Richmond Brings Air Pollution Control To The People

We hear a lot about bad air quality in California. And, it’s hard to know what to do about it. But thanks to a 2017 law, two Bay Area communities known for their air pollution are helping set their own air quality policies. But what does putting air pollution in the hands of the people really look like? On a Wednesday night in September, the Richmond Civic Center auditorium is packed. Thirty-two people crowd around tables in the center of the room. Doctors sit next NAACP members who sit next to oil industry representatives. This is the Richmond Air Quality Steering Committee, and they’re meeting tonight to make an important decision. Lawrence Holliday, a 61-year-old basketball coach, joins other community members lining the walls to watch. He’s here because he’s sick of driving past the Chevron oil refinery.