California Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo camped outside the toxic Chiquita Canyon Landfill last weekend to highlight the growing health crisis local residents are facing.
Schiavo authored the Chiquita Canyon Tax Relief Act, which, if passed, would ensure that any money residents receive because of the landfill disaster isn’t taxed and won’t count against them when applying for programs like CalFresh or MediCal.
An underground fire at the landfill has reportedly tripled in size, continuing to spew cancer-causing chemicals into nearby neighborhoods.
Longtime Val Verde resident Abigail DeSesa said she’s suffering from daily headaches, tremors, and blurred vision because of the fumes. She said that if they can’t solve the problems at the landfill, she wants the landfill to buy out their houses so she and her neighbors can start over somewhere else.
“Financially, none of us have that ability with the interest rates being skyrocketing and with properties being outrageously expensive,” she told KNX News’ Nataly Tavidian.
She added that she can’t sell the home “with a clean conscience,” and certainly can’t sell it for what it’s worth, until the chemical reaction at the landfill is mitigated.
“We deserve to be relocated. We deserve compensation, and this landfill is not a good neighbor,” DeSesa said. “They are not cooperating with the government agencies that are asking for us to be relocated.”
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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has ordered Chaquita Canyon Landfill to bring back its relief program, accusing the company of walking away from residents. In a letter sent last week, L.A. County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said things have only gotten worse and families near the landfill are still dealing with toxic air.
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