Senator Richard Alarcón is a former teacher, community activist, and a champion for working families and a healthy environment.
He grew up surrounded by seven landfills in the San Fernando Valley and saw first hand how underserved communities are hardest hit by environmental injustice.
Throughout his political career Alarcón has fought to improve our environment.
As a City Councilmember, he succeeded in closing the Lopez Canyon Landfill. Then, he saved taxpayers money while improving the air quality by creating a groundbreaking program to harvest the landfills methane gas and convert it into energy.
In the State Senate he served as chair of the Select Committee on Environmental Justice where he fought for tougher regulations and protections.
He expanded programs that reduce energy consumption by helping low-wage earning households become more energy efficient.
This session he is the author of several environmental bills; one requires the Integrated Waste Management Board to develop packaging guidelines for manufacturers, another requires cities to better use green waste by phasing out overused ADC credits, and yet another promotes future respect for our environment by expanding outdoor education in our schools.
Alarcon's concern for our environment will follow him to the State Assembly in 2007.