Letters to the Editor 8-17-18

Yes on Measure G


As a concerned citizen of San Luis Obispo County and specifically the City of Atascadero, I earnestly ask our elected officials to support Measure G which will be on the November ballot. Voters will determine whether or not to allow more oil drilling including fracking in our County.

Essentially, fracking is a very dirty business using millions of gallons of our precious and dwindling water reserves and toxic, carcinogenic chemicals. The processing and transport of the oil pollutes water, soil and air and would be dangerous to the neighborhoods and businesses along the whole route.

The measure does not impact existing oil wells  but would ban the use of fracking at those wells. The aim of Measure G is to stop new oil exploration, fracking and drilling in our county.

Relying on and using fossil fuels goes against the Paris Climate Conference which virtually every country on Earth has signed onto and has begun reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

Believe the science and observe the facts: desertification of vast areas, melting of polar ice, extinction of many species, record breaking heat across the world, rising sea levels, etc.

If Measure G fails to pass the only winners will be the oil companies.  The losers will be our health, economies based on tourism, and the moral obligation to halt escalating climate change while we still can.


Marty Brown


Open Letter to the Paso ROBLES City Council


At the Paso Robles City Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, public comment was presented regarding Measure G (the California anti-fracking initiative).  I ask that you reconsider your decision to not pursue this issue further.

Proponents of Measure G asserted that fracking, if allowed in our community, could endanger our most valued resource, our water supply.  They stated that in the fracking process available water is infused with chemicals that are injected into our earth to extract oil, and that these chemicals have the potential to pollute the ground water that is used to sustain our agriculture industry and is consumed by our residents. 

An opponent of the initiative stated that fracking poses no danger to the environment, and that it should be considered based on potential economic benefits.

The voter will ultimately decide this issue, however, Paso Robles residents look to our City Council for leadership in protecting the community.  I request that you order a comprehensive study of the potential impact of fracking in our town, and that you make this information available to voters.

As you know, a significant measure of our water flows to us through aquifers beneath counties in the Central Valley.  The federal government has proposed that several of these counties be opened to oil companies for drilling and fracking on public land:

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking comments on the potential harm created if 400,000 acres of public land and an additional 1.2 million acres of federal mineral estates in the Bakersfield Field Office Planning area; which includes Kern, Fresno, Kings, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura counties; are approved for fracking and oil drilling.

A public comment period just opened: To comment on the issue, email [email protected] or mail letters to Bakersfield Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Bakersfield RMP Hydraulic Fracturing Analysis, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308.

John Lamb

Paso Robles


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