Members of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California recently trekked to Whitewater to express our strong support for Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s efforts to secure national monument status for the Mojave Trails, Castle Mountains and Snow to Sand.
We believe that preserving open spaces like these in our magnificent desert is important for the health of Californians and Latinos in particular.
Repeated studies show that predominantly African American and Latino communities have far less access to parks in their own neighborhoods than their white neighbors. Consider a recent report by the Community Health Council, which found that communities in South Los Angeles had 1.2 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, compared to 70.1 acres for every 1,000 residents of West Los Angeles.
We believe that preserving open spaces like these in our magnificent desert is important for the health of Californians and Latinos in particular.
Repeated studies show that predominantly African American and Latino communities have far less access to parks in their own neighborhoods than their white neighbors. Consider a recent report by the Community Health Council, which found that communities in South Los Angeles had 1.2 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, compared to 70.1 acres for every 1,000 residents of West Los Angeles.
We believe that preserving open spaces like these in our magnificent desert is important for the health of Californians and Latinos in particular.
Repeated studies show that predominantly African American and Latino communities have far less access to parks in their own neighborhoods than their white neighbors. Consider a recent report by the Community Health Council, which found that communities in South Los Angeles had 1.2 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, compared to 70.1 acres for every 1,000 residents of West Los Angeles.
It is not uncommon in the Latino community to have an annual tradition of extended family camping in forests or parks. My family spends a few days each year exploring our protected open spaces. I love explaining to my 8-year-old how time, wind, water and the sun have shaped the landscapes. Together, we are building memories that will last a lifetime.
I’m not alone in this tradition. Extensive research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the federal agency that manages many of California’s protected forests, found that Latinos in particular avail themselves of recreation areas that can accommodate extended family gatherings. These public lands are important to our health and familial connections.
We applaud Feinstein’s efforts to advance legislation through Congress, but we cannot afford to wait for Congress to act. As the senator has advocated, President Barack Obama should use the Antiquities Act to swiftly protect our California desert.
Related Posts
