Preserving a Seat at the Table for Local Government and Small Business

Last November, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Legislative Committee met to discuss a broad restructuring of its committees and advisory groups. The stated goal was to streamline operations, reduce duplication of staff work, and improve efficiency. As part of that discussion, the Local Government and Small Business Assistance (LGSBA) group was identified for potential elimination.

The LGSBA exists for a clear and important purpose: to ensure that the real-world impacts of air quality regulations on cities and small businesses are fully understood before policies are finalized. It provides practical, on-the-ground feedback from those who are responsible for implementation and compliance for local governments and small business owners, so regulations are workable, cost-effective, and achievable.

I currently serve on the LGSBA, having been appointed by Curt Hagman, and I believed strongly that eliminating this group would weaken the connection between AQMD decision-making and the communities most affected by its rules. Rather than quietly allowing the group to be dissolved, I began actively engaging with AQMD leadership and board members to make the case for reform instead of elimination.

Along with several fellow committee members, I met directly with AQMD Executive Officer Wayne Nastri to discuss a better path forward. We acknowledged the concerns about efficiency, but proposed structural changes that would refocus the LGSBA on its core mission: advisory input, coordination, and early feedback—without duplicating staff functions. The goal was not to preserve the group as it existed, but to strengthen it so it better serves AQMD, local governments, and small businesses alike.

Recognizing the importance of transparency and stakeholder engagement, on January 8, 2026, I presented this issue to the Upland Chamber of Commerce, briefing local business leaders on the proposed elimination and rallying support for reform. It was important that the business community understood what was at stake and had the opportunity to speak up.

The following day, January 9, 2026, I attended the AQMD Governing Board meeting in Diamond Bar and provided public testimony urging the Board to reform the LGSBA rather than eliminate it. I emphasized that local governments and small businesses need a structured, credible forum to raise concerns early, before regulations become mandates that are costly, impractical, or difficult to enforce.

The Governing Board ultimately agreed. Rather than eliminating the LGSBA, the Board voted to move forward with reform. AQMD staff will now begin working with stakeholders to reimagine the group, clarify its mission, and strengthen its role as an effective advisory body.

This outcome matters. Good policy is built with input, not imposed in isolation. Preserving and reforming the LGSBA ensures that local governments and small businesses continue to have a voice, that regulations are informed by operational reality, and that environmental goals are pursued responsibly without unnecessary economic harm or unfunded local impacts.