We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Pastor Ted, a dedicated community leader from Ontario, to discuss his thoughts on the JETSI project and other air quality initiatives he’s been involved in. Pastor Ted has been a key participant in the OMEGA monitoring project and the All About Air Quality Bootcamp. His unique perspective as a local resident and active participant in our programs provides valuable insights into the impact of these initiatives on the community.
Community Involvement:
Q: Can you give us your first and last name and what organizations you are currently a part of and your position in those organizations?
Pastor Ted: Ted Burnett. I’m the vice president of LULAC, which is a Latino civil rights organization. I’m the second vice president of the NAACP, representing 10 cities under our Pomona Valley NAACP. I’m also on the board of directors of the Poor People’s Campaign, California Poor People’s Campaign. Additionally, I’m the co-founder of the Ontario Futures Alliance, which includes a group of nonprofits that fight for social, economic, and environmental justice. This includes the NAACP, the Poor People’s Campaign, MALO (a civil rights organization for the Tongan community), LULAC, Toastmasters, Rochelle Open Arms (which fights human trafficking), Pitzer College students, the Inland Empire Environmental Group, and CCAEJ, among others.
Community Impacts:
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve seen in Ontario when it comes to people’s health and air quality?
Pastor Ted: I’ve seen health issues like nosebleeds in children and worsening pre-existing conditions from poor air quality and pollution from warehousing. The lack of investment in tree planting and air monitoring. The replacement of dairy farms with warehouses has also impacted the community negatively, like Farmer Randy’s farm, which was an educational institution for over 20 years. It had to close to make way for an Amazon warehouse.
Q: How have warehouses and diesel trucks affected families and small businesses in Ontario?
Pastor Ted: The warehouses have had a chilling effect on the Inland Empire, causing many small businesses to close or relocate. We see the constant traffic of diesel trucks, we feel it probably contributes to poor air quality and traffic congestion, impacting the health and quality of life for our residents. Some areas have implemented moratoriums on warehouse construction, but more needs to be done to address these issues.
Clean Air Projects:
Q: One of the projects we’ve worked on is JETSI, which has brought 100 battery-electric trucks to the IE and Southern California to help reduce emissions from freight transport. What are your initial thoughts on this project?
Pastor Ted: I think the JETSI project is a fantastic initiative. Transitioning to battery-electric trucks seems to be a great step towards reducing truck pollution in this area. It’s a bold move that shows a commitment to sustainable practices.
Q: How do you think transitioning to electric trucks could impact air quality in Ontario? Do you see benefits for the community?
Pastor Ted: The impact on air quality would be substantial. Electric trucks produce zero emissions, which means cleaner air for our community. This would lead to better health outcomes and a more pleasant living environment. The benefits are clear and far-reaching.
Q: You recently participated in our All About Air Quality Bootcamp—what was the most valuable thing you learned from that experience?
Pastor Ted: The Bootcamp was very informative. The most valuable takeaway for me was understanding the direct correlation between air quality and health. It reinforced the importance of our efforts to monitor and improve air quality. Before the Bootcamp, a lot of the air quality science sounded like gibberish to us. Now, we can actually understand and discuss these issues in our meetings.
Q: If projects like JETSI, the Bootcamp, and OMEGA (air monitoring) could make a real impact, what changes would you hope to see in Ontario over the next few years?
Pastor Ted: I hope to see a noticeable improvement in air quality, which would lead to better health for our residents. I also want to see more community engagement and education on the importance of air quality. These projects have the potential to create a healthier, more informed Ontario.
How We Can Support:
Q: How do you feel local leaders and decision-makers can better support the Inland Empire when it comes to environmental justice?
Pastor Ted: Local leaders should prioritize and support policies that reduce pollution and improve air quality. They should stop allowing companies to pay their way into polluting more, which is something I learned they do during the Bootcamp! Politicians need to get out of the big polluters’ pockets and make sure there’s a fair playing field for everyone.
