Public Press Release (Not an Endorsement of City Staff)

“Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Ramirez Receives
2020 Environmental Justice Decision Maker Award 

OXNARD, Calif. – Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Ramirez was awarded the 2020 Environmental Justice Decision Maker Award by the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) for her work fighting for environmental justice and protecting residents in the City of Oxnard.

“I’m honored to be recognized by CEJA, a vital community-led alliance addressing environmental and social justice issues throughout California,” said Ramirez. “When we come together as a community, we have the power to influence the decisions that will protect the health and wellbeing of both current and future generations of Oxnard residents. CEJA plays an important role in this movement as an advocate for low-income communities and communities of color.”

In 2007, Ramirez worked together with members of the Oxnard community to defeat a proposal for an offshore liquefied natural gas facility off of Ormond beach. She was elected as a City of Oxnard Councilmember in 2010, after a long career as a legal aid attorney serving low-income communities in Ventura County. 

She continues to address environmental justice topics in Oxnard, speaking up against industries and projects that could cause harm to lower socioeconomic communities. “I salute my Council colleagues for opposing the building of another power plant on the Oxnard coast, which will now be replaced by a renewable energy 100MGW battery storage facility in El Rio,” said Ramirez. 

As a member of the Clean Power Alliance Board of Directors, Ramirez is committed to providing residents, businesses, and organizations with cleaner energy options at competitive rates. She remains dedicated to championing the transition to renewable clean energy and the restoration of an industrialized coastline, as well as social and economic justice for her constituents. 

For more information about the CEJA Environmental Justice Leadership Awards, please visit https://caleja.org/congreso. 

ORIGINALLY POSTED IN THE VENTURA COUNTY STAR

Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Ramirez defends the housing security for homeowners investing in our community and the availability of housing options for those on fixed incomes, her opponent does not. 

From the article:

“Oxnard residents will likely see many more granny flats in their neighborhood, and there’s not much local officials can do about it.

New state guidelines on accessory dwelling units — sometimes commonly referred to as “granny flats” or in-law units — went into effect this year. The mandates pave the way for more of these secondary units to be constructed as a way to address the state housing crisis.     

With the state lifting some of the restrictions on this type of housing, Oxnard has seen a significant uptick in applications. Before 2017, there wasn’t much interest in building these secondary units. The city received just one application in 2014.

Last year, the city received 50 applications and so far this year, the city has already received 68. Applications, however, do not necessarily mean these units get built. Of the 50 applications last year, just 13 received building permits and nine were built…

The state has eased parking requirements associated with these secondary units and has temporarily lifted a requirement for the owner to live at the property. Flynn said what the state has done is essentially turning single-family neighborhoods into multi-family neighborhoods. He said this paves the way for “ethically challenged” owners to pack renters in a unit…

Councilwoman Carmen Ramirez does not believe these mandates are disastrous. She said this is a way for fixed-income property owners to keep their home by renting it out to a relative or tenant.

“I would not paint these people with the same brush that they would be unethical,” Ramirez said. “I would ask you to be more optimistic about the folks who are building and investing in the city and in their homes.”