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Orozco, Norma <br /> From: Prerna Srigyan <psrigyan@uci.edu> <br /> Sent: Wednesday,June 15, 2022 1:29 PM <br /> To: Penaloza, David; Phan, Thai; Bacerra, Phil; Mendoza, Nelida; Lopez,Jessie; Hernandez, <br /> Johnathan; Sarmiento,Vicente <br /> Cc: !City Clerk; Ridge, Kristine <br /> Subject: Public Hearing Item 16: Funding Environmental Justice Commitments <br /> Dear Honorable Mayor Sarmiento and Council Members, <br /> Thank you for putting more than 50 environmental justice and related equity policies in Santa Ana's general <br /> plan—creating a path to a healthier,just, and more sustainable Santa Ana. <br /> Unfortunately, none of these goals can be met without people to do the work of implementing them. That's why <br /> item 3.9 of the community element implementation plan calls for hiring an environmental justice staffer this <br /> year. How can this get done if this position is not included in the budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year? <br /> We can not wait another year to begin to bring environmental justice to Santa Ana. Over 24 census tracts in <br /> Santa Ana are among the most polluted in all of California according to CalEPA's CalEnviro Screen. <br /> Communities with the most pollution burden are also home to our most vulnerable neighbors—people who <br /> already have health issues and are experiencing poverty. <br /> You have the power to correct these injustices, and follow through on commitments in the General Plan to <br /> address environmental justice for all residents by ensuring this position is added ASAP. This can be done by <br /> adding funding for the position into the budget, or making applying for environmental justice grants to fund this <br /> position a primary role of the new administrative secretary. <br /> Please be the bold climate and environmental justice leaders we need by prioritizing the funding of an <br /> environmental justice staffer in Santa Ana. <br /> Thank you. <br /> i <br />