Category Archives: BISHO

Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, BISHO, Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance, Valero Benicia Refinery

ALERT! Important to attend Benicia City Council this Tues. March 4 at 6pm

UPDATE: Good news! On March 4, Benicia City Council voted unanimously in favor of moving forward on the draft Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance.

All Hands on Deck! Benicia City Council to hear first reading of draft ISO, march 4

Word is that Valero Refinery is scheduled to give a 15 minute presentation. Those who have organized and researched and labored for years on this project need YOU, need an overwhelming show of support this Tuesday, to forestall any attempts to weaken or delay the Draft ISO. Please attend in person or online!

Benicia residents need to show that we are not intimidated by an outside mega-corporation. Please show support for our City Council and Fire Chief as they take the first of two votes to adopt an ordinance that will keep us and our friends and families safe.

BELOW is the BISHO Working Group’s latest press release.

If you can’t attend in person, you can participate online here: ZOOM link.

See you there!

BENICIA CITY COUNCIL TO HEAR FIRST READING OF DRAFT ISO, MARCH 4

Benicia Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance group (BISHO), February 28, 2025

Benicia, CA (February 28, 2025) – Benicia’s long-awaited Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance (ISHO) will receive its first official reading before City Council on Tuesday, March 4. After more than a year of staff research, public hearings, discussions with stakeholders and four drafts, all led by Councilmembers Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye and Fire Chief Josh Chadwick, the ISHO will be presented formally at next week’s council meeting. New City ordinances must go through two readings before they can be adopted.  If the draft ISHO passes this first reading, a second reading and vote will be scheduled. [March 4 Agenda.]

More than 90 people showed up for an ISHO status update on February 4, including 30 who spoke in favor of passage of the draft ordinance. Other supporters sent emails, letters and texts to Council members urging passage. There was no opposition at that meeting, but it is anticipated that Valero, one of the industries that will be subject to the ISHO requirements, will present its opposition.

“The March 4 meeting is critical, and we are hoping for another large turn out by supporters,” said Terry Mollica, community activist and member of the Benicia Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance group (BISHO) which has been working toward an ISO passage for a number of years. “We have heard that Valero does intend to attend the March 4 meeting, and apparently they have been granted a significant block of time to express their ongoing opposition including their threat of litigation.”

“We believe that the opponents will use the March 4 meeting as an opportunity to push back, to try to weaken the ISO, to get a foothold on the critical Oversight Commission, and attempt to turn some votes with threats of a lawsuit. We can’t let that happen. It’s more important than ever that we have a strong presence,” he said.

“We are asking all community members who believe in the ISHO and who want to see more accountability, transparency and protections against what goes into our air to show up at City Council on March 4 and make your voices heard,” Mollica added. “With the uncertainty of any air quality protections from the federal government these days, it is more important than ever that we protect our own community.”

City Council will begin Tuesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 250 East L Street, Benicia. For more information about the draft Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance and its importance and effect on the community, visit https://BISHO.org.

NOTE: Those who cannot attend City Council in person can participate via Zoom:

Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, BISHO, Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance, Valero Benicia Refinery

Benicia City Council to take first vote this Tues. March 4 on Industrial Safety Ordinance

BENICIA CITY COUNCIL TO HEAR FIRST READING OF DRAFT ISO, MARCH 4

Benicia Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance group (BISHO), February 28, 2025

Benicia, CA (February 28, 2025) – Benicia’s long-awaited Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance (ISHO) will receive its first official reading before City Council on Tuesday, March 4. After more than a year of staff research, public hearings, discussions with stakeholders and four drafts, all led by Councilmembers Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye and Fire Chief Josh Chadwick, the ISHO will be presented formally at next week’s council meeting. New City ordinances must go through two readings before they can be adopted.  If the draft ISHO passes this first reading, a second reading and vote will be scheduled. [March 4 Agenda.]

More than 90 people showed up for an ISHO status update on February 4, including 30 who spoke in favor of passage of the draft ordinance. Other supporters sent emails, letters and texts to Council members urging passage. There was no opposition at that meeting, but it is anticipated that Valero, one of the industries that will be subject to the ISHO requirements, will present its opposition.

“The March 4 meeting is critical, and we are hoping for another large turn out by supporters,” said Terry Mollica, community activist and member of the Benicia Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance group (BISHO) which has been working toward an ISO passage for a number of years. “We have heard that Valero does intend to attend the March 4 meeting, and apparently they have been granted a significant block of time to express their ongoing opposition including their threat of litigation.”

“We believe that the opponents will use the March 4 meeting as an opportunity to push back, to try to weaken the ISO, to get a foothold on the critical Oversight Commission, and attempt to turn some votes with threats of a lawsuit. We can’t let that happen. It’s more important than ever that we have a strong presence,” he said.

“We are asking all community members who believe in the ISHO and who want to see more accountability, transparency and protections against what goes into our air to show up at City Council on March 4 and make your voices heard,” Mollica added. “With the uncertainty of any air quality protections from the federal government these days, it is more important than ever that we protect our own community.”

City Council will begin Tuesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 250 East L Street, Benicia. For more information about the draft Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance and its importance and effect on the community, visit https://BISHO.org.

NOTE: Those who cannot attend City Council in person can participate via Zoom:

Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), Bay Area Refineries, Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, BISHO, Valero Benicia Refinery

Benicia’s Industrial Safety Ordinance: Multiple protections are necessary, not duplicative

A four-alarm fire broke out at the Port of Benicia Saturday, April 9, 2022. San Francisco Baykeeper, an organization that took legal action against the port and the Valero refinery over Clean Water Act violations and won, was on site, documenting the incident with video captured by drone. | SF Baykeeper.

By Betty Lucas, February 3, 2025

When it’s cold and raining outside, we keep warm and dry in a variety of ways: umbrellas, jackets, mitts and muffs. Multiple layers are not duplicative; they are often necessary. We protect ourselves, our homes and cars through insurance that covers theft, fire, landslides and floods. The same thing goes for protections against things we might not be able to see or feel, like pollution in our air and environment – as well as all too visible threats like potential fires and explosions.

These types of city protections may be codified into something called called an industrial safety ordinances (ISO). Such ordinances protect residents against industries that pollute, such as refineries, cement factories, etc.

No one ever regrets having strong insurance protection when they need it. Ask anyone in LA or Santa Rosa who lost their homes to fires.

All California cities with refineries have protection through ISOs, except Benicia,

On the Tuesday, February 4 City Council meeting, starting at 6 pm, Benicians have a chance to encourage every City Council member to unanimously pass a strong ISO.

LEARN MORE: Benicia looking to adopt Industrial Safety Ordinance

Why would any Council member vote against keeping us safe? Adopting an ISO with a strong oversight commission to monitor the law’s implementation is similar to each of us having strong insurance protections for when we need it.

Valero has opposed such a protective ISO because it knows it could be fined for various ISO violations. It claims that we don’t need an ISO with oversight because it’s duplicating services that already exist. This is not true. There are other agencies concerned with such matters, yet Valero’s history shows that there were not enough current protections in place to keep us safe from its polluting our air and not reporting this for many, many years. An ISO with a seat at the table will keep us informed of risks, hazards, accidents and violations, to provide the protection we need moving forward.

The City’s current Memorandum of Understanding with Valero has proven totally inadequate for protecting us. Having multiple checks and balances are necessary, not duplicative.

Your comments are encouraged. On February 4, please attend the Benicia City Council meeting in person, via Zoom, or email your thoughts to Mayor Steve Young: SYoung@ci.benicia.ca.us. The meeting is at Benicia City Hall, 250 East L Street.

Betty Lucas

BISHO, Martinez CA, Martinez Refining Company, Refinery fire, Refinery safety

Martinez Health Advisory Ongoing, Community Alerts Provide Updates, Relief

Uncredited image from ClayCord.com.

By BenIndy, February 2, 2024

Contra Costa Health (CCH) has lifted the Shelter in Place order and stopped the community warning sirens after the Martinez Refining Company erupted in flames yesterday.

While air quality near the refinery has improved, a public health advisory remains in effect for Martinez, parts of Pacheco, and Clyde, with CCH advising residents with respiratory sensitivities to stay indoors.

READ: Martinez Health Advisory Remains in Effect Today

Investigations into the fire’s cause and effects will be extensive, given its severity. While the blaze was contained to the refinery, massive smoke columns and harmful emissions spread across Contra Costa and Solano Counties, potentially threatening the health and safety of thousands.

Community Alerts

The threat to human health and safety was somewhat contained by Contra Costa’s Community Warning System, which helped alert local residents to the immediate danger and notify them of evacuation and Shelter in Place orders.

The Bay Area Air District (BAAQMD) also issued two community warnings on Saturday to ensure the public was aware of the incident before issuing an incident report Sunday morning briefly describing the chain of events on Saturday.

The Air District responded to reports of an oily smell in Martinez around 10:45 am, which were soon linked to a fire at the Martinez Refining Company. MRC issued a Level 2 alert for the fire in its Light Oil Processing area, where Air District staff observed the flames and emissions.

READ: Air District INCIDENT REPORT for MRC Level 3 Fire (February 1, 2025)

By 5:00 p.m., Contra Costa County Health escalated the warning to Level 3, with the fire later being mostly contained and the source isolated. Level 3 incidents are classified by CCH as severe emergencies that pose immediate threats to public health or safety, requiring urgent protective actions like shelter-in-place orders or evacuations.

“Scared” in Benicia

Benicia residents also received fire and emissions warnings through the city’s own community warning system, operated by the Benicia Fire Department.

For Benicians not signed up for alerts from Contra Costa County, or agencies like the Air District, or third-party apps like FireWatch, the City of Benicia’s direct communication to residents was welcomed as a breath of fresh air.

SIGN UP: Enroll in Contra Costa’s Community Warning System

SIGN UP: News and Alerts from the Air District

SIGN UP: Learn About Benicia’s Community Alert System (through Alert Solano)

Some Benicians noted they may not have even known about the potential health risks without the City’s alerts, let alone known how to respond. Others commented that the notification offered not much more than temporary peace of mind, although that peace of mind was appreciated.

“At first, I honestly didn’t think the city was going to do anything at all about it,” said one resident, who requested anonymity for fear of being accused of politicizing the incident in light of Benicia City Council’s upcoming status report regarding adopting a local Industrial Safety Ordinance.

The resident continued: “I didn’t think I could expect that kind of thing from Benicia. I feel like it’s ‘minimize, minimize, forget, repeat’ whenever anything bad happens here. But that text meant I slept okay at home last night, with my family.”