Got the following from an avid reader -- pretty funny to read how big "D" Democrat Republican Tony Strickland is. -- Sara
Somebody poached the domain name of the phony Democrats for Strickland group.
[democrats4strickland.com]
And you get another web page which then redirects you to this one:
[www.democratsforstrickland.com]
Now spend some time looking at this one. It has a lot of bills posted on it that Strickland supported that would be really embarrassing if his "base" caught on.
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More Domain Redirect Politics, this time from "Democrats for Strickland"
» view full story at BlogaBarbara -
How Not to Make a Candidate Web Site by Goleta Council Member Jean Blois
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraWith little fanfare, Goleta Council Member Jean Blois' web site has gone live at [www.reelectjean.com] .
I'm not always my own best editor and will take my lumps when due, but Jean's web site has a few issues. There are too many spelling errors to mention and a design that screams at you.
Worst of all, when you visit her contribution page -- it refers to some guy named John Smithfield rather than Jean. Who knows if your money would get to her or not?
Likely, she has a volunteer that may not know what they are doing --- still, now that Labor Day has passed, it's time to dot the i's and cross the t's. -
Oil Drilling Politics Brings Lots of Political Action
» view full story at BlogaBarbara50 environmental organizations are opposing reopening our waters to oil drilling. Our Governor continues to oppose it as well. I received under separate cover from this EDC advisory a letter from three former County Supervisors opposing the current majorities support for drilling....now the City of SB will likely be opposing it as well. -- Sara
PRESS ADVISORY
Santa Barbara City Council to Vote On Oil Moratorium
WHAT: The Santa Barbara City Council will consider a resolution (attached hereto) in support of the State and Federal Moratoria on New Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing off the Santa Barbara Coastline
WHEN: Tuesday, September 9, 2008, 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: City Council Chambers, Santa Barbara City Hall, De La Guerra Plaza, Santa Barbara, CA
WHY: According to the Memorandum issued by Mayor Marty Blum and Council members Helene Schneider and Das Williams, the proposed Resolution is intended to re-emphasize the City’s support of the oil moratorium, which has taken on new significance in light of the national media surrounding the August 26, 2008 Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors vote against the moratorium. The resolution notes that “City of Santa Barbara residents have long opposed new oil and gas drilling off their coastline” and that “the City of Santa Barbara is the site of the devastating oil spill of 1969 that led to the forming of the modern environmental movement and Earth Day worldwide.” -
Obama, McCain, Palin, Biden, etc. Jump
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraLooks like we better keep the conversation going on a new thread...thoughts on McCain's speech tonight? I've gotta bring up YouTube in a few minutes to see.... -
News-Press Employees Win Small Victory
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraThe Santa Barbara News-Press has been ordered to pay for loss of comp time and forfeited vacation days (see Barney Brantingham's column at The Indy).
It is only $140,000 split between attorneys and 540 employees. A moral victory at best -- it is good to see the wallet being opened for people other than Wendy McCaw's own lawyers for a change. Kudos to former News-Press reporters Hildy Medina and Anna Davison for initiating the action and seeing it through. -
Citizen McCaw Screenings, Blog and Journalism School Materials
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraThe producers of Citizen McCaw are busy and sent out this press release...especially interesting is the "man and woman in the street" series they will be filming on Saturday. -- Sara
FROM THE PRODUCERS OF CITIZEN MCCAW.....
The momentum of Citizen McCaw is building. We are firm in our plan to roll Citizen McCaw out nationwide, and we have several important updates to report to the community:
1. We will screen the film locally 4 more times at Santa Barbara's Fiesta Five Theatre in October. The dates are: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 9, 10, and 11, at 7:30 PM and Sunday, October 12 at 2:30 PM.
2. On September 17th, the producers of Citizen McCaw will release a brand new video story on our website: Spotlight on Travis Armstrong, the News-Press Editorial Page Editor. This goal is to encourage Wendy McCaw to restore a constructive civic and civil dialogue, with room for opposing points of view, to her paper.
This is the first in a series of filmed critiques of Mr. Armstrong’s writings by citizens. Spotlight will be updated at least twice a month for the rest of the year to give the people he has demeaned a forum to respond. It will also let local citizens give voice to the need for the paper to eliminate permanently Armstrong’s innuendo-laced vendettas.
This new web feature is in response to the many people we have encountered who say Wendy McCaw must restore integrity and trust to her editorial page as a first step in reversing the paper’s course of the past few years. We will closely monitor Travis’ writings and actions in relation to commonly accepted journalistic ethics, and update our website with video responses by people he attacks. We also will host a blog so all can participate in the dialogue at www.citizenmccaw.com
3. The producers of Citizen McCaw will be filming "man and woman in the street" comments about Travis Armstrong's ethics, editorials and writing style from 9:00am to 10:00am at the Farmer's Market – on Cota Street this Saturday, September 6th and at other locations in Santa Barbara the following week. In addition, the producers will be interviewing several people who have been the subject, recently, of his writings.
4. We are now introducing The 3 DVD “Citizen McCaw” Learning Resource to journalism schools. Our goal is to have the cautionary tale utilized throughout the country as future generations of journalists are educated. A foundation is considering distributing the resource to every journalism and mass communications program in the country. Until they decide, we are implementing our own marketing effort.
5. We have arranged a prime time showing in one of the top 10 TV markets for later if the fall (the initial step toward a national TV release). -
On redirects, domain names and brand ownership
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraGot this message from a reader today...Sara. Just FYI, the santabarbara blog poached www.blogabarbara.com from you. I think this sucks because you work hard and do a great job. Don't want to see anyone stealing your thunder.
Unfortunately, the person who runs Santa Barbara's Blog bought the BlogaBarbara domain name before I did and has every legal right to it. BlogaBarbara has been around quite a bit longer -- and it is my fault for not getting the domain right away. Just so everyone knows, I was in communication with the domain name owner in question awhile ago but my efforts to perhaps get traffic redirected here did not come to fruition. At the time, I did not know they were involved with Santa Barbara's Blog and they did not volunteer that information. The truth is it might have even been someone else. I'm not even sure SB's Blog was in existence at that point. Soon after our correspondence with each other, the ownership information was made private and is now directed through some holding company in Portugal.
I also did not know that traffic to www.blogabarbara.com is now redirected to their site. It's probably been going on for awhile as I stopped paying attention to "the blog" some time ago.
Yes, it hurts a little and is a bit misleading in my opinion -- but such is life. I hope they are getting their money's worth! Thanks to the kind reader for the nice words... -
Miramar Gets Conceptual Approval
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraRick Caruso's Miramar got conceptual approval yesterday from the Montecito Planning Commission after promising less rooms, more parking space and an intention to follow some design gudelines -- did anyone think he wouldn't get what he came for? Being unable to separate the difference between previous owners, their plans and the changes Caruso made -- from the public's desire to have something, make that anything, happen at the hotel property was a challenge for the opposition. Caruso wrote the textbook on how to get a plan passed without environmental review -- and it provides a poor precedent for the future. -
Obama Speech and McCain VP Choice
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraIf you missed Obama's speech last night it is on YouTube. He hit it out of Invesco Park.
McCain looks to be choosing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate today -- which is his 72nd birthday. Choosing a woman is a big step and a symbolic one for the Republicans -- does she have the experience as a first-term Governor? I'm sure we will find out more about her experience and approach in the coming week. -
Proposed BOS Letter on Oil Bogus!
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraThe Environmental Defense Center announced today that "Four major local environmental groups, (EDC, CEC, GOO! and SBCAN), together representing more than 120 years of activism to protect the quality of Santa Barbara County’s environment, joined together today to express their opposition to a proposed letter from Santa Barbara County to Governor Schwarzenegger, favoring increased oil exploration and extraction offshore California".
Good for them as the Board of Supervisors' majority is putting national politics over local needs. This same board voted for a moratorium a little over a year ago and the Governator said he supported a moratorium just a little over a month ago.
Word on the street is that not only is Salud Carbajal going to sign a minority letter with Janet Wolf -- but several have questioned if he will sign the letter at all as Chair. I say go for it Salud -- Santa Barbara has a thirty year policy of opposing oil exploration and development. Most of all, our country doesn't need it considering the trickle of oil it would create in comparison to the manufactured need. Tell the "petro-dictators" what we think! -
Thoughts on Hillary's Speech...
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraA little off-topic for this local blog but it is clear that the next two weeks will be held in check by the Democratic and Republican Conventions.
Hillary -- who couldn't mention her husband's name until halfway through her speech -- did an excellent job at leading her supporters into tomorrow night's nomination process. The ending was amazing and the part about women's rights was emotional....talk amongst yourselves.
Also, after a the news from a few weeks ago, we aren't likely to see any mention about Senator John Edwards are we? Yes, I feel betrayed -- but will he be allowed any say for his 200-some delegates? I don't even know if he is scheduled.... -
Loaded Questions from Armstrong Mirror Reflection of News-Press Standard Practice
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraAn email exchange between Caruso Affiliated of the Miramar project and News-Press editor Travis Armstrong has been published on Craig Smith's blog.
The email asked Caruso's government affairs representative a few questions...my favorites were the following:
5) Is it policy of your company to personally attack or intimidate critics as many believe you have done here on the South Coast? Or is that just your practice?
6) How much money has your company offered local groups?
7) Besides the private parties and free lunches, what else has your company or Mr. Caruso offered, hinted at or given to project supporters?
As Craig points out -- one has to wonder what Marty Blum, Helene Schneider and Brian Barnwell would have to say about number five. Yet again, editorial opinion is being masqueraded as hard news. When will TKA learn? Dude, send a reporter!
Caruso's VP of Government Relations Matt Middlebrook answered the questions in a straightforward fashion by saying "This question is insulting and absurd. We are very proud of the relationship we have with communities where our projects are located".
Despite my opposition to the current proposal for the Miramar I have to say I don't blame Middlebrook for giving that kind of answer. Then again, unlike most of his attacks, at least Armstrong took the time to ask Middlebrook's point of view. Thank goodness for small favors. -
Goleta Council "Streamlines" Environmental Process
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraThe Goleta Valley Voice reports that the Goleta City Council has chosen to "streamline" the environmental review process.The proposal will remove public hearings on draft environmental documents for development projects from the Planning Commission and City Council and place them before a “staff-level Environmental Hearing Officer.”
The staff level hearing officer then decides whether or not the documents are adequate before sending them to Planning Commission or City Council. Outgoing council member Jonny Wallis pointed out: “I think this is another request to push the public away from their representatives,” and voted against the move along with council member Roger Aceves. I assume she is referring to the rather Bacarra-esque General Plan amendments that received little discussion at Council.
Less public input? Not good. -
Truth About the Miramar
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraThe Internet is a beautiful thing...how would this kind of information have gotten out so easily even ten years ago? Like TV, however, you don't have to turn it on. If you want to -- there's a new site about the Miramar Hotel at truthaboutmiramar.com -
Indy/KCSB Form Partnership for IndyAlert
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraHave a few posts today! Here's a press release that is important considering the Gap Fire. -- Sara
For Immediate Release
August 18, 2008
KCSB 91.9 FM and Santa Barbara Independent Form Partnership
To Better Serve the Public During Emergencies
SANTA BARBARA--Radio station KCSB 91.9 FM has partnered with The Santa Barbara Independent to help inform the community during emergencies and public safety threats. This new emergency information service offers email and text-message notifications (IndyAlert), as well as radio broadcasts utilizing the combined news departments of The Independent and KCSB.
“Radio has proven to be the only stable medium during significant public emergencies,” said KCSB’s Chief Engineer Bryan Brown. “KCSB is the only local station with trained staff on-hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, who are able to pass on important information during times of crisis.”
Independent publisher Randy Campbell stated: “We’re happy to find a dynamic partner like KCSB that brings passion for community service, reporters on the ground covering news as it happens, and a staff broadcasting live 24 hours a day -- a rarity in modern day radio.
“In the past two years we’ve been on the literal front lines of many of Santa Barbara’s disasters and emergencies, with our website providing timely coverage we couldn’t achieve with the weekly newspaper. But we sometimes found the immediacy of our website was inconvenient or unavailable,” Campbell continued. “By adding text messaging and email alerts, we can use the wide availability of cell phones to keep our subscribers informed. Add radio to the mix and we’ve got particularly valuable tools for communication during a power outage or on the go.”
The two-way exchange of resources and information between The Independent and KCSB 91.9 FM will provide a broader, more portable, up-to-the minute source for news and information during an emergency or disaster. Both organizations hope to maximize their service to the public, local governments, and emergency service agencies.
Representatives from the radio station and the weekly newspaper will speak publicly during the public comment period of government meetings on Tuesday, August 19. These include meetings of the County Board of Supervisors, Santa Barbara City Council, and the Goleta City Council. The Carpinteria City Council meets August 25.
More About the IndyAlert system:
Using the Independent.com website as the hub, IndyAlert will provide email, text message, and radio announcements to subscribers to this free service.
In the event of an emergency, a brief message will be sent to subscriber’s cell phone or computer. This could be a natural disaster (fire, earthquake, floods), an event with the potential to cause general public harm such as a toxic spill, or a Highway 101 or major traffic artery closure. Any of these problems would prompt an IndyAlert to your phone or inbox (or both). Alerts will also be broadcast by radio.
### -
Community Post: Building Height Limitation Proponents Submit Petitions
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraHere's a community post from Lanny Ebenstein:
This past Friday, one of the broadest coalitions ever assembled in Santa Barbara submitted 11,252 signatures to the City Clerk's office to place an initiative on the ballot that would permanently reduce building heights in Santa Barbara. The coalition supporting the building heights limitation charter amendment includes for the most part liberal though not progressive Democrats to moderate Republicans. Individuals who support the Save El Pueblo Viejo proposal include Sheila Lodge, Harriet Miller, Marty Blum, Bill Mahan, Dale Francisco, Joan Livingston, Judy Orias, Cathie McCammon, Connie Hannah, Betsy Kramer, Dianne Channing Joe Rution, Gil Barry, Bendy White, Don Sharpe, Mary Louise Days, Louise Boucher, Beebe Longstreet, Gerry DeWitt, Jim Westby, Michael Self, Steve Forsell, and Elly Langer, among others. Organizational endorsements include the Citizens Planning Association, League of Women Voters, Allied Neighborhoods Association, Pearl Chase Society, and Santa Barbara Safe Streets.
From the perspective of many proponents of the initiative, the issue of the proposed charter amendment includes affordable housing. The current approach is not working, resulting as it does in high-end supercondos and low-end subsidized or government housing, with nothing in-between for working families and others who wish to own their residence without, as some Save EPV opponents advocate, 60-year restrictions on resale pricing, among other constraints and limitations. What is perhaps most interesting about the advocates and the opponents of the Save EPV initiative is that, for the most part, Save EPV proponents are individuals who have lived, worked, and been involved their whole lives in Santa Barbara, and Save EPV opponents are more likely to be individuals who have moved to our community more recently, though there are undoubtedly exceptions.
Smaller buildings are affordable by design. In addition, the truly substantial development intended by some, perhaps most, Save EPV opponents should be mentioned. At a recent forum before the Board of Realtors on this subject, one prominent local Save EPV opponent, an architect, noted several times the beneficial example of San Luis Obispo, which has raised its building height maximum from 60' to 75'. To be clear, as is evident from discussion on Blogabarbara and elsewhere, some "smart growth" advocates (the primary opponents of Save EPV) would like to see 6 or more floors on construction in Santa Barbara.
Passage of the Save EPV charter amendment would permanently forestall development above 3 and 4 stories in the city. Height maximums would become 40' in El Pueblo Viejo and 45' feet in the rest of the city. This would be down from the current citywide maximum of 60'.
The lines on the Save EPV charter amendment initiative could not be more clearly drawn. Opponents wish to see buildings taller than 40' in El Pueblo Viejo and taller than 45' elsewhere in the city. Proponents wish to see 40' and 45' become the maximums, consistent with the historical development of Santa Barbara. In the event that the Save El Pueblo Viejo initiative qualifies for the ballot (which should be known by about September 15--6,480 valid signatures are required), it promises to be one of the most interesting and consequential initiatives in Santa Barbara's history. -
One of These Commercials is Not Like The Other! What's the difference?
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraThe other day, I did a post about Tony Strickland's attack ad which was paid for by special interests (California Taxpayer Protection Committee). Today, I present to you his ad and her ad. His ad makes false claims -- see below. Her ad shows her experience....
Here's info from HBJ's campaign refuting Strickland's ad:
The advertisement placed on local TV and cable stations by friends of candidate Tony Strickland is patently false in every factual claim it makes.
The ad cites a series of legislative votes cast by Hannah-Beth Jackson to “prove” three assertions. Let’s examine them one by one.
Claim: Jackson “voted to raise the gas tax.”
To support this assertion, the ad cited 5 bills.
AB16, 2003, Hannah-Beth Jackson author.
AB16 had nothing whatsoever to do with gas taxes. AB16 required that petroleum produced offshore be transported to shore by pipeline, not by barge, to help prevent oil spills. It affected only one petroleum operation in the state.
AB1058, 2002, Pavley
AB1058 had nothing whatsoever to do with gasoline taxes. AB1058 was one of Pavley’s landmark greenhouse gas emission bills, requiring the Air Resources Board to adopt regulations to comply with the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. Strickland, a global warming denier, voted against this important bill.
AB1706, 1999, Strickland
At least this had something to do with gasoline taxes. This do nothing bill would have required the California Energy Commission to report back to the legislature on ways to lower gas prices. It was an attempt by Strickland to answer skepticism about whether the oil companies would return any reduction in gas taxes to consumers, or simply pocket the extra profit. A vote against Strickland’s bill can in no way be called a vote “to increase gas taxes.”
AB1707, 2000, Kuehl
This is the most ludicrous citation of all. AB1707 was a bill to protect consumers from the release or sale of private financial information without their affirmative approval. Jackson supported this bill. Strickland, ever the slavish servant of his special interest contributors, opposed the bill. Needless to say, this bill had nothing whatsoever to do with gas taxes, or even petroleum
AB1740, 2001, Ducheny
This bill formally enacted the state budget for the 2000-01 budget year. It was 869 pages long, and did not raise gas taxes.
In fact, state gas taxes in California have not been increased since 1990. They have been constant at 18 cents per gallon for 18 years, despite inflation and the fact that gas prices have dramatically increased.
Claim: Jackson “voted to weaken Proposition 13 making it easier to raise property taxes.”
To start, Prop 13 is a state constitutional amendment, passed by voters, which cannot be changed, altered or “weakened” without a vote of the people.
But the ad nevertheless cites three bills to buttress this laughable claim.
AB94, 2003, Chu
Prop 13 limits property taxes to 1% of assessed valuation with an exemption for public indebtedness approved by voters before July 1, 1978. In 1982 the California Supreme Court ruled (Carmen v. Alvord) that public employee pension obligations approved by voters before July 1, 1978 constituted “indebtedness” and 26 jurisdictions around the state were given the authority to set a somewhat higher property tax rate to meet that obligation. AB94 granted an extension to allow those jurisdictions to cover their voter approved pensions. Jackson’s yes vote did not weaken Prop 13 in any way.
AB822, 1999, Mazzoni
This bill was very similar to AB94, except it affected only public pensions in the city of Oakland, and imposed the additional requirement that the rate be approved by a 2/3rd vote of the electorate.
AB81, 2002, Migden
AB81 resolved an arcane jurisdictional dispute involving whether local county assessors or the State Board of Equalization should perform property tax assessments on large electrical generation plants. Until the passage of energy deregulation in 1996, electrical generation plants had always been assessed by the BOE. Deregulation shifted that responsibility to county assessors. The BOE reasserted their jurisdiction and the whole issue wound up in the state legislature. AB81 had nothing to do with Prop 13. The big utilities preferred dealing with the less experienced local assessors. Strickland toed their line and voted No.
Claim: Jackson “voted to increase the car tax.”
The ad does not cite a specific bill, but credits this claim to the intentionally vague “August 2003 Gray Davis Budget Vote.”
In 1998 the car tax (Vehicle License Fee, VLF) was reduced from its historic 2% rate to .65% as a way of returning a budget surplus to taxpayers. Funds from the VLF, which were channeled to local governments, was “backfilled” by the state to prevent local services from being cut. The VLF program included a provision that ended the reductions if the state did not have the funds to make the “backfill” payments to cities and counties. In 2003 the state faced unprecedented budget shortfalls.
Here is how the respected Legislative Analyst’s Office explained it:
Vehicle License Fee (VLF). The budget assumes that the VLF will increase from the current effective rate of .65 percent to 2 percent beginning October 1, 2003. As a component of the VLF reductions that were enacted in 1998, current law provides that the state "backfill" (and thus make local governments whole) the difference between the lower VLF rate and the 2 percent rate, unless the state has "insufficient moneys" with which to make such payments. In June 2003, the Department of Finance made a determination that the state had insufficient moneys to provide any backfill to local government, and as a result of this determination, the backfill ended and the VLF will return to the 2 percent level in October 2003.
“Major Features of the California Budget” LAO, 2003
The decision to suspend the VLF reduction was made by the Department of Finance. -
Feeling 'Spunky' About Gay Marriage? Select Personnel's CEO does...what was he thinking?
» view full story at BlogaBarbara
Imagine you are sitting at your desk at work and you get the following email from your CEO -- this may or may not be against the law per se as it involves a proposition and not a partisan candidate or political party. Still, is a request to gather in your company parking lot not electioneering in the workplace? The above image as a PDF attachment(click to enlarge) was one of several allegedly sent with the email below according to a reader who wishes to remain anonymous...
A little background -- Steve Sorenson is the CEO for Select Staffing. The "brother Paul" mentioned in the email is actually his brother who is the President of Select...keep in mind that this is a national staffing company with over 300 offices and franchises across the country.
So, if "you are feeling spunky about it" -- you know where to be tomorrow morning. And, if you think this is homophobia or a violation of election law, you DO have license to say so herein. Most of all, how would your gay and lesbian employees feel after seeing this email?
--Sara
Santa Barbara Corporate Colleagues:
We have an election coming up!
Those of you who have been with us for a while know that I enjoy sharing my political preferences—along with my political logic—in hopes that I'll stir up some enthusiasm for us all to participate in the process.
This season is no exception! And, as November 4th approaches, you can count on me for my famous (or infamous) voter guide.
HOWEVER—IN ADDITION—this season there is an item on the ballot that is of such great importance that I'm going to be investing significantly more of my personal time and effort to "get out the vote" in a way that will shape the moral climate of our State!
The subject is—The DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.
The Proposition is PROPOSITION 8.
The Position I'm promoting is a vote FOR proposition 8 (that's YES on 8).
Proposition 8 creates an Amendment to our State Constitution that clearly defines marriage as a union between a woman and a man.
Opponents of Proposition 8 feel that same sex unions or domestic partnerships should be legitimized by the state.
Select Veterans will recall my enthusiastic effort to pass Proposition 22 back in the year 2000. Proposition 22 also specifically defined marriage to be between a man and a woman, and was designed to preclude state officials from granting State sanction to same sex unions. While slightly controversial (ok—it wound up to be a bit of a firestorm), it turned out we were "on the side of the people" in that one. Prop. 22 passed with a powerful majority.
So why is this controversial topic back? Because our Calilfornia State Supreme Court declared Proposition 22 to be unconstitutional. Those of us who get uptight about this sort of judicial behavior refer to this as "legislating from the bench". The judges see what the people want—but decide they have the power and the duty to deprive them of it. So, in spite of an overwhelming public majority declaring same sex marriage to be "out of bounds", the courts have decided to "let it go". As a result, California is presently one of two States in the United States that is allowing same sex marriage.
Proposition 8 is intended to give the Judges clarity—and establish a firm law that they must enforce. There will be no question. Marriage will be preserved as a union between a woman and a man. Period.
Every once in a while, we get the chance to vote on an issue that will shape the moral foundation of our society. This is one of those chances.
It is SO BIG, that I'm going to do more than just "recommend" you vote in favor of Proposition 8. I'm going to ask you to come join me in a grass roots campaign to support Proposition 8.
I've attached 3 documents that hit the highlights of the issue.
If you feel so inclined, here's how you can get involved: A large group of volunteers are canvassing the Santa Barbara area to identify Prop 8 supporters and help them get out the vote! We'll be meeting this Saturday at 8:30AM in two locations: One group will be meeting right here in our Select parking lot, and one group will be meeting at the San Marcos High School parking lot (that's where Paul and I will be--near the tennis courts).
My brother Paul is heading up many of the efforts in Santa Barbara . If you are interested in coming this Saturday (or any day), please send him an email and he'll ensure that you are signed up!
Of course, this is NOT a requirement of your job. There is no job security risk or reward associated with these efforts.
This is also NOT an invitation to initiate an email campaign of your own—as the owner and C.E.O., I enjoy a few perks of privilege—being able to communicate with you in this fashion is one of them. Please don't use my solicitation as some sort of license to turn our email system into a blog. I've asked our email administrators to help avoid that outcome.
If you aren't registered to vote, we would like to help you get registered. Paul has the materials, and he would be pleased to assist you.
I hope you will vote FOR proposition 8. I hope you will tell your family and friends to vote FOR proposition 8 as well. And if you're feeling spunky about it, I hope you will join us this weekend for our first Precinct Walk and come find out how to get involved! -
Strickland Begins Attack Ads Today
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraHere's a press release I received from an avid reader. It isn't even Labor Day yet! Coupled with Olympic ads for the last week -- Strickland's strategy seems to be more for the airwaves than in the neighborhoods. -- Sara
It didn't take long. Supporters of Tony Strickland will begin airing a TV spot attacking Hannah-Beth Jackson in the highly competitive State Senate District 19 today. Public information on file at KSBY and KEYT broadcast television stations in Santa Barbara show that a group called the "California Taxpayer Protection Committee" will be airing advertisements attacking Hannah-Beth Jackson beginning 8/13.
They paid $52,750 for the time on these two stations.
The Committee has received over $125,000 in funding from large insurance companies this year. They have also received $20,000 from Howard Ahmanson Jr., a far right-wing activist who has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into campaigns to elect extremist candidates.
Ahmanson told the Orange County Register in 1985, "My goal is the total integration of biblical law into our lives."
The most recent California Taxpayer Committee campaign filing can be found at:
http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1287571
The Committee is closely allied with the consultants who work for Tony Strickland. Strickland's general consultant Johnson/Clark has been paid over $112,000 by the Committee in recent campaigns. The firm placing the advertising for the anti-Jackson Independent Expenditure (Voter Strategies) is also placing the advertising for the Strickland campaign.
"Clearly, this is the opening shot is what will be a massive campaign by Tony Strickland and his corporate sponsors and extremist political allies to smear Hannah-Beth Jackson," stated Jackson consultant Parke Skelton. "Hannah-Beth Jackson has stood up to the insurance companies to protect consumers and homeowners. Tony Strickland has consistently sided with the big insurance companies and against the interests of our families." -
Watch Out for the Svelte Unionists!
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraGosh. I've been trying to hold out on commenting on Travis Armstrong's sophomoric rants posed as editorials for quite some time. In the last month since he spread false rumors about Mayor Blum resigning, I went to Bloggers Anonymous and did some steps. I have respect for anyone that tackles their addiction and totally support 12-step programs AND I'm ready to admit that I have a problem. I read Travis' editorials and they get my blood boiling.
Over the weekend there was a piece on Helene Schneider and her travel expenses that failed to mention other council people that might be running for Mayor. Hmmmm. One council member has been so absent from Travis' rants that it will be no surprise when they are endorsed by the News-Press prior to the election. Even though he kind of made it look like Schneider's husband David might be some kind of paramour in Atlanta, I let that go because at least Travis admitted he had made a mistake in his original piece on the subject -- more than any of us have gotten since he started at the News-Press.
Today, he went after The Teamster's with an accusation that he failed to even make in the content of the opinion piece. What exactly happened? I guess because it is he who is making the accusation -- we are supposed to simply agree that unions are bad. I feel sorry for the reporters who are unionized because they are consistently categorized as "large and intimidating" by Travis. Most of the ones I've seen are actually rather svelte.
The best part of the web version of the piece today though was the following listed below the text which could have been placed above and in the midst:Need to put dummy text here for the quote. We need to put dummy text here for the pullout. We need to put dummy text here and here and here and here.
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How do you lose $1 million? CalTrans Can....
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraHere's a press release from the Friends of the Bridge....Sara
Caltrans has lost the $1,000,000 that had been conditionally approved two years ago to fund its highly controversial proposal to construct unsightly barriers on the Cold Spring Bridge along Scenic Highway 154 near San Marcos Pass.
During the past year the barriers proposal has drawn widespread public opposition from residents and civic organizations in Santa Barbara County based on evidence that Caltrans has utilized false information and flawed analysis it its efforts to justify the proposal as a high-priority suicide prevention measure.
According to Marc McGinnes, a spokesperson for Friends of the Bridge, one of ten citizens groups opposing the Caltrans proposal, “It has long been clear that the barriers proposal is a gross boondoggle, but Caltrans has been able to wave all that money in the faces of local elected officials who should have taken action months ago to stop the project. Unless such officials are now prepared to act decisively to stop the projection which over $500,000 has been spent in staff support costs-- they are likely to seen as undeserving stewards of the kind of funds that they are asking citizens to give them in November when voting on Measure A.”
Caltrans was notified by the California Transportation Commission in late June that the $1 million that had been conditionally approved for the barriers proposal in September 2006 would no longer be available due to "transportation safety priorities statewide and the limited amount of state transportation funding".
According to documents posted on the website of Friends of the Bridge ( [www.cscbfriends.com] ), the conditionally approved funds had been diverted from taxpayer funds earmarked for “collision reduction safety improvements.” Project opponents, which include the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association, have challenged the diversion of funds earmarked for that purpose, citing the fact that traffic safety problems along Highway 154 are far more serious (an average of 4 deaths a year in recent years in traffic collisions)than the problem of occasional suicidal behavior on the Cold Spring Bridge (an average of slightly less than one jumper a year over the 44 year history of the bridge and just one in the last three years).
Project opponents will appear before the County Board of Supervisors on August 19 and the directors of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments on August 21 at their meetings in Santa Barbara to request that public hearings be set to consider testimony and evidence concerning a formal request to Caltrans that it promptly withdraw and abandon its deeply flawed and fiscally irresponsible barriers proposal.
Other community organizations that have called upon Caltrans to abandon its barriers proposal include Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, Citizens Planning Association, Santa Barbara County Action Network, Pearl Chase Society, Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club, Los Padres ForestWatch, Womens Environmental Watch, and Santa Ynez Valley Alliance. -
Exageration of Olympic Proportions?
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraFellow blogger Craig Smith reports this morning on a story that started with George over at I'm Not One to Blog.
It seems the News-Press is heavily promoting the fact that they are "sending one of their own" to the Olympics. Sounds great, right? Interestingly enough, they don't say who the writer is in the flyer included in the newspaper yesterday. Craig points out on good authority, however, that the reporter in question is paying his own way to China.
Ouch. Doesn't anyone review their marketing over there? Craig points out that this is almost as good as not seeing any of the annual editorials against the Fiesta Rodeo now that they have chosen to run large ads about the event in the paper. -
KIST-AM Sold to Cal Lutheran
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraOur friends at Edhat gave us some links to more news related to the AM dial yesterday in that KIST will soon be owned by Cal Lutheran University and turned into a public format radio station. I assume this means we get yet another NPR station on our dial as Cal Lutheran owns KCLU in Thousand Oaks. KIST was sold for $1.4 million. -
The Edhat Emergency Preparedness Manifesto Goes to BOS on August 19
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraOur friends over at Edhat have been organizing around emergency preparedness, held a town hall meeting and have prepared a letter to present to the Board of Supervisors. Here are the main points:1) During an emergency there must to be a dedicated AM radio station that does nothing else but communicate relevant community information. This radio station should be well publicized during non-emergency times, so that every person in the County knows about it, and dials it up when needed. Ideally this station would have emergency generation.
2) The information on the radio station (as well as on official websites) must be updated regularly. And most importantly, the updates should come at predictable and pre-publicized intervals. When hearing or reading emergency information, the information should be time-stamped so citizens know when it was last updated and when the next update will come. Even if there is no new information available, the timestamp of the current update should change.
Consider adding your name at the link above as this is an important effort. Kudos to Edhat for doing something of value with their community. -
Jean Blois Announces Reelection Bid
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraGoleta Council Member Jean Blois announced here bid for reelection saying in the Goleta Valley Voice:As the sole vote for this goal, I watched from the sideline as the first City Council produced an unworkable General Plan.”
Blois said the current City Council is working hard to fix the General Plan currently.
"I hope to be present in my third term on the Council when the corrected General Plan is finalized and our zoning ordinances are completed ... I would like to finish what I started".
Although not mentioned in the article, the inclusionary housing rule percentages in the General Plan were agreeably not realistic. Still, the basis of the plan was sound. Since Blois became part of the majority, quite a few changes have been made already and Bacarra has had their day with more amendments allowed than I can remember for a single development interest. I hope she addresses this during the campaign and also whether she expects Bishop Ranch to return with their application for development during the second week of November. -
Dueling Bedfellows: Moderate Republicans versus Conservative Democrats
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraA couple weeks ago, I did a post on the Democrats for Strickland web site. Today I heard about a new group called Moderate Republicans for Jackson. Many thanks to a dedicated reader for sending me the press release.
They claim to include former State Senator Cathie Wright, former Ventura Republican Chair Bill Larkin and a few other notables that are primarily Ventura County-based. Of course, Strickland's tobacco contributions were mentioned in the press release. Perhaps most interesting was comments about the California Club for Growth -- which we are told has a mission to kill the careers of moderate Republicans. Their website is located at [www.ipetitions.com]“Our group, Moderate Republicans for Jackson, was formed out of concern that Strickland is a man who is far removed from the beliefs and ethical standards held by the majority of people in our neighborhoods,” Larkin said. “Tony Strickland is an extremist. He was the founding president of the California Club for Growth, part of the ultra right-wing National Club for Growth which has made it a mission to destroy the political careers of moderate Republicans.”
It seems both campaigns feel this race will be won or lost in Ventura County -- and they are probably correct. It also seems this race is more about who is more extreme than the other. At least we are seeing Jackson's supporters back their support up with descriptions of legislation she authored and exactly who supports her. -
PR: NLRB to Prosecute SBNP for Bargaining in Bad Faith
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraWell, it took nine months of effort and the SBNP continues to insist they are in the right. Like a petulant child, McCaw and Company refuse to budge despite 15 counts of labor law violations. Yes -- they will appeal again and McCaw's lawyers will be able to buy their second or third house and maybe even a new Porsche from the deal. How long can this go on? Yes, Wendy McCaw has every right to run her business into the ground -- but she doesn't have the right to continually ignore court rulings in the process. Most of us do not have that option. Here's the Teamster press release. -- Sara
The General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board announced yesterday, after an investigation into the misconduct of the Santa Barbara News-Press at and away from the negotiating table over the last nine months, that it will prosecute the News-Press for failing and refusing to bargain in good faith with the Graphics Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.
The GCC/IBT won a secret ballot election in September, 2006, winning the right to bargain collectively with the News-Press over terms and conditions of employment for news department employees. Since then the News-Press has committed and been found guilty by an Adminstrative Law Judge of no less than 15 labor law violations, including the unlawful firings of eight reporters. The News-Press has appealed that decision to the NLRB in Washington, D.C.
After the News-Press stalled the first day of bargaining for over a year through legal maneuvering, the parties first met to negotiate in November, 2007. The News-Press conducted itself at the table as if the Union had not won the right to bargain, seeking to maintain the pre-union status quo in its bargaining positions and to avoid agreement, while doing what it could, lawfully or otherwise, to frustrate the newsroom employees hoping for workplace improvement through negotiation of a contract. That misconduct and disinterest in bargaining was manifested, inter alia, in its outrageous and absurd proposals that, if agreed upon, would maintain its discretion to change economic terms even after an agreement was reached, provide for a grievance process ending with Wendy McCaw deciding whether her own management had violated the contract, perpetuate the arbitrary "at will" lack of employee protection that the News-Press has used to intimidate and coerce its employees over the last two years. That News-Press bad faith and disdain for the bargaining process was further demonstrated in the unprecedented hiring of employees it labeled "temporary" - though some have remained employed for over a year - to perform newsroom work, failing and refusing to provide information requested by the Union, its filing of bogus unfair labor practice charges against the Union (none of which have been found to have merit), agreeing to meet only sporadically, its publishing of scurrilous editorials about the bargaining sessions, its misrepresentation of the nature of accepted editorial practices that have been customary at the SBNP for years, and its circulation of employee communiqués rife with misinformation and vitriol.
The NLRB's investigation of the News-Press' bad faith bargaining came in response to a charge filed by the Union in May, and canvassed the totality of the parties' conduct from the beginning of the bargaining sessions.
"We would much prefer that the News-Press bargain in good faith and reach a satisfactory agreement, than have to go to the NLRB to once again force the newspaper to adhere to basic labor law requirements", said Teamster negotiator Nick Caruso. "We have been quite reasonable in our positions, and quite clear as to what it will take to get an agreement. We recognize these are tough times for newspapers, but the News-Press in turn has to recognize that the Union is here to stay, that the employees need and deserve some basic protection and stability, and that the best way to improve the paper and the atmosphere in the newsroom is to reach a fair employment contract.", added Caruso. Summarized Caruso, "Once we have a good agreement in place, the Union will be happy to help the News-Press gain back lost readership and advertising revenue."
This is not the first time that the NLRB has found the News-Press' lead negotiator, Nashville, Tennessee union buster Michael Zinser, to be worthy of prosecution for bad faith bargaining. In at least two other recent cases in Pennsylvania and Hawaii, the NLRB's General Counsel issued complaints against Zinser newspaper clients for bargaining in bad faith in violation of federal labor law. Both of those cases settled before trial.
The NLRB has not set a hearing date for prosecuting the News-Press on its forthcoming bad faith bargaining complaint. The NLRB also announced that it would prosecute the News-Press for failing to provide annual evaluations to a substantial number of employees for last year, and continues to delilberate on several other charges filed by the Union against the News-Press, including the hiring of "temporary" employees to undermine the bargaining unit, and the hiring of an investigative reporter outside of the unit. -
Caruso Loses Bet in Santa Anita
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraThis from Barney Brantingham at The Indy:Caruso’s Other Project: Rick Caruso, who is trying mightily to avoid a full environmental impact report on his Miramar project, has suffered a blow to his Santa Anita racetrack area mall. Reason: An L.A. judge has ruled that the mall’s impact report must be revised. The judge found 11 points of contention, ranging from air quality to traffic.
Sound familiar? I guess this guy has something against environmental impacts... -
Big City or Small Town?
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraHas anyone noticed the increased police presence of late with helicopters in Old Town and Noleta, ATF raids in San Roque, and heavy preparations for the problematic-of-late Fiesta? This morning SWAT teams with large firearms responded to a break in at Macy's...do we need to be more like Long Beach and LA to address our gang problems or is this overkill? Walk softly and carry a big stick sounds okay to me -- as long as judicious decisions are made. But how do we make sure of that? -
Miramar Pulled from MABR Agenda
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraLast week, I questioned why Rick Caruso got special treatment in being able to table for his cause in the County Administration Building parking lot. The Planning Commission hearing that day was continued to the 6th of August.
One of the things that the Planning Commission asked for was that the Miramar Project be sent to the Montecito Architectural Board of Review to get questions answered related to the size and scope of the project. An agenda for next week's meeting was made and yet the item has been pulled and the hearing will not be held in favor of an audiotape of an older hearing being sent to planning commissioners.
Not quite the opportunity for public review and consideration I would have hoped for. Apparently, some of Caruso's team didn't think they could attend the meeting on such short notice and didn't feel they were prepared. That's hard to believe when this is the kind of answers they should have been prepared for at the recent Planning Commission hearing.
What I haven't heard is who actually got to make that decision to pull the item? Does this decision serve the public? What about the size, scale and bulk issues around the Miramar Project? I also have to wonder if average applicants have the same ability to pull themselves off a public agenda. More questions than answers here.... -
Strickland Fracas Brings Criminal Charge
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraEarlier this month we covered a Ventura County story involving the Chief of Staff to Assembly Member Audra Strickland playing the big heavy for Strickland's husband who is running for the State Senate. Criminal charges have been filed against Angeles and here's here's what those involved sent to the press...Sara
On June 17, 2008, approximately 55 men, women and children assembled at the Westlake Hyatt Hotel to protest a $50,000 contribution that the Ventura County Republican Central Committee received from the tobacco industry for the perceived benefit of Tony Strickland’s campaign for State Senate. Many of the protestors had lost family members from lung cancer. All shared a common interest that opposed the tobacco industry’s attempt to sway the local political process by making such a large contribution.
As we entered the only public access to the protest area along Westlake Boulevard, the group was challenged by Joel Angeles, Chief of Staff to State Assemblymember Audra Strickland, who warned us to turn back. “You are atheists,” he shouted. “You are not Americans – you are cowards.” And then came the ultimate threat. “If you step foot on this curb, you will go down.” He held his outstretched had in front of him in a manner known to signify “halt.” This conduct was memorialized in a photo that ran in The Ventura County Star newspaper.
Our group was stunned by hearing such untruths and un-American language. But, thinking that the agitator could not be seriously making such blatantly illegal threats, in the best tradition of American democracy we proceeded with our lawful demonstration. It turns out that we misjudged the intent of the public employee we faced, who had every intention of carrying out his threat.
Several members of our group, including Louis J. Pandolfi, a Simi Valley Republican and organizer of the protest; John (Jack) B. Phillips, a minister, senior citizen and Vietnam veteran from Camarillo; and Sandy Quiring, a recent high school graduate from Simi Valley; stepped onto the sidewalk and all three were promptly knocked to the ground by
Mr. Angeles. Ms. Quiring, thrown into the shrubs, sustained minor cuts to her arms and Mr. Phillips suffered a rotator cuff injury. Mr. Pandolfi immediately called 911 and summoned the Sheriffs.
The assaults and batteries were witnessed by not only dozens of citizens present at the event, but also by members of the press.
These were attacks not only on our persons, but also on our cherished American freedoms. Americans have long fought or lost loved ones in the struggles to establish and defend our Constitution and its Bill of Rights, including the one so blatantly violated on June 17th, 2008 – the right to express ourselves, by public protest, and to speak our opinions.
Jack Phillips, a 1962 Naval Academy graduate, was awarded the Bronze Star in Vietnam, following a family tradition of service to flag and country going back to the Revolutionary War. Sandy Quiring is from the newest generation of patriots. Sandy just graduated high school and is headed for a Political Science major in college, facing the future with wide open eyes and a desire to immerse herself in the great political process of our country.
Today, we have said we can not turn our backs on those who have given of themselves over the centuries to defend our Constitutional rights. Today we have said that a government employee who is paid hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to work for the taxpayers of our great state who are having so much trouble making ends meet, cannot get away with lawlessness in promoting his political beliefs. Women, men and children were prepared to peacefully demonstrate against the tobacco industry in the spirit of democracy.
Today, we have filed criminal complaints against Joel Angeles and we have demanded that the Sheriff’s Department investigate the allegations and forward that investigation to the District Attorney for prosecution. In filing these criminal complaints, not only have we presented to the Sheriff our victim statements, but we have also provided the Sheriff with Declarations from eleven witnesses who have prepared their Declarations of Fact under penalty of perjury.
We have put our faith in the fair and impartial legal system in Ventura County, a system to which we have all looked to with pride for many years. Today, we ask that justice be done, not just for the victims of Mr. Angeles’ violence, but for the free speech and freedom of assembly rights in our Constitution, for which so many others have given their last, full measure.
We can do no less on behalf of the American democratic system. -
Margaret Connell Announces
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraAs expected, former council member and Mayor Margaret Council announced she will be running for one of the two seats open this November on the Goleta Council. Here's part of the press release she sent out tonight describing a media event tomorrow in front of Bishop Ranch. -- Sara
"The current council has a poor record of listening to Goleta residents and ignoring their concerns about growth and traffic congestion. I am running to ensure that residents, not special interests and developers have a voice on the city council."
Connell's long track record of community involvement has earned her the support of current councilmember's Roger Aceves and Jonny Wallis, as well as County Supervisors Janet Wolf and Salud Carbajal. Former councilmember Cynthia Brock and current city council candidate Ed Easton, a member of the Goleta Planning Commission also endorse Connell. -
Dems for Strickland? whaaa?
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraThe Jackson/Strickland race for State Senate went into high gear in the last week or so. Many of us started to get phone calls, letters in the mail, etc. With these kind of elections there is often a "dirty tricks" element meant to move voters one way or another.
Democrats for Strickland looks to be just that kind of dirty trick and was sent to me under the guise of anonymity last night.We're fiscally conservative, socially moderate Democrats and Independents who are tired of having tax happy, out of touch candidates forced on us, leaving us no choice but to stay home or vote for the guy with the R after his name. This election cycle has proven no different.
Amateurish in design and approach, the site goes on to call Hannah Beth -- "Taxin' Jackson" and name one of Strickland's attributes as someone who lives in Ventura County. It goes on to say "He's not going to be in a position to take away a woman's right to choose or install any offshore oil rigs by himself." Thank goodness for small favors! Still, making such statements is asking for willful suspension of disbelief.
A simple whois.org search shows the site domain ownership is masked for privacy/anonymity. -
SBNP at JournalismJobs.com
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraThanks to an avid reader -- I saw a couple jobs at journalismjobs.com that piqued peaked my interest. First -- this anonymous listing got me curious as to where it would be:Effective leader who will be the hub in the wheel of our newsroom wanted immediately. Requisite abilities for the city editor's position include keen news judgment, a knack for teaching a young staff, sharp editing skills and an understanding that incorporating new media practices into the traditional newsroom is the key to survival. The setting is a community newspaper near the central California coast. Please e-mail a resume and cover letter.
Hmmmm. Then I had to wonder what a "Sports Designer" was at the new News-Press:The Santa Barbara News-Press is seeking a creative, self-motivated, detail-oriented designer and copy editor for its SND-award winning Sports section. Ideal candidates will have superior design skills, solid copy-editing skills, a keen awareness of deadline and experience on a daily sports desk. Duties will include designing C1 at least twice a week, designing inside pages, editing local and wire copy, writing local roundups from coaches' calls and handling agate.
Never mind that the award-winning writers have been gone for some time now -- is this a "tighter and brighter" reporter? You are only allowed to call coaches? You have to be a graphic designer as well as a copy-editor? Guess it's a lot cheaper than Barry Punzal and company.... -
Wallis Announces Support for Easton
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraGoleta Council Member Jonny Wallis announced Friday that she will NOT be running for reelection this fall and endorsed Ed Easton for the position. Not unexpected, it brings up speculation as to who else will run for the second seat available.
Word on the street is that former-Council Member Margaret Connell will come out of retirement in the coming days to announce her candidacy.
Some people will likely say that she had her turn -- the truth is, however, that Connell is extremely capable and knowledgeable and got caught in a poor situation with a slate that was ill advised in the last election. It will be interesting to see what she has learned during her hiatus and what her approach would be with a council where the future of growth lies in the balance. -
Victory for EDC on Pesticides
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraGood Victory for the EDC. Here's a press release. -- Sara
State Appeals Court Affirms Trial Court Ruling:
State Pesticide Agency Failed to Adequately Protect Public and Farmworkers from Dangerous Pesticide
Environmental and Farmworker Advocacy Groups Prevail Again in their Challenge to DPR’s Methyl Bromide Regulations
The California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, has ruled that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) failed to make use of recommended health standards from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) when it issued methyl bromide field fumigation regulations. The decision stems from a lawsuit filed in December 2004 by the Environmental Defense Center (EDC), California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), and California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF), based on concerns that the health standards used by DPR were inadequate to protect farmworkers and the public. The Superior Court ruled against DPR in March 2006. The Office of the Governor and DPR, along with industry groups that had intervened against plaintiffs in the lawsuit, appealed that decision.
“The Environmental Defense Center, California Rural Legal Assistance, and California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation have achieved a significant legal victory that will protect farmworkers and the public from exposure to methyl bromide,” stated Linda Krop, Chief Counsel for the EDC. “Hopefully, this ruling will not only result in lower exposure to this highly toxic pesticide, but will also encourage farmers to use safer alternatives.”
“We urge DPR to do the right thing and take steps to immediately implement the health protective measures that farmworkers and rural residents are legally entitled to,” stated Mike Meuter, a Director of Litigation, Advocacy and Training for CRLA.
Anne Katten, CRLA Foundation Staff Scientist, noted that “We are very concerned that DPR’s regulations allowed methyl bromide exposure 8 and 9 fold higher than the limits recommended by OEHHA for protection of public and worker health.”
“Methyl bromide should be phased out of use permanently, and hopefully we are headed in that direction. In the meantime, we are encouraged by the Court’s decision that the worker safety risks posed by methyl bromide should be assessed by OEHHA, an office whose focus is on health risk assessment,” stated Jonathan Gettleman, an Agricultural Worker Health Project staff attorney for CRLA.
Methyl bromide is a fumigant applied to soil before the planting of crops such as strawberries. Overexposure can cause long term neurological problems including seizures, tremors, convulsions, and coma and neurobehavioral problems. It is a central nervous system depressant and shown to cause birth defects in test animals. Recent studies have found an elevated risk of prostate cancer among methyl bromide applicators and farmworkers.
At issue in this lawsuit was the role of OEHHA, a State office of the California Environmental Protection Agency whose specific mission is to evaluate risks posed by hazardous substances, and which, along with DPR, is charged with responsibility for developing regulations related to pesticide and worker safety. OEHHA had recommended that seasonal (or subchronic) exposure levels of methyl bromide should not exceed 1 part per billion for the general public and 2 parts per billion for adult workers. In contrast, DPR’s adopted regulations allowed seasonal exposure levels of this highly toxic pesticide to reach 9 parts per billion for the public and 16 parts per billion for workers, an 800% and 900% increase, respectively, over OEHHA’s recommended levels.
The Appellate Court agreed with the Superior Court that DPR violated the law when it failed to jointly develop the methyl bromide regulations and ignored the recommendations of OEHHA scientists. -
Got a Miramar Now! Button? Cool, You Can Have Your Scone and Eat It Too.
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraA table just outside the back door of the County Administration Building replete with Jeannine's employees and their wares graced the Miramar hearing yesterday. I've heard reports that one had to "sign in" at a second Caruso table to get a cup of coffee or pastry at the table. Does this not amount to electioneering on county government property? At the very least it shows a bias in that the County should not be allowing such a display at a public hearing that is supposed to be objective. I don't remember tabling ever being allowed in the past -- is this a new policy? If it is -- they better be ready for every group in town to want to take part in the fun.
If that wasn't enough, Caruso was allowed to interrupt the public hearing numerous times yesterday to whine about time given opponents. A very expensive video was shown with 3D modeling as well -- unfortunately, it also had a series of interviews with proponents of the project. Testimony that is professionally produced like a television commercial should not be allowed in the hearing room as far as I am concerned. Also, for the first time that I can remember, a speaker's position on the project was announced prior to being given time to speak -- apparently to let the supporter counters in the room do their work.
What's going on over there? It's one thing to give everyone a fair hearing -- it's another to pave the way with scones, coffee and a professionally directed video. -
Easton to Announce Candidacy in Goleta
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraEd Easton will be announcing his candidacy tomorrow and here's part of his press advisory...he's someone I consider a very strong candidate for one of the two spots available in November. Let's see how he does in the months leading to the election. -- Sara
Easton, a Goleta Planning Commissioner, former member of the Goleta Design Review Board, and the Old Town Project Advisory Committee, is running on a platform of returning common sense principles of slow growth, neighborhood and environmental protection to the Council.
"I believe my forty-two year record of local and national environmental leadership, planning and architectural experience have prepared me to be a voice for slow, measured growth and sound planning on the Goleta City Council." said Easton.
Easton's platform includes:
· Putting residents concerns first. Easton will listen to citizens of Goleta, not special interests that want to avoid city control of development. He will protect the General Plan.
· Preserving neighborhood character. Our neighborhoods, like Old Town and Ellwood Beach, are unique and should be protected from over development such as "Big Box" stores and their inevitable traffic impacts.
· Environmental Protection. Preserving our last remaining open spaces, public beaches and agricultural lands will be a top priority.
· Protecting Public Safety. The recent Gap Fire was a strong reminder of the critical work performed by our community's first responders. As a former regional planning director and long time environmental leader, Easton knows that one of the best ways to protect Goleta from a future disaster is to preserve agricultural land and prevent runaway urban sprawl.
· Negotiate a fair and reasoned Revenue Neutrality Agreement. Rather than threatening and insulting county and regional leaders, Ed will bring common sense and a balanced approach to these important discussions. Leadership requires listening, and Ed is committed to negotiating an agreement that fairly compensates Goleta without harming existing relationships with the County
Graduating from Yale University with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a Masters in Architecture, Easton was licensed as an architect, and later served as Director of Planning for the Regional Council of Local Governments in Charlotte NC. Easton then accepted a visiting professorship at the University of North Carolina, where he taught architecture.
For the past thirty years Ed has worked in different capacities for environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation, then created the Institute for Conservation Leadership with multiple grants from the Pew Charitable Trusts as well as other foundations. Easton was CEO of the Institute for six years.
Ed has lived in Goleta for eight years, where he has used his architectural background to renovate a 1913 California bungalow in Old Town Goleta. In addition to his service on the Planning Commission where he was its first Chairman, the Design Review Board and the Old Town Project Advisory Committee, Ed has also been active locally with the Sierra Club as Santa Barbara Group Secretary, then Chair and Conservation Chair. He is also a Board Member of the Gaviota Coast Conservancy, and founded Friends of Coal Oil Point Reserve, where he continues to serve as a Snowy Plover docent.
Ed is the proud father of two adult sons, and lives with his wife of forty-nine years in Old Town. He became a grandfather for the first time in January of 2007. -
Caruso/Miramar Project Emails Released
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraThe enclosed PDF was released to the media late last week by the law firm representing community groups opposed to the current Miramar project. It represents a series of email communications between County staff, employees and officials -- as well as emails from the applicant in a drama which continues to unfold.
Decide for yourself -- but this project looks like it was fast-tracked on an unrealistic timeline. These emails also give us a view of the circumstances around two project managers who had issues with the process and the ethics surrounding the County's approach. -
What Was He Thinking? TKA Spreads Falsehoods Again
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraI'm surprised I hadn't heard about this until I read it in The Santa Barbara Independent online today.
Mayor Blum resigning? Has Travis Armstrong gone off the deep end? If there wasn't a reason for him to step down or be fired in the past -- there is one now. Ridiculous. The man lives in his own little world and thinks little of the impact of his words and The Santa Barbara News-Press on others.
I'd like to see how he responds. This one ain't over. -
Bishop Ranch Pulls Application
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraThis just in from Bishop Ranch LLC -- one less issue to talk about in November. -- Sara
Bishop Ranch Withdraws City of Goleta General Plan Amendment Initiation Application
July 11, 2008 - - An application to initiate the study of options for the future of Bishop Ranch scheduled to be heard by the Goleta City Council next Tuesday, July 15, 2008, has been withdrawn by the applicant following the release of a staff report recommending denial of the requested initiation. The project hearing will not take place.
Not wanting to waste valuable City of Goleta time or resources, the applicant stated there is no reason to move forward. “It is very clear that while there is substantial support in the community to fully study and review the future of Bishop Ranch that same support does not exist at the City, neither with the staff nor with the council,” stated Michael Keston, the applicant.
The subject Bishop Ranch property, first zoned for housing in 1951, is a 240-acre site along the 101 Freeway and neighbored on two sides by homes. According to public records it has not been farmed since the 1940s. The application was the result of model community collaboration, a four-month Community Working Group process undertaken from late 2007 through January 2008 involving hundreds of local residents.
“In withdrawing this plan, it is important that I publicly thank the hundreds of Goleta residents who worked with us for long hours to fully understand the challenges the City faces to fulfill State housing demands without having to build high density multi-family housing,” added Keston.
“A diversity of Goleta residents came forward and worked hard to create a consensus plan, I appreciate the effort and I regret this vision will not go forward.”
Without the plan there will be no project hearing on Tuesday. Keston requested all those who have indicated that they will attend the Goleta City Council meeting stay home and enjoy time with their families. -
State Street Update: Mel's to Close Doors
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraPerhaps the last local business in the immediate area which preceded Paseo Nuevo, Mel's Lounge is set to close on August 24th. Open since 1963, reports are that their rent was doubled to $10,000 per month. I doubt rent was that high when Piccadilly Square surrounded the rather Santa Barbara institution. I'm not sure what former-Mayor Harriet Miller will do without her coffee there in the morning!
The Disneyfication of downtown continues -- does anyone know what's going in there? Would have to be something with high volume, high price and some cachet. I can hear the LA types now -- "Look dear, they are finally cleaning up that side of the mall! Thank God....". -
Rick Caruso's Ultimatum Party: The Event of the Season!
» view full story at BlogaBarbaraI spent a few minutes last night going through my closet, trying to figure out what in the world I was going to wear to Rick Caruso's party next week. OMG! I have six days to get my ensemble together, my hair done done at Walter's and new shoes from Nordie's to match my Vera Wang dress. I'm sure Occhiali has the right glasses to match. I don't need them -- but I think Caruso wanted us to look smart and like, you know, we know what we are doing? The July 15th event is at Birnham Wood Golf Course and you just never know who might be there!
Now that I've written this bit of sarcasm, however, I might end up in the same spot as her man at De la Guerra, Travis Armstrong. This from an opinion piece last week:The company wants to replace the Miramar with a new 202-room hotel, along with restaurants, shops, employee facilities and convention and banquet rooms.
I've been told I'll be turned away at Birnam Wood's gate.
Matt Middlebrook of Caruso Affiliated says he has no idea how much his company will spend on the reception. The company also will provide lunch and refreshments as incentives for people to attend the commission hearing on July 16.
Politics sure does make strange bedfellows in that I never imagined Armstrong naming someone to his cabal and then getting cold-shouldered by someone of the likes of Caruso. I'll even go so far as saying I've generally been in agreement with TKA's op-ed pieces on the Miramar project. Planners have quit, ultimatums have been made -- it's really been a circus over there. And, is the public so tired of seeing an empty Miramar that they will do anything to get something?
I think just about anyone can see the arrogance inherent in telling the County of Santa Barbara that he will just pull up and leave if he doesn't get his own way. EIR's and the community be damned! -
