AQMD Funds Awarded Without Vote
A controversial funding package to help local governments lower vehicular air pollution will go into effect in January, providing an estimated $10 million for 62 projects--some of which critics say are ineffective.
The votes of nine of the 12 members of the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s board were needed to approve the package, kill it or send it to committee for revision. Because only nine were present--and two could not vote because of conflicts of interest--the money automatically will be awarded to the programs recommended by an independent panel.
However, the board decided Friday to appoint a committee to investigate the way the money is disbursed. “There was concern about how effective in terms of achieving auto emissions reductions some of the measures would be and exactly how those projects recommended were selected,” said AQMD spokesman Bill Kelly.
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