Friends:

Here is a copy of an email I sent to the Allegheny County Board of Health.  Please consider doing the same!!! (write your own letter, it's very important!!!)  They want to cut out the people who know about air quality improvement from having a say in how our tax dollars are spent in improving air quality.  Without a dedicated voice, the Board of Health will make poorer choices, I'm sure of it!!  If you send a letter, please cc joe @ gasp.

To: BOH@achd.net

cc: joe@gasp-pgh.org



To the Allegheny County Board of Health:



I have recently learned that the Board has moved to amend the county's
air pollution control regulations in a manner that would eliminate the
County Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee's voice in determining
how county funds for air quality improvements are spent.



The County Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee serves as an
informed, representative voice of the estimated 1.2 million
air-breathing citizens of Allegheny County.  Without the experience,
leadership and informed viewpoint of the County Air Pollution Control
Advisory Committee, the ACBH would hobble its ability to make optimal
decisions regarding expenditures for air quality improvements.


I therefore strongly oppose its effort to cut the Air Pollution Control
Advisory Committee out of this important decision-making process.



Animals, plants, and humans, especially children, need clean air to
thrive.  It's not just a matter of convenience; for me, it's a human
right.  But poor air quality brings down the entire region.  Pittsburgh
continues to rank poorly among major cities in terms of air quality.  
Just two years ago, we were labeled as having the second-worst air
quality among major cities in the nation.  I, for one, developed asthma
after moving to my now beloved region.  It seriously has impacted my
quality of life.



I refer you to this report re: Pittsburgh from the Asthma in America survey:



http://www.asthmainamerica.com/cities/pittsburgh.html



We are not meeting our goals, the study reports, because we are treated
symptoms, not the disease.   The report, however, is wrong.  In fact,
the disease is air pollution.  We can treat the cause, and thus prevent
asthma in the first place.



Poor air quality induces high prevalence of co-morbid conditions,
reduces the quality of life, cuts into the workforce's good efforts,
and is, basically, an overall drag.   I want Pittsburgh, and Allegheny
County, to be a beacon and set the national standard and become
recognized as the most-improved area for living.  In these hard
economics, the bad press given to our beloved area by poor air quality
does little to attract new business or retain a vibrant work force.



Every voice deserves to be heard in the problem on air pollution.  It
would be a shame if air quality improvements are not advised on by
those who have dedicated significant portions of their lives to air
quality, such as those fine people on the County Air Pollution Control
Advisory Committee.



I am urging you to please keep the County Air Pollution Control
Advisory Committee's important (and logical) current role in these
matters.



Thank you very much for considering my comments.