The Higher Rates of Asthma in Low Income Communities in San Diego

Background:In San Diego, there are higher levels of asthma in lower income communities.This is a clear example of environmental injustice, with lower income communities being more subject to pollution, waste facilities in their environments, less access to education and healthcare, and more.The area of San Diego that is affected has been named a "Promise Zone" by the federal government 1 , which is an area that is promised to be assisted due to lower education rates, lack of access to healthy foods, and lack of affordable housing.Promise zone areas receive preference for certain competitive federal grant programs, a federal liaison assigned to help designees navigate federal programs, and more 2 .These investments into benefits that help promise zones are aimed towards helping residents with improved resources and infrastructure or community support.This area of San Diego is 6.4 square miles spanning East Village and Barrio Logan East to Encanto; more than 80,000 residents live in this zone 3 .The neighborhoods being designated as a promise zone shows that help is essential, specifically government action from our legislators.3 https://www.sandiego.gov/economic-development/san-diego-promise-zone#:~:text=The%20San%20Diego%20Pro