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> The California Air Resources Board and the EPA have achieved quite a lot. Los Angeles air was barely breathable in the 1970s. Now, there's very little smog. L

> The California Air Resources Board and the EPA have achieved quite a lot. Los Angeles air was barely breathable in the 1970s. Now, there's very little smog. Look at 1960s pictures of Los Angeles, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York. That was once considered impossible. Now, it's mostly done. I've never understood how Los Angelenos can be satisfied with their air quality. So many people are like you, and say that it is a solved problem. But the air is still horrible in LA [1,2]. It is extremely smoggy most days. Even on the coast, say in Santa Monica, the air is at best about the same as in San Jose. [1] http://www.stateoftheair.org/2015/states/california/los-angeles.html http://www.stateoftheair.org/2015/states/california/los-ange... [2] http://www.stateoftheair.org/2015/city-rankings/most-polluted-cities.html http://www.stateoftheair.org/2015/city-rankings/most-pollute...

Animats 11y ago
We're not satisfied yet. That's why the CARB exists, to keep working the problem.
mikestew 11y ago
> I've never understood how Los Angelenos can be satisfied with their air quality. So many people are like you, and say that it is a solved problem. As a non-resident of the California republic, I don't know that I'd called the problem "solved", but I'd say it's a hell of a lot better than it was, and the contrast is stark enough for me to give the EPA and CARB every budget dollar they ask for. Parent does not exaggerate when stating that the LA air of the 70s was "barely breathable". So maybe it's a matter of perspective, as I go there now and think "wow, it sure ain't like it used to be". "Extremely smoggy"? Perhaps I just go on the good days, but I'd describe it as "hazy, knowing full well it's pollutants" rather than "extremely smoggy". That's on the bad days when I'm there. A lot of the times I'm pretty impressed with the clarity of the air given it's a city in a hot valley. Disclaimer: I have no allergies or respiratory problems of any kind, so maybe I don't notice the air quality of modern LA as much.
btian 11y ago
+1. It's not "solved". Therefore the mandate to sell ZEVs.

Animats 11y ago

We're not satisfied yet. That's why the CARB exists, to keep working the problem.

mikestew 11y ago

> I've never understood how Los Angelenos can be satisfied with their air quality. So many people are like you, and say that it is a solved problem. As a non-resident of the California republic, I don't know that I'd called the problem "solved", but I'd say it's a hell of a lot better than it was, and the contrast is stark enough for me to give the EPA and CARB every budget dollar they ask for. Parent does not exaggerate when stating that the LA air of the 70s was "barely breathable". So maybe it's a matter of perspective, as I go there now and think "wow, it sure ain't like it used to be". "Extremely smoggy"? Perhaps I just go on the good days, but I'd describe it as "hazy, knowing full well it's pollutants" rather than "extremely smoggy". That's on the bad days when I'm there. A lot of the times I'm pretty impressed with the clarity of the air given it's a city in a hot valley. Disclaimer: I have no allergies or respiratory problems of any kind, so maybe I don't notice the air quality of modern LA as much.

btian 11y ago

+1. It's not "solved". Therefore the mandate to sell ZEVs.