Oil Drilling Controversy

I am grateful for your reporting on the controversy. I am most disturbed, however, at the statement of Occidental’s director, Arthur Groman, speaking in behalf of Occidental Chairman Armand Hammer, who refers to those of us living in the Palisades/Santa Monica area as “These dirty, vicious, lying people. There is nothing they won’t resort to. They are despicable people.”

I am appalled at such an attack on the people of this area. It is sad indeed that the fear of the loss of revenue would allow Groman, speaking for Occidental, to descend to such demagogic rhetoric against those who still believe the Earth on which we live and the air we breath are worth protecting.

ELEANOR WASSON

Santa Monica