by Richard Rider, Chairman
San Diego Tax Fighters
I sent out the following as a press release the same day (4/24/13) that the American Lung Association released its annual “the sky is poison” press release. The press regurgitated the ALA story (such scares make for improved ratings and great teaser ads), and ignored my caveats. I’ve edited my release since then – to add a bit.
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Today the American Lung Association (ALA) releases its annual nationwide “study” that gives San Diego County an “F” for air quality — as it does EVERY year. Seems to me this annual press release is tied more to their fundraising efforts than to science.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/apr/24/air-quality-lung-association-san-diego/
Assuming this study is essentially the same as past years, they tout the ONE testing station where — a few days a year — pollutant levels rise above the standard (a standard which itself is very low). The station is in Alpine, and the result occurs when air drifting east from San Diego (especially El Cajon) collects there during temperature inversions. In past years, all the other stations (I believe about 7-8) around the county seldom have a single such “bad” day. It’s doubtful that Alpine rates an “F,” but it’s patently absurd that the entire county rates this grade.
This ALA “the sky is poison” release gives San Diego folks two very wrong impressions:
1. Air throughout the county is bad. It’s not.
2. The “F” designation indicates that our air is exceptionally bad. Not true. Turns out that the ALA gives out F’s to a very large number of jurisdictions, when America has perhaps the cleanest air in the industrialized world. Naturally, the most RELATIVE pollution is usually found where one finds the largest concentrations of population.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. What’s a tax fighter know about such a subject?
Valid question. I have zero expertise in this field. Zippo! But, as I see it, it’s time someone called into question the validity and false implications of this report.
So don’t come to me to discuss this issue. Go to the local federal air quality control district office and get the scoop on this. I’ve talked to them in years past, and they were not pleased with ALA annually sending out “the sky is falling” (well, polluted) nonsense. They are reluctant to go to the press on this matter, but will answer truthfully when queried.
This “F” report is an annual rite of Spring that gives ALA great publicity — which arguably is their primary reason for needlessly scaring San Diego residents. It is crucial to the funding of ALA to convince folks that giving them money is a good idea — surely it would harm their fundraising efforts if our air quality improved. And their well-oiled publicity operation is quite skilled at manipulating public opinion — along with science.
Comments 6
This is no different than the annual air quality reports that rank the Los Angeles county/AQMD area and California as having the worst air quality. Shortly thereafter, we have the politicians complaining about how horrible the air quality is, how it’s killing our children and we have to do something about it. A bit later, we get the do nothing environmental legislation that sounds good, but does nothing to affect the environment in a positive way, but does hurt Californians and the economy (I’m particularly talking about you A.B. 32).
Author
Good point. AB 32 is primarily about reducing CO2 emissions (supposedly to prevent global warming), which have NOTHING to do with the quality or safety of our air.
Environmentalists try to pretend it does. It doesn’t.
I’m working on comparing San Diego with other areas — starting with CA. Hard to find data, but I did find a good source finally.
Bottom line: We ain’t bad at all!
SANDAG is the local focal point for implementation of AB 32 and SB 375, legislation purposed to control people. It is the pass through agency for the monies. Tree huggers, enviros, coasties, NIMBY’s and various other special interest groups and their sycophant members of the Board are ever ready and ever present to sustain their desire to control others.
Even so, recent publication by SANDAG of “Survey Results & Draft Vision and Goals” reveals that most San Diegans are still more interested in action to ‘Increase employment and job opportunities ” and actions to sustain present water and other infrastructure while ensuring more of the same for future business growth.
As was shown in the survey, most San Diegans are not conned by poison skies, global warming and other nefarious manipulation of statistics. But, if you want to change things, as was stated on another post, “Be Present”.
If anyone took the ‘I love San Diego’ survey given by SANDAG, it was definitely a Delphi technique to make suburbanites feel guilty for land and water use so they would live like a rat in an urban high-rise, I am so glad that Mole has seen other surveys that contradict the designed outcome.
My last trip to France was interesting, one of the guides that lived in Nice said that they were removing parking garages and putting in parks so people would drive less in town, he had a problem with that because he needed his car for work and bring home groceries for his family. It is already happening folks.
Richard, I’ve been pointing out the flaws in this survey since 2003. Here’s one of my pieces on it.
Great minds think alike. Who knows — maybe you put me on to this ALA ruse years ago. Can’t remember what first brought this to my attention.