Oxnard – Last night, by a 5-1 vote, the Oxnard City Council passed a resolution in support of the California Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (AB 1243/SB 684). Oxnard is the largest city in Ventura County to pass a resolution in support of the Superfund.

At the City Council meeting, Oxnard residents and environmental advocates showed up in force to provide public comment. 

“We are grateful for the Oxnard City Council members who voted to support the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act,” said Brooke Balthaser, Community Organizing Manager at Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG). “For far too long, the vibrant communities of Oxnard have been overburdened by industry pollution and the harmful effects of climate change. Our residents should not have to bear the added burden of footing the bill for Big Oil’s lack of accountability. As the largest city in the fastest warming county in the lower United States, we appreciate the council’s leadership in taking action to put people before profit and corporate interests.” 

As a coastal community that is heavily impacted by not only climate change but also fossil fuel industry and pollution, the Superfund Act – which would dedicate at least 40% of the funds to benefit communities hit hardest by fossil fuel pollution – could bring funding to Oxnard to address concerns such as sea level rise, green jobs, energy grid reliability, resilient schools and sustainable infrastructure. Half of Oxnard residents live in the areas that would benefit most from the Superfund funding. 

Councilmember Michaela Perez, who introduced the resolution, shared a statement reading, “Oxnard has long faced environmental injustice. Working class families, especially in communities of color, have borne the health and financial costs of pollution from large fossil fuel companies – putting their homes, safety, and well-being at risk. This resolution, and the state bills it supports, represent a common-sense step toward accountability and fairness.”

“The City of Oxnard passing a resolution in support of the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 is a powerful step toward climate justice,” said Melissa Muñoz, youth leader with CFROG. “It’s a timely and necessary step forward that sets a bold example for other cities and counties to follow their lead in holding polluters accountable.” 

The California Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act would hold the largest fossil fuel companies accountable to the climate damages they’ve contributed to by providing relief to taxpayers, especially those impacted by recent climate change-disasters. 

Similar resolutions to the one passed last night in Oxnard have been passed across the state including by the Los Angeles City Council, the cities of Albany, Berkeley, and the county of San Francisco. In addition, over 100 local elected officials across the state have endorsed the Superfund.

“It would feel silly for me not to support this knowing that the positive outcomes that could happen from this have been demonstrated in other efforts in the past,” said Oxnard Mayor Pro Tem Gabe Teran. 

“Oxnard’s residents have made it clear that we want polluters to be held accountable for the role that they have played in driving our climate crisis,” said Tomás Rebecchi, Central Coast Organizing Manager at Food & Water Watch. “We hope that our leaders in the California Assembly and Senate will listen to the growing demands from Californians across the state – including in Oxnard – to pass the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund.”