A new campaign to help clean up the air here in Bakersfield is now in its second day. The Valley Air District is sending out air alerts in an attempt to get rid of the $29 million fine handed to the air district because of the poor air quality. But are the alerts working?
Somewhere under that gray blanket of smog is a view of the Tehachapi mountains. The valley's poor air quality makes the landscape distant and drab.
On any given afternoon, parents can be seen in their cars lined up at neighborhood schools waiting for their children.
"People plan their days according to their schedules, not the air quality," said Danny Simpson.
Danny Simpson's diesel pickup was idling in the parking lot of Standard Middle School on Wednesday afternoon.
"We found out this year that the bus system isn't going to run. You take one bus away and you add 40 cars to the equation," continued Simpson.
Nearby, James Apperson loaded his son's bike into the back of his pickup to head home.
"It's hot today and I just got off work so I figured I'd pick him up. This is Bakersfield we always have bad air quality," said Apperson.
These past two days, Bakersfield has experienced some of the worse air quality so far this summer, despite air alert messages going out to more than 2,000 people in Kern County.
"carpool and walk the kids to school. Park and avoid idling. Avoid drive-throughs," explained Brenda Turner, Valley Air District.
The air quality is at its worst when school gets out, according to the Valley Air District.
"It's hard to breathe, especially on hot days like today," said Tina Chapa, from Bike Bakersfield.
Tina Chapa's daughter rides her bike to Standard Middle School everyday and the two ride home together and now she is hoping others will join them.
"Next Friday we're going to meet on the corner of North chester, and Day Avenue. We encourage you two meet us there at 730, and we're going to do what we call a rolling train to standard middle school," said Chapa.
Twelve dollars will be added to your car registration fees starting in the fall to help pay for the $29 million penalty. Drivers will have to pay that every year until there are no more air quality violations over three consecutive years. If you would like to receive air alerts, go to
www.valleyair.org
