Drill Baby Drill

"Drill Baby Drill. This has been a Republican mantra this year to help push for local development of oil reserves in the United States, and to increase the economy and employment. Unfortuntately, the Republican party has done a terrible job in framing how drilling locally is better for the environment. The Republicans should at least acqknowledge that people are concerned about the environment and that sacrificing our environment for the sake of money is not a good trade. And they should acknowledge that a good percentage of people believe that drilling to increase jobs is not a good trade either. Employeed people can afford to be picky about the type of new jobs being created. And most people have new jobs. This said, someone needs to make the case that drilling locally is actually better for the environment. If you believe in Global Warming, you believe that we are all connected. That carbon and toxins dumped in Iran affect our air and our water, and in effect harm our planet. Carbon emissions are a great example. CO2 (carbon monoxide) emmissions go into the air which affect everyone. Yes, there is a local footprint, but it is the impact to our ozone layer and upper atmosphere that matters. Now.... Wouldn't it be better to drill locally for oil? This way the oil can be drilled using tough American environmental standards instead of lesser standards across the Atlantic or Pacific. This way the environmental impact of shipping the oil overseas and transporting it from so far away would be eliminated. Many of these ships use cheap fuels which significantly pollute the environment with toxins (sulfer). In a perfect world, in a better world, Americans would move away from their need for oil and oil based products. But in the mean time, drilling locally would help the whole world's environment. It would be nice if the Republican party could simply state that "Drill Baby Drill" is not only an initiative to stimulate the economy and jobs, but to improve the environment. Drilling locally decreases the total environmental impact oil production has on the world. And though America should strive to decrease its dependence on oil, drilling locally is a good short term stop gap measure. Just a guy from Pedro.

Shrinking San Pedro

http://mysanpedro.blogspot.com is a great location for San Pedro history. Over the last year this Guy has been talking about the shrinking of San Pedro and the need for San Pedro to break free from the shackles of Los Angeles. This picture describes the shrinking of San Pedro better than words. Could you imagine the original Rancho San Pedro boundaries as its own city? No one could say it would be too small. No one could say that it would not be financially viable. No one could say that we could not find good leaders within our borders. The reality is that the return of Ranch San Pedro is unlikely, but one small step is to ensure that San Pedro does not get smaller and that we contine to stay Pedro proud.

City of San Pedro - 100 Largest City in CA

As Los Angeles continues to drive itself into debt, considers raising taxes and fees, and who's city planning department ignores local input, it is time to think about making San Pedro its own city. For a town with so much pride it is amazing how many think we couldn't be our own city. Here are some metrics: Los Angeles is the largest city in California - 3,800,000 The second largest is San Diego at 1,300,000 With a city population of 80,000 San Pedro would be the 95th largest city in CA. San Pedro is larger than Merced, Hemet, Chino, Menifee, Lake Forest, and Napa (77,000). Rolling Hills has 2000 people. Avalon in Catalina has 3100 people. Indian Wells has 5100 people. Solvang has 5200 people. Big Bear Lake has 6100 people. Rolling Hills Estates has 7800 people. We have three neighborhood councils and have a number of people like the Hahn's who have risen from our city. We have the leaders. We have enough people. We just need the will.