(Sacramento) – Today, Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) sent a letter to the Department of Toxic Substances Control demanding answers regarding the long-delayed Exide clean-up. Carrillo, who represents Assembly District 51, including unincorporated East Los Angeles, an area with some of the highest levels of lead toxicity due to Exide’s contamination of homes, schools and parks issued the following statement:
“It is clear that one of the most critical issues for my constituents is the removal of lead contamination, especially the contamination that is a result of decades of emissions from the Exide battery recycling plant. It is fair to say that the cleanup is not going as quickly as anyone, including DTSC, has expected or desired.
“As a representative of a community that has been waiting years for their homes, schools, and communities to be cleaned, it’s important to hold regulators accountable and that’s why I’m asking DTSC for answers by May 17th regarding the clean-up, in order to ensure the job is done right and in a timely manner.”
In 2016, the Legislature appropriated $176.6 million to aid in the clean-up of the neighborhood surrounding the Exide plant. Since then, the project has been plagued by delays. As a result of this, the funding for the clean-up must be reauthorized by the Legislature because so much time has passed. This funding is necessary and Carrillo’s letter will encourage the Legislature, during its budget considerations, to call upon DTSC to answer certain pressing questions to ensure the funding is used properly and in a way that protects public health.
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Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo was elected to the 51st Assembly District in December of 2017. She is a member of the Rules, Appropriations, Public Safety, Health and Water Parks & Wildlife Committees. Carrillo represents the people of East Los Angeles, Northeast Los Angeles, and the neighborhoods of El Sereno, Echo Park, Lincoln Heights, Chinatown and parts of Silver Lake.
CONTACT: Alicia.Isaacs@asm.ca.gov, (916) 319-2051