When I was growing up, nothing was better than going to the park; biking, climbing trees, playing  ‘safari’.  My husband and I share those joys with our daughters. We live a few blocks from one of Pittsburgh’s best parks and frequently go for walks and bike rides together.  My girls are growing up to enjoy nature.

Pittsburgh isn’t what it used to be. Plenty of people still think that our city is shrouded in smoke from steel mills, and when they visit, are astounded by how beautiful our city actually is. Our air does look clean. But the reality is that Pittsburgh and the surrounding area has some of the worst air quality in the country.

As a nurse and a mother, I know protecting our environment isn’t just about having green spaces to enjoy the way my family does. It’s also about reducing asthma, heart disease, diabetes, lung cancer and other deadly diseases.
On June 8th, I testified at a public hearing in front of the Pittsburgh City Council, urging them to pass clean air legislation that would require construction projects that receive public funding to install filters on their diesel equipment. This one act could substantially reduce air pollution in our city.

On Saturday, March 19th, I attended a rally to "Stop The Bus Cuts" in Pittsburgh. The Port Authority wants to get rid of another 29 routes. That’s on top of the heavy cuts the already made last fall. Although five hundred people attended the rally, many people still don’t think these cuts affect them. But let’s take a look at the big picture. People like me depend on the bus to get to work and go shopping. Cutting bus service isn’t going to help our economy that’s for sure.

And what about those who drive? I heard that for every bus that comes off line there will be forty extra cars on the road. Rush hour and parking in the city will be more of a nightmare than it already is. There will also be many new drivers on the road. Drivers like me. The last time I drove a car was in 1980. I drive slow and I stop at yellow lights. Now, do the cuts affect you?