The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. January 28, 2022 L.A. City Council Moves to End Oil and Gas Drilling --------------------------------------------------- The Los Angeles City Council has voted to prohibit new oil and gas wells and phase out existing wells within city limits. The measure also creates a program to help oil and gas workers transition to jobs in other industries. Council President Nury Martinez spoke ahead of Wednesday's unanimous vote. Council President Nury Martinez: "For far too long neighborhood drilling has disproportionately affected the health of our low-income communities of color. From freeways to power plants, our frontline communities bear the brunt of pollution and climate impacts." A 2021 study by University of Southern California researchers found residents of majority-Black and Latinx communities in South Los Angeles who live near oil and gas sites have lower lung function, which may contribute to environmental health disparities. .