Stake Holder #3

Freedom To Marry "Jerry Brown" 06/01/2009 via flickr.com
Public Domain Dedication License

The California government has been muddled with controversy for as long as it had been established in the 1800's, and today is no different. Current California Governor Jerry Brown has been involved in this controversy since October of last year, and has just recently announced a state of an emergency when it was decided the leak could not be plugged within the month. The L.A. City Council has been debating over months on the regulations that should have already been put in place in order to prevent this from occurring. Essentially the California government is now being forced into the spotlight by both the people and the SoCalGas company, split in half over who is right.

In defence of his declaration of a state of an emergence, governor Jerry Brown released this statement, "[the] prolonged and continuing duration of this natural gas leak and the request by the residents and local officials for a declaration of emergency" is the reason for the declaration. Brown, previous to this statement, had been a very large supporter of SoCalGas; his sister is on the Board at the company. In fact, many were frustrated with his silence on the issue until his declaration in early January. In response to the concerns of the residents, the Governor responded, "all state agencies will utilize state personnel, equipment, and facilities to ensure a continuos and thorough state response to this incident." Brown is clearly trying to cover himself and comfort the residents while still working closely with SoCal. Governor Brown has met with the community only very recently, and stated that the government would "cover costs related to the natural gas leak and its response, while protecting ratepayers."

All of the statements have come in the aftermath of the leak, and Governor Jerry Brown is clearly playing catch up trying to please the residents from Porter Ranch. After he realized that the nation is on the side of the residents, the governor is trying to act like he is too. His previous and current associations with the company lessens his credibility in this controversy. I think he is trying to switch his alliance to the right side of history too late in the game, and he is trying to play off the emotions of the nation.

If each stakeholder is at one side of the spectrum, with the residents of Porter Ranch being at one end and the SoCalGas company being at the other, Governor Jerry Brown is trying to pretend he is in the middle, even at the end of the residents. However, in reality, the governor is actually right up there with SoCalGas. His morality, in light of the recent controversy, seems to be something less than he had promised as an "environmental" governor.