Jack Weiss for Los Angeles City Attorney Environmental Plan

By Jack Weiss

One of the most important responsibilities of the next City Attorney of Los Angeles will be to protect public health, quality of life, and the environment by cracking down on polluters. There is a clear choice on the issue of the environment. I have spent my career in public service fighting for clean air, clean water, and environmental protection.

I want to share with you my plans to continue my environmental work as City Attorney by strictly enforcing our environmental laws.

One of the most important responsibilities of the next City Attorney of Los Angeles will be to protect public health, quality of life, and the environment by cracking down on polluters.

As City Attorney I will ensure that polluters stop profiting from polluting our air, drinking water, ocean and beaches. In addition, I will ensure that businesses that do their fair share in our City are not at a competitive disadvantage.
While on the City Council, I have fought to clean up Santa Monica Bay and local urban waterways. I am honored to have received an Award for Public Service from the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters in April 2003 and the Santa Monica Baykeeper Founders Award in 2004.

Expand Clean Water Enforcement

The provision and protection of our water resources has been a central issue in Los Angeles for decades. Local residents and businesses rely on rivers, bays, groundwater and the ocean for healthy drinking water, recreation, and sanitation. I currently serve as president of the Santa Monica Bay Watershed Council, and I served for four years as chair of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission. As City Attorney I will step up enforcement against illegal dumping, toxic storm drain runoff, and other threats to our waterways.

Protect the Los Angeles River

The Los Angeles River is a rare and important public resource and as City Attorney I will defend against it becoming a dumping ground. I will work with local neighborhoods, leaders such as Councilmember Ed Reyes, and organizations to revitalize the Los Angeles River and protect it from proposed exemptions to federal clean water statutes. I also will actively support plans to green the river to provide habitat and park and open space by navigating the complex federal and state laws that govern usage of the river.

Expand Clean Air Enforcement

Los Angeles faces major environmental and public health challenges from some of the worst air pollution in the nation. As City Attorney, I will work with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to enforce clean air standards. I will be the L.A. City Attorney who will take on air polluters and lead the city's fight against global warming. The Port of Los Angeles and LAX are two of the largest contributors to air pollution in the region. I will work to continue efforts such as the Port's clean trucks program. I will ensure that the Department of Water and Power meets its goals for renewable energy. From encouraging use of transit to making use of criminal prosecution and civil litigation to take on polluters, I will use the office of City Attorney to fight for cleaner air.

Recognize the environment in a global context and cooperate with other law enforcement

Our public health and environmental challenges don't stop at our city limits, nor at the borders of Los Angeles County or even the nation. Companies based abroad pollute within Los Angeles and pollution that physically originates on foreign soil often enters the air we breathe and water we drink. As City Attorney I will use existing provisions in international environmental and trade agreements and expand nuisance and trespass enforcement to ensure that wherever pollution comes from, enforcement follows. With limited resources, Los Angeles needs to coordinate with state and federal environmental enforcement agencies. As City Attorney I will work closely with the United States Department of Justice, the Attorney General, the District Attorney, and environmental agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the State Water Board, the Department of Toxic Substance Control, and California Department of Fish and Game to make sure that polluters are brought to justice.

Work for Environmental Justice

The impact of industrial and other types of pollution falls disproportionately on low income and minority communities. As City Attorney I will make sure that every community in Los Angeles receives vigorous protection. I will fight illegal dumping, smog emissions, and improper disposal of hazardous waste with civil litigation and criminal enforcement to protect every family in the city from environmental criminals.

Fight Illegal Dumping

Illegal dumping threatens not only fragile ecosystems but the health of our families. Unlike my opponent, who has made a career out of defending these criminals while calling himself an "environmental attorney," I will make them pay for the damage to our communities and put the worst offenders behind bars. Illegal dumping is a health hazard particularly to children and it destroys the quality of life in our neighborhoods. As City Attorney I will work with LAPD and other agencies to identify locations that are frequently used as dump sites and partner with community organizations to prevent illegal dumping and prosecute those who trash our neighborhoods.

Help City Departments Comply and Green Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles can play an important role in creating a healthful and greener local environment. We must lead by example. The Department of Water and Power has set ambitious goals for renewable energy, and I will actively collaborate with DWP to meet these goals. As City Attorney I will ensure that City Departments understand the environmental rules that apply to their operations and assist them in their efforts to become strong environmental stewards. I will be the City of Los Angeles' Chief Environmental Compliance Officer.

Work with Environmental Organizations and Non-Profits, and Join in their Lawsuits and Public Interest Efforts

As City Attorney I will work with local environmental organizations and non-profits to ensure that environmental crimes are prosecuted. The non-profit sector has tremendous expertise in environmental protection and should be engaged in collaborations to stop environmental degradation. As City Attorney I will partner with environmental organizations to bring proactive litigation to improve the environment.

Thank you for reading my plan for the environment. I know that the health and safety impacts of pollution are serious, and that is why if elected I will work to fight pollution and environmental crimes in our City. Throughout my entire career in public service, environmental protection has been a top priority for me. It will continue to be as Los Angeles City Attorney.