'A new attitude'

By Elliott Balch
Fresno

(Updated Thursday, January 2, 2003, 4:44 PM)

As The Bee's terrific "Last Gasp" report of Dec. 15 made clear, air pollution in the Valley is choking us all. The time has come for a new attitude toward enforcing land-use and emissions regulations. We must stop letting the resistance of narrow and powerful local interests subvert regulations that will benefit all Central Californians.

When we adopt land-use policies and zoning regulations that dictate "houses here, farms there," we must allow no exceptions. We must stop letting developers, through money or influence, tailor the plans to suit their own wishes. An anti-sprawl growth plan, providing for infill development and shorter car trips, is like the skin of a great balloon: It holds in the outward push -- until you start poking holes in it.

Let's end exemptions from emissions rules, too. Of course cleanup will demand disproportionately more from dairies, crop farms, gross-polluting cars and shipping trucks, because they cause most of the problem. Restricting activities that pollute will cost the polluters a lot in the short run, but that's only fair -- and it will benefit us all in the long run.

Local governments as well must stop seeking exemptions from smog cleanup deadlines. Cities should hold their own "feet to the fire" and accept penalties for not working to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's air quality standards on time.

Restoring accountability to municipalities, developers and dirty tailpipes will help make the air clean again. Meanwhile do hold your breath -- land-use and emissions exceptions can't go on much longer.