Committee backs proposal to send first $5 million from Inglewood oil‑field account to nearby residents

Assemblymember Bridal presented AB 16 61 to direct the initial $5 million deposited into the Equitable Community Repair and Reinvestment account to direct cash assistance for residents within 2.5 miles of the Inglewood Oilfield. Bridal framed the bill as a polluter‑pays, reparative step for communities that have experienced long-term exposure to oil-field operations.

Tanya Borja of SCOPE told the committee that organizers have surveyed thousands of local residents who report respiratory problems and concerns about reproductive impacts. "This bill is about accountability. It's about repair, health reparations, and it ensures that those communities most impacted are not left to carry those costs alone," she said.

Tiana (environmental-justice program director with Black Women for Wellness) described community outreach and health impacts, citing CalEnviroScreen percentiles and public-health reports on asthma. She said many residents already bear out‑of‑pocket costs for inhalers, filters and medical care.

Members praised the proposal’s focus on direct community support; the committee moved the measure forward to Appropriations. Members noted no fiscal impact on the general fund because the account is financed by the oil-field closure framework established earlier in statute; they asked staff to clarify implementation details and eligibility parameters for cash assistance.

The committee’s action advances AB 16 61 with direction to work out administrative procedures for distributing payments to eligible households.