First in a series
[img]1307|right|Meghan Sahli-Wells||no_popup[/img]Vice Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells, probably the most ardent opponent of fracking on the City Council, said this morning she was puzzled when day-after stories claimed that at Monday night’s meeting, progress toward a drilling ban registered as virtually immeasurable.
“We came out of there with five pretty clear objectives, which the city attorney (Carol Schwab) is working on,” the vice mayor said.
“No. 1, we directed her to draft a moratorium in fracking, acidization and gravel-packing. No. 2, we asked her to continue to monitor the moratoriums in other cities, such as Los Angeles and Carson. No. 3, we are going to be checking in regularly with the subcommittee (Ms. Sahli-Wells and Councilman Andy Weissman).
“No. 4, we will revise the ordinance as needed in response to what we find out from other cities. Also, some organizations said they would help us look at the language. They will compare it to language that other cities, counties and states have used. We want to make the strongest case possible.
“No. 5,” said Ms. Sahli-Wells, “it will come back to the City Council for approval.”
How soon?
“I said to the city attorney, it will take the amount of time it will take,” said the vice mayor.
Will the Council be able to impose a moratorium on fracking before the end of the calendar year?
“More than likely,” she said.
[img]1592|right|Jeff Cooper||no_popup[/img]Mayor Jeff Cooper, who has been promoting a moratorium more enthusiastically than almost any other project as his first term on the Council nears its end, was at least as upbeat as Ms. Sahli-Wells this morning.
“Speaking for myself,” said Mr. Cooper, “I am excited we are on the right track:
“To build a coalition with other cities, and to craft our own ordinance, which we can compare and combine to make the strongest protection for our city.
“The safety and health of our residents is first and foremost in my mind,” the mayor said. “I have already put in calls to Councilmember Mike Bonin to find out where the City Of Los Angeles's ordinance is at in the process. I told him we want to work together on this very important issue.”
