McOsker’s Clean 15 Clears Over 15,500 Tons of Illegal Dumping Since January
LOS ANGELES — Since Jan. 1, Council District 15’s Clean 15 program has picked up, removed, and discarded over 15,582 tons, or over 31 million pounds, of trash, debris and overgrown vegetation on streets, alleys and other public spaces throughout the council district. In total, since its launch in July, the Clean 15 team has picked up a total of 26,103 tons (52.2 million pounds).
The Clean 15 program was allotted $1 Million in funding in the 2023-24 fiscal year budget and initiated in mid-July 2023. The team, made up of two Council District 15 staffers, is supported by local community organizations including LA Conservation Corps./Clean and Green, Gang Alternatives Program, Coalition for Responsible Community Development and SBCC Clean Wilmington.
“Clearing illegal dumping and trash is vital for our communities, it conveys respect for our public spaces and enhances the safety, health, and overall well-being for our residents,” said Councilmember Tim McOsker. “There’s clearly a systemic problem when we’ve removed 52 million pounds of trash and dumping in 10 months, 31 million of which was just this calendar year. But as we work to strengthen our city’s illegal dumping prevention and criminal enforcement, we can’t let our neighborhoods be dumpsites in the meantime. By removing debris, ultimately, this Clean 15 initiative creates cleaner, safer spaces that promote a higher quality of life for all.”
The Clean 15 Program travels throughout the 15th Council District on a schedule addressing dumping issues in each of the five communities, Monday to Friday. Recently, the program expanded to include a dedicated support team, the Coalition for Responsible Community Development, to focus on Watts and the Harbor Gateway communities.
Hahn Applauds Cancellation of Plans to Shoot Catalina Deer from Helicopters
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn May 29 applauded an announcement by the Catalina Island Conservancy that they will cancel and rework plans to eradicate the island’s deer population by shooting them from helicopters, instead prioritizing other methodologies.
The Conservancy has argued that the mule deer pose a threat to the island’s ecosystem by overgrazing and destroying native plants and habitats. However, their plan to eliminate the estimated 1,770 deer on the island through aerial shooting garnered strong opposition, including from Hahn. Last month, Hahn led the Board of Supervisors in an unanimous vote to oppose the aerial shooting plan and asked the conservancy to reconsider several alternative proposals they had previously dismissed – including relocating the deer, extending the deer hunting season to thin the herd, and sterilization.
This morning, at a special meeting of the Los Angeles County Fish and Wildlife Commission, Dr. Lauren Dennhardt, the Catalina Island Conservancy’s Senior Director of Conservation, announced the decision. She stated, “We have heard the concerns expressed by residents and by Supervisor Hahn, and per her request, we are working on revising our plan to prioritize other methodologies.” In a separate phone call, the conservancy told Hahn’s office that they have taken the aerial shooting proposal off the table.
“I appreciate the Conservancy for listening to the serious concerns people had about this plan, especially from people living on the island,” said Supervisor Hahn. “I heard from residents who were terrified at the thought of bullets raining down from helicopters over their beloved island and others who couldn’t stand the thought of the deer carcasses that would be left in their wake. I am hopeful that the next plan that the Conservancy puts forward can earn more widespread support from residents and everyone who loves Catalina Island.”
Hahn has represented Catalina Island since being elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2016.
Reps. Barragán, Napolitano, Sen. Padilla announce $159 Million in Funding for Large Scale Water Recycling Projects in Southern California
LOS ANGELES — Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44) joined Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA.), Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-31) and the Bureau of Reclamation May 28 to announce $159 million in transformational investments for three large-scale water recycling projects in Southern California. Leadership from the three recipients of this major Infrastructure Law funding — Metropolitan Water District, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power or LADWP, and the City of Ventura — joined the lawmakers and administration officials for the announcement.
The funding was delivered by a new federal program, the Infrastructure Law, to help invest in large-scale water recycling programs and water reuse projects that strengthen drought resilience across the West. Through the Infrastructure Law, the Bureau of Reclamation is investing $8.3 billion over five years for water infrastructure projects, including rural water, water storage, conservation and conveyance, nature-based solutions, dam safety, water purification and reuse and desalination.
“Today’s announcement exemplifies how the Infrastructure Law is delivering for the American people,” said Representative Barragán. “This new program unlocks $450 million of federal funding to help vulnerable communities in my district and other under-resourced areas create drought-resistant water supplies and reduce our state’s dependence on imported water. This investment includes $99 million for Pure Water Southern California, the largest water recycling program in the region. I am proud to support the Pure Water project and other transformative investments made possible by Democrats in Congress and the Biden Administration.”
The program was established to support projects like the Metropolitan Water District’s water recycling program, Pure Water Southern California, which will receive nearly $100 million of this Infrastructure Law funding to build the largest recycling facility in the world. This recycling program will be instrumental for developing local water solutions and reducing Colorado River water use, potentially producing 150 million gallons of purified water each day, enough to meet the water demands of 1.5 million people. The federal funding for Pure Water will help advance design work and make necessary improvements to existing infrastructure. Construction could begin as soon as 2025, and the first water could be delivered by 2032.
Additionally, the City of Ventura will receive $30 million for its VenturaWaterPure Program, and LADWP will receive $30 million for the Los Angeles Groundwater Replenishment Project.