[ From: After Tense Discussion, City Council Votes to Send Letter Opposing Offshore Drilling -
Councilman Dale Francisco is the lone dissenter, asking pointed questions of an EDC attorney and Councilman Das Williams - by Lara Cooper, Noozehawk, September 15, 2009 ]

A tense exchange marked a discussion Tuesday among members of the Santa Barbara City Council about whether to send a letter opposing offshore oil drilling. Ultimately, the discussion led to a 5-1 vote to send the letter of opposition, with Councilman Dale Francisco dissenting. Councilwoman Iya Falcone was absent.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted two weeks ago to send a similar letter.

The letter is part of public comment sought by the Mineral Management Service...

In January, the draft plan for the proposed outer continental shelf oil and gas leasing program for the next five years was released. That same month, the Santa Barbara County supervisors voted 3-2 to approve drilling after a moratorium had been lifted on drilling in federal waters.

With former 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone serving as the swing vote, approval for new leasing made national headlines, all after a deal had been brokered between the Environmental Defense Center and Plains Exploration & Production Co. (PXP), an oil company and backer of a platform off Santa Barbara’s north county coast at Tranquillon Ridge. The EDC’s deal would have required the company to cease production after 14 years, but would allow it to drill in the meantime.

When the issue came before the State Lands Commission, however, it rejected it on a 2-1 vote. Councilman Das Williiams, who supported putting the letter on the council’s agenda, said he favored sending it and “reiterating our past opposition.”

“I think it’s very clear that the majority of our constituents are opposed to new leasing,” he said.

Councilwoman Helene Schneider said she supported sending the letter as a clarification to the Board of Supervisors’ vote earlier in the year.

“It created a lot of confusion,” she said, when national media outlets picked up on the story in January.

Eight members of the public spoke during public comment Tuesday, with five speakers supporting the letter and three opposing...

The discussion turned tense when Nathan Alley, an attorney for the Environmental Defense Center, [was asked by council member] Francisco... whether the letter dealt with drilling in federal or state waters, and Alley clarified that the letter dealt with offshore leasing in federal waters, not in state waters, where the drilling would occur for the Tranquillon Ridge project...

“Why are we talking about federal waters instead of state?” Francisco asked.

Alley responded that because the issue was time sensitive, with a deadline for public comment looming, the issue needed to be addressed sooner rather than later, and that the EDC’s deal dealt only with state waters as far as Tranquillon Ridge was concerned.

“You’d be pumping more oil in the short term, but you’d be pumping it for much less time,” he said.

Francisco asked whether oil would be pumped for 14 years, and Alley replied that it could be pumped for a shorter amount of time. Francisco persisted, asking “Is that correct?” several times.

“Excuse me,” Mayor Blum called out, taking issue with Francisco’s tone. “That’s not being civil or kind.”

Francisco shot back: “We don’t usually respond to public comment either, and you’ve felt free to do that. I have some questions to ask. May I continue to ask them?”

“Yeah, but if you could do it in a nice, civil way, we would appreciate it,” Blum said.

Francisco also asked Williams about the timing of the letter. “If this was so critically important to bring before council, and we had seven months to comment on a 149-page report, why did you wait until a week before the end of the comment period to bring it to us?” he asked.

Francisco also took issue with council time being used for the topic, and that the letter stated that the city had reviewed the whole document.

“I’m not aware of any review by the city,” he said.

Williams said the timing of the issue was partly because the county had sent a similar letter and asked the city to do the same. The staff has been reviewing the issue for months internally, Williams said, but that the council hasn’t had a regular meeting for the past two weeks, further delaying the item.

“It’s an important matter for us to clarify to the world, which was obviously very confused last year as a result of the reversal by the Board of Supervisors,” Williams said.

He said halting existing operations would be “the ideal situation.”

Blum said she had reviewed the material and was comfortable signing the letter, but Francisco was not.

“The idea that we have somehow reviewed a 149-page document is absurd,” he said, adding that by signing a letter saying the council had read the document was “a misuse of the role of actually considering things before we act.”

“I will not be voting for this misrepresentation of our work,” he said.



Oil drilling discussion turns testy, by Eric Lindberg, Daily Sound, Sept. 16, 2009 ]

... The City Council ultimately voted 5-1 in favor of firing off the letter to the federal Minerals Management Service, but not before Councilmember Dale Francisco criticized his colleagues for even bringing the topic to the table.

“We’re not considering it,” he said. “Nobody here has really talked about what the draft proposal says other than in the vaguest terms.”

Francisco was referring to the draft five-year plan for new oil and gas leasing along the outer continental shelf released earlier this year by the federal Department of the Interior. With two drilling proposals pending in waters off the coast of Santa Barbara, Councilmembers Das Williams and Helene Schneider placed the item on the agenda for discussion to reiterate the city’s opposition to new leasing.

“It’s an important matter to the people of this city,” Williams said. “It’s an important matter for us to clarify to the world … that Santa Barbara is opposed to new federal oil drilling.”

But Francisco took issue with the timing of the agenda item, as well as portions of the letter indicating that the city had reviewed the proposed leasing plan.

“If this was so critically important to bring before council and we’ve had seven months to comment on a 140-page report, why did you wait until there is less than a week left before the comments are due?” he said, facing Williams directly. He added later, “By signing on to the letter like this, claiming to review a report that we clearly have not, I believe that is a misuse of our role of actually considering things before we act.”

Williams countered that city staff had been reviewing the proposal and scheduling conflicts had relegated the item to yesterday’s agenda. He also combed over significant portions of the document, he said, and Mayor Marty Blum chimed in to say that she had also read the leasing proposal.

“We, as a city, did review this,” Williams said. “Staff has already been working on this. This is not just something we invented yesterday.”

In addition to sparking fireworks on the dais, the agenda item also drew several outspoken critics and proponents of offshore drilling to council chambers.

Representatives from Get Oil Out!, the Environmental Defense Center and Sierra Club logged their strong support of the letter and reflected on the oil spill of 1969 that spoiled the coastline of Santa Barbara.

“We need to do everything we can to prevent a repetition of the nightmare of 1969,” said Dr. Jessica Powell, a board member of GOO!

John Powell, president of GOO!, added, “We’ve got to stop looking in the wrong places for energy. If we keep digging up dinosaurs and putting stuff up into the atmosphere, we’re heading for trouble.”

Other speakers fell on the side of increased oil production as a way to reduce natural oil pollution at local beaches. Bruce Allen, of Stop Oil Seeps, said he was opposed to sending the letter, but proposed a few changes to reflect the impact of natural oil seepage on the environment.

“We would recommend that it start with the sentence that basically speaks to the very large environmental benefits that offshore oil and gas production has had on our coastline,” he said, contending that beaches are far cleaner with less tar pollution due to oil drilling reducing the pressure that creates natural seeps.

As drafted, the letter instead focuses on the potential negative impacts to the local environment posed by offshore oil and gas production, noting that new leases would prolong the use of aging and unsightly platforms and would likely lead to the installation of new oil production infrastructure.

“We need to get rid of existing operations and stop new drilling,” Williams said. “When those can be accomplished, that is the ideal situation.”

As the councilmembers flipped on their microphones to cast votes in favor of sending the letter, Francisco was the only person to hold back. Instead, he leaned forward and paused for several beats before logging his “no” vote.



[ From Das, as reported in Council votes to take against offshore drilling, Edhat, September 15, 2009 ]

SANTA BARBARA, CA – Santa Barbara City Councilmembers Das Williams and Helene Schneider today called on the City Council to oppose new Federal offshore oil drilling. Williams and Schneider requested that the city council vote in favor of sending a letter to the Minerals Management Service opposing any new Federal oil leases off the coast of Santa Barbara. The Minerals Management Service, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is currently preparing a proposed oil and gas leasing program that includes potential new oil leases in the Santa Barbara and Ventura Area. The City Council voted in favor of sending the letter by a 5 to 1 vote.

“Allowing new Federal oil leases off our coast would be disastrous to our efforts to end oil drilling,” stated Councilmember Das Williams. “This plan would have negative impacts on our local economy, put our environment at risk and open the door to additional new oil facilities both on and off shore. We need to be focused on stopping oil development and reducing consumption, while investing in green technologies like alternative fuels and solar power.”

The Santa Barbara City Council has a long history of opposing oil drilling. The City’s General Plan states 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.”

“We are constantly facing new environmental challenges. It is important that the City of Santa Barbara oppose any new Federal oil drilling lease and that we use any means possible to bring a definitive end to all new and existing oil drilling,” said Santa Barbara Councilmember Das Williams. My goal is simple, to put an end to oil development and protect our coast from new projects that bring new drilling to our coast.”

Labels: offshore oil drilling, Tranquillon Ridge

Das recently replied to a comment on his Facebook page about where he stood on the Tranquillon [trank-E-on] Ridge Project:

Pedro [Nava] and Susan [Jordan, his wife] are intentionally misleading people on this issue and playing political games. My position is the same as Congresswoman Lois Capps, the local chapter of the Sierra Club, and every local environmentalist in SB County (except for Susan and Pedro). We want to get rid of oil drilling - both existing and new. I opposed the Governor's legislation and I oppose the latest legislative attempt by Republican leader Sam Blakeslee. I think it is absolutely ridiculous to call the Santa Barbara environmental community pro oil for trying to bring a REAL end to oil drilling.

Labels: 35th Assembly District, Tranquillon Ridge

[ From: "Governor Arnold’s Big Oily Surprise - Disputed Santa Barbara Offshore Oil Deal Makes a Comeback," by Jerry Roberts, SB INDEPENDENT, May 21, 2009 ]


Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bid to resurrect a defeated plan to authorize a new lease for oil drilling off the Santa Barbara County coast...

“This hit us out of the blue,” said Linda Krop, chief counsel for the Environmental Defense Center (EDC)...

That deal, negotiated between the EDC and the Houston-based PXP Energy Company, involved a novel swap to give both sides some of what they wanted: PXP, already drilling in federal waters off the coast near Vandenberg Air Force Base, would gain additional drilling rights in nearby state waters until 2022; in exchange, they agreed to permanently shut down four existing platforms that year, along with a batch of other pro-environment concessions.

“We’re definitely hearing a whole lot more concern about this process,” Krop said, after a weekend taking the temperature of the enviro community. “We [want] to make sure that whatever process unfolds is fair, and respectful of the various agencies and jurisdictions.”

... a consensus among environmentalists seemed to be coalescing in opposition to Arnold’s proposal; opinions remain polarized about the PXP deal itself, however. The dynamic is clear in the Jordan/Das Williams Democratic primary race for Nava’s soon-to-be-vacant seat...

Williams said he “stands with EDC” in looking for alternative ways to breathe new life into the agreement with PXP, and to address environmental concerns raised by Lands Commission staff. But he added, “It’s not right to sidestep the process just because [the commission vote] didn’t go our way.”

“My gut feeling is [Schwarzenegger’s plan] is the right thing obtained the wrong way,” he said...

Labels: 35th Assembly District, offshore oil drilling, Tranquillon Ridge

[ From: "Democrats Pick Sides in 2010 State Assembly Race - Supervisor Endorsements Ring in for Das Williams and Susan Jordan in Sure-to-Be Major Showdown," By Chris Meagher, SB INDEPENDENT, May 20, 2009 ]


... Santa Barbara County’s 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf... is endorsing Susan Jordan, the wife of the current Assembly seat holder Pedro Nava, who the supervisor called “extremely thorough and very bright.” Wolf’s colleague Doreen Farr, the county’s 3rd District Supervisor, indicated she will be supporting Das Williams, the Santa Barbara City Councilmember who is running against Jordan, and citied Williams' hard work in the community on a number of issues...

Though he welcomed Farr’s support, Williams, however, wasn’t happy about Wolf’s support of his new opponent. “I’m very disappointed given how closely we’ve worked on a number of issues,” said Williams, who also enjoys the support of 1st District Salud Carbajal and a majority of South Coast city councilmembers...

... Farr said that Williams’ understanding of what matters most locally is what drew her support. “Growing up here and being involved, he understands and knows local issues,” Farr said, explaining that he was raised in Isla Vista, knows about the needs of the Santa Ynez Valley (also in Farr’s district), and has a working knowledge of many issues facing the region, such as water supplies. Williams worked hard on Farr’s behalf to get her elected in the fall, walking precincts in Isla Vista...

Labels: 35th Assembly District, offshore oil drilling, Susan Jordan, Tranquillon Ridge

In his latest budget proposal, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing legislation that he says would raise $1.8 billion for cash-strapped California by allowing the first new oil drilling project off the state's coast in 40 years.

Labels: offshore oil drilling, Tranquillon Ridge

Lotsa talk about the Tranquillon Ridge Project, how it relates to the upcoming election for the 35th Assembly District, and the push for Das to run. Here are some websites with relevant info:

SBI: When Friends Become Rivals

KEYT-TV: 35th District Election

The most comprehensive article was printed in the DAILY SOUND:

"Assembly seat could hinge on failed oil deal - Carbajal endorses Williams, if he runs," By Colby Frazier, DAILY SOUND, Feb. 6, 2009

The fallout from a State Lands Commission vote last week that killed an agreement between local environmental groups and an oil company to expand offshore oil drilling in exchange for the early decommission of several offshore platforms, continued yesterday when First District County Supervisor Salud Carbajal announced he wouldn’t run for the 35th Assembly District seat in 2010.

Carbajal’s public announcement that he wouldn’t run came before he publicly stated he would.

His interest, however brief, in replacing current Assemblymemeber Pedro Nava, appeared to gain traction after the oil deal failed. Nava did not support the project while Carbajal was an outspoken proponent.

Carbajal said many people have encouraged him to seek the office, “especially the environmental community.”

While Carbajal, who was just elected to his second term on the board of supervisors after running uncontested, has opted not to seek the seat, he threw his support behind Santa Barbara City Councilman Das Williams. He said he would “enthusiastically support” Williams if he decides to run.

Williams said he has not yet decided if he’ll run. But like Carbajal, he feels the pressure to succeed Nava bearing down from the environmental community.

Williams, who will be termed out of his council seat in 2010, said the failure of the oil deal isn’t his “primary” motivation to run, but it is at the forefront of the minds of those encouraging him to do so.

“There’s people who are my strong supporters who have said ‘No, you don’t have a choice. You have to run. We need you.’”

Many in the environmental community were less than thrilled that Nava didn’t give the oil deal his blessing.

Nava, who is serving his final two-year term in office and has expressed interest in running for California attorney general, was already thought to have a successor in Susan Jordan, his wife.

Jordan opened a campaign committee last month, announcing she planned to run for the office.

But Jordan, the director of the nonprofit environmental advisory group the California Coastal Protection Network, also criticized the oil deal, known as the Tranquillon Ridge Project.

If Williams decides to run against Jordan, he’ll be doing so against a person he worked closely with to help get Nava elected, and whom he considers “a capable and talented activist.”

While it’s difficult to know how much sway Nava and Jordan’s concerns about the oil deal played in the commission’s 2-1 vote against it, some feel slighted by the duo’s take on the matter.

David Landecker, executive director of the Environmental Defense Center (EDC), which was one of a trio of environmental groups that brokered the deal with Plains Exploration and Production (PXP) to drill, acknowledged that there is a lot of “anger and resentment” about the project’s failure.

“People are upset and I think when people are upset about a political decision, they tend to be angry with the people behind it, that’s just the way it is,” he said, speaking for himself and not on behalf of EDC.

“[Nava] used his considerable influence to undermine it, but didn’t work to get us to understand what his issues were,” Landecker said. “People felt betrayed. There are ways that one disagrees and there are ways that one works through issues that keep your friends and keep good feelings.”

Nava said his concerns were two fold. The first centered on the confidential agreement between the environmental groups and PXP. He said the fine print was never made public to anyone other than the commission’s staff.

His second concern was that the commission’s staff, presumably based to in part on the contents of the confidential agreement, recommended the project be denied.

One of the main thrusts of this recommendation was the staff’s belief that the early decommission dates of four offshore platforms operated by PXP could not be enforced. In other words, because the federal office of Minerals Management Service oversees the leases, it could insist the leases remain open and pumping as long as oil remained in the ground, deal or not.

Nava said kinks like these could have been worked out had the deal been made public, and the project would have had a better chance of being approved.

“Other people could have seen it and figured out its flaws and there would have been a much greater chance of an enforceable agreement,” he said. “I think the fundamental mistake that was made was insisting on the confidentiality. That caused a great deal of suspicion.”

While Williams described Nava and Jordan’s non-endorsement of the PXP deal a “strategic difference of opinion,” it appears to have dug deeper with Carbajal.

He declined to comment at length on Nava and Jordan, saying: “I’ve said enough about my concerns and disappointments. Quite frankly, I don’t want to continue the soap opera.”

Carbajal was more animated in his comments to the Santa Barbara Independent. He’s quoted there as saying: “Like many residents of Santa Barbara County, I, too, have experienced the non-responsiveness and lack of customer service our Assemblymember Pedro Nava has inflicted on us, and I regret that his wife, who wants to succeed him in office, will continue the same way.” He goes on to say: “It’s about time someone said it. My phone has been ringing off the hook [with] environmentalists, labor, and social justice people,” urging him to run.

Nava didn’t take Carbajal’s comment lightly.

“His remarks about Susan are recognized by many as sexist, paternalistic, condescending and demonstrate an ignorance of how difficult it has been for women to distinguish themselves based on their own accomplishments,” he said. “That’s exactly how I feel.”

Nava, like Williams, characterized his feelings on the PXP deal as a “difference of opinion,” and one he hopes everyone can get past.

“I firmly believe that this disagreement will resolve itself and that all of us who are fighting to protect the environment in a very short time will once again be standing together,” he said.

Nava added that he feels it’s important to not forget the commission staff, and ultimately the lands commission denied the project, not him or Jordan.

“I don’t think it’s reasonable to blame Susan Jordan for that result,” he said. “I don’t think it’s reasonable to blame me for that result.

“Everyone shouldn’t be expected to have the same opinion all the time.”

Labels: 35th Assembly District, oil, Tranquillon Ridge