NEW LINK to Channel Voter

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NOTE: In the email message sent to you Monday the link to our online newsletter was incorrect. Click here to read the December 2016-January 2017 Channel Voter.

You will find an invitation to our Holiday Party, the January Community Forum on what's new with our libraries, January Discussion Units (no units this month), post-election information and other League news.

Breaking News: Ask for a Ban on New Oil and Gas Development
The League has been active in the current campaign to ban new oil and gas development in federal offshore waters. The effort is led by a group of environmental organizations including LWVUS, which scored an initial, partial victory when the President removed the Atlantic and Arctic coasts from the 2017 - 2022 leasing program (the Pacific coast had already been removed).

But real protection can only be guaranteed by a permanent ban. LWVUS has issued an Action Alert: "Tell President Obama to use his existing authority to permanently protect the Arctic and Atlantic oceans from oil drilling."

This Action Alert omits the West Coast because it was already excluded from the five year plan, but we do not have permanent protection. So we should tell President Obama to permanently protect the West Coast as well.

LWVSB has also signed a group letter written by the Environmental Defense Center urging the State Lands Commission to adopt a resolution at its next meeting supporting the ban on new developments in the federal waters offshore California.

You can help. It doesn't take long to write a note to the president asking him to make the current five-year moratorium on offshore leasing along the Atlantic, the Arctic and the Pacific coasts into a permanent ban. You can use the Action Alert as a template if you wish.

We have just learned that Dec. 7 is a national call-in day urging President Obama to invoke Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently prohibit leasing in federal waters. We do not know yet whether LWV is officially participating in this effort, but you may always act as an individual. Check our website and Facebook page for updates.
     Jean Holmes, LWVSB Director, Energy
     Linda Phillips, LWVSB Director, State & National    Action (action@lwvsantabarbara.org; 805-967-0922)

December Sustainable Communities Meeting Cancelled

The Sustainable Communities Committee will not meet in December. The next meeting will be held on Friday, Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. at Encina Royale Clubhouse. Lauren Hanson, a director on the

Goleta Water District Board, will attend and discuss our current water situation, and answer some of your questions. We look forward to seeing you after the holidays.

Connie Hannah, Chair, Sustainable Communities Committee

Note: Consider attending one of our committee meetings or volunteering in the League. For the new "Opportunity is Knocking" brochure, visit our website.

League Holiday Party:
Meet Our Newly Elected Officials

Wednesday, Dec. 2l, noon to 2 p.m. Louise Lowry Davis Center

The League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara will hold its annual Holiday Party this year and meet with some of our newly elected officials. Joan Hartman, supervisor from the Third District who will replace Doreen Farr, will discuss her future plans. Das Williams, newly elected to take Salud Carbajal's seat in the First District will send his representative, Darcel Elliott, to represent him. The two City Council members from Carpinteria who have just been reelected will speak. Kyle Richards, newly elected City Councilman in Goleta, will be also be attending and speaking.

They will also meet with all of us informally at the festive tables. Bring your questions and a dish to share at our Potluck table to be enjoyed by all. Parking behind the center is free during the party.

Lindsey Baker, Co-President, Program & Action

Videos on Our YouTube Channel
Did you attend our November Community Forum to meet the new Santa Barbara Police Chief Lori Luhnow and hear a discussion on

community policing? If you missed it, you can view the video on YouTube (in English and Spanish) just by clicking here. You can also watch other League videos and subscribe to our own YouTube channel.

Coming Up: Wednesday, January 18:
Pro-Choice Coalition Roe V Wade Event

Don't miss this important annual celebration. This year's event will be 6-9 p.m. at the new Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria Street, with Amelia Bonow. (Details to come). LWVSB is a partner in the Pro-Choice Coalition.

Don't miss the important post-election message from LWVUS President Chris Carson on the League's commitment to "continuing our work to expand participation in the election process and work to give a voice to all Americans." Her full statement is on Page 2 of the Channel Voter on our website.

Sincerely,

Amanda Pelch and Lindsey Baker

Co-Presidents

League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara