Councilman lobbies for federal funds

By ERIC LINDBERG — Feb. 27, 2009

Following in the footsteps of several other local officials, Santa Barbara Councilmember Das Williams is in the nation’s capital on a three-day stint to advocate for federal funds to support local infrastructure projects.

“Tis the lobby season,” the councilman said, speaking by cell phone from Washington, DC. “The place is totally abuzz on Capitol Hill between the alternative energy push, healthcare reform and, of course, the stimulus package and the budget. We’re trying to make sure that there are some local projects included.”

Williams said he is following up on federal funding for improvements along Mission Creek, as well as stream restoration money for the Santa Ynez tributaries.

In addition to his position on the City Council dais, he also serves as the president of the Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board, which oversees water agencies from Santa Ynez to Carpinteria.

Another project he is lobbying for involves building a second pipeline from Lake Cachuma to the South Coast to essentially serve as a backup to the 6.4-mile Tecolote Tunnel.

Williams said he has met with Congresswoman Lois Capps and another congresswoman from Northern California, in addition to two Senate staff members and committee staff.

“It’s cold here, but it’s so important that when there are project monies coming to different areas to help upstart the economy that Santa Barbara gets its fair share,” he said.

He also noted that he’s crashing on a friend’s couch to avoid spending travel funds. The Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board picked up the airline bill.

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Say NO to Das : 2/27/2009

The is no reason that Santa Barbara should be in the financial mess we are in. Das and the rest of the City Council and County Supervisors have no concept for budgeting and fiscal responsibility. They need to go to an "AA" type program for Spendaholic. The state should not enable this type of addiction and neither should we!

Stop the Addiction NOW

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Stay There : 2/27/2009

Das and the rest of the city council are useless - almost as useless as Lois Capps. Walter Cappsmay be dead, Lois is dead weight. Vote out the old bums and vote in some new bums

Feedup

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What about the Quaggas? : 2/28/2009

Gee, maybe COMB (Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board) could have applied these travel funds for Das to the Quagga mussel problem at Lake Cachuma. But what fun would that be? Das is on a mission......so worried that people will forget how cool he is

Eye-roller

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STOP THE WASTE : 3/2/2009

Whats the matter, Das, you haven't wasted enough taxpayer money through the City? You have to reach into our back pocket via the Feds? Das, Capps, the Dems in congress and the rest of the council are all of the genus tax-and-spendus.

Aaron Shaw

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