The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce is in strong SUPPORT of AB 2026 authored by Torrance Assemblyman David Hadley. This bill will require all plaintiffs or petitioners who sue under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to include an affidavit identifying every person or entity who makes a monetary contribution of $1,000 or more to fund the litigation. This will effectively stop anonymous plaintiffs from suing under CEQA, improving a grossly misused environmental protection law that has been a grave hindrance for economic development in California.
Join us in SUPPORT of AB 2026 by following these two easy steps.
- Download this letter and sign it
- Email, fax, or mail the signed letter to TACC’s Government Affairs Coordinator Brandon Matson using the contact information below.
Email: BrandonMatson@TorranceChamber.com; Fax: 310-540-7662; Mail: Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, 3400 Torrance Blvd, Suite 100, Torrance, CA 90503
Background
CEQA was established to allow environmentally minded individuals and organizations to review the environmental impacts of potential projects and to work with all parties to reduce the negative effects on the environment those projects might create. Although well intentioned, over the past four years, only 32% of all CEQA cases were filed by individuals (19%) or environmental advocacy groups (13%). Instead, CEQA lawsuits can be filed anonymously with the true filer unknown to the judge, defending agency, or the public. Today, 45% of CEQA lawsuits are filed anonymously. Individuals and groups file anonymously for many reasons; to slow down a competitor’s project, to leverage for bargaining agreements, to maintain access to a ‘free’ commodity like water, wind or sun, or to stop a plan for nonenvironmental reasons. According to KPBS San Diego, as of May 2015 one lawyer and his law firm had sued on behalf of more than 30 so called “charitable nonprofits”, almost all of which he and his family helped create, and all but two share the same mailing address as the law firm. This tactic is known as “greenmail.” (source: AB 2026 Fact Sheet provided by Assemblyman David Hadley)
TACC Position on CEQA
TACC supports the original intent of CEQA to sensibly protect the environment and to ensure the public is allowed to participate in the process. Unfortunately, the overly complex environmental law is often misused by self-serving parties to protect their own economic interests. TACC advocates for CEQA reform that allows for the approval of economic development projects in a timely manner.
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by Brandon Matson
Brandon is the Governmental Affairs Coordinator for the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce. His primary responsibilities include facilitating the Chamber's Governmental Affairs Policy (GAP) group, planning Chamber events with legislators, and facilitating the Chamber's Political Action Committee (PAC). Feel free to contact him at any time.
