SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley) honors the legacy of the Honorable Assemblymember Cindy Montañez by presenting Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 114 on the Assembly Floor, designating January 19th as Cindy Montañez Day.
Assemblymember Montañez is a lifelong Angeleno raised in the San Fernando Valley to immigrant parents. She is a natural-born leader, trailblazer, and the youngest woman elected to serve as Councilwoman of the City of San Fernando at the age of 25. She is the youngest woman ever to serve the California State Legislature, a record she still holds today. Not only is she the first Latina, but she is also the first Democrat woman to Chair the powerful Assembly Rules Committee at the age of 30.
Her parents ignited her passion for social and environmental justice at a young age, which is reflected throughout her career in public service. She has championed and authored environmental, healthcare, consumer, and worker protection policies. She is also the author of the landmark Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights.
“The Honorable Cindy Montañez has broken numerous glass ceilings. Her impressive record in public service makes her one of the most influential civic leaders in California history. She is an environmental justice champion ahead of her time. She has led on topics like urban greening before climate change legislation was prevalent in state policy,” stated Assemblywoman Luz Rivas. “It is the greatest honor to represent the same communities that Assemblymember Cindy Montañez was elected to serve. Her fiery spirit and determination are an inspiration to young girls and Latinas. Her unwavering commitment to serve the residents of the City of San Fernando and the Valley is a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.”
Upon leaving the Legislature, she has served as the Assistant General Manager to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and has led the transition of the nation’s largest publicly owned utility to a cleaner and sustainable local water supply. In 2016, she became the CEO of TreePeople, making her the first Latina in the United States to lead an environmental organization. In November 2020, she was elected to serve a second term on the City of San Fernando’s City Council. She currently serves as a board member of the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.
