COMMENTARY: Fresno lawmaker’s bill will help low-income communities get cleaner air

BY CATHERINE GAROUPA WHITE AND DILLON DELVO

For decades, people living in the San Joaquin Valley have been forced to breathe dangerously polluted air. Thankfully, we might soon have the legislative and technical support needed to solve this deadly problem. Over the next few days, the California Assembly will vote on AB 2550, a bill sponsored by Assemblyman and emergency room physician Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno. The law would empower the California Air Resources Board to work collaboratively with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and the public, as well as previously marginalized community-based organizations and disadvantaged communities, to review past failures and create and implement additional programs and strategies to meet healthy air standards for ozone and fine particle pollution. This is an unprecedented effort because we have endured dangerous levels of fine particle and ozone pollution for decades. The Central Valley Air Quality Coalition and partners like Little Manila Rising are calling for urgent passage of this billbecause it can begin to put right decades of environmental injustice. 

Of our 4.3 million residents in the San Joaquin Valley, 3 million are people of color and 667,000 live in poverty. Not coincidentally, San Joaquin Valley kids consistently suffer some of the worst — and often suffer the worst — asthma rates in the state. The World Health Organization and American Lung Association agree our region has the worst, most dangerous air in the nation. Our air pollution crisis is fueled by decades of redlining and environmental racism. Particle pollution comes from industrial facilities, oil and gas production, diesel trucks and other vehicles as well as agricultural facilities that dominate our landscape. The tiny specks of soot, metals, dirt, and aerosols coming from these facilities get into our lungs and bloodstream. They can trigger asthma attacks, cause lung cancer, damage lung tissue and airways, contribute to cognitive decline, negatively impact pregnancy and birth and can even cause early death. 

These polluting facilities and vehicles would not be allowed in such large and concentrated quantities, nor would this crisis have grown so large, if our communities were whiter, wealthier, and better connected. Instead, we are overburdened by air pollution, which costs the San Joaquin Valley more than $1,600 per person each year. These additional measures are necessary because the San Joaquin Valley has epidemic levels of sickness due to air pollution, a history of failing to meet clean air goals, and is confronting accelerating climate impacts like extreme heat and catastrophic wildfires that only exacerbate these problems. 

Given the severity of the public health crisis caused by air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley and the long history of missed deadlines, combined with increasing impacts from climate change, additional actions are long overdue. This new law is also particularly promising because it calls on our government agencies to work hand-in-glove with community groups. These are our neighborhoods — they are our children. We know and are already working on the most efficient, cost-effective, inclusive, culturally competent, and innovative programs and strategies to curb pollution. 

The historic inequities that have created the toxic air we breathe every day must be addressed now. Assembly Bill 2550 puts us on a healthier, more equitable, safer path. Our lives depend on this vote and we urge our lawmakers to say “yes” to a healthier future for the San Joaquin Valley.

Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article261747912.html#storylink=cpy

X
live777 777live win777 88chip li789 live789 naga888 naga777 win88 khm777 bet777 irich ហ្គេម kun khmer w69 betflix dafabet m358 สล็อต888 p6 pigusso168 m88 123win boom88 pay69 g168bet 1xbet ktv888 pg77 79king sv388 123win 77win mu88 xoso66 tk88 vz99 sodo66 88bet vs388 sm66 mig8 1xbet vg99 live777 777live win777 88chip li789 live789 naga888 naga777 win88 khm777 bet777 irich ហ្គេម kun khmer 79king sv388 123win 77win mu88 xoso66 tk88 vz99 sodo66 88bet vs388 sm66 mig8 1xbet vg99 w69 betflix dafabet m358 สล็อต888 p6 pigusso168 m88 123win boom88 pay69 g168bet 1xbet ktv888 pg77 77win wstar77 slot wstar77 win77 wstar best jili slot game 2023 jili slot free quay hũ slot uw88 betvisa slot jdb slot demo skydream slot vn88 slot ww88 slot jili slot jilibet betjili 777 jili fun888 jili88 joker123 live777 joker388 777live 88chip win777 li789 live789 naga777 naga888 win88 bet777 khm777 dokluy777 bigwin777 pg slot betflix slot metal slot w69 slot z16 slot tga slot ktv888 slot racha slot betflik slot pk999 slot p6 slot luna slot jili slot 4x4 slot 75r slot pxj slot ทางเข้า spg slot pay69 slot goat 99 slot pgzeed slot marina bay slot pg77 slot tw2x slot naz slot slot king 777 spx slot 1234 slot slot 888 wallet slot m358 slot g168bet slot galaxy slot mc4 slot z97 slot kc9 slot pg slot t6 slot betflix slot metal slot w69 slot z16 slot tga slot ktv888 slot racha slot betflik slot pk999 slot p6 slot luna slot jili slot 4x4 slot 75r slot pxj slot ทางเข้า spg slot pay69 slot goat 99 slot pgzeed slot marina bay slot pg77 slot tw2x slot naz slot slot king 777 spx slot 1234 slot slot 888 wallet slot m358 slot g168bet slot galaxy slot mc4 slot z97 slot kc9 slot parlay bola link alternatif sbobet link sbobet prediksi parlay malam ini mix parlay sbobet login prediksi parlay sbo parlay master judi bola sbobet wap kalkulator parlay mix parlay 88 judi bola resmi agen sbobet judi bola terpercaya over under parlay situs judi bola terbesar prediksi parlay hari ini prediksi tips parlay 100 win judi bola 88 depo 25 bonus 25 slot depo 5k depo 20 bonus 20 slot depo 10k depo 50 bonus 50 depo 25 bonus 25 to 5x depo 5k depo 25 bonus 25 bebas ip depo 10 bonus 10 depo 10k depo 20 bonus 30 depo 25 bonus 25 to kecil depo 10 bonus 15 depo 30 bonus 30 live777 777live win777 88chip li789 live789 naga888 naga777 win88 khm777 bet777 irich ហ្គេម kun khmer pg slot betflix slot metal slot w69 slot z16 slot tga slot ktv888 slot racha slot betflik slot pk999 slot p6 slot luna slot jili slot 4x4 slot 75r slot pxj slot ทางเข้า spg slot pay69 slot goat 99 slot pgzeed slot marina bay slot pg77 slot tw2x slot naz slot slot king 777 spx slot 1234 slot slot 888 wallet slot m358 slot g168bet slot galaxy slot mc4 slot z97 slot kc9 slot live777 777live win777 88chip li789 live789 naga888 naga777 win88 khm777 bet777 irich ហ្គេម kun khmer bk8