2025-01-11 Will Santa Barbara Be Next?
As we begin 2025, Los Angeles is ablaze. Wildfires spreading out of control, a dozen people are dead, thousands of homes lost, billions of dollars in damages, and insurance companies are leaving the state in droves as disaster-related claims skyrocket. BBILAN sends our prayers to all who have been affected by these wildfires, and hope this blog post empowers residents of highly vulnerable communities to hold their elected officials accountable. BBILAN is striving to build a National Electrical Fire Safety Coalition in which Santa Barbara, CA is on the front lines of our efforts.
Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse has recently expressed concern that the conditions for a major wildfire in Santa Barbara are comparable to those that existed in Lahaina, Maui prior to its 2023 catastrophe. But there is a crucial difference. Unlike Maui, Santa Barbara has a current policy to proliferate and densify small cell and macro cell towers in residential communities, which substantially increases the risk (defined as Probability x Damages) of an electrically caused wildfire. This is a foreseeable catastrophe whose worst consequences can be significantly mitigated by wise precautions. But at present, no such precautions are being taken. Professional electrical engineers are currently not certifying wireless telecom permit applications in order to ensure fire safety. Short Circuit Coordination Studies, which would catch tower electrical design flaws, are not required. No special setback requirements to protect schools, playgrounds, daycare centers, and other vulnerable facilities are in place.
When we cannot depend on our leaders to make wise decisions to protect the public, as is happening in Los Angeles County wildfires, members of the public must cultivate and master the core life competencies of Wisdom and Resilience, and press the Santa Barbara Mayor, County Board of Supervisors, and Planning Commissions to prepare responsibly for the dangers under a new framework of citizen and community-initiated collaborative leadership. BBILAN has created such a framework to catalyze this effort.
Please DONATE to support the Safe Tech Santa Barbara initiative of BBILAN (a 501.c.3 non-profit tax-exempt organization) in its efforts to protect Santa Barbara from electrically caused wildfires. This initiative is in response to Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ (BOS) possible decision on February 4, 2025 to adopt the County’s Wireless Cell Tower Ordinance Amendments. If passed, this vote will approve proposed amendments to an already deficient wireless ordinance authorizing accelerated densification of small cell and macro cell towers in Santa Barbara County. For a concise statement of the risks in poor evacuation planning and the legal deficiencies of the proposed amendments, see this article prepared by BBILAN.
Special BONUS Offer (Expires Feb. 15, 2025): For those donating $100 or more to BBILAN, (“Use this donation for: Safe Tech Santa Barbara”), we are pleased to offer a one-year complimentary subscription to Kokoro (Heart-Mind), a Personal Wisdom and Resilience AI-Agent supported by monthly Evolutionary Conversations (Zoom webinars) with Q&A and Coaching. (Note: If you do take advantage of the Bonus Offer, the first $100 would NOT be tax-deductible.) Kokoro will help you build the essential public advocacy skills to effect beneficial change, linking wisdom, resilience, and intelligence to enlightened action.