Media Release

National City Old Town residents ready to reclaim their community
Environmental Health Coalition Releases results of community survey

(August 29 th, 2005)- The neighborhood of Old Town, National City suffers from a long history of poor land use planning, which has left an unhealthy mixture of homes, toxic polluting businesses, and warehouses. In 2004, after decades of neglect, a new City Council decided to develop a Specific Plan that would lay out the future guidelines for development over the next 10 to 15 years.

Today, at Kimball Elementary School, community leaders, school staff and residents of Old Town National City gathered for the release of Environmental Health Coalition’s (EHC) report “ Reclaiming Old Town National City; A Community Survey” This report highlights the results of a community survey executed during the Spring/Summer of 2005, the first of its kind developed and executed by members of the Old Town National City neighborhood.

This survey and the resulting report articulate the residents’ opinions and priorities that they believe, should be incorporated in the Specific Plan, such as the current mix of land use, housing issues, and the general character of the neighborhood.

The findings of the survey form the foundation of the community’s principles, as outlined in the report. Some of the key findings are:

People and toxics don’t mix:

• The asthma rate for children is 14%; two times the state average!
• 23,000 pounds of air toxics are emitted in Old Town, at least 3 times more than adjacent neighborhoods; 70% of the air toxics come from autobody shops
• 97% of residents believe it is ‘necessary’ or a ‘priority’ to re-locate autobody shops out of the residential area
• 97% of residents believe it is ‘necessary’ or a ‘priority’ to rezone the area to prohibit polluting businesses near schools and homes

Don’t gentrify us:

• 92 of residents believe it is ‘necessary’ or a ‘priority’ for new housing to remain affordable to people living in the neighborhood
• Average income is 55% of county median for a family of four; 80% of respondents can’t spend more than $1,000 per month on rent

Small is beautiful:

• 83% of residents support a density increase of no more than 50%
• 89% favor a height ceiling of two or three stories

EHC, along with other community organizations, has been preparing residents to be active participants in the planning process, and to insure that their vision for the neighborhood is articulated clearly. The survey and its findings is one of the steps towards that goal.

“For 50 years, National City’s Old Town has been treated like an industrial zone with tragic results. Not only has the character of the community been tainted, but many basic needs of the neighborhood have been neglected, ” commented Irma Tranquilino, community leader, resident of Old Town National City and a member of the survey team. “We have refused to leave or to let our neighborhood be the dumping ground for toxic pollutants; we want change now and we are ready to fight for it!”

In referring to the Specific Plan itself, Tony LoPresti, an EHC staff representative, had this to say: “Inclusion should be a central tenet of the Specific Plan process. To the greatest extent possible, the Plan should create, not limit, opportunities for residents. The community will be looking toward a final Specific Plan that reflects their input and vision.”

After receiving input from close to 150 residents at the first community forum in February 2005, the City’s contractor has developed a set of principles, which will serve as the foundation of the Specific Plan. EHC and the organizations active in this process are urging Old Town residents to attend the second community forum on August 31 st scheduled for 6:30 pm. The forum will be held at Martin Luther King Center, located behind the National City Civic Center.

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