Boy Urges Murrieta City Council to 'Fight for Clean Air'

Thirteen-year-old Murrieta boy received a warm welcome from Murrieta City Council recently, although he had a serious message to bring.

Beyond asking the city of Murrieta to recognize May as Asthma Prevention Month, Carey, who suffers from chronic asthma and allergies, explained that according to the American Lung Association's "State of the Air Report 2012," Murrieta received an F for its air quality.

"I am homeschooled as a result of my asthma. If I received an F if any class, I would be in serious trouble. I am sure that you have children and if they brought home an F in a class they would have some explaining to do," said Carey, who volunteers as a junior amabassador for the American Lung Association.

"So I am asking you, as a resident of Murrieta how will you assist me in fighting for clean air?" Carey said, in a May 15 speech to city council members.

(A YouTube video of Carey being recognized by Murrieta Mayor Doug McAllister along with his speech to Murrieta City Council is attached to this article.)

As part of Carey's campaign, he invited city council members to join his team during the American Lung Association's Fight for Air Walk 2012, to be held in November at Embarcadero Park in San Diego. Carey participates in the Walk annually, and has said he would like to bring the event to southwest Riverside County.

Carey has been taking his message to city councils throughout southwest Riverside County. But being a resident of Murrieta, he called for added advocacy.

"I know that I am only 13, but I am still a resident of this beautiful community and together we have to fight for clean air," he said. "This is my home. I have to check the air quality every day, just to see if it is safe for me to go outside and play."

Editor's Note: While Murrieta was not listed with an F in the online report, it fell in the Riverside area, which received an F.