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Adrian Martinez, Staff Attorney, Environmental Justice, Santa Monica, California
I grew up in eastern North Carolina. I’d say my introduction to environmentalism actually happened through my involvement in the Boy Scouts. I really enjoyed camping and outdoor activities, and my troop engaged in these activities all the time. I also have to give credit to my mom for instilling the virtues of environmentalism, including promoting activities like recycling, at an early age. I attended college in North Carolina and chose Environmental Sciences and Policy as a major. I then attended law school with a desire to work as an environmental lawyer. Since 2004, I have had the pleasure to work with a great team of lawyers and scientists at NRDC. For the first five years, I was a full time "smog attorney" working to clean up some of the filthiest air in the nation. I have since shifted to work on environmental justice issues, which allows me to collaborate with a wide range of groups and individuals in various communities. While challenging, it is great to seek to address some of the environmental injustices that are currently happening throughout California.
Recent Posts
Posted May 15, 2012 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice
- Tags:
- airpollution, asthma, cleanupgreenup, diesel, lacitycouncil, pollution, trucks
I am very excited today to stand in solidarity with community advocates and businesses seeking to address the severe, disproportionate impact of pollution on three of the most overburdened communities in Los Angeles—Wilmington, Pacoima and Boyle Heights. The Policy is...continued→
Posted April 25, 2012 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably, Moving Beyond Oil
- Tags:
- americanlungassociation, californiaairresourcesboard, cleanairact, losangeles, losangelescleanair, ozone, particulatematter, southcoastairqualitymanagementdistrict
The American Lung Association released its annual State of the Air report today. Not surprisingly, California continues to dominate the list of most polluted cities for both particulate and ozone pollution with many counties in the State receiving an “F”...continued→
Posted April 20, 2012 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Moving Beyond Oil
- Tags:
- cleantrucks, cleantrucksprogram, environmentaljustice, portgrowth, portoflosangeles, portpollution, ports
Yesterday, the Port of Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners unanimously approved its Strategic Plan for 2012 to 2017. Overall, I must admit portions of the plan made me do a double-take because of the strong vision of sustainability exhibited. ...continued→
Posted April 13, 2012 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably, Solving Global Warming
- Tags:
- dontwastela, losangeleswaste, recycling, waste
Earlier this week, the Ad Hoc Committee on Waste Reduction & Recycling for the Los Angeles City Council met to examine how to shift the way Los Angeles picks up its waste for businesses and large apartment buildings. The hearing...continued→
Posted March 27, 2012 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably, Moving Beyond Oil
- Tags:
- environmentaljustice, freewaypollution, portgrowth, portoflongbeach, portoflosangeles, portpollution, transportation
Out in the City of Moreno Valley, which is located in the Inland Empire area east of Los Angeles, local planners and private developers want to build from what I can tell will be the largest planned freight warehousing development in...continued→
Posted March 22, 2012 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably, Moving Beyond Oil
- Tags:
- airpollution, california, environmentaljustice, losangeles, losangelescleanair, pollution, portoflongbeach, portoflosangeles, portpollution, ports, transportation, transportationpolicy
I just had the chance this morning to look at the proposed final regional transportation plan for the Los Angeles region that was released yesterday. The plan still needs to be approved by the Southern California Association of Governments (“SCAG”),...continued→
Posted February 14, 2012 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably
- Tags:
- lacitycouncil, losangeles, losangeleswaste, waste
Yesterday, during a marathon hearing that went past 5:30pm, the Los Angeles Board of Public Works took a huge step to a more sustainable future. You can read about the hearing here and here. It passed recommendations on how to...continued→
Posted February 8, 2012 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment
- Tags:
- lacitycouncil, losangeleswaste, waste
Yesterday, the Bureau of Sanitation for the City of LA released its recommendations for fixing the inefficiencies in LA’s waste system. After more than a year of careful consideration, the Bureau determined that an exclusive franchise system with 11 franchise...continued→
Posted January 27, 2012 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably, U.S. Law and Policy
- Tags:
- airpollution, epa, losangeles, losangelescleanair, ozone, smog
About a year ago, I blogged about a significant legal victory for clean air and clean transportation in the Los Angeles region. You can read that blog here. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed its earlier decision today, which...continued→
Posted January 4, 2012 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment
- Tags:
- california, cleanair, cleanairact, environmentaljustice, highwaypollution, highways, losangeles
Yesterday, NRDC along with Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles and Communities for a Better Environment filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenging the failure to provide air monitoring for harmful particulate pollution near highways in the Los Angeles region. You can...continued→
Posted December 6, 2011 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably, Solving Global Warming
- Tags:
- dontwastela, lacitycouncil, recycling, sustainablecommunities, waste
The City Council of Los Angeles voted today to give private waste haulers servicing businesses notice that the City wants to get serious about improving its recycling rates. This notice is required by law before a City may change the...continued→
Posted November 23, 2011 by Adrian Martinez in Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably
- Tags:
- lacitycouncil, losangeles, losangeleswaste, recycling
Yesterday, as reported in the LA Daily News, the Energy and Environment committee of the Los Angeles City Council approved an important decision to give waste haulers servicing LA’s businesses notice that it will be exploring options to make its...continued→
Posted November 15, 2011 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably
- Tags:
- bluegreen, cleanjobs, climatechange, greeneconomy, recycling, teamsters, zerowaste
Today is America Recycles Day, and I had the good fortune to share some excellent news about an important report that will hopefully spur a bold vision from our national and local leaders on recycling. The report titled More Jobs,...continued→
Posted November 11, 2011 by Adrian Martinez in Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably
- Tags:
- latransportation, losangeles
I was very pleased to read the David Zahniser and Ari Bloomekatz piece in the LA Times yesterday about the Mayor’s plan to fast track street improvements in Los Angeles. You can read the article here. The LA Times published a...continued→
Posted November 7, 2011 by Adrian Martinez in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably, Moving Beyond Oil
- Tags:
- LosAngeles, losangelescleanair, losangelestransportation, transit, transportation, transportationpolicy
The LA Times has run a series of provocative articles on “Buy Here, Pay Here” dealerships, which according to the articles can have vicious impacts on consumers, particularly the low-income consumers that tend to use these services. The articles can...continued→