Mayor Villaraigosa: 'Go home, Texas oil companies!'

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Tuesday rebuked Valero Energy Corp. and Tesoro Corp., which operate refineries in Wilmington, for bankrolling a measure that would effectively scuttle the state's efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

"Go home, Texas oil companies," Villaraigosa urged at a news conference aimed at encouraging voters to oppose Proposition 23, a November ballot initiative to suspend California's 2006 climate change law until the state's unemployment rate drops. "We won't compromise our environmental and health standards so you can make more money," he said.

The sharp tone was an early indication of the battle expected over the measure, which proponents say would save jobs and lower energy costs but that opponents say will choke California's pioneering effort to reduce planet-warming pollutants and attract alternative-energy jobs.

Flanked by community activists from Latino neighborhoods, Villaraigosa accused San Antonio-based Valero and Tesoro of "dirty tricks," adding that because of asthma from poor air quality, "more Californians will get sick if Prop. 23 passes."

The No on 23 campaign released a four-page report, "Toxic Twins: Soiling the Southland," detailing environmental violations and fines assessed against the two Wilmington refineries in recent years.

Valero spokesman Bill Day called the report "highly inaccurate," saying that the climate law, AB 32, "regulates only greenhouse gas emissions associated with global warming, not smog or other environmental or health-threatening pollutants." He added that "California has some of the world's strictest emissions standards, and our refineries meet or exceed those standards."

The news conference in downtown's Vista Hermosa Park, with a view of the smoggy skyline, underscored the effort by opponents of the initiative to rally low-income Californians who live in heavily polluted neighborhoods. Materials were released in Spanish. Latino activists from Wilmington and San Bernardino gave interviews to Spanish-language television stations.

A coalition of 60 Latino, African American and Asian groups, calling itself Communities United Against the Dirty Energy Proposition, issued a statement saying that Proposition 23 "will hurt low-income communities and people of color first and worst.... We will lose against the Dirty Energy Proposition unless we mobilize voters of color and low-income voters."

A poll last month by the Public Policy Institute of California found that ethnic state residents were more likely than whites to be concerned about climate change and more likely to see air pollution as a problem. For instance, 60% of Latinos said the state is not doing enough to address global warming, as compared with 40% of non-Latino whites.

The Yes on 23 campaign also sees the ethnic vote as a battleground and issued a news release Tuesday calling the measure "an essential safety net for communities of color," citing endorsements from the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Black Business Assn.

Also called the California Jobs Initiative, Proposition 23 would suspend the California law until unemployment in the state, now more than 12%, drops to 5.5% for four consecutive quarters — a level reached only three times in the last three decades.

If the initiative is defeated, California's climate law would take effect in January with the first economy-wide curbs on greenhouse gases in the nation, including a reduction in the carbon intensity of gasoline, caps on cement plants and other factories, a trading system for emission permits and a mandate for utilities to boost electricity generated from solar and other renewable sources.

Scientists say climate change has already begun to affect California, with more rapidly melting snowpacks, drought and a rising sea level.

State officials acknowledge that greenhouse gases have no direct negative health effects but say that forcing industry to modernize equipment and switch to cleaner energy sources will reduce particulates and other pollutants.

"Prop 23. will strangle the green economy in its grave," said Bill Gallegos, executive director of Communities for A Better Environment, based in Huntington Park.

-- Margot Roosevelt

Photo: Thomas F. Steyer, head of the $20-billion Farallon Capital Management and co-chair of the No on Prop 23 campaign, introduces Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at a news conference. Credit: Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Sam Houston]

As a Texan whose tax dollars continue to support the failed state of California, I call on Mayor Villaraigosa and all the other gutless California politicians to repudiate Texas tax dollars that continue to support your bankrupt "paradise". The sooner you idiots consume yourselves, the better for the rest of America. Come home Valero and Tesoro. You'll always be welcome in Texas. California can go to hell, as it will soon enough.

[Teri]

Go home mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The illegal aliens are costing Ca 20 billion a year. That is about how broke Ca is. Go home and take all the illegal aliens with you. We can no longer afford all the free handouts

[Mike]

Man, Antonio Villar sure knows what side his bread is buttered on.

The guy next to him (yeah, the white dude) runs Farallon Capital -- which just so happens to have invested heavily in "alternative energy" enterprises of all sorts. In case this is going too fast for you: Farallon stands to profit directly from the implementation of global warming legislation in California.

This white dude doesn't give a rat's ass about brown or black people: all he cares about is the green (dollars, that is)

And Antonio is the vendido making it all happen for the benefit of the gringo.

[Barry Cohen]

"Jobs?.....Jobs?.... This is California, my friend....we don't need your stinkin' jobs" I love it when a California politician can keep to a script......

[Paul Taylor Examiner]

With California unemployment stuck around 12%, a $20 billion lingering state budget gap and a dead housing market, Californians are now connecting their suffering to an accumulation of costly, redundant and unnecessary state government regulations – especially environmental regulations. The once “Golden State” is facing city and state bankruptcies after years of progressive government-growing environmental lobbying. Two years of economic recession have also reduced state tax receipts by about 15%, placing government solvencies on a deficit trajectory for years to come.

Several California environmental regulatory controls have finally become the target of popular outrage. Recent and forthcoming California ballot initiatives clearly reflect a citizens backlash against gratuitous eco-group lobbyist regulations that crush California’s economic recovery and ultimate prosperity.

Last June’s ballot Proposition 16 easily passed giving citizens control over local politicians who cater only to the union, minority and green special interests. Prop.16 requires voter approval before local government can use taxpayer funds or new taxpayer debt to take over new electric utility services.

California voters can also rein in climate laws like the California Global Warming Solutions Act (A.B. 32) by voting for the Prop. 23 ballot initiative November 2nd. Prop. 23 would suspend implementation of A.B. 32 until the state’s unemployment rate is reduced to below 5.5%. Estimates are that A.B. 32 could cost the state an additional one million job losses with its cap-and –trade system to reduce greenhouse gases to 1990 levels.

California's protracted recession has led to a sharp drop in greenhouse gas emissions from the state's downsized building industry, prompting Sacramento regulators to consider a two-year delay in implementing pollution control rules for heavy construction equipment. The new rules would require construction companies to retrofit existing heavy equipment to lower diesel emissions. However, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has found that the number of bulldozers, front loaders and other heavy equipment has declined by about 25 % in California. Accordingly, the pending more stringent equipment pollution controls have been delayed indefinitely due to economic concerns of the construction industries.

What is clear in California is that partisan ideologies and cultish environmentalism have replaced prudent science and rational environmental policy decisions. Militant environmentalism and green-obsessed bureaucrats have become an “axis of antagonism” that Californians can no longer afford.

[Jean-Paul]

Reducing air pollution is a very commendable decision. Exporting it to other States or other countries may not be as commendable. The real fair and tough decision would be that California reduces its GHG emissions while using only California manufactured gasoline, cement, steel, etc., rather than “importing” them “pollution free” from other parts of the world.

JPV

[Dave]

California richly deserves the future it has in store. Will the last one out please turn off the CFL's.

[Lucas]

Get out Texans! all the oil companies are trying to save face in today's reality of alternate power sources. They're investing so much money to keep people using thier product when they know they're running out and at the same time destrying the enviroment. Forget a few jobs here and there unemployment rises and falls all the time, our grandchildren and great grandchildren won't have clean air to breathe. good job Mayor Antonio!

[Plumberman Pittsburgh]

Maybe the owners of all these pollution producing companies including producers of gasoline, oil, electric, water, and even sewerage disposal should quit selling their products in this California town. Just shut off the power, close all the gas stations, shut off the water and plug the sewers and then this idiot mayor would have it 100 percent as he wants it. He can be as one with nature. Then again, no power equates to no lights, no AC, no water no heat, etc. See how much he like how muther nature treats him.

[MissMarple]

"Whats wrong with delaying the "Global Warming Final Solution Act" until our unemployment rate drops below 5%", Jeff? Greenland is melting, shedding huge icebergs. The Arctic is melting. Unprecedentedly large chunks of Antarctica have broken off. The East Coast has suffered unprecedented heat for the past few Summers. There have been tornadoes in areas in the last few years, where there never were before, and those in the usual places, have been bigger and wider than ever before. The weather on the West Coast is changing. The Winters in the South of South America have been colder than ever before. The oceans are one degree warmer. Hurricanes become worse, the warmer the oceans are. The warmer the ocean, the less CO2 it can absorb from the air.
Summers are always hot. Winters are always cold. But Summers are getting hotter and hotter, and Winters are getting colder and colder. There is no usual anymore. Here in San Francisco, the Summer fog is gone. It's been gone for at least three years. I used to get socked in, night after night for days, and sometimes more than a week, with a couple of days every now and then with nice weather. Now, it's overcast.
My parents in Laguna Beach haven't had a normal Summer for a few years.
Jeff, Global Warming is here. There will be replacement jobs in the new economy. What do you think people who made buggies and buggy whips did? The temperature will keep rising if we changed right now, but if we don't change right now, the temperature will rise beyond what humans can tolerate.

[GEAH]

Tony Villar, go home to Mexico.

[inbox1909]

Remind me again exactly how many jobs the mayor has created in LA? Besides hiring all those aides and spokespersons, or giving brooms to the homeless, thats about it. The mayor is the Hugo Chavez of california, with his Bolivarian agenda of mobilizing the poor to complain about big bad business, while he sits ringside at the lakers.

[nosanctuary1]

Google 'best and worst States for business'. Cali is rated DEAD LAST of all 50 States behind NJ, Michigan, etc for at least 5 years, all Dem 'progressive' run.

Top rated States are Texas, North Carolina, Florida, etc.

AB32 will destroy what is left of the Cali economy, all based on cutting CO2, NOT a pollutant!

'Climate change' is the biggest scam in modern history, and regressive dimwits like Villaraibozo are still busy driving business out of California.

[Eden Field]

Oh Tony! Tony! What are you thinking? No, wait... you are thinking! That's why you are wrong again! Do us a favor - don't think! Don't say anything!

[jack]

Communist China is cleaning our clock once again...investing massive money into developing the next generation of clean energy, and the millions of jobs that go along with it.

I'm old enough to remember when it was America that was leading the world into the future and manufacturing the finest products on Earth. But as long as Exxon-sponsored scientists say there's no such thing as global warming and Texas oil companies say we should do nothing...we must obey. Their bottom line is far more important than American workers having access to the American Dream. We exported that to communist China long ago...along with our abilities and vision. If this thing passes...it's just another nail in our coffin.

[Eve]

Jeff-Did you not read the article? Unemployment must drop to 5.5% for 4 consecutive quarters, which has not happened in 30 years. That means that these oil companies would be here to stay. First thing that Villaraigosa has done that actually benefits us. It's about time.

[golfer44]

How dumb is the mayor..great idea shut down the west coast refineries then wonder where the jobs and gas went.

[David Rose]

I very seldom support the positions of the Mayor, but Boy, is he right on this one!!!!! Keep the Texas oilmen in Texas and out of California's politics. Reform our systems and forbid out of state or out of country donations to State elections.

[chris stand]

Memo to the dumb-ass Jeff,

That won't happen in your state or any other state. It is a ploy.
It won't hurt jobs ... it will encourage NEW jobs.

It is/was just like the Big 3 saying they could not make 30 MPG cars and make money. Yeahh ....
Everybody else did.

Maybe letting dinosaurs pass on ain't a bad thing.

Let me guess you think anthropologically-caused climate change is not an issue ???

[Thomas]

Valero must not have given Villaraigosa good seats at Lakers or Dodgers games.

[savvydude]

This man is an embarrassment for Los Angeles and the whole of California. We have 13% unemployment and he would rather watch it rise to 20-25% than even try to understand why companies are abandoning California.

Pathetic.

[wizowl]

YES on Prop. 23. Jobs are needed now so that people who are alive on earth right now can survive. What good is a good environment if we have to give up eating? It is better to eat and work on whatever can be done about the environment. This is God's world and He is the BOSS of what goes on, no matter what we try to do to circumvent His Will and plan for His world.

Don't listen to these politicians. They have no common sense and I am unsure if they have very much uncommon sense. They just want to talk about whatever they feel may get them reelected, so they pretend they are concerned about the environment b/c they think that is what most voters want.

[keith]

And then he jumps on a jet at taxpayer expense and goes to some extravagant event with the free tickets he got from someone else. What does this guy do that's useful anyway?

[Steve M.]

I'm with Mayor V on this one.

Prop 23 shows how broken California politics are. We elect the legislature, the Legislature passes a proposed law, the Governor signs it, IT SHOULD BECOME LAW. Yet because of this stupid proposition system, the people now have to fight just to get the law to take effect.

Climate change is devestating the planet as we speak. California should lead the way in addressing the problem by mandating that polluting companies cut their carbon emissions.

[Edmund Lozano]

This is another example of the corporate abuse of the ballot initiative process. PG&E just did it, and lost. Mercury did it, and lost. Now we have Valero and Tesoro attempting to manipulate the public though a ballot initiative. I can only hope we can see the the defeat of this initiative as well. The green economy is the future, but petroleum companies will stop at nothing but to keep us hooked like a dope fiend on their product. We need to be ahead of the curve and make this transition to green technology and lower emissions because our health and wealth will be better served in the long run. This is not a question of what ethnic groups this affects more or less. We all lose with poor air quality. Period.

[Oliver Olympic]

I think it's funny he's anti-prop 23 and but Pro-Bundy Village. Dear Mr. Mayor the crappy gases from the energy plant are just as harmful to our health as the crappy gases that will come from an additional 100K cars traveling to the Westside everyday..

[Carlos]

Mayor Villaraigosa's proposal is a scam. If 'global warming' is such an urgent issue
then why do we keep using electricity generated from the most filthy fossil fuel on earth, 'coal' ? Sierra Club and all the other Eco-Phonies simultaneously reject the cleanest and cheapest (in the long run) power source ever created: Nuclear Energy. We've all been brainwashed to fear it to the point that we are forced to rely on oil and filthy coal while simultaneously robbing ourselves of an endless non-air polluting source of power. But I guess coal minors and Appalachian mountains and rivers aren't that important to the Eco-hacks and Al Gores of the world who parade themselves as Environmental Saviors and Planet Protectors while lining their pockets with the only 'Green' they really care about: $$$$$$

[Just Cirroc]

I have a better idea.

Why don't we send Mayor Diva home and keep the Texas oil companies.

[Anabell Romero]

Finally Villaraigosa is doing something good. I'm a Wilmington native and hate how Valero refiniries in Wilmington violate envorimental laws & then they lay off workers who are primarily from the southbay. They are so money hungry & don't care about our community. They also try deceiving residents into signing petitions in favor of Prop 23, saying it will create new jobs. Villaraigosa I am also tired of their "dirty tricks"! No on 23!!

[Jeff]

Memo to the dumb-ass mayor:

Dear Mayor,

Now is not the time to be proposing things that hurt our economy and jobs. Whats wrong with delaying the "Global Warming Final Solution Act" until our unemployment rate drops below 5%?