Reversing itself for the second time in the past few months, the Carpinteria Chamber of Commerce announced it was endorsing Measure J—the ballot initiative on Venoco Oil’s proposed Paredon development project going to city voters this June—which would bypass the city’s typical environmental review process. Supporters of the project cite the millions of dollars in oil royalty revenues the project could potentially provide the city. Critics of the plan point to the 11 Class I (not mitigatable) environmental impacts associated with the proposed project and claim Venoco is seeking to “buy” approval at the ballot box. They are hosting a “paddle out” protest this Saturday.
