Senator Barbara Boxer honors President & CEO Alberto Mendoza

Alberto Mendoza has “broken the glass ceiling” as the first Latino leader to run a California environmental advocacy organization, said United States Senator Barbara Boxer upon honoring Mendoza with the first ever Environmental Leadership Award Sunday night.

In addition to giving top honors to Mendoza, Senator Boxer and the California Democratic Party recognized honorees from NRDC and Global Green, actors/activists Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Smith, and musician/activist Bonnie Raitt.

“It was a tremendous honor for Alberto to receive this award from Senator Boxer and to be recognized alongside other leading national environmentalists. This award speaks to the leadership and accomplishments of the Coalition for Clean Air, and it reflects the prominence of air quality issues in the current administration,” said incoming Board Chair Erik Neandross.

Mendoza’s thank you speech stressed that no matter what area of the environment one works to defend, we are a community working together to protect the environment and safeguard public health.

“This movement is about people. We have the responsibility to partner, protect and empower those who are living with the effects of poor air quality and environmental planning consequences. Whether people want to be called environmentalists or not, it is our organization’s obligation to protect all communities because only together can we truly protect our environment.”

Assembly passes
Community Benefits Fund

Assembly Bill 1405: Community Benefits Fund was successfully voted off the Assembly floor on Wednesday, June 3, with a 45-30 vote. Co-authored by Assemblymembers Kevin de León, V. Manuel Perez and Wilmer Amina Carter, the bill requires that 30 percent of the revenues generated through the implementation of AB 32—California’s landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006—be used to help polluted neighborhoods reduce greenhouse gases and cope with additional burdens such as increased air pollution, heat waves and droughts.

The bill moves to the Senate floor for consideration in July.

“This bill directs resources to the communities that need it the most. A Community Benefits Fund means equal protection for all Californians in the fight against climate change,” said Dr. Shankar Prasad, executive fellow.

If you believe that every Californian deserves to breathe clean air regardless of their zip code, click here to learn more.

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It’s all in Clearing the Air

As the Coalition for Clean Air strives to tackle California’s most pressing air pollution problems, we’ve reached out to our communities and asked people to share their personal stories about struggling with poor air quality. Read the latest edition of Clearing the Air.