Mock, Brentin. Bliss, Laura. Bloomberg City Lab. (2021, September 21). Why the Most Populous U.S. County Just Ended Oil and Gas Drilling.

 Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-21/l-a-county-drilling-ban-is-an-environmental-justice-feat

This article focuses on oil drilling areas in the L.A. county, and how a recent bill banned the use of this practice, which was largely occurring near predominantly Black and Latine communities. The article is very informative, and discusses the many consequences that oil and gas drilling has on people, specifically increased cases of headaches, nosebleeds, and risk of cancer. Because of these health risks, the government has created loopholes such as redlining to group communities of color, namely Black and Latine communities, in areas near drilling to lessen the health consequences on white people. The article expresses how this is a prime example of environmental injustice, and the passing of this bill is a step towards environmental equity. Similarly, the authors mention how several other states and companies should follow California’s lead in passing bills that ban drilling in places where there are disproportionate consequences based on race. However, the article highlights that this is only a start, and lots more needs to be done in order to achieve true equity. 

I thought that this article was highly informative. I appreciated how it was very straight to the point and clear to understand, as well as being concise. I found it interesting that the author first presented the main idea of the ban on oil and gas drilling, and then followed with background on the situation in relation to environmental injustice. I especially liked how the author pointed out that for this specific instance of environmental injustice— but likely common for other instances as well— race was a larger determiner in segregation, rather than social class or income. I thought that this was an important distinction to make, especially since many people are likely uncomfortable with talking about race in general, and want to erase it from the equation, when in fact there are more policies and laws that are blatantly racist than people think.