In the midst of the Los Angeles inner-city village, big oil companies invade the land, tapping natural resources, while jeopardizing the lives of the people in this process. Unbeknownst to most residents of the historic West Adams community, potentially life- threatening oil drilling (or fracking) is underway and nestled within the family-oriented block of 2126 Adams Boulevard. In an emergency town-hall meeting, at Holman United Methodist Church, Pastor Kelvin Sauls urged community and public officials to seek a stoppage to the drilling until health, safety, and quality of life protections are secured.
“It is about looking for ways to suspend urban oil drilling for the wellness of our children, our families, and our communities,” said Pastor Sauls.
More than 300 people attended the meeting that represented a broad ethnic range of residents and concerned activists. Some concerned residents stood together, some clutching their children, as they listened to the testimony of residents affected by the drilling.
Residents complained that the perpetual drilling has polluted the air and noxious fumes and noise interrupt their sleep.
Donna Anne Hoard, a resident on the 3100 block of West Adams, views the oil tower seven blocks from her backyard. According to Hoard, after smelling what she believed to be fumes, she contacted 1-800 CUT-SMOG, who tested the air within a four-hour period.
“The investigator informed me there was 20,000 parts per million natural gas, unodorized, flowing from a leak in the well, and when I asked what that meant, he said his readings are forty times over the allowable limit of 500,” she said. According to Hoard, the investigator communicated that such high levels create concern for (low-end) explosion. Hoard, whose concern included a number of health and wellness organizations located near the well, visited the local fire and police departments who had no knowledge of the specifics of the oil well.
“My granddaughter was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer that affected her entire body,” said West Adams Neighborhood resident, Donald Martin. According to Martin, his apartment lies just across the parking lot that separates his nine-year-old granddaughter, family and neighbors from the well. “When those fumes seep into your residence, you are vulnerable to poisonous chemicals,” he said.
Elected officials, including Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson, State Senator Holly Mitchell, and Congresswoman Karen Bass, attended the meeting, lending their support to the community’s concern. “The drilling has been stopped,” said Wesson to the cheering crowd. Wesson assured the audience that the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety would investigate the site, “every day, twice a day,” to ensure there was no drilling on the premises. Wesson suggested that additional committees and groups be formed to inform and gather support.
State Senator Holly Mitchell shared her enthusiasm for the multiple levels of government present in the meeting but challenged the audience to continue to support the cause. “You must continue to come and be an active participant in these efforts; there’s nothing like when you show up,” said Mitchell.
“The idea that we want to increase domestic oil drilling is good on one hand, but we don’t want to increase domestic oil drilling and compromise the health and safety of communities at the same time,” added Congresswoman Karen Bass.
“It’s going to cost us $55 billion to treat all the asthma, the cardiovascular and other diseases that will come from the exposure to fracking and frag chemicals,” says Dr. Khin Khin Gyi, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. According to Gyi, the Los Angeles Times published an article suggesting an estimated $20 billion revenue from fracking. “$20 billion in jobs and economic prosperity; $55 billion in costs for our heath,” she said.
Community activist, Monic Uriarte’s 9-year-old daughter and other children in the University Park neighborhood of South Los Angeles began suffering from nosebleeds and respiratory ailments. Uriarte suggests that her family is only one of the hundreds and thousands of families surrounding the oil wells. “It’s time to say no more; we are more valuable than money for a few people,” she said.
From her fourth floor apartment unit just across the street from the well, Mari Quates is concerned that the oil company will be back and operating soon. “I am afraid the health, safety, and quality of life for myself, family, and neighborhood densely populated with children and seniors; the city has no contingency plan for emergency evacuation and we are living on a time bomb” she said.
A call was placed to Freeport – McMoRan Oil & Gas, and to the West Adams area Fire Department Unit 26 but a call was not returned before the story went to press.
To learn more about fracking in local communities, visit www.baldwinhillsoilwatch.org/
