SAMPLE LETTER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER

Dear Council Member [NAME OF ADDRESSEE]:

I'm writing to you in hope that [YOUR CITY] will join communities throughout the state by passing a resolution by calling for:

      1. A ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling, fracking, and other well stimulation in federal and state waters off the Pacific Coast.
      2. No new federal oil and gas leasing in all U.S. waters, including off the Pacific Coast.

Our city can be a powerful voice in the fight against offshore drilling that will protect our coasts, climate and healthy economy. When the Trump administration promised unfettered offshore drilling to the fossil fuel industry, it flung open the door to more offshore leasing, drilling and fracking that would dramatically increase the probability of a devastating oil spill -- not to mention deepening our dependence on fossil fuels. We need to fight back.

By passing this resolution, [YOUR CITY] will join [#] other Pacific Coast cities in calling on the Trump administration to protect our coast from dangerous offshore drilling and fracking. A sample resolution is attached for your consideration. I look forward to discussing this resolution with you and hope that you will sponsor it and introduce it to the city council.

Thank you for considering this request,
[YOUR NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION]

P.S. Blake Kopcho of the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity is coordinating our campaign to halt offshore drilling and fracking off the Pacific Coast; he can be reached by email at bkopcho@biologicaldiversity.org or by phone at (510) 844-7153. Please let him know if you'll be considering moving forward a resolution in [YOUR CITY]. The Center's website provides more information on this campaign at biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/stopping_trumps_assault_on_ca_coast/index.html.

Photo © Robin Silver