The Issue:
The San Joaquin Valley has become the most important battleground for clean air in California. The Valley ranks second only to Southern California as the national region with the worst air quality. Surveys show that one in three families in the Valley has a member with a respiratory ailment and one child out of every six has asthma. Local air quality officials have been hesitant to take the necessary steps to clean up the air, but political pressure for real change has been mounting.
Action:
In late spring 2003, the Foundation decided that addressing the San Joaquin Valley issue could yield the most benefit to public health and air quality in California. It was clear that a few activists in the Valley were dedicated to enlightening legislators and the public about the current poor air quality. And some nationwide and state environmental organizations were starting to focus on the Valley. The Foundation decided to host a strategic planning meeting to bring together statewide and grassroots environmental and public health groups in the hope that a Valley clean air campaign would result.
As of June 2003:
• Plans were finalized for an August 2003 meeting among local and statewide activists, representatives of environmental nonprofit organizations, and lobbyists to discuss strategies for advancing a clean air agenda in San Joaquin Valley.
• The Foundation’s public policy staff worked to pass bills that would:
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– End a major loophole for agricultural pollution and bring California into compliance with the U.S. Clean Air Act (SB 700 authored by State Senator Dean Florez).
– Grant further regulatory powers to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) (SB 709, also authored by Senator Florez).
– Add air quality and public health experts as additional directors for the SJVAPCD (authored by State Senator Mike Machado). |
• In October 2002, Foundation grant recipient Earthjustice sued the Environmental Protection Agency for failure to develop a plan to clean up airborne soot in the San Joaquin Valley.
• The Foundation’s Environmental Grants Program dedicated about one-third of its annual budget to organizations addressing San Joaquin Valley.
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When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.”
• American Lung Association
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Two San Joaquin Valley air quality activists: (L to R) Rey Leon and Kevin Hall.
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