Asian American Leaders Across the State Oppose Prop 45

SACRAMENTO – Warning that it would drive up costs and limit communities’ ability to weigh in on polluting projects affecting their neighborhoods, particularly in communities of color disproportionately burdened by pollution, Asian American elected officials and community leaders today urged voters to reject the measure.

Proposition 45 is the California Chamber of Commerce’s 41-page ballot initiative that would roll back state environmental protections and weaken the state’s defense against President Trump’s attack on state clean air, water, and public health laws. The corporate polluters behind Proposition 45, including for-profit utilities, oil companies, and data center developers, are pouring millions into the campaign to pass this measure because it would create a massive loophole to fast-track polluting projects like data centers, pipelines, and industrial warehouses with less oversight and less input from the public.

While proponents claim it will lower costs for Californians, Prop 45 doesn’t include a single requirement to lower housing costs or utility bills. In fact, the independent non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office estimates implementing Prop 45 could cost taxpayers more than $100 million each year.

“While I believe we should reduce unnecessary bureaucracy to bring more housing, infrastructure and water projects online, Proposition 45 is a dangerous, sweeping measure that weakens community input and environmental protections,” said Fiona Ma, CA State Treasurer. “California is facing an affordability crisis, and we need thoughtful reforms that make it easier to build while ensuring transparency and accountability. We should also reduce unnecessary litigation, because the costs of prolonged lawsuits ultimately fall on consumers. Proposition 45 is like using a sledgehammer to swat a mosquito—a measure driven by special interests, rather than the balanced reforms Californians need.”

“Prop 45 is right out of the Trump playbook,” said Congressmember Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park). “It shreds state protections for our clean air and water, silences community concerns about pollution and leaves us all to pick up the bill. Utilities that have already raised our rates sky high are putting millions into this measure, hoping to fast-track massive new projects like data centers that could raise them even higher. Vote no.”

“Prop 45 is a con,” said Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose). “Data center developers, for-profit utilities like PG&E and SoCal Edison, oil and gas companies and corporate PACs are spending tens of millions of dollars so that they can build more polluting projects with less public oversight. Even worse, they're selling it as an ‘affordability’ measure when the state’s financial watchdog says it could cost us $100 million or more per year. Don’t believe them. Vote no on Prop 45.”

Families living in environmental justice communities across the state are already forced to live with the cumulative impacts of industrial agriculture, pesticides, oil and gas operations, warehouses and diesel truck traffic. Asian American leaders warn that Prop 45 would silence community voices and threaten to deepen existing inequities and perpetuate this environmental racism.

“From Richmond to Los Angeles, APEN Action brings together Asian and Asian American neighbors who live alongside the state’s biggest corporate polluters to fight for clean air and a healthy future,” said Maggie Tsai with Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) Action. “For years, corporate polluters built toxic facilities that continue to cause high rates of asthma and cancer in our communities. Proposition 45 would allow corporate polluters to exploit loopholes and fast track polluting projects without adequate oversight. Our Asian immigrant and refugee communities deserve to have a say in what comes next in their neighborhoods.”

“We stopped the utility bailout by demanding transparency and accountability,” said Joy Chen with Every Fire Survivor’s Network. “Prop 45 takes California in the opposite direction, giving developers more power to push projects through and communities less power to protect themselves. I’ve been a developer, a deputy mayor and now a fire survivor. Every one of those experiences tells me: vote no on Prop 45.”

“Corporations are undermining democratic processes and adding to the affordability crisis, issues that AAPIs care deeply about,” said Timmy Lu with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Civic Empowerment (AAPI FORCE). “Prop 45 takes away the kinds of public input that helps local residents prevent displacement and ensures that the most basic needs of our communities– clean air and water – are protected no matter one's income or zip code.”

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