MAYOR JIM HAHN ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Mayor Hahn is committed to protecting Los Angeles’ air, water, and open space for future generations.

Mayor Hahn stopped Los Angeles’ investment in a new coal plant in Utah, established a bold goal for the Department of Water and Power to significantly expand the city’s use of renewable energy, and created the world’s first system that allows docked ships to use shore-side electric power instead of burning diesel fuel.

To reduce air pollution in Los Angeles neighborhoods, Mayor Hahn is working to convert more of the city’s vehicles such as garbage trucks and street sweepers to Compressed Natural Gas or Hybrid Fuel-Efficient vehicles.

Mayor Hahn is working to provide more park facilities and open space for Los Angeles families to enjoy. Under his leadership, the city has opened over 80 new or renovated park facilities such as skate parks and child care centers. Mayor Hahn also worked with a coalition of community leaders to stop a major development at Ahmanson Ranch, which will instead become a state park. He received Heal the Bay’s “Walk the Talk” award in 2004 for his efforts to save Ahmanson Ranch.

Below are highlights of Mayor Hahn’s record on the environment.

	Stopped the Department of Water and Power’s plan to invest in a new coal plant in Utah, and instead invest in efforts to develop clean energy sources.
	Set a goal for the Department of Water and Power to produce 20 percent of the city’s power supply from renewable energy sources by the year 2017, and established a Green Ribbon Commission to develop a plan to meet this goal.
	Provided funding to support converting the City’s vehicles such as street sweeper trucks and garbage trucks to Compressed Natural Gas or Hybrid Fuel-Efficient Vehicles.
	Working to make the City’s heavy duty diesel vehicles cleaner by installing traps that remove 85 percent of carcinogenic particulate matter from diesel exhaust.
	Created the Alternative Maritime Program (AMP) at the Port of Los Angeles, which allows ships docked at the port to use shore-side electric power instead of burning diesel fuel on-board. Each time a ship docks using AMP, it prevents about the same amount of air pollution that would be generated by a diesel truck driving for 70,000 miles.
	Issued an Executive Directive that requires the Board of Harbor Commissioners to implement a “no net increase” in emissions at the Port of Los Angeles.
	Worked with Councilman Eric Garcetti to create a pilot program that will allow hybrid vehicles to park at city parking meters for free.
	Working to develop a Low Sulfur Fuels program at the port, which significantly reduces emissions of docked vessels, and an Emulsion Diesel Fuels program, which provides matching funds to customers for the additional cost of emulsified fuel.
	Advocated for and closely monitored the East Central Interceptor Sewer (ECIS) project to ensure that it was completed on-time and on-budget. The project, which rehabilitated the city’s sewer system in East, Central, and South Los Angeles neighborhoods, increased the system’s capacity and will greatly reduce the number of sewage spills. Prior to the construction of ECIS, heavy rains would cause sewage to flow into the streets and there were some instances where children were walking through raw sewage to get to school. ECIS was the largest public works project in the city’s history.
	Helped establish the Department of Water and Power’s fuel cell power plant, which is the first high-efficiency fuel cell power plant in North America. It provides 250-kW of clean electricity or about enough electricity to serve 100 homes for one year.
	Working to enhance the Department of Water and Power’s Solar Rebate Program and to expand solar power and energy efficiency opportunities for affordable housing projects.
	Signed a historic agreement between the Port of Los Angeles and the Shanghai Port to share technology that will improve air quality and water quality.
	Promoting development of clean fuel technologies and welcomed to the City’s fleet the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle for commercial use in the United States. This vehicle uses hydrogen fuel and emits only water vapor.
	Funded the construction or rehabilitation of more than 80 new park facilities, including skate parks, childcare centers and parks designated for children with disabilities.
	Worked with neighborhood councils and other civic leaders to stop the Ahmanson Ranch development, which would have developed over 3,000 new homes and generated thousands of additional car trips in the San Fernando Valley. As a result of these successful efforts, the area will become a state park. Mayor Hahn received Heal the Bay’s “Walk the Talk” award for his efforts to save Ahmanson Ranch.
	Provided financial and technical assistance to the Neighborhood Land Trust to help create more park space and open space in Los Angeles.
	Committed to end future development of DWP-owned land in the Owens Valley, and is working with local elected officials, environmental community leaders, business owners, and other stakeholders in Inyo and Mono Counties to accomplish this goal.
	Supported the completion of the Los Angeles River Greenway, a half-mile long pathway along the south side of the Los Angeles River in Studio City,
	Working on a plan with Councilman Ed Reyes to develop and implement an L.A. River Master Plan that will help guide the city’s use of the river for recreation, economic development, and other purposes.
	Helped develop a plan for to create a park at Taylor Yard in Northeast Los Angeles and supported the new Audubon Center at Debs Park in East Los Angeles.
	Established a School Facilities Division in the Mayor’s Office to work with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) on agreements that allow greater community use of city and school facilities, such as parks, pools, tennis courts, gyms, and auditoriums.
	Strongly supports closing all landfills in the City of Los Angeles and appointed a Landfill Oversight Committee to evaluate and recommend ways to achieve a landfill-free city. Mayor Hahn called for a public hearing and a full Environmental Impact Report on the Bradley and Sunshine Canyon Landfills, and directed the Environmental Affairs Department to deny a permit for the expansion of the Bradley Landfill.
	Through the city’s recycling programs, helped Los Angeles achieve a 60 percent rate of trash diversion from the landfills and has directed all city departments to achieve a 70 percent diversion rate by 2020.
	Created a pilot program to pick up recyclables from over 100,000 housing units at large apartment complexes throughout the city.
	Successfully advocated for additional protections against groundwater contamination at the Sunshine Canyon Landfill.
	As City Attorney, successfully prosecuted violators of laws that protect our air, water, and natural heritage, forcing polluters to donate more than $1 million in direct financial assistance to non-profit environmental groups, including the Audobon Society, the American Oceans Campaign, Heal the Bay, and the Marine Mammal Rescue Center. He expanded the city’s Environmental Crimes Unit to focus on prosecuting polluters.
	As City Attorney, became one of the first prosecutors to file a criminal case under the state’s Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act to crackdown on polluters at the Port of Los Angeles.
	As City Attorney, launched an enforcement program against polluters that dump hazardous materials in to the city storm drain system, which empties into the Santa Monica Bay.
	As City Attorney, sued the owner of a 1,100-unit apartment complex in East Los Angeles and forced him to make the building safe from deteriorating lead-based paint. County health officials had reported several cases of lead poisoning involving children living at the apartments and subsequent tests on paint samples from the building showed lead levels up to 94 times the legal limit. This was the first such settlement under a Proposition 65 lead abatement action by a government entity in California.
	As City Attorney, initiated the first prosecutions in city history against violators of state laws that regulate the handling of radioactive materials.
	As City Attorney, took legal action that resulted in the cancellation of the proposed Angeles Pipeline, which would have carried oil through the heart of Los Angeles and lacked adequate environmental studies.
	As City Attorney, took legal action that helped prevent construction of a new toxic waste incinerator in the City of Vernon.