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Compton residents urge use of AQMD and Measure A funds for air purifiers, trees near Cesar Chavez Park
Summary
Speakers at the Sept. 23 meeting asked council to allocate AQMD funds and Measure A money to provide air purifiers and plant trees near Cesar Chavez Park and along Pine Street to mitigate pollution from a nearby plant; staff and petitioners discussed logistics but no funding decision was made.
Several residents told the Compton City Council on Sept. 23 that pollution from a nearby facility is harming neighborhood health and urged the city to use available funding to help affected residents.
Sabrina Villanueva (District 2) asked the council to allocate AQMD funds to purchase air purifiers for residents near the plant and to use Measure A funds to plant trees in Cesar Chavez Park and along Pine Street. “If the funds are available, if we could do that … it will be great,” she said.
Fidel Marquez suggested using funds already in the city’s possession, saying, “With the money that Lily Darden and Emma Sharif got, why don't you buy the air purifiers and give them out to the people in the immediate area?” He also urged transparency and said he would raise ethics concerns he believes exist between employees, nonprofits and council members with the district attorney.
Public commenter Vanessa described a change in local environmental conditions and said Compton’s air quality has deteriorated, urging council action and greater public engagement. “Compton used to be… one of the cleanest cities in the country,” she said.
Councilmembers and staff did not approve an allocation during the meeting. Staff confirmed follow-up on community requests, and speakers asked that any funds used be targeted to residents most affected by poor air quality.
No formal policy or appropriation was recorded; residents asked the council to consider the requests at upcoming committee or budget meetings.
