Friday, May 28, 2010

Das Williams thinks "outside the bag"

Yes. "Outside the Bag." Das has been working to get rid of single use plastic bags for quite some time.
....next stop was Goleta State Beach where KCOY news interviewed Will Palamino, UCSB senior. Goleta Mayor Eric Onnen, City Councilmember Margaret Connell, and Santa Barbara City Councilmember Das Williams also stopped by the beach to speak in support of reducing plastic pollution. - Calpirg students


Now, it seems, the California legislature has finally caught up


Legislation that would ban many California stores from giving away single-use plastic bags has taken a step closer to becoming law. AB 1998 was passed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Friday and will be voted upon next Friday by the full Assembly. If passed and signed by the governor, the law would go into effect Jan. 1, 2012. - LATimes
Forward "Outside the Bag" thinking.

That's how I like MY State Assemblymembers or "soon-to-be" Assemblymembers.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Das Williams is working hard to earn your vote

Das Williams enjoys meeting and talking with people in the 35th Assembly District. And, most importantly, he listens.

He's the only politician I know who gives out his personal cell phone number so constituents can give him a call when something is on their mind.

Das Williams will fight for us because he talks TO us...not down to us, and really, shouldn't it be the 35th Assembly District residents who vote for their representative instead of Sacramento insiders pre-ordaining one?

Das Williams is not expecting your vote...he's working hard to earn it.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Das Williams knows there are more issues to discuss

than a non-existent agreement. There are fires and fire prevention, for example. Das Williams has dealt with those issues on a local level. He has the experience on these issues to take to Sacramento.

It has been a year since the Jesusita Fire ravaged the hillsides above Santa Barbara, and a vote of support from the City Council on Tuesday aims to keep fire damage at bay from homes in that area.

Most of the homes in the foothills above the city are part of a special district — the Wildland Fire Suppression Benefit Assessment District — that pays taxes to help mitigate the effects of wildfire. The City Council approved an extension for that yearly assessment and gave the program its blessing to continue.

....The program received unanimous support on the dais, and Councilman Das Williams called it “one of the most important programs we’ve established.”

Mayor Helene Schneider echoed support.

“As tragic as the fires were,” she said, “they would have been much much worse had this brush not been cleared.” - Noozhawk

There is a reason why Das Williams has the support of:
  • Santa Barbara County Firefighters
  • Santa Barbara City Firefighters
  • California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Fights (CDF Firefighters)
  • Warner Mcgrew, Retired City of SB Fire Chief

Monday, May 24, 2010

Today was the last day to Register to Vote

for the June 8th Primary Election.

BUT...if you are already registered, you still have time to register to receive a "Vote by Mail" ballot. The deadline to get your application for a "VBM" ballot is June 1.


Download a form at the Santa Barbara County Elections website (pdf) then mail, fax or drop it off to the Santa Barbara County Elections Office.

As a VBM voter, you can mail your ballot (make sure it is IN THE ELECTIONS OFFICE ON OR BEFORE JUNE 8) or, you can turn in your voted ballot to ANY polling place in Santa Barbara County, including the Elections Office. How easy is THAT?

Speaking of polling places, do you know where yours is? Sometimes they change. Double check HERE.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Das Williams is not afraid of hard work or hard questions

While other candidates let volunteers do the hard, exhausting (but rewarding) work of canvassing neighborhoods, Das Williams goes canvassing with them. He stops and answers any questions voters may have of him, whether they agree with his stances or not. He even gives out his cell phone number for them to continue the conversation or to ask further questions. How many other politicians do you know do this?

Come canvass with Das today!

1:00 p.m. - Goleta Community Center
680-6479 for more questions or to RSVP.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Das Williams has remained consistant in his opposition to offshore drilling.

Das Williams helped former Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson write legislation prohibiting new oil tankering off the Santa Barbara Coast.

Das also helped craft a state resolution calling on the Feds to terminate all offshore oil leases.

Das has made very public statements that both offshore and onshore drilling are unacceptable.

Das has been, and still is, fighting to protect our environment on so many fronts...championing Alternative Energy....Public Transportation....Energy Efficiency.

Unfortunately, the truth doesn't make for good copy on deceptive campaign literature that is being sent out by his opponent(s).

Visit Das Williams' website and learn the truth.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Das Williams is running a clean campaign.

Das Williams knows that by running a clean campaign, he honors and respects the voters, and their intelligence. Das signed a pledge to "keep it clean" and he is sticking to his word. While his opponent is sending out false hit pieces, trying to gin up fear and distrust, Das is showing his commitment to the voters of the 35th State Assembly District by continuing to run a positive campaign.

Keeping it positive.
Running on his merits.
Keeping his word.

NOW THAT'S INTEGRITY THAT YOU CAN BELIEVE IN.


Thursday, May 20, 2010

Don't be fooled....Das Williams is not pro-oil

I have had one goal and one goal only throughout my career: to end oil drilling permanently. I grew up on the Central Coast and, like so many others in this community, we have lived with the constant threat that oil drilling poses on a daily basis. Not only must we work to do everything possible to end drilling for the sake of the environment and public health and safety, but make a steady and persistent transition to a clean-energy future. As a legislative aide for former Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, I helped write landmark legislation that ended the practice of transporting oil from oil rigs by tanker, therefore significantly reducing the risk of oil spills. I also helped craft a resolution calling on the federal government to terminate all offshore oil leases. As a city councilman I have staunchly opposed all oil development off our coast, including the current proposal by Venoco to build an onshore oil rig in the city of Carpinteria. Here in the city of Santa Barbara, we have had much success in transitioning to green, alternative energy sources and helping reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Since I was first elected in 2003, we have more than doubled the city’s use of renewable energy and created tough energy-efficiency standards.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

DAS WILLIAMS - Fighting for our future

The following is from "Das Gets the Last Word on PXP," at the Santa Barbara View:

“The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has strengthened my resolve to bring an end to oil drilling and move towards a fossil free energy future that relies on clean renewable energy.

“In order to end our dependence on oil we need a comprehensive strategy that stops oil drilling and promotes clean renewable energy. At the City Council, my colleagues and I have strongly opposed new and existing oil drilling as well as created tough renewable energy and energy efficiency standards that have created jobs, reduced our dependence on fossil fuels and helped protect the environment.

“The proposed Tranquilion Ridge agreement would have brought an end to oil drilling on four platforms in fourteen years. Without it, oil drilling will now continue for at least another two generations. For four decades we have been unsuccessful in our efforts to stop existing drilling. In fact, the platform that caused the 1969 oil spill still operates to this very day. If we are going to end drilling we need to continue to do everything in our power to end our dependence on oil.”

-- Das Williams, Santa Barbara Council Member

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Das knows the importance of Community Colleges

He knows that they have an impact on lives and futures of community residents and of the communities themselves. Santa Barbara City College certainly had an impact on his.
"I have several teachers that influenced me at my time at Santa Barbara City College. I was 17 and it was the year I moved out of my volkswagon bus into an apartment, first started in politics and became a Christian. Dr. Craig Fusaro (who now leads efforts to restore local fish species) taught me Environmental Science with an emphasis on the SCIENCE, Dr. John Kay taught me the basics of government, Dr. Peter Haslund international relations and Dr. Manou Eskandari taught me how to teach." (from an interview with Brian Dennert of the Ventura County Star)

Friday, May 14, 2010

Das knows that lives of real people matter

“It’s clear that Governor Schwarzenegger’s priorities have nothing to do with the well-being of children, working families, seniors or the disabled. Once again he asks nothing of corporations or wealthy CEO’s, and everything of our most vulnerable populations, which have already sacrificed so much. It’s unconscionable, not to mention fiscally imprudent, that his proposal protects tax breaks and loopholes for big oil companies and yet calls for the complete elimination of CalWORKS, as well as further spending cuts to Medi-Cal, community mental health, and in-home care. I urge legislative leaders to reject the Governor’s misguided proposal.”

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Santa Barbara Indy Endorses Das Williams


Santa Barbara Bicycle Fashion Show
Originally uploaded by CycleMAYnia 2010.

for the 35th State Assembly District.
Given the entrenched dysfunction gripping Sacramento, we have our doubts what difference anyone we send there to represent us can actually make. That being acknowledged, we remain hopeful that Democratic candidate Das Williams, a seven-year city councilmember from Santa Barbara, possesses the requisite political chops, youthful idealism, and cold-blooded pragmatism to actually make a dent.

...As a matter of temperament, Williams is that rare political animal who actually seems suited to the Byzantine challenges Sacramento has to offer. But given his life history — so deeply rooted in the culture, community, and values of the South Coast where he was born and bred — we’re confident Williams will remain connected and accountable to his constituents.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Das knows it takes results

and he gets them!



"We need to rebuild our middle class by creating new jobs and pushing our state to invest in new technologies and industries. Ill expand alternative energy and sustainable, clean ways of living and doing business, and will unite our states environmental and labor constituencies behind a pro-jobs agenda to ensure that California is not left behind..." -- Das

Monday, May 10, 2010

Das Williams supports bringing an end to offshore drilling

"I support bringing an end to drilling.
That has always been my goal. What has happened in the Gulf is exactly why we need to make that a reality as soon as possible."
Das supports bringing an end to offshore drilling. If you hear differently, someone isn't telling you the truth.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Das has been working on energy issues for years

Das has worked with a wide variety of people and organizations toward a common goal of lessening our energy footprint. For example, this news from 2007.

Earlier this month, the Santa Barbara City Council passed a new Energy Ordinance that aims to make the city’s buildings 40% more efficient than those in any other U.S. city. Under the ordinance, Santa Barbara’s energy standards become 10% more stringent every five years. The aim, City Council member Das Williams told the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Daily Nexus, is to make city’s buildings 20% more efficient than required under California Title 24 efficiency standards, themselves 20% more efficient than national standards. To pre-empt fights between the city and builders over the ordinance, the Santa Barbara-based Community Environmental Council and the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects worked to educate builders about the benefits of building efficiently. A coalition of 15 local groups, including environmentalists, contractors and architects, are actively supporting the energy ordinance and the Architecture 2030 Challenge, a measure that inspired the ordinance and calls for cities to be carbon neutral by 2030. - FlexYourPower
Someone who knows the issues and communicates regardless of party lines to make things happen. That's exactly what we need up in Sacramento. That's exactly what Das Williams brings to the table.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Das knows Environmental Awareness

is ALWAYS in fashion.


Santa Barbara's First Bicycle Fashion Show
Originally uploaded by beany0.

Here Das models one cool looking bike (and some spiffy duds) for a CycleMaynia Fashion Show during the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization's First Thursday festivities.

Want to participate in some other fun bike-centric activities during May (National Bike Month)? Check out CycleMaynia's calendar. I know Das does!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

F Y I

May 10th - Vote by Mail Ballots are mailed out.

May 24th - The last day to register to vote for the June 8th Primary Election.

June 8th - California State Primary Election Day. Vote by Mail Ballots need to be in the Elections Office by this date....NOT post marked by this date.

FOR DECLINE TO STATE VOTERS:
If you are a voter who has declined to state an affiliation with a political party, you may be able to vote for a candidate of a specific party in the upcoming June 8, 2010, Statewide Direct Primary. You may request, from your county elections official or at your polling place, the ballot of the Democratic Party. To obtain information on how to request the Democratic ballot contact the county elections office.

If you do not request such a ballot, you will be given a nonpartisan ballot, containing only the names of all candidates for nonpartisan offices and measures to be voted upon at the primary election.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Das knows it's NOT just about stopping offshore oil drilling...but...

it's about PLANNING for energy alternatives...it's about WORKING toward energy self sufficiency....it's about TAKING initiative for positive change. It's about FORGING ahead to the future. It's all about the DOING. And Das is doing just that.



(hat tip to Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice for the video lead)

Monday, May 3, 2010

Das knows the dangers of drilling

When it comes to oil drilling - Das' goal and record on this issue are clear - bring an end to oil drilling as soon as possible. As a legislative aid for Hannah-Beth Jackson, Das helped write the legislation that put an end to the practice of transporting oil from offshore rigs via oil tanker, hence, reducing the chance of an oil spill. Das also helped craft a resolution calling on the federal government to terminate all offshore oil drilling leases. On the City Council, Das has been vocal in his opposition to all oil drilling including the Paredon project.

The Louisiana disaster is a stark reminder of why we need to end drilling now. The proposal by the EDC would end drilling on 4 platforms in 14 years. Without that proposal, drilling will continue indefinitely and we will live with the threat of a disaster like the one in Louisiana for years to come.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Das knows bikes!














Did you know that May is National Bike Month?

Das has worked hard to support bicyclists in town every month.

...City officials, community members and cycling advocates gathered Monday to celebrate completion of the $1.5 million worth of service improvements for the area of Mission Street at Highway 101. In addition to bike lanes on each side of Mission, pedestrian areas got new ramps, wider sidewalks, more street lighting, traffic signal modifications, curbs, gutters and retaining walls. - Noozhawk

Das also knows first hand the joys of "triking" around town!