Our Issues

These are our issues.

Oil
Petroleum has been important to Santa Barbara since prehistoric times. Early on it seemed like a natural blessing. Native Americans used tar found on local beaches to waterproof their ocean going canoes.

Sprawl
We don't like to think of Santa Barbara as a place with sprawl. But Santa Barbara's expansive coastline, Mediterranean climate, and scenic beauty make it is a powerful draw for those who want to live and work here. This puts increasing pressure for development of the same coastline, scenic hills, and valleys.

Trails
The Santa Barbara area is fortunate to have a vast forest within view and walking distance from the city. Trails ascend through canyons and along creeks to the summits of the Santa Ynez Mountains.