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To whom it may concern,

I work for Kaiser Permanente as Chair of the Diablo Service Area
Pediatric Asthma Task Force.  As a pediatrician, asthma
specialist, and mother, I am concerned about the long term effects
of greenhouse gases on our global environment, and closer to home,
the long term effects of air pollution on our children's lungs in
California.

The state of California is facing a public health crisis,
experiencing 14-24,000 premature deaths from air pollution yearly,
350,000 asthma attacks and 2 million missed school days from
children suffering asthma attacks, thousands of hospitalizations
and emergency room visits, and reduced lung function growth in
children.

I urge the California  Air Resources Board  to include a stronger
focus on measures to reduce emissions from driving  that
contribute the largest percentage of greenhouse gases  in
California.  The plan should include a much more aggressive
statewide goal for reducing vehicle trips and measures to promote
progressive action by local governments.  The plan should also
include additional strong regulatory measures on industrial
sources to reduce emissions form petroleum refineries, power
plants, cement manufacturers, and others sources.

It is vitally important the plan demonstrate that the variety of
proposed measures will  not only make rapid progress toward
reducing greenhouse gases, but will also  provide local benefits
to communities in terms of improved air quality and public health.

 
Thank you for your consideration of my concerns to strengthen
these key strategies in the AB 32 draft scoping plan.

sincerely,

Madelyn Weiss, MD