Letter: Vigilance for environment

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Letter to the Editor

The editorial “The Law of Unanticipated Consequences” [From the Publisher, published Aug. 29] asked the question: can government agencies, state, county and local, be expected or trusted to solve obvious environmental problems, real problems that jeopardize our health and welfare? 

It’s a fair question. The evidence and history of regulations passed and enforced (or not enforced) by local bureaucracy, or state bureaucracy, suggest some success and some failure. And arbitrary or ambiguous regulations inhibit the environment and prosperity. 

We are all affected all the time, and sadly, the attacks on our environment during our lifetime have gotten more troubling and more disastrous. 

The editorial mentions one example related to the consequences of air pollution caused by freeway traffic, and the fact that so many freeways were built near schools, not to mention the ridiculous criminally negligent LA school district, which built dozens of schools adjacent to those freeways in the last 15 years. You couldn’t build a high school closer to a freeway or closer to a major freeway interchange than the brand new arts school downtown. 

Common sense suggests that it is a terrible idea. Back in the ‘70s local school districts throughout California recognized that danger and hazards. 

In fact, Sacramento took up the very controversial issue when then senator Mayor George Moscone of San Francisco authored legislation prohibiting the building of schools within four blocks of freeways. 

Today, there are more people, more cars and more traffic than ever. It’s an atrocity that the LA schools jeopardize students, faculty and staff through their misguided priorities and agenda. Respiratory disease, asthma and chronic illness are a direct result of air pollution and generations shouldn’t have to endure this bureaucratic incompetence. 

The Malibu Times editorial asked the right question, whether to trust bureaucracy and regulations. 

One answer is that the public and voters must be endlessly vigilant, demand accountability and always hold elected officials responsible for the actions or inactions of regulatory unelected bureaucracies. 

California’s environment and prosperity depend on it. 

Chuck Levin