One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The Ballad Of Drilling For Oil In Whittier
Photo by Sundogg via LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
Come and listen to a story about a man named Hen(derson),
A councilman and chairman of some Nature Preserve land.
Then when the budget wasn't looking very good,
He remembered under Whittier was a bubblin crude.
Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.
Neighborhood groups put their hands up in the air,
Environmentalists said that Hen can't drill in there.
The city owns the land 100% yippie,
Unlike some other towns like the one in Beverly.
Hills, that is. Mineral rights, extraction tax.
Well opposition's saying that the profits aren't for them,
The land was bought by Prop A and the county all chipped in.
Plus misappropriating land-use for the sake of industry,
Is good for budget woes but bad for homes and coyotes.
Y'all come back now, y'hear?
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
