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.