CITY OF SAN PABLO
City Council
1000 Gateway Avenue ● San Pablo, CA 94806
Main: 510-215-3000 ● Fax: 510-215-3011
www.SanPabloCA.gov
February 24, 2022
E-MAIL TRANSMITTAL/REGULAR MAIL
The Honorable Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
California State Assembly, (D-16th District)
1021 O Street, Suite 6320
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Assembly Bill 2374 (Bauer-Kahan) Crimes against public health and safety:
illegal dumping - Support from the City of San Pablo
Dear Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan:
On behalf of the San Pablo City Council, I am proud to express our strong support for Assembly Bill 2374 which seeks to strengthen fines against those caught illegally dumping garbage and waste and provides judges flexibility to add penalties against the violator.
Illegal dumping is an increasing problem in San Pablo that poses signif icant health, social, environmental, and economic impacts universally on all local communities. Illegal dumping contributes to a loss of community pride, discourages investment and development, decreases property values, and increases a community’s vulnera bility to crime. Frankly, it’s offensive to the businesses and residents who work and live in dumping hot spots, and at times , its done brazenly and openly, thereby flaunting local law enforcement, and setting a poor standard for others to see.
Current law prohibits the dumping of waste matter upon a road or highway or in other locations.
A violation of this prohibition, generally, is an infraction punishable by specified fines that escalate for subsequent convictions. Under existing law, the court may, as a condition of probation, order the convicted person to remove, or pay for the removal of the waste matter.
Under existing law, the dumping of commercial quantities of waste is punishable as a misdemeanor, and includes escalating fines.
While the City co ntinues to seek remedies at the local level to dissuade and prohibit illegal dumping, the City applauds your well-crafted state-wide legislation to address this critical issue state-wide. Assembly Bill 2374 does the following:
Increases the maximum fine for the dumping of commercial quantities of waste to up to $20,000.
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahn (D-16th District)
Re: Support for Assembly Bill 2374 (Bauer-Kahan) Crimes against public health and safety: illegal dumping
February 24, 2022
Requires the court to order a person convicted of dumping commercial quantities of waste to remove, or pay for the removal of, the waste matter that was illegally dumped.
Authorizes the court to order the surrender of a professional or business license that is related to the illegal dumping activity for which the person has been convicted, as a condition of probation.
Authorizes the court, as a condition of probation, to order the na me of a person convicted of dumping commercial quantities of waste to be publicly posted or published.
Thank you for your leadership and focus on this important piece of legislation. The City of San Pablo stands by you, and we look forward to working with your office to get this bill signed into law.
Should you need any additional information, please feel free to contact San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez at (510) 215-3016, or via email: [email protected]
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Rita Xavier, Mayor
City of San Pablo
cc: San Pablo City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahn (D-16th District)
Re: Support for Assembly Bill 2374 (Bauer-Kahan) Crimes against public health and safety: illegal dumping
February 24, 2022