California Democratic Platform

Justice and Civil Liberties for All

California Democrats believe that we must invest in the well-being of children and young people in order for them to become thriving and productive members of society.  We support a strong and accessible civil just system to defend public health, safety and the environment, and to vindicate the rights of consumers, injured persons, employees, and all of our citizens equally. Click on the button below to learn more about our platform.

Environmental -Shut Down Quemetco 

WHEREAS, the process of secondary lead smelting results in the release of harmful compounds, such as arsenic and hexavalent chromium, throughout each step of the process, from crushing the batteries to smelting and refining; and

WHEREAS, Quemetco Industries, the last lead recycling facility in California, has committed ongoing violations of State and Federal environmental regulations intended to prevent release of these harmful compounds, and continues to fail to provide adequate evidence of corrections of said violations several years after said corrections were ordered; and

WHEREAS, the release of these harmful compounds has exposed residents of adjoining neighborhoods in La Puente, Hacienda Heights, and Avocado Heights to significant risk of cancer and respiratory and other potentially life-threatening illnesses;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Tri-Counties Democratic Club joins the Clean Air Coalition of North Whittier & Avocado Heights in opposing Quemetco’s expansion, and calls upon the California Department of Toxic Substance Control to deny renewal of Quemetco’s expired hazardous waste permit; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tri-Counties Democratic Club joins the Clean Air Coalition of North Whittier & Avocado Heights in calling on the California Department of Toxic Substance Control to establish a process and timeline to shut down the Quemetco secondary lead recycling facility and to develop a comprehensive cleanup plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tri-Counties Democratic Club joins the Clean Air Coalition of North Whittier & Avocado Heights in calling on the California Legislature to enact meaningful reforms to strengthen the process of approving toxic waste permits and enforcing environmental protection requirements on businesses that produce toxic waste; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tri-Counties Democratic Club transmit this resolution to the following: the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board; the California Department of Toxic Substance Control; Assembly Member Lisa Calderon; State Senator Bob Archuleta; Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis; the Assembly Business and Professions Committee; the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee; the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee; and the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.