Big Oil Wins over Indy

The Independent’s decision to take the wobbly kneed stand supporting Big Oil’s $6MM campaign of lies and bully tactics is neither understandable nor defensible. A 3-2 county supervisor vote is all that stands between Santa Barbara County and Big Oil’s desire to add 10,000 new wells with an option to frack, as well as extend the use of steam injection operations to thousands of new wells in the county without any requirement for ground water monitoring; this despite numerous cases of steam injection blowouts and failures.

Thirty years ago, Big Tobacco threatened local communities like ours with huge lawsuits in an attempt to bully towns trying to enact bans on smoking in public places. Potential lawsuits from Big Oil and Big Tobacco are an indication of Big Industry bullying, not bad governance. The role of great community papers is to see through the smoke and illuminate the truth for the community to see. The Independent has failed its duty to the Fourth Estate and the community that will be here long after Big Oil pollutes our land, water, and air before leaving.

Yes on P protects our community and environmental economy that pays 99 percent of the salaries for police and firefighters versus the one percent Big Oil contributes.