An Independent View

Our Unhealthy Air Might Mean an Unhealthy Economy

Air quality problems can't improve without overhauling the way we manage land use.

Nick Falsone of the Express-Times recently reported that Northampton County failed the American Lung Association's air quality tests for ozone and short-term particle pollution. You may recall hearing about this problem in the State of the Lehigh Valley report that was released earlier this year. While you might think to blame coal-fired plants like GenOn's Portland Generating Station, one of the top 5 worst polluters in the country, the ALA actually singled out auto emissions as the primary culprit. Here is how Kevin Stewart of the ALA described the risks to Mr. Falsone: "When you breathe these microscopic particles, you are inhaling a noxious mix of chemicals, metals, acid aerosols, ash, soot and others from diesel exhaust and other …

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State of the Lehigh Valley Report Offers Surprises

Forum weighs in on local crime, education and economic statistics.

Wrap your mind around a few facts that might seem counterintuitive: Crime in the Lehigh Valley actually declined during the recession, even as poverty indicators rose; an average of 79 percent of public school grads here were college bound in 2008 and about the same number of local voters switched from Republican to Democrat as the other way around since the 2008 presidential election. That’s just a fraction of the information found in the 2010 State of the Lehigh Valley report unveiled at a forum at Iacocca Hall at Lehigh University Thursday. The report is the product of the Lehigh Valley Research Consortium, a collaboration of researchers from local colleges and community leaders and Renew Lehigh Valley, which advocates for …

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