Antelope Valley Today

Representative Mike Garcia has introduced the Chiquita Canyon Tax Relief Act, aiming to provide tax relief for residents in Val Verde, Castaic, and Valencia affected by the Chiquita Canyon landfill crisis. The legislation seeks to ensure that financial assistance and compensation received by these residents are not taxed as income.

Rep. Garcia stated, "The Chiquita Canyon crisis has been dragging on far too long, and unfortunately, there appears to be no end in sight. Residents affected by this mess should not be financially penalized—whether it’s with surprise tax bills or losing out on benefits like food stamps because they participate in the relief program."

The bill aims to exempt current and future payments from the Chiquita Canyon Community Relief Program from being taxable. It also covers any future assistance from federal, state, or county governments related to the crisis and legal settlement payments tied to ongoing litigation against the landfill.

Rep. Garcia emphasized his commitment to the community, saying, "I live here. I hear the frustrations of our residents every day. The people of CA-27 deserve real relief, and I’m committed to getting it done."

Since last year, Rep. Garcia has been actively responding to concerns about the landfill crisis. He welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency's involvement in February and pushed for a State of Emergency declaration while urging Governor Newsom to take action.

He has called for closing the landfill except for local trash collection and demanded an investigation into those responsible for the situation. Additionally, he has worked with landfill operators and officials at various levels to secure federal resources for emissions monitoring and emergency response.

Rep. Garcia is seeking support from his colleagues for this bill to prevent further financial burdens on families impacted by this crisis.