LTTE: Offshore Drilling Rally Was Political Grandstanding

The following letter from Ocean City resident Dr. Steven Fenichel is related to a press conference local, state and federal officials held last week outside the Ocean City Music Pier to voice their opposition to potential offshore drilling off the coast.

To the Editor:

A dictionary definition of “grandstanding” hits the mark in reading the recent story concerning the bipartisan rally to oppose offshore drilling: “Behaving in a way that makes people pay attention to you instead of thinking about more important issues.”

Where are all these self- anointed “environmentalist” politicians on the fracked gas pipeline cutting a gash through the pristine Pine Barrens in service to SJ Gas Corporation profiteering?

Senator Van Drew (along with Senator Sweeney and ex Governor Christie) pushed out Pinelands Commissioner Robert Jackson to avenge his vote against the pipeline which was in accord with his oath of office: “To uphold the Comprehensive Management plan by protecting, enhancing, and preserving the Pinelands National Reserve.”

Along with Senator Van Drew was his protege Bob Barr, who replaced Commissioner Jackson delivering his vote for the pipeline, his political mentors, SJ Gas profits and ultimately damaging to the environment.

Cape May County Freeholder Thornton and Ocean City Mayor Gillian also were in attendance at this rally. Both these leaders refused to have their governmental bodies even consider the climate change effects of the SJ Gas pipeline. Grandstanding Politicians!!

With Greenhouse gases being emitted when BL England burns the pipelines’ fracked gases, leading to permafrost and glacier melting, more land will soon be submerged and by then it will be too late for these feel good bipartisan rallies staged by politicians against “offshore drilling.”

I, in contrast to the politicians, am consistent in opposing both offshore drilling as well as the continued extraction and burning of fossil fuels. The irony is that not only is the environment protected by the use of renewable energy, it also creates more meaningful jobs then the destructive fracked gas, coal and oil industries.

When the seas rise
and land is no more
What then will the
Politicians rally for?

Sincerely yours,

Steven Fenichel, MD

See related: Bipartisan Rally Against Offshore Drilling In Ocean City

Photo Credit: Anthony Bellano