SANTA CLARITA, CA– Today, Representative Mike Garcia (CA-27) and Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-AD-40) led a bipartisan letter of state representatives petitioning Governor Newsom for a State of Emergency declaration at Chiquita Canyon. The letter, signed by 15 state legislators, outlines the urgent need for this declaration to protect the health and safety of residents living near the landfill.
“The environmental disaster at Chiquita Canyon has only worsened for residents in Val Verde, Castaic, and the Santa Clarita Valley,” said Rep Garcia. “Innocent residents continue to face severe health problems and financial hardships because of this ongoing issue. It’s more urgent than ever: We need a State of Emergency. I’m grateful to have Assemblywoman Schiavo as a partner committed to taking this fight directly to the Governor. This joint letter proves that this issue transcends political boundaries – it’s about protecting the community and urging the state and county to do more for residents,” concluded Rep. Garcia. 

“Residents of Val Verde, Castaic, and students of nearby schools have been subjected to prolonged exposure to harmful emissions, leading to a range of health issues including headaches, nausea, asthma, heart palpitations, and a newly identified cancer cluster,” said Asm. Schiavo. “Last week, to get a full understanding of the impacts, I stayed overnight with a family in the area. On their street of 14 houses, seven neighbors have been fighting cancer - one has passed away. While I am grateful for the robust state, federal, and county response to the disaster on the landfill site, neighbors just a few yards away do not have the protections or relief they need to keep themselves or their children safe. We must do more and we need to act now before more people get sick, or worse, die. A state of emergency must be declared and we need to focus relief efforts to get the community out of harm's way and the healthcare and support they need,” concluded Asm. Schiavo.
Rep. Garcia has been actively leading the response to the Chiquita Canyon crisis since it was brought to his attention last year. He has welcomed the EPA’s involvement, led a bipartisan letter urging the Governor for a State of Emergency, called for the immediate suspension of landfill operations except for local waste collection, demanded a thorough investigation to hold responsible parties accountable, secured federal funding for emissions monitoring and emergency response, and introduced the Chiquita Canyon Tax Relief Act. Throughout this time, he has maintained regular communication with affected residents to ensure they receive the necessary relief.

A full copy of the letter text is available here.