On Tuesday, August 23, 2011, JTA and other organizations across California participated in the Clean Air and Toxics Free Action Day. The latter event was sponsored by CHANGE, and the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition (CVAQ). Focused upon a goal that would have members of these different groups and areas meet and talk with representatives from different districts, CHANGE and CVAQ wanted to have individuals address issues that are crucial to past, pending and future legislation. There were around 100+ individuals, and they broke up into 23 teams that were made up of about 3 to 4 people. With such a large number of participants, the group was able to meet with 63 Senators or their staffers throughout the days legislative visits.

In order to prepare for the days legislative visits, group leaders from CHANGE and CVAQ divided the larger group into smaller teams and had them go through training activities. During this group training orientation that took place from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, they went over the numerous bills that each group would be addressing during their legislative visits so that every team would have the same message. With regards to the different bills that the group was addressing, they focused upon: AB 1319 (Toxics-Free Babies and Toddlers Act) which will help protect children from the harmful chemical bisphenol A (BPA) by greatly restricting the use of BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups; SB 568 (Polystyrene Food Container) that will prohibit a food vendor or restaurant from dispensing prepared food to a customer in a polystyrene foam food container (also known as Styrofoam); SB 535 (CA Communities Healthy Air Revitalization Trust) which will direct portion of the revenues that are being earned through California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.

We would like 10% of resources to go back to the most impacted communities, and we are trying to make sure they know that AB 32 made a promise and that is what SB 535 is doing and AB 650 which would create a blue ribbon task force on public transportation for the 21^st Century, and AB 1176 (Assessment and Control of Pesticides as Toxic Air Contaminants) which will set an important and enforceable timeline for the Toxic Air Contaminant (TAC) regulatory process for pesticides by requiring that the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) adopt measures to reduce exposures to certain pesticides. Adding to California’s pesticide circumstances, we wanted to make sure legislature know that we do not like that the state legalized and is spreading methyl iodide because this pesticide has been shown to cause cancer. Although methyl iodide is being used as a replacement for methyl bromide, a known ozone depleting gas that was a factor in global warming, we cannot justify the sacrifice one thing for another thing.  We cannot justify saving the earth if we are causing farm workers to have cancer and late term miscarriages.

        The group that Jose participated in took a proactive approach in their training session. They made it a point to have each member of their team collect their thought and reasoning for taking part in the days visits into a 30 second presentation that would allow them to effectively speak with their legislators. Using a role play technique, they were extremely prepared for each other their visits.  The Clean Air and Toxic Free Action Day was a great event that allowed individuals that have never had the opportunity to speak with their representative to have the ability to address their concerns.  In addition, the group had a rally outside the Capital that supported all of the bills that were the focus of the days visit.