A letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom urges him to impose a one- or two-year moratorium on new Inland Empire industrial facilities, saying the region’s ongoing logistics boom threatens public health. The statement, issued by over five dozen groups, says the massive expansion of the IE logistics industry, is “one of the most critical environment justice issues of our time”, and states, “we have a right to not be made sick by the air we breathe”. 

The Press-Enterprise reports that San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman disputes the pollution issue, saying in a letter to the publication that air quality has actually improved in the Inland Empire, despite warehouse growth. He reasons that developers are now investing in environmentally friendly facilities and are required to follow California’s stringent environmental laws.

A few of the groups that signed the moratorium letter, that also went out to California Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, include the Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability, the Sierra Club, Teamsters Local 1932 and Inland Empire United.