The California State Assembly passed measure SB 5 on Sept. 15. The measure, a $4 billion water and parks bond, “authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds” for various water and parks projects.
In a statement, Santa Monica Assemblymember Richard Bloom, co-author of the bill, said, “From the forests that sequester carbon to the neighborhood parks that provide children with safe spaces to play, restoring and protecting our parks was made a priority today. Water is also a critical resource to our state and SB 5 will help ensure that it is properly managed, treated and protected.”
The measure guarantees $37.5 million for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which is within Bloom’s district. The parks projects that will be funded under the bill include creating parks in “park-poor neighborhoods,” investing in trails and improving existing state park facilities.
The water projects include protecting the ocean and providing clean drinking water as well as drought preparedness and flood protection—two aspects important to Malibu.