Week Four Discussion: Letter to Your Representative

Senator Ben Hueso

U.S. Congress, 40thDistrict

303 H Street, Suite 200

Chula Vista, CA 91910

 

First Name Last Name

819 ***** Avenue,

National City, CA 91950

[email protected]

Dear Congressman Ben Hueso,

My name is First and Last name and I live in National City, which is the 40thcongressional district in California. I am interested in respiratory health and air quality in our district. From working in the medical field near National City, I know that there are many cases of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This could be from a mixture of people driving in the city or the lack of enforcement of emission standards.

According to the 2005/2006 fiscal year data, overall asthma hospitalizations rates for the South Region are higher than countywide rates. Children under the age of 17 in National City have higher rates of asthma symptoms than the rest of San Diego. Children asthma hospitalization rates for National City are around 57% higher than the county average (Health and Environmental Justice, 2018). Many industrial businesses located near single family home had to locate, but not all of them due to them were forced to leave. In 2012, National City listed more than 100 businesses that were violating zoning rules and were forced to clean up or relocate (Heldiz, 2018). 

Regulations on air quality need to be stricter and stronger representation needs to be addressed to the Air Pollution Control District Board. Education needs to be provided to people on how to improve air quality in and outside of the home. Ensuring basic things like mandating a carbon monoxide detector and changing air condition filters can improve the air quality at home (Petro, 2019). It is important that residents feel safe where they live. It is also important to ensure the public is aware of the efforts being made to help their community reduce air pollution and to lower future respiratory medical conditions. 

 

References: 

Environmental Health Coalition. (2019). October 12: Governor Newsom Signs Assembly Bill 423 to Reform San Diego Air Pollution Control District. Retrieved from https://www.environmentalhealth.org/index.php/en/media-center/press-releases/1315-october-10-governor-newsom-signs-assembly-bill-423-to-reform-san-diego-air-pollution-control-district-2.

 

Eyler,A.A., Chriqui,J.F., Moreland-Russell, S., & Brownson, R.C. (Eds.). (2016). Prevention, policy, and public health (1st ed.) New York, NY: Oxford University Press ISBN:978-0-19-022465-3

 

Health and Environmental Justice . (2018). City of National City . Retrieved from http://www.nationalcityca.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=5019

 

Petro. (2019). 7 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality & Reduce Air Pollution in Your Home. Retrieved from https://www.petro.com/resource-center/improve-indoor-air-quality.