ORLANDO, Fla. – Residents in Parramore say decades of poor air quality have left families sick, and advocates are now demanding change from city leaders.
Gloria Steinem, who was born and raised in Parramore, has never smoked. But after a lifetime in the neighborhood, she relies on inhalers and oxygen to breathe.
“My mother and best friend got sick from the poor air,” Steinem said. “I need inhalers and oxygen just to get by. Some loved ones died when their lungs gave up. It’s heartbreaking.”
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Her struggle is part of a broader concern among residents living near heavy traffic and large event venues. Activist Lawanna Gelzer says spikes in air pollution have made it routine for vulnerable neighbors to stay inside on certain days.
“Now we’re monitoring air every day, and we know exactly when it’s unsafe to be outside—especially after shows or sports bring thousands of cars through Parramore,” Gelzer said.
Gelzer, who manages a community project focused on air quality, helped install monitors earlier this year across 14 underserved neighborhoods, including Parramore, Tangelo Park and Pine Hills. She said the data show dangerous spikes in pollutants that directly affect residents’ health.
To raise awareness and push for solutions, Gelzer has been hosting community meetings. She encourages residents to advocate for policy changes and adopt small-scale protections, such as planting shrubs and greenery that absorb emissions.
“I cannot name all the different shrubs for you, but we have a list we provide to organizations and our communities,” Gelzer said. “That way, people can plant them in their yards to help.”
For residents like Steinem, the push is about more than statistics.
“I don’t want to die from it,” she said. “And whatever my end is, if me speaking to you can help somebody else or help us get this all cleaned up, that’s what I want.”