Goleta 4-9
The Tea Fire Response Fund began disbursing $148,870 to 41 victims of the November blaze this week. It marked the second of four distribution periods. The fund, organized by the Santa Barbara County United Way, has received more than $434,000 in donations to aid survivors of the Tea Fire. The average disbursement check is estimated to be $3,500-$4,000 per person. (/teafire409)
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Reversing a symbolic action taken last year, the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to oppose new offshore oil leasing, urging the reinstatement of a federal moratorium. Last August, after the board voted in support of expanding oil exploration, Supervisors Salud Carbajal and Janet Wolf wrote a letter of dissent to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. This time around, they had the support of new 3rd District Supervisor Doreen Farr. (/oil409)
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An appeal of the Board of Supervisor’s 2008 approval of the Ballentyne residence-the mansion approved for construction at the Gaviota Coast’s eastern gate-was upheld on 4/7 when Judge Thomas Anderle ruled in favor of the Gaviota Coastal Conservancy. The judge opined that the 15,000-square-foot house and the dirt wall meant to conceal it required environmental review before the supes could approve it, and that the approval violated the County’s General Plan. (/gaviota409)
