June 3 ballot measure saves Barrio Logan’s community plan, improves community health

By Mia Bolton

Yesterday at the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest, a group of doctors, nurses and healthcare advocates announced their endorsement of the Yes on B & C campaign to protect children’s health in San Diego.

California Nurses Association members were there to support Yes on B & C that, if approved, will uphold the community and business supported, City Council approved Barrio Logan Community Plan Update.

In the first public media appearance by the campaign, the healthcare professionals reflected on Earth Day and the environmental health effects of polluting businesses next to schools, playgrounds and residences.

“Environmental health and justice in San Diego is being threatened,” said Georgette Gomez, of Environmental Health Coalition. “Kids in Barrio Logan have the same right to clean air and healthy neighborhoods as every other community in San Diego and the entire city should support Propositions B & C to protect all of our children’s health.”

Barrio Logan’s plan dictates the future of residential, commercial and industrial development there. Children and families have felt the effects of poor land-use policies since the plan was last updated in 1978.

The attendees all agreed that the current, incompatible and polluting land-use policies in Barrio Logan must be changed to reverse the trend of unhealthy air causing high asthma rates among our kids. 

Barrio Logan has one of the highest asthma rates in the region.

“The asthma trends affecting Barrio Logan’s children are clearly documented,” said Dr. Martin Stein, MD Pediatrician. “If Yes on B & C and Barrio Logan’s plan isn’t upheld, the families there will continue to suffer from a lack of healthy air that sends kids to emergency rooms three times as often as the rest of our county.”

Barrio Logan is one of many communities in San Diego working on updating outdated community plans to improve neighborhood health, economic development and overall quality of life. There is concern that if Propositions B & C are defeated and the Barrio Logan Plan is repealed, a dangerous precedent could be set, threatening community planning and healthy neighborhoods across the city.

“This isn’t a just a threat to Barrio Logan,” said Michael Jackson, RN, UCSD Medical Center ER nurse. “If B & C don’t pass, we could see children’s health in peril all over San Diego.” 

Read more about the unhealthy mix of industry and residential zoning in Barrio Logan, and the passage of the Barrio Logan Community Plan.