TAKE ACTION!

Now	Protect Rooftop Solar	Contact state legislators
Now	Stop Expanded Logging of Forests	Contact U.S. senators
Now	Support bills to block offshore oil	Contact Congress members
Th, Apr 24	Hands Off Social Security	Santa Barbara
Sun, Apr 27	Let's Celebrate the Workers, not just the Fruit	Santa Maria
Mon, Apr 28	Give input on a new nonprofit news outlet	Santa Maria
Th, May 1	May Day Strong	Lompoc
Th, May 1	UC Service Workers Strike	Santa Barbara
Th, May 1	May Day Strong	Santa Barbara
Sun, June 22	SBCAN 2025 Awards Reception and Fundraiser	Solvang

NOW

Protect Rooftop Solar

A message from the Solar Rights Alliance:

SOLAR CONSUMER ALERT:

Bill to break your solar contract scheduled for vote on Wednesday, April 30.

The bill would affect everyone who went solar before April 15, 2023 by slashing the credit you get for sending your extra energy back to the grid.

Defend your solar investment: Tell your rep NO on AB 942!

Tell your rep: Don't Break My Solar Contact

More background here or email [email protected]

– Dave Rosenfeld, Executive Director & Cailey Underhill, Advocacy and Development Director

Solar Rights Alliance
302 Washington St
# 150-5062
San Diego, CA 92103

NOW

Stop Congress from Greenlighting Trump's Logging Agenda

Click here to submit a letter to your senators

A message from Los Padres ForestWatch:

The Senate is now considering S. 1462, the deceptively named Fix Our Forests Act—a bill that would supercharge comercial logging across our national forests while doing virtually nothing to protect communities from wildfire.

Backed by Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Alex Padilla (D-CA), this bill directly supports former President Trump’s sweeping plan to dramatically expand commercial logging in national forests. Just weeks ago, Trump issued an executive order calling for “immediate expansion of American timber production,” followed by an emergency declaration from his Agriculture Secretary that opens the door to widespread logging with little oversight. S. 1462 would help implement this agenda by gutting environmental safeguards and removing public accountability.

Click to Tell Your Senators - Vote NO on the Fix Our Forest Act

Supporters of the bill are misleading the public by claiming it’s about wildfire mitigation—but it’s not. The science is clear: logging remote forests does not stop the wind-driven wildfires that are damaging to communities.

The bill exempts massive logging and vegetation clearing projects—up to 10,000 acres at a time—from environmental review, and it gets worse.

S. 1462 places millions of acres of public lands into loosely defined “fireshed management areas” where agencies can bypass the Endangered Species Act and limit public input under the guise of an “emergency.” It promotes logging of mature, fire-resilient trees, encourages harmful livestock grazing in sensitive ecosystems, and severely restricts the ability of communities to challenge damaging projects in court.

Meanwhile, the bill offers no funding for the most effective wildfire safety strategies—like home hardening and defensible space within five feet of structures—leaving communities at risk.

Tell your Senators: Vote NO on S. 1462. Stop Trump’s logging agenda and demand real wildfire solutions that protect people and public lands.

Thank you,

Benjamin Pitterle, Director of Advocacy and Field Operations

Los Padres ForestWatch

NOW

Support bills to block offshore oil drilling

Contact Congress members

A message from Jim Hines, Conservation Chair, Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter of the Sierra Club:

Hello Central Coast Activists:

Goodbye to the protected ocean waters of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. DOGE (Dept of Government Efficiency) is spending this week "invading" various NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) offices in the western U.S. NOAA oversees the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and our two local NMS's are in DOGE's crosshairs for elimination. DOGE staffer and now Assistant Secretary of the Interior told me that there will be a 60% reduction in funding and staff at our two local national marine sanctuaries ... this will cripple our two local national marine sanctuaries.

Thanks to the President, DOGE and Interior staff the stage is set for a planned increase in new oil drilling platforms in federal waters of the Santa Barbara Channel. DOGE is terminating the lease of the central coast office in Camarillo of the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and staff will be moved to Alaska....how unconventional for those of us here locally. Just when the public engagement process for the new offshore drilling plans has begun.

People at Interior, working with the oil and gas industry are sitting around tables in offices in Washington DC planning on how to implement the President's and Secretary of Interior's orders to facilitate a massive increase in oil drilling in ALL federal waters where oil and gas exist.

And the central coast region of California is on the list, we are in both the Central Coast region and Southern California region planning zones. Where a now suspended (by Presidential executive order) offshore oil drilling ban had existed.

Will we have any help from congress....maybe...for our good friend Congressman Jared Huffman has just announced a package of five bills to block the Trump Administration's plans for new and increase offshore drilling, the bills impacting us along the central coast region are:

1) Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act

2) Central Coast of Calfiornai Protection Act of 2025

Let's all give our support to these bills, thank congressman Huffman https://huffman.house.gov/contact/email-me and advocate in DC if you can for the bills passage.

Pressure needs to be placed on the one man who will decide whether these bills see the light of day and that is congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources. https://westerman.house.gov/contact

Things are happening quickly, so we must act quickly and decisively.

for the wild,

Jim

THURSDAY, APRIL 24

Hands Off Social Security

Thursday, April 24, at noon
Social Security office, 122 West Figueroa St.
Santa Barbara

A message from Indivisible Santa Barbara:

In response to the Trump/DOGE continuing cuts to the Social Security Administration which have drastically reduced the workforce that provides benefits to millions of Americans, Indivisible is partnering with Social Security Works to mount events at social security offices all across the country on Thursday April 24th. The focal point of the events will be delivering a letter of support from Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressional allies to assure SSA workers that there are those who are fighting back to secure their jobs and restore funding for their critical services.

The Hands Off Social Security Santa Barbara rally will take place at noon on Thursday, April 24, in front of our local Social Security office, 122 West Figueroa St., Santa Barbara. Jon “Bowzer” Bauman, President of the Social Security Works PAC, will be there to lead the event. You can sign up here to let us know you will be attending to show our support and demand that DOGE get its hands off our social security!

SUNDAY, APRIL 27

Let's Celebrate the Workers, not just the Fruit

Sunday, April 27
11am-2pm, 1619 S. Broadway
Santa Maria

A message from Indivisible Santa Maria:

We hope you can join us on the march to the Strawberry Festival to rally for this critical part of our community.

MONDAY, APRIL 28

Give input on a new nonprofit news outlet

Monday, April 28, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m
Future Leaders of America offices
625 S McClelland St
Santa Maria

Information from the Fund for Santa Barbara:

You may have recently heard that the archives of the Santa Barbara News-Press, the local newspaper that served the Central Coast for 150 years, was acquired by local leaders Ben Romo and Jason Yardi and donated to NEWSWELL, a nonprofit organization based at Arizona State University.

NEWSWELL plans to launch a new nonprofit news outlet in Santa Barbara County and wants to hear from Santa Maria residents. We will be hosting them on Monday, April 28 at 1:00 p.m. and hope you will join us! Please see the invitation from NEWSWELL, below, and let us know if you can attend.

In the meantime, here is a survey in English and Spanish, to provide initial input and ensure your voice is heard.

As part of our effort to understand what Santa Barbara community truly needs from a local news provider, we’re inviting you to join us for a community listening session on Monday, April 28, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m at the Future Leaders of America offices, 625 S McClelland St, Santa Maria, CA 93454.

This is a follow-up to our ongoing work before NEWSWELL launches a NEW Santa Barbara News-Press — not to replace or compete with existing news outlets, but to provide additional coverage in the areas where Santa Barbarans feel underserved. We’re here to listen, learn, and build something that complements and strengthens the broader local news ecosystem and community.

These sessions are small-group, casual conversations where you can share how you get your news, what information feels missing, and what you’d want from a trusted local newsroom.

Whether you’re deeply engaged with local news or just trying to stay in the loop, your input matters.

The sessions will be led by two experienced and passionate leaders:

Mary Walter-Brown, CEO of the News Revenue Hub
Nicole Carroll, Executive Director of NEWSWELL

Here’s what you can expect:

A relaxed, welcoming space for honest conversation
Refreshments
Free parking available on site

Thanks for being part of this important moment. Together, we can create something meaningful—by and for Santa Barbara.

Warmly, NEWSWELL

Kathleen Knight (she/ella), Capacity Building Manager, Direct: (805) 243-1362 ● Office: (805) 962-9164 x1106

fundforsantabarbara.org

MAY DAY

THURSDAY, MAY 1

May Day Strong Lompoc

Noon-1pm
East Central Avenue & North H Street
LOMPOC

https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/779501/

UC Service Workers Strike

10am-2pm
UCSB Storke Tower
SANTA BARBARA

You can join a rally in support of workers on the strike line at UCSB, Storke Tower. For more information about this event and the reasons for the strike action organized by AFSCME 3299: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/777568/

May Day Strong Santa Barbara

May 1, in the evening (TBD)
SB County Courthouse
corner of Anacapa and Anapamu
SANTA BARBARA

Indivisible Santa Barbara community rally will be held in the evening on Thursday May 1. We will gather at the steps of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse (corner of Anacapa and Anapamu) for a program of speakers followed by a short march. More details about this event will be forthcoming, but in the meantime SAVE THIS DATE to plan to join us for this next big protest.

More info: https://indivisiblesb.org/

SUNDAY, JUNE 22

Santa Barbara County Action Network
Inspiring Leadership Awards & Fundraiser

Sunday, June 22 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Fountain Courtyard at the Corque Hotel
420 Alisal Road, Solvang

This year we are combining our north and south fundraisers into one exciting mid-county fundraiser to bring together activists from throughout the county with music, refreshments and a program honoring accomplished community leaders or organizations.

This moment in time calls for us to stand together as one community to face challenges on a number of fronts.

WE NEED YOU!

We need our members and supporters to:

Sponsor the Event: Click here for sponsorship information

Buy Tickets and Attend: Tickets are $100/person. Click here to purchase tickets

Make Donations: Click here to make a donation

Spread the Word: Forward this email to your friends and associates!

For more information or for sliding scale tickets, email [email protected]

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 advocates a holistic approach to community planning that integrates housing, open space and transportation to meet the needs of all members of our community and future generations.

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.

Help us work for you. Become a member or make a donation!