A nickname like “Stinkadena” doesn’t come from nowhere.
Whether you’re a Houston native or a Newstonian, chances are someone has mentioned to you how bad Pasadena — the second-largest city in the Houston metro area, with 150,000 residents and a hub for the local petrochemical industry — smells.
But what’s behind Pasadena’s bad rap, and is it even deserved? I spoke to Pat Gonzales, a Pasadena resident and longtime community activist who’s vocal about the area’s industrial emissions and air quality issues, to learn more.
Why does Pasadena have that ‘stinky’ reputation?
Pasadena and its eastern neighbors are home to big petrochemical plants and refineries, especially right along the Houston Ship Channel…