Point Sal and Mishopshno MPA Proposals approved!

On October 15th, in Sacramento, the Fish and Game Commission approved both the Point Sal and the Mishopshno Marine Protection Areas! SBCAN South County Director Murray Dawson bused up to Sacramento alongside other advocates including former SBCAN Board Member Alhan Diaz-Correa, to be in person for the final push! 

Both of these MPAs mark the first tribally co-led MPAs in California’s history. They protect important ecological sites and while meaningfully contributing to our region and California's overall climate change resilience! They also come alongside a series of new MPA additions in California and are apart of the newest creation of MPAs since the MPA program started in California.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) co-sponsored both proposals. For Point Sal, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council was a co-sponsor. For Mishopshno, the Santa Ynez Chumash Band of Indians co-sponsored, alongside the Environmental Defense Center (EDC)!

The process for community input, compromising with community members, drawing of boundaries for the MPA sites, gathering of empirical data, and push to the final end took three years of effort!

SBCAN is beyond grateful for the opportunity to be apart of this historic process, and we are deeply thankful for NRDC, EDC, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, and Santa Ynez Chumash Band of Indians, for their trust and confidence. 

You can learn more about both MPA’s here: State Approves New Marine Protected Areas on the Central Coast  - The Santa Barbara Independent 

Oct.15 Harbor Commission Recap

SBCAN was among dozens of organizations and individuals who submitted written letters and provided public comment in person to support the idea of a Chumash cultural center to replace the wading pool at West Beach in Santa Barbara which has remained closed since 2014.

Thanks to effective organizing by Chumash leaders and strong community turnout, the Harbor Commission unanimously supported the idea of a Chumash cultural center! This decision will play a key role in encouraging the City Council to support this vision.

Most importantly, it marks an exciting opportunity to help Santa Barbara County residents and tourists celebrate the Indigenous history of this very land.

Read more about the October 15 Harbor Commission in this Newspress article. 

SBCAN Executive Director Nancy Avoce with a Santa Barbara resident (left) and Harbor Commissioner Spenser Jaimes (center)

SBCAN October Roundtable
Clean Energy Economy: Discussing Renewable Energy and Labor

Join us for a Roundtable on Friday, October 30 from 12:00 - 1:30 PM via Zoom moderated by SBCAN South County Director Murray Dawson. 

Das Williams, representative from the Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) will share information on renewable energy sources including wind, solar, and nuclear energy.

Researcher and academic Paasha Mahdavi will provide us with an overview on the evolving energy economy of the future. 

Together, we will explore where our energy future is headed and what changes our local workers communities across Santa Barbara County should expect.

Photo Credit: Courtesy County of Santa Barbara 

Register for the zoom meeting in advance using this link.

Jail Expansion BOS Oct. 20

Santa Barbara County is moving forward with the expansion of the Northern Branch Jail, a $167 million project with six additional 64-bed housing units. The County Board of Supervisors will meet tomorrow on Tuesday, October 20 (Departmental Item #3) to assess whether the proposed design reflects current jail population needs. See the agenda here.

Although the county’s average daily jail population has reportedly declined by more than 100 people from July 2025 to September 2026, the proposed expansion remains unchanged.

Advocates and coalition partners are calling for the proposal to better reflect updated population projections with more lower-security housing options (as opposed to more costly high-security options) and support for programs dedicated to rehabilitation, decrease recidivism, and ultimately reduced construction and operating costs. 

Click here to read an opinion piece published in the Independent for more information.

To take action, consider the following:

1) Email the Board of Supervisors: Send written comments to [email protected] by 5 p.m. today. 

2) Attend the meeting in person: You can attend and participate in person on Tuesday, October 20 at 9:00 AM at the Betteravia Government Building in Santa Maria. 

3) Attend the meeting virtually and provide public comment on Zoom. See here for the link to register.

State Legislative Platform 2027

Each year, Santa Barbara County develops a Legislative Platform that outlines the County's top priorities to advance important legislation and secure state and federal funding to meet our community's needs.

As the County’s Legislative Committee looks ahead to 2027, your voice can help shape what comes next! Read the Edhat article to learn more and fill out this survey by Friday, October 23 at 5:00 PM.

See this link to access the 2026 Legislative Platform. 

Impressed with the 2026 Legislative Platform? So was SBCAN! Show your appreciation for the County Legislative Committee’s hard work and let them know which priorities matter most to you.

You can send written comments directly to Clare Tobin at [email protected].

Before You Vote: What Santa Barbara County Residents Should Know

As election day approaches, SBCAN wants to highlight propositions that will have implications for our county. 

On October 6, the County Board of Supervisors considered taking formal positions on two propositions. Supervisor Capps brought forward Proposition 1, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, encouraging a formal resolution to support this proposition. SBCAN provided public comment in support of Proposition 1.

Supervisor Hartmann raised Proposition 45, the Expedited Environmental Review initiative before Supervisors. SBCAN provided public comment opposing Proposition 45. The County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously (4-0 with Sup Lavagnino absent) to pass a resolution to oppose Prop 45.

This vote demonstrates broad concern for the cumulative impact of streamlining initiatives on both environmental review and public input. 

See below for proposition positions from the Fund for Santa Barbara. See their full list of endorsements here.

Data Centers: How Do We Prepare?

Last week, our local news outlets informed Santa Barbara residents of conversations beginning around Global Stack USA, a company proposing data centers across California and its interest in developing a data center at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. The Instagram post made by the Santa Barbara Independent pasted below had 250 comments within the first 48 hours of posting, demonstrating that this is an issue of interest for our community. 

While no agreement has been made to move forward, this proposal raises an important question about how land should be used and what impact these projects will have on our communities. 

As similar proposals emerge across the state, how would you like to see our community respond? Please reply to this email with your thoughts, concerns, and ideas!

Looking Ahead
Solomon Hills: Continuing the Conversation

Anticipating a busy holiday season, SBCAN will recontinue Roundtables in January following the upcoming October 30 Roundtable (read above).

In August, SBCAN hosted Ben Humphrey, Director of Community Development for a community meeting on the proposed Solomon Hills Development. We encourage you to watch the recording using this link.

Due to limited time, some questions and concerns were left unaddressed. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our discussion where we will hear from a panel of experts on key issues and areas of concern. 

The Roundtable will be on Zoom on January 29, 2027 from 12:00 to 1:30 PM. Click here to register. 

---- 

In the meantime, we invite you to read the latest update on potential sources of water supply for the Solomon Hills proposed development which now considers the Montecito Water District’s State Water as an alternative option to water from the Mojave Desert. Read more in this Newspress article. 

The North Board of Architectural Review (NBAR) will take place this Friday, October 23, 2026 and consider three items on the Solomon Hills proposed development:

1) Solomon Hills Specific Plan and Development Plan
2) Solomon Hills Offsite Wet Weather Basin
3) Newlove Park Recreational Improvements

The agenda and available meeting materials can be accessed using this link. 

Email Teresa Castro, Senior Administrative Office Professional, Planning & Development Department with any questions you may have: [email protected].