News Off The Press

« Expand/Collapse

Blogs (150 unread)

Skip to page: 1 2 3 ... 33

September 08, 2008
0:07
Noozhawk Talks: Leslie Dinaberg Sits Down with Larry Kreider
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

Hollister Brewing Co. is providing Goleta — and the South Coast — with a taste for craft-brewed beer.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service
0:07
MTD Board Expected to Vote on Rate Hikes Monday
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

Amid skyrocketing fuel costs, public transit officials seek fare increases to maintain services and routes.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service

0:01
Let The Games Begin!
» ‎view full story at Craig Smith's Blog

A depleted sports department at Wendy McCaw's News-Press got a break on the first Friday of the high school football season: a limited schedule of teams in action.

Carpinteria High and Bishop Diego where the only south coast schools that had games. Santa Barbara High, San Marcos and Dos Pueblos don't kick off their seasons until this Friday.

Covering the action were Dennis Bateman, Alex Pavlovic, Chauncey Kim and John Greely. Bateman and Pavlovic were identified in their by-lines as "staff writers," Greely was identified as a "correspondent" and Kim was ID'd as a "staff report."

So does the News-Press think they can cover prep football once it really gets into full-swing at the end of this week? Apparently not. The paper is running an ad in it's own classified section saying it's "looking for freelance writers to cover high school sports across Santa Barbara County."

So it looks like major league baseball is not the only organization that holds an "amateur draft."

Meanwhile, Presidio Sports, the new website started by former News-Press sports writers Blake Dorfman and John Dvorak, has launched. Former News-Press sports writer Mike Traphagen covered Carpinteria High's victory over Santa Ynez for the website. Dorfman covered the Bishop Diego game.

* * *
It may not be sports, but the game playing continues at the News-Press when it comes to its war on the Teamsters union.

Labor negotiations continued on Wednesday and Thursday of last week between the paper and the union. On Saturday, editorial page editor Travis Armstrong, who was management's representative on the negotiating team, wrote an op-ed page column belittling the negotiations and taking shots at both the Teamsters and the NLRB.

Armstrong made a big deal out of the fact that the two sides didn't actually meet face-to-face in these last sessions. Rather, a federal mediator shuttled between the two rooms where each side was conferring.

Armstrong claimed, "It's not that the News-Press didn't want to sit face to face with them." However, my sources tell me that the paper's lead attorney in the negotiations, Michael Zinser, also did not want to meet face-to-face.

With the News-Press already facing a charge from the NLRB that it has not negotiated in good faith, I'd think twice about using what transpired in the negotiations as material for a column.

* * *
Had a chance to chat briefly with Rick Caruso last Wednesday. Caruso told me that he has offered several times to sit down and meet with Armstrong to address his questions and concerns about Caruso's Miramar project . Armstrong has yet to take him up on his offer.

I guess Travis is too busy dragging his heels in those labor negotiating sessions that seem to only occur once in a blue moon.

* * *
Look alikes: Sarah Palin and Montecito resident Julia Louis Dreyfuss.

Todd Palin and Dodger second baseman Jeff Kent.

September 07, 2008
14:31
Getting to Know Brian Cox
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

I thought it would be interesting to get to know the real Brian Cox, so I sat down with him to talk about bee farming in the Ojai Valley, and a couple other things. Brian talks a little about what has affected the bee population, how not to get stung and why it’s important to close the door to the honey room. He also talks about being the lone conservative voice on these pages and gives a plug for a presidential candidate. Tune in to the full 12-minute interview on Radio Ojai, where you can also hear an interview with Smitty West and new music from Delaney Gibson.

14:30
No Experience Necessary
» ‎view full story at SantaBarbarasBlog.com

Tags: News

The Santa Barbara News-Press is currently looking for freelance sports writers…
5:47
This Week On Santa Barbara’s Blog
» ‎view full story at SantaBarbarasBlog.com

Tags: News
This week on Santa Barbara’s Blog…
- - The southbound Hwy 101 off-ramp at Los Patos Way closed for 12 months.
- - The City Council is prepared to vote on an Oil Moratorium Resolution.
- - A 58-year-old man was assaulted, but no knives were involved.
- - Sarah Palin took center stage and “wowed” 40 million viewers.
- - The Light Blue Line Project returned in the form of an art exhibit.
- - Separated at birth… Montecito resident Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Sarah Palin.
- - Sara Palin instantly became more popular than McCain and/or Obama.
- - 90% of Blog Poll voters liked the choice of Sara Palin (nearly 500 votes).

3:21
Forest Service’s Gap Fire Report Raises Debris Alarms
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

With rainy season looming, hydromulching and other flooding precautions are being deployed to blunt downstream impacts.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service

September 06, 2008
15:33
Stop the Trucks: Ventura County Officials Finally Admit there are Problems and MAC Candidate Jerry Kaplan Responds to our Election Year Questions
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

(Caltrans photo of the collapse of Maricopa Highway in Cuyama Valley)

Last week in a Ventura County Star article by Tony Biasotti, Ventura County officials conceded that there are significant problems in the Planning Division but the real questions is this: Are they Willing To Change?

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/sep/04/officials-concede-land-use-problems/

According to Biasotti Ventura County officials hosted an unusual meeting in a conference room just off of the courthouse cafeteria.

"Everyone on our team has affirmed we have a problem here," Matt Carroll, the top deputy to County Executive Officer Marty Robinson, said at the opening of the meeting. "The facts speak for themselves."

"Complaints about the system from developers and property owners are nothing new..." " But this time, the county is listening and often agreeing..."

"Last year, the county commissioned a report on its land-use procedures by Tom Berg, a consultant who once held (Chris) Stephens' current position as Resource Management Agency director. Based on interviews with 75 people in and out of county government, Berg's report concluded that the land-use process was in need of "systemic changes."

"The county put together a committee of high-level managers, including Carroll and Stephens, to analyze Berg's recommendations and start putting them into action."

(Gravel Truck cutting through Ojai at Summer & Signal. Photo credit to Daly Road Graphics, Ray Smith)

One participant said "she's particularly concerned that the committee isn't supporting Berg's recommendation to hire a land-use ombudsman, a high-level person outside the Resource Management Agency who would deal with citizen complaints."

"There's also some skepticism from players in the process who aren't developers. Howard Smith is a founding member of Stop the Trucks, a group in Ojai that has filed complaints with the county against the companies that send trucks through the Ojai Valley from the quarries and gravel mines to the north. He was interviewed for Berg's report and he has spoken to the Board of Supervisors about the proposed reforms, but he said he wasn't invited to last week's workshop.

"Smith said he's worried that his group's concern — the lack of attention paid to enforcing the conditions of permits granted to the gravel mines and other companies — will be pushed aside."

"I don't sense any willingness on the part of the mid-level staff to actually deal with this," he said. "The notion of having to discipline someone seems like an anathema to them."

(Gravel Truck stopped on Ojai Ave. Photo credit to Daly Road Graphics, Ray Smith)

Jerry Kaplan, the first candidate competing for a seat on the MAC (Municipal Advisor Council) has joined Suza Francina in responding to our questions for candidates. Jerry is running for the seat from District Seven, which covers most of the East End and the Far Northwest side of the Valley. "Stop the Trucks" hopes the other MAC candidates and those running for the City Council will take a few moments to answer a few questions online. We would like each candidate to share their thoughts with the public on the how they intend to deal with the long term threat posed by gravel trucking through Ojai and the blind eye that the Ventura County Planning Division is seemingly paying to regular daily violations of the existing Conditional Use Permits (C.U.P.'s).

1. Do you now or have you in the past personally supported “Stop the Trucks!”

As a founding member of “The Coalition to Stop the Trucks” I have been a very active and supporting member of this Coalition. I first became aware of this potential problem when I attended a meeting of the Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council over a year ago. I immediately contacted Howard Smith, a community active Ojai resident, who was then President of VCEDA (Ventura County Economic Development Association), to see if he was aware of the problem of gravel trucks coming through the Ojai Valley. After Howard did some research, we formed the “Coalition” and Howard immediately alerted the Ventura County Star and the Ojai Valley News. From that start the “Coalition” has grown into a hard hitting successful advocate of the Greater Ojai Valley’s fight to stop the potential extremely harmful effects on the Citizens way of life in the Greater Ojai Valley. Everyone living or working the Ojai Valley should be big supporters of the “Coalition to Stop the Trucks”. My concern over this issue, as well as other issues facing our valley, caused me to run for the Municipal Advisory Councel (MAC).

2. If so please give examples of actions you have taken

Besides being a founder of the Coalition I have donated money and time and energy in helping to develop the Coalition. I have done substantial research in support of the successful actions taken to stop the trucks and my wife, Anne Grupp-Kaplan, a successful attorney, continue being involved in the decision making process of the Coalition. We, along with several other members of the coalition traveled to Santa Maria to participate in hearings by the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission on applications for new mines in Santa Barbara County which could have sent hundreds of gravel trucks through the Ojai Valley every day. I arranged for an Ojai Rotary Club informational forum on the potential substantial problems with highways 33 and 150 as a result of gravel trucks use of these highways. The discussions were between Howard Smith (delete this: who was then president of the Coalition), and Sameer Haddadeen, Chief, Office of Traffic Investigations, Caltrans, District 7. I have been a speaker before several groups, organizations and Los Padres Forest personnel and volunteers explaining how continued and increased Gravel truck traffic through the Greater Ojai Valley would have catastrophic effects on all aspects of this area. I continue being an active member of the Coalition and do everything I can to support its activities.

3. Do you believe the Ojai City Council should take a more active role in the truck campaign, such as providing funding and legal support?

I am running for the MAC, which advises the County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission. However, I believe the city of Ojai should be providing substantial support for the Coalition in all areas including financial, legal, research, personnel, and assistance with dealing with other government agencies at all levels. The potential adverse effects include economic, environmental, safety, to name a few. We could be dealing with the life or death of our Valley as we know it.

4. If so, can you name specific steps that you believe the City can and should undertake?

The City of Ojai, with a population of around 8,000 people is the hub of the Greater Ojai Valley which has a population of around 30,000. As a result I believe that the City Council has the responsibility of being substantially involved in anything that threatens all of the residents of the Ojai Valley. There is substantial interaction between the City and the surrounding non incorporated areas. The City Council is the glue that holds the Greater Ojai Valley together. In this instance, which is similar to the Weldon Canyon situation, the City Council and the City of Ojai should be in the forefront of providing the where with all and leadership, in partnership with the Coalition to Stop the Trucks, to fend off this substantial attack on the Ojai Valley. The City should also be reaching out to all organizations in the Greater Ojai Valley for support and involvement, as partners in this project. This should include the Municipal Advisory Council, the community leadership group in Oak View and all other components of the Greater Ojai Valley. The City of Ojai should also be providing the leadership for a visioning and strategic planning for the next 25 to 50 years in order to get ahead of the curve and eliminating threats to our community like the “Gravel Trucks” Either the Greater Ojai Valley does its best to control the changes which will take place in the future, or others will. Since “Change” is the only constant in life I vote for doing our best to control it as much as possible.

The Coalition to Stop the Trucks is and has been doing an outstanding job of fighting off the Gravel Truck threats. The City of Ojai should immediately join with, add support in every possible way and participate with the Coalition in all aspects of this fight!

5. Do you believe the City should work with Caltrans to permanently ban all thru trucking on Route 33 north of Ojai and on Route 150 through downtown Ojai?

Absolutely! I also feel that joint City and County action should be taken to eliminate all unnecessary or high impact traffic on all of route 33 and 150. This concept would need to be researched so as not to harm healthy and necessary traffic through these areas. If I am elected to the Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council I pledge to work hard to help these suggestions become fact.

6, if so, what specific steps would you take to see this accomplished.

Please see my answer to question 5, above. Also, because I have been and still am very substantially involved with the “Coalition” I would continue to strongly support the many and creative possible steps we have developed for accomplishing and monitoring such a ban on specific heavy truck traffic through the Greater Ojai Valley.

7.The Ozena mine’s county permit states its “normal hours of operation” for trucks traveling on Highway 33 in the Ojai Valley are from 6 to 7 a.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., yet they seem to be in violation of these conditions and so far County officials have failed to take any action. What steps should the City take to see that County officials enforce the Permit?

The Coalition is doing and has done an incredible job of researching, investigating and demanding public records relating to these violations. As MAC advises the county, I would hope to bring pressure so that these enforcement problems are solved.

8. Would you actively support the Coalition’s request to have an independent Ombudsman appointed to not only undertake a further investigation into the abuse of CUP 5170 by the permit holders, but also the very operation of compliance monitoring by the Planning Division?

Absolutely! Again, because of my ongoing involvement with the “Coalition” I am very aware of the great need for an appointment of an Ombudsman not only to investigate the Ozena Mine’s activities, but possibly more important, the seemingly absolute faultiness of the Ventura County Planning Department to do their duty of correctly and consistently monitoring the Conditional Use Permit’s they issue. The Director of the Planning Department admitted this during a meeting with the Supervisors of Ventura County! Also, if I am elected to the Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) I will actively pursue this request until it happens!!

9. Given the Planning Divisions claim that it is seemingly impossible to monitor C.U.P. compliance, do you agree that the County has no business, under CEQA guidelines, approving the CUP in the first place?

Absolutely! The Coalition has done substantial research into ways of providing accurate and consistent monitoring of CUP’s such as Ozena’s. This has been discussed with the Planning Department of Ventura County yet they still have done nothing to make it happen.

10 Do you believe the County should begin the process to terminate Ozena’s current C.U.P.?

The Coalition has provided the County Planning Department much more than all the information they need to proceed with this termination. Again, if elected to MAC I would bring this to the attention of the other members and suggest that immediate action be taken by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to assure that the Planning Department does its job, correctly and quickly, including terminiating the current C.U.P.

11. And if so, how would you persuade the County to accomplish this?

See answer for question 10, above. Also, I would continue to work hard, as a founding member of the Coalition to Stop the Trucks, to use all of our creativity and persistence to cause a permanent ban on all through heavy trucking, such as gravel trucks, on all of Highways 33 and 150.

As a member of the Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council, I would do everything possible to educate the council and the Board of Supervisors on this threat to the Greater Ojai Valley, including facilitating meetings with members of the Coalition which, I believe, would help them understand and take action on the threats and evidence of wrongdoing by Ozena and the misconduct of the Planning Department.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Send your donations to the Stop The Trucks! Coalition – c/o The Ojai Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1134, Ojai, CA, 93024, or you may also walk your contribution into the Chamber’s offices anytime during the business week, at 201 S. Signal Street -- in the Ojai Festivals building -- in downtown Ojai.

(The "Stop the Trucks!" Coalition reserves the right to remove any comments that are either off topic or otherwise inappropriate.)
9:59
Preserving the Spirit of Ojai
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

Suza Francina for Ojai City Council

Dear Ojai Post Reader,

As you may know, I am running for re election to the Ojai City Council. This election takes place the same time as the General Election, on November 4th.

There are two open seats on the Ojai City Council. I am asking for your vote for one of them.

If you are a regular reader of the Ojai Post you have probably seen my articles on a wide range of topics, from birth to death to animals, leaf-blowers, alternative transportation and other environmental issues*. The fact of the matter is that local, national and global politics touches every aspect of our lives from the moment we enter the Planet till our inevitable departure.

When I ran in 1996 there were no web sites like the Ojai Post. E-mail and the Internet was not yet a part of our daily lives. After I was elected, the city manager laughingly told me that I sent the first ever e-mail to City Hall. So here I am, posting the first Ojai City Council fund-raising letter on the Internet.

My return to the council will give residents the transparent, responsible government they deserve. I will work hard to protect Ojai’s unique village atmosphere while keeping it affordable for families of all income levels.

I served on the City Council from 1996 to 2000, and as Mayor for the last year of that term. Many citizens have urged me to run again now that more people understand that my proposals to create a model green and sustainable city are simply common sense. During the past eight years, I have continued to research the shift toward green thinking. I applaud and support the hard work done by the Ojai Valley Green Coalition.

Conservation is now the watchword of every conscientious government and business around the world. As we grow increasingly aware of traffic congestion, air and water pollution, water shortages, global warming, and other issues, we are forced to confront the fact that sound economic development must be tied to environmental responsibility.

I am most concerned about the inappropriate development that is eroding Ojai’s unique quality. The City of Ojai's General Plan is a clear mandate for "small town character." I was the only member of the City Council to vote "No" on the Los Arboles condominiums. I believe in “Better, not bigger.” The scale of recent projects and proposed building projects violates our City’s mandate to preserve our village atmosphere.

This race will be strongly contested by those who would turn Ojai into an exclusive enclave for the wealthy. We need your support to stop this trend.

When facing development decisions, I will ask: “Are we looking at the land as something embedded in an ecosystem, with a history and a future that extends beyond our area and life span? Or do we see it as a “blank canvas” on which you can draw something that will make investors a short-term profit at the expense of our one-of-a-kind village?”

In the fifty-one years that I’ve lived in Ojai I’ve worn many hats: mother of two children who attended local schools, small-business owner, yoga and therapeutic exercise instructor for seniors, professional writer on health and environmental issues, and health advocate for the older population. I’m also a consultant for research studies on yoga, and the author of four books. My writings are featured on web sites and print publications world-wide.

The Ojai Valley is one of the most beautiful and sacred places on earth. Our economy, our tourist industry and our quality of life depend on protecting its uniqueness. Together, we can preserve the spirit of Ojai and become a model green community for the whole world to admire!

Please share this letter with your Ojai friends and neighbors. I look forward to seeing you at upcoming forums and events, and listening to your ideas, questions and concerns.

Sincerely,

Suza Francina
Candidate Statement

Name____________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________________

Phone______________ email____________________________________

Donation: $5 __$10 __$25___$50____$100 __$150__$200 __Other__

* You may use my name for endorsement.__
* I want to help with campaign ___

Your donation of any amount is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

The Committee to Elect Suza Francina
511 W Eucalyptus Street
Ojai, CA 93023
Email Sfrancina@aol.com
805) 646-2613; Cell: (805) 603-8635

*Suza's articles on the Ojai Post archives

7:02
The Round-Up From The Past Week
» ‎view full story at Craig Smith's Blog

As you might imagine, I keep a count of the number of people who view or land on my blog every day.

Although traffic to my blog is pretty reliable and consistent day-in-and-day-out, there are variations in the number of readers who view certain posts.

For Saturdays, I thought I would start listing what were the most read posts from the previous five days.

The list is based on unique visitors, that is the number of different users who viewed my posts on a particular day.

So for the week of September 1st:

1. The Return of Citizen McCaw

2. Waiting On A Plane

3. Will This Dog Hunt? *

4. Wendy's Primary Colors: Yellow and Red

5. A Tennis Holiday

* Most comments on Edhat.

6:37
More Domain Redirect Politics, this time from "Democrats for Strickland"
» ‎view full story at BlogaBarbara

Tags: Strickland for Democrats

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.

5:50
EcoFacts
» ‎view full story at SantaBarbarasBlog.com

Tags: News

With the summer and autumn harvests offering us a bounty of wonderful, healthful foods, it’s easier to remember what real food is. A century ago, people ate real food because the stores weren’t selling corn syrup soda and chips, power bars and vitamin water.

In the last few decades, with ever more convenient processed and fast foods being consumed in ever increasing amounts, our diets have continuously changed. The markets (not the farmers’ kind) have brought us zillions of tasty products, with the help of chemical colorings and flavorings, preservatives and sweeteners. Our diets have been yanked around as we were led to believe first one thing and then another - we would be better off if we: ate less sugar; quit eating fats; took nutritional supplements; ate more meat; ate less meat…

Obesity, heart disease, cancer and other illnesses have all been linked to our new ways of eating, and this is finally becoming evident. Best selling authors like Michael Pollan and Barbara Kingsolver are illuminating this truth: what may be good for the food and diet industry, may not be the best for us. For a multitude of reasons, but even only considering human health and the planet’s, returning to real food just seems like a good idea, you know, the easily identifiable stuff with few ingredients and clear origins. - Submitted by Barbara Hirsch, chair of the SANE library committee (Sustainable Actions Needed Everywhere), UCSB.

4:29
How Not to Make a Candidate Web Site by Goleta Council Member Jean Blois
» ‎view full story at BlogaBarbara

Tags: Blois Jean

With 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.

September 05, 2008
15:00
Picture of the Week
» ‎view full story at SantaBarbarasBlog.com

Tags: News

Picture of the Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge by Thad Roan
11:51
Palin More Popular than Obama or McCain?
» ‎view full story at SantaBarbarasBlog.com

Tags: News

A week ago, most Americans had never heard of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Now, following a Vice Presidential acceptance speech seen live by more than 40 million people, Palin is viewed favorably by 58% of American voters, according to the latest Rasmussen Report. The national survey finds that 37% hold an unfavorable view of the self-described hockey mom.

According to the report, Palin’s favorable ratings are now a point higher than either man at the top of the Presidential tickets this year. As of Friday morning, Obama and McCain are each viewed favorably by 57% of voters. The beleaguered Joe Biden is viewed favorably by only 48% of those surveyed.

9:39
Celebrating Organizers
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

Upon reading my crank fest about Governor Palin's jab at Barack Obama and community organizers around the country, Tyler responded by suggesting that we take a moment to celebrate the people in our community who step up, again and again to be helpful.

This is ultimately a much better response than my rant! So, I'd love to invite people to share their thoughts about who has made a difference in this valley.

We are blessed with an extraordinary community of people who give their time, their energy, and their passions to make this a marvelous place.

Who are your local community organizer heroes?

6:55
Police Say Body Found in Bushes is Missing Goleta Teen
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

Sheriff's department officials believe that Christine Veloz-Payne was the victim of a hit-and-run.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service
6:55
Vandals Strike Again, Hurling Brick Through Art Gallery Window
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

Employees at the private Sullivan Goss gallery believe that the crime was politically motivated.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service
6:55
Lynn Ralph Spear, 1938-2008
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

A funeral will be held Friday for the devoted Scout leader, who mentored hundreds of young men for the past 36 years.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service

5:03
Separated at Birth… Dreyfus and Palin
» ‎view full story at SantaBarbarasBlog.com

Tags: News

Separated at birth… Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Sarah Palin (courtesy of blogger Dan)

1:07
Will This Dog Hunt?
» ‎view full story at Craig Smith's Blog

It's been a week since John McCain announced his choice for his running mate as vice president and I still can't get over it.

I was in Greenwich, Connecticut last Friday afternoon sitting at a local watering hole killing some time until my train back to New Haven arrived, when I saw the news on CNN that he had selected Alaska governor Sarah Palin. My first thought; somebody has stolen the plot of the movie "Dave" and turned it into the GOP ticket!

The idea that Palin is capable of running this country in the event that McCain wins the election and is unable to, is totally preposterous.

Having served as the mayor of a Podunk town hardly qualifies her to be on the ticket. And anyone who tries to dismiss her lack of experience by saying, "She's only running for the No. 2 job," as columnist William Kristol wrote Monday in The New York Times, has not learned the lesson of the death of Tim Russert: anyone, of any age, can suddenly drop dead without any warning.

Less than two years serving as the governor of Alaska shouldn't put her in the express lane to heartbeat away from the presidency.

I know, the Republicans keep talking about all of the decisions she has had to have made as the state's chief executive. Like what? Deciding whether to extend the ice fishing season by an additional two weeks?

Only two states have fewer inhabitants than Alaska. Although it's the largest state by area, about 65 percent of the land in Alaska is owned by the federal government.

It's also the least densely populated state. At 700,000 residents it's smaller in population than San Francisco. And in San Francisco all of those people are packed into 47 square miles.

And unlike San Francisco, Alaska pays people to live there.

And then there was the bombshell that was dropped on Monday, when it was revealed that Palin's 17 year old daughter was five months pregnant.

After my post Tuesday where I made mention of Palin's daughter being in a "family way," several readers wrote to me.

Lou Cannon, former reporter for the Washington Post, the author of several books and a regular reader of this blog, thought I was wrong to bring Palin's family into the debate.

Sure, statistically, teenage marriages have a high rate of failure but the stats about teenage single mothers also aren't encouraging. And in any case these are people, not statistics. Obama had it right when he said this discussion shouldn't be part of our politics.

I'm the first to agree, her kids ought to be left out of this. But the way she has chosen to spin the circumstance of her daughter's pregnancy is fair game for criticism, starting with the way she made the announcement.

Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned.

So much for McCain's "straight talk express."

Are we to assume this is typical of the way Palin will deliver bad news to the country?

What about simply saying, "Our daughter is pregnant and she will be keeping the baby."

And what about Palin's apparent approval of her 17 year old daughter marrying the 18 year old father?

Although it may have been "the right thing to do" at one time, I think we are past that point in our society when you marry someone simply because you have gotten them pregnant. Two wrongs don't make a right. The pregnancy was obviously unwanted and a "mistake" and to compound that mistake by seemingly approving of her daughter's marriage to the 18 year old father, I think, says volumes about the Governor's social standards and judgment.

Sarah Stephanie Calkins wrote in to say:

I too am troubled about the idea of marriage for this girl. But what troubles me even more is the fact that this daughter was hung out to dry. What should have been a very private matter was made public for political reasons for her mother's and McCain's benefit. Now her personal situation is being played out on the national and world stage and as a parent I find it disgusting that her parents put themselves in the public arena where this was bound to happen. Talk about a sacrificial lamb!

And if she really was aware of her daughter's pregnancy before she was asked by McCain to be her VP, then I too have to question her judgment by accepting a spot on the ticket. By electing to go forward and run for vice president, Palin ensured that her daughter's teenage pregnancy would come to light and be the subject of ridicule that it is. McCain says that Obama "would rather win an election than win a war." I say that Palin would rather be on the Republican ticket than protect her daughter's privacy.

Reader Sandy Starkey had this comment:

More troubling than her notion that marriage will solve the problem is that she might some day have the power to deny others their right to choose. If her daughter chooses to marry, okay. We know that choice is probably a tragic one, but hey, it's her daughter's funeral, right?

One of the more sage observations I've seen on this issue came not in response to what I wrote in this blog but rather, in a letter to the editor that was published in the New York Times Wednesday by UCSB professor Gayle Binion, who had this to say:

Given that Governor Palin is willing to impose her views on private family matters on others, in terms of her opposition to abortion and her commitment to abstinence-only sex education, it is legitimate to question such a parent's responsibilities to her children. In pursuing the vice-presidential nomination, was Ms. Palin willing to put her ambitions ahead of the interests of her daughter? Surely she knew that her nomination would bring worldwide attention to her daughter's pregnancy. Is this a positive example of commitment to family values?

Hardly.

So how did Palin end up being on the ticket? Her opposition to abortion must have been the overriding factor which caused McCain to pass over more qualified candidates who happened to be pro choice.

Cannon, who hastened to point out that he believes the Palin nomination was unwise, faults McCain for choosing her rather than Palin for accepting. "I've never known a politician who felt he (or she) was unqualified for any office."

Or a blogger who felt he was unqualified to express an opinion.

0:12
From a Cranky Former Community Organizer
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

I have been a community organizer. I left a full time job to work for free in my community for three years, pulling together neighbors, government, and nonprofits to create a fiercely-needed community center in my town.

I have felt great pride about our accomplishments with this project, and felt that the financial sacrifice I made in the salary I lost was well worth it. For the first time, we have a legitimate library in my little town. Our children have safe, creative, embracive places to go after school. Neighbors have a place to meet neighbors, and we have a swath of green in the middle of a fairly tightly packed residential neighborhood that hosts everything from Little League to pick-up soccer games on the weekend.

I drive or walk by this center every day, as it is half a block away from my house. There are few things that I've done in my life that feel like they have even close to such a tangible and lasting meaning.

There are a lot of things that I could have done with the money I would have earned had I not left my paying job. My graduate degree could have been paid off, or the remaining debt on our house. We could have afforded the kinds of travel that my husband and I dream of on slow Sunday afternoons. Or I could have had a far different kitty to start my own business than I have, allowing me to move forward far more quickly towards my own version of the small-business-owning American dream.

Giving that up was, to me, worth it. And I recognize that it pales in comparison to the lifetimes that many people spend doing this kind of volunteer work.

But according to Sarah Palin and her scriptwriters, it was an exercise in pointlessness.

In her speech at the Republican National Convention last night, Governor Palin, in a dig about Barack Obama's step away from a high paying position at a law firm into the trenches of inner city community building, stated, "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organiser", except that you have actual responsibilities."

To say that I am insulted by this statement doesn't even begin to cover my rage. This country and the world have benefitted from Americans who have chosen to step away from the rewards of lucrative careers into working for free or for minute salaries to make their communities, and communities around the world, safer, stronger, more functional, and more vibrant.

How dare she? How dare she attack those who choose to give of themselves?

These are true American values, Ms. Palin. Family and community values where people roll up their sleeves and take responsibility for fixing what is broken in our communities.

These are the kinds of responsibilities we can be proud of.

What you took on in your tenure as mayor of Wasilla included an attempt to ban books from the library, firing those on the town staff who didn't agree with you or didn't support your mayoral campaign, and leaving the town $20 million in long term debt as you moved forward to your new responsibilities as governor.

For shame.

September 04, 2008
22:04
Oil Drilling Politics Brings Lots of Political Action
» ‎view full story at BlogaBarbara

Tags: County Barbara Santa

50 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.”
21:59
Obama, McCain, Palin, Biden, etc. Jump
» ‎view full story at BlogaBarbara

Looks 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....

17:48
Stop the Trucks" County Officials Admit There Are Problems
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

BUT WILL THEY DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM?

From the Ventura County Star: (For the Full Story Go To:)
[www.venturacountystar.com]
Officials concede land-use problems
County promises changes to policy
By Tony Biasotti
Thursday, September 4, 2008

Some excerpts:

"Everyone on our team has affirmed we have a problem here," Matt Carroll, the top deputy to County Executive Officer Marty Robinson, said at the opening of the meeting. "The facts speak for themselves."

...Alary said she's particularly concerned that the committee isn't supporting Berg's recommendation to hire a land-use ombudsman, a high-level person outside the Resource Management Agency who would deal with citizen complaints.

There's also some skepticism from players in the process who aren't developers. Howard Smith is a founding member of Stop the Trucks, a group in Ojai that has filed complaints with the county against the companies that send trucks through the Ojai Valley from the quarries and gravel mines to the north. He was interviewed for Berg's report and he has spoken to the Board of Supervisors about the proposed reforms...

...Smith said he's worried that his group's concern — the lack of attention paid to enforcing the conditions of permits granted to the gravel mines and other companies — will be pushed aside.

"I don't sense any willingness on the part of the mid-level staff to actually deal with this," he said. "The notion of having to discipline someone seems like an anathema to them..."

We need the continued support of everyone in Ojai to see that these past travesties do not happen again. Please send your donations to the Stop The Trucks! Coalition – c/o The Ojai Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1134, Ojai, CA, 93024, or you may also walk your contribution into the Chamber’s offices anytime during the business week, at 201 S. Signal Street -- in the Ojai Festivals building -- in downtown Ojai.
12:58
Palin's Appalling Record on Wolves, Bears and Other Wildlife
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

Tonight Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will accept the Republican nomination for Vice President, a position that would put her second in line to be President of the United States. The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund is asking for help letting people know where she stands on the brutal and needless aerial hunting of wolves and bears. So I am posting the video below in response to this request:
[actionfund.defenders.org]

Warning: This video is extremely disturbing. It contains graphic images of aerial hunting of wolves -- a brutal and needless practice that Governor Palin has fought hard to promote and expand. Despite strong scientific, ethical and public opposition to aerial hunting, Governor Palin has:Proposed paying a $150 bounty for the left foreleg of each dead wolf; Approved a $400,000 state-funded propaganda campaign to promote aerial hunting; Introduced legislation to make it even easier to use aircraft to hunt wolves and bears.

5:49
Local Artists Left to Pick Up the Pieces After Vandals Strike
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

A structure with stuffed animals was damaged Wednesday, raising to three the number of targeted State of the Art Gallery exhibits.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service
5:49
Santa Barbara Man Helps With Finer Points of Detailing Air Force One
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

Robert Regan, aka 'the Auto Detailing Teacher,' says he was 'thrilled to help preserve a piece of history.'
-- Delivered by Feed43 service
5:49
Landscape Irrigation Now Awash in Technology
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

A host of new water conservation tools are being used to irrigate Santa Barbara County.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service

5:00
Light Blue Line Project Back in Santa Barbara
» ‎view full story at SantaBarbarasBlog.com

Tags: News

The Light Blue Line Project is back in Santa Barbara… this time in the form of an art exhibit. The exhibit, entitled “Flooded Cities” will feature work by Santa Barbara artists who were asked to consider what the world’s cities would be like if global sea levels were to rise. Here is one rendition of the Santa Barbara Zoo:

0:01
Wendy's Primary Colors: Yellow and Red
» ‎view full story at Craig Smith's Blog

While I was in New York City over Labor Day weekend, a couple of readers e-mailed to tell me about the full-page ad that ran in Sunday's edition of the News-Press urging Santa Barbarans to "unite as a community" against the Teamsters.

With no way of actually seeing the ad, I was hardly in a position to comment on it. But yesterday, my first full day back home, I swung by the Goleta library and dug a copy of Sunday's News-Press out of the stacks and took a gander at the ad.

I thought McCarthy-like fear tactics went out of vogue in the late 1950's. They appear to be flourishing inside Wendy's house of horrors.

That headline shouting "Stay Alert Santa Barbara" suggests that there must be a lot of red ink at the News-Press these days.

I'll save you the trouble of rummaging through your desk drawer looking for your magnifying glass so you can read the fine print in the photo of the ad. Here's what it had to say:

Theft: In the past month the Santa Barbara News-Press has been the target of organized crime. Hundreds of counterfeit News-Press checks have been sent from Las Vegas and the Bronx via UPS to addresses across the country. There have been victims in this financial fraud as some of these checks have been cashed.

Vandalism: In the past two weeks on six different occasions, employees of the Santa Barbara News-Press have had their car tires slashed and the air let out while parked in the employee lot of the Santa Barbara News-Press

Intimidation: The Teamsters have staged unlawful secondary boycotts at local Santa Barbara businesses and harassed their customers. The Teamsters have used young children to parade anti-News-Press messages on their balloons. Teamster members have even intimidated News-Press employees, harassing them in dark parking lots at night.

What You Can Do: If you witness any acts of theft, vandalism, or intimidation, call the Santa Barbara Police or 911. If you can safely take a photograph for evidence, please send a copy to the Police and us.

We must unite as a community, stay alert, and let anyone who commits reprehensible acts of theft, vandalism, and intimidation know that Santa Barbara is not going to tolerate these tactics.

What? No accusation that the Teamsters are responsible for global warming?

The News-Press ran a story on the check scam back in early August. According to that article a report on the fraudulent checks was made to the police. I guess the Wendy couldn't hold off on running the ad until the police had concluded their investigation. After all, the investigation will in all likelihood clear the Teamsters and then who will she have left to point her finger at?

The tire slashing was also reported in the News-Press. That article identified a copy editor as being one of the victims. Of course a copy editor would be in the newsroom bargaining unit represented by the Teamsters. I find it a little hard to believe the Teamsters would slash the tires on the car of one of their own union members.

The assertion that Teamster members have intimidated the paper's employees by harassing them in dark parking lots, was actually the subject of an unfair labor practice complaint made by the newspaper. The NLRB dismissed that claim. Considering the fact that the dismissal was reported in the News-Press, I can only conclude that not even Wendy is reading her own paper anymore.

When I asked Union attorney Ira Gottlieb for a comment on the ad he had this to say: "The Teamsters deny any involvement in either the alleged check fraud or tire slashing, and the (News-Press) is engaging in its usual habit of making accusations without evidence."

With reference to the allegation that the Teamsters have been staging unlawful secondary boycotts, Gottlieb said, "The Teamsters' activities with respect to handbilling is lawful, protected by the U.S. and California Constitutions and not prohibited by any applicable law."

My own thought is that Wendy's attempts to whip up anti-Teamster sentiment in the community will ultimately prove to be futile.

It's not "Teamster tactics" that have damaged the News-Press but rather Wendy's own stubborn insistence that the newspaper reflect her voice and her voice alone.

I know, I know. It's her paper and she can put whatever she wants in it. But if she wants to sell it to the rest of us, she better wake up and smell that red ink.

September 03, 2008
23:01
Santa Barbara Bank & Trust Celebrates 45-Year Employee
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

Real estate investment group executive Charlene Ray started as a back-office check sorter in 1963.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service
23:01
Goleta Councilors Give Themselves a Pay Raise
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

Starting in December, the city leaders will receive $400 a month, up from $363.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service

22:16
News-Press Employees Win Small Victory
» ‎view full story at BlogaBarbara

Tags: News-Press Barbara Santa

The 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.
22:11
Citizen McCaw Screenings, Blog and Journalism School Materials
» ‎view full story at BlogaBarbara

Tags: mccaw Citizen

The 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).

19:52
New Ojai Police Chief
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

Official announcement is coming tomorrow that Ojai Police Chief Bruce Norris is moving on to another assignment in the Sheriff's Department. His official last day will be Sunday, September 21. Captain Chris Dunn is taking over as the Ojai Police Chief, starting Monday the 22nd. Best of success to Captain Norris and welcome to Captain Dunn - you can read a letter from him following the jump...

===============================================

My name is Chris Dunn and I am a Captain with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. I have been in law enforcement for over 20 years, 14 years with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and over 6 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. During my career with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, I have held numerous assignments, including but not limited to, Camarillo Patrol, Headquarters Patrol, Fillmore Patrol, Camarillo Special Enforcement, Court Services Bureau, and Major Crimes Bureau. My most recent assignment has been that of Watch Commander in the Sheriff’s Communication Center.

I was born in the City of Los Angeles and spent several of my childhood years living in a very rural area of Northern Idaho, Sandpoint. When I was 13 years old, I returned to Southern California, taking residence in the City of Camarillo. I attended and graduated from Camarillo High School. I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix in 2004 and have been working towards a Masters Degree in Emergency Services Management at California State University Long Beach.

I married my high school sweetheart, Gina, and we have two teenage sons, Blake and Austin. We still live in Camarillo and have no intentions of leaving the Ventura County area. Gina and I have been active in our community through coaching youth sports and being active in the Boy Scouts of America program.

My strong desire to contribute to my community and country lead me to enlist in the United States Navy Reserves at 17 years old. I continue to be an active member with the Navy Reserve and received a commission in the Navy on June 1, 2007. I currently hold the position of Executive Officer for Navy Reserve Security Forces at Naval Base Ventura County. I will be taking over as the Commanding Officer of that reserve unit in November of 2008.

I look forward to serving the City of Ojai and the surrounding communities in the Ojai Valley area. My wife and I look forward to spending more time in Ojai and taking advantage of the numerous events, festivals, and activities Ojai has to offer.

16:07
Police Seek Public’s Help Finding Teen Girl Reported Missing
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

Christina Veloz-Payne, 14, hasn't been seen or heard from since Monday's Goleta Fireworks Festival.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service

15:49
Palin Takes Center Stage
» ‎view full story at SantaBarbarasBlog.com

Tags: News

Sarah Palin, the controversial “Juno/Juneau” candidate will take center stage tonight at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Critics will be hanging on every word of this relatively unknown Vice Presidential nominee, while supporters will be yelling… “that glass ceiling, with 18 million cracks in it, has been shattered!”

UPDATE: Here is a summary from the Huffington Post…

Unless something else unexpected happens (and it could), Sarah Palin has made it a race. Tonight she was a more compelling and powerful presence than was John McCain. Does she belong in the big time? Judging from this performance, yes. She delivered under enormous pressure, and with great poise. It was an an effective attack on Obama and his supporters, from the right. Yes, she was reading from a script, and yes, she has yet to deal with press conferences, a debate with Biden, subpoenas from the Alaska State Legislature, and other challenges. But I don’t think the Democrats will under estimate her political abilities after tonight.
12:44
Assault in Santa Barbara… No Knives
» ‎view full story at SantaBarbarasBlog.com

Tags: News

According to the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD), a 58-year-old man was assaulted last night near Cabrillo Boulevard and Calle Cesar Chavez, 7 p.m.

According to the SBPD, suspect Luis Cardenas, age 25, initiated the assault on the victim by punching the victim on the head. The second suspect, Juan Moreno Castillo, age 42, joined in on the assault. The victim fell to the ground and Cardenas continued to punch the victim. Castillo stood over the victim and “stomped” on the victims head several times with his foot. It was reported that the victim lost consciousness during the assault.

Luis Cardenas has been arrested for Felony Battery. Juan Moreno Castillo was arrested for Felony Battery and False Information to a Peace Officer.

10:10
Open Thread: RNC Edition
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

as promised, the RNC photo and open thread... go to it, Ojaians!

7:18
City Council to Oppose Offshore Drilling
» ‎view full story at SantaBarbarasBlog.com

Tags: News

Counteracting a 3-2 vote by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to support offshore drilling, the Santa Barbara City Council is prepared to vote on an Oil Moratorium Resolution next Tuesday at a special 6pm meeting. Here are the terms from Councilwoman Helene Schneider:

A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA SUPPORTING THE STATE AND FEDERAL MORATORIA ON NEW OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASING OFF THE SANTA BARBARA COASTLINE

WHEREAS 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; and

WHEREAS City of Santa Barbara residents have long opposed new oil and gas drilling off their coastline and support protecting the valuable coastal environment over development of the relatively small amounts of oil and gas offshore California, and

WHEREAS the Santa Barbara City’s General Plan states clearly that the City should “continue efforts to prohibit new oil exploration, drilling and production in the channel and to cause the termination of existing leases and the removal of platform structures,” and its Local Coastal Plan also highlights the importance of the City’s coastal natural resources, ocean-related/visitor-serving commercial uses, and an active, working harbor dependent upon healthy marine resources in the Santa Barbara Channel.

WHEREAS on May 3, 2005, the Santa Barbara City Council voted to send a letter to the California Coastal Commission expressing its opposition to any extension of offshore oil leases off the central coast of California and encouraged the California Coastal Commission to not make a consistency determination for the pending thirty-seven (37) offshore federal oil leases; and

WHEREAS according to the U. S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA), new offshore drilling “would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030”; and

WHEREAS in 2007, the City of Santa Barbara was the first city in the State to pass the Architecture 2030 Challenge, by enacting an ordinance requiring all new construction to exceed Title 24 energy savings standards by 20% and was the first city in Southern California to certify its greenhouse gas emissions inventory in all municipal facilities in order to create a plan to reduce energy consumption over time; and

WHEREAS on August 26, 2008 the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, on a 3-2 vote, authorized the County to send a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger to consider a change in policy that would allow expanded oil exploration and extraction in Santa Barbara County. Such decision reversed the County’s position in 2007 that supported the continuation of the federal moratorium on new oil and gas leases in federal waters and prompted national headlines questioning this change of energy policy in Santa Barbara, California.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Santa Barbara continues its strong support of the state and federal moratoria on new offshore oil and gas leasing off the Santa Barbara coastline; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City of Santa Barbara encourages and supports all levels of government to research and implement options that increase energy independence and reduce reliance on foreign oil, such as incentives to improve energy efficiency, requirements to improve automobile fuel efficiency, provide funding for research into renewable energy and alternative fuels, and fully fund energy conservation and efficiency; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT the City Administrator transmit copies of this resolution to Senators Boxer and Feinstein, Congressmember Capps, Governor Schwarzenegger, Assemblymember Nava, State Senator McClintock and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.

Be the first to comment on this article.
5:23
Countdown to the 2008 Elections
» ‎view full story at SantaBarbarasBlog.com

Tags: News

Countdownr

5:00
News From Nicole : Born To Be Disappointed
» ‎view full story at Edhat Santa Barbara

Before Nicole's father retired as the City Librarian for the City of Santa Maria he drove up to Sacramento, and delivered a four-inch stack of paperwork and grants for a new public library.
5:00
Citizen News : DUI arrests
» ‎view full story at Edhat Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara Police made a bunch of DUI arrests this last weekend, including one from the DUI checkpoint.
5:00
Citizen News : aggressive
» ‎view full story at Edhat Santa Barbara

The County has begun an aggressive effort to clean out creeks, streams and other drainage areas below the Gap Fire burn area.
5:00
Citizen News : has formed
» ‎view full story at Edhat Santa Barbara

The Board of Supervisors has formed the Goleta Valley Planning Advisory Committee during today's public hearing.
5:00
Citizen News : Excellence Award
» ‎view full story at Edhat Santa Barbara

SBCC announced Faculty Excellence Award recipients, selected for their service and contributions to SBCC students, colleagues and campus.
5:00
Citizen News : Flying it
» ‎view full story at Edhat Santa Barbara

John Wiley has been wondering how the magnificent Big Sur Coast looks after the fire. Flying it this weekend was reassuring. [pics]

1:30
Local Officials Stepping Up Efforts to Gird Against Winter Flooding
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

Work is under way to clear basins and creeks in preparation for increased water runoff from areas burned by the Gap Fire. A community meeting is planned for next week.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service
1:30
County Supervisors Form Goleta Valley Planning Advisory Committee
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

The panel, made up of seven residents, will act as a liaison as the 2nd District updates its community plan.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service
1:30
Water Conservation Efforts Flourish Without a Drought
» ‎view full story at Noozhawk

Local programs make it easy to reduce your use and cultivate water conservation as a way of life.
-- Delivered by Feed43 service

0:06
The Return of Citizen McCaw
» ‎view full story at Craig Smith's Blog

If you missed it the first time or simply want to see it again, you will get your chance. Citizen McCaw is returning to Santa Barbara and will screen four more times at the 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.

The producers are still planning for a nationwide roll out of their documentary about Santa Barbara News-Press owner Wendy McCaw, the newspaper industry's version of Cruella de Vil.

To complement Citizen McCaw, the producers are releasing a web video, "Spotlight on Travis Armstrong" which will be posted on the Citizen McCaw website.

Described as "a series of filmed critiques of Mr. Armstrong’s writings by citizens," the video, which will be updated twice a month, is intended to give the targets of Armstrong's attacks an opportunity to answer back.

The filmmakers will be at the Farmer's Market this Saturday to interview community members for the project.

The web video, complete with its own blog goes online September 17th.

* * *
I was at JFK Airport in New York and about to board my plane to return to Santa Barbara Tuesday morning when Union attorney Ira Gottlieb called and informed me that sportswriter Dennis Moran, who had previously been suspended, had been fired by the News-Press.

I was able to get off a quick post just to say Moran had been terminated before I had to leave.

If I hadn't been pressed for time I would have noted that over the last three years Dennis did double duty for the paper both as a copy editor and sports writer whose assignments included covering local school sports, the Tour of California bike race and being the UCSB women's basketball beat writer for the '07-'08 season.

He was also the Union representative in the newsroom.

The Union is investigating the reasons given by the News-Press for firing Moran, but for now is not revealing why he was terminated.

September 02, 2008
23:03
On redirects, domain names and brand ownership
» ‎view full story at BlogaBarbara

Tags: blog Barbara's Santa

Got 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...

22:26
Rainwater Harvesting Recap
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

OVN covered the Rainwater Harvesting presentation featuring author Brad Lancaster and Jim MacDonald, director of building and safety for Ventura County. The event was sponsored by the Ojai Valley Green Coalition. Looks like attendance was great, as was the information. Yet another positive step towards making Ojai a model sustainable valley.

Lancaster, who has presented nationwide, impressed audience member, Ojai Planning Commissioner John Mirk. “It’s exciting to see things that are actually being done and we actually get twice as much rain here,” said Mirk after the presentation. “I loved the street treatments, the whole idea of a meandering street. I think there are definitely a lot of these things that we can do here.”
22:23
Ojai Street Sweepers
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

Interesting OVN article on Street Sweepers... one particular quote caught my eye :)

“The streets are full of contaminants, insecticides, urine, rubber from cars,” said Ernie Salomon, owner of the Matilija Plaza Group. “Now all you have is a machine that sweeps that stuff up into the air.”

And here's an article largely on the "Tymco Model 600," the beast that roams our streets.
20:07
New at Lulu B's...
» ‎view full story at The Ojai Post

Lulu Bandha's has come out with a new fall schedule, including some new classes now being offered, including Yoga Basics, Strong Vinyasa, Morning Glory, Green Yin Yoga and a six week Intro. More after the jump... (and hey, Kira-ji, Ojai Post readers would love to hear from you :)

NEW offerings:

Yoga Basics with Alana
Monday & Wednesdays
5:15 to 6:45pm

A slower class for new students or those seeking a gentler practice. Emphasis on easing tension, increasing flexibility and clarity with breath and movement.

Strong Vinyasa with Uschi
Tuesday & Thursday Mornings from 9 to 10:30am
Friday Mornings from 8:30 to 10am
Sunday Mornings from 8 to 9:30am

If You've attended Uschi's Soft Vinyasa Classes lately, you've probably noticed something: it's getting stronger!
In the interest of initiating a safe and supportive exploration of less familiar territories in the the Asana practice, we've decided the rename the morning practice Strong! Uschi's unique sequencing, and gentle leadership create a space in which you can test the waters of dynamic Vinyasa flow at your own speed.

Morning Glory with Winifred
Wednesday & Friday Mornings
7 to 8:15am

A devotional practice to honor your body,
mind and spirit with pranayama, asana and meditation.

Green Yin Yoga with A

News Off The Press » Blogs

Feeds

Blogs (150 unread)

Tags: News

Tags: News

Tags: Strickland for Democrats

Tags: News

Tags: Blois Jean

Tags: News

Tags: News

Tags: News

Tags: County Barbara Santa

Tags: News

Tags: News-Press Barbara Santa

Tags: mccaw Citizen

Tags: News

Tags: News

Tags: News

Tags: News

Tags: blog Barbara's Santa