Gas drilling ordinance: a defining moment for the Dallas City Council

Dallas City Council to decide if this could happen next door to where you live

This afternoon I witnessed the presentations to the Dallas City Council concerning proposed gas drilling ordinances and realized the choice before the city body is a rather simple one: Do you place the health and welfare of citizens as well as the preservation of our environment over the corporate greed of energy companies and a handful of fat-cat landowners. That may seem rather blunt, but that’s the argument.

As it stands now, District 9 council member Sheffie Kadane has become, hands down, the most anti-environment council member in the city’s history. He is becoming an embarrassment, which causes me much pain to write, because I always considered Sheffie a friend. But he single-handily tried to defeat a pro-environmental resource recovery ordinance and today said quite clearly "I could care less if drilling makes my neighbor so sick he dies, I have a right to get rich off my mineral rights." So much for love thy neighbor.

It seems inconceivable to me that while we are under an EPA order to reduce harmful ozone in the air, the council is considering policies that will increase the amount of dangerous particles we breathe in every day.

But it all comes down to money. The gas drilling interests have the big bucks to buy any council member it wants. The environmental side simply tries to appeal the council person’s conscience. The vote on this ordinance will define the council and its members. The right thing to do is to approve an ordinance with at least 1,000-foot setbacks with absolutely no variances as well as strict prohibitions against drilling in city parks and flood plains. Those who vote for such an ordinance will be voting for the health and welfare of the citizens of Dallas. Those voting for anything less are caving in to the interests of the greedy.