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Benicia CA, Industrial Safety Ordinance (ISO)

Andrés Soto Letter: Benicia needs an Industrial Safety Ordinance (ISO)

Repost from the Benicia Herald, Forum Page

Benicia deserves better

Andrés Soto

February 21, 2018, By Andrés Soto

Benicia is the only Bay Area refinery town that does not have the community protection of an Industrial Safety Ordinance, or ISO.

In 1999, the city of Richmond and Contra Costa County adopted their interlocking ISOs. The Richmond ordinance mirrors the Contra Costa ISO, and Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Division is responsible for enforcement and reporting.

Their experience with repeated refinery and associated hydrogen plant polluting events caused the elected leaders to respond to pressure from the disproportionally impacted communities in Richmond, Rodeo and Martinez for greater protection and information about polluting incidents.

How did Benicia miss out?

Since the adoption of the ISO, there have continued to be dangerous and deadly incidents at these Bay Area refineries, albeit at reduced rates, due to the ISO. Fortunately, the Richmond/Contra Costa ISO allows for corrective provisions that have improved refinery function and provided impacted communities with timely investigative information.

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Progressive Candidates, Swing Left

District 10 – Follow the Money

California’s 10th Congressional District

Many democrats are targeting California’s 10th Congressional District for a big change next November.  The seat is currently held by Jeff Denham, who votes with Donald Trump 98.5% of the time (source: FiveThirtyEight.com).

FOLLOW THE MONEY:  The primary race is heating up.  Excellent financial information on all the District 10 candidates can be found at OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan, independent nonprofit).