SANTA PAULA : Gallegly Tries to Save Oil Museum
Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) has asked Unocal Corp. to keep open the Unocal Oil Museum in Santa Paula, saying the museum is an important part of Santa Paula’s economy.
Gallegly sent a letter to the company Thursday pleading with it to preserve the museum. The company traces its roots back 102 years to the Santa Paula area. “The museum is a critical part of Santa Paula’s economy, particularly the downtown area’s economy,” Gallegly wrote in his letter. “City officials say the museum is the community’s top tourist attraction, and losing it would be a severe blow.”
His letter followed reports that the international oil company is considering abandoning the museum it opened in the Santa Paula building that served as Unocal’s first headquarters. To celebrate the company’s centennial in 1990, Unocal spent $2.5 million to refurbish the building and renovate a small museum that it had first opened in 1950.
But with Unocal looking to trim $200 million in expenses by the end of the year, company officials approached Santa Paula officials to explore the possible sale, lease or gift of the museum to the city. Company officials said it costs about $100,000 a year to operate the museum.
Gallegly’s 23rd Congressional District does not include Santa Paula. However, the district’s boundary has been reapportioned to include the northern Ventura County city beginning Jan. 1.
Gallegly is running for reelection in November. His opponent is Anita Perez Ferguson, a Democrat from Oxnard.
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