Assembly Speaker Rendon secures $100M funding for L.A. River restoration

Photo | Laurie Avocado — Photo | Laurie Avocado

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) applauded the legislature for approving $100 million in Proposition 1 funding for restoration of the 51-mile L.A. River, a priority for the Assembly in state budget negotiations.

Long known as a “concrete ditch” featured in films like Grease, recent efforts by leaders like Rendon, L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, and architect Frank Gehry have focused on returning natural habitats and green space to the river.

The $100 million in funding will be split between the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, which is tasked with Lower River restoration through the Lower L.A. River Revitalization Plan, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which focuses restoration efforts on the Upper River.

In 2014, Rendon authored Proposition 1, the $7.5 billion water bond, to address California’s water infrastructure needs. Included in Proposition 1 was funding for L.A. River for restoration efforts.

Rendon represents the 63rd Assembly District, which includes the cities and communities of Bell, Cudahy, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, North Long Beach, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, and South Gate.

NewsGuest UserJuly 6, 2017Anthony Rendon, LA River, restoration, Proposition 1, California Assembly, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Hilda Solis, Frank Gehry, funding, featured