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Uploaded: Monday, December 31, 2012, 2:49 PM                                             

Spare the Air alert issued for New Year's Day  

Posted by Solon, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 2:59 pm

Junk science. Where is the data? What measurements? What standard?

What limits are on GOVERNMENT action that day? Lights off? No travel? Heat reduction?

Fewer flights to CHINA by Palo Alto "officials" at environmental and government and public expense?

What is the carbon saving of going back to only 1,loo employees?

Posted by where there's smoke , a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 5:28 pm

I could smell the smoke in the air today. Don't need no fancy scientific instruments to know the air is in bad shape.

Posted by where there's smoke , a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 5:36 pm

Do everyone's kids a favor - if you must light up, only do it on rainy days. Thank you.

Posted by Happy New Year!, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 5:45 pm

What's the standard?

Let's see. The air quality as I write is GOOD. The air quality predicted for tomorrow is MODERATE.

So how do the grinches justify a spare the air day? It's called making a splash on an important holiday.

They're miffed that they couldn't do on Christmas.

Posted by lungfull, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Dec 31, 2012 at 5:53 pm

Obviously empathetic humans lucky to never have asthma

Posted by Grinch, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Jan 1, 2013 at 12:26 am

More crap by Air Resources. You can see all over the Bay Area, it is as clear as ever. They just want to force us into a ban on fire places. I will pay the fine and give my kids memories.

Posted by daniel, a resident of the Embarcadero Oaks/Leland neighborhood, on Jan 1, 2013 at 7:19 am

Poor, poor Grinch. He is trying to drop burning matches into his car's gas tank and the big bad government agency is trying to tell him it isn't such a good idea.

Posted by Anonymous, a resident of the Greater Miranda neighborhood, on Jan 1, 2013 at 10:10 am

Pretty bad that on a day no one is driving to and from work that it is a Spare the Air day!!!

Posted by Happy New Year!, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jan 1, 2013 at 1:57 pm

Funny, the Air Quality Index for our area is forecast to be 79, MODERATE, where susceptible groups are supposed to avoid heavy exertion. But it hasn't climbed above 60 all day. It's looking more and more as if our Spare the Air Day people are looking for publicity rather than trying to avert serious problems.

daniel, your analogy of the match dropping into the car's gas tank doesn't really work. Try again?

Posted by hmmm, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jan 1, 2013 at 5:34 pm

Came back and forth from a party in Cupertino -- it was a smoggy day, don't know where all the curmudgeons were but it was NOT a good air day. Glad to know a spare the air day was declared.

Posted by daniel, a resident of the Embarcadero Oaks/Leland neighborhood, on Jan 1, 2013 at 5:35 pm

The poor, poor Grinch. He just has to play with his fireplace lest he becomes so unhappy.

Posted by Happy New Year!, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jan 1, 2013 at 5:56 pm

Doggone, just can't figure it out. San Jose was predicted to be at 102, unhealthy for sensitive groups. Never got there. Now their air quality is GOOD. Redwood City, still in the MODERATE range. Hmmm, you might have seen a bit of smog, but it doesn't sound like a spare the air, kill the joy day was justified.

daniel, a bit better. Keep trying.

Posted by Stay-Home--Spare-The-Air, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jan 1, 2013 at 9:44 pm

> Came back and forth from a party in Cupertino -- it was a smoggy day

Sounds like you traveled in a car--which contributed to the condition you have called "smoggy". You should have stayed home, and helped to "Spare the Air"!

Not very helpful--you!

Posted by Resident, a member of the Jordan Middle School community, on Jan 1, 2013 at 10:14 pm

Wood burners are already selfish people and pay not attention to Spare the Air Days. There needs to be an ordinance against fireplace burning. This is a Spare the Air Day and there has been burning wood smoke in the air since 6PM and now it's 10:15PM and the smoke is still in the air. I've had to keep my windows closed all night when I'd like to let some fresh air into the house.

Posted by Wow, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Jan 2, 2013 at 7:35 am

Wood burners are selfish people?? Wow...Methinks people who want to open their windows on a cold, cold night, requiring them to then use resources to heat up their places afterwards, are selfish people.

Posted by I must be blind, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Jan 4, 2013 at 3:21 pm

Sat in the living room all New Years Day at a friends home with a view, and looked out across the entire Bay Area, one of the most clear days this year. Air Quality ought to be fired if they can't even predict something that is even close; or maybe they have another agenda.

Posted by cure for bad eyes, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jan 4, 2013 at 4:18 pm

This will help: Web Link

Get a pair of readers a, then check this out:

Web Link

As far as empathy? Can't help ya... maybe suggest getting out of PA. Many have reported increased human-like symptoms after exiting 'the PA zone'

Posted by Anon., a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Jan 4, 2013 at 7:38 pm

Thought the air looks good, that is a relative thing.

When we first moved to California in the 70's the air was

really filthy, but no one noticed it or commented on it much.

Driving along 101 you could only rarely see the East Bay it

was a cloud of white .... and it was the same for the mountains.

I used to live on Embarcadero road and went to Terman

Jr. High and you could not see the hills most days because

of the smog and crap in the air.

It is so nice that this is all gone now, but still the air has

stuff in it, that is unhealthy, and I am all for getting rid of

it.

I like a fire as much as the next guy, but I just see no point

for fireplaces unless there is appropriate air scrubbing

technology or it burns natural gas.

Posted by Sharon, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jan 4, 2013 at 9:29 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]