31 minute read
Paris sets possible precedent for insurers: pay up on the pandemic
Rinaldo S. Brutoco is the Founding President and CEO of the Santa Barbara-based World Business Academy and a co-founder of JUST Capital. He’s a serial entrepreneur, executive, author, radio host, and futurist who’s published on the role of business in relation to pressing moral, Corporate America: Fighting for Justice environmental, and social concerns for over 35 years Great ice cream and corporate activism: Ben & Jerry’s has been doing both for years. Half Slave, Half Free T he two original sins of this nation are the systematic genocide of Native Americans and can do when our society is no longer “half slave and half free.” This “other” vision of America is one that would I n response to the killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests, Ben & Jerry’s did more than acknowledge the realities of racism in the United
Why is it so important that we root that the central tenet of every major from customers and even boycotts from grocers who oppose their politically out racism in our nation? As Martin spiritual tradition is that we must “do active stance. “Equity is not a destination,” Mr. McCarthy said. “It’s definiteLuther King, Jr. so correctly observed, unto others as we would have them do ly a process.” It’s messy, the situations can get sticky, but the company figures “There cannot be justice anywhere unto us.” Not only is that Golden Rule a it’s worth the licks. unless there is justice everywhere.” spiritual mandate, it is also very smart. Action, not tweets: Three ways corporate America can combat racism.
These are times of turmoil and Major companies across the U.S. have flocked to social media to express change. Times of unrest. Times of their solidarity against racism and police brutality, but for many black transformation. However by choosing to accept the challenge, these can also The only way we can Americans, the corporate tweets and executive memos on combating racism ring hollow from companies that too often have baked systemic racism into become times of rebirth and renewal. Here is the perfect observation rebuild and innovate to a their business practices. There are many more effective actions companies can take. Here are some of them. of Abraham Lincoln in his famous “new normal” is by leaving Offer relief funds to black-owned businesses: The combination of coro“House Divided Speech” which is as navirus lockdowns and looting has many black business owners in dire need starkly relevant today as the day he the millstone of racism of bailouts right now. A study commissioned by the social justice advocacy wrote it: “A house divided against itself, cannot stand. This government behind us. group Color of Change found 39 percent of black American entrepreneurs believe their businesses won’t survive more than six months without some cannot endure permanently half slave type of relief funding. and half free. I do not expect the Union Support unions: Organized labor advocates say companies that want to to be dissolved – I do not expect the It turns out the only way we can end institutional racism can start by supporting black workers who want house to fall – but I do expect it will rebuild and innovate to a “new norto form unions and increase union rights. Black Americans make up a discease to be divided. It will become all mal” is by leaving the millstone of proportionate amount of workers in non-unionized business sectors like the one thing or all the other.” racism behind us. Half slave, we will home health aid and fast food industries.
We all know what a racist society not be able to rebuild our overtaxed Hire and promote more black executives: There are just four black looks like for people of color, since healthcare system or solve any other Fortune 500 CEOs. Hiring more black executives is crucial for companies 1619 when the first black slave arrived major challenge. We need to all pull that want their leaders to better reflect the communities they serve. Black at Jamestown to the present day. As together, or most assuredly we will leaders also serve as aspirational figures for the generations that follow in Rev. Sharpton so aptly observed at all sink together, and the most noble their footsteps. •MJ George Floyd’s funeral, blacks have experiment in self-government, the had metaphorically a knee on their United States of America, shall be lost necks from our nation’s start. to the ages. harmony… a restored commitment to the battle to end racism on behalf of
For people of color the simple truth We are not now, nor will we be in our deepest values… and abundance people of color since they have been is that there is no “equal” opportunithe future, sustainable in any way that for all. disproportionally disenfranchised. It ty yet in education, housing, career really counts. Having a nation of all We are simply not allowed to go is our job to lead this fight with them, advancement, medical care, or any freed people will give us the resources down that incredibly sustainable and not to merely cheer them from the other endeavor. These wonderful felrequired to innovate that “new norsupportive path if we drag racism sidelines. low citizens can no longer constitute mal” in a way that will leave us better with us. Once you confirm to yourself We need to do this not just because a nation that is “half slave.” Make no off than we’ve ever been. that you really want to be an anti-racist, we are moral beings, and that is the mistake about it, people of color are Winston Churchill aptly advised us an unlimited number of opportunities moral thing to do. We need to do this not truly free as equals. to: “Never let a good crisis go to will show up along your journey that not just because it is “the right thing”
So, if Lincoln is correct, and no waste.” It appears that this nested will remind you of your choice, and to do, but because it is the smart thing doubt he is, the country will become series of crises are here to send us a you’ll get the opportunity to choose to save this country we love from tear“all one thing or all the other.” What message: We Are At A Crossroads. again and again which path you want ing itself apart. We need to do this not does “the other,” as opposed to slavYes, we are at a crossroads. The first to be on. Just remember, if at any time just because a more just economic sysery, look like? It looks like universal path leads toward ever greater bigotyou fail to be true to your anti-racist tem is the only way we can increase healthcare regardless of skin color. ry… heightened white nationalism… commitment, you will lose your balfinancial freedom for everyone, but It looks like equal education for all social dysfunction… a barely livable ance and stumble away from the path, because we know that having peace our children regardless of color, genbiosphere... and a total breakdown of only to end up where you began. amongst our citizens is the single best der, or ethnicity. It looks like equal legitimate forms of government. Because we have all been complicit way to create prosperity for all. opportunities in housing – no more The “other” path leads to dramatin racism, we all know that people Yes, becoming anti-racist isn’t just redlining! It looks like releasing our ic economic rejuvenation… a bioof color have far less power to create the right thing… it is the smart racist past without rancor or fear, but sphere that becomes “healed” before change for themselves. The reparathing. In fact, it’s a survival strategy with a loving embrace of all that we it destroys our way of life… racial tions we need to make are to take up for us all. •MJ 26 MONTECITO JOURNAL “I’d rather have 1% of the effort of 100 men than 100% of my own effort.” – J. Paul Getty 11 – 18 June 2020
States. It released a 700-word statement with a plan for dismantling white supremacy and said, “The murder of George Floyd was the result of inhumane police brutality that is perpetuated by a culture of white supremacy.” slavery. Both were the result of overt create the only sustainable platform Founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield set out to create a company racism which has become so imbedthat could permanently endure into that disrupted traditional business practices and gave back to the customers ded in our culture that we’re now left the future. it served. “We wanted to alleviate some of the problems that the business with only this choice: either be racist, So, how do we get to Lincoln’s creates. We broke a lot of rules,” said Cohen. or be anti-racist. There is no longer enduring vision? It starts where he The company has been vocal about supporting causes like Black Lives any middle ground. It’s not going to started: we must observe that we canMatter, Occupy Wall Street, and prison reform. As much as one-fifth of their go away by the passage of time or by not remain half slave and half free. It discretionary marketing budget is dedicated to these causes each year. “tinkering around the edges” of our starts with our actively renouncing Ben & Jerry’s CEO Matthew McCarthy recognizes that there are complexsociety. racism. It starts with the recognition ities in mixing business with social justice. The brand has drawn criticism
City of Santa Barbara Finance Department
www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov
PUBLIC NOTICE –June 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE – June 2020
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, the Finance Department of the City of Santa NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, the Finance Department of the City of Santa Barbara, County of Santa Barbara, State of California, declares that the Administration Barbara, County of Santa Barbara, State of California, declares that the following following monetary sums have been held by the City of Santa Barbara and have remained unclaimed in the funds hereafter indicated for a period of over 805.564.5334 monetary sums have been held by the City of Santa Barbara and have remained three (3) years and will become the property of the City of Santa Barbara on the fi rst (1st) day of August, 2020, a date not less than forty-fi ve (45) days or more than sixty (60) days after the fi rst publication of this Notice.
Accounting unclaimed in the funds hereafter indicated for a period of over three (3) years and 805.564.5340
License & Permits
will become the property of the City of Santa Barbara on the first (1 st ) day of August, 2020, a date not less than forty-five (45) days or more than sixty (60) days Any party of interest may, prior to the date designated herein above, fi le a claim with the City’s Finance Department which includes the claimant’s name, address and telephone number, Social Security Number or Federal Employer Identifi cation Number, amount of claim, the grounds on which the claim is founded. The Unclaimed Money Claim Form can be obtained from the City’s Finance Offi ce at 735 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93102, or from the 805.564.5346 after the first publication of this Notice. City’s website at www.santabarbaraca.gov. Proof of identity such as a copy of a driver’s license, social security card or birth certifi cate may be required before funds will be released. Funds will be reimbursed via check mailed to address on fi le at the time. Please contact the City of Santa Barbara, Fi
Payroll
805.564.5357 Any party of interest may, prior to the date designated herein above, file a claim with the City’s Finance Department which includes the claimant’s name, address nance Department at (805) 560-7501 with any questions. This notice and its contents are in accordance with California Government Code Sections 50050 et seq.
Risk Management
Check Date Check # Payee $ Fund
12/15/2016 658668 *1129* 500.00 General Fund 5/23/2017 666419 Adalberto Zamorabetancourt 50.00 General Fund
Check Date Check # Payee $ Fund
9/22/2016 654481 Kevin Sheffi eld 15.59 Water Fund 7/21/2016 651341 Lisa Gera 60.00 General Fund
Treasury
805.564.5528 Unclaimed Money Claim Form can be obtained from the City’s Finance Office at 735 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93102, or from the City’s website at 11/17/2016 657406 Alecia Irgens 95.00 Downtown Parking 4/4/2017 663899 Alexis Anne Chapman 18.75 County Library 4/14/2017 644096 Alvarado, Laura 153.10 Downtown Parking 11/3/2016 656800 Lisa James 150.00 General Fund 1/31/2017 660595 Lole Women 815.00 Downtown Parking 1/31/2017 660596 Lole Women 135.00 Downtown Parking
Utility Billing
805.564.5343
Fax
www.santabarbaraca.gov. Proof of identity such as a copy of a driver’s license, social security card or birth certificate may be required before funds will be released. Funds will be reimbursed via check mailed to address on file at the time. 6/30/2016 650311 Antonio Garcia Gomez 48.00 General Fund 5/16/2017 665995 Anvita A Chitnis 160.00 Wastewater Fund 10/24/2016 640364 Arellano, Matthew R 78.84 General Fund 10/4/2016 655118 Ashley Madeline Frances 96.00 General Fund 8/16/2016 652616 Audrey Graziani 192.70 Wastewater Fund 1/12/2017 659802 Louisa Kimble 25.00 General Fund 6/10/2016 636802 Mac Nevin, Donald A 180.84 General Fund 6/7/2016 648667 Mairza Rodriguez 30.00 General Fund 10/25/2016 656303 Malcolm Hamilton 21.00 Downtown Parking 4/6/2017 664014 Mark A. Jacobs 885.80 Waterfront 805.897.1978 735 Anacapa St. Please contact the City of Santa Barbara, Finance Department at (805) 560-7501 with any questions. 3/16/2017 663011 Avellanda Martin 96.00 General Fund 7/8/2016 637585 Barragan Carde, Jose G 168.64 General Fund 11/17/2016 657390 Bradley J. Odom 96.00 General Fund 1/12/2017 659803 Marshall Stevens 40.00 General Fund 8/4/2016 651950 Marshalls Of CA LLC #1116 50.00 General Fund 6/24/2016 637216 Martinez, Christopher A 376.31 General Fund PO Box 1990 3/22/2017 643739 Burnett, Dalton J 291.38 Waterfront 5/23/2017 666489 Michele De Cant 145.01 General Fund
Santa Barbara, CA 93102 - 1990 This notice and its contents are in accordance with California Government Code Sections 50050 et seq. 3/22/2017 643742 Burnett, Dalton J 422.50 Waterfront 9/22/2016 654472 Cahill Family Trust 121.55 Water Fund 10/4/2016 655155 Chase Bank 24.00 General Fund 8/4/2016 651944 Chris Henry 54.00 General Fund 9/8/2016 653893 Michelle A Checketts 30.00 County Library 11/10/2016 656973 Mike Richardson Realtors 67.80 Water Fund 6/9/2016 648913 Mission Uniform Service Corp 177.31 Wastewater Fund 6/15/2016 636878 Nasrollahi, Milad M 135.76 Downtown Parking 12/15/2016 658670 City Ventures Homebuilding, Llc 400.00 General Fund 6/9/2016 648837 Nicole Greenwood 68.00 General Fund Purchasing Check Date 4/3/2017 644002 Colin, Daniel A 5/26/2017 645118 Concho, Brianna J Check # Payee 101.73 General Fund 74.99 General Fund $ 10/24/2016 640358 Ortiz-Flores, Zuleijma 5/9/2017 665711 Paessler Ag Fund 147.15 General Fund 605.62 General Fund 805.564.5349
Warehouse
12/15/2016 658668 *1129* 500.00 5/23/2017 666419 Adalberto Zamorabetancourt 50.00 4/14/2017 644059 Coppa, Gene 20.46 General Fund 9/13/2016 654032 County Of Santa Barbara 40.00 Water Fund 6/9/2016 648889 County Of Santa Barbara Dist Atty 268.46 Police Asset Forfeiture 8/5/2016 638333 Parent, Zachary A 2/9/2017 661241 Pascuccis 3/16/2017 663155 Pascuccis General Fund General Fund 96.15 General Fund 86.21 General Fund 107.31 General Fund 805.564.5354 11/17/2016 3/30/2017 663863 Courtney Jane Miller 4/13/2017 664365 Craig Johnson 657406 Alecia Irgens 175.00 General Fund 388.59 Water Fund 95.00 Downtown Parking 9/29/2016 654843 Phuong Ly 85.00 Downtown Parking 9/8/2016 653894 Preston Rovert Janssen 25.00 County Library Mailroom 4/4/2017 11/17/2016 657427 Dakota Wolf 663899 Alexis Anne Chapman 125.00 General Fund 5/23/2017 666437 Rachelle Pegg 18.75 County Library 72.24 General Fund 805.564.5360 4/14/2017 12/13/2016 658514 Dane Hodgson 1/31/2017 660567 Dash Funnel 644096 Alvarado, Laura 25.00 General Fund 170.00 Downtown Parking 153.10 3/2/2017 662030 Raymond Jr. Ruiz 3/28/2017 663564 Rita Blau Downtown Parking 48.00 General Fund 43.00 County Library
Fax
805.897.1977 6/30/2016 5/16/2017 3/14/2017 663007 David R Watkins 3/30/2017 663883 David R Watkins 2/2/2017 660740 Denise Heller 650311 Antonio Garcia Gomez 665995 Anvita A Chitnis 100.00 General Fund 100.00 General Fund 96.00 General Fund 11/17/2016 657399 Robert Riskin 6/9/2016 648877 S.A. Jordan 12/20/2016 658800 Sandra Hough 48.00 160.00 General Fund Wastewater Fund 58.00 General Fund 250.00 Self Insurance Fund 60.91 Water Fund 310. E. Ortega 10/24/2016 6/28/2016 650105 Dennys Restaurant 3/2/2017 662041 Don Boden 640364 Arellano, Matthew R 78.84 General Fund 70.86 Water Fund 85.85 Water Fund 12/20/2016 658801 Sandra Hough 43.53 Water Fund 8/4/2016 651854 Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center 125.00 General Fund St. PO Box 1990 Santa Barbara, CA 9310 2 - 1990 10/4/2016 8/16/2016 3/16/2017 10/28/2016 640675 Drost, Megann E 11/8/2016 656833 Eastman-Marie Llc 7/22/2016 638037 Elizondo, Caylin M 2/3/2017 642809 Elizondo, Caylin M 8/4/2016 651936 Elmer Ornelas 655118 Ashley Madeline Frances 96.00 General Fund 652616 Audrey Graziani 192.70 Wastewater Fund 663011 Avellanda Martin 96.00 General Fund 145.35 General Fund 17.00 General Fund 150.58 Waterfront 77.57 Waterfront 250.00 General Fund 5/16/2017 666215 Sarah Gorman 52.00 General Fund 8/4/2016 651891 Scholastic Inc. 568.20 General Fund 11/22/2016 657581 Seri Aldana 25.00 County Library 10/24/2016 640361 Sheridian, Chelsea M 16.80 General Fund 3/2/2017 662032 Sikelinos Ezekiel Peteradam 20.00 General Fund 7/8/2016 10/25/2016 656185 Fabiola Bojorquez 637585 Barragan Carde, Jose G 168.64 125.00 General Fund 5/12/2017 644659 Simon, Charles B General Fund 180.25 General Fund
Environmental Services
805.564 - 5631 11/17/2016 3/22/2017 4/20/2017 664771 George C. Price Trust 9/20/2016 654297 Guille Jacobo 12/15/2016 658662 Harold Whiting 9/27/2016 654639 Heidi Geagan 657390 Bradley J. Odom 96.00 General Fund 643739 Burnett, Dalton J 291.38 Waterfront 502.59 Water Fund 125.00 General Fund 225.37 Water Fund 100.00 General Fund 8/5/2016 638414 Singh, Ruby T 320.23 General Fund 4/6/2017 664018 Smart & Final #914 40.00 General Fund 5/11/2017 665789 Southern California Edison 300.00 General Fund 5/18/2017 666238 Stella Ahn 96.70 General Fund 3/22/2017 11/10/2016 657000 Holly Perea 643742 Burnett, Dalton J 32.50 Downtown Parking 3/9/2017 662517 Sunrun 422.50 Waterfront 202.18 General Fund
Fax
805.564.5688 9/22/2016 3/2/2017 662045 Jack Malken 7/8/2016 650558 Jessica Martinez 654472 Cahill Family Trust 121.55 Water Fund 33.38 Water Fund 23.50 General Fund 5/27/2016 648325 Susan Renee Ross 25.00 General Fund 9/20/2016 654329 Taqueria El Buen Gusto 24.60 General Fund 10/4/2016 655155 Chase Bank 5/23/2017 666421 Jorge Armondo Ramirez 15.00 General Fund 24.00 6/24/2016 637115 Taylor, Stephen G General Fund 21.06 General Fund 1221 Anacapa Street PO Box 1990 8/4/2016 5/4/2017 665449 Jorge Velazquez 3/23/2017 663410 Joseph Michael Kosich 10/4/2016 655124 Josephine C. Walter 651944 Chris Henry 231.27 Water Fund 16.85 General Fund 96.00 General Fund 54.00 General Fund 6/20/2016 649503 Tom Gilles 900.00 Water Fund 12/8/2016 658266 Tri Delta 650.00 General Fund 3/14/2017 662782 United States Coast Guard 150.00 General Fund Santa Barbara, CA 6/30/2016 650318 Juan Ordonez 38.00 General Fund 8/4/2016 651852 Velislava Hristova Nikolov 25.00 General Fund 93102 - 1990 6/1/2016 648591 Judy Orias 100.00 General Fund 1/20/2017 660269 Water Environment Research Foundation 280.00 Wastewater Fund 9/8/2016 653890 Karen Michele Lindblad 25.00 General Fund 12/22/2016 659020 William Luhrs 500.00 General Fund 9/22/2016 654480 Karen Shaw 31.32 Solid Wste 3/16/2017 663020 Zhang Bolin 96.00 General Fund 7/21/2016 651350 Kevin Ruiz-Loyola 35.64 General Fund -END-
What is your favorite memory of living of the Whitney acreage that has been in Summerland? in limbo as a potential new campus
I have so many great memories of site for Summerland School for as this town, so I will cheat by sharing long as I can remember. a single memory genre: I have so Leslie Person Ryan’s Organic many wonderful memories of the Sweetwater Farms (OSF) will be ocean views in Summerland and the planting four acres of organic prosurrounding areas. Sunsets, dolphins, duce to launch a pilot farming projwhales, breaking waves, overexcited ect to determine future use on the kids silhouetted on the beach, moon6.84-acre parcel at the top of Whitney light glancing off the ocean, and yes, and Temple streets; land that has laid even the gentle ebb and flow of sea fallow ever since the District acquired fog in May and June. If you live the 6.84 acres. The project term will around here, you know what I’m last for 18 months from the time talking about. These amazing imagof the approval and the “farmer” es are stuck in my head (I hope) for can grow fruit, vegetables, and flowthe rest of my life and are associated ers – cannabis is strictly prohibited. with all sorts of happy experiences. The land will be leased for $750 per Experiences such as family potlucks month; the harvested produce will be at Summerland School, moonlit runs offered for sale in Summerland at the up Franklin trail or through Montecito with my friends, sunrise bike rides OSF farm cart on Lillie Avenue. There will be field trips and other opporOaxaca corn of all colors (photo by Leslie A. Westbrook) up Romero Canyon, AYSO soccer tunities to participate in the educagames for the kids at Viola Fields, tional experience for Summerland or lazy sunny walks with the family through the many wonderful local trails maintained by the outstandSchool students as “may be reasonably requested, except to the extent such requests interfere with Farmer’s Colorful crisp tortillas in Oaxaca – made from pink cobs of a rare strain called belatove ing Montecito Trails Foundation. The efforts to prepare, plant, tend or har(photo by Leslie A. ocean view with its everchanging vest on the Farmed Plot,” according Westbrook) face makes the perfect backdrop for to CUSD. all the wonderful memories we have In the meantime, the OSF motto in this community. People here are is to provide organic healthy food blessed, and all you need to do is for the “people and children of look south from Summerland to be Summerland,” which Leslie Person reminded of that. Ryan deemed a “food desert.” There’s no water connection on the NEWS FLASH! land to the Montecito Water District, so water trucks will be used, but dry
The Nugget is open for take-out! farming will also be experimented Get your burgers, trout, martinis with, as the soil is admittedly “pretty and the best French fries in town to lousy” clay soil, Ryan reported. go… and help keep this longtime There was a dust up with a few Summerland watering hole alive. The neighbors initially, but all were conmanagement will assess in a couple of vinced of the merits of the project weeks whether they can safely open – they will also receive CSA boxes for indoor dining. Stay tuned. once harvesting begins. Person (805) 969-6135 Ryan promised to cooperate and be respectful of neighboring residents Pilot Organic Agriculture Program and minimize noise and dust.
The Carpinteria Unified School white corns that will be made into Person Ryan notes she will grow a There will also be a variety of herbs, District at their May 12 board meettortillas, using the nixtamal method, wide range of edibles, including the berries and specialty fruits, heirloom ing approved the leasing of a portion and colored tortilla chips. following: tomatoes and tomatillos – and flow
One acre will be heirloom corn – red, blue, black, purple, yellow and
“A beautiful bean called the frijalon ers grown to attract pollinators to the that has a beautiful red flower that crops. For the last nine years, this farm THINKING OF SELLING? is very delicious and wonderful in quesadillas. We will grow chepil and girl has been propagating a rare super heirloom white potato that is the size epazote. I grow chayote. We do have of a pea and a very, very small red a lot of Oaxacan beans that are high potato around the size of a bean at in protein and contain potassium, other locations. iron, fiber, zinc, thiamin, magnesium “We will be growing cacao, pineapand calcium. Oaxacan beans can be ple and other specialty foods. Many utilized both in their freshly shelled of the organic foods will be on the form or as a dried bean. When immamenu at our food truck,” Ryan conture Oaxacan beans can be eaten as a cluded, stressing once again all of her RDouglas@bhhscal.com | 805.318.0900 fresh snap bean, they are most combest intentions for her Summerland RachaelDouglas.com monly eaten at their mature stage. The bean pods grow on long, running neighbors:
“We need to be super respectful of Montecito | Hope Ranch | Santa Barbara | Goleta vines and in addition to beans are the neighborhood.” known for their edible purple and Looks like the food desert will soon pink blooms, so much so that they be “muy rico” with new and interest©2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC DRE 02024147 are considered to be an edible ornamental too.” ing offerings in the months to come.
All’s well that ends well… •MJ 28 MONTECITO JOURNAL “Money is not the most important thing in the world. Love is. Fortunately, I love money.” – Jackie Mason 11 – 18 June 2020
ON THE RECORD (Continued from page 6) in it is still pressurized at 800 PSI,
In Carlsbad, a private company opportunity to approve both desal and now, by harnessing that energy, named Poseidon Resources (now and a long-term deal to purchase we are able to reduce the energy Poseidon Water) built what is now water from elsewhere to satisfy local loss associated with the creation of the largest desal plant in the world, needs, whereas it should have been that water.” In a nutshell, a formerly a major accomplishment of puban either/or scenario. It’s kind of a inefficient process has become a 93% lic planning and private enterprise. big mistake. efficient one. Not bad. According to the company’s website, So on June 4, 1991, both measures, In the summer of 2015, when it currently produces 50 million galeach of which weakened the other, the desal plant went back online, lons of salt-free drinking water per received enough votes to pass. Just Haggmark and other Santa Barbara day. That project survived California’s in case you thought accurate polling water officials were busy negotiatcomplicated, burdensome permitting is a new problem. When the dust seting with Montecito’s previous water process. tled, Montecito and Goleta no longer board. Led by Shaikewitz, MWD’s
In Huntington Beach, Poseidon had need to manufacture desal water Board of Directors sought to enter sought to build a plant that would since their needs were already being into a 50-year desal contact – exactly save energy costs by attaching itself met via straight-up purchase. And the term of MWD’s currently proto an aging AES powerplant that had with Montecito and Goleta’s water posed water deal with Santa Barbara. long been opposed by local envistarvation now solved with dueling “The city was initially insisting that ronmental activists already worried solutions, they went with the easier the desal contract would only be for about the project’s potential threat to and less expensive one. twenty years or less, as opposed to sea life and who also opposed con“When Goleta and Montecito fifty or more,” Shaikewitz said. “The tinuing the operation of the AES plant, backed out, it put Santa Barbara in a negotiations went nowhere for a long a notorious beachside eyesore. That weird financial situation,” Haggmark time because of this. Plus, the City project is still enmeshed in the labysaid. “And the way the desal partkept insisting that it could sell us rinthine permitting process. Although nership was set up, it was not all that recycled water instead of water that it is likely to become operational some sound. You take out one partner and had actually been desalinated.” time in 2023. it falls down.” As a result, negotiations between
In contrast, Santa Barbara’s venture Because Santa Barbara’s desal lost Santa Barbara and Montecito’s water into desal during the early 1990s went its clients of Goleta and Montecito, agencies once again broke down. relatively smoothly, at least from a funding for the project wouldn’t “The prior board always seemed permitting perspective. City officials rematerialize until decades later, interested in as long an agreement as saw the Charles E. Meyer Desalination when we were once again back in they could get,” Haggmark recalled. Plant, which cost $34 million and our once-in-a-generation severe “Dick Shaikewitz was really pushopened in March 1992, as a wise drought. Thus, on July 21, 2015, ing for that,” he added. “But we investment. Originally permitted to Santa Barbara’s city council voted had in our municipal code that no produce 10,000 acre feet per year of unanimously to reactivate the nearagreement could last longer than fifty desalinated water, the plant aimed to ly 20-year-old plant, which finally years.” provide only 7,500 acre feet to both began producing water two years Meanwhile, said Haggmark, Montecito and Goleta, while the city later and now accounts for about 30 Montecito’s previous water board would reserve an additional 3,181 acre percent of the city’s water supply. wanted to work out a contract that feet per year for its own needs. In the meantime, Santa Barbara City would allow it to own a percentage of Council sold off critical parts of Santa the desal plant, which proved to be a When It Rains, It Pours, Unfortunately Barbara’s desal plant to the Saudi government. That certainly added a level of complexity. deal-breaker for Santa Barbara. “The City wasn’t interested in sharing ownership,” he explained, adding
Yet because of “abundant” rainfall that the ownership demand compliduring the next few months, Santa Barbara water officials officially shut Reverse Osmosis cated matters so much it essentially derailed the negotiations. “It didn’t down the desal plant just three months Ocean water contains about 97 permake any sense at all,” he said. after it opened, in June of 1992. Yes, cent pure water and just 3 percent just three months later. It would be a little like setting up the Office of solid materials. That ratio is critical to understanding desalination techA New Deal Homeland Security on September 12, nology, which goes as follows: In A year after Santa Barbara began 2001 but finding Bin Laden that same order to produce a gallon of drinknegotiating with Montecito for the Thanksgiving. You put this enormous able water, a typical desal plant such second time since the inception of its mechanism in place to solve a certain as Santa Barbara’s must push 2 galdesal plant, the city found a new ally enormous problem, then suddenly lons of ocean water at a pressure of in Montecito’s newly elected water that problem gets solved much sooner 800 pounds per square inch (PSI) board. Directors Floyd Wicks and than anyone thought. through a reverse osmosis membrane. Tobe Plough, who each raised mas
The double whammy for desal Pressurized steam pushed through sive amounts of cash to take control was all that rain also ruined Santa the membrane at that volume creof MWD’s board, led the district in Barbara’s chances of getting either ates a gallon of drinkable water and new discussions with Santa Barbara Goleta or Montecito to sign a longanother gallon of heavily concentratto purchase desalinated water from term contract. Both towns provided ed brine which is then ejected back the city. Santa Barbara with five years of cash into the ocean. “The previous board wanted ownto keep the plant operational in case Recent innovations in reverse ership,” said Haggmark, “but all the of a water emergency, but neither osmosis technology squeezes the new board really wants is water, and municipality renewed that contract at high-pressure briny solution that is that’s what this new deal is going to the end of its term. The result is Santa left over and thus produces a reliable do.” According to the final draft of Barbara’s desal plant was mothballed supply of renewable power. “This the WSA, Santa Barbara will provide for the next 23 years. Yes, desal sat new energy recovery system gets Montecito with 1,430 acre feet per idle for basically a quarter century. 93 percent of the energy created by year for the next 50 years at a price
In addition, thanks to a clerical bringing that rejected brine back to of about $4 million per year, which error on the state ballot, Santa Barbara zero pressure,” Haggmark said. “The represents a total cost to MWD’s rate voters were inadvertently given the water that is rejected with all the salt payers of about $200 million over the 30 MONTECITO JOURNAL “Women are wiser than men because they know less and understand more.” – James Thurber
course of the agreement.
Eventually, desal water from Santa Barbara will get cheaper, according to the terms of the contract. Currently, MWD’s agreement with Santa Barbara provides that Montecito will help the city pay off the desal plant’s initial price tag as well as its ongoing costs. However, Santa Barbara’s low-interest state loan only needs to be serviced for another 17 years, meaning that once the debt is paid, Montecito will pay a much lower price for desalinated water for the roughly 30 years left on the contract.
“Once the debt is retired, the cost of our water goes down,” said Wicks. “So we will be getting water at a much lower cost.”
Cheaper Than Dirt
According to the Montecito Water District’s latest available figures, should its deal with Santa Barbara go forward, MWD’s customers will be divided into three new categories, or tiers, depending on the volume of water they use.
Tier 1 consumers, who use up to 6,750 gallons per month, represent nearly half MWD’s customer base. They will see a reduction in their monthly bill, Wicks said, adding that the total bill will amount to $105.90 including service fees, which works out to just $3.50 per day, or 1.5 cents per gallon. “This is cheaper than what it would cost to buy dirt for your front lawn,” Wicks said. “That’s why I can say with complete accuracy that potable water is actually cheaper than dirt.”
Heavier users of water will be charged more, depending on how much they consume each month, a cost-spreading system that has held over from the previous water board’s emergency conservation measures. Even Tom Mosby, the MWD general manager who was kicked out of the water district as a result of the agency’s drastic response to the last drought, supports the board’s new proposed rates.
“I have to give credit to this board,” Mosby said. “Their new rates represent a big change in how we bill for water. Most users are going to pay less or the same as they used to, but larger consumers will be charged more, as they should be. It’s a reasonable solution. Right now, we are using forty percent less water than we were using before the last drought, as a result of conservation measures. With this new deal, we’re preparing for the future. We need a new water supply and the district’s new board and staff is providing that.”
Next week, a closer examination of the effect that the drilling of hundreds if not thousands of private wells has had on Montecito’s local water supply. •MJ
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We all benefit from groundwater.
Montecito Groundwater Basin supplies public and private wells with water for residential, commercial and agricultural needs—we all benefit from this important water supply. Available data suggests that groundwater levels are low following the most recent and worst drought in our region’s history.
California’s 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) recognizes that groundwater provides a significant portion of our state’s water supply, and that these resources are most effectively managed at the local level. As a “medium priority” basin, compliance with state law is mandatory for the Montecito Groundwater Basin: we must act.
About us
Established in late-2018, the Montecito Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency is charged with ensuring a resilient basin and a sustainable supply of groundwater.
Funding
While Montecito GSA has secured state grants and funding, it’s not enough. We’re proposing a fee for parcels overlying the Montecito Groundwater Basin that will help fund the development of the plan for the basin’s long-term health and sustainability. More information is available on our website. If you have questions or would like to get involved in the process, please contact our offices through the channels listed below.
Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of a Parcel Fee Based on Acreage
Montecito Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, remote meeting participation information will be posted online at www.montecitogsa.com, physically at 583 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108, and available by calling 805-324-4207.
