Measure P Preserves and Protects

Measure P bans specific, risky oil extraction techniques — fracking, acidizing, and steam injection — in Santa Barbara County used in new projects. I volunteered on this important initiative because I grew up in Lompoc where test wells may be drilled through the aquifer by Freeport McMoran, which has a terrible environmental record. I am raising my family in Carpinteria, a beautiful beach town that needs to be preserved and protected, not fracked and acidized.

Over 400 communities across the United States have already banned fracking because of the extreme risks, including Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and Santa Cruz. Vintners in France helped ban fracking in that entire country.

What I don’t look forward to is the oil industry–funded flood of TV ads, radio ads, mailers, and robocalls. Their false propaganda will say that fracking is regulated, that these techniques are completely safe, that they don’t really use water, that it’s not happening, that we’re wackos trying to ban all oil, that it will cost thousands of jobs, cause total economic ruin, destroy schools, and deprive the entire nation of energy.

As you can imagine, I beg to differ.

Outside oil companies are already pouring money into our county and will try every trick in the book to convince voters that Measure P is unnecessary.

Measure P is our only chance to safeguard this beautiful and bountiful place. If it fails, a new oil boom is coming, and it won’t be pretty.