PUBLIC RIGHT TO SAFETY - Experiencing the 1950’s as a child (one who was glued to the TV screen) has left me with a strong imprint of character references and scenarios scripted by the premiere actors and shows of the time.
For instance, actors like Jimmy Stewart (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington), Robert Young (Father Knows Best) defined all the righteousness and the morality that should embody every American. Shows like “The Adventures of Superman” made it very simple to follow the issue of right and wrong. Every show ended with the statement of Superman’s purpose: “TO PROTECT TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY!
Perhaps, because I use this foundation as my base of correctness…efforts such as the long fought unsuccessful battle in San Pedro to simply “do the right thing” and eliminate the outrageous risk to thousands of lives from the Ultra hazardous Rancho Liquid Energy Gas Tank facility confounds me and seems surreal.
In my little mind….I envision this debacle as a “Superman” episode with Clark Kent investigating the hazardous nature of this Rancho facility reported to him by a call to the Daily Planet. Kent engages the support of his fellow reporters, Jimmy and Lois, in an effort to investigate the curious means by which this hazardous facility was introduced into their City of Metropolis.
As the show progresses, Lois and Jimmy discover the extreme explosive potential of these tanks and their 10 mile blast radius of impact. In their interview with Professor Von Werlitzer they discover that the enormous gas tanks are also located on an active earthquake fault. Their concerns intensify. Von Werlitzer stuns the two by telling them that the stored energy at the site is the equivalent of 53 nuclear bombs!!
Jimmy and Lois are quick to the office to report these events to Daily Planet editor in chief, Perry White and colleague Clark Kent. Editor White blusters outrage at this reckless exposure to the City of Metropolis. Kent is quick to City Hall to interview various public officials about this turn of events and finds out that one of the Commissioners (now deceased) was a shareholder in the facility at the time that it was brought in. With the cooperation of others influenced by this commissioner, the facility was allowed to circumvent regulations that would have outlawed and protected Metropolis.
During Clark Kent’s following interviews with public agencies and officials, all disavow any knowledge of the facility’s extreme risk and seem puzzled but concerned about these tanks and their jeopardy. Yet, after days all public officials and agencies profess their inability to do anything to prevent the looming disaster presented to Metropolis because of the cuffs of bureaucratic red tape constraining them. It doesn’t matter how unsafe the tanks are…they cannot “help”.
Meanwhile, little Johnny Angel (student at the grade school within a few short blocks of the huge tanks) hears a conversation between teachers expressing their fears of danger from these tanks to their school. Johnny decides that it is his duty
to try and save his fellow classmates. As he eats his breakfast the next day, Johnny’s father reads aloud the Daily Planet article revealing danger to residents from a rabid dog roaming their streets. Johnny instantly surmises that the Daily Planet will be just the right ticket to warn his town of the tank danger. He silently leaves the table and places a call to the Planet. He leaves his name and message regarding his fear for students at Eisenhower Elementary with the receptionist.
As Clark enters the office for work, he picks up the message. The next scene shows Clark outside the school waiting for little Johnny. Johnny expresses his fears to Clark…who views the tanks looming behind Johnny’s head. As Clark employs his Superman vision…he can see the weak structure of the antiquated tanks … and with his supersonic ability … feels the vibrations in the ground beneath him surging for rupture.
In a flash, Clark Kent thanks little Johnny for being such a good citizen and takes off. Kent makes his way to a nearby market and ducks behind a trash bin briskly changing into his superman attire and safely tucking his Kent disguise under a bush.
Now, officially Superman, he launches into the air and onto the grounds of the Rancho LPG facility. He turns off numerous valves while he “feels” the intensity of the vibrations of the earth below him increase. He then begins the process of lifting the first of the great 12.5 million gallon butane tanks off its foundation. Grimacing with the great difficulty and weight of this endeavor … Superman successfully removes the tank into the air and flies it to a remote desert location. He returns yet again and again…to remove ALL tanks that are posing the enormous threat to population.
As the final tank rises from the ground…..a 7.6 earthquake strikes the area! The ground at the Rancho site slides and falls as the jittery facility manager stares blinking into the sky. Metropolis and little Johnny have been saved! Superman prevails!
While this story has been “fictionalized”…the root of it is entirely true. The underlined portions are all factually correct as they relate to the real situation at Rancho LPG in San Pedro. The preposterous and obvious hazard of these LPG tanks is being left completely ignored by those who have the power to remove it. And, most unfortunately…there is NO Superman to intervene in saving the many who are being exposed to this impending catastrophe. It is a simple issue of “right and wrong”. Yet, there is no one taking action.
With the upcoming elections, it is critical to force this issue to the top. A ten mile radius of impact from this facility would not only kill thousands but decimate the Ports of LA and Long Beach. The terrorism potential at this site is every bit as ripe as that of the illustrated earthquake, or human or infrastructure failure. Please raise this issue to all City, County and State officials and candidates. It is not necessary to have Superman’s supersonic abilities to “see” how dangerous this situation is. It is just human common sense.
(Janet Gunter is a community activists and member of the San Pedro Peninsula Homeowners United Inc. The SPPHU was one of the litigants in the successful China Shipping lawsuit that was represented by the NRDC in 2001-2003 on the issue of air pollution and aesthetics. )
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 78
Pub: Sept 28, 2012