Nalleli Cobo

Uriarte’s daughter Nalleli Cobo spoke out about her experiences in an OPED published in the Los Angeles Times on Monday, titled, “I grew up next to an L.A. oil well. California can protect others from what I went through”

I am smiling for Nalleli Cobo today, the young activist who has spent her short life recovering from illness related to growing up 30 feet from an oil well and fighting against the oil drilling industry to ban wells near communities.

Sacramento, CA— Activist and cancer survivor Nalleli Cobo gave testimony today in support of Assembly Bill 3155 (Friedman), which creates new financial liability for oil producers for harm from community oil drilling. The bill passed out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee today by a vote of 7 to 3 and moves onto the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, where it will be heard Monday.

Nalleli Cobo, a community activist and founder of People, Not Pozos, (People, Not Wells) grew up 30 feet from a polluting oil well. She developed asthma by age 11 and stage 2 reproductive cancer by age 19. She lost her ability to bear children. At 24, she is now cancer free. Cobo has actually written about similar legislation in a Los Angeles Times op-ed. Protecting community members like Cobo has Assemblymember Friedman determined to see AB 3155 signed into law.