Protect Your Coast Flyer used in 1988, Kelley House Collection.
For years Mendocino has fought to protect the beauty of our coastline. In the eighties, this fight came to a head as the people turned out in droves to testify at the Department of Interior’s public hearing against Lease Sale 91. The proposal would have put 1.1 million acres of undersea land for sale, allowing oil companies to purchase it at $25 per acre. Up to 24 oil rigs, each an acre in size, could have been built off the Mendocino Coast. In 2007, Rachel Binah, a long-time ocean defender and one of the organizers of the opposition to Lease Sale 91, spoke at the Kelley House about the fight to preserve the coast. You can watch the entire event on the Kelley House Museum YouTube page. The following is an excerpt from Rachel’s address.
“It started in 1984 for me. Our famous hearings took place in 1988, but in 1984 an oil company came to Mendocino for a hearing that took place in Crown Hall. This company made an application to do exploration off the coast. This oil company called my inn to make a reservation for the people who were coming here to testify. I said, “Well of course, I’ll be happy to have you come,” and they requested a room with an ocean view. So, I gave them one.
“I told them I was opposed to what they wanted to do, and that I would be testifying. When it was my turn to speak at the hearing, I said, “Everyone who comes to Mendocino wants a room with an ocean view, including this engineering company and these people who speak before you tonight, arguing that it will do no harm to tourism.” I actually used them as a prop. We were successfully able to prevent them from doing that.
“Everyone was clearly opposed to offshore oil development, but it was not front and center for most people until Jane Kay, a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner, wrote an article about Lease Sale 91, which was from the Oregon border to Sonoma County. People who read the newspaper were nervous about it, because there was going to be just one hearing. It was going to be the final step in a process which had been going on for years and years, and people had not been paying as much attention to it. Around November 1987 this article came out, and the last hearing before the sales were going to happen in February of the following year.”
Through early meetings, it was decided that a filibuster would be held at the February hearing, to let anyone who wanted to speak do so. 1,400 signed up to testify.
“We wanted to get celebrities to draw media attention. What was happening at that time in Mendocino? Murder, She Wrote. So I thought, “Well, let’s get her involved,” Angela Lansbury would be a great spokesperson for this issue. It was being filmed at Don and Pam’s [Hahn] house. Pam introduced me to Angela’s husband [Peter Shaw], and he said in his very British accent ‘Oh yes, we should be happy. Oh yes. I’m sure she would love to be involved in this situation. She would be happy to help you. I tell you what, come over to the set, and I’ll introduce you to her.’
“I went over to the set, which was in front of the Blair House, and the director said, ‘Well, why don’t you just become an extra and be in this scene?’ He gave me a costume and said ‘She [Angela] is going to come through there and end up right here. Then you can talk to her.’ Everybody was in on this; it was a conspiracy. We did the scene, and she ended up standing right in front of me. Angela said ‘Oh, my dear. I could never be the sole spokesperson on something like this. I don’t know enough about it, but I’m happy to support you in whatever you want to do. If you write something for me, I’ll sign it.’ So that’s what we did. She signed on and I read that statement for her at the hearing.”
The hearing was a resounding success, attended by approximately 5,000 people. In June 1988 the plans for offshore oil drilling were halted. In a future Kelley House Calendar, the hearing will be discussed in further detail. If you can’t wait to hear more of the story, go to the Kelley House Museum YouTube channel to listen to Rachel’s full retelling of the event.
The Kelley House Museum is open Thursday-Monday 11am-3pm. ON TAP AT THE KELLEY HOUSE: The History of Brewing on the Mendocino Coast is on exhibit through September 29th. Walking Tours of Mendocino are available throughout the week; the cost is $25. Visit the Kelley House Event Calendar for a Walking Tour schedule.