The “inalienable right to pollute” in Shoreline

A few people ruin the winter air in Shoreline, Washington. Take a walk on a clear winter day in Shoreline WA and you most likely end up coughing and wheezing.

It’s tragic that despite the known health hazards of wood smoke, the powers that be do nothing to protect our health. A small percentage of people are ruining the air for all of us. There is some talk. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has a website. Not much if any action though.

We all suffered through some terrible wildfire smoke a few years back. One would think that would be enough of a warning to take action.

Seems that personal liberty and the inalienable right to pollute takes precedence over the public good. Around here, it is even legal to burn yard waste. An old agricultural practice that really causes harm. Why? We are not farming here any more. We have free yard waste pickup every week?

I have tried talking to people about the dangers of wood smoke. Some people do not believe it is bad. Many don’t care. Some get angry. Many people think they have the right to pollute as if it were in the constitution.

Most recently, my charcoal burning neighbor decided to add a fire pit to his arsenal. The other day I was working in my garage when suddenly it began to fill with smoke. Then the wind shifted and blew the smoke towards his own window. ‘Sorry honey’ he said to his wife. Then the wind shifted back towards my place and all was good again…for him.

I think I need to move to a more enlightened neighborhood.