Santa Barbara Sells Out
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved a measure Tuesday to support offshore oil drilling, decades after an infamous 1969 oil spill coated the coastline and spawned the modern environmental movement.
I was shocked to read this. Seriously shocked. Santa Barbara has long been a stalwart opponent of offshore drilling and Rep. Lois Capps has been an outspoken opponent of the current push for it. So what was the Board of Supervisors thinking?
Turns out the vote was 3-2 on a largely symbolic action, since the city has no say in the matter. However, it appears that the almighty dollar has overtaken principle:
Supervisor Brooks Firestone, who co-wrote the request for a letter, wanted assurances from oil industry representatives that, because of modern advancements in drilling, such a spill would not occur again. Firestone’s family leases land to an inland oil drilling company that has struggled with spills, and last year he voted with the board majority in support of a federal moratorium on drilling.
“I don’t believe a spill of that magnitude could occur,” answered John Deacon, who has worked for various oil companies and now represents Tracer Environmental Sciences and Technologies.
This is one time where the term “flip-flopper” intended in the most derogatory fashion is applicable.