County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke did it again.
Just as with the closing of King Drew Hospital, we the people got played.
How so?
First she allowed the hospital to deteriorate.
Then, after hearing the people’s testimonies and protests, as you may recall,
Supervisor Burke, instead of finding competent administrators, shut down a hospital desperately needed in that community.
Is that democracy??
Last Tuesday, she set us up again. We filled a good portion of the hearing to regulate drilling in the Inglewood oilfields. We asked for regulations that truly protect the public, rather than just look good on paper.
Ms. Burke, from months ago, said she was going to get this paper tiger through and then we could change it.
What she did not say is that the regulations are set up so that only the County and the oil drilling company, PXP, can change the regulations, which will be voted in at tomorrow’s hearing.
Those of you who showed up last Tuesday, your presence won all of us a week to stop this mockery of democracy, and to create win-win regulations that will allow drilling and protect the public.
Here is what you can do.
Get as many people to come to the ultimate hearing, 9:30 a.m., tomorrow, at 500 W. Temple St., downtown Los Angeles. For more info on the hearing go to www.culvercrest.org or the County website.
Second, please vote for state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor. He has tirelessly worked on the public’s behalf to ensure transparency and oversight throughout this process. He has been actively involved, from requesting the Countyto give the time necessary for Culver City and the public to help craft a meaningful set of regulations, to serving as our watchdog with the state agencies who regulate the drilling.
As Supervisor, Mark Ridley-Thomas will continue to act on behalf of the public.
Given that his opponent on Nov. 4, Bernard Parks, has taken the maximum contribution allowable from PXP, given that Parks is strongly supported by Yvonne Burke, given that Parks keeps posturing on behalf of the people and then says we have to get these flawed regulations in to meet a meaningless deadline, I fear not only the mockery, but the decline of democracy in Los Angeles County under such a tenure.
I urge you to vote your conscience for your personal and the greater good.
