Controversy Over Oil Drilling in the Pacific Palisades

The rich and affluent seem to have the time and money to influence the public sufficiently to stop projects that would benefit the largest amount of people. The best two examples:

--Occidental Oil’s attempt to drill in the Pacific Palisades for oil, a potential of millions of barrels that would help reduce the need for importing oil and spending billions for foreign oil, increasing our deficit.

--The defeat of any attempt to cut a thoroughfare through Beverly Hills and West Los Angeles area. Laurel Canyon and Coldwater Canyon are still a nightmare for most drivers.

Another instance of power of the affluent is the lack of low-income housing being built in areas other than minority and less-affluent areas.

The City Council has an obligation to support the Occidental effort to relieve the drain on the dollars going overseas for the benefit of a few selfish individuals that may have other remedies other than keeping millions of barrels underground. We drill in the Fairfax area, in Pacoima and West Los Angeles without the protections guaranteed to the Pacific Palisades area.

The entire city of Los Angeles will benefit as much as the nation. The majority must be given the benefit of the doubt, and that includes a lot of taxpayers that drive many worn-out and old gas-guzzling cars.

EDWARD L. KUSSMAN

Housing Chairman

San Fernando Valley NAACP

Pacoima