Wilmington Community Gathers to Expose Illegal Oil Drilling 6/1/2022

Warren Resources is surrounded by homes in Wilmington, CA
and sits adjacent to a local baseball park

(Full post) Joined by Congresswoman Nanette Barragán , residents and allies, CBE & Stand Together Against Neighborhood Drilling (STAND LA) held a press conference today exposing extensive illegal drilling by Warren Resources.

Alison H., CBE Attorney kicks off the press conference to bring the various permit drilling applications at Warren Resources to light

CBE Attorney Alison H. kicked off the press event by outlining Warren’s numerous violations since 2018, including failure to conduct environmental reviews as required by local laws and submitting permit applications to the state with potentially fraudulent information.

Congresswoman Nanette Barragan speaks at the press conference on June 2, 2022

With remarks underscoring needing to hold Warren accountable for illegal drilling as a matter of justice, Congresswoman Barragan said: “If it’s a fight they want, they’ve got one. We won’t stand silent & let them prioritize profits over the health, safety & quality of life of our community.”

During the event, Wilmington residents Nizgui G. & Dulce A. spoke about the health impacts their communities have suffered from for years due to oil drilling, clearly stating that Warren’s activities disregard public health & put profits over people.

Dulce, Wilmington resident urges the city of LA to put an end to these dangerous drilling operations that are hurting her family

“We have sued & won protections, there are laws in place that are supposedly there to prevent this from happening. We did it the right way, the correct way, the legal way, & STILL we don’t have the justice we deserve because simply put, NO OIL DRILLING IS SAFE!” Nizgui, CBE YEJ

Nizgui, Wilmington resident passionately urges the city and state to act in favor of community health by shutting Warren down

Holman United’s Rev. Louis A. Chase urged the city to shut down Warren’s Banning facility and expedite the drafting & adoption of the ordinance that will phase out oil drilling based on the motion the L.A. City Council passed in January 2022. Rev. Chase highlighted the role frontline communities have played in the fight against oil drilling, saying: “It is because of residents & advocates like all of us standing here today, that the L.A. City Council took the historic 1st step toward phasing out oil drilling in January.”

Reverend Louis Chase, member of STAND LA and pastor at Holman United Methodist Church urges the city of LA to pass a phase out ordinance as soon as possible

THE BOTTOM LINE IS: Warren has been sidestepping local review and fabricating information in their permit applications to #CalGEM. In fact, some of Warren’s fabricated applications are still pending before CalGEM today. This discovery is especially disappointing because the whole point of creating CalGEM was to shift oversight focus to holding fossil fuel companies accountable and to safeguard public health and the environment.

ON MARCH 10 CBE members and staff decided to stand up and fight back against Warren’s illegal operations. We submitted a letter to LA City outlining how Warren is gaming the system, and called on the City to shut down these illegal operations.

IN MID-MARCH LA City found Warren in violation of the LA Municipal Code and issued an Order to Comply. However, Warren appealed this Order to only further delay accountability. And in the meantime, Warren is operating under those same CalGEM permits, and illegally polluting our community every day.

WE KNOW ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS POSSIBLE. We’re calling on LA City and CalGEM to start the process of suspending these illegal operations and ordering a shut-down. No one should be forced to live on the frontlines of toxic oil drilling operations. And to learn that Warren has been illegally expanding operations twists the knife.

WHILE WARREN CONTINUES TO DODGE ACCOUNTABILITY, OUR FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES HAVE A VISION FOR A CLEANER AND HEALTHIER FUTURE.

Thanks to STAND-LA, CBE, Congresswoman Barragan, and most importantly, all the frontline communities for continuing to fight for No Drilling Where Were Living and pushing the city to take actions that will protect the health of all Angelenos.


Los Angeles: Tenant Legal Workshops, Wednesdays at 6pm: 9/14, 9/21, and 9/28

(Full Event Details) 💻🌞 Join our Legal Workshops this summer! Are you having problems with your landlord? Are you being harassed? Do you want to know what your protections are? 🏡📝
Our workshops are on Wednesdays at 6pm: 9/14, 9/21, and 9/28
Zoom: Bit.ly/workshopcbe OR Call in ☎️: +1 669 900 6833 Meeting ID: 83177921465

💻🌞 ¡Únase a nuestros talleres legales este verano! ¿Tiene problemas con su arrendador? ¿Estás siendo acosado? ¿Quieres saber cuáles son tus protecciones?🏡📝
Nuestros talleres son los miércoles a las 6pm: 9/14, 9/21, and 9/28
Zoom: Bit.ly/workshopcbe 
O Llama ☎️: +1 669 900 6833 Meeting ID: 83177921465


California: #OurClimateOurFuture Virtual Rally, May 12th at 6pm

(Full Event Details) From the neighborhood oil fields in Wilmington to the backyard refineries in Richmond, we breathe the consequences of California’s climate policies. We love our communities. But oil refineries and fossil fuel extraction are wreaking havoc on our health and fueling the flames of climate change. While #CA subsidizes Teslas and solar for the wealthy, diesel trucks drive right by our homes and schools, and it’s getting harder for people to commute to work, get to school, and meet friends and family.
This year, California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) is developing its 2022 Scoping Plan, a blueprint for California’s climate policy for the next 20 years. We need you to join us in calling on CARB to take bold action to protect our air, our homes, our health, and #OurClimateFuture.
Join us and frontline communities across California on May 12 for a virtual rally to kick off the campaign: https://actionnetwork.org/events/ourclimatefuture-virtual-rally/

Can’t make it on May 12? We still need your support. Take action NOW by writing a letter to CARB calling on them to help us build a #FutureBeyondOil in California: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/write-a-letter-california-needs-clean-air-and-a-future-beyond-oil

Desde los campos petroleos de Wilmington, CA hasta las refinerías del patio trasero de Richmond, respiramos las consecuencias de las políticas climáticas de California.

Amamos nuestras comunidades. Pero las refinerías de petróleo y la extracción de combustibles fósiles están causando estragos en nuestra salud y alimentando las llamas del cambio climático. Mientras California subsidia los Tesla y la energía solar para los ricos, los camiones diésel pasan por delante de nuestras casas y escuelas, y a la gente le resulta más difícil viajar al trabajo, ir a la escuela y reunirse con amigos y familiares. 

Este año, la Junta de Recursos Atmosféricos de California (CARB) está elaborando su Plan de Alcance 2022, un plan para la política climática de California para los próximos 20 años. Necesitamos que te unas a nosotros para pedir a la CARB que tome medidas audaces para proteger nuestro aire, nuestros hogares, nuestra salud y #NuestroFuturoClimático.Únete a nosotros y a las comunidades de primera línea de toda California el 12 de mayo en una concentración virtual para iniciar la campaña: https://actionnetwork.org/events/concentracion-virtual-nuestrofuturoclimatico/

June 7th California Primary Midterm Elections

(Full Post) The June 7th California primary midterm election is coming up real soon. Are you ready to vote? Check your voter status online: registertovote.ca.gov After you’ve checked your status and you’re ready to vote, head over to ballottrax and sign up to track your ballot! Make sure to register before May 23rd!

Las elecciones primarias de mitad de período de California son el 7 de junio y se están acercando pronto. ¿Está preparado para votar? Verifique su estado de votante en línea: registertovote.ca.gov ¡Después de que usted haya comprobado su estado y esté listo para votar, diríjase a balottrax y firme para rastrear su boleta! Asegúrese de registrarse antes del 23 de mayo.


What’s your vote plan for the California primary midterm election? Use our 4-point checklist to ensure that your ballot is cast and counted:
✅Check your registration status! Make sure you are registered by visiting voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. If you are not registered, register at registertovote.ca.gov.
✅Make a vote plan! Make sure you and your family have a plan to vote early to ensure your vote is counted.
✅Learn what’s on your ballot! Read your voter guide to learn more about the candidates and what they stand for.
✅Track your ballot! After you vote, make sure it gets to the elections office on or before June 7th! Visit california.ballottrax.net/voter/

A partir del 9 de mayo, todos los votantes registrados en California recibirán una boleta de voto por correo. ¿Cómo está devolviendo su boleta? ¡Asegúrese de firmar y sellar su boleta y luego puede devolverla de cuatro maneras!: 

1. Por correo (no se necesita sello!) 

2. En un lugar de votación. 

3. En una urna oficial. 

4. En la oficina de Elecciones del Condado.

South East Los Angeles: Academia de Lideres Comunitarios- Ultimo dia para regitrarse es el 13 de abril del 2022

(Full Event Details) ¿Desea aprender mas herramientas de liderazgo? Unase al movimiento de la justicia ambiental! Aprenda que es, porque es importante, y vea las luchas para un medio ambiente mejor en su comunidad del sureste de los angeles.

La Academia de Lideres Comunitarios empieza pronto! Para registrarse, siga el enlace bit.ly/CBELIDERES22

Dias de la academia (5-7pm):
•abril 22 y 29
•mayo 6, 13, 20, y 27

Los Angeles: New Member Orientation, March 26th, 11am-12pm

Join us at our upcoming new member orientation on March 26th @11am! – We will be covering various toxic sites and discussing the resistance happening near you. We will also cover how you can join us as a CBE member and beyond. Hope to see you there! http://bit.ly/CBEorientation22

¡Únase a nosotros en nuestra próxima orientación para nuevos miembros el 26 de marzo a las 11 am! Cubriremos varios sitios tóxicos y discutiremos la resistencia que está ocurriendo cerca de usted. También cubriremos cómo puede unirse a nosotros como miembro de CBE y más allá.

The New Yorker, “The End of Oil-Drilling in L.A.” March 3rd, 2022

“In September, after years of grassroots lobbying, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to ban new drilling and phase out existing wells in the unincorpoated parts of Los Angeles County.” Read the full piece here.

Featuring: Bahram Fazeli, Director of Research and Policy, Ashley Hernandez, Wilmington Youth Organizer and resident, and Wendy Miranda, Wilmington resident and previous CBE Intern.

Oakland North, “East Oakland Foundry Pollution Spurs Two Lawsuits to Protect Community” February 25, 2022

“The state of California and an Oakland-based environmental group are suing the pipe casting facility AB&I Foundry for reportedly emitting excessive levels of a carcinogenic chemical into East Oakland’s air.” Read the full piece here.

Featuring: Dan Sakaguchi, CBE Staff Researcher, and Esther Goolsby, CBE Community Organizer

NEW BLOG: Black History Month


(Read full blog) Communities for a Better Environment honors and celebrates the countless achievements, contributions and sacrifices that Black Americans have made throughout U.S. hxstory, as well as the lived and shared experiences of Black Americans and African Americans that have shaped the world, our society, and culture as we know it.