Strengthen Climate Resilience

“Being responsive to the Westside’s environmental and climate issues is a matter of utmost urgency. I will prioritize sustainable policies that fight climate change, protect our natural surroundings, and improve our economy. And when people think about my legacy, I want drought mitigation and water independence to be top of mind.” – Traci Park

In addition to fast-tracking climate mitigation and adaptation policies, Traci will work to protect our District’s spectacular coastline, gorgeous mountains, and critical wetlands. Our natural spaces are incredibly valuable. Among other benefits, they help to uplift social interactions, improve public and mental health, and lower crime rates in surrounding neighborhoods.

Traci will champion vitally important measures such as these:

Climate change mitigation and good job creation

• Prioritize the push to achieve 100% clean energy by 2035
• Invest in conversion of the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant to full wastewater recycling by 2035
• Plan and build a sufficient EV infrastructure network to serve our entire Westside District
• Utilize funding sources such as Measure W to swiftly implement projects that capture more rainwater, help prevent flooding, and create clean water infrastructure throughout our District and the City
• Fully support the Pure Water joint venture program between the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and LA County Sanitation Districts that will provide a drought-proof source of high-quality water with the potential to serve more than 500,000 homes
• Establish Green Investment Districts that promote and generate clean energy jobs and reward businesses that are committed to environmental best practices

Community protections and resiliency measures

• Collaborate with CD11 Neighborhood Councils to make sure every neighborhood has a current and effective plan for climate resilience and emergency preparedness, including comprehensive wildfire evacuation plans
• Incentivize urban habitat protection projects such as wetland and dune restoration to help with flood control
• Push forward on drought mitigation by incentivizing both residential and business rainwater-capture and greywater systems
• Champion pollution mitigation in our waterways by installing green streets, alleys, and tree wells for stormwater runoff filtration
• Support trash interceptor projects upstream and downstream along with stricter enforcement of Illegal dumping regulations to keep pollution out of our waterways and precious ocean
• Increase our urban tree canopy to lessen the heat island effect of artificial surfaces and reduce stormwater runoff, among other benefits
• Strictly limit development in high fire risk zones and environmentally sensitive areas including our hillside, canyon and wetland areas

Open spaces, parks, trails and wildlife habitat

• Protect public greenspaces, like the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, that enhance livability for people and benefit our wildlife
• Support CD11’s inclusion in wildlife habitat protection projects such as the Wildlife Ordinance/Wildlife Pilot Study for the Santa Monica Mountains
• Preserve our coast, including keeping Santa Monica Bay clean and unpolluted by stormwater runoff and trash
• Invest in new parks, pocket parks, and other recreational spaces – in full support of the LA2050 initiative to ensure that 95% of LA residents will live within half a mile of a park by 2050
• Help implement the California State Coastal Conservancy’s LA Urban Greening plan to expand open space, improve recreation opportunities, and support water quality in park-poor and underserved communities
• Ensure that new development comes with paseos and publicly accessible green open space
• Increase biodiversity in our Westside landscapes through urban habitat conservation projects along with expanded wildlife corridors and green space connectivity
• Push for regenerative infrastructure, including urban community farming, living rooftops, and rainwater irrigation projects