Peak oil meets global warming

By Deborah Brasket/Looking Forward

“Four Dollar Gas: Change you can believe in!” reads the caption of a recent Times cartoon. It pictures ways people are finally taking fuel conservation to heart, including switching to a smaller car, riding a bicycle or taking the bus.

The irony is that if we had made those changes 10 years ago, as many environmental experts urged, we might not be paying over $4 at the pump now, or at least we might have been better prepared for the shock of it.

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 Oil production is peaking worldwide, at the same moment that global warming has emerged as the greatest environmental threat of the 21st century. This perfect storm has finally convinced the world that the time to act to avert disaster is now.

In this sense, the current crisis has positive benefits. When a major catastrophe hits any community, our gut reaction is to set aside our differences and help each other prepare for and weather the storm together.

Another battle in the land-use war

By Deborah Brasket/Looking Forward

Trouble is brewing in the Santa Rita Hills, one of the premier wine-growing areas in California, stretching along Highway 246 between Buellton and Lompoc.

Last December, landowners of Lakeview Estates, 35 40-acre parcels surrounded by agriculture, petitioned the Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to create a community services district (CSD). They wanted to bring in water, sewers and access roads so they can develop land they knew when purchased could not be developed.

Neighboring farmers, ranchers and environmental groups strongly opposed the project. Currently, the undeveloped, 40-acre parcels are planted in grapes or lavender or used for grazing cattle - uses that are compatible with agriculture.

Experience in a Superior Court judge

By Deborah Brasket/Looking Forward

In the midst of all the excitement of voting for two supervisorial seats, it may be easy to overlook another important race - Superior Court judge. Whoever is elected to this position will be presiding over cases that affect our homes, families, businesses and communities in many important ways.

While we often think of our courts as places where criminal cases are tried, that is only a small part of a Superior Court judge's duties. Much of the work of a Superior Court judge involves civil law, including such matters as custody rights, land-use decisions, public finance, taxation, code enforcement and real estate disputes.

We need to elect a judge who has a broad range of experience in all of these areas.

Demanding civility in public discourse

By Deborah Brasket/Looking Forward

“To disagree, one doesn't have to be disagreeable”

- Barry Goldwater

A few weeks ago, when I was speaking at a Santa Barbara County Associated Government (SBCAG) board meeting, I had the unfamiliar experience of taking a position in agreement with that of Andy Caldwell, executive director of COLAB. Rarely do we, or our respective organizations, agree on anything.