“Don’t Let Them Deceive You” is an initiative worthy of following so that more community groups and media outlets join in this effort for the health and well-being of our people. They deserve our support.
The major oil companies in California, which finance false awareness campaigns, are not interested in revealing the true impact of their mineral extraction activities in inhabited areas in the state in general, and in Los Angeles in particular. The truth is that the health of hundreds of thousands of residents, especially those with low incomes, Latinos, and African Americans, is harmed while these operators enrich themselves.
In previous editorials, informative and opinion pieces, we have clarified that these corporations bear a historical responsibility – as well as an opportunity to remedy their behavior. For example, they should bear the cost of closing extinguished wells, which currently falls on governments, in other words, taxpayers’ money. They should invest in the health of the thousands affected and the living conditions surrounding those wells.
Our community deserves protection from steep gasoline price increases, which have a greater impact on low-income individuals. Similarly, manufacturers, distributors, and governments must incentivize the transition to accessible electric vehicles because current prices still put them out of reach for most of the community.
To collaborate with this effort, a coalition of community and environmental organizations from different parts of the state has emerged around “La Mesa” and on Thursday, the 25th launched an awareness and advocacy campaign pursuing these same objectives.
“Don’t Let Them Deceive You” is an initiative worth following so that more community groups and media outlets join in this effort for the health and well-being of our people. They deserve our support.
