The proponents of Measure P cleverly crafted this “no fracking” initiative to include a ban on common oil field practices, in an apparent effort to shut down oil production in Santa Barbara County. Fracking is a nonissue in the Santa Barbara area — no companies are using this technique as it has been tried in the past and hasn’t worked. But Measure P goes well beyond fracking to include a ban on many common practices that have been used safely for decades, deceptively defining these as “high-intensity operations.” Passage of Measure P will likely lead to the eventual shutdown of much, if not all, of the oil production in northern Santa Barbara county, which will be devastating for thousands of oil field workers and their families and will result in millions of dollars in lost revenue for the county. This is not about Big Oil; these are hard-working families trying to make an honest living. Take responsibility for all the luxuries you enjoy courtesy of oil and gas production — vote no on Measure P.
