BREATHE LA Debuts, Announces Fellow and Gains L.A. City Council Support

February 1, 2006 (Los Angeles, CA): Gathering on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall, elected officials, clean air advocates and school representatives joined together today to launch BREATHE California of Los Angeles County. Focusing on L.A.’s distinction as the Nation’s capital of polluted air, representatives of BREATHE California of Los Angeles County laid out their agenda for fighting for better lung-health in a City where asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism.

“With more than 80 cities, we are the largest county in the country and BREATHE California of Los Angeles County is committed to being the people’s resource in the fight for clean air and healthy lungs,” said Bob Berliner, Chairman of BREATHE California of L.A. County’s Board of Directors.

At the City Hall news conference, BREATHE California of Los Angeles County joined officials to announce their sponsorship of precedent-setting legislation—Children’s Breathing Rights Act (SB 1205)—to impose stiff new penalties on serious and chronic air polluters, with the fines being directed to improve the lives of students at local schools and health programs in the communities that polluters impact.

In a written statement, SB 1205’s author, California State Senator Martha Escutia, said, “Fines are so low on major polluters they are just another cost of doing business instead of the deterrent fines are suppose to be. That is tantamount to the State giving them permission to pollute. The Children's Breathing Rights Act is designed to stiffen penalties while at the same time directing those funds to help children in the communities that these polluters impact. I am pleased to be partnering with BREATHE California of Los Angeles County on this precedent-setting legislation that will help our children breathe easier." Escutia represents southeast Los Angeles County.

During the news conference, L.A. City Councilwoman Jan Perry, Chair of the City Council’s newly strengthened Energy & Environment Committee, said that she would be introducing today a resolution before the Los Angeles City Council to support the passage of the Children’s Breathing Rights Act of 2006. “The City of Los Angeles should be the first city in California to support the Children’s Breathing Rights Act of 2006,” said Perry, adding, “By supporting this legislation, we are sending a clear message that L.A. wants its worst air polluters to pay to help improve the lives of the young people that their operations impact.”

BREATHE California of L.A. County also launched the Center for Healthy Lungs, a multi-million dollar research effort that named as its first Fellow, Dr. Arnold C. G. Platzker, M.D., a national expert in congenital lung anomalies and injuries using innovative technology. Dr. Platzker is currently on the research faculty of the Saban Research Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Dr. Platzker’s study on behalf of the Center for Healthy Lungs will lead to an enhanced ability to diagnose infants and young children at risk of asthma in order to provide more intensive therapy before childhood asthma sets in.

BREATHE California of Los Angeles County’s history began more than 100 years ago, when the Los Angeles Society for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis was formed to serve the city’s growing population of more than 300,000. BREATHE California was launched by five local associations from across California—Los Angeles County, Central Coast, Sacramento-Emigrant Trails, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties and Santa Clara-San Benito Counties—to create a new statewide effort to advance lung-health programs and policies that best serve and involve local communities while implementing programs and research that benefit all Californians. The BREATHE California name embraces this collective focus.

“BREATHE California of Los Angeles County is made up of the same group of volunteers and staff that have been working closely with the organization for many years and are dedicated to providing communities in Los Angeles County with the resources needed to promote clean air policies,” said Enrique Chiock, President and CEO of BREATHE California of Los Angeles County. “Through our continued commitment to research, education and advocacy, BREATHE California of Los Angeles County will work with local communities, elected leaders, business leaders and the health education community to increase awareness of the causes and treatments for lung-related diseases and breathing-related conditions.”