The citizens of San Luis Obispo County are being subjected to a multimillion dollar propaganda campaign based on lies. Its focus is Measure G, the citizens’ initiative to ban new oil wells and prevent fracking. The big lie is that Measure G will shut down existing oil production in SLO county. The fact is that Measure G was written to clearly and specifically protect existing oil production and maintenance operations and to only ban new oil wells. How do I know this? Because it is in black and white in sections B.8.a and C.9.a of the measure. I also helped to write it.
The No on G propaganda machine is spewing gushers of dirty, crude lies, most all of them derived from the big one—like Measure G will put hundreds out of work, millions in taxes will be lost, teachers and cops fired, etc. Hey wait! There is no shutdown of existing oil production, thus no jobs or taxes lost. People are blown away by the audacity of these lies. How can they get away with it? Well, they are Big Oil and they either bully or bribe you—and we are being digitally bullied folks.
Big Oil has never been known for telling the truth. Exxon and the American Petroleum Institute’s own scientists reported decades ago that the continued dumping of greenhouse gases into the Earth’s atmosphere could have major impacts on our climate. They covered up those studies and instead developed a fake news program denying any connection between fossil fuels and global warming or climate change.
Why would Big Oil spend almost
$6 million against Measure G unless they had big plans for our county? Does anyone think Chevron and Exxon actually care about us, our health, our water, our economy? They are repeatedly lying to your face with a brainwashing media tsunami of slick ads, mailers, and videos.
Are you offended, outraged, angry at this clear intent to deceive and manipulate? You should be. Their boldfaced lies and arrogance demonstrate for all to see an utter lack of integrity or trustworthiness.
Measure G is here because 20,473 locals put it on the ballot. It is here because we want to protect our precious water resources; we want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; we want to help slow down global climate change; we want a healthy San Luis Obispo County for ourselves, our children, and grandchildren. If you share these values, then please vote yes on G.
Charles Varni
Oceano
This article appears in Oct 18-28, 2018.
You can also read the constitution. “It is in black and white in” the 5th amendment, which says “nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” So when Measure G doesn’t allow expansion, who pays for the just compensation of the minerals under the expanded areas?
This article makes a big deal about the wrong thing. The constitution happens to be the authority in this case, and I don’t see how that will be overcome. Can someone offer a reasonable explanation as to how SLO will not have to compensate the operator for the undeveloped minerals?
The authority in this case and every case is the environment, no matter which political structure sits on top. I love our Constitution, but it is not the main factor here. The corps that are pouring millions into this local race want the profits and to hell with the local environment or the local people.
YES of G.
Interesting, so you take is that the Constitution is only relevant in some cases?
This is about is protecting our water from the GREAT EXPANSION of oil production in SLO county. 481 wells are proposed in Arroyo Grande alone, some of them are proposed to inject even MORE oil waste into the UNAPPROVED water aquifer. Allow existing production and jobs, but STOP the GREAT EXPANSION of illegal and inconsiderate oil practice here is SLO county is more like it. Oh, and by the way lets ban fracking, because if oil operators in Price Canyon are willing to illegally inject oil waste into unapproved water aquifers then they would be first inline to FRACK the county once it became feasible.
Chevron who only owns pipelines in our county has spent $4 million (so far) to allow expansion and fracking – what will this GIANT do next in our county?
Vote YESonMeasureG.org – Protect our county water supply, Ban Big Oils GOAL to greatly EXPAND oil production in our county.
Big Oil has spent nearly $6 MILLION to allow Oil Expansion and Fracking in our county.
(note: Some small amount of that $6 Million is paid to little trolls to write comments following every new story, right Voice of Reason?)
Voice of Reason misses the mark again. The explanation is simple. Big Billions Oil does not have a right to contaminate our groundwater basins so if the EPA doesnt grant them a pollution exemption they are bye-bye–is that unconstitutional?
SPR does not have a “right” to expand; they have to ask; to get permits; to meet regulatory standards. Oil wildcatters seeking to develop wells in the Huasna Valley were denied a permit to do so. Unconstitutional?
Really Voice of Reason, you sound like a cheerleader for the Big Billions Fossil Fuel Club who think it is their constitution, not the people’s and their “drill baby drill at all costs to the environment” mentality is national policy–well, maybe right now. But not in SLO County. Chevron and Exxon spending $6 million to keep our County open for more oil wells and fracking–no thank you. We have rights too.
Clearly, the People need to take a bigger role in planning for the health of our county and our future welfare. Industry isnt doing it. Government agencies are no longer doing it. Measure G is just the beginning of public pro-activism. This isnt just the work of or for environmentalists. It is everyones concern. Choose public health over profiteering. Voting is your voice. Im voting YES on Measure G.
Mr. Varni, I believe the constitution belongs to everyone.
Let’s talk about YOUR aim for a second. The zone that SPR is producing from is ALREADY EXEMPTED. I learned this from the EPA workshop while you were outside interviewing, chanting, and singing. The EPA is examining whether the exemption should be expanded. SPR has made valid points in that 20 million barrels of oil have been produced from the field and that cleaning the water to drinking standards would be economically infeasible.
If you’d really like to protect and preserve ground water, you might look into blocking vineyards from using it. Based on my calculations, it takes 375 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of wine. It only takes 19 gallons of oil bearing (undrinkable, etc.) water to produce 1 barrel of oil. Which one wastes more drinking water? And can you believe that the wine doesn’t even stay local? They ship that stuff all over the place!
Can someone tell Mr. Timewell to stop spam copy and pasting things everywhere?
Ah, another classic case of NIMBY. You “Yes on G” proponents are just a bunch of ignoramuses who turn a blind eye to their hypocrisy all in the name of “environmentalism.” You all will happily enjoy the benefits the petrochemical industry has bestowed upon your lives so long as you don’t have to see the pumping units or drill rigs. Get over yourselves. If you really despise everything the oil industry provides, then give up your worldly belongings and go live in the hills hunting and gathering like the under evolved humans you desire to revert to (and will without oil and gas).
Please educate yourselves and vote NO on G!