Central and East Riverside, along with Rubidoux (now part of Jurupa Valley), are urban communities in Riverside County within the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Riverside is a diverse city of over 318,000 residents. Nearly half of households speak a language other than English, and both Riverside and Rubidoux have median household incomes below the California average, with lower rates of higher educational attainment.

These communities face significant air pollution from major freeways (I-215, SR-60, SR-90), extensive rail traffic, and a high concentration of warehouses generating thousands of daily diesel truck trips. Smog from Greater Los Angeles and wildfire smoke further contribute to poor air quality, leading to health concerns like asthma and low birthweight. Local organizations and the city have launched climate initiatives, but air quality challenges remain.

The district has teamed up with Aclima and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to launch a community air monitoring project guiding future actions as a part of SMMI. Using Aclima’s advanced sensors, the project collects detailed, block-by-block data on air quality throughout the community. This provides residents with clear information about local pollution and helps guide actions to improve air quality, focusing on the areas and people most affected.

In April of 2025, residents and stakeholders gathered to discuss these ongoing air quality concerns and work toward healthier, more equitable neighborhoods.