Air, Fire, Water and Earth

It was inevitable that the Air Quality Management District’s 20-year smog reduction plan (or something equally bad) would be approved by the state. But for The Times to herald the plan as a “landmark” (“State Board OKs Clean Air Plan,” Part I, Aug. 16) is unduly complimentary. This plan will “force massive changes in industry and life styles . . . affecting everything from dry cleaners to back-yard barbecues.” One supervisor, who voted for the plan, admitted that it would inevitably have a “severe impact” on the Southern California economy. Naturally motorists will be seriously burdened by the new regulations, and the personal freedom to live, work, shop, and play where they choose will be restricted. The poor will be especially affected, since they will be less able to afford the “cleaner fuel” vehicles that will be required.

And the worst part of the plan is, there are no guarantees that it actually will “return blue skies to the area by the year 2007.” Hundreds of years ago, Indians referred to this area as “the land of many smokes.” After decades of clean air regulations, there are still “many smokes” in the Basin. Why should Southern Californians believe that this new plan will be any more successful than all the others?

T. A. SCHENACH

Huntington Beach