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Louisville Air Pollution Issues

By John Riley

The Air Pollution Control District, headed by Art Williams, for far too many years ignored the air pollution complaints from the people in Rubbertown and West Louisville. There have been some very valid concerns about the toxic air pollution in that area.  Why then did Art Williams ignore it?  Why did the APCD insist on keeping the VET program while ignoring the citizens of Rubbertown and West Louisville? 

Now that the APCD can't hid behind the fraudulent VET program, they propose to over-regulate all businesses in Jefferson County with the same nonsensical approach they used with VET.  The APCD has continued to fail the citizens of Jefferson County.  The APCD could have and should have immediately sent investigators to West Louisville whenever there was an air pollution complaint.  They could have and should have pinpointed the sources of those complaints but didn't.  They could have and should have installed fence line monitors in the problem areas, but they didn't.

They chose instead to prosecute and fine people who didn't have their car VET tested and looked the other way when more serious problems could have been addressed. They lied to and deceived the people in West Louisville while they made criminals out of many of them who could not afford to purchase a new car every year.

Now they simply are acting as if they are concerned while they implement the STAR program that will have a serious impact on jobs in Jefferson County.  That economic impact will be felt the greatest in Rubbertown and West Louisville.  Air quality in that area could have and should have been given serious attention, but instead the people were ignored.  The people are again being deceived into believing Art Williams and Mayor Abramson really care about them.  They should be wondering why now and not years ago.  They should question the STAR program and the economic impact it will have on their lives and question why all along APCD ignored the impact of the valid air pollution concerns which impacted them and will impact their health for many years to come. 

Lies and deception always have and always will prove to be dangerous to the citizens, regardless of whether it is their health or their economic well being.  Will the people of Jefferson County now forget the past and trust the words and actions of a known liar?  The truth will never be known until the Air Pollution Control District and Art Williams are thoroughly investigated and audited and required to answer for their actions under oath.  It is doubtful that will happen unless the citizens demand it!

Has the Courier Journal ever questioned why Art Williams traveled many times around the world attending United Nations meetings and who paid for those trips or if he violated the County ethics code in the process?  Not to mention what those activities had to do with air pollution in West Louisville? Does Mayor Abramson have a solid plan to replace the lost jobs due to the STAR program, and will those jobs benefit the Rubbertown/West Louisville people?  If so, then he needs to be specific about those plans now, or, if not, he needs to be honest with the citizens now about how they will be affected. 

Meanwhile, Sen. Seum and Rep. Perry Clark are again standing up for the citizens as they always have while the Courier Journal twists and turns in their own deceptive practices. One can only wonder why the Courier Journal has never attacked Art Williams and the APCD they way they have attacked Sen. Seum.  After all, it was the APCD that miserably failed and deceived the people. To the Courier Journal, it is entirely political, and, unfortunately, playing politics with the health and economic well being of the average citizens is the lowest of the low. 

 Here is a copy of my response to their latest example of that. Let's see if they print it and please consider writing your own comments to them.   

Sincerely,

John Riley 

Sen. Seum is the Star!

Mayor Abramson's STAR program will mean losing jobs in Jefferson County.  It's a fact the Mayor and the APCD ignored air pollution problems in the Rubbertown and West Louisville area.

People in those areas wasted their time calling APCD with complaints while the APCD wasted the time and money of all citizens in Jefferson County by insisting on keeping the fraudulent VET program.  Many moved out of county or  registered their vehicles out of county because of VET.  Many were made into criminals by VET. Many tax dollars left Jefferson County as a result of VET.

Sen. Seum along with Rep. Perry Clark stood together with the majority of the State Legislature, and of course the vast majority of citizens in Jefferson County, to put a stop to VET. 

Sen. Seum and Rep. Perry Clark are once again standing together against the Mayor's STAR program.  They recognize the impact STAR will have on jobs.  You fail to prominently point out the unprecedented cooperation between GLI and Labor Unions in opposing STAR.  Labor unions and Industry standing together against STAR?  Isn't that headline newsworthy?  They all know the impact STAR will have on jobs in Jefferson County and are willing to join forces to save them.

Air quality in West Louisville could have been better long ago if APCD had done their job and not ignored the people.  But, while you continue to run your political campaign against Sen. Seum and ignore important facts and truths remember this,  Sen. Seum is the true STAR in Jefferson County and the people should insist that he consider the job of Mayor in 2006! 

Thanks again Sen. Dan Seum and Rep. Perry Clark!  The people are behind you and appreciate your work on their behalf.

John Riley

Founding Member of Stop the VET

Taylorsville, KY 40071

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