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A VOICE FOR CITIZENS, A FORCE FOR CHANGE
In This Issue
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November Discussion Units:
What's Happening With Our Libraries

                     
The public outreach director of the Santa Barbara Public Library has agreed to come to all our November Discussion Units to talk about new programs at the libraries and the financial problems they face. 

The first unit will be this Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Madame Lu's Restaurant at 5:30. The Carpinteria Unit will be at 10 am on Wednesday, Nov. 9, and the Valle Verde Unit meets on Monday, Nov. 14 at noon.

This will be your chance to ask questions about what the libraries are doing that is new, and to suggest ways that we can help them. This local League has long had a strong position of "support of measures to ensure financing of professional standards and services in public libraries." We will welcome your input.
Wednesday, Nov. 16 Forum: Community Relations and Law Enforcement Presenting Santa Barbara Chief of Police Lori Luhnow

Chief Lori Luhnow will be introduced to the League and the community at our next Community Forum. She will speak on the topic of "Community Policing" as well as her 27 years of experience with the San Diego Police Department, in several departments, including supervising officer training and Domestic Violence operations.

Chief Luhnow will explain her philosophy of community policing as a current method for progressive police departments to work on an ongoing and integrated basis with community individuals and groups. Following her presentation, she will engage in a dialogue with community leaders who are experienced in interfacing with the police department, including: Maggie Campbell, Executive Director of Downtown Santa Barbara; Glenn Bacheller, Social Ventures Partners/Homeless Affinity Group; Hazel Davalos, Community Organizing Director, Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE); Julia Hamilton, Minister, Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara; Tania Israel, Professor of Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology, UCSB, and Kathleen Riel, Program Manager, Independent Living Resource Center. Emily Allen, Attorney and League Social Policy Co-Chair, will moderate the discussion.

The forum, which is free and open to the public, will be held from noon to 2 pm. at the Louise Lowry Davis Center, 1232 De La Vina St. Bring a brown bag lunch and your friends. Beverages will be provided. Parking behind the center is free during the forum.
Sustainable Communities Committee
To Meet Friday, Nov. 11
 
For the past six years, UCSB has sponsored a Central Coast Sustainability Summit for the three local counties. Five League members attended the one Oct. 17, and on we will report on what we learned at our committee meeting at 10 am on Nov. 11. The biggest surprise of the conference was the talk of widespread use of hydrogen batteries. Apparently they are finally perfecting these so they can be used to power cars and large buildings.
 
Four members of our committee have also been attending all the hearings on the new development
proposals under the City of Santa Barbara's program called Average Unit Density, (AUD) which gives developers more density than previously allowed if they build smaller rental apartments. There are now 1,300 units in the permitting pipeline, many more than ever expected. How the city will handle this sudden increase in growth is not clear, and the League's Water Committee made a strong statement about our current drought situation at the last hearing. We will discuss those issues at this meeting.
 
We also consider new developments in the energy area, or the oil projects being proposed. In order to
have longer term parking, we meet at Encina Royale senior community just off Fairview avenue in Goleta. Everyone is welcome to join us there, on the second Friday morning every month except December. Call me at 967-4720 if you need further directions.
Connie Hannah, Chair, Sustainable Communities Committee
The October Water Commission Meeting

The LWVSB has been observing Santa Barbara City Council/Water Commission/Planning Commission meetings with deepening interest along with the deepening drought. It was with a degree of relief that we observed the Water Commission developing a detailed plan for coordination of the flow of information between the City Council, Planning Commission, and City Staff. Going forward there will be enhanced participation by the City Council liaison, Harwood "Bendy' White, between the Council and the Water Commission--enhancing information for all involved.

The LWVSB is supporting a staff recommendation that the City institute the additional water use regulation of prohibiting watering of turf (lawns) in the City (with some exclusions) to increase the water conservation measures already implemented by the City. By nature Santa Barbara is a semi-arid climate and water thirsty lawns are not appropriate in our general landscaping. This is a long term fix for us to be in balance with our environment. We all hope that this step might be our last and see us through to a wet winter. We are reassured that City staff is taking the additional step of now doing longer term projections and planning.

We understand that this is not an easy step for the City, possibly incurring a $1.6 million loss in water fees that they will have to contend with.

Lake Cachuma is under attack by nature and possibly by our fellow water users. Our first line of defense is conservation.
Lindsey Baker, Co-President
Vote with the League!
Go here to see what the League of Women Voters of California recommends on the Nov. 8 ballot measures. For recommendations on local measures, visit our website. 
Did You Miss Our Candidate Forums?
Pros and Cons for Ballot Measures?
The Videos are on our YouTube Channel

LWVSB held candidate forums for the 3rd District Supervisor's seat, the Goleta Water District and the Goleta City Council. You can watch them on YouTube (in English and Spanish) just by clicking here. You can also learn about the ballot pros and cons, see other League videos and subscribe to our channel.
Ballot Information
Get information about the candidates and propositions on your own ballot. Easy to use. Just enter your own address. Click here.
Find out what's happening in the League by reading the October-November Channel Voter on our website. And please don't forget to vote on Nov. 8!
 
Sincerely,

Amanda Pelch and Lindsey Baker
Co-Presidents
League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara 


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