November 11, 2008
To: Chairman Mary Nichols
California Air Resources Board
1101 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Chairman Nichols and Members of the Air Resources Board:
My name is Nora Vargas and I am Executive Director of the Latino Issues Forum. Latino Issues Forum is a non-profit public policy and advocacy institute dedicated to advancing new and innovative public policy solutions for a better, more equitable, and prosperous society. In our twenty-year history, Latino Issues Forum has demonstrated its ability to advocate for and provide leadership on cutting edge issues that affect the state's Latino population.
Today, I am here to endorse the language of the proposed Scoping Plan that will dedicate a fixed percentage of revenues generated from the implementation of AB 32 to create a Community Benefits Fund. Along with the Community Benefits Fund, the scoping plan must identify communities that already suffer a disproportionate impact from pollutants and must also work to provide protections to these communities to ensure that levels of pollution are not increasing while improving the overall air quality of our State.
It is well known and documented that Latinos, and in general low-income communities, are disproportionately impacted by pollution and are therefore more susceptible to develop respiratory illnesses such as asthma. With Latinos projected to become the majority of California by 2030, our communities will be the largest population affected by the implementation of AB 32, and for that reason, it is imperative that we approve a plan that will benefit all Californians – including our most disadvantaged communities.
On behalf of the Latino Issues Forum I thank you for the opportunity to speak today.
Sincerely,
Nora Vargas
Executive Director
Latino Issues Forum
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