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Orozco, Norma <br /> From: Donald R. Blake <drblake@uci.edu> <br /> Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2022 9:11 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 plan— <br /> 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 item <br /> 3.9 of the community element implementation plan calls for hiring an environmental justice staffer this year. How can <br /> 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 Santa Ana <br /> are among the most polluted in all of California according to CaIEPA's CalEnviroScreen. <br /> Communities with the most pollution burden are also home to our most vulnerable neighbors—people who already <br /> 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 address <br /> environmental justice for all residents by ensuring this position is added ASAP. This can be done by adding funding for <br /> the position into the budget, or making applying for environmental justice grants to fund this position a primary role of <br /> the new administrative secretary. <br /> Please be the bold climate and environmental justice leaders we need by prioritizing the funding of an environmental <br /> justice staffer in Santa Ana. <br /> Thank you. <br /> Donald Blake <br /> Professor Donald R. Blake <br /> Department of Chemistry <br /> 570 Rowland Hall <br /> University of California, Irvine <br /> Irvine, CA 92697-2025 USA <br /> 949 824 4195 <br /> 6 <br />