Action Alerts

  • Speak up for Hero Pay at SB City Council on Tuesday, April 20

    Please join SBCAN in advocating for temporary increased "Hero Pay" for grocery and drug retail workers in the City of Santa Barbara.

    At the Santa Barbara City Council meeting on Tuesday, Apr. 20, the council will decide whether or not to approve an emergency ordinance to temporarily increase pay for grocery and drug retail workers by $5 per hour for 120 days.

    The item is #14 on their agenda and will likely be heard around 4 p.m. You can call into the meeting through their webinar app (information on their website here) or you can submit a written comment to the clerk before noon on April 20 by emailing it to [email protected]

    Below are some talking points you could include in your comments. Thank you for supporting essential workers!

    Written by
    April 18, 2021

  • SBCAN North County and South County Roundtables are combined this week

    You are invited to Santa Barbara County Action Network's countywide combined Roundtable on Friday, April 9 from noon to 1:30 p.m.
     
    We hope you will be able to make it. Please let us know if there are items you would like to discuss that are not listed on the agenda below.

    SBCAN North AND South County Roundtable

    Friday, April 9, 2021
    12 PM - 1:30 PM 

    Via Zoom:
    Email [email protected] for a Zoom link.

    AGENDA

    1. Call to Order by Chairs and SBCAN Co-Presidents Janet Blevins and Dick Flacks. Introductions; Agenda Review (5 min.)
    2. Holistic Defense Practice and Cash Bail: We will hear from the Racial Justice Committee from the Santa Barbara Public Defender's Office about their program to provide holistic support to those at risk of incarceration. We will also hear about the efforts to keep cash bail at $0 in California beyond the pandemic. 
    3. Save San Marcos Foothills: The community has reached an agreement with the developer who is planning to build luxury homes on the West Mesa of the San Marcos Foothills. Now, we have until June 1st to raise $20 million to protect this land forever. We will hear an update from the activists who have been leading this effort. 
    4. Hazard Pay for Grocery and Drug Store Workers: Major grocery and drug stores have seen record increases in profits. Meanwhile, workers of these stores have faced high exposure of COVID-19 for over a year. SBCAN is joining UFCW 770 in advocating for a $5 per hour increase for major grocery and drug store employees.  
    5. May Day Concert - SBCAN will be sponsoring an exciting virtual concert on Saturday, May 1st in honor of May Day! More details will be sent out early next week. 
    6. Brief updates from participants. Please let us know if there are items you want to bring up. (2 to 5 min. each)
    7. Our next meeting is to be determined and will be via Zoom.

    Ken Hough
    Executive Director
    Santa Barbara County Action Network
    [email protected]
    (805) 563-0463

    Written by
    April 07, 2021

  • County Climate Action Plan Workshops March 25

    The County of Santa Barbara is hosting two online community workshops on March 25 to kick off the development of the 2030 Climate Action Plan(CAP).
     
    The CAP seeks to reduce communitywide carbon emissions 50 percent by 2030 while improving community resilience, social equity, and quality of life. 
     
    The workshops will provide background on the planning process, an update about where the County’s greatest climate challenges are, and about what the potential focus areas are for the plan. Members of the community are invited to learn, provide feedback and discuss with others to explore the community’s values and priorities.
     
    Both workshops have the same presentation and agenda. Pick the time that works for you!

    Register now: 
    3/25, 12:00pm - 1:30pm Meeting Registration 
    3/25, 6:30pm-8:00pm Meeting Registration

    For any direct questions, please contact Climate Project Manager, Garrett Wong, at: [email protected] or (805) 568-3503.

    A recording of the event will be provided on project website after the meeting. Visit www.countyofsb.org/oneclimate to learn more. 

    Written by
    March 19, 2021

  • Oppose Oso Flaco Lake "Improvement" Plan Friday, March 12

    We urge you to join SBCAN in advocating for the denial of the Oso Flaco Lake Improvement Project.

    The California State Parks Department is proposing a three-phase plan to develop around Oso Flaco Lake. If passed, the plan would create 100 new drive-in campsites, 20 cabins, 200 new RV sites, and a new Off-Highway Vehicle access route from the campground into the riding area. This new access would create dust, air and noise pollution from the OHV area that would carry into the Guadalupe area and beyond.

    Contrary to the California Coastal Act, this plan would affect the environmentally sensitive dune habitat and adjacent areas. Oso Flaco Lake is an important area for biodiversity of birds and native plants, as well as one of the only beach access points for local residents. 

    Please tell the State Parks Department and California Coastal Commission that you oppose the Oso Flaco Lake Improvement Project in its entirety.

    Written by
    March 11, 2021

  • Save San Marcos Foothills!

    Santa Barbara County Action Network urges you to help save some of the last native grassland on the Central Coast.
     
    The San Marcos Foothills provides essential habitats for a number of significant species including white-tailed kites, hawks, burrowing owls, tarantulas, coyotes, and more. 
     
    This habitat is threatened by the impending development of eight multi-million dollar luxury homes. 
     

    PXL_20210228_234904348-s.jpg

      
    A community advocacy group, Save San Marcos Foothills, is fighting to preserve the entirety of the San Marcos Foothills and stop the Chadmar Group's development of several multi-million dollar homes on 101 acres on the West Mesa.

    Written by
    March 11, 2021

  • Green New Deal a topic of combined North & South County Roundtables on Thursday

    Here is the agenda for a combined North and South County Roundtable for this Thursday, March 11 at 5 PM.
     
    The two Roundtables are combined this month due to the countywide nature of the items, especially Item #1, and because we hope our participants will join the Community Environment Council’s Webinar on Climate Resilience on March 12 at 10 AM. Information on that is at the bottom of this agenda.
     
    We hope you can make it.
     
    Please let me know if there are items you would like to see discussed beyond the topics listed.

    SBCAN North AND South County Roundtable

    Thursday, March 11, 2021
    5 PM to 6:30 PM 

    Via Zoom. Registration Required: 
    https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvc-2rrz0iHN0MXt4DUHegBVgRkHtQ-KMs 
    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the meeting.

    Written by
    March 09, 2021

  • SBCAN wants your nominations for annual NC Awards

    Santa Barbara County Action Network would like your nominations for the 2021 North County "Looking Forward" Awards.

    Awards will be presented at SBCAN's annual spring celebration (virtually, this time) on Sunday, June 27 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to individuals, organizations, or businesses in the North County who have made significant contributions to the community. Please mark your calendar!
    Please take the time to nominate those in your community that deserve recognition. The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 12.  

    CRITERIA FOR AWARDS
    - Open to individuals, local businesses, and community organizations located or working in northern and central Santa Barbara County (Santa Maria, Lompoc, Santa Ynez, Los Alamos and Guadalupe areas).
    - Must have demonstrated commitment to social equity, diversity, social and economic justice, or environmental protection.

    Written by
    March 05, 2021

  • Join us for a virtual Green New Deal discussion on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021

    Please join us for a virtual panel discussion on the "Green New Deal In Action" on Wednesday, Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
     
    SBCAN Board Member Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino and SBCAN Advocacy and Events Director Nadia Lee Abushanab will be among the speakers.
     
    The call for a Green New Deal has emerged in communities, classrooms, and protest sites across the country. In the Fall of 2019, UCSB held a public forum to start a conversation about how the Green New Deal can be used as an organizing framework to bring together environmental and social justice activism. Less than two years later, we are in a fundamentally different reality. 
     
    Youth, UCSB and community leaders will share concrete examples of the Green New Deal in practice.
     
    The aim of this second public forum is to deepen our conversation about local efforts to create a Green New Deal, discuss its promise to help plan for a post-pandemic world, and examine how the current socio-political environment helps or hinders our collective ability to work towards transformational environmental and social justice. 
     
    Use this link to join the zoom meeting: tinyurl.com/GNDINACTIONEVENT

    Ken Hough
    Executive Director
    Santa Barbara County Action Network
    [email protected]
    (805) 563-0463

    Written by
    February 22, 2021

  • SBCAN wants your nominations for annual North County Awards

    Santa Barbara County Action Network would like your nominations for the 2021 North County "Looking Forward" Awards.

    Awards will be presented at SBCAN's annual spring celebration (virtually, this time) on Sunday, June 27 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to individuals, organizations, or businesses in the North County who have made significant contributions to the community. Please mark your calendar!
    Please take the time to nominate those in your community that deserve recognition. The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 12.  

    CRITERIA FOR AWARDS
    - Open to individuals, local businesses, and community organizations located or working in northern and central Santa Barbara County (Santa Maria, Lompoc, Santa Ynez, Los Alamos and Guadalupe areas).
    - Must have demonstrated commitment to social equity, diversity, social and economic justice, or environmental protection.

    AWARD CATEGORIES
    1. Environmental Protection Award - For valuing, protecting, and preserving our natural resources and environment.
    2. Giving Back Award - For giving back selflessly to the community through volunteer activities and community projects.
    3. Social Justice Award - For promoting fairness, tolerance, equality, respect, and compassion for all people in our community.
    4. Working Families Award - For helping working families in any number of ways, such as with health care, housing, education, workers rights, and recreational and cultural services.
    5. "Looking Forward" Award - For strong leadership and vision in community building, civic engagement, and improving the quality of life in our community.
    6. Youth Activist Award - For youth who demonstrate exceptional leadership, civic engagement, social justice, or environmental protection in our community. 
    Please submit your comments via this Google Form by Friday, March 12. If you have trouble with the form or would prefer to submit directly via email, please email [email protected] with your nominations. 

    Thank you for your participation!

    Ken Hough
    Executive Director
    Santa Barbara County Action Network
    [email protected]
    (805) 563-0463

    Written by
    February 19, 2021

  • Support SB 467, which seeks to end new dangerous oil extraction in CA

    This morning California State Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 467, which will halt new permitting of fracking and other harmful oil extraction such as cyclic steam injection.
     
    This was the proposed method for oil extraction in the proposed projects at Cat Canyon that were all defeated last year. These extraction methods will be phased out of California entirely by 2027.
     
    The bill will also include a 2,500-foot setback for any oil extraction in California near schools, homes, healthcare facilities and prisons. SB 467 will also begin the process of a just transition in California by directing CalGEM to offer incentives to well remediation contractors to hire identified former oil and gas employees who have lost their jobs. 
     
    Currently 7.5 million Californians live within one mile of an oil or gas well, and 2 million live within one mile of an active extraction site. There is no state law requiring setbacks.
     
    Fracking, cyclic steam injection, and acid well stimulation are intense methods of oil extraction that are more energy intensive and dangerous. They threaten groundwater supply, create cancer and asthma-inducing pollutants, and lead to increased earthquakes. 
     
    SBCAN supports the principles in SB 467 and appreciates Senators Wiener and Limon in their leadership to protect California's climate, public health, and work towards environmental justice and a just transition. 
    Click here to read Sierra Club's press release about this bill. 
     
    We urge you to let the senators know you support their bill.

    Written by
    February 17, 2021