Los Angeles is the largest urban oilfield in the country, and oil drilling happens near homes, schools, parks and hospitals. It mostly happens in low-income, African-American and Latinx communities, and it is making people sick. A dedicated coalition of residents has been fighting to stop drilling where they are living.  On this episode of "What's Next, Los Angeles," Mike Bonin talks with three members of STAND-LA (Stand Together Against Neighborhood Drilling):

Wendy Miranda is a grad student studying Public Health and Urban planning at UCLA. She has lived in Wilmington most of her life and is currently an intern with Communities for A Better Environment. Wendy has experienced the impacts of oil drilling near hear neighborhood; she currently lives in close proximity to two plugged oil wells. She hopes to serve environmental justice communities like hers to create healthier and equitable environments.

Martha Dina Arguello is the Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles and the Co Chair of STAND-LA   She has worked at PSR-LA for 21 years and has shaped the organization into a powerful voice for health and justice in California.  She is an active board member of numerous organizations, including Californians for Pesticide Reform, the California Environmental Rights Alliance, and Californians for a Healthy and Green Economy. She also co-founded the Los Angeles County Asthma Coalition and the Coalition for Environmental Health and Justice, and was appointed to Cal/EPA’s Environmental Justice Committee and the California Air Resources Board’s Global Warming Environmental Justice Advisory Committee.

Eric Romann became Coalition Coordinator for STAND-LA in 2017. He helps manage all aspects of STAND’s work, from policy advocacy to research, analysis, coalition-building and grassroots organizing. He also represents STAND-LA in county and statewide coalitions addressing oil and gas extraction.  He brings to STAND a deep commitment to and over 20 years experience in movements and organizations working for racial, economic, environmental, gender and immigrant justice.

Liberty Hill Foundation's Oil Drilling Report
https://www.libertyhill.org/news/reports/urban-oil-drilling-report

MORE INFORMATION ON STAND-LA
IG: @stand_loasangeles
Twitter: @stand_la
Facebook: @Stand Together Against Neighborhood Drilling

• Communities for a Better Environment (Co-Chair)
• Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles (Co-Chair)
• ​Esperanza Community Housing Corporation
• Holman United Methodist Church
• Redeemer Community Partnership
• Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy - Los Angeles
• Black Women for Wellness
• Liberty Hill Foundation

HOW TO FIND AN OIL WELL in LA and CA:
https://maps.conservation.ca.gov/doggr/wellfinder/

City Council File on STAND-LA Legislation
https://cityclerk.lacity.org/M.ClerkConnect/#cfmsSearch
Council File 17-0447 

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.