HEAL THE OCEAN E-LETTER
In this E-Letter:
State Lands Commission Starts Process for Next Summerland Well Capping
HTO Gets Beach Testing Back on SB County 2019 Legislative Platform
HTO 2018 Event-Nearly Sold Out & Live Auction Preview
SB Shellfish Company Supports HTO
A Message to the Montecito Community
VOTE!
State Lands Starts Process for Capping Next Summerland Well!
SLC request for proposals on CA Procure website.
Heal the Ocean received a great call this week from the State Lands Commission (SLC), to tell us that the contracting process has started forcapping of the next oil well leaking off Summerland beach. SLC project director Walter Scott e-mailed us a copy of the Request For Qualifications (RFQ) website page used by the Commission to invite bids from contractors for the capping work. The bid closed on October 12, 2018, and according to Walter Scott, his agency is currently reviewing the proposals and qualifications of the interested parties, and expects to select a firm by the end of November 2018 (Happy Thanksgiving to us!) According to SLC petroleum drilling engineer Steve Curran, the actual work is expected to begin anywhere from May to July 2019.
HTO gives another big shout-out to State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson for authoring SB 44 - the Coastal Hazard & Legacy Oil Well Bill which has brought $14 million for capping leaking "Legacy" wells off the California coastline - including Summerland. The senator is bringing her staff to Summerland Beach on Tuesday, October 23, 2018, to meet HTO and Walter Scott, who will take all of us to the site where Becker Well used to leak all over the beach. Becker was successfully capped in February 2018.
HTO Ensures County Keeps Ocean Water Quality Testing
in Legislative Platform
On October 9, 2018, the County Board of Supervisors held its hearing for the 2019 Legislative Platform, which identifies issues the County targets for federal or state funding. We advocated for Funding Sustainable Groundwater Management and inclusion of Recycled Water as a means to replenish groundwater basins. Additionally, we insisted that the Homeless platform include water quality issues. Legislating for water quality in relation to homelessness helps tap federal or state funding for multiple issues –helping homeless camps move out from watersheds and reducing pollution while improving water quality. (HTO funds the Home For Goodprogram to relocate homeless people who are camping in Summerland along coastal cliffs.)
Most importantly, Heal the Ocean spoke up to reinstate Ocean Water Testing – which had been deleted in entirety from the County’s 2019 Legislative Platform. Second District Supervisor Janet Wolf brought it up in Board discussion, and during our time at the podium, HTO insisted that it stay. As a result, we got a call from the County Executive Office three days after the hearing, informing us that Ocean Water Testing had been reinstated. HTO Policy Analyst Andrew Juiliano, who picked up the deletion in the first place, has been invited to participate in Legislative Platform meetings from here on out.
Heal the Ocean's 20th Anniversary Benefit -
A few seats left!
Heal the Ocean can't wait to celebrate 20 years of hard work for the ocean at our 20th Anniversary Benefit on Saturday, October 27! This year’s event at the Historic El Paseo Restaurant is nearly sold out—there are just a few individual seats remaining. So, if you haven’t purchased your individual ticket yet, hurry and do so, seats are going fast. This year’s event will feature very special guest speakers, guest talent, and of course, a night of rocking piano hits with our emcee Jason Libs.
Take a peek at the great Live Auction items being offered:
1. Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2019 Cinema Passes &
El Encanto Resort Package
2 Cinema Passes for the entire 2019 SBIFF
2 nights at Belmond El Encanto + Local Hot Spots Gift Cards!
2. “Sunset Over the Channel Islands” (30 x 30 Oil) by Rick Garcia
3. The Eagles with Jack Johnson & Royal Hawaiian Hotel Package
2 concert tickets to extremely sold-out Eagles/Jack Johnson Concert at the Aloha Stadium + 3-night stay in the Royal Hawaiian + a ukulele signed by Jack Johnson
4. One Week Vacation on the Beautiful Island of Tavarua, Fiji!
A week on Tavarua? Wow!
5. Custom Channel Islands/HTO 20th Anniversary Surfboard &
El Capitan Canyon Package
CI Rocket Wide Surfboard + other surf goodies
2 nights in a Creekside Cabin at El Capitan Canyon
6. "What’s in the Box" Surprise Offering!
To purchase an individual event ticket or make a donation please contact Alison (alison@healtheocean.org // 805.965.7570)
or visit our website!
A Great Offer from SB Shellfish Company to Benefit HTO
Starting November 6, 2018, dine at the Shellfish Company for half price, and benefit Heal the Ocean at the same time!
Owners Tom White & Adam White are once again making this great offer through Central Coast Dining. From Tuesday, November 6 through the end of November, you can buy your ticket on CentralCoastDining.com. Each ticket is $30, but is worth $60 to spend on food and drinks at the restaurant, and 10% of all proceeds benefit HTO! The Shellfish Co. is the atmospheric total-fish house on the end of Stearns Wharf. Thank you Tomand Adam White!
AND IMPORTANTLY...
A Message to the Montecito Community
(as appearing in the Montecito Journal, Thursday, October 18, 2018)
The recent juxtaposition of a Heal the Ocean quote in a “Committee for Water Security Ad” implies, by association, that we endorse the “Committee for Water Security” campaign.
We do not.
As a non-profit organization, Heal the Ocean does not endorse candidates for any office.
We find the use of our quote disingenuous. The quote is from a scholarly, researched paper recently published by Heal the Ocean on recycled water that has nothing to do with political candidates or any campaign.
Heal the Ocean has worked for years petitioning Montecito Water District to work together with Montecito Sanitary District to upgrade the MSD plant into a recycled water plant.
Heal the Ocean has been at countless hearings asking the MWD Board to get together with MSD on a recycled water facility. MWD has refused.
The campaign being waged by the “Committee for Water Security” in Montecito has dragged Heal the Ocean into this issue unfairly, and we protest.
Our approach continues to be to meet with MWD and MSD, as well as other districts in other communities, to find the most efficient ways to work together to collectively implement the procedures and systems to use discharge water rather than waste it.
PLEASE Vote on Tuesday, November 6!
Election Day is Tuesday, November 6! The deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 22! Don't wait; register today online or in person.
We at Heal the Ocean urge you to exercise your right to vote. There are many countries whose citizens don't have a say in life. Please cherish your right to speak up, by voting! Thank you!