Legislation To Give The South Bay A Voice In Regional Air Quality Heads To Governor

Sacramento, CA – On a bipartisan 22-13 vote, the State Senate today approved Senate Bill (SB) 886, a consensus measure to give the South Bay and the Westside a voice on the powerful South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Board. The SCAQMD is a regional board that works to improve air quality throughout the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino. 

SB 886 is co-authored by State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino) and State Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance).

“The South Bay has very serious air pollution concerns,” Lieu said.  “We sit between the world’s fourth-busiest airport, two of the world’s busiest seaports, and our nation’s most congested freeways.  We need a voice in cleaning up our air.”

Currently, LA County has three seats on the AQMD Board: one for a county supervisor, one for the cities in the Western Sector of the County, and one for the Eastern Sector. The City of LA is considered a “Western Sector” City.  Since the population of the City of LA is almost double the combined population of the other 24 cities, the seat is, de facto, a City of LA seat.

SB 886 creates a fourth seat in LA County, reserved for the City of LA. This gives the city a permanent seat and frees up the Western Sector seat for the cities in the Westside and South Bay.  The bill reflects a carefully-negotiated consensus that increases the Board and re-allocates the cities in the Western and Eastern Sector.

“This is an enormous win for the cities of the South Bay and the Westside,” Lieu added.  “It looks like we’re finally going to have our seat at the table.”

Assemblymember Ted Lieu represents the 53rd Assembly District, which consists of the Cities of El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, and portions of the City of Los Angeles.