas’s proposal to create the office. Vargas said Wednesday she was “beyond excited” about the new office. It will be a “transformational” policy for our environmental justice communities and drive systemic change.
Vargas called it amazing that the road map has “really evolved into what community members (wanted)”.
Nicole Ambrose is the group program manager at the county Land Use & Environment department. She told board members that one of her other goals was meaningful community participation. She stated that earlier meetings with community groups covered topics like investment opportunities, accessing healthy food, housing and toxic hot spots, as well as transportation.
Ambrose stated that her department wanted to acknowledge past injustices against 17 County native American tribes, such as the Cahuilla and Kumeyaay, and Luiseno.
She said, “We aspire learn from indigenous traditional knowledge.”
Ambrose stated that OECJ will collaborate with stakeholders in unincorporated areas of the county, including Sweetwater, Spring Valley, Spring Valley, and North El Cajon.
Murtaza Baxamusa (Land Use program manager) said that the OECJ roadmap addresses present and past injustices and “ensure(s), these injustices don’t occur in the future.”
Baxamusa stated that the OECJ will use mapping software to review areas with low lead levels or homes in which there aren’t many parks.
Baxamusa said that the map is a working document that could change over time.
Vargas requested that Vargas also apply for grants and work together with its Air Pollution Control District, and the California Air Resources Board to reduce emission from medium- and high-duty vehicles.
Supervisor Jim Desmond thanked Vargas and expressed gratitude for her efforts in creating the office. He also said that the county should be careful about where solar energy projects are allowed to be built as they can have an adverse impact on residents living near them. Residents were very opposed to the board’s approval of the Jacumba solar farm last August.
Supervisor Terra Lawson Remer also gave credit to Vargas, saying it was important that communities have a voice. She added, “I wish we could be there in person to celebrate.”
Board members participated via teleconference, as they have done for several months.
City News Service
