State senator’s vote on safety zones from oil drilling was wrong and poorly explained

The Fresno Sunrise Movement, the Central California Environmental Justice Network (CCEJN) and 99Rootz recognize every person’s right to a safe, healthy, and livable environment, and as a result supported AB 345 in the 2020 legislative session. This bill would hold the Newsom administration and state agencies legally accountable to creating common sense health and safety buffer zones between oil and gas sites and homes, schools, and health-care facilities. As of now, Gov. Newsom’s administration’s only commitment to creating setbacks lies in a simple but non-binding press release.

As constituents, we were disappointed to see Sen. Anna Caballero joining Republican’s “No” vote, and were especially surprised to see her misinforming op-ed in The Fresno Bee, given her virtual silence in the days leading up the decision.

With this vote, Caballero further solidifies herself among the ranks of other San Joaquin Valley Democrats like Rudy Salas, Melissa Hurtado, and Henry T. Perea with long histories of catering to the fossil fuel industry under the banner of economic growth for the region. While reciting several industry talking points as to why she voted “No’, it is especially disheartening that our senator ignores that the fossil fuel industry has converted our communities into sacrifice zones for the state economy.

While our state is on fire and burning in every corner, most of the oil drilling occurs in low-income communities of color that are potentially explosive. In addition they risk daily exposure to gas leaks and flaring, which directly threatens the health of pregnant women and babies.

At least since the 1970s, the fossil fuel industry has lied about the negative impact of greenhouse gases to the United States government while wreaking havoc on the San Joaquin Valley’s environment and people. We have already proven that climate change is driving utility bills higher each summer and is the most significant long-term public health threat to low-income communities. Various sources ranging from databases like CalEnviroScreen 3.0 to peer-reviewed academic studies like California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment also confirm that the San Joaquin Valley will be significantly at risk.

On Aug. 20th journalist Dan Bacher published an article that revealed Caballero has received over $15,000 in campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry and nearly $88,000 from labor unions expressing opposition to AB 345. One quick glance at the Senate Natural Resources Committee analysis of AB 345 further reveals Caballero’s argument is based on industry talking points from groups with long histories of supporting Republicans and the fossil fuel industry. For example, the analysis reads, “the Western States Petroleum Association writes in opposition that ‘AB 345 will result in a significant loss of jobs’” and that the California Chamber of Commerce identifies this bill as one of its “job killer’ bills” while entirely ignoring the actual people that climate kills and impacts.

Ultimately, Caballero says we failed to look at the complete picture and suggests we are blind to poverty in the region. Actually, nothing can be further from the truth. Caballero tried to justify her vote by a rhetorical argument of urban vs rural communities, but here’s the bottom-line: Central Valley low-income neighborhoods and communities of color are worthy of health, safety, and justice, regardless if they are rural or urban.

Fresno Sunrise, CCEJN and 99Rootz represent a working class and environmental justice movement of San Joaquin Valley youth, farm workers, and low-income families who advocate for the Green New Deal and for a Just Transition — the only holistic framework in 21st century policy that does not force Californians to choose between unemployment or a job that decimates the environment for short-term profit.

After seeing our loved ones toil their lives away, we will no longer settle for just any jobs. We’ve seen the same industries that Caballero champions regularly prioritize multinational agencies over the farm workers who have been forced to work in the most toxic air pollution in the world. During this pandemic, our families have only been supported with a few masks and sporadic food distributions while these same multinational corporations demand more tax breaks and policy loopholes that exacerbate our existing problems.

This lack of leadership on climate is unacceptable and we demand accountability from our senator. We demand leadership for an economy founded on dignity and a fundamental respect for life. If Sen. Caballero is truly not “bought off” and if she genuinely supports a strong economy and environmental protections, she can publicly commit to two things:

▪ Immediately issue a public statement announcing her distancing from the fossil fuel industry and to immediately returning the aforementioned campaign contributions;

▪ Commit to a just transition away from fossil fuels in the state Legislature to secure training and a jobs guarantee to allow Californians employed by the fossil fuel and other industries to benefit from a modern, sustainable economy.

If these common-sense requests cannot be met, Sen. Caballero has failed us all.

When you’re having an asthma attack or when you are displaced by wildfires, the last thing on your mind is the cost of gasoline or the status of the stock market.