SPOKE EDITOR PROFILE: 

Jorge Barrientos is the director of marketing and public relations at Chain | Cohn | Clark law office. He serves on board of directors for a variety of community organizations including The Hub of Bakersfield, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (Kern County Chapter), and Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Business Education Foundation. When he’s not working or serving our community, you can find him traveling the world and hanging with his family, which includes wife Carla, 4-year-old son Julian, 2-year-old daughter Gianna Sol.  

GUESTS:

• Maria Soberon, Ron Sandu, Christian Hernandez, Alexis Ardaz, Vanessa Perez, Lupita Guillen (Juan Bustamante)
• Dennis Wayne and Savannah Maldonado (Jean-Luc Slagle)
• Joe Kandle (Lynn Blystone)
• Bryan Burrow and Braeden Burrow (Ken Beurmann)
• Jesse Lopez (Ray Watson)
• Doug Oats (Dave Turner)

• Lorelei H. Oviatt, Director of the Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department, on 8/17
• Chief Aaron Duncan, Kern County Fire Department, on 8/24
• Off-Site Meetings:
  • Aug. 31: Stockdale CC
  • Sept. 14: Stockdale CC
  • Sept. 21: Dark, Margarita Party at the home of Lou & Cheryl Barbich (stay tuned for details)
  • Sept. 28: Stockdale CC

• Oil and gas production “is what separates the advanced world from the third world.”
• Majority of gas imported today to California comes from Ecuador and the Amazon rainforests.
  • Rotary Context: While Noerr stated this was 70%, that number is in fact about half today. 
• People of color and the those from economically-disadvantaged areas benefit from oil and gas jobs, and the industries provide an avenue for income advanced and educational attainment, he said. 
  • Rotary Context: It should also be noted that African American and low-income communities are disproportionately affected by air pollution from gas facilities in the United States, according to a recent Princeton study and Science Advances research. 
• Unnecessary state taxes cause our gas and electricity costs to be more than other states, even those that have little to no petroleum industries.
  • Rotary Context: California does indeed have the most expensive gas in the United States, as are electricity rates. 
    • Breakdown of state taxes and fees for gas. 
    • California sales tax rates for fuel.
• Inflation has caused the worst rise in gas and diesel prices.
• Brake dust from electric vehicles tires pollute more than gas powered because they are heavier and quicker.
  • Rotary Context: While this is true (see here and here), over the lifetime of the vehicle, total emissions associated with manufacturing, charging, and driving an electric vehicle are lower than a gasoline vehicle (see here and here).