Media Release

UNANIMOUS VOTE! : NATIONAL CITY VICTORY FOR TOXIC-FREE FUTURE

(August 2, 2006) On Tuesday, August 1, the City Council of National City voted unanimously to phase out toxic polluters in residential areas. The new ordinance will give industrial businesses a reasonable amount of time to relocate after planned zoning changes occur. “Toxics and people don’t mix, and Old Town residents deserve to live in a safe and healthy environment, just like everyone else,” said Environmental Health Coalition representative Tony LoPresti.

Decades of bad planning have created intolerable living conditions in Old Town National City. Homes and schools are mixed together with toxic polluting businesses. The result is severely elevated asthma rates among the children living and going to school in Old Town, and the ever-present risk of chemical fires and hazards, stemming from poor environmental compliance amongst businesses in Old Town. In fact, as recent as May, 2006, only 8 of the 130 businesses in Old Town had all proper permits required to operate.

“I don’t think it’s fair to have to move to an entirely different community to be able to give our children a healthy place to live. All communities should be healthy,” stated Adriana Alsaro, whose testimony was translated from Spanish to the council by EHC organizer, Yeni Linqui. Alsaro, an Old Town resident and mother, spoke at the council meeting on behalf of the Environmental Health Coalition.

Councilmember Frank Parra, who also co-chairs the National City Asthma Committee with Councilmember Luís Natividad, has been instrumental in developing and promoting the ordinance. In explaining his support, Parra stated, “This is a problem that many low-income communities face. Putting our children’s health at risk is simply not acceptable. I believe that this ordinance is one giant step forward in an effort to address the health concerns of our residents.”

Wearing a badge that proclaims “People & Toxics Don’t Mix!” and joined by many of her neighbors, Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, representing Saint Anthony’s Organizing Ministry, is optimistic. “This community has come together and worked hard to develop a new vision – one that eliminates the current haphazard jumble of homes, schools, daycare centers and polluting industries. We’re close to finishing a Specific Plan that will guide development for the next ten years in Old Town. But we can’t make this vision a reality without the support of the City,” she said. “This ordinance is an important tool that they will be able to use.”

Many community and health-based organizations came together to move the polluter phase-out ordinance forward, including Saint Anthony’s Organizing Ministry, the Old Town Neighhorhood Council, American Lung Association, Kimball Elementary School, South Bay Community Services, Environmental Health Coalition, and members of the National City Asthma Committee.

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