HispanicVista Columnists

By Randy Jurado Ertll

Southeast Los Angeles is one of the poorest regions in the United States. It is also one of the most contaminated. The City of Maywood is a case study in

political neglect and complacency. Some local elected officials continue to ignore issues such as contaminated drinking water, household lead paint, lack of safe recreation areas and more while children, the elderly and even regular “healthy” adults continue to get sick due to the localized pollution problems.

The City of Maywood covers only 1.14 square miles and has a population of 28,083. The federal government identified a Superfund site in this small, densely populated city, a site that is considered one of the top five most contaminated Superfund sites in the country. (The chemical company PEMACO developed, stored and disposed of chemicals that eventually made their way, through the soil and into the underground water of Maywood.)

The cleanup, remediation and community healing processes around this site have been bogged down because community residents, who are scared of the contamination, feel excluded from discussions, plans and options for the site. One current plan under consideration is the construction of a park on the former PEMACO site, but some critics argue that the park will be built on contaminated soil.

There seems to be a great deal of mistrust and confusion about the benefits of this plan, but the current council majority has been anxious to push the plan through and avoid community input. Maywood community members must be invited to become more active participants with issues, such as PEMACO, in their community.

On November 8, Maywood voters will have an unprecedented opportunity to oust a couple of “old guard” council members and elect three strong, civic-minded representatives. Candidates Thomas Martin (an incumbent), Felipe Aguirre and Sergio Calderon were recently endorsed by the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters (LALCV).

This endorsement is really an environmental health and justice “seal of approval,” and it is reserved for those candidates who demonstrate an understanding of issues that affect the health of a community and who demonstrate a desire to do something to improve it. The Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters is a countywide political action committee that endorses candidates who have a commitment to protecting our health and the environment.

In contrast to Martin, Aguirre and Calderon, the two other incumbents in the race have shown disinterest in implementing, enforcing or otherwise promoting local laws or policies to clean up Maywood. The Mayor and these two incumbents have stonewalled efforts to work closely with environmental groups who can provide resources and advice on how to help clean the air to safeguard the health of children who live in the City of Maywood. They have avoided working with citizen groups on these issues. They have ignored calls for public meetings and more information. They declined to respond to LALCV’s invitation for endorsement.

The citizens of Maywood should elect candidates who will advocate for protection of the air, the water, clean parks and other important environmental issues. If children continue to inhale contaminated air from idle trains and trucks that emit deadly particulate matter from their diesel engines, they will continue to get and stay sick. If they are forced to buy water to avoid drinking contaminated water from the tap, they will continue to spend lots of money that would rather be spent on rent or food.

The upcoming election in the City of Maywood offers an important opportunity for the voters to take better control of their city government. By getting involved in Maywood, the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters has shown that even small cities are important, and there are alternatives to the status quo. I encourage the voters in Maywood to become more involved in local environmental issues and help elect these three highly qualified candidates – Martin, Aguirre and Calderon – who will fight to protect the environment and health for all of the residents living in the City of Maywood.
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Randy Jurado Ertll, former New Voter Organizer for the California League of Conservation Voters and a former Board member of the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters. Contact: randyertll@yahoo.com