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Resounding Victory for Clean Air Advocates: Fresno City Council votes to support SB 999
After heated debate, the Fresno City Council voted 4-2 to support SB 999 (Machado), the “Healthy Children, Healthy Communities, and Healthy Economy in the San Joaquin Valley Act of 2005”.
Fresno City Council votes to support SB 999 (Machado)
Resounding Victory for Clean Air Advocates
5/3/05: After heated debate, the Fresno City Council voted 4-2 to support SB 999 (Machado), the “Healthy Children, Healthy Communities, and Healthy Economy in the San Joaquin Valley Act of 2005”. City Council President Mike Dages deserves credit for taking the lead on this critical Council Resolution of Support for SB 999. This victory for clean air advocates comes on the heels of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors tabling consideration of this Senate Bill for two weeks after lengthy public comment and discussion.
The San Joaquin Valley is one of the most polluted regions in America, by many measures beating out Los Angeles as the air basin with the worst air quality. The effects this has on our children, communities and economic health is staggering. 16% of our children suffer from asthma, three times the national average. There are more than 1,200 premature deaths each year in the Valley due to particulate matter pollution. Over $350 million dollars a year are spent in the Valley on cardio pulmonary illness due to poor air quality.
The Central Valley Air Quality (CVAQ) Coalition, which is composed of local and statewide health, public interest, and environmental organizations, supports SB 999 as a critical part of the solution to this public health crisis. A larger Valley Air Board, with broader experience and geographic reach, will allow the Valley to reach clean air goals. This bill would provide more fair and consistent representation to the San Joaquin Valley's largest cities. Adding positions for public members with specific heath, medical, scientific, and environmental justice experience, will bring new perspectives to the Valley Air Board. This approach has been very successful with both the California Air Resources Board and LA’s South Coast Air Quality Management District.
SB 999 Organizational Support: (partial list)
California League of Conservation Voters, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Californians for Pesticide Reform, Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, El Comite Para El Bienestar de Earlimart, Fresno Metro Ministry, Grayson Neighborhood Council, Latino Issues Forum, League of Women Voters/Fresno, League of Women Voters/California, Medical Advocates for Healthy Air, Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition, Relational Culture Institute, Sierra Club California, Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation, and Union of Concerned Scientists.
SB 999 Individuals: (partial list)
The Honorable Henry Perea, Supervisor, District Three, County of Fresno
SB 999 Fact Sheet:
http://fresnometmin.org/SB_999_Fact_Sheet_Final_Draft_05.pdf
Visit Central Valley Air Quality Coalition’s website at http://calcleanair.org
###
Resounding Victory for Clean Air Advocates
5/3/05: After heated debate, the Fresno City Council voted 4-2 to support SB 999 (Machado), the “Healthy Children, Healthy Communities, and Healthy Economy in the San Joaquin Valley Act of 2005”. City Council President Mike Dages deserves credit for taking the lead on this critical Council Resolution of Support for SB 999. This victory for clean air advocates comes on the heels of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors tabling consideration of this Senate Bill for two weeks after lengthy public comment and discussion.
The San Joaquin Valley is one of the most polluted regions in America, by many measures beating out Los Angeles as the air basin with the worst air quality. The effects this has on our children, communities and economic health is staggering. 16% of our children suffer from asthma, three times the national average. There are more than 1,200 premature deaths each year in the Valley due to particulate matter pollution. Over $350 million dollars a year are spent in the Valley on cardio pulmonary illness due to poor air quality.
The Central Valley Air Quality (CVAQ) Coalition, which is composed of local and statewide health, public interest, and environmental organizations, supports SB 999 as a critical part of the solution to this public health crisis. A larger Valley Air Board, with broader experience and geographic reach, will allow the Valley to reach clean air goals. This bill would provide more fair and consistent representation to the San Joaquin Valley's largest cities. Adding positions for public members with specific heath, medical, scientific, and environmental justice experience, will bring new perspectives to the Valley Air Board. This approach has been very successful with both the California Air Resources Board and LA’s South Coast Air Quality Management District.
SB 999 Organizational Support: (partial list)
California League of Conservation Voters, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Californians for Pesticide Reform, Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, El Comite Para El Bienestar de Earlimart, Fresno Metro Ministry, Grayson Neighborhood Council, Latino Issues Forum, League of Women Voters/Fresno, League of Women Voters/California, Medical Advocates for Healthy Air, Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition, Relational Culture Institute, Sierra Club California, Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation, and Union of Concerned Scientists.
SB 999 Individuals: (partial list)
The Honorable Henry Perea, Supervisor, District Three, County of Fresno
SB 999 Fact Sheet:
http://fresnometmin.org/SB_999_Fact_Sheet_Final_Draft_05.pdf
Visit Central Valley Air Quality Coalition’s website at http://calcleanair.org
###
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Maybe it would be a good idea to know who voted for suppot for SB 999 and send them a positive "thank you".
Also just as important would be to know who voted AGAINST support of SB 999, and ask them how they can justify a "no" vote.
Fresno Councel Members emails can be found on this web page below:
http://www.fresno.gov/city_officials/districts/
Also just as important would be to know who voted AGAINST support of SB 999, and ask them how they can justify a "no" vote.
Fresno Councel Members emails can be found on this web page below:
http://www.fresno.gov/city_officials/districts/
The short version of the story below is that Jerry "dirty bomb" Duncan and Larry Westerlund voted against the supporting SB 999.
City backs air board
Fresno Co. cannot reach consensus on bill to alter district.
By Jim Davis / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Wednesday, May 4, 2005, 5:47 AM)
The Fresno City Council on Tuesday voted to support a state Senate bill that would expand the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District board by giving permanent seats to the public and the three largest cities.
Fresno County supervisors could not reach a consensus on whether to sign a resolution in support of Senate Bill 999, so they decided to revisit the issue at their next meeting May 17.
The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Mike Machado, D-Linden, would make several changes to the air board, including expanding it from 11 to 17 members.
Valley cities would see the number of seats on the board increase from three to five. Machado's bill would provide a permanent seat to each of the Valley's three largest cities — Bakersfield, Stockton and Fresno.
The remaining two city seats would be shared on a rotating basis among cities smaller than 40,000 population and those larger than 40,000. In addition, the bill would add four other positions. One would have transportation or urban planning expertise, and the other would be an expert on the environmental effects of air pollution. Both would be appointed by the governor.
The third member would be appointed by the Assembly speaker and would represent the "environmental justice community." The fourth would be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and would be a doctor with "expertise regarding the health effects of air pollution."
City Council Member Tom Boyajian supported the bill, saying he thinks something needs to be done to improve the Valley's air quality.
"I don't know if this bill is going to clean our air, but something has to change," Boyajian said.
Council Member Jerry Duncan urged the council to oppose the resolution, because he was worried about the "very unique addition of four members of the so-called public."
"It's about putting some very extreme special interests in a position where they're going to hurt getting our air clean," Duncan said.
The council voted 4-2 to support the resolution. Council President Mike Dages, who brought the item to the council, and Council Members Boyajian, Cynthia Sterling and Brian Calhoun supported it. Council Members Duncan and Larry Westerlund opposed. Council Member Henry T. Perea was absent.
At the Hall of Records, Fresno County Supervisor Susan Anderson made a motion for the board to support the bill but recommend some changes to it. Supervisor Henry Perea agreed, but Supervisors Judy Case, Phil Larson and Bob Waterston would not support it.
Case, the board's chairwoman, said the air board has made some great strides in combating pollution in the Valley and she does not see why any more members are needed.
In other Fresno City Council business, council members rejected an appeal of a decision that allows a law firm to demolish a small downtown apartment building. The appeal was filed by historic preservationist Jeanette Jurkovich.
Law firm Perez, Williams and Medina is seeking to expand its offices at 1432 E. Divisadero St. and wants to demolish one of the buildings for parking.
The firm owns both of the identical Craftsman-style complexes, which were built between 1913 and 1914.
The downtown buildings are commonly referred to as W.P. Cutting Flats.
Bee staff writer Kerri Ginis contributed to this report. The reporters can be reached at jmdavis [at] fresnobee.com, kginis [at] fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6330
City backs air board
Fresno Co. cannot reach consensus on bill to alter district.
By Jim Davis / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Wednesday, May 4, 2005, 5:47 AM)
The Fresno City Council on Tuesday voted to support a state Senate bill that would expand the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District board by giving permanent seats to the public and the three largest cities.
Fresno County supervisors could not reach a consensus on whether to sign a resolution in support of Senate Bill 999, so they decided to revisit the issue at their next meeting May 17.
The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Mike Machado, D-Linden, would make several changes to the air board, including expanding it from 11 to 17 members.
Valley cities would see the number of seats on the board increase from three to five. Machado's bill would provide a permanent seat to each of the Valley's three largest cities — Bakersfield, Stockton and Fresno.
The remaining two city seats would be shared on a rotating basis among cities smaller than 40,000 population and those larger than 40,000. In addition, the bill would add four other positions. One would have transportation or urban planning expertise, and the other would be an expert on the environmental effects of air pollution. Both would be appointed by the governor.
The third member would be appointed by the Assembly speaker and would represent the "environmental justice community." The fourth would be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and would be a doctor with "expertise regarding the health effects of air pollution."
City Council Member Tom Boyajian supported the bill, saying he thinks something needs to be done to improve the Valley's air quality.
"I don't know if this bill is going to clean our air, but something has to change," Boyajian said.
Council Member Jerry Duncan urged the council to oppose the resolution, because he was worried about the "very unique addition of four members of the so-called public."
"It's about putting some very extreme special interests in a position where they're going to hurt getting our air clean," Duncan said.
The council voted 4-2 to support the resolution. Council President Mike Dages, who brought the item to the council, and Council Members Boyajian, Cynthia Sterling and Brian Calhoun supported it. Council Members Duncan and Larry Westerlund opposed. Council Member Henry T. Perea was absent.
At the Hall of Records, Fresno County Supervisor Susan Anderson made a motion for the board to support the bill but recommend some changes to it. Supervisor Henry Perea agreed, but Supervisors Judy Case, Phil Larson and Bob Waterston would not support it.
Case, the board's chairwoman, said the air board has made some great strides in combating pollution in the Valley and she does not see why any more members are needed.
In other Fresno City Council business, council members rejected an appeal of a decision that allows a law firm to demolish a small downtown apartment building. The appeal was filed by historic preservationist Jeanette Jurkovich.
Law firm Perez, Williams and Medina is seeking to expand its offices at 1432 E. Divisadero St. and wants to demolish one of the buildings for parking.
The firm owns both of the identical Craftsman-style complexes, which were built between 1913 and 1914.
The downtown buildings are commonly referred to as W.P. Cutting Flats.
Bee staff writer Kerri Ginis contributed to this report. The reporters can be reached at jmdavis [at] fresnobee.com, kginis [at] fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6330
***Clean Air Action Days 2005!***
Be a part of the solution! Join us for the following Clean Air Action Day events sponsored by CVAQ and the Environmental Health Legislative Working Group (EHLWG):
Tonight! - May 4 - Legislative Advocacy Training in Fresno
This training will assist community members in obtaining skills needed in lobbying their legislators on the importance of passing air quality bills that help to reduce and eliminate the poor air quality in our Valley. A delicious dinner, childcare and language translation will be provided. 6:00-9:30 pm at the UC Center in Fresno.
May 9th – Lobby in Sacramento
This is the annual opportunity to show our state leadership in Sacramento the strength and power of CVAQ! Valley community members will have the opportunity to lobby at the Clean Air Action Day in Sacramento. A free bus ride and lunch will be provided on the trip from Fresno to Sacramento.
May 23-24th – Legislative training and lobbying in Sacramento
The Environmental Health Legislative Working Group is again hosting its annual Legislative and Lobbying Education Days in May. Attending organizations can apply for scholarships and will have an important say in the bills that are prioritized. There will be a number of helpful trainings, workshops, and information sessions. Most importantly -- you'll be able to network with a large and diverse group of your allies from across the state.
*For registration or more information, please call Mark or Carolina at 559-485-1416 or email markstout2003 [at] yahoo.com
* Hear our broadcast PSA:
http://fresnometmin.org/PSA30Sec_CleanAirActionDays.mp3
Be a part of the solution! Join us for the following Clean Air Action Day events sponsored by CVAQ and the Environmental Health Legislative Working Group (EHLWG):
Tonight! - May 4 - Legislative Advocacy Training in Fresno
This training will assist community members in obtaining skills needed in lobbying their legislators on the importance of passing air quality bills that help to reduce and eliminate the poor air quality in our Valley. A delicious dinner, childcare and language translation will be provided. 6:00-9:30 pm at the UC Center in Fresno.
May 9th – Lobby in Sacramento
This is the annual opportunity to show our state leadership in Sacramento the strength and power of CVAQ! Valley community members will have the opportunity to lobby at the Clean Air Action Day in Sacramento. A free bus ride and lunch will be provided on the trip from Fresno to Sacramento.
May 23-24th – Legislative training and lobbying in Sacramento
The Environmental Health Legislative Working Group is again hosting its annual Legislative and Lobbying Education Days in May. Attending organizations can apply for scholarships and will have an important say in the bills that are prioritized. There will be a number of helpful trainings, workshops, and information sessions. Most importantly -- you'll be able to network with a large and diverse group of your allies from across the state.
*For registration or more information, please call Mark or Carolina at 559-485-1416 or email markstout2003 [at] yahoo.com
* Hear our broadcast PSA:
http://fresnometmin.org/PSA30Sec_CleanAirActionDays.mp3
For more information:
http://calcleanair.org
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