In Quick Response to Wildfires, Brightline Air Quality Program Established for South of Market, Tenderloin of San Francisco

In Quick Response to Wildfires, Brightline Air Quality Program

Established for South of Market, Tenderloin of San Francisco

As fires rage from Santa Cruz to Napa Counties, the Bay Area has been layered in
smoke and ash. Brightline Defense, an environmental justice nonprofit based in San
Francisco, has worked around the clock to set up Clarity Node-S devices, the first
community-driven air quality monitoring network that serves three low-income local

communities: the Tenderloin, South of Market (SoMa), and Mid-Market.

The Air Grants Program is part of the California Air Resources Board’s implementation
of Assembly Bill 617, which was signed into law in 2017 and established a community
framework to improve air quality and reduce exposure to toxic air pollutants in California
communities. Beyond wildfire impacts, Tenderloin, SoMa, and Mid-Market face severe
air quality concerns, driven by a number of factors, including close proximity to
highways, increasing vehicular traffic, high density of diesel emergency generators, and
ongoing construction. The Brightline Air Quality Monitoring Program specifically serves
low-income tenants of Single-Room Occupancy buildings, or “SROs,” which are
concentrated primarily in SoMa and the Tenderloin. Constructed shortly after the 1906
earthquake, SRO buildings lack adequate air filtration systems and are especially
vulnerable to poor air quality impacts from wildfires. Air quality data is badly needed to

educate, empower, and benefit SRO residents and frontline communities.

For this project, Brightline is working with multiple community partners. For instance, the
SRO Tenant Leaders of Central City SRO Collaborative (CCSROC) as well as Youth
Leaders of Community Youth Center (CYC) will shape this program and issues to track.
Local businesses, affordable housing nonprofits, and SF Recreation and Parks
Department have also allowed immediate rooftop access to their buildings and parks for
siting the devices. More comprehensive data will subsequently help inform impacted

residents and shape policies to create sustainable local environments.

To a longer, more in-depth article, please check out the published article by KQED, or listen to the two-minute radio segment broadcast.