Flores, Dora
From: AynCraciun <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June16, 20254:41PM
To: eComment; Penaloza, David; Phan, Thai; Bacerra, Phil; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Hernandez, Johnathan; Saba, Nabil; Amezcua, Valerie Subject: OPPOSEAgendaItem #22aResolutionOpposingCleanAirforSantaAna Attention: ThisemailoriginatedfromoutsideofCityofSantaAna. Usecautionwhenopeningattachmentsorlinks.
June 16, 2025
SantaAnaCityCouncil
20 CivicCenterPlaza
SantaAna, CA92701
[email protected]
RE: OPPOSEAgenda Item #22 a Resolution Opposing Clean Air for Santa Ana Membersof the SantaAnaCityCouncil,
On behalfof ClimateActionCampaignandthousandsof SantaAnachildrenandfamilieswho, accordingto the AmericanLungAssociation, havesufferedwiththeworstair pollutionin the nationfor decades, I urgeyouto voteNOon agendaitem22. Thisitemwouldhavethe counciloppose cleanair for residents – a reversalof the city’s commitmentsto environmentaljusticeembeddedin its GeneralPlan.
Oneof thelargestsourcesof ozonepollutionin SantaAnais fossilfuelappliancesin homes, whichwould havebeensignificantlyreducedby SouthCoastAirQualityManagementDistrict (SCAQMD) Rules1111and 1121. Theseruleswouldregulategasfurnacesandwaterheaters—someof thelargestsourcesof nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollutionin SouthernCaliforniahomes—andrepresenta vitalpublichealthinterventionto reduce asthma, heartdisease, andotherrespiratoryillnesses, whilealsosavinglowincomefamiliesthousandsof dollarson installationcostsandmonthlyenergybills.
Sadly, on June6, 2025, SCAQMDvotedagainstadoptingtheserules, theresultof a concertedmisinformation campaignled by the gasindustryto preserveits monopolyprofitsanddelayactionon life-savingairquality improvements.
Despitethisvote, the factsremainclear: Santa Ana communities would disproportionately benefit from policies like Rules 1111and 1121. Thecityranksamongthe mostpollution-burdenedin theSouthCoast region, accordingto CalEnviroScreen, andSantaAnaresidentsshoulderan outsizedshareof thehealth impacts—andmillionsin healthcarecosts— causedby gasappliances.
There’s anothercriticalreasonto supportthistransition: households that remain on the gas system will face rising utility bills as moreresidentsswitchto all-electricappliances. A 2024studyprojectsthatgas infrastructurecostswillincreasinglybe borneby a shrinkingcustomerbase, resultingin naturalgasbillsrising by up to 46% overthe next15 yearsfor thosewhodo not transition.
Also, California’s Equitable Building DecarbonizationProgram will fully fund the replacement of gas appliances for low-income Santa Ana households, helpingfamiliestransitionoff thepollutinggassystemat no cost, whileimprovingindoorair qualityandreducingmonthlyutilitybills. Thatprogramis setto launchin SantaAnathisyear.
1 We urgetheCouncilnotto addto the health, environmentaljusticeandclimateinequitiesborneby SantaAna families. Ratherthanopposingpoliciesdesignedto cleantheair andprotectpublichealth, thecouncilshould focuson ensuringaccessto stateandfederalincentivesandprogramsthatmakethistransitionaffordablefor all— especiallythosewho’ve bornethe bruntof pollutionfor generations.
Giventhe flaws, outdatedclaims, andlong-termeconomicrisksembeddedin thisresolution, ClimateAction Campaignrespectfully urges you to vote NOon Item 22.
Sincerely,
AynCraciun
OC PolicyDirector
Climate Action Campaign
AynCraciun
Directorof Policy, OrangeCounty
ClimateActionCampaign
949-400-9682
Schedulea meetingwithmeathttps://calendly.com/aync
Likewhatwedo? SupportClimateActionCampaigntoday.
Ourmissionis simple: createa zerocarbonfuture through effectiveandequitablepolicy action 2 Zuniga, Diana
From: Gregory Tabat <
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 12:57 PM
To: Amezcua, Valerie; Phan, Thai; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Bacerra, Phil; Hernandez, Johnathan; Penaloza, David; eComment
Subject: NO on agenda Item 22: Oppose Gas Industry Resolution Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
Dear Mayor Amezcua and Councilmembers,
I' m one of your constituents. I'm asking you to pay attention to what really matters- the health and welfare of our Santa Anans. Economic concerns are paired with health concerns. If it' s a choice, health must be the priority because what good is a " solid economy" if you don' t have the health to enjoy it? Please oppose Agenda Item 22. Santa Ana' s air quality ranks among the worst in the United States— and our children are paying the price. Alongside Los Angeles and Long Beach, our region consistently ranks worst in the nation for ozone pollution, according to the American Lung Association, which gives us a failing grade year after year. Gas appliances in homes and buildings generate 7x more lung- damaging pollution in Santa Ana than power plants. By phasing out gas appliances such as furnaces and water heaters, we can reduce residents' exposure to toxic pollution that results in asthma, lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
SCAQMD estimates these rules will prevent 2,490 premature deaths and deliver$ 25.43 billion in health benefits and savings over the coming decades, while ensuring Southern Californians benefit from the most energy- efficient cooling available. Upgrading to heat pumps from gas can save a typical household in CA$ 370 per year. Electric appliances are a public health benefit necessity that is more within reach than ever.
Thank you,
Gregory Tabat
Riverview West
1