The goal of building better bikeways

By Deborah Brasket/Looking Forward

Stimulated by the cost of fuel, more and more people are looking for cheaper ways to travel. Some are fixing up old bicycles or buying new ones, turning to pedal power for short trips to work or around town.

Those who live in Santa Maria, however, are finding that biking around town is not as safe and convenient as elsewhere in the county. But that may be about to change.

Another battle in the land-use war

By Deborah Brasket/Looking Forward

Trouble is brewing in the Santa Rita Hills, one of the premier wine-growing areas in California, stretching along Highway 246 between Buellton and Lompoc.

Last December, landowners of Lakeview Estates, 35 40-acre parcels surrounded by agriculture, petitioned the Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to create a community services district (CSD). They wanted to bring in water, sewers and access roads so they can develop land they knew when purchased could not be developed.

Neighboring farmers, ranchers and environmental groups strongly opposed the project. Currently, the undeveloped, 40-acre parcels are planted in grapes or lavender or used for grazing cattle - uses that are compatible with agriculture.

Now is not the time to cut vital services

By Olivia Uribe/Looking Forward

Next month, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will determine the budget for 2008-09. Severe cuts are expected, due to a decrease in revenue, including property taxes.

The decisions about where to cut and how deeply will be difficult and must be carefully considered. We need to weigh the short-term gains against the long-term costs when making cuts to important programs that serve the neediest among us, including Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services (ADMHS).

As it is, only 2 percent of the county budget goes to ADMHS, which is much lower than the 6 percent mean contribution by other California counties. Of the proposed $8.4 million budget cut for ADMHS, 60 percent would be to the community-based organizations that provide housing and other services.

This translates into expelling 800 people currently receiving services, cutting away a safety net that helps people struggling to be self-sufficient, productive and healthy members of society.

Experience in a Superior Court judge

By Deborah Brasket/Looking Forward

In the midst of all the excitement of voting for two supervisorial seats, it may be easy to overlook another important race - Superior Court judge. Whoever is elected to this position will be presiding over cases that affect our homes, families, businesses and communities in many important ways.

While we often think of our courts as places where criminal cases are tried, that is only a small part of a Superior Court judge's duties. Much of the work of a Superior Court judge involves civil law, including such matters as custody rights, land-use decisions, public finance, taxation, code enforcement and real estate disputes.

We need to elect a judge who has a broad range of experience in all of these areas.

Assessing the views, values of candidates

By Deborah Brask/Looking Forward

On June 3, voters in the 3rd and 4th districts will have the opportunity to elect new Santa Barbara County supervisors. The Santa Barbara County Action Network (SB CAN) has been closely examining the candidates to determine where they stand on issues important to the entire county, including affordable and workforce housing, preserving agriculture and open space, and developing alternative transportation.

The candidates whose views and values most closely match our priorities are 4th District candidate John Sterling, and 3rd District candidates Doreen Farr, David Bearman and Victoria Pointer. These candidates demonstrate commitment to SB CAN's core principles of social justice, environmental protection, sustainable transportation, and conservation and expansion of affordable housing in Santa Barbara County.

Demanding civility in public discourse

By Deborah Brasket/Looking Forward

“To disagree, one doesn't have to be disagreeable”

- Barry Goldwater

A few weeks ago, when I was speaking at a Santa Barbara County Associated Government (SBCAG) board meeting, I had the unfamiliar experience of taking a position in agreement with that of Andy Caldwell, executive director of COLAB. Rarely do we, or our respective organizations, agree on anything.

Planning ahead to meet housing needs

By Deborah Brasket/Looking Forward

Seeking a greener, friendlier Santa Maria

By Deborah Brasket/Looking Forward

What's your vision for the city of Santa Maria? What goals would you like to see pursued over the next two years?

At a recent city-goals workshop, the Santa Maria City Council routinely voted to re-adopt the same goals it had established for 2006-08. This was disappointing to many who had come to the workshop hoping to share visions for the future.

It was particularly disappointing, because some of the specific goals, such as “better the quality of life for our next generation to come,” seemed more appropriate as generalized mission statements than as two-year budget goals. Others, such as improving public restrooms and exploring the possibility of an equestrian center, had already been dealt with.

One goal that should have been eliminated or modified was “planning for future annexations and growth.” Over the past two years, we've seen an extraordinary number of annexations proposed, and the city has grown to the point where many residents are saying slow down.

We need a public discussion about how much we want to grow, how fast, and where before we propose any new annexations.

By Deborah Brasket, SB CAN Executive Director

Last Friday there was yet another Greka Oil spill. This time an estimated 84,000 gallons of crude oil were spilled into a creek bed near Los Olivos, next to the Firestone Winery.

In December nearly 59,000 gallons were spilled into creek beds just south of Santa Maria. And that came on the heels of the 7,000-gallon spills that occurred in three separate incidents in November.

Taken as a whole, these numbers far exceed the 57,000 gallons spilled into the San Francisco Bay when a marine freighter collided with the Bay Bridge last month, drawing national headlines and community outrage.

These spills are only the most recent of hundreds of violations that Greka has committed over the past 8 years, incurring more than $2.5 million in fines and penalties.

Environmental authorities, including representatives from the Department of Fish and Game, Regional Water Quality Agency, County Air Pollution Control District, and County Fire Department, all agree that the number of Greka’s violations far exceeds that of any other oil operator in the area.

Ag land threatened by urban sprawl

Santa Rita Hills, stretching along Highway 246 between Buellton and Lompoc, is fast becoming known as one of the premier wine-growing areas in California, drawing wine connoisseurs from all over the world to its tasting rooms.

But, recently, it also has been drawing some controversy concerning two proposed projects, one at La Purisima Golf Course, and another at the misnamed Lakeview Estates. Both projects, if approved, will bring urban development into rural areas, setting precedents for future development on agricultural land.

To a certain extent, both involve buyer's remorse. Landowners who knowingly bought property not zoned for the uses now proposed are seeking to make their investments more profitable.

The La Purisima Golf Course was developed on land zoned for agriculture, which allows recreational uses like golf courses, but does not allow commercial development. Now that this golf course - like so many others across the nation, is no longer profitable - the owner wants to add an 80-room resort hotel with a restaurant, spa and 85 luxury condos. He presented his project to the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission earlier this month for a conceptual review.