Where were air quality activists last week when San Joaquin Valley air officials and politicians were battling for more state money to fight diesel pollution?

Local officials said they could have used support from activists, who have battled for air-quality improvement in the past. The Valley ultimately lost the argument for an extra $40 million.

Activists this week said they weren't involved because they thought this region already was getting a fair cut of the $1 billion in state bond money.

The Valley got $250 million, though officials from this region argued for $370 million. South Coast, which has an air problem just about on par with the Valley, received $550 million.

Valley officials thought they might get a $40 million boost last week, but it didn't work out.

Activists said the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District seems too focused on this money, which is used to help industries clean up pollution. The district should work harder on rules, they said.

"There's too much reliance on the carrot and not enough on the stick in this district," said Nidia Bautista, representing the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air.

"We helped write the language to get the district this incentive money, and we will keep advocating for this type of money. But there needs to be more of an emphasis on regulation."