Readers React: Something smells about Gov. Brown’s inaction on the Porter Ranch gas leak

To the editor: I recently watched a news broadcast in which the governor of Missouri issued a disaster declaration for a flooded area. He was there, looking out for and taking care of the citizens of his state. (“SoCal Gas pinpoints the site of a leaking well near Porter Ranch,” Dec. 27)

This made me wonder: Where has Gov. Jerry Brown been during the disastrous methane gas leak near Porter Ranch? Why have we have not seen him here? Is it because his sister sits on the board of Southern California Gas Co.’s corporate parent?

We need Brown’s help. Make Southern California Gas Co. accountable. Bring in the best engineers to solve this problem.

There was a fire in Ventura County over the weekend; if that had occurred in Porter Ranch (and we have had our share of brush fires), the combination of a methane leak and fire could have been catastrophic.

Cari Llewellyn, Porter Ranch

..

To the editor: White lives matter more.

This seems to be the case since the response time to the “Stench at the Ranch” was a few months, while it took decades for residents who live near the closed Exide Technologies battery recycling plant in Vernon to get relief. That’s what happens when you have inexpensive homes near an industrial fiefdom going against the largely gated Anglo enclave of million-dollar homes.

For the Exide group, the settlement includes visits from the Lead Maidens Cleaning Service and a bag of dirt paid for by a bankrupt entity; Porter Ranch residents get relocation services and possibly even additional compensation.

Exide’s offspring will bear witness via lower IQs; meanwhile, the Ranch owners may harvest six- or even seven-figure windfalls.

David Eckhous, Long Beach

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook