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Pedestrians get out for a bit of clean air
Two-mile walk through Burbank raises funds toward efforts to reduce lung disease.
By Jason Wells
Roughly 200 people from throughout the Southland walked the streets of Burbank on Sunday in support of the American Lung Assn.’s inaugural statewide fundraiser.
Clean-air advocates took to the sidewalks in 11 California cities to raise thousands of dollars for ongoing efforts to reduce lung disease in a state where about 24,000 residents die prematurely due to the effects of air pollution, according to the association.
Most of that particulate matter floating in the air is the result of Californians’ dependence on automobiles, but health advocates have also taken aim at second- hand smoke, scoring victories in a number of cities that have adopted strict anti- smoking regulations.
Glendale officially joined the ranks of cities like Burbank, Santa Monica and Calabasas last week when its own citywide smoking ordinance took effect, banning tobacco smoke from nearly all publicly accessible property.
While the ordinance goes further than Burbank’s, Glendale received a C grade from the American Lung Assn. of California’s 2008 State of Tobacco Control report card, citing problems at outdoor dining areas and entryways.
Burbank received an A, along with Calabasas and Baldwin Park, for its efforts to curb second-hand smoke. In a nod to the city’s success in clean-air initiatives, organizers said the lung association decided to host its inaugural Los Angeles area “Healthy Air Walk” event in Burbank.
“Burbank has been a great leader . . . so we wanted to continue that partnership,” said Trisha Murakawa, chairwoman of the association’s state board.
To register for the event, walkers had to commit to raise at least $100, with many setting personal goals past $1,000. Because inaugural events typically start out small, organizers said they were happy with the turnout, but fundraising had been slow.
As of Sunday, the Los Angeles area was well short of its $400,000 goal, having raised just $50,000, spokesman Jim Arnold said.
A slow economy and tight budgets were the likely culprits, but with a month left in the fundraising drive, organizers said they remained hopeful that the gap would close.
“This is the first event,” said Burbank City Councilwoman Marsha Ramos, who helped organize the event. “I know it will get better and better as time goes on.”
The economic pains of fundraising were probably most felt among the five team members of the USC Sigma Alpha Lambda chapter, who made the trek up to Burbank to support the cause regardless of their meager budgets.
“We’re college students, we do what we can,” 20-year-old Amanda Carrozza said.
Some on the team had chipped in only $15 so far, but they said every effort should be taken to encourage other cities to join the ranks of Burbank and other “grade A” governments that are actively fighting air pollution, especially second-hand smoke.
For Glendale resident Sal Mendez, who participated in the walk despite not registering, visible demonstrations in support of any public health issue was key in promoting progress.
To that end, Mendez said he planned to make a direct donation to the American Lung Assn., and hoped attention would now turn to Glendale as it adjusts to the new anti-smoking regulations.
“We all have to keep pushing the issue, otherwise we just become complacent,” he said.
Clean-air advocates took to the sidewalks in 11 California cities to raise thousands of dollars for ongoing efforts to reduce lung disease in a state where about 24,000 residents die prematurely due to the effects of air pollution, according to the association.
Most of that particulate matter floating in the air is the result of Californians’ dependence on automobiles, but health advocates have also taken aim at second- hand smoke, scoring victories in a number of cities that have adopted strict anti- smoking regulations.
Glendale officially joined the ranks of cities like Burbank, Santa Monica and Calabasas last week when its own citywide smoking ordinance took effect, banning tobacco smoke from nearly all publicly accessible property.
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Burbank received an A, along with Calabasas and Baldwin Park, for its efforts to curb second-hand smoke. In a nod to the city’s success in clean-air initiatives, organizers said the lung association decided to host its inaugural Los Angeles area “Healthy Air Walk” event in Burbank.
“Burbank has been a great leader . . . so we wanted to continue that partnership,” said Trisha Murakawa, chairwoman of the association’s state board.
To register for the event, walkers had to commit to raise at least $100, with many setting personal goals past $1,000. Because inaugural events typically start out small, organizers said they were happy with the turnout, but fundraising had been slow.
As of Sunday, the Los Angeles area was well short of its $400,000 goal, having raised just $50,000, spokesman Jim Arnold said.
A slow economy and tight budgets were the likely culprits, but with a month left in the fundraising drive, organizers said they remained hopeful that the gap would close.
“This is the first event,” said Burbank City Councilwoman Marsha Ramos, who helped organize the event. “I know it will get better and better as time goes on.”
The economic pains of fundraising were probably most felt among the five team members of the USC Sigma Alpha Lambda chapter, who made the trek up to Burbank to support the cause regardless of their meager budgets.
“We’re college students, we do what we can,” 20-year-old Amanda Carrozza said.
Some on the team had chipped in only $15 so far, but they said every effort should be taken to encourage other cities to join the ranks of Burbank and other “grade A” governments that are actively fighting air pollution, especially second-hand smoke.
For Glendale resident Sal Mendez, who participated in the walk despite not registering, visible demonstrations in support of any public health issue was key in promoting progress.
To that end, Mendez said he planned to make a direct donation to the American Lung Assn., and hoped attention would now turn to Glendale as it adjusts to the new anti-smoking regulations.
“We all have to keep pushing the issue, otherwise we just become complacent,” he said.
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