Action Alerts

Posted by May 06, 2016 11:03 AM

SBCAN Action Alert - Buena Vista Park, PCEC oil wells, Community Choice Energy

Santa Barbara County Action Network
Action Alert
May 6, 2016

1. Speak up for Buena Vista Park at City of Santa Maria Recreation & Parks Meeting, Tuesday, May 10
2. Speak out against Pacific Coast Energy Company's plan to add 96 cyclic-steaming oil wells on Orcutt Hill, Wednesday, May 11
3. Speak up for Community Choice Energy ASAP
4. North County "Looking Forward" Awards Dinner, Sunday, May 22, in SM

1. Speak up for Buena Vista Park at City of Santa Maria Recreation & Parks Meeting, Tuesday, May 10
The City of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Commission will consider plans for renovating Buena Vista Park during its 4 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, May 10 in the City Council chambers, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria.

Plans costing $1.8 million have been drawn up that would remove the existing bell-shaped sidewalk and central circle that commemorate California's history. The four half-court basketball courts and all the picnic tables would also be removed. The five mature trees might also be removed if "they are in the way."

Please read my editorial at http://www.sbcan.org/keep_the_good_things_at_buena_vista_park for more details.

We are asking members of the public to show up at the commission's hearing to try to keep the 1970s design of the city's first park while adding new amenities to it. It is possible to do. The park was the city's first park and its reason for incorporation. It is a city historic landmark and should be preserved, according to the city's own guidelines on landmarks.

Here's what the park looks like now:

Posted by April 30, 2016 6:56 PM

"Where to Invade Next," Edible Garden, NC Awards Dinner

Santa Barbara County Action Network
Action Alert
April 30, 2016

1. Special showing of Michael Moore’s new film "Where to Invade Next," Tuesday, May 3, in SB
2. Green Team is working on Edible Landscaping Demonstration Garden, Sunday, May 1, in SM
3. North County "Looking Forward" Awards Dinner, Sunday, May 22, in SM

Posted by April 26, 2016 9:51 PM

Dear President Obama, Youth Council forming in SM, Green Team fun day, Stop Shelby, NC Awards Dinner

Santa Barbara County Action Network
Action Alert
April 26, 2016

1. Local premier of Mark Ruffalo's new film "Dear President Obama" April 27
2. Youth Advisory Council forming in Santa Maria, Friday, April 29
3. Green Team is working on Edible Landscaping Demonstration Garden in Santa Maria, Sunday, April 30
4. Shelby Foothills Coalition Forms to oppose the Shelby Development Plan
5. North County "Looking Forward" Awards Dinner Tickets

Posted by April 12, 2016 4:21 PM

SBCAN receives awards, Jerry Connor memorial service, op-eds, NC Awards Dinner

1. Roosevelt-Hamer Dinner April 16
2. CAUSE Action Fund Awards April 17
3. Safe Energy Now! forum April 24
4. Local premier of Mark Ruffalo's new film "Dear President Obama" April 27
5. Jerry Connor Memorial Service April 30
6. Op-ed "Retain views from ancestral riverbank"
7. Op-ed "Locals help turn lives around, and more"
8. North County "Looking Forward" Awards Dinner Sponsorship and Tickets

Posted by March 31, 2016 5:25 PM

Cesar Chavez Rally Today at 5 in SM and Farmworkers Bill of Rights

In January, the SBCAN Board of Directors voted to support the Farmworker Bill of Rights developed by CAUSE. CAUSE and many other organizations, including SBCAN, are asking the County Board of Supervisors to consider approving this Bill of Rights on an agenda in the near future.

Our friends at CAUSE have asked us to forward the information below:

1. Today, March 31, is our Cesar Chavez Day Rally outside of Santa Maria City Hall at 5 p.m. Our main message is to honor Cesar Chavez' legacy by continuing the fight for farmworkers. We will use this event to continue to pressure the board of supervisors to put us on the agenda. Click here for a flyer. Please spread the word.

2. Today we are launching a change.org petition that will send emails directly to the board of supervisors asking them to vote for the Farmworker Bill of Rights. Since it's Cesar Chavez day we're hoping everyone can take time out of their day to add their signature in support of farmworkers. Please circulate widely: https://www.change.org/p/pass-a-farmworker-bill-of-rights-in-ventura-and-santa-barbara-counties

3. Lastly the next important action after tomorrow is a County Ag. Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday April 6th at 2:00 p.m. in Buellton. The opposition from agrilculturalists has been growing. In fact the AAC wrote a letter to the board of supervisors (click here to view the letter) requesting they not agendize us because our farmworker report is "invalid and dangerous." We know that's not true and we need to be there at this meeting to let the committee members know what farmworkers are going through! Click here for a flyer.

From Hazel Davalos
Community Organizing Director
CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy)
402 S. Miller St. Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 720-1263
[email protected]
www.causenow.org

Posted by March 27, 2016 10:00 PM

SBCAN NC VP Jerry Connor is in the hospital with terminal cancer

It is with great sorrow that we tell you that our good friend and SBCAN's North County Vice President Jerry Connor was admitted to Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria on Thursday. He suffers from angioblastoma, blood vessel tumors in the brain. His condition is terminal. We visited him in room 413 tonight. He can be seen by visitors, but did not open his eyes at all on Sunday. How much awareness and time he has is uncertain.

Jerry's wife Doris said she is grateful to all Jerry's friends and colleagues who have appreciated him and his skills as he has been involved with SBCAN and other organizations.

We think of Jerry as a man with a tremendous intellect and a big heart. We loved hearing his stories, especially how he met Doris. He was always cheerful and upbeat. We will miss him.

With warmest regards,

Ken Hough and Jeanne Sparks
SBCAN Executive Director and Associate Director

Posted by March 12, 2016 12:24 AM

Celebration of Life for Joann Marmolejo

It is with great sorrow that we say goodbye to our good friend and colleague Joann Marmolejo. She passed away on Tuesday.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Joann on Saturday, March 19.

Here’s a message from Joyce Howerton:

“It is with sadness that I let you know that Joann Marmolejo passed away on Tuesday, March 8th. Until the end Joann did it her way by emailing people on important issues facing Santa Barbara County. There will be a celebration of Life for Joann, and her sons asked that I try and get a count of Joann's political friends who might attend because the family is providing a BBQ. Please RSVP back to me ([email protected]) by Wednesday, March 16 if you can join the family in saying goodbye to our friend.”

Posted by March 08, 2016 5:45 PM

HOT Committees, Rail Spur Hearing, NC Awards Dinner

1. Thursday, March 10, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., N.C. H.O.T. Committee, Rabobank Conference Room, 1554 S. Broadway (corner of Battles Road), Santa Maria
2. Friday, March 11, Noon, S.C. H.O.T. Committee, Rabobank 2nd Floor Conference Room, 33 Carrillo St. (corner of Anacapa Street), Santa Barbara
3. Friday, March 11, 2016 starting at 9 a.m.: Continuation of County of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission's Hearing on the Phillips 66 Rail Spur.
4. Sunday, May 22 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., North County "Looking Forward" Awards Dinner, Radisson Hotel, 3455 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria

Posted by March 01, 2016 12:30 PM

URGENT - SM Councilwoman Terri Zuniga asks for your help tonight at City Council Meeting

We are forwarding an urgent message from Santa Maria City Councilwoman Terri Zuniga about the Betteravia Development going before the City Council tonight. Please attend or send an email. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria.

EMAIL MESSAGE FROM COUNCILWOMAN TERRI ZUNIGA:

Tonight the city council will be making important decisions regarding trees and the streetscape in the new Betteravia Development. The car dealers in particular are pushing hard AGAINST the vision and are asking for limited trees and streetscape. This completely flies in the direction the council gave staff for new developments!!! If you care what your community looks like in the future please come out and voice your opinion. Let the city council know what YOUR VISION for YOUR COMMUNITY is!!!!! Or email the council TODAY, ask that your correspondence be READ into the record!!!! Post on social media and ask your friends to come to the meeting to speak on the item, send emails and post. Let your voices be heard!

(Read Terri's talking points below.)

MESSAGE FROM SBCAN:

We agree with everything Terri says. We would add:

Posted by February 29, 2016 2:56 PM

Take action on Farmworkers Bill of Rights

SBCAN is joining with CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy) in asking the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to pass a Farmworker Bill of Rights.

Please add your voice to this call for action today! Please email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].

Here is a sample message:

"Hi. My name is __________ and I am a Santa Barbara County resident. I support CAUSE's proposed Farmworker Bill of Rights because I am concerned with the working conditions of farmworkers in Santa Barbara County. Farmworkers do one of the most difficult, dangerous and underpaid jobs in our community and they deserve humane treatment. Please do everything in the county’s power to set and enforce basic standards to prevent extreme overwork, wage theft, and health and safety problems in our fields. Please put the Farmworker Bill of Rights on your agenda by Cesar Chavez Day March 31. Thank you."

Here's what the Farmworker Bill of Rights calls for: