From the checkout aisle to the gas pump, families in Grand Terrace are feeling the strain of the rising cost of living. Inflation has driven up everyday expenses, making it harder for many to make ends meet. As the cost of living in California continues to soar, now is not the time to impose even more financial burdens on consumers. I recognize the challenges our community faces, and I am committed to ensuring that struggling families are protected from unnecessary price hikes.
Now, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is proposing new regulations that would require homeowners and businesses to replace natural gas-powered furnaces and water heaters with electric alternatives or pay extra to continue using natural gas. While these decrees are being framed as a “rule change,” they function as an outright mandate—forcing costly upgrades on families and business owners while eliminating consumer choice.
Even more concerning is that these changes are being pushed forward with little public awareness. Bureaucrats at AQMD have unilaterally decided that full home electrification is in our best interest—despite valid concerns about the high cost of electricity and the reliability of our power grid. Make no mistake, these rules are the first step toward a total ban on natural gas in California.
If enacted, these regulations will impact more than 17 million people across Southern California, including homeowners, renters, small business owners, and landlords. The mandate is expected to cost residents a staggering $306 million annually in hidden fees—an average of $1,510 per household.
We all want cleaner air, but these policies place an unfair financial burden on Grand Terrace families. Protecting our environment is important. However, forcing residents to choose between costly compliance and putting food on the table is not a real solution.
Time and again, we’ve seen rushed and poorly planned government mandates hurt hardworking families the most. While politicians talk about making housing more affordable, their failure to push back against extreme regulations tells a different story. This misguided policy will only drive up our cost of living, making it even harder for residents to stay in the homes and communities they love.
Join me in urging the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to reconsider these sweeping mandates. We need solutions that balance environmental progress with economic reasonableness. Our community deserves policies that improve our quality of life—without making it unaffordable.
I encourage you to learn more about these proposals and make your voice heard. Empty promises won’t help struggling families, and making Southern California even more unaffordable is not the answer. Please visit www.wecantaffordthis.com to submit a letter of opposition to AQMD. Let the AQMD Board know that you oppose this costly mandate.
Your voice matters—let’s stand together to protect our community.