Opinion

Two and a half years ago San Benito County got a wakeup call that the enhanced petroleum extraction juggernaut that has swept large areas of the US can happen anywhere, even here. Mysterious giant thumper trucks showed up in our neighborhood on the western edge of San Benito County, and it soon was revealed that they were prospecting for oil. Neighbors were concerned, and a grass roots effort was launched, Aromas Cares for the Environment or ACE. We educated ourselves about petroleum extraction, and learned that there are new technologies such as fracking being widely used in other states. We also discovered that San Benito County’s regulation of oil drilling was almost non-existent. ACE set out to do something about that. We worked with the Board of Supervisors for almost a year, culminating in the passage of a new County ordinance that brought some scrutiny to the process of obtaining an oil drilling permit here. The ordinance doesn’t have all of the protections that we wanted, but it was the best compromise that could be approved at the time.

In response to Kate Woods fractured fairy tale article "Do You Know Your Mineral Rights", Ms. Woods could not be more incorrect if she tried...and she tried pretty hard. I have opposed Measure J since I learned of the idea in January of this year. Yes, I was alarmed about Ms. Woods public claims that 'fracking will poison our water' back then, so I did some research. And after writing multiple letters and articles in the local press about water, petroleum production and my opposition to Measure J, I don't consider myself 'tellingly silent'.

Panelists answered the following: Would you support a ban against tobacco products being sold in local pharmacies?

When it comes to water, opponents of Measure J have been tellingly silent. They know this historic drought burning up the state is an urgent issue with San Benito residents, including farmers, vintners and ranchers.

Panelists answered the following: Do you believe the violent nature of football plays a role in the trend with NFL players linked to domestic violence?

The San Benito County Cattlemen's Association responded to a letter from Joe Morris, a grass-fed beef rancher, regarding Measure J. Included at left is the letter, published at the request of the cattlemen group.

While this board and its members' conflicting views on Measure J reflect the wider community's disparity in opinions, there is general agreement on one thing: Organized campaigns on both sides of the issue have used deception in trying to steer public sentiments.