Action Alerts

  • SBCAN Roundtables this week

    Hi {{recipient.first_name_or_friend}} --

    Here is our draft agenda for Thursday's meeting. We hope you will be able to join us and participate in discussions about important issues and actions coming up later this month and in coming months.

    At the last meeting (our first at Giavanni's) the pizza was on me. This time, come early, if you'd like, and order what you'd like. We will meet in the private room.

    Hope to see you there!

    Ken

    SBCAN North County Roundtable

    Thursday, January 10, 2019, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

    Giavanni’s Pizzeria, 1108 E. Clark Ave. at Bradley Road, Orcutt

    AGENDA

    1. Call to Order by Chair and SBCAN Co-president Janet Blevins. Introductions; Agenda Review (5 min.)
    2. Housing and Homelessness Issues. (15 min.)
    3. Upcoming Hearings and Comment Deadlines for Oil Wells Proposed for Cat Canyon. (25 min.)
    4. ExxonMobil Trucking Proposal. (10 min.)
    5. Downtown Santa Maria Streetscape Plan. City Council hearing is January 15. (10 min.)
    6. Santa Maria Open Streets Event, March 31. (5 min.)
    7. SBCAN North County Awards Dinner. Jeanne Sparks (5 min.)
    8. Brief updates from participants. (2 to 5 min. each)
    9. Open discussion about other items of interest. All (5 min.)
    10. Next meeting. Our next meeting is scheduled for February 14, although that being Valentines Day, we could discuss moving it up or back a week. 
    Here is the draft agenda for Friday's meeting.  Note the new location. We will start with an update on Santa Barbara's Average Unit Density program; there will be new information available in a staff report for the Council meeting the following week.
    SBCAN Board Member Emily Allen will lead a discussion on housing and homelessness issues throughout the county.
    We have also allotted ample time to discuss the important oil issues that are coming before the County in the immediate future. Several of the leaders in the efforts to convince the County to deny proposals to greatly expand oil production will be attending to lead this discussion.
    Please join us as we organize for this new year.
    Ken

    SBCAN South County Roundtable

    Friday, January 11, 2019 Noon to 1:30 p.m.

    NEW LOCATION!

    Santa Barbara Foundation, 1111 Chapala Street, Suite 200, Santa Barbara

    AGENDA

     (Times are approximate, and feel free to bring your lunch)

    1. Call to Order by Chair and SBCAN Co-President Dick Flacks. Introductions; Agenda Review (5 min.)
    2. Important Updates on Average Unit Density Program in Santa Barbara. A new city staff report will be available by January 10 for a City Council meeting on January 15. (10 min.)
    3. Housing and Homelessness Issues. SBCAN Board Member Emily Allen will join us to lead this discussion. (20 min.)
    4. Discussion of Upcoming Oil Projects. This discussion will include the ExxonMobil proposal to truck crude oil to Santa Maria and Kern County, allowing their offshore platforms to resume production after the oil spill 3 ½ years ago, as well as the Cat Canyon onshore proposals coming before the County in the immediate future. Los Padres Chapter of Sierra Club is (30 min.)
    5. Downtown Mobilehome Park issue. Sharon Rose (5 min.)
    6. SBCAN North County Awards Dinner. Jeanne Sparks (5 min.)
    7. Brief updates from participants. (2 to 5 min. each)
    8. Open discussion about other items of interest. All (5 min.)
    9. Next meeting. Our next meeting is scheduled for February 8, also at this new location.

    Written by
    January 07, 2019

  • Homelessness Forum and Homeless Point in Time Count

    Dear Jeanne --

    Here are two events we think you may be interested in:
    1. League of Women Voters Housing and Homelessness Forum on January 16
    2. Point In Time Count on January 24 with training throughout January
    LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
    HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS COMMUNITY FORUM
    Wednesday, January 16 from Noon to 2 p.m.
    Santa Barbara Library, 40 E Anapamu St, Santa Barbara
     
    The League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara is currently in the process of updating their local “Homelessness” policy position to better reflect current best practices. As part of this process they are bringing together a panel to discuss the topic. They will provide an update on the new Home For Good Santa Barbara County Coordinated Entry System. Experts in the area will address the Coordinated Entry system including: Street Outreach, Emergency Shelter and Housing and discuss local data and long-term solutions. 
     
    Panelists will include: 
    • Kimberlee Albers, Homeless Assistance Program Manager, County of Santa Barbara. 
    • Chuck Flacks, Director of Programs, PATH Santa Barbara. 
    • Rob Fredericks, Executive Director/CEO, Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara. 
    • Sara Grasso, LMFT, Team Supervisor — Homeless Services, Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness.
    • Valerie Kissell, Executive Director, Youth And Family Services YMCA.
    • Emily Allen, LWVSB Social Policy Co-Chair and Program Director of the United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County Home For Good Program, will moderate.
    They will also discuss the 2019 Point In Time Count and opportunities for people of all experience levels to volunteer.
    The forum--free and open to the public--is co-presented with the Santa Barbara Public Library. Sound is provided by Gary Atkins Sound Systems. Physically accessible parking is available from the Public Garage accessed from Anacapa Street next to the Library.

    Written by
    January 06, 2019

  • Membership Renewal 2019

    For seventeen years Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) has been the preeminent nonprofit organization working on both sustainability and social justice issues throughout the county. We have many partner organizations, to be sure, but we always strive to be countywide and working on a wide range of progressive issues — especially looking for issues that might fall through the cracks otherwise. Please look at the Issues and Actions paper below highlighting what we have been working on. We are especially proud of our leadership on several North County issues.

    On February 2, 2019, we will convene our annual Membership Meeting in Los Olivos, and we really hope we will see you on that special day. Our guest speaker is Gregg Hart, our newest County Supervisor. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. at Saint-Marks-in-the Valley Episcopal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave. in Los Olivos. The social hour will be a great chance to renew friendships and build support for SBCAN’s future.

    With increasing competition for foundation support, we are all the more reliant on our members, major donors, and fundraisers. Therefore, we hope that you will make a membership donation that suits your budget and helps SBCAN continue its educational and advocacy roles.

    It is easy — as always — to contribute at: https://sbcan.nationbuilder.com/membership_annual_dues.  

    There is also an option for automatic monthly payments at https://sbcan.nationbuilder.com/membership_monthly_dues.

    If you prefer to mail a check, please send it payable to: SBCAN, P.O. Box 6174, Santa Maria, CA 93456.

    We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on February 2 at our annual membership meeting. Mark your calendar!

    Sincerely,

    Dick Flacks, Co-President 

    Written by
    December 21, 2018

  • Memorial for Franca Bongi Lockard on Monday in Orcutt

    Hi Jeanne --

    We are sad at the passing of our friend Franca Bongi Lockard. She was a very giving person who received the "Social Justice Award" from SBCAN in 2016 and was a member of SBCAN. Here is a message from her good friend Jeni Olivera:

    Written by
    December 01, 2018

  • SBCAN Roundtables: North is Thursday, South is Friday

    We will meet Thursday evening, November 15 at 6 PM at Giavanni's Pizza, 1108 E. Clark Ave. in Orcutt. That is at Bradley and Clark behind the gas station and close to Albertsons. 
     
    The agenda, which is below, includes discussion of election results and implications for SBCAN, and priorities for 2019. Cat Canyon oil projects will be discussed. Please let me know if you have items you want on the agenda.
     
    We hope you will join us. First time at Giavanni's, pizza is on SBCAN staff!

    SBCAN North County Roundtable

    Thursday, November 15, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

    Giavanni’s Pizza, 1108 E. Clark Ave. (Clark and Bradley), Orcutt

    AGENDA

    1. Call to Order: Co-president Janet Blevins. Introductions; Agenda Review (5 min.)
    2. Discussion of Election Results and Implications for SBCAN. (15 min.)
    3. Status of 750+ Unconventional Oil Wells Proposed for Cat Canyon. (20 min.)
    4. SBCAN Priorities for 2019. (20 min.)
    5. Brief updates from participants. (2 to 5 min. each)
    6. Open discussion about other items of interest. All (5 min.)
    7. Next meeting. Our next meeting is scheduled for December. 

    Written by
    November 14, 2018

  • NC oil community meeting Tuesday you should attend

    BCAN hopes you can make it to this community meeting Tuesday evening. Come see where the huge oil projects are planned near Santa Maria and what the impacts would be.

    Please read the flyer and email from the Sierra Club below:

    image.png

    Written by
    October 18, 2018

  • SBCAN South County Roundtable on October 12

    We hope you will join us for

    SBCAN South County Roundtable

    Friday, October 12, 2018, Noon to 1:30 p.m.

    Union Bank’s Board Room, 15 East Carrillo St., Santa Barbara, CA

    AGENDA

    (times are approximate, and feel free to bring your lunch)

    1. Call to Order by Chair and SBCAN Co-President Dick Flacks.Introductions; Agenda Review (5 min.)
    2. Discussion of Current Issues with Santa Barbara City Councilmember and Supervisor-Elect Gregg Hart. (40 min.)
    3. Update on Tenants’ Rights. (10 min.)
    4. Update on Santa Barbara’s Average Unit Density Program. (10 min.)
    5. Immigration Advocacy Collaboration. Jacqueline Inda is seeking support for resolutions supporting the migrant community. (10 min.)
    6. Mobile Homeowners Project. Sharon Rose will report on the project. (5 min.)
    7. Brief updates from participants. (2 to 5 min. each)
    8. Open discussion about other items of interest. All (5 min.)
    9. Next meeting. Our next meeting is scheduled for November 9.

    Written by
    October 09, 2018

  • League of Women Voters' Forum with Santa Maria City Council Candidates Thursday

    We encourage you to attend the League of Women Voters Santa Maria City Council candidates' forum:
     
    6:30 PM, Thursday, October 11
    Betteravia Government Center
    511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria
     
    Voting will be for Districts 3 and 4 this year.

    For District 3, incumbent Michael Moats, a dermatologist, will face off against Raymond Acosta, a grocery store manager, and Gloria Soto, a development manager for Planned Parenthood of California Central Coast.

    For Santa Maria District 4, incumbent councilwoman Etta Waterfield will face off against defense attorney Rafael Guttierez.

    SBCAN's North County Roundtable, scheduled for the same time, has been canceled, because we instead recommend we all go to the candidates' forum.
     
    We hope to see you there and at next month's North County Roundtable on Thursday, November 8, at 6 PM. At that time we will meet at a NEW LOCATION: Giavanni's Pizza, 1108 E. Clark Ave., Ste. 130 in Orcutt near the corner of Bradley and Clark. Finally we will have a restroom on site and can order something to eat!

    Written by
    October 08, 2018

  • SBCAN Recommendations on State and Local Ballot Measures

    The SBCAN Board of Directors has voted to take the following positions:
     
    Statewide Measures:
     
    SUPPORT Proposition 1: Authorizes Bonds to Fund Specified Housing Assistance Programs.  This $4 billion in general obligation bonds will support existing programs for low-income residents, veterans, farmworkers, manufactured and mobile homes, infill and transit-oriented development. 
     
    SUPPORT Proposition 2: Authorizes Bonds to Fund Existing Housing Program for Individuals with Mental Illness. The "No Place Like Home Program" funds housing for those with mental illness who are homeless. 
     
    OPPOSE Proposition 6: Eliminates Certain Road Repair and Transportation Funding.  This would repeal the gas tax enacted in 2017 and would reduce funding for road and highway repairs and public transportation. 
     
    SUPPORT Proposition 10:  Expands Local Governments' Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property. This measure would repeal state law that currently restricts the scope of rent control policies that cities and counties may impose on residential properties. Repeal of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act will allow cities and counties to decide how to handle rent control in their jurisdictions. 
     
    Santa Barbara County Measures:
     
    SUPPORT Measure G: Creates a County of Santa Barbara Citizens' Independent Redristricting Commission. This measure would create an 11-member independent redistricting commission to adjust the boundaries of the County's supervisorial districts.
     
    OPPOSE Measure H: Creates a County of Santa Barbara Independent Redistricting Commission.  This measure would create a 5-member commission to adjust the boundaries of the County's supervisorial districts.

    Written by
    October 06, 2018

  • Join Mickey & Dick Flacks for their book signing Tuesday, October 2

    We're pleased to invite you to join Mickey and Dick Flacks, two founding members of SBCAN, as they celebrate the publication of: 

    Making History/Making Blintzes
    How Two Red Diaper Babies Found Each Other and Discovered America

    Tuesday, October 2 at 7 p.m., Chaucer's in Loreto Plaza, 3329 State St., Santa Barbara
    Flacks.png

    Written by
    October 01, 2018