Articles

The Tale Of Two Cities

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Tue, 12/29/2015 - 16:38

Over near Porter Ranch, SoCal Gas’s catastrophic natural gas leak continually belches a noxious black cloud.  Besides emitting enough planet warming methane to fill the Empire State Building every day, it’s giving residents headaches, dizziness, nausea, and nosebleeds. They’re breathing methyl mercaptan that, at very high levels, can cause anemia and internal bleeding; benzene, a known carcinogen; and radon, a radioactive gas. 

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Oil Prediction: Another Year of Gouging Or a Year of Courage?

Submitted by Cody Rosenfield on Tue, 12/29/2015 - 15:03
For California, 2015 was the year of the price spike. Could 2016 be the year of courage? 
 
A year ago, Consumer Watchdog warned that the oil industry would use 2015 to raise gas prices for huge profits and to push its political agenda. Predictably, the industry obscenely raised prices, making 2015  a record year for California gas prices compared to the national average. In Los Angeles, consumers are still paying over a dollar more than the rest of the nation.

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California's Next Lead Pollution Scandal

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Mon, 12/28/2015 - 08:49
One would think the Exide lead pollution scandal would have taught our top toxics regulator what never to do again. Instead, the agency is poised to repeat the same mistakes; this time with Exide’s rival lead battery recycler, Quemetco. 
 

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California Laws You Should Know That Start Jan. 1, 2016

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Sat, 12/26/2015 - 14:06
In 2015, Californians wanted bold, progressive action on gas prices, toxics regulation and ratepayer protection against back room dealings with regulated utilities. But instead, the public too often saw meaningful reform watered down or dumped.

Proposals such as reducing the state's petroleum use by 50% by 2030, protecting groundwater from fracking waste, demanding transparency from oil companies manipulating the price and supply of oil, and shutting down polluting facilities operating for decades without permits failed to be approved.

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Capitol Watchdog: Upcoming Meetings to Watch

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Fri, 12/25/2015 - 10:33

The best time to have a hearing on another health insurance merger in California is when few in the media are around to prepare for it. So, obviously, California plans another health insurance merger hearing on the Monday after New Year's. Let's hope it is more informative than the last one, though we have our doubts. But the holiday season is also, in political terms, the calm before the legislative storm. The Legislature begins its next session on Jan. 4. 

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