Santa Barbara
A day in the country
I am not on the payroll of the California Travel & Tourism Commission, I swear. But as if the weather in general were not splendidly un-wintery enough, here’s some of what I encountered a couple of hours west and north of Los Angeles, by aiming for Santa Barbara and then more or less aimlessly wandering. […]
On Good Land: How One Small Farmer Survived the Onslaught of California Sprawl
According to the American Farmland Trust, about forty-six acres of farmland are lost every hour to non-agricultural uses, such as building new homes and businesses. And small farms are particularly vulnerable. But, farmer Michael Ableman has resisted the pressure of urban sprawl in one of the country’s most expensive real estate markets. For 17 years, […]
California House Seat
The contest is on again for the same two politicians who fought it out two years ago in California’s 22nd congressional district which includes the affluent city of Santa Barbara. Stephanie O’Neill reports that the opponents environmental voting records are a key factor for voters in this tight race.
First the oil spill, then the reforms
Energy reforms are on the minds of politicians following the collapse of the Deepwater Horizons oil rig. Historically, regulatory and environmental laws follow disasters, and regulatory changes, from equipment upgrades to increasing legal liability, are already on the table.