With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
A Year After Voting To Ban Oil Drilling, L.A. Is A Step Closer To Actually Doing It
A drilling rig in Wilmington.
(
Ashley Hernández
/
LAist
)
Topline:
The L.A. city council unanimously approved an ordinance legally defining oil drilling in L.A. as a “non-conforming land use." When the ordinance goes into effect, it will immediately ban any new oil drilling and start the clock on a 20-year phase out of existing drilling within city limits — though that timeline could shift depending on the results of feasibility studies.
Why it matters: The policy helps amend decades of land use laws that concentrated polluting industry in low-income, predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods. For decades, communities living near oil drilling in L.A. have sounded the alarm about the pollution and health impacts. In recent years, research has helped support and quantify their concerns.
In context: When it comes to planetary health, the burning of fossil fuels such as oil is the biggest cause of global heating. So phasing out oil production in the nation's most highly concentrated urban oilfield (aka L.A.) is a big deal.
Support for LAist comes from
The backstory: As a result of grassroots organizing from the east Valley to South L.A. to the Harbor cities, last January the city council voted to ban new oil drilling and phase out the rest. In September, the city released a draft ordinance for how to do that. The council passed the final version Friday.
What's next: The ordinance will go into effect after being approved by the mayor. The city's Board of Public Works also approved launching an economic analysis to guide the way towards phasing out drilling in the city in the next 20 years—or sooner, as many frontline community members hope.
Go deeper:
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Immigration raids have caused some U.S. citizens to carry their passports to the store, to school or to work. But what documents to have on you depends on your citizenship. -
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high.
Best of LAist