Behind Closed Doors: How Regulators Failed Southern California’s Communities

18 million people in Southern California breathe some of the worst air in the nation.

The culprit? Two of the busiest ports in the country—Los Angeles and Long Beach—where ships, trucks, and machinery pump out harmful air pollution. That dirty air collects and mingles in the South Coast Air Basin, worsening pollution from Los Angeles County all the way to Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.

The ports of LA and Long Beach are the largest fixed source of air pollution in all of Southern California, pumping out 100 tons of smog-forming air pollution every day. Half of California’s entire population lives here.

The Cost of Pollution: Health and Affordability Impacts

This pollution is unaffordable for Californians: In 2022, Californians had 14,118 asthma hospitalizations, and 125,113 emergency room visits for asthma, with yearly asthma costs estimated at $13 billion.  Last year, the average retail price of an albuterol inhaler was $98. Air pollution raises the cost of living for families. 

South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Half-Baked Agreement

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is in charge of protecting air quality in Southern California—but recently, they dropped the ball.

On Friday, November 7th, the South Coast Air Quality Management District passed a half-baked agreement to appease corporate polluters. Community members showed up to provide testimony, and then the Board had everyone leave so that they could vote behind closed doors.

This agreement was announced at the last minute, and South Coast dropped a regulation—a legitimate law—to instead accommodate the industry’s request. The new agreement includes no tangible emissions reduction targets. Regulations are one of the few ways that we have left to control pollution to fight back against federal rollbacks.

Only one board member, Veronica Padilla-Campos, voted against this agreement. We are disappointed in the actions from the Board. Your local elected officials voted NO on the chance to protect the health of millions of people, to cut industry some slack.

How You Can Take Action for Clean Air:

This type of local regulatory work tends to fly under the radar, but it makes a massive impact on your daily life—and because you’re one of the individuals paying attention, your voice could be 10 times more influential in making progress possible.

Fill out this form to email the SCAQMD Board and tell them to keep our air clean.