Third Act SoCal was well represented at a late July Make Polluters Pay town hall that included input from Altadena and Palisades fire survivors and a commitment from State Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) to work for passage of the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act during his remaining days in the legislature.
Allen, termed out in December, kicked off the interactive event held in Altadena. It was one stop on a statewide tour organized by nonprofits who, like Third Act SoCal, hope to see the climate superfund law reintroduced in the next legislative session. Allen, whose district includes the Pacific Palisades, also discussed the massive costs associated with wildfire disasters during a panel moderated by Woody Little on behalf of Clean and Healthy California.
Panelist Mike Cohen, a member of Extreme Weather Survivors, described the devastation of the Eaton fire that took his home and his continuing bureaucratic struggles to recover. He noted that the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act both followed horrible disasters and expressed hope that a legislative solution focused on prevention as well as recovery will follow from California’s tragic 2025 wildfires.
Panelist Martha Dina Arguello, executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility LA, also called for a shift to prevention. The need for repair, response plans and funding for existing programs is essential, Arguello said, but prevention of future disasters is critical.
Panelist Steve Engelmann, science teacher at Palisades Charter High School and a Palisades fire survivor, focused on the impact of the fires on our youth and hope for a better world for our children and grandchildren. Engelmann, with whom Third Act SoCal has collaborated on prior Make Polluters Pay events, brought photos taken by his students showing their school before and after it was damaged by the fire.
Third Act SoCal was well represented at the event: Kerry led the tabling team with support from Phil, David, Monica, Margie, John and Bobbi. Our Working Group signed up four new members and participated in break-out sessions, which provided tools to advance environmental justice and effect change at the local level, among other helpful offerings. We look forward to future collaborations with partners committed to fighting climate change.
L to R: Martha Dina Arguello, Mike Cohen, Steve Englemann, Woody Little
Photo: Bobbi
L to R: Third Act SoCal members Kerri, David, John Photo: Bobbi