Oil issues, Zero Emission Vehicle Plan, Regional Transportation Plan, and more

Oil Issues

Nine years after the Plains All American Pipeline ruptured spilling more than 450,000 gallons of crude oil onto Refugio Beach and into the ocean, an oil company is trying to restart offshore oil production.

SBCAN is working with our allies to prevent this.

Here are links to publications in the Santa Barbara Independent that give updates on these issues:

May 15, 2024 Article by Margaux Lovely

May 17, 2024 Op-ed by Brady Bradshaw of the Center for Biological Diversity

Different governmental agencies will have a say in whether offshore oil production can resume.

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District is taking public comment, which is due by Thursday, May 23: https://www.ourair.org/042324-pub-notice-sable/ SBCAN and our allies have asked the APCD to have a public hearing on this issue, but have not yet received a response.

There will be more to come as each of these agencies have comment periods and hearings. We will send out more action alerts as information becomes available.



Information from the County of Santa Barbara:

 County Draft Zero Emission Vehicle Plan Public Comment Workshops

The Zero Emission Vehicle Plan aims to accelerate the adoption and utilization of zero emission vehicles and reduce transportation-related emissions through a mix of policy, infrastructure, program and outreach actions.  

The Sustainability Division will host two public virtual workshops to provide an overview of the plan and provide the community with an opportunity to provide comments. The public comment period will be open for 45 days from May 9th – July 7th. 

Virtual Workshops
Wednesday May 22nd, 2024

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. 
Meeting #1 Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82153987686 

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
Meeting #2 Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81404363169 

Spanish interpretation will be available at the workshops. Registration and information for all events can be found at Transportation | Santa Barbara County



Information from Santa Barbara County Association of Governments:

Para consultar la versión en español de esta información, haga clic aquí

Shape Santa Barbara County’s Future

Connected 2050 Public Listening Sessions

Connected 2050 is the Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy guiding Santa Barbara County's transportation and land use future with a focus on mobility, health, sustainability, equity, and lower emissions.

Attend the listening session to learn more and give input on:

  • Transportation Funding

  • Regional Priority Projects

  • Transportation & Land Use Opportunities

  • California's Climate Goals

Public Meeting Schedule

In-Person

4 p.m., Thursday, May 23

Solvang City Council Chambers

1644 Oak Street, Solvang, CA 93463

Welcoming remarks by Joan Hartmann

SBCAG Director &Third District County Supervisor

Virtual

4 p.m., Wednesday, May 29

via Zoom

Register at: bit.ly/Connected2050

Welcoming remarks by Steve Lavagnino

SBCAG Board Chair & Fifth District County Supervisor

Additional feedback can be submitted in writing until 5 p.m. on Friday, June 7, 2024. Written comments can be submitted via U.S. Postal Service to 260 N. San Antonio Road, Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93110; or electronically by emailing [email protected]



 

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Santa Barbara County Action Network
North County “Looking Forward” Awards Dinner & Fundraiser
June 23, 2024 from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. 
Radisson Hotel, 3455 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria  

Santa Barbara County Action Network recognizes individuals, businesses and organizations that work selflessly to protect our environment and the rights of our county’s residents. These awards bring attention to this good work and help raise funds we need to keep doing our part. 


Join us to recognize:

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If you'd like to volunteer or would like a sliding scale ticket, contact us at [email protected]


Early Sponsors

California Condor
Dick & Marilyn Mazess
UFCW Local 770

Red-tailed Hawk
Allan Hancock College
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
Gerry DeWitt
Fund for Santa Barbara
CAUSE
Dick Flacks
UDW - AFSCME Local 3930

California Quail
Coasthills Credit Union
Cliff Solomon & Pam Gates
McCune Foundation
Kathy Sharum & David Dennis
Virginia Perry Souza
The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County

Anna's Hummingbird
Marc Chytilo & Nancy Weiss
Mary Rose & Associates
Janet Blevins & Gary Smith
Supervisor Das Williams
Assemblymember Gregg Hart
Supervisor Laura Capps
Santa Barbara Foundation


Will you join with our Early Sponsors to recognize the outstanding work of these individuals and organizations?



 

Do you know any middle school students in Santa Maria or Guadalupe who would like to attend a FREE five-day outdoor adventure program in June? 

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Central Coast
Youth Environmental Stewardship Program
(CC YES)
 

Creek Lands Conservation (CLC) has developed a free summer day camp for underserved students that reside in Guadalupe and Santa Maria. The five camp days will take place at various locations within San Luis Obispo County starting on June 10. There will be three one-week sessions serving 10 sixth- to eighth-grade students each week.

The Central Coast Youth Environmental Stewardship Program is five-day outdoor adventure-based, environmental and climate literacy program prioritizing students from under-resourced communities. 

Students will visit locations throughout San Luis Obispo County including:

  • Downtown San Luis Obispo (Terrace Hill Trail and Cerro San Luis Trail)
  • SLO City Farm and Prefumo Creek Trail
  • Los Osos Creek Wetlands Preserve
  • Montana de Oro
  • Morro Bay (estuary, Black Hill, kayaking in the bay)
  • Avila Beach and Cal Poly Center for Coastal Marine Sciences Pier

Transportation will be provided. We are looking for a total of 30 students to participate in the program from Guadalupe Union School District and Santa Maria-Bonita School District.

The main objective of CC YES is to help students develop functional ecological stewardship skills, provide environmental and climate education, and create an equitable and sustainable framework for students throughout the Central Coast region. This is a great opportunity to expose middle school students to Career Technical Education pathways before they are in high school.

Click here to learn more
 
For more information, please contact Nancy Avoce at [email protected] or Danielle Narzisi at [email protected].

Please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to organizations you are involved with, your members, and your friends.



 

You can still speak up for affordable and workforce housing on county-owned land!

While the rezone process is over for the Housing Element, you can still encourage the County of Santa Barbara to help alleviate our housing crisis. 
 
Sign this petition to urge the Board of Supervisors to use county-owned land to develop deed-restricted affordable and workforce housing and to maximize low-income and moderate housing units, rather than developing any additional market-rate units. 
 
Developing housing on underutilized county-owned land can help guarantee that housing units will be affordable and will go directly to local employees rather than out-of-town investors. This can help disrupt additional gentrification and can promote stability for our hard-working residents.
 
County-owned land is funded by Santa Barbara County taxpayers and data shows that our greatest need is affordable housing units so that we can work, live, and play in the county. A third of the county’s employees (more than 1,000 employees) cannot afford to live within the county. 
 
We encourage you to voice your support for developing deed-restricted affordable and workforce housing units on underutilized county-owned land.