- Furkan Yalcin
- furkan.yalcin@asm.ca.gov
A federal court ruled today that Chiquita Canyon Landfill must work with L.A. County to provide support and relief to nearby residents—through temporary relocation and home-hardening—while the broader lawsuit continues to move forward.
Assemblywoman Schiavo released the following statement in response to the ruling:
“Today is an important step forward for our neighbors in Val Verde, Castaic, and Santa Clarita being made sick by the ongoing Chiquita Canyon Landfill fire. The US District court ruled that Chiquita Canyon Landfill must work with the County to develop a plan in the next 30 days to provide of relocation and home hardening for residents who have been suffering from nosebleeds, headaches, tremors, and declining health for years as a result of the 90-acre underground fire at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.
It is encouraging that after just one more month, those impacted day in and day out by this disaster will have a clear picture of the plan to support and protect them. This crisis has come at great cost to neighbors’ health and wallets and this relief is desperately needed and already overdue. I am grateful that the efforts of LA County’s legal team in pursuing justice for our community is advancing to the next step.
Additionally, we also took steps forward today in the legislature to bring support to our community. The senate advanced two of our bills, AB 28 and AB 985, to bring relief to our community as well as ensure this doesn’t happen to other landfill neighbors around the state.”
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Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo was elected to the California State Assembly in November of 2022 and re-elected in 2024 to represent the 40th Assembly District, representing the Northwest San Fernando Valley, Val Verde, Castaic and the Santa Clarita Valley. Upon her election, she was appointed as Assistant Majority Whip by the Speaker of the Assembly and now serves as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. During her first term she brought back a record $93 million district investment in school and community safety, seniors meal programs, veteran housing, domestic violence services and creating local jobs. Prior to her election, Assemblywoman Schiavo was a Nurse Advocate and Small Business Owner who worked in the labor movement for more than 20 years. Throughout her career, Assemblywoman Schiavo helped deliver healthcare, including reproductive healthcare, to more than one million people. In the Northwest San Fernando Valley, she co-founded an organization that helped secure housing for Veterans experiencing homelessness, has delivered more than 50,000 meals to people in need, and increased resources to help keep our communities safe. Assemblywoman Schiavo lives in Chatsworth with her creative kid where they love to hike in the Santa Susana Mountains.