Lift-Off for Low Impact Development

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today signed the Low Impact Development Ordinance, which the City Council endorsed unanimously last month. On hand were a handful of key local civic and enviornmental leaders that helped birth the long-gestating measure, which promises to signifcantly reduce the amount of polutted runoff that reaches our shores and beaches. The Department of Public Works, especially the Bureau of Sanitation, has shown strong leadership and perseverance on this critical issue. It’s to be commended for moving the city to a more integrated, natural approach to water policy, one that relies on watershed management.

Heal the Bay worked closely with former board of Public Works commissioner Paula Daniels and Bureau of Sanitation executives Adel Hagekhalil and Shahram Kharaghani to put together early drafts of the ordinance. Heal the Bay’s work on the measure was lead by Kirsten James.