Southern California families are already struggling with high housing costs, rising utility bills, and inflation that stretches household budgets to their limits. Instead of offering relief, bureaucrats at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) are quietly advancing policies that would make life even more costly for millions of Angelenos across the state, particularly in Latino and African American communities.
The SCAQMD’s Proposed Amended Rules (PAR) 1111 and 1121 would mandate the replacement of natural gas-powered furnaces and water heaters with expensive all-electric alternatives or demand payment of a fee which will be passed on to consumers who choose to continue using gas-powered appliances. If enacted, these rules would affect more than 17 million residents throughout Southern California, including homeowners, renters, small business owners, and landlords. They would be compelled to bear the costs of these government-mandated upgrades.
According to the SCAQMD’s data, the estimated price tag is a staggering $20.4 billion in conversion costs. However, these figures don’t fully capture the burden families across Los Angeles will bear. Installation costs range from $4,000 to $20,000 per unit, and upgrades to electrical panels and wiring could increase costs for many apartment buildings or older homes. Imagine a senior on a fixed income or a small landlord in South LA facing these unexpected expenses—it’s unacceptable.
SCAQMD’s lack of transparency and community outreach surrounding these rules is more troubling. Most residents and businesses have no idea this rule is being considered. The SCAQMD has done little to engage residents or business owners who would be directly impacted.
The agency has held few meaningful conversations with the communities that will bear the brunt of these regulations. Public hearings have been poorly advertised, and outreach efforts have been minimal. This lack of engagement is alarming given the outsized impact these policies would have on virtually every Angeleno, including communities of color, where housing affordability is already a crisis.
We all want cleaner air, but regulators can’t expect our community members to bear the economic burden of this effort. For years, low-income neighborhoods have been labeled as most affected by air pollution – and rightfully so. We care about the air we breathe and our family’s health. But policies like these force us to choose between regulatory mandates and financial security. That is not a choice any family should have to make.
Environmental justice involves striving for solutions that enhance air quality without displacing people from their homes or jeopardizing their economic well-being. In the absence of inclusive discussions, effective outreach, and a transparent strategy to alleviate costs for low- and middle-income residents, these regulations may cause more harm than good. The SCAQMD should be held accountable for its failure to adequately inform the public and ensure that the voices of affected communities are heard before such costly mandates are implemented.
We have seen time and again how rushed and poorly thought-out regulations disproportionately harm hardworking families. Politicians talk about housing affordability, but their inaction in the face of these extreme regulations tells a different story. These mandates will increase the cost of living and make it even harder for our community members to remain in the neighborhoods they have called home for generations.
Southern California has made significant progress in improving air quality. We must continue to seek ways to reduce emissions without imposing detrimental costs on the very individuals these regulators purport to represent. The SCAQMD should suspend these sweeping mandates and instead explore policies that balance environmental advancement with economic fairness.
The time for public debate is now. Our communities cannot afford to be ignored. We need our elected leaders to stand up for us and demand that the SCAQMD reevaluate these costly and unnecessary regulations before they take effect. Housing affordability should be a priority – not an afterthought.
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Robert Sausedo is the President and CEO of Community Build, Inc. A native Angeleno, he has been engaged and involved with civic matters that impact youth, economic development, social justice and literacy for over 30 years. Community Build, Inc., a non-profit organization, was established in 1992 and prioritizes wrap-around services for at-risk youth, out-of-school youth, foster youth, youth offenders, gang-involved youth, and first-generation college bound youth.
