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.
Porter Ranch gas leak: Los Angeles city attorney wants to force faster relocation efforts
Kyoto Hibino, a Porter Ranch resident and co-founder of Save Porter Ranch, takes part in a press conference on a gas leak in Porter Ranch during a regular Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015. Hibino says she has headaches and nosebleeds.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
LA City Attorney Mike Feuer's office announced it is seeking a temporary restraining order against Southern California Gas Co over the gas leak in Aliso Canyon.
(
Brian Watt/KPCC
)
Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer is applying legal pressure to speed the relocation of Porter Ranch families affected by the ongoing Aliso Canyon gas leak.
On Tuesday, his office announced it is seeking a temporary restraining order against Southern California Gas Co. to hasten the company's relocation efforts.
"It's time Porter Ranch residents had direct and complete answers about all facets of this leak, including what caused it, how to stop it, and what will be done to assure it never happens again," said Feuer's chief deputy, James P. Clark, in a prepared statement. "They should also receive better, quicker, and completely adequate relocation assistance."
Feuer's office wants the restraining order to require the company to pay for retired judges to oversee relocation efforts, make housing available within 48 hours of being requested, accommodate those with disabilities and provide boarding for pets.
Support for LAist comes from
Feuer's office also said it wants to depose key SoCal Gas employees.
Depositions would cover the causes of the leak, any efforts to stop it, estimated dates it could be stopped, the chemical composition of the gas leaking from the Aliso Canyon well and the adequacy of the relocation sites, among other things.
L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich on Tuesday requested that the Local Agency Formation Commission suspend a proposal to annex county territory into L.A. city pending resolution of the gas leak. The proposed Hidden Creeks development in county territory would put some 188 homes near the Aliso Canyon gas storage field.
A hearing for the city attorney's application will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. Depositions will likely happen in early January.
This story has been updated.
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
-
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
Best of LAist