CALENDAR

 

DATE

 TIME ITEM PLACE

Tues
Oct 21

  9am Support SB County's Oil & Gas Phase-Out SB 
Tues
Oct 21		 4pm Sierra Club Clean Energy Action Hour Online

Tues
Oct 21

 5pm What's Next After No Kings? Online
Th
Oct 23		 4pm Banner Drop SM
Th
Oct 23		 4pm Culture of Protest Online
Sat
Oct 25 		2pm Tom Lehrer Tribute Show Nipomo
Now  -

CALL TO ACTION:
Neighbor to Neighbor re Prop 50

 Online
Now - CALL TO ACTION:
Help support Eastside 		Petition

Items in bold are new since our last action alert.
Items in blue are SBCAN items.

 

  

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21
 

Support Phasing Out Oil and Gas Operations in SB County

MESSAGE FROM
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL

October 21: Urge County Supervisors to Phase Out Oil Drilling in Santa Barbara 

Stand up for a clean-energy future — we need your voice to ensure oil drilling has an end date.

Last spring, the County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors voted to task staff with developing an Oil Phase Out Ordinance. On Tuesday, October 21, the Board of Supervisors will again vote on specific actions to phase out oil operations in Santa Barbara County. This is the moment to shape a cleaner, healthier future for the California Central Coast, and we need your voice. 

By preparing ordinance amendments to prohibit new drilling and phasing out existing wells, Santa Barbara has a defining opportunity to set the standard and lead California toward a climate-safe future for all. Join us in demanding an end to oil drilling and the destruction it inflicts on our health, safety, and environment.

To learn more about the hearing, explore the agenda here and the staff report here. Our agenda item, Consider recommendations regarding the framework, approach and budget to phaseout oil & gas operations, is item #3 on the agenda. There is also a staff report regarding idle and orphan wells, which will be addressed directly before the Oil and Gas Operations Phase Out agenda item. See the Learn More section below for additional background information and resources.

Attend the Board of Supervisors Meeting

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.

Attend In Person

Join us on Tuesday, October 21, as we urge the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to prohibit new oil projects and phase out existing drilling. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and breaks at noon — oil and gas operations will be the third and final item on the agenda. It is expected to be heard around 11 a.m., but it may be pushed to after the lunch break. To ensure you don't miss it, monitor the meeting online and head to the hearing room when they begin discussing agenda item #1.The session will take place at the board hearing room on the fourth floor of the County Administration Building, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. 

Attend the meeting and provide public comment to help prevent further environmental devastation caused by oil drilling in Santa Barbara County. Meeting information is posted here. Public comments are typically limited to three minutes, but for well-attended meetings, may be further limited to one or two minutes. 

Can’t Make It In Person? Provide Public Comment

Testify Remotely in Santa Maria: Participate in the meeting remotely from the Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building Board Hearing Room (511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria).

Via Email: Email the Board of Supervisors ([email protected]) by October 20 at 5:00 p.m. with the message to prohibit new oil projects and phase out existing drilling. Be sure to use the following email subject line: October 21 BOS meeting on the Oil Phase Out ordinance.

Over Zoom: If you can’t attend in person, participate in the meeting virtually to provide public comment or listen in. You can register here or access the Zoom link in the October 21 meeting agenda packet, which you can download here.

Talking Points

Share your appreciation and why this matters to you:

  • Show your appreciation to county staff and elected officials for considering an oil phaseout ordinance to safeguard the health of our communities and natural ecosystems.

  • Share in your own words why climate action matters to you, your children, and your community.

Urge the Santa Barbara County Supervisors to:

  • Prepare ordinance amendments prohibiting new drilling and phasing out oil operations. Phasing out oil drilling is crucial to achieving our climate goals and protecting our air, land, and water from the harmful impacts of oil drilling.  

Emphasize that:

  • Santa Barbara has experienced several major oil spills in recent history, from the 1969 Union Oil drilling rig blowout to the 2015 Plains All American Pipeline rupture, as well as many onshore oil spills. We have a responsibility to prevent further pollution and habitat destruction and combat long-term damage to our ocean, land, and wildlife caused by oil drilling. 

  • As California faces an idle well crisis, Santa Barbara has an opportunity to lead the way in climate action, setting a strong example for other regions to follow. Ending oil extraction shows a commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

  • Oil drilling contributes to air pollution and water contamination, which can have detrimental effects on public health, leading to asthma, respiratory issues, heart disease, cancer, etc. Low-income communities and communities of color in Santa Barbara County disproportionately suffer from pollution and health problems linked to oil operations. Ending drilling is a vital step toward environmental justice and will help safeguard the health of our local communities for generations to come.

  • With the signing of AB 3233, local governments have more control over oil and gas industry pollution and emissions compared to other emissions sources. Transitioning away from oil drilling supports efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fight climate change. 

  • Recent developments with Sable Offshore Oil Company’s plans to pursue offshore oil storage and treatment in federal waters underscore the urgency of local action. While federal waters are beyond county control, Santa Barbara retains clear authority over onshore drilling and can act decisively to protect public health and the environment

  • Phasing out oil drilling opens the door for sustainable job creation in renewable energy and green technology sectors.

  • One oil operation could erase all of the hard work by county residents to cut carbon emissions and pollution. Ignoring the impacts of oil drilling undermines the progress we’ve made by switching to electric cars and solar and pushes California further from its goal of achieving a carbon-neutral economy by 2045.

  • The County of Santa Barbara already took a significant step forward by adopting the 2030 CAP — a major victory for climate advocates in the region. We urge our elected officials to strengthen this commitment by establishing a clear timeline for phasing out oil drilling and reducing the GHG emissions it generates.

Learn more

For over 50 years, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) has defended and fought for measures that protect our coastlines and communities from harmful fossil fuels. Drilling, transporting, and burning oil contaminates our air, water, and land, threatening the ecosystems we know and love. The human costs are significant as well. A recent study by UC Santa Barbara found that phasing out oil and gas operations in Santa Barbara County could prevent an estimated $54-$81 million in mortality-related costs by 2045 and avoid climate damages valued at $21.8 million. 

The Central Coast is leading the shift toward a clean energy future.

Just [last] week, the City of Fillmore joined Clean Power Alliance. Following this vote, all eligible cities and counties in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo now participate in Community Choice energy programs, giving their residents and businesses easier access to 100% clean and renewable electricity 15 to 25 years ahead of state targets.

With the passage last year of AB 3233, local governments now have clear authority to regulate, limit, and phase out oil and gas operations in their jurisdictions. While Sable Offshore Oil Company moves to operate in federal waters beyond local reach, Santa Barbara has the power and responsibility to act where it does have control — by ending onshore oil drilling.

In August 2024, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of passing an oil and gas resolution in addition to a Climate Action Plan (CAP). The board directed staff to return with measurable ways to reduce oil and gas emissions as part of the county’s climate goals. On Tuesday, October 21, county staff will present options for the board to consider. CEC and 50+ organizations have joined forces to call for an end to oil drilling ordinance — and have already collected hundreds of sign ons from community members. Stand with us as we advocate for bold climate leadership that prioritizes our people and planet.
Read the Sign On Letter

Additional Resources

   

  

MESSAGE FROM ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE CENTER

EDC-phase_out_oil.png

Last spring, Santa Barbara County Supervisors directed staff to begin the process of developing a framework to ban new oil drilling and phase out existing operations. Prohibiting new drilling and phasing out oil production will reduce air pollution, protect our drinking water, safeguard our health and help meet our County's plan to cut GHG pollution.
 
Will you join us in urging the Supervisors to authorize County staff’s two-step plan to phase out existing and new oil drilling, and to add the project to Long-Range Planning’s Annual Work Program?
 
On October 21st, the Supervisors will hold a public meeting to vote on a set of specific actions to phase out oil drilling, and we need your voice.  Putting an end to fossil fuel production will help the County plan an orderly transition away from oil and gas, provide landowners and industry with certainty, and head off costly project proposals that conflict with County efforts to protect our air, water, health, and climate.
 
Please join us at the hearing on October 21st or by submitting comments via email by Monday, October 20 at 5PM to the Clerk of the Board at [email protected].
 
WAYS TO JOIN US
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 9AM
  • IN-PERSON (Agenda)
    County Administration Building
    Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor
    105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara
  • TESTIFY REMOTELY IN SANTA MARIA
    Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building
    Board Hearing Room
    511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria
  • COMMENT VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM
    Sign up to speak virtually (registration required in advance)
  • EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS BY OCTOBER 20 @ 5PM 
    Clerk of the Board at [email protected]
TALKING POINTS:
  • Please authorize County staff’s two-step plan to phase out existing and new oil drilling, and to add the project to Long-Range Planning’s Annual Work Program
  • Our community deserves clean air. Phasing out oil and gas will reduce air pollution and protect public health for everyone.
  • Many local oil projects use dirty, carbon-polluting techniques like steam injection and are one of the major sources of GHG emissions in the County. Phasing out these operations is critical to fighting climate change.
  • Oil and gas operations inject wastewater underground, threatening clean water. In the Cat Canyon oil field alone, a state study identified 291 wells that pose a risk of contaminating the Santa Maria groundwater basin, which is relied upon by 190,000 community members in North County.  Phasing out oil and gas will protect our precious groundwater.
  • There is local precedent for phasing out oil and gas operations. The County (and later Goleta) engaged in a process aimed at permanently shutting down the Ellwood Onshore Facility after a set period and once investment costs were recovered.
  • State legislation went into effect this year that empowers the County to pass an oil and gas ban and phase out ordinance that protects public health and the environment from the impacts of fossil fuel extraction.
Thank you for speaking up to ensure Santa Barbara County moves away from dirty fossil fuels toward clean renewable energy and protects our communities, climate, and our natural resources.
 

MESSAGE FROM
CLIMATE FIRST: REPLACING OIL & GAS

cfrog_logo.png

Support Santa Barbara’s Oil & Gas Phase-Out on Oct 21!

On Tuesday, October 21, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will decide to advance the policy plan for the county’s Oil and Gas Phase-Out Ordinance, which may include:

  • No new oil and gas permits

  • A phase-out of existing oil and gas operations

  • Just transition policies to support the workforce transition

Back in May, the Board of Supervisors voted to pursue this ordinance, citing the devastating costs of inaction — from the deadly Montecito mudslides to the ever-increasing climate disasters in our state.

We’re close to the finish line, but we need to call on every member of the Board of Supervisors to vote in support of a strong Oil and Gas Phase-Out Ordinance that guarantees justice.

Use this toolkit to take action:

  1. Pack the room at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisor Meeting, 105 E. Anapamu, SB, on Tuesday, October 21

  2. Send a written comment by 5 p.m. PT on Monday, October 20 urging the Supervisors to vote in support of moving forward with a Santa Barbara County Oil and Gas Phase-Out Ordinance.

  3. Share our toolkit with other Santa Barbara County residents to drum up support!
Take Action Today!

From [email protected]
  
   Sierra_Club_Action_Hour.png

MESSAGE FROM THE SIERRA CLUB

Defend Clean Energy Action Hour

On Tuesday, we'll be coming together once again for the October Action Hour to defend our clean energy future.

We'll take action by making calls to our governors to support clean energy and by sharing key information on social media with friends and family. The Trump administration is telling lies to enrich the oil and gas corporations that helped him get elected. These actions will help amplify the truth.

Across the country, families are feeling the pinch. Prices for groceries, gas, and housing keep rising. Utility bills have jumped nearly 7% in the last year, and energy companies in 41 states are hiking rates again. 

But instead of providing relief, the Trump administration is making things worse. By rolling back energy efficiency standards, blocking clean energy projects, and signing legislation that drives up household energy bills, Republicans in Congress have created a self-inflicted energy crisis. Fossil fuel companies and utilities are raking in profits while families are forced to choose between keeping the lights on or paying for groceries.

The good news? Clean energy is the solution, and together, we can push back against the misinformation standing in its way.

During our action hour together, we'll:

  • Fight disinformation about clean energy on social media
  • Write letters to the editor championing affordable clean energy solutions in our communities

In each Sierra Club Action Hour, you'll get the latest updates on Trump's destructive agenda and how you can take meaningful action against it in just one hour per month. These interactive meetings take place virtually, so you can join from wherever you live or work alongside hundreds of other Sierra Club advocates.

WHAT: Action Hour to defend our clean energy future
WHERE: Online -- join from wherever you are!
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct 21, at 4 pm PT/ 7 pm ET

In Solidarity,
Sierra Club
 
 

MESSAGE FROM INDIVISIBLE

What's Next After No Kings?

Tuesday, October 21
5pm - 6pm PT
Online
 

[On Oct. 18], over seven million Americans joined the largest single-day protest against tyranny in our nation’s history.

In 2,700 small towns and big cities, on street corners in the heart of so-called “Trump country,” on overpasses and in historic plazas, people rose up in defense of their neighbors, their rights, and their democracy.

A collage of No Kings photos from across the country 

(Check out our Instagram for way more photos & video from all 50 states)

It was joyful. It was peaceful. And it was patriotic. The Trump regime tried to paint No Kings Day as a “hate America” protest, but what we saw on display was the best of what this country is meant to be -- a nation that refuses to succumb to intimidation, a people that fiercely defends our freedoms and says in one voice, across generations, religions, races, gender identities, and nations of origin: We are all Americans, and we will not bow to kings.

Despite the threats and virulently un-American attempts to chill speech in the days leading up to Saturday, our numbers only grew. Two million MORE people hit the streets than in June. In Platte City, Missouri, No Kings exploded from 20 protesters four months ago to 550 yesterday. Stories like that poured in from every corner of the country.

Our pro-democracy movement is surging. Now it’s up to each of us to channel this incredible energy into the organizing power it will take to win. 

Join us on Tuesday night at 8pm ET/5pm PT for a mass call of movement leaders and activists to discuss what’s next.

A banner reading: What's next after no kings? Mass Call Tuesday October 21 8pm ET/5pm PT

Protests serve many purposes -- they change the narrative, they grow our movement, they show people reeling under the weight of the regime’s atrocities that they are not alone.

But a single day of protest -- even the largest single-day protest we’ve seen in our lifetimes -- will not overcome the fascist onslaught we face.

It’s going to take ongoing, strategic organizing -- exactly the kind of organizing Indivisible was created to foster -- to deliver us from tyranny.

That’s what Tuesday’s mass all is going to be about. You won’t want to miss it. 

In solidarity,
Indivisible Team
   

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23

  Banner_Drop_A060008.jpg

MESSAGE FROM INDIVISIBLE SANTA MARIA

Overpass Banner Drop & Protest

Thursday, October 23
4pm-530pm

Meet us on either side of Stowell Rd overpass. Bring your signs & join the Banner Brigade!  Yes On Prop 50, or whatever you want to protest!

Joanne & Susan

Leadership Team
[email protected]

 

 

Culture_of_Protest.jpg

DICK FLACKS

Culture of Protest
Thursdays at 4 pm
www.kcsb.org
91.9 FM in SB
 

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25

Musical Showman Gale McNeeley Presents
Tom Lehrer Tribute Show

2pm Saturday, October 25

The Kandel's Backyard
776 Inga Road, Nipomo

Lehrer_Show_Flyer_Kandels_v1.jpg

Tom Lehrer left the planet July 26th, but his inspired music and lyrics live on.

In the 50s and 60s, Tom was a hit on college campuses with outrageous songs like Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, The Vatican Rag and So Long Mom, I’m Off to Drop the Bomb. He pushed the envelope with his take on religion, politics and war, taking jabs at the Boy Scouts, the Marines and Wernher von Braun.

Gale McNeeley’s Irish tenor vocals and wide musical and performance range make Lehrer’s satirical lyrics shine. And his performance background of unique material makes him ideal for bringing out the best of Lehrer’s work.

A former Broadway singer-actor, he’s a European trained instructor of Commedia Dell ‘Arte (Italian masked comedy) teaching nationally. Work like his ongoing touring show Archy and Mehitabel, allows for a rich interpretation of Lehrer zany words ands music. McNeeley says, “At my Jesuit college, The Vatican Rag was the naughtiest song I had ever heard. Tom inspired my career as a song parodist.”

Mr. McNeeley will be accompanied on the piano by Paul Marszalkowski from the Pacific Conservatory Theatre. There will be a suggested donation of $15 at the door. For more information text or call 805 406 4997.

THIS PROGRAM IS SPONSORED BY SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ACTION NETWORK

 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 27

3_protesters.jpg

Support the Palestinians

MESSAGE FROM SANTA MARIA RESIDENT GALE MCNEELEY

Come join us every Monday 4–5:30 PM at Main & Broadway in Santa Mara to Support the Palestinians and to Protest the Genocide in Gaza. We invite you to join us for all or any part of that time. Bring a sign expressing your hopes for the Palestinian people. We have been there for this last year, and the beeps in support are growing every week.  
Gale McNeeley 805 406 4997
 
 

CALL TO ACTION

Neighbor to Neighbor re Prop 50

MESSAGE FROM INDIVISIBLE (NATIONAL)

Neighbor2Neighbor re Prop 50

 

Hello California Indivisibles!

Hundreds of you joined our state-wide call this week where we launched our revolutionary voter contact tool in support of Proposition 50.

But now, we need thousands of folks signing up to use our Neighbor2Neighbor tool to get out the vote and ensure Prop 50 passes.

If you're on our list, you probably understand the stakes here -- Donald Trump and his allies are attempting to rig the 2026 midterms using an unprecedented power grab to redraw district lines in red states and hand Republicans more congressional seats.

Their goal is permanent Republican control of the House of Representatives so Trump and his cronies can continue hollowing out our government (and our healthcare system) to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and a lawless secret police force with the resources of a national military. Proposition 50 levels the playing field without an unfair advantage for Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

But some of your neighbors might not know the stakes. Some of them might not even be planning to vote. YOU can change that -- by volunteering to canvass your own neighborhood, on your own time, using Neighbor2Neighbor.

Sign up here to knock 10 doors using Neighbor2Neighbor >>

What is Neighbor2Neighbor?

Neighbor2Neighbor is an opportunity to make sure Californians are talking to each other about Proposition 50 -- and about how California is leading the charge to stand up to the MAGA bullies who ignore what American voters want.

People who hear from a trusted neighbor are up to two times more likely to vote than those who do not. The key to success is connecting on a personal level with those we have the most influence with: our community.

Here’s how to get going:

  1. You sign up online. Simply sign up at this link. No app to download, no fancy tech. Just a signup form and we’ll get you what you need.
  2. We send you a list of 10 like-minded neighbors, a simple script, and an optional printout to leave behind! N2N focuses on folks who largely agree with us but might need an extra push or reminder to vote.
  3. You knock on their doors and have a brief conversation about voting. Choose when to get out there on your own time!
  4. You mark your "Neighbors" page once you talk to them, so we know what voters you’ve connected with.

That’s it!

No complex training. No complicated application. Just an opportunity to get out and meet the person you see while walking your dog, the friendly parents whose kids go to school with yours, or the neighbors with the fun Halloween decor -- and increase the probability that they all show up to vote.

GET YOUR 10 DOORS >>

Together, we can make sure Prop 50 passes and our democracy stays strong. We hope to see you out there soon!

In solidarity,
Indivisible Team

P.S. Please feel free to forward this email to other Californians who may want to get out there and knock doors! Each person you help sign up doubles your impact and helps us reach 10 or more like-minded Californians.

 

 

CALL TO ACTION

Help Promote Eastside Santa Barbara's Businesses & Resources

 

Last year, Eastside residents approached SBCAN for help to promote Eastside businesses and resources. Residents consider Milpas Street Santa Barbara's "second State Street," but do not feel like there is enough investment in the Eastside to help boost its economy. Long-standing businesses are struggling due to various factors including lack of visitation from tourists staying on Cabrillo and from locals. 

Thank you to our volunteer Abigail Lindros for helping create this petition to urge the City of Santa Barbara to help promote social and economic justice in Santa Barbara's Eastside. The Eastside is a community rich with diversity and resources and should be treated as such.

"To revitalize the Eastside, a community of Eastside residents alongside SBCAN and other organizations, propose creating a dedicated Eastside Resources/Businesses page on the official City of Santa Barbara website. This page would include hyperlinks to local business websites and contact information, enhancing visibility and accessibility for residents and visitors alike. Additionally, this page would promote Eastside resources such as libraries, community centers, and services for families to bolster community resilience and increase use of existing services.  

To elevate Eastside’s online presence, we call for the hiring of City staff or the designation of funds towards a local nonprofit to manage social media accounts that uplift our Milpas restaurants to attract more visitors and invigorate our community’s economy."

Please sign this petition to urge the City of Santa Barbara to create an Eastside businesses and resources tab on the official City website and designate funds to promoting Milpas restaurants on social media.   

 

ELECTED OFFICIALS CONTACT INFORMATION

 

U.S. CONGRESS

Senator Adam Schiff
Washington, DC: (202) 224-3841
Los Angeles: (310) 914-7300
San Francisco: (415) 393-0707
Fresno: (559) 485-7430
Email

Senator Alex Padilla
Washington, DC: (202) 224-3553
Fresno (559) 497–5109
San Francisco (415) 981–9369  
Sacramento (916) 448–2787
Los Angeles (310) 231–4494
San Diego (619) 239–3884
Email

Congressman Salud Carbajal
Santa Barbara: (805) 730-1710
San Luis Obispo: (805) 546-8348
Washington, DC: (202) 225-3601
Email

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE

Senator Monique Limón
Santa Barbara: (805) 965-0862
Oxnard: (805) 988-1940
Sacramento: (916) 651-4021
Email

Assemblyman Gregg Hart
Santa Barbara: (805) 564-1649
Sacramento: (916) 319-2037
Email
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

1st District Supervisor Roy Lee
(805) 568-2186
[email protected]

2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps
(805) 568-2191
[email protected]

3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann
(805) 568-2192
[email protected]

 

4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson
(805) 346-8407
[email protected]

5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino
(805) 346-8404
[email protected]

 
  
SIGN UP FOR SBCAN ACTION ALERTS
 
Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) is a countywide progressive organization working to promote social and economic justice, to preserve our environmental and agricultural resources and to create sustainable communities.
 
SBCAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Memberships and donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. Join with us to work on environmental, economic and social justice issues.
BECOME A MEMBER OF SBCAN OR MAKE A DONATION

FB_logo.jpg

Connect with us on Facebook

www.sbcan.org

[email protected]

Jeanne Sparks and Ken Hough, Co-Executive Directors