TOPICS:
1.  Stand in the Sand, Community Rally, Sunday May 31,
2.  Santa Barbara County Community Choice Energy, City of SB June 1 and County of SB June 10
3.  Phillips 66 Rail Spur on June 9 at the Goleta City Council
4.  Budget items regarding homeless issues, City of SB June 1 and County of SB June 10

DETAILS:

1.  Stand in the Sand, Community Rally, Sunday May 31, 1:00 PM de la Guerra Plaza in Santa Barbara.  This event began nationwide in response to the Deep Water Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It continues tomorrow in response to the Refugio spill.  More details:  http://www.standinthesand.org/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=STAND%20IN%20THE%20SAND&utm_campaign=Take%20Action-%20Refugio%20Oil%20Spill%20Response%205-29-15

2.  Santa Barbara County Community Choice Energy: the Community Environmental Council is leading a coalition on this effort to give us the ability to choose clean energy for our electricity.  CEC has a great new logo and name for this initiative. Two important hearings are coming up, June 1 at the Santa Barbara City Council and June 10 at the Board of Supervisors.  More details:  http://sbcenergychoice.org/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Community%20Choice%20Energy&utm_campaign=Take%20Action-%20Refugio%20Oil%20Spill%20Response%205-29-15

3.  Phillips 66 Rail Spur at the Goleta City Council on June 9. Council will consider sending a letter to San Luis Obispo County urging denial of the proposed rail spur, in light of risks of oil train accidents, explosions, and fires on the Union Pacific mainline. The agenda is not posted yet, but will be posted at this site:  http://goleta.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1123

This item was on the agenda at an earlier Council meeting, and the proposed letter prepared by staff was excellent. The item was postponed until the June 9 evening session. Public testimony, including from SB CAN was heard, however, since people did come to testify at the afternoon session. SB CAN urges people to come to this meeting to encourage Goleta to join many other cities, including Carpinteria, to call for denial of this project that would put our communities at risk.

4.  Budget items regarding homeless issues before Santa Barbara City Council on June 1 and County Board of Supervisors June 10.

This message is provided by SB CAN Board Member Emily Allen:

Be A Budget Advocate

Budget Impacts On People Experiencing Homelessness

Few public decisions have a greater impact on people’s lives than decisions about public budgets and spending. It is here that governments make fundamental choices about our values and priorities. It is critical for all of us to be engaged in these decisions. Learn and take action to shape budget choices! 

Santa Barbara City & Santa Barbara County Budget Hearings

Santa Barbara City Budget Hearing: Scheduled for Monday, June 1 from 2-5pm @ 735 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara. Subject to change. Check: www.santabarbaraca.gov 

• SUPPORT: Casa Esperanza is requesting $125,000 for shelter operations. 
• SUPPORT: Common Ground Santa Barbara County is requesting $25,000 from the City for housing focused street outreach for people experiencing homelessness. 

Santa Barbara County Budget Hearing: Scheduled for Wednesday, June 10 in the afternoon @105 E. Anapamu St, Santa Barbara OR 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria. Subject to change. Check: www.countyofsb.org

• SUPPORT: Committee for Social Justice is requesting $10,000 for the Emergency Jail Ride Program. 
• SUPPORT: New Beginnings is requesting $10,000 for the Safe Parking Program.
• SUPPORT: Increased funding for Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services (ADMHS) to restore services and meet the current and future crisis, rehabilitation, and long term housing and recovery for people with serious mental health care needs.
• SUPPORT: Common Ground Santa Barbara County is requesting $40,000 for housing focused street outreach for people experiencing homelessness.
• SUPPORT: Casa Esperanza is requesting $120,000 for shelter operations.

Sample Message

Dear,

I want to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness, as well as minimize the impacts of homelessness in Santa Barbara County. I hope you will fund Casa Esperanza, Common Ground Santa Barbara County, Safe Parking Program, the Emergency Jail Ride Program and increase funding for Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services (ADMHS) for crisis, rehabilitation, and long term housing and recovery for individuals with serious mental health care needs. 

Sincerely, 

[Your Name]

…Add something about your experience and why this is important to you. For example:  “I live in this community and I…” “When I volunteer I see…” “When I was homeless…” “As a service provider…” “As a business owner…” 

The Budget Decision Makers

WHO
Make a call, write a letter or send an email… 

Santa Barbara City Councilmembers
Helene Schneider, Mayor, Phone: 564-5323| Email: [email protected]
Gregg Hart, Mayor Pro Tempore, Phone: 564-5319 | Email: [email protected] 
Harwood Bendy White, Councilmember, Phone: 564-5321 | Email: [email protected]
Frank Hotchkiss, Councilmember, Phone: 564-5320 | Email: [email protected] 
Randy Rowse, Councilmember, Phone: 564-5325 | Email: [email protected] 
Dale Francisco, Councilmember, Phone: 564-5324 | Email: [email protected]
Cathy Murillo, Councilmember, Phone: 564-5322 | Email: [email protected]

Copy and paste these emails:

[email protected], [email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected], [email protected],[email protected], [email protected]

The Honorable Mayor Helene Schneider, 
Members of the City Council,
Santa Barbara City Hall, 
735 Anacapa St,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Santa Barbara County Supervisors

1st District: Salud Carbajal, Phone: 568-2186 | Email: [email protected]
2nd District: Janet Wolf, Phone: 568-2191 | Email: [email protected]
3rd District: Doreen Farr, Phone: 568-2192 | Email: [email protected]
4th District: Peter Adam, Phone: 737-7700 | Email: [email protected]
5th District: Steve Lavagnino, Phone: 346-8400 | Email: [email protected]

Copy and paste these emails: 
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],[email protected],[email protected]

Mona Miyasato, CEO 
Attn: Jette Christiansson
105 E. Anapamu Street, Room 406, 
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Thank you for all that you are doing and for taking the time to be a budget advocate!