Blogging Social Difference in LA: Week 9

I'd like to respond to Laiza's post about Montebello for this week:

http://uclageography.blogspot.com/2012/11/week-7.html

She writes about her trip to Montebello and how a large portion of the city is comprised of oil fields and pumps - a common sight in low-income neighborhoods as David Harvey had theorized. These surrounding areas were less affluent when the oil fields were first established, however today they have improved and neighborhoods may soon oppose these environmental hazards (especially after a recent oil spill and fire; http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/07/oil-field-fire-in-montebello.html).

Using Simply Maps, I found that the income of the area has indeed increased from the 2000 census vs the more recent 2010 census as well.

Total household income - 2000

Total household income - 2010

Dominant Hispanic population

In the past, I'm sure the population tolerated the oil fields because they had no other choice, and they probably did not realize the risks they faced as Laiza had said. However, with the new environmental awareness today, and the increase of income in the Montebello area, there may be new opposition arising. What can be done though? Since nature often reflects wealth, status, and health, as the population income and environmental awareness increases, inhabitants may choose to move away. But this does not solve the issue; the problem will only propagate because land value will remain low due to the environmental hazards, and new low-income populations may move in to replace the old. I'm guessing it would be almost a self-replicating cycle unless action is taken to move the oil fields or something about the environmental risks is done. Since this highly unlikely due to the high costs and question of where to place hazards, it is also an encouragement for the ecological modernization view rather than the standard view of the environment.

Based on the environmental views we discussed in class, we learned that the standard view often taken in the past, was the idea that the environment should support all economic development and needs - and problems should therefore be dealt with later and 'after the fact.' This may soon become one of those problems that will have to be solved sooner than later, and can help encourage the ecological modernization view - that economic activity may cause environmental damage, and pre-emptive solutions should be sought. We must learn to look for these solutions in advance and increase awareness of the environmental degradation due to economic needs. Society should no longer believe that the environment is mean to support the economy and can be handled later.