Oil Moratorium

[ From BlogaBarbara: Oil Moratorium Resolution, 9/4/2008. Some great comments at BlogaBarbara, too. ]


50 environmental organizations are opposing reopening our waters to oil drilling. Our Governor continues to oppose it... 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.”

------------------------------------------

[From: "Santa Barbara Council To Take Up Resolution on Oil Drilling Moratorium," By Rob Kuznia, Noozhawk, 09/09/2008 ]


... The Santa Barbara City Council on Tuesday night will consider offsetting a symbolic statement issued last month by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors by passing a proposed resolution in support of keeping in place the federal moratorium on new leases for oil drilling off the coast of Santa Barbara.

Proposed by Mayor Marty Blum and council members Helene Schneider and Das Williams, the symbolic resolution needs at least one more vote for majority support by the council, which appears likely.

Councilman Roger Horton said Monday that he intends to vote in favor of the resolution...

“(Drilling) just takes the focus away from where it really needs to be: finding new ways to create energy and finding new ways to use less,” he said. “As I understand it, the (oil) usage in ‘07-’08 is the highest the country has ever had.”

On Aug. 26, the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to send Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a letter requesting that he support lifting the ban, saying it would help lower gas prices and reduce America’s dependency on foreign oil, as well as generate revenue for the county.

(Supervisors Brooks Firestone, Joni Gray and Joe Centeno voted in favor; Janet Wolf and Salud Carbajal, against.)

Not all of the Santa Barbara City Council is convinced that the resolution is a good idea, however. Councilman Dale Francisco said Monday he is still thinking about it...