Action Alerts
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Support Farmworkers Strike!
Since Monday, May 2nd, farmworkers in Santa Maria have been striking to demand fair pay for their labor. With Day 3 of the strike well under way, farmworkers need our support now more than ever. Read on to see their demands and how you can support.100+ indigenous farmworkers for J&G Berry Farms (Rocha Farms) in Santa Maria, CA are determined to continue their struggle for Just wages! Their demand - $3.50 for each strawberry box picked, against a currently unlivable price of $2.10 - comes under working conditions that includes wage theft, body-wracking labor, and exposure to pesticides and other toxins.
Most of these workers are from indigenous undocumented backgrounds, and, being unable to speak English, are subject to language-based intimidation from management, further intensifying their conditions of exploitation. Despite this, these workers dared to struggle for their dignity, many striking for the first time in their lives.
The strike began on May 2nd 2022, with workers walking off the strawberry fields and autonomously organizing against the paltry pay provided by the bosses. With management refusing to meet their demands, workers walked across fields, recruiting fellow farmworkers - the strike is spreading!
Ways to support: -
Reproductive Freedom Rallies today at 5 pm in Santa Barbara & Santa Maria
Last night news broke that the Supreme Court is prepared to end the constitutional right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade.Planned Parenthood California Central Coast is asking us to show up at rallies in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria at 5 p.m. today, May 3, to make our voices heard.The rally in Santa Barbara is at De La Guerra Plaza. The rally in Santa Maria is at City Hall.Planned Parenthood says this is far from over. There is strength in numbers and power in united voices. -
Save the Date for SBCAN's North County "Looking Forward" Awards Celebration and Fundraiser
Santa Barbara County Action Network will hold its 2022 North County “Looking Forward” Awards Dinner & Fundraiser on Sunday, June 26 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Blosser Urban Gardens, 915 S Blosser Rd, Santa Maria.
Please mark your calendar and keep an eye out for additional information we will be putting out soon! We are eager to be back with each other in person outdoors after two years of virtual-only events.
Every year we recognize individuals or organizations that work to protect our environment and the rights of our county’s residents. These awards help encourage this good work to continue and to raise the funds we need to keep doing our part.
We are excited to announce this year’s award recipients:
- Mireya Piña, "Looking Forward" Award
- Sara Macdonald, Giving Back Award
- Wildling Museum, Environmental Award
- MICOP (Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project), Working Families Award
- Pastor Chris Brown, Social Justice Award
- Elizabeth Beebe, Youth Activist Award
We hope you will come celebrate with us on Sunday, June 26.
If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please contact [email protected].
Please note that all guests should be fully vaccinated or have a negative test within 48 hours of the event. Thank you for your cooperation.
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Save the date for SBCAN's 2022 NC Awards Dinner & Fundraiser June 26
Santa Barbara County Action Network will hold its 2022 North County “Looking Forward” Awards Dinner & Fundraiser on Sunday, June 26 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Blosser Urban Gardens, 915 S Blosser Rd, Santa Maria.
Please mark your calendar and keep an eye out for additional information we will be putting out soon! We are eager to be back with each other in person outdoors after two years of virtual-only events.
Every year we recognize individuals or organizations that work to protect our environment and the rights of our county’s residents. These awards help encourage this good work to continue and to raise the funds we need to keep doing our part.
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UCSB Housing Crisis Webinar
Please see below for information about a virtual workshop on housing that the Blum Center is sponsoring on Thursday, April 28th from 5:30-7:00pm via Zoom, including SBCAN's South County Co-president, Dick Flacks as one of the presenters. This is the second in a series of Blum Center-sponsored workshops on the crisis of affordable housing in California and the Central Coast. The workshop is free and open to the public.
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SB rent stabilization
There are two important issues coming to Santa Barbara City Hall on April 19th.
The Santa Barbara City Council will be discussing a potential scope for a study on Rental Stabilization. We need to emphasize the urgency to speed up this process to stop the displacement of our community.
Immediately before that at 1pm, city workers in Santa Barbara are hosting a rally in front of City Hall calling on the city to pay its workers a living wage. The City passed an ordinance requiring outside contractors to be paid a living wage, yet many of its own employees earn below a living wage and are not able to live in the city where they work. Issues around wages and rents go hand in hand and we hope you will lend your voice in support of both of these issues.
If you can't make it in person to the council meeting at City Hall, join virtually via zoom by registering on the following link, and choosing to speak on Item number 15:
https://santabarbaraca-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BHXU9bk1SWq0ntGHplRq0Q
Keep up to date for the start time of the agenda item via our Social Media, or sign up for Text Alerts from our friends at CAUSE by texting #RentSB to (805) 500- 2627
Take Action Now!
1. Email SB City Council asking them to “cap the rent at 2 percent”! by filling out this petition2. Sign on to the support letter for Santa Barbara city workers HERE
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Public readings of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Beyond Vietnam” speech in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara
You're invited to commemorative readings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s prophetic “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” speech in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara
SANTA MARIA
MONDAY, APRIL 4 AT 4:30 PM
SANTA MARIA CITY HALL COURTYARDThe Poor People’s Campaign – Central Coast will host commemorative public readings of “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence.”
The event will be held on the 55th anniversary of its first presentation.
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2022 Membership Appreciation Meeting
Santa Barbara County Action Network
2022 Membership Appreciation Meeting
and Board ElectionSaturday, March 19, 2022
Noon-1 p.m. -
LWV Housing forum
Please see this message from the League of Women Voters Santa Barbara. Register for the Housing Panel featuring SBCAN's Advocacy and Events Director, Nadia Abushanab, as one of the speakers.
To start an exploration of the complex issues involved in our housing crisis, the League of Women Voters Santa Barbara (LWVSB) invites you to complete this Pre-Forum Survey.
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Meagan Harmon is SBCAN's Membership Mtg guest speaker March 19 via Zoom
Please join us for our
Santa Barbara County Action Network
2022 Membership Appreciation Meeting
and Board ElectionSaturday, March 19, 2022
Noon-1 p.m.