Future Costs of Rejecting Torrance Oil Drilling Plan

There has been yet another manifestation of the NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) factor, this time in Torrance, where a minority of residents have imposed their statist ideas on the rest of the community (“Torrance Rejects Plan to Drill for Oil Near Homes,” Times, Dec. 1).

Have those who oppose drilling at all costs considered that this project would create good jobs at good wages? Would the opponents who are concerned about under-funded schools be willing to take up a collection among themselves to replace the $1 million a year in taxes that they have now rejected? How about compensation for those who signed royalty agreements with Kelt Oil? Have they factored into their opposition the fact that every oil project denied makes all Americans more dependent on foreign sources of energy? How many members of the Southeast Torrance Homeowners Assn. are even aware that there are established drill sites on popular Venice Beach, abutting the successful Beverly Center shopping mall and in the middle of a residential area near Olympic Boulevard and La Brea Avenue?

However, it appears that the City Council’s decision could not have been based on facts and concrete evidence. The council has simply bowed to pressure from a selfish few whose shouts of “No, no, no” will echo in the ears of tomorrow’s adults as “fewer opportunities, less wealth, less freedom.”

LAURA SKOKANDIC

San Pedro