Representatives from the Coin Laundry Association and its lobbyists, as well as local southern California laundromat owners, held a one-on-one meeting with California Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, the sponsor of CA AB 1628, a bill that would require every washer sold into California to be equipped with a microfiber filtration system.
CLA lobbied the issue throughout 2023 and was successful in defeating the bill, but wanted to continue to engage with the bill’s sponsor. As a result, on November 7, all parties met at Coast Laundry Wash+Fold in Hawthorne, Calif., which is located in Assemblymember McKinnor’s district.
The hour-long meeting included a tour of the laundromat and an educational session on how laundromats work, and how commercial washers are designed and plumbed – as well as the industry’s concerns about the impact of the legislation.
“We greatly appreciate Assemblymember McKinnor taking the time and interest to meet us at a laundromat in her district,” said CLA President and CEO Brian Wallace. “I’ve always found that education and engagement are vital parts of the legislative advocacy process, and this group visit enabled all of us to better understand each other’s concerns and goals.”
Pictured above, from left: Coast Laundry owner Jerry Jamgotchian, KP Public Affairs representatives Billy Rutland and Pat Joyce, CLA Board Chair Brian Holland, CLA President and CEO Brian Wallace, laundromat owner and industry consultant Andy Cunningham, laundromat owner Patrick Lee, Asm. Tina McKinnor, laundromat owner Ross Dodds, and laundromat owner Art Jaeger.
