HomeMy WebLinkAboutRequest Letter - SB 619 (Laird) - 10.04.2021
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October 4, 2021
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
California State Governor
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 619 (Laird) – Request for Signature
Dear Governor Newsom,
On behalf of the City of Cupertino, I write to request your signature on SB 619 for the
reasons outlined in our correspondence, enclosed, to Senator Laird supporting this legislation.
Sincerely,
Darcy Paul
Mayor
City of Cupertino
cc: Senator Dave Cortese
Assemblymember Evan Low
Assemblymember Marc Berman
Melissa Immel, Deputy Legislative Secretary, Office of Governor Newsom
Enc: Correspondence to Senator Laird Supporting SB 619 (June 3, 2021)
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June 3, 2021
The Honorable John Laird
California State Senate, 17th District
State Capitol, Room 4040
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 619 (Laird) – SUPPORT
Dear Senator Laird,
On behalf of the City of Cupertino, I would like to express our support for SB 619, your
measure which would help local governments implement SB 1383 (2016) and the subsequent
CalRecycle regulations. Specifically, SB 619 would allow, until January 1, 2023, for CalRecycle to
only impose a penalty for non‐compliance with the SB 1383 regulations if it finds that the
jurisdiction did not make a reasonable effort to comply with the regulations.
Over the past several years, CalRecycle has been developing sweeping regulations to
implement statewide organic waste diversion goals set forth in SB 1383. SB 619 seeks to help local
governments implement SB 1383 by allowing for additional time and flexibility to comply with
the regulations.
Currently, local governments have until January 1, 2022, to implement the sweeping
requirements outlined in the regulations. Additional time and flexibility to comply with the
regulations is needed to take into account when the regulations were finalized, the outbreak of
COVID‐19, and the effects these regulations will have on city residents and businesses. Although
the regulations had been in development for several years, they were not finalized until
November 2020, only giving local governments thirteen months to fully implement various facets
of the regulations.
The timelines contemplated in SB 1383, and the subsequent regulations, also do not take
into account the COVID‐19 pandemic and the associated shifting of city staff and resources to
protect public health and safety. Cities have been on the front lines helping ensure that our
residents are safe and critical city operations remain operational.
MAYOR DARCY PAUL
CITY OF CUPERTINO
CORRESPONDENCE TO SENATOR LAIRD SUPPORTING 619 page 2 of 2
Lastly, given that the regulations do not have a source of state funding to implement, the
burden of paying for the costs associated with implementing the program will fall to our residents
and our businesses. With all of the economic hardships facing cities, residents, and businesses,
more time and flexibly implementing the regulations will be needed to soften the blow of
increased solid waste rates.
Cities are working diligently to implement SB 1383 and are committed to fully
implementing the program. However, given the reasons outlined above, additional time and
flexibility is needed in order to avoid serious challenges. SB 619 will ensure that cities are not
penalized for non‐compliance as we work to implement programs pursuant to the recently
enacted regulations.
It is for these reasons that the City supports SB 619.
Sincerely,
Darcy Paul
Mayor
City of Cupertino
cc: Senator Dave Cortese
Assemblymember Evan Low
Assemblymember Marc Berman