Interview with Carol Alvarado on Houston as a Model City
This year could be an environmental milestone for Houston. Mayor Bill White promises to focus on the environment and take action to clean up the air and protect public health. As part of this commitment, he has created the city’s first Environment and Public Health Committee with Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Carol Alvarado as committee chair.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) also is focusing on Houston’s environment by naming its first director of Air Quality for Region 12, Rebecca Rentz.
Recently, Vicki Wolf, CLEAN’s environment writer, interviewed these three leaders about creating a healthier environment for Houston. Here is her interview with Carol Alvarado:
How has your experience and background prepared you to chair Houston’s Environment and Public Health Committee?
Alvarado: The reason I became involved in politics is based on the environment. I became involved in clean air issues in the Manchester neighborhood, where I grew up, and identified 1,3-butadiene as a health hazard from heavy industry, at age 21 and started challenging the permits of industry located in the area. We were able to get a “good neighbor agreement” from the company. We didn’t want to shut down a company that provided employment for the neighborhood. I learned from experience that you can strike a balance between economics and having a clean, safe environment. When I ran for city council, I campaigned on environmental issues. I’m happy Mayor White has taken the environment as a priority. Most people don’t expect city government to clean up the air – the responsibility lies with the state and the EPA.
What are the goals of the committee?
Alvarado: The priorities this year include a community tracking system. We have a grant in the works to support that. I have asked the mayor to develop a letter of agreement among city, county and state for monitoring and improving the environment. We have a spirit of cooperation with county. For example, city and county inspectors go out to sites together and we are writing joint letters to the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality). One of the ways we are being creative with limited authority is to ask for civil action against companies that are polluting. Already we have been successful in getting Texas Petrochemical to sign a major agreement for reductions in emissions. Also, the mayor has a group from Texas Medical Center studying health and environment.
How serious do you think the state of the environment is in Houston?
Alvarado: It’s very serious. If we don’t do something in next couple of years it will be a crisis. We want we want leadership in state to make clean air a priority – it has such an impact, an economic impact: How can we recruit corporations if we have dirty air? How can we have a healthy work force?
How are you going to work with the state, and other agencies and organizations to bridge communications about the environment to bring changes that are needed?
Alvarado: We are working with other agencies and organizations. We are in communication with Bob Allan, Harris County Pollution Control, and we are meeting with state officials. State legislators are supportive and we hope to get their help in coming up with a plan of action. We always include and consult with experts like Dr. Neil Carman ( Clean Air Director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club’s) I think we are off to a good start.
