Linking California Air Pollution to Illness and Death--And Those Who Support Changes

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Jenny Oropeza
California State Senator

We are killing our children by poisoning the air they breathe.

At the same time, it comes as no surprise, that those living closest to pollution sources like congested freeways, refineries and the ports also are the ones most likely to believe regional air pollution is a problem and are more willing than most to support paying for improvements, according to some of California’s top policy experts. Such experts include respected pollster Mark Baldassare, president and CEO of the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California; Alberto Mendoza, president of the Coalition for Clean Air; and Manual Pastor, director of the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity at the University of Southern California.

Baldassare, Mendoza and Pastor were members of a kickoff policy panel I moderated Nov. 30 on Latinos and air pollution sponsored by the 27 Latino members of the Legislature. Other panels during the recent two-day event in Santa Monica focused on health impacts, economic costs, regulation, decision making and advocacy.

No one is crying wolf when it is said that air pollution is deadly. As a cancer survivor reared close to the largest port complex in the nation, I take seriously the words of our top policy experts.

Here is what we know:

• Despite improvements, too many Californians remain exposed to the most toxic air in the nation. This is especially true for those who live in low-income communities dominated by people of color. Sadly, 80 percent of Latinos live in areas that fail to meet federal Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards, as do 65 percent of African Americans and 57 percent of whites.