LIVE FROM THE CA AIR BOARD MEETING

I ATTENDED A PORTION OF THE CA AIR BOARD MEETING YESTERDAY REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF PROP. 1B MONEY FOR AIR POLLUTION MITIGATION. SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY OFFICIALS WANTED 37% OF THE $1B. STAFF ORIGINALLY RECOMMENDED 25% AND A LATER COMPROMISE PROPOSAL PUSHED THAT AMOUNT UP TO 29%

ALTHOUGH THE MATTER WASN'T TAKEN UP UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON, THE CHAIR ALLOWED LOCAL ELECTEDS AND THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO PROVIDE SOME EARLY TESTIMONY. SEN. COGDILL NOTED THE GEOGRAPHIC AND TOPOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES IN THE VALLEY; SEN. DENHAM MENTIONED THE HIGH ASTHMA RATES IN THE VALLEY; ASSEMBLYMAN ARAMBULA URGED THAT THE FUNDING FORMULA BE BASED ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ADVERSELY EFFECTED BY A POUND OF EMISIONS; ASSEMBLMEMBER VILLINES SAID IT'S TOUGH TO OVERCOME OUR "APPALACHIAN ECONOMIC STATUS" WITHOUT FUNDS TO MITIGATE THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS ON THE VALLEY; AND LASTLY, MAYOR ALAN AUTRY SAID, "WE AREN'T ACTIN' LIKE STARVIN' DOGS IN A MEAT HOUSE, WE JUST WANT OUR FAIR SHARE."

WHEN TESTIMONY RESUMED IN THE AFTERNOON, THE VALLEY WAS WELL REPRESENTED BY A LOT OF WELL MEANING FOLKS. HOWEVER, AND AGAIN, I DID NOT STAY FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE HEARING, BUT AS WE MATURE AS A REGION WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT OUTGUNNED/NUMBERED BY PROFESSIONAL ADVOCATES.

IN THE END WE ONLY GOT THE 25% - GUESS WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE DEAL.

POSTED BY TOM HALLINAN