THIS IS WHAT WAS AT STAKE FOR BARRIO LOGAN
Barrio Logan is a representation of our people. It is our culture. When one mentions Barrio Logan, the first thing I think about are colorful murals and Chicano history.
As a San Diego native, I have seen how Barrio Logan has been a tourist attraction for cultural immersion. My mother grew up in the area and said she felt at home, constantly reminded of her roots. Over the years, we have unfortunately seen how Barrio Logan has become gentrified, expensive and polluted. Recently, however, the Port of San Diego rejected a proposal to build a Mitsubishi Cement plant in Barrio Logan. I would like to share what detrimental effects would have come if it had been approved.
Mitsubishi Cement Corp. wanted to build a cement warehouse in the 10th Avenue Marine Terminal in Barrio Logan, which is home to tens of thousands of people, with the majority being Hispanic and White people, followed by Black or African American people. With this cement warehouse, there could have been an increase of 4,000 to 10,500 more dieselpolluting truck trips a month, polluting the air and putting us at risk, especially those who live near ports, warehouses and busy roads.
These areas are known as “diesel death zones” because residents are exposed to such high rates of heavy-duty vehicle pollution and higher rates of asthma and cancer. Pollution from the burning of gas and diesel is responsible for 1 out of 5 deaths worldwide. Some may argue that this plant is good because it would provide a vast amount of jobs, but at what cost? When did money and employment become more important than physical and mental health? Where do we draw the line?
Surveys show that Hispanic people are twice as likely to visit the emergency department for asthma compared to non-Hispanic White people. Additionally, in the United States, Hispanic children are 40 percent more likely to have detrimental asthma-related complications, as compared to non-Hispanic whites. As a pre-medicine intern for San Diego Pediatricians for Clean Air, I have seen how the physicians that I work with are saturated with pediatric asthma cases. With cases on the rise, physicians have shifted from solely focusing on treatment and moving towards attacking the source of asthma.
Environmental pollution is one of the root causes of poor health among humans. The Mitsubishi plant would have further increased air pollution and distributed cement waste in surrounding areas. Heavy-duty trucks are the largest source of smog-forming pollution in California and emit 70 percent of the state’s diesel soot. Soot pollution is harmful because it lodges into the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. Researchers have found greater risk of cancer development for African Americans from hazardous air pollutants, including those coming from public transportation. Because of where they live, people of color breathe disproportionate levels of this toxic air pollution, which contributes to higher rates of asthma, cancer and other illnesses than their White counterparts. Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause cognitive decline in adults and affect children’s cognitive abilities. This means that memory loss can happen more frequently and IQ levels can decrease. Additionally, higher rates of depression are found in those exposed to air pollution.
On Dec. 13, we took to the streets and held a rally against this plant. A notable moment was when a Hispanic parent expressed her frustration after her child was diagnosed with cancer. She brought forth how the pollution can affect her child at a higher rate, especially because her child is on chemotherapy. City Council members and citizens from all over San Diego joined together to share our concerns. It is a matter of great pride that our efforts were successful.
Rafael Castellanos, chair of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners, announced a halt to the Mitsubishi Cement Corp. plant negotiations in 2023, saying that the Port is open to future negotiations with Mitsubishi Cement Corp. as long as it abides by the Port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy to move toward a zero-emission future.
For now, the people of Barrio Logan are hopeful that both the Port of San Diego and Mitsubishi Cement Corp. acknowledge our voices and understand that our health comes first and we will not stand for anything less.
Environmental pollution is one of the root causes of poor health among humans. The Mitsubishi plant would have further increased air pollution and distributed cement waste in surrounding areas.