California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) is praising an award of more than $30 million in state cap-and-trade funds from the California Strategic Growth Council to build new affordable transit-oriented housing in Los Angeles and other major cities in California.

“[This] action is another example of how California is concretely moving forward with equitable housing and urban planning efforts that reduce overall traffic and air pollution,” De León said. “Over a third of the air pollution produced in our state comes from transportation sources – cars, trucks and traffic. These funds will be invested to clean up the air our children breathe and to provide desperately needed affordable housing in the city center.”

De León recently returned from the international climate change meetings in Paris, where he led the Senate delegation that showcased the work California is doing to grow its economy while reducing pollution. A key element of California’s climate portfolio is to use cap-and-trade funds to invest in cities such as Los Angeles to improve the housing stock and promote transit.