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My idea for the project was originally made from the commercial that tell you to visit California. I had learned from my FYS at Elizabethtown College how TV shows hide the homeless and will shoot views so people can not see how bad it is there. This led me to the idea how great is California.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL-43maihBA.
I got this idea one day because of how popular California is. We all see it as the land of the stars. But like every other state California comes with its own issues and problems. These are things we do not get to see and media does not portray.

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Visit California What If Television Commercials

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https://calmatters.org/commentary/2021/10/clean-water-in-california-is-overdue/
I wanted to look at the pollution rates in California. This is an issue every state has but I feel like we do not talk about it nearly as much. So, I figured with the beach seen would be perfect to show case exactly what is in the water.

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Forty-nine years ago this week, Congress passed the federal Clean Water Act, with the goal of restoring America's waters. Yet today, 95% of California's rivers, lakes, bays and wetlands are plagued by pesticides, metals, pathogens, trash and sediment, making it unsafe to swim, fish or drink. As we approach the 50 th anniversary of this landmark environmental legislation, it is time for the state to get on track toward ensuring swimmable, fishable and drinkable waters for all Californians.

Underserved communities of color shoulder far too much of the cost of unsafe water. But the state has increasingly treated these communities as water quality "sacrifice zones." For example, communities along the Los Angeles River face the highest pollution levels statewide. But rather than adopt enforceable numeric water quality standards, the Newsom administration is pressuring the State Water Board to relax stormwater pollution standards in underserved communities of color.

The Newsom administration must instead hold polluters accountable. One solution is to ensure that low-income communities suffering poor health because of overexposure to environmental hazards are better represented in water quality regulatory decision-making. The Legislature should pass legislation requiring state and regional water boards to include at least one tribal or environmental justice representative. The state also should dedicate funding to aid participation by these environmental justice communities in the regulatory process.

The Clean Water Act has successfully reduced pollution from traditional industrial outfalls. Today, most pollution in California waters is caused by runoff from farms and cities, causing toxicity, respiratory diseases and gastrointestinal illness. For example, Stockton suffers from a growing number of harmful algal blooms. A 2020 outbreak measured up to 49 times the "danger" level. The state must set freshwater flow standards and nutrient water quality standards to prevent toxic algae blooms.

Across the state, subsistence fishers - low-income anglers often from immigrant communities - fish to feed their families. Yet a state study determined that fish in 99% of coastal waters and 49% of freshwaters exceed safe levels established for eating.

Mercury and polychlorinated-biphenyl (PCB) contamination is particularly alarming in the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. In 2001, a Contra Costa County study determined that 70% of local anglers surveyed were Asian, African American or Latino, and 73% regularly ate fish that can be unsafe to consume.

Inadequate river flows have decimated California's native fish populations, including salmon runs that are essential for tribes. A growing list of fish species teeter on the brink of extinction.

The state has promised for decades to create a set of rules known as a biological policy to protect the biological health of our waterways. It is time California met that promise.

The Newsom administration also must take a new approach to our flawed water rights system, which was created at a time when tribal land was seized, tribes were victims of genocide and many people of color were prohibited from owning land or water rights. California's water rights system is at the core of systemic racism and inequality. This system is why tribes now face the loss of salmon runs. It is why communities of color, with polluted or dry groundwater wells and no rights to water from our rivers, are now forced to truck in drinking water.

Reducing pollution also can help California face increasingly frequent droughts brought about by changing climate. Capturing urban runoff can reduce pollution while creating water supply. Similarly, urban wastewater has historically been treated solely as waste - used once, treated and dumped. Today, more than 1.5 million acre-feet of water annually is discharged into coastal waters. Instead, we should upgrade the treatment of that water and reuse it - all of it. Orange County is a world leader in recycling wastewater. It's time the rest of California caught up.

Over the coming year, Californians should demand that Gov. Gavin Newsom, the agencies he controls and the Legislature get serious about ensuring clean water for all.

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Forty-nine years ago this week, Congress passed the federal Clean Water Act, with the goal of restoring America's waters. Yet today, 95% of California's rivers, lakes, bays and wetlands are plagued by pesticides, metals, pathogens, trash and sediment, making it unsafe to swim, fish or drink.

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I looked at pollution in the water because of the oceans in California. I figured everywhere has pollution why not see how bad it is in California. When finding out that most of the water is actually contaminated I was shocked no one was talking about it.

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https://www.rff.org/publications/explainers/wildfires-in-the-united-states-101-context-andconsequences/#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20wildfires%20destroyed%20almost,to%20both%20homes%20and%20businesses.

In 2020, wildfires destroyed almost 18,000 structures, 54 percent of which were homes. California has been notably hard-hit by destructive fires. A 2020 study found that in 2018, wildfires caused a total of almost $28 billion in capital losses in California, including damage to both homes and businesses.

https://www.rff.org/publications/explainers/wildfires-in-the-united-states-101-context-andconsequences/#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20wildfires%20destroyed%20almost,to%20both%20homes%20and%20businesses.

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Forest Fires have been in the news a lot when talking about California but have not been addressed with how people are losing their businesses and homes. This also affects the air quality.

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https://calmatters.org/commentary/2019/09/high-cost-california-no-1-in-poverty/
The Census Bureau reported that of California’s roughly 40 million residents, an average of 18.2 percent have been impoverished during the three preceding years.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/california-continues-to-have-the-highest-poverty-level-in-the-nation/article_45a6e2fc-f9f8-11ea-a19d-cf1649965470.html

As of 2019, The Census Bureau reported that California still has the highest level of functional poverty of any state, averaging 18.2% of its 40 million residents impoverished during the three preceding years.

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Commentary: California still No. 1 in poverty

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Once again, California poverty ranks number one in the nation due partly to high costs for essentials like housing, gas and electricity.

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California has always been glamourized for being the home of Hollywood and LA but people tend to not realize how many people go with a dream and end up not being able to obtain it. California is a very expensive place to live in.

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https://stateofreform.com/featured/2021/03/homelessness-increased-6-8-in-california-from-2019-to-2020/
Homelessness increased 6.8% in California from 2019 to 2020

The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report found that California accounted for more than half of all unsheltered people in the country. ...

Forty-one per 10,000 people were homeless in California, and 70% of the homeless people in the state were without shelter.

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According to a released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), California saw a 6.8% increase in homelessness between 2019 and 2020, and a 16.2% increase between 2007 and 2020. This increase from 2019-2020 is the largest increase in a state in that time frame.

The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report found that California accounted for more than half of all unsheltered people in the country. This is nearly nine times the number of unsheltered people in the state with the next highest number.

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Forty-one per 10,000 people were homeless in California, and 70% of the homeless people in the state were without shelter.

In Los Angeles City and County there were 63,706 people experiencing homelessness, 72% of whom had no shelter at all.

California also experienced a large increase in the percentage of homeless people in families during 2019-2020, an increase of about 14.6% or 3,276 people. This is 15% of the people in families experiencing homelessness in the nation.

Youth homelessness is also a major issue in California. The state reported the largest numbers of homeless unaccompanied youth in the nation, 12,172 people, accounting for nearly a third of all unaccompanied youth nationally.

Three major cities in California had percentages of unaccompanied youth staying in unsheltered

locations exceeding 75%: San Jose (96%), San Francisco (80%) and Oakland (77%). Four suburban areas had rates of unaccompanied youth without shelter of 95% or higher: Marin County (97%), San Luis Obispo (97%), Santa Cruz (97%) and Imperial County (95%).

California's 11,401 veterans accounted for 31% of all veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States, which is more than half of all unsheltered veterans.

Homelessness grew by 2% nationwide from 2019 to 2020. This marks the fourth consecutive year that total homelessness has increased in the United States.

The report found homelessness increased significantly among unsheltered populations and people that are experiencing chronic homelessness. Veteran homelessness did not decrease from 2019 to 2020, and family homelessness did not decrease for the first time since 2010. People of color are also significantly over-represented among the homeless population.

Denis McDonough, the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, said this was concerning.

"Even a slight pre-pandemic uptick in veteran homelessness after significant declines since 2010 is extremely concerning. The Biden Administration's recommitment to Housing First - a proven strategy and dignified way to help Veterans and others achieve stable, permanent housing - will help accelerate progress in preventing and eliminating veteran homelessness. The American Rescue Plan will also make a major impact in improving outcomes for veterans by expanding access to community-based homeless prevention and rapid rehousing services for those who may not qualify for VA care."

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Homelessness increased 6.8% in California from 2019 to 2020 - State of Reform

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According to a report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), California saw a 6.8% increase in homelessness between 2019 and 2020, and a 16.2% increase between 2007 and 2020. This increase from 2019-2020 is the largest increase in a state in that time frame.

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This is a disgusting rate of homeless people and how many of them have no shelter at all. Over 50 percent of homeless people in America are found in California. They cover the strips and many of these people went to follow a dream or had been drained dry from California's high prices. Truly sad but who cares when you can go to the beach and ignore it all.

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https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/health-air-pollution
A number of air pollutants, coming out of a variety of industrial processes, impact the health of California residents. Air monitoring shows that over 90 percent of Californians breathe unhealthy levels of one or more air pollutants during some part of the year.

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Air pollution continues to be an important public health concern. A number of air pollutants, coming out of a variety of industrial processes, impact the health of California residents. Air monitoring shows that over 90 percent of Californians breathe unhealthy levels of one or more air pollutants during some part of the year. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) establishes health-based ambient air quality standards to identify outdoor pollutant levels that are considered safe for the public - including those individuals most sensitive to the effects of air pollution, such as children and the elderly.

CARB has set standards for eight "traditional pollutants," such as ozone and particulate matter. In addition to setting standards, CARB identifies other air pollutants as toxic air contaminants (TACs) - pollutants that may cause serious, long-term effects, such as cancer, even at low levels. Most air toxics have no known safe levels, and some may accumulate in the body from repeated exposures. CARB has identified about 200 pollutants as air toxics, and measures continue to be adopted to reduce emissions of air toxics. Estimated total cancer risk from all air toxics is 730 per million. Of this total, 520 per million are due to diesel particulate matter.

If PM2.5 were reduced to background levels, estimated health impacts avoided per year would be:

7,200 premature deaths

1,900 hospitalizations

5,200 emergency room visits

Similarly, if diesel particulate matter were removed from the air, estimated yearly health impacts would be:

1,400 premature deaths

200 hospitalizations

600 emergency room visits

Both traditional pollutants and toxic air contaminants are measured statewide to assess programs for cleaning the air. CARB works with local air pollution control districts to reduce air pollution from all sources.

Climate change will also pose risks to public health. Changes in our climate are leading to extreme high temperatures which could result in more heat-related sickness and deaths, increased allergens (such as pollen) will trigger worsened allergies, and increases in disease-carrying mosquitoes and other pests will cause elevated disease risk.

More information about common air pollutants and their health effects can be found at: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/common-air-pollutants

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Air pollution continues to be an important public health concern. A number of air pollutants, coming out of a variety of industrial processes, impact the health of California residents. Air monitoring shows that over 90 percent of Californians breathe unhealthy levels of one or more air pollutants during some part of the year.

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It should be a basic right to have clean air. I feel like that goes without saying. There are so many things that people take for granted and air quality is one of them. Where I live I never would have thought about how lucky I am to smell farms and the seasons.

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California is not that great. It is not just another state with its own issues and people just pass by them like they are not harming the people who live there.