By Greg Harman, San Antonio Organizer
This summer, the EPA designated Bexar County — where asthma rates are nearly twice the state average — as being in “non-attainment” with federal air quality standards for its high levels of unhealthy ground-level ozone (smog). This was long overdue, and it's the first step in creating a plan to clean up our air.
But ever since the designation, prominent local political leaders are choosing to side with the chambers of commerce in resisting non-attainment status out of fear that it may negatively impact local businesses.
Instead of acknowledging the designation and working to address pollution sources, local leaders could mess up big time and put our public health on the back burner.
Tomorrow, October 23, Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff will urge fellow commissioners to pass a resolution “supporting the Texas Attorney General office’s challenge of the EPA’s designation.”
We're reaching out to Bexar County residents to tell Judge Nelson Wolff and their commissioner to vote NO on this resolution!
Here are the emails for the judge and county commissioners (some of which are Chief of Staff contacts):
County Judge Nelson Wolff: nwolff@Bexar.org
Precinct 1 Commissioner Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez: Chico@Bexar.org
Precinct 2 Commissioner Paul Elizondo via Melisa Pulido: mpulido@bexar.org
Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Wolff via Lauren Mandel: lauren.mandel@bexar.org
Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert via Amy Putney: Amy.Putney@bexar.org
Below are a range of talking points that can help you craft your email(s). Feel free to customize as you wish! But this is urgent. Send an email NOW before the commissioners meet at 10 am tomorrow morning to make your voice heard.
Bexar County should not get in the way of clean air solutions
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Bexar County should work towards solutions for clean air, not support the state government’s attempts to create more obstacles.
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A nonattainment designation for ozone (smog) is an important step in having local, county and state agencies work together to clean up the air in Bexar County. This is so important for the folks living, working, and playing in San Antonio.
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The proposed resolution in support of opposing this nonattainment designation is step in the wrong direction and would be a clear sign that Bexar County is not working towards solutions for Bexar County residents.
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This resolution would show that Bexar County would rather have a head in the sand approach than an all hands on deck approach.
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This process should not be a game or just some exercise in bureaucracy. Moving forward with a nonattainment has real impacts for people's health right here in San Antonio because the Clean Air Act will then require planning to lower local smog pollution.
The record shows Bexar County is nonattainment
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The only EPA-certified monitoring evidence in the record (from which EPA based its decision) clearly shows that air quality in Bexar County “does not meet” the standard for smog.
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While it is true that sources outside Bexar County contribute to the problem, the first step is for Bexar County sources to take steps in the right direction.
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The solution for the problem of other sources outside Bexar County making San Antonio smog worse is to reduce Bexar County pollution AND that other pollution too, not to do nothing.
Ozone (smog) is dangerous and expensive
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People most impacted by high levels of ground level ozone, or smog, tend to be kids, the elderly, and folks that spend time working or playing outside for long periods. These groups consist of over 900,000 children, elderly and others, or 38% of the population in the 8-county San Antonio MSA region. Many of these live in or come in and out Bexar County regularly for work, school, and play.
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Children breathe more rapidly than adults, taking in significantly more pollution per body weight than do adults. Ozone will cause more harm to children as they are developing.
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Exposure to high levels of ozone contribute to increased asthma attacks, lost workdays, school absences, medication use, and hospital admissions. In short, there are extensive public health costs related to high levels of ozone as many of the nearly 2.5 million people in the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA are most likely experiencing.
Solutions exist
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While ozone (smog) pollution can not be eliminated overnight, San Antonio and Bexar County can reduce ozone and improve public health by:
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Investing in clean energy solutions like solar, wind and energy efficiency while quickly lowering reliance on coal and natural gas;
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Investing in newer cleaner vehicles, including the electrification of the transportation sector;
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Cleaning up emissions from older cement and aggregate producers from across the MSA;
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Working with the other counties in the MSA to require an inspection and maintenance program for vehicles registered in the SA MSA;
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Promoting better buildings and building codes to lower the amount of energy used throughout Bexar County
We know that our wealth is in our health, especially the health of our children and elders, those most at risk from high ozone levels. We expect our local leaders to protect and improve the quality of life for the people who elected them, not to chase profits with the chambers of commerce.
Instead of taking action to clean up San Antonio’s air, local leadership is sticking its head in the sand with this resolution.