I just received a letter from the No on Measure G coalition, funded by Chevron, urging voters to allow further expansion of oil well development in San Luis Obispo County. The letter opens with the false statement, “This costly ballot initiative would shut down existing oil and gas production in our county.” Since the full text of ballot Measure G can be viewed on the county website, it takes only seconds to expose this first lie. The measure’s opening paragraph clearly states that existing wells and oil extraction will be allowed to continue.
The letter then uses unsubstantiated and inflated numbers to claim tax revenue and job losses if the measure passes. Next comes the claim that without SLO oil, we will be supporting foreign countries with horrible human rights records by buying their oil. They neglected to say that the oil here is so toxic, it is only sold on the world market; far too dirty for U.S. standards, it’s only used where human rights are not protected.
Please inform yourselves. Read Ballot Measure G and vote yes in November to protect our water, our air, our land, and our health.
Dave Hudson
San Luis Obispo
This article appears in Autumn Arts Annual 2018.
Thanks Dave. This is a great example of “speaking truth to power.’
I’m all for measure g but yes it will slowly shut down existing operations… Only 200 or so jobs, so no major loss thankfully
Christine Halley of Sentinel Peak Resources (the largest producer of oil by far in our County) has said in this publication that there are 20 job in the oil field. The claim of 200 is the usual slippery exaggeration and BIG OIL scare tactic. YES on G does not shut-down any oil industry in our county (especially not even gas stations Mr. ERB). If Sentinel shuts down it will be due to their own profitability – they recently shut-down one of their Los Angeles fields. I’m guessing that was because they couldn’t make enough profit for their Colorado business and their Houston, TX investment banker/owners with all the purse-strings.
I got that letter too, and another one with a survey. Made it clear I’ll be voting against big oil and for Measure G.