An article by Sammy Roth, a writer for the LA Times and the weekly Boiling Point newsletter, recently made the rounds, claiming that many people of color in the Los Angeles area are subjected to a form of environmental racism as a result of the presence of affluent and white drivers. Roth cited a new study from USC researchers which found that Angelenos who drove more were subjected to less air pollution than those who drove less.
“It may sound like a paradox, but it’s not. It’s a function of the racism that shaped this city and its suburbs, and continues to influence our daily lives — and a stark reminder of the need for climate solutions that benefit everyone,” said Roth.
Roth went on to explain the primary finding of the study which states that the amount of lung-damaging “fine particulate matter” that residents of a specific area of LA County are exposed to decreases by an estimated 0.62% for every one percent increase in miles driven to and from work by those residents.
The study’s lead author, Geoff Boeing, a professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, told Roth that it largely comes down to the shameful history of Los Angeles County’s low-income communities of color being torn apart to make way for freeways. This history, as extensively documented by The Times, has left many residents of the county’s whiter, more affluent neighborhoods commuting to work through lower-income Black and Latino neighborhoods bisected by the 10, 110, and 105 freeways.
“It’s not like commuters are coming in and shopping in those communities, patronizing restaurants,” Boeing said. “They’re just driving through to get from one side of the city to the other.”
However, Roth’s article received backlash from various users who criticized the article’s claims.
One user commented, “the air is racist now,” while another added, “Congratulations to the author of this piece, Sammy Roth. You have managed to write not only the most idiotic but racist piece of 2023!”
A third user went further and wrote, “REMINDER: There aren’t separate communist groups. They’re all the same group with the same goal: Destroying this nation. That’s why seemingly separate groups work together. The climate nutters work with the race hustlers who work with the LGBTQ demon mob who work with…”
Despite the criticism, the study’s findings highlight a disturbing and prevalent trend of environmental injustice in our communities. Commuters from majority-White tracts disproportionately drive through non-White tracts, spewing pollution, and exacerbating health disparities.
The researchers suggest that opportunities exist for urban planning and transport policy to mitigate this injustice, including solutions ranging from ending the sale of most gasoline vehicles to allowing more apartment construction in wealthier neighborhoods.
Sources: TheGatewayPundit, FOX News