Comment - 21876 - Brightline Defense

Governor Newsom, CalEnviroScreen (CES) is not simply a mapping tool. It is the primary mechanism the State of California uses to identify Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) and determine eligibility for more than $12.8 billion in equity-focused investments across housing, clean energy, workforce development, and public health programs. Because CES designations directly influence regulatory implementation and funding allocation, methodological accuracy is essential. Draft CalEnviroScreen 5.0 fails to appropriately map several dense urban neighborhoods in the Bay Area, including South of Market (SoMa), the Tenderloin, the Mission District, Chinatown, and Bayview–Hunters Point. These communities face overlapping environmental exposures, housing cost burdens, linguistic isolation, and economic vulnerability. As a region, the Bay Area also loses key census tracts in this latest iteration. Independent research and extensive press coverage have highlighted limitations in how CES has historically represented dense, urbanized regions, including the Bay Area. When data tools undercount these burdens, communities risk losing eligibility for programs explicitly designed to address inequity. CalEnviroScreen must accurately reflect the realities of the communities it is intended to serve. Equity-based funding depends on accurate designation. We urge you to fix this flawed mapping tool. Sincerely, ~3K Bay Area Residents