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LA County designates ‘green zones’ to restrict large industrial businesses ELIZABETH MARCELLINO BY CITY NEWS SERVICE
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he Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan for “green zones” in 11 unincorporated areas of the county that have been disproportionately affected by polluting businesses. In the newly designated green zones, zoning regulations will prohibit certain heavy industrial uses and set stricter standards for other industrial, recycling and solid waste operations, as well as gas stations. Supervisor Hilda Solis commended the plan and called out a particular scrap metal business in the Florence-Firestone area. “Over the years, the county has investigated multiple complaints of violations against Central Metal, including illegal storage of hazardous waste, contaminated soil piles, failure to minimize hazards and unpermitted expansion of operations,” Solis said. “Residents have also reported foul odors, metallic taste in mouth, loud noises, severe vibrations and increased truck traffic caused by this facility.” A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report from
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August states that the dirt on the Central Metal site was found to have hazardous levels of lead and arsenic. The agency is conducting an investigation, including soil testing in surrounding residential areas, to determine if the site is eligible for federal
cleanup funding. The Regional Planning Commission has designated parcels within the following communities in East and South Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley as green zones: Avocado Heights, East Los Angeles, East Rancho Domin-
guez, Florence-Firestone, South San Jose Hills, Walnut Park, West Athens-Westmont, West Carson, West Rancho Dominguez-Victoria, West Whittier-Los Nietos and Willowbrook. The new standards will be retroactive in some cases and
apply to all future developments. During public meetings, several community members who live near industrial businesses called for even more green space and larger buffers between the affected operations and residential neigh-
borhoods and schools. Representatives of the business community raised concerns about the new standards, with some operators objecting that they have always followed the rules. Supervisor Janice Hahn said even industrial uses that comply with current regulations can be a risk to residents. “Toxic pollutants near homes and schools are a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of our communities,” Hahn said. “I understand some of the business owners that called in and felt like they were good actors, and why are they being punished. “But I would say even good actors who operate these kind of industrial uses can have accidents. ... It’s nothing personal, it’s just that it doesn’t belong next to homes and our schools,” Hahn continued. The new regulations are part of the board’s focus on “environmental justice” and include more restrictive countywide policies related to recycling and waste management operations. The necessary documents will be drawn up by county counsel and brought back to the board for final approval.
Cal State University, faculty union reach tentative agreement on new contract BY CITY NEWS SERVICE
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he California State University and the California Faculty Association union have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, CSU announced Monday. The agreement covers the 29,000 instructional faculty, coaches, librarians and counselors across the 23 CSU campuses and, upon ratification by the CSU Board of Trustees and CFA membership, will run through
June 30, 2024. The agreement will be brought to the CSU Board of Trustees for approval at the upcoming meeting, on Jan. 25-26, according to CSU. “The new contract acknowledges the hard work of our faculty to ensure continued student success through the unprecedented global pandemic, while also ensuring fair compensation in challenging economic situations throughout our communities across the state,” said CSU
Chancellor Joseph I. Castro. “Compensation for our dedicated employees is the top fiscal priority of the trustees in the CSU’s 2022-23 budget request, and we are committed to working with the leaders of CFA and the other unions that represent our employees to advocate to our legislative leaders and the governor for fully funding the CSU budget,” he said. The agreement calls for faculty to receive: • a one-time payment
of $3,500, prorated by each faculty member’s 2020-21 timebase; • a 4% general salary increase, retroactive to this past July 1; • up to a 4% GSI, effective July 1, 2022, dependent on the state budget allocation to the CSU; • a 2.65% service salary increase during fiscal years 2021-22 and 2023-24 for all eligible faculty, including coaches, counselors and librarians; and
• a 2.65% post-promotion increase during fiscal year 2022-23 for eligible faculty, including coaches, counselors and librarians. “We were able to reach this tentative agreement because of the tremendous work and actions of faculty and students on all 23 campuses who communicated their strong and committed voices to the CSU, Board of Trustees and to Chancellor Castro that we must have a fair contract,” said Charles Toombs, president of CFA and
professor of Africana Studies at San Diego State University. “We all thank Chancellor Castro for acting on this strong faculty commitment to rights, respect, and justice, where faculty working conditions are student learning conditions,” he said. “Furthermore, CFA always strongly advocates in Sacramento for a budget to meet the growing needs of the CSU, and we look forward to the CSU joining us in our budget advocacy.”