Action Alerts

  • SBCAN honors Dick Flacks on Nov. 12. Please SPONSOR and COME to "Making History/Making Blintzes"

    Please join us in honoring Dick Flacks by sponsoring and coming to SBCAN's"Making History/Making Blintzes" Brunch and Fundraiser.

    MHMB_Graphic.jpg

    Click here for more information and to SPONSOR the event.

    Santa Barbara County Action Network will celebrate and honor Dick Flacks for his lifelong activism during our "Making History/Making Blintzes" Brunch and Fundraiser on Sunday, Nov. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at El Paseo Mexican Restaurant, 10 El Paseo, in Santa Barbara.

    Investigative journalist Melinda Burns will interview Dick about his lifelong activism. Then Dick will ask community members he has worked with over the years to briefly comment on their hopes and concerns for the future.

    Those who will be giving comments are:

  • SBCAN SC Roundtable: Becker & Honikman discuss Housing and Commuting on Friday, Sep. 22, 2023

    At this Friday's South County Roundtable, we have two interesting presentations regardinghousing and commuting, which have a lot to do with one another.

    Please join us for these presentations by Mike Becker and Linda Honikman followed by a discussion.

    Mike Becker, Director of Planning for the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, will present SBCAG's analysis of where people are commuting from and to, and how it relates to the jobs-housing imbalance.

    Linda Honikman, an affordable housing advocate and resident of one of the upzone areas in the County's Housing Element Update, will share work she has done to get a more complete picture of the size and type of housing developments we are likely to get in the South County and whether they could hurt or help our housing crisis.

  • SBCAN honors Dick Flacks on Nov. 12. Please save the date!

    SAVE THE DATE FOR:

    "Making History/Making Blintzes"

    SBCAN’s Tribute to Dick Flacks
    featuring Prof. Flacks and Friends Looking Forward

    Brunch and Blintzes, Music & Merrymaking
    Sunday, November 12, 2023
    11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    El Paseo Mexican Restaurant,

    10 El Paseo, Santa Barbara

    We'll send more information soon. Please mark your calendar and plan to come.

  • Join the SBCAN-CLC Water Team for water quality testing Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23

    The Santa Barbara County Action Network-Creek Lands Conservation Water Team is ready for action again! We got stymied by lack of access to Santa Maria River Estuary by the floods early this year, but we've found another site where we can do water testing.
     
    We hope you will join us on  Friday, Sept. 22, when we'll have another online Water Team training and on Saturday, Sept. 23 when we'll do water quality testing in the Santa Maria River.
     
  • Vigil on Wednesday, Sept. 13, for farmworker who died in a work accident

    You are invited to a vigil to commemorate the life of Jose Samuel Velazquez, a farmworker who was killed on Thursday, Sept. 7 in an accident while operating a tractor near Guadalupe.
     
    The vigil will be held Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the plaza next to Bank of America on Broadway and Main in Santa Maria.
     
    For more information, contact [email protected] or 805.329.2137.
  • SBCAN North County Roundtable Thursday, September 14, 2023

    At our North County Roundtable on Thursday, we'll discuss the historic action the County of Santa Barbara took today towards clearing a channel in the Santa Maria River and how residents can be involved in watershed issues. We'll also discuss the recommendation the City of Santa Maria's Planning Commission recently made on the city's General Plan Update.
     
    We hope you will join us.

    SBCAN North County Roundtable
    Thursday, September 14, 2023
    5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
    Via Zoom - register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvd-2vrDIpEtG3slYb23zG3jr2QOSXQtNO     

    AGENDA

    1. Call to Order: Introductions, Agenda Review
    2. Santa Maria River channel clearing and community involvement
    3. Santa Maria General Plan
    4. Updates from participants
    We generally meet at 5 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month via Zoom. The next meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 12. Please mark your calendar.
  • County will consider cutting a channel in Santa Maria River to alleviate flooding in Guadalupe

    On Tuesday, Sept. 12, the County of Santa Barbara will consider whether to cut a channel in the Santa Maria River to divert the river away from the City of Guadalupe and the West Main Street entrance to Guadalupe Beach.
     
    Santa Barbara County Action Network has not taken a position on this since the item just arose. We are sending this action alert for your information.
     
  • Fixing Capitalism to Save Democracy forum Wednesday, September 13 in Santa Barbara

    SBCAN Co-President Richard Flacks and former SBCAN board member Richard Appelbaum are key speakers at a forum on saving democracy sponsored by the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara on Wednesday, September 13. We hope you are able to attend.
     
    Here's information from USSB:

    Contemporary Issues Forum Event:
    Fixing Capitalism to Save Democracy

    • Wednesday, September 13, 7:00-9:00 PM
    • Parish Hall, Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, 1553 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara
    • $10 (suggested donation to cover costs)

    WELCOME to the Contemporary Issues Forum, a monthly series designed to promote understanding, enlightenment, and engagement on complex societal, technological, economic, and policy issues that shape our world.

  • Protect Prime Ag Outside Santa Maria, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023

    Help protect prime agricultural land outside of the City of Santa Maria at the Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, Sep. 6 at 6:30pm. 
     
    On the heels of a big victory a few weeks ago with LAFCO denying Lompoc's repeated attempt to annex the Bailey Avenue corridor, now there are 1,000 acres outside of Santa Maria that are at risk of being annexed and developed as part of the Santa Maria General Plan Update Land Use Alternatives. 
  • Oppose removal of 3000 oaks in Nipomo

    Our allies Nipomo Action Committee have asked us to ask our members to oppose the Proposed Dana Reserve in Nipomo, a high-density housing development that would remove 3,000 mature oaks on the Nipomo Mesa.

    Although we don't often take action on issues outside of Santa Barbara County, we believe the issues in this case warrant our attention.

    Here is information from Nipomo Action Committee:

    The County of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission has scheduled a hearing for Aug. 30 and 31, and then they will make their recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.  

    Nipomo Action Committee has asked us to write letters against this proposed project before Aug. 30 after which the public record will close.  

    Equally important is to have as many people there at the Planning Commission meeting at the Board of Supervisors Chambers, County Government Center, 1055 Monterey Street, Room D170, San Luis Obispo on Wednesday, Aug. 30.