Mark Bomboy: Poor left out in the cold by district’s fireplace insert program

Last January I applied for a voucher from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District for the purchase of an EPA-approved fireplace insert. The voucher was for $2,000 for a low income household. After receiving the voucher, I shopped for an insert only to discover that an insert costs around $4,000. How can a low-income individual afford the additional $2,000?

At same time, non-low-income people get a voucher, no matter how rich they are, for $1,500. I have access to cheap fire wood, but cannot use it on cold days because the coldest days are more often than not no-burn days.

This program is welfare for the rich. A home improvement for those who can afford to pay the full price, while the poor sit in the cold.

This story was originally published November 9, 2015 at 1:37 PM with the headline "Mark Bomboy: Poor left out in the cold by district’s fireplace insert program."