Local News in Brief : Drilling Pressure Alleged
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The president of a group opposing Occidental Petroleum Corp.’s plans to drill for oil beneath the Pacific Palisades on Thursday accused Deputy Mayor Mike Gage of bringing “inappropriate” pressure on the Board of Zoning Appeals, which next week will consider accelerating Occidental’s permits.
Gage acknowledged that he called a board scheduling secretary last Thursday shortly after receiving an inquiry from Occidental attorney Mickey Kantor. But Gage said he was not trying to exert pressure, and Terry Speth, who took Gage’s call, said he considered the call routine.
The zoning board next Tuesday will consider an Occidental request to schedule an early hearing on its plans to erect a stucco bell tower facade to mask an exploratory well on the 2.5-acre site near Will Rogers State Beach. Drilling foes have launched an initiative drive to ban drilling along Los Angeles’ shoreline, in effect imposing a November deadline on Occidental to begin drilling.
“Occidental is trying to put pressure, subtle or otherwise, on the mayor’s office, which in turn is trying to put pressure on the BZA,” said Roger Diamond, president of No Oil Inc.
Gage said he merely relayed information on the application process to Kantor--and that he would have done the same for Diamond’s group.
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