Lawmakers should use this budget surplus to make a historic investment in frontline communities. As Californians debate how to spend the resulting $97.5 billion dollar budget surplus, lawmakers should keep this tale of two Californias in mind. Newsom’s budget framework includes $1.2 billion for energy debt relief – an urgently-needed lifeline for low-income Californians. Third, state lawmakers must protect and expand proposed budget investments that will increase economic security, boost resilience, and cut air pollution in working class communities. Community resilience centers meet a foundational gap in climate resilience – this funding should be increased to $1 billion to bring this lifesaving resource to vulnerable communities across the state.

Source: Washington Post June 14, 2022 14:02 UTC