Oil and Porter

As the saying goes, “water and oil don’t mix.” Local oil companies proved this once again when the latest pipeline spill fouled beaches, ocean, and wildlife along Goleta’s coast barely a year ago. Ominously, oil companies just funded a Political Action Committee with $60,000 (so far) to help elect Bruce Porter 3rd District Supervisor.

Why is “Big Oil” betting on Porter? My guess is they believe that when pending oil projects go before the Board of Supervisors, Porter would vote for looser emissions standards than Hartmann did when she was on the Planning Commission. Loose emissions standards = more profit for oil companies but worse air quality for us all.

Of course it’s not only our oceans and air that are at risk. Chemicals injected underground to extract more oil may threaten our groundwater supply, ever more important during our continuing drought.

The Board of Supervisors makes countless decisions that impact our water, air, and land. In the past, the Board has split 3-2 on many of these decisions. It just takes one vote to make a big difference in Santa Barbara County’s future.

I can think of at least 60,000 reasons to not trust how Bruce Porter would vote, can you?