Energy Efficiency & Sustainability Summit Wed, Aug 16 in SM
We've been asked to help publicize the Energy Efficiency & Sustainability Summiton Wednesday, August 16 in Santa Maria.
There is no cost to attend, but they need to have RSVP’s.
Here's the information from the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership:
Here’s Why You Should Attend!
If you interested in our future regarding energy, water and sustainability, you should attend this summit!
- If you are a business - It includes discussions of programs for businesses like the RMDZ program with up to 2 million in low interest loans available for businesses. There are ways to save energy and costs that are also discussed. You should also know about future energy regulations. Attending is a great business decision!
- If you are a municipal partner, you should be interested in micro grids, water conservation, solar, regulations and preparing our communities for the future.
- If you are an interested community member, water use is paramount, as well as solar, and what our energy will look like after Diablo Canyon is decommissioned. The program includes residential programs for energy efficiency and cost savings.
Please spread the word to your contacts and anyone who may be interested in attending.
2017 Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Summit
Wednesday, August 16 8 am to 1pm at the Santa Maria Fairpark, Fountain Pavilion, 937 S. Thornburg, Santa Maria
Additional details can be found HERE. No Cost, but Registration is required.
Read moreHigh Cost of Living in SB forum July 26
The City of Santa Barbara's Living Wage Advisory Committee is sponsoring this panel discussion on the high cost of living in Santa Barbara. SBCAN is cosponsoring this event and encourages you to attend and engage in this important issue.
The High Cost of Living in Santa Barbara
A Panel Discussion Sponsored by the
City of Santa Barbara's Living Wage Advisory Committee
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Faulkner Gallery, Central Library
SBCAN: Get discounted group rate on solar, workshop tonight in Orcutt and July 26 in SB
Thinking about adding solar to your home? Check out these Community Environmental Council workshops:
Solarize Santa Barbara Workshop: North County – Thursday, July 6
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Orcutt Lions Club, 126 N. Broadway St., Orcutt, CA 93455
Join a free workshop to learn how you can save money and reduce your footprint by going solar through CEC's discounted group purchasing program. Learn more.
Solarize Santa Barbara Workshop: South County – Wednesday, July 26
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave., Carpinteria, CA 93013
Join a free workshop to learn how you can save money and reduce your footprint by going solar through CEC's discounted group purchasing program. Learn more.
More from Community Environmental Council:
Help Save Our National Monuments!
Hi Friend –
Please note the deadline for comments--July 10--and please help save our National Monuments by commenting to the Secretary of the Interior.
We added links to the Center for Biological Diversity and Audubon for your convenience.
-- SBCAN staff
National Monuments Threatened
In April of 2017, President Trump issued an executive order to review the status of 27 National Monuments that have been created since 1996. This means there are intentions of perhaps rolling back their national monument status and in so doing, removing some or all of the cultural and environmental protections for these areas. Even though each one of these Monuments had extensive public involvement, Trump wants to do it all over.
Why this matters:
National Monuments are created through Executive Orders by sitting Presidents under the authority of the Antiquities Act. These places are areas that are home to irreplaceable resources such as Native American cultural sites and thriving ecosystems with threatened or endangered species of plants and animals.
Our Own Precious Monument Under Threat!
SBCAN SC Roundtable Fri, June 16 at noon - join us!
You're invited to:
SBCAN South County Roundtable
Friday, June 16, 2017, Noon
Union Bank’s Community Room, 15 East Carrillo St., Santa Barbara.
AGENDA
(times are approximate)
1. Call to Order by Chair Dick Flacks.Introductions; Agenda Review (5 min.)2. Brief updates from participants. (2 to 5 min. each)
3. Housing Issues in City of Santa Barbara. There are several controversies about housing affordability in Santa Barbara that warrant brainstorming and debate. Frank Rodriguez of CAUSE, who is working on these issues, will join us. We will have a freewheeling conversation about these issues:
- Downtown housing and fears of gentrification: Average Unit Density will encourage housing on the Lower East Side and this has raised anxieties about Milpas Street as a target of gentrification. How might this dilemma be resolved?
- Efforts to promote affordable rental housing come up against state laws that hamstring rent stabilization and inclusionary rules. How can these be changed?
- What is the status of current efforts to improve the AUD and strengthen renters’ rights?
5. Sales Tax Proposal for City of SB. Mary Rose will brief us on this proposal for Nov. ballot.
6. Other Items of Interest to Participants.
7. Next Meeting: Our 2017 calendar has a summer break. Next meeting is Sept. 15 unless changed.
Advocate for funding for persons experiencing homelessness and more
SBCAN Board Member Emily Allen asked us to forward the following information. Emily is involved with Common Ground Santa Barbara County, which is asking county residents to contact their county supervisors to urge them not to cut programs that impact people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable individuals and families. She asks you to advocate against these cuts by speaking during the county's budget hearings, or by calling or emailing your supervisor. More information is below:
Read moreImportant Santa Maria Groundwater Meeting Wednesday
Wednesday, May 7, at 2 PM, there is an important Santa Maria Valley Groundwater Basin meeting at the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room at the Betteravia Government Center in Santa Maria. If you plan to drink water in North County in the future please attend! This is the only public meeting each year to talk about our groundwater quantity and quality. See details in the meeting notice below. The meeting addresses the groundwater basin Annual Report, which describes declining levels of groundwater and numerous pollution problems facing our groundwater.
SBCAN will have a list of important questions that we want to ask the report author. If you are interested in helping us on this, please come early and meet us in the foyer of the meeting room; we’ll be there by 1:30 PM to discuss our concerns and questions. We think the report glosses over the some of the major problems facing our water supply. Commenters only have until 10 AM the next morning to submit written comments on the report.
Help save Santa Barbara County Ranchland and Farmland
On Wednesday, May 31 the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission is scheduled to consider final approval of its earlier tentative decision to deny a proposal to subdivide 4,000 acres of farmland and ranchland, known as Rancho La Laguna, into 13 parcels for upscale estates.
Read more
Join us to honor Terri Zuniga, Rona Barrett, Ann & Rob Glasgow, Vibiana Saavedra and Alma Hernandez
Hi Jeanne –
Join us for the 2017 North County "Looking Forward" Awards Dinner & Fundraiser
Sunday, June 11 at 5 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 3455 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria
Help up recognize six individuals for their outstanding contributions that make our community a better place to live!
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM LAST YEAR'S EVENT
This year’s award recipients are:
- Terri Zuniga, “Looking Forward” Award, for strong leadership and vision in community building, civic engagement, and improving the quality of life in our community.
- Rona Barrett, Giving Back to the Community Award, for giving back selflessly to the community through volunteer activities and community projects.
- Ann & Rob Glasgow, Working Families Award, for helping to provide education, health care, nutrition, recreation and cultural services and opportunities to working families.
- Vibiana Saavedra, Social Justice Award, for promoting fairness, tolerance, equality, respect and compassion for all people in our community.
- Alma Hernandez, Environmental Protection & Sustainability Award, for valuing, protecting, and preserving our natural resources and environment.
Urge Sen Jackson to support Health Care for All in CA
As you may know, California has a new single payer health care proposal in the Legislature, SB 562 (Lara, Atkins), the Healthy California Act.
The Santa Barbara County Action Network Board of Directors is joining with a coalition of organizations seeking endorsements of the legislation. We have just sent our letter of support. We urge you to support this legislation as well, and if you are a member of a group that might also support the legislation, please ask the group to also send a letter.
The bill was passed by the Senate Health Committee on April 26. The next hearing will be with the Appropriations Committee tomorrow (May 25) and then a Senate Floor vote soon after. It must pass these votes so that it will go on to the Assembly in 2018. So time is of the essence.
Here are links to a sample letter that you can customize, the text of the 36-page bill and a fact sheet.
