Community Profile: Bernice Banares

I grew up around the ports and currently teach at Cabrillo High School in the city of Long Beach. My entire life has been affected by the horrible pollution in our community. I have asthma, all five of my children have asthma, my students have asthma and the toll on our lives is an everyday ordeal.

I’m frequently hospitalized and put on high doses of steroids. This causes my hair to fall out and makes me feel like someone is twisting the ends of my bones opposite ways.

As a teacher, I also see lots of kids missing school because of the pollution and all the health problems it causes. Our students are not only missing critical learning time, their entire childhood and adolescence is being shaped by this environmental crisis. There are days when the pollution levels are so high that we have to keep all the students in-doors!  

Our community is currently fighting to get the Los Angeles Clean Truck Program back. We fight for it because it’s the only way to get and keep our air clean and our bodies healthy. As a mom and local resident I am frustrated by the trucking industry who wants the program stopped simply because they don't want to take responsibility for purchasing and maintaining the new trucks.  

I am part of the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports because those of us who live and work around the port can’t keep paying with our lungs and livelihoods. The big companies have to step up and do their part.