Hypermiling toward Fuel Efficiency

By Deborah Brasket

There's plenty we can do locally to coast our way to conservation. Second of two columns.

Peaking oil supplies and climate change have arrived simultaneously, creating a global crisis in which “massive disruptions of the status quo” thinking will be needed, according to Robbie Diamond, president of Securing America’s Future Energy, or SAFE. But with that disruption comes the opportunity for this planet’s inhabitants to pull together as a global community and rethink how we relate to each other and to the earth that sustains us.

Peak oil meets global warming

By Deborah Brasket/Looking Forward

“Four Dollar Gas: Change you can believe in!” reads the caption of a recent Times cartoon. It pictures ways people are finally taking fuel conservation to heart, including switching to a smaller car, riding a bicycle or taking the bus.

The irony is that if we had made those changes 10 years ago, as many environmental experts urged, we might not be paying over $4 at the pump now, or at least we might have been better prepared for the shock of it.

 Oil production is peaking worldwide, at the same moment that global warming has emerged as the greatest environmental threat of the 21st century. This perfect storm has finally convinced the world that the time to act to avert disaster is now.

In this sense, the current crisis has positive benefits. When a major catastrophe hits any community, our gut reaction is to set aside our differences and help each other prepare for and weather the storm together.

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.