• Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) spent part of her day Saturday, Oct. 16, supporting the community’s veteran population at the annual Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down event in Santa Maria.
The event, organized by 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, is designed to help veterans connect with support services to help them succeed. At the event veterans received help with legal issues, health concerns, their job search, or in finding affordable housing. Veterans also received free breakfast, lunch, showers, haircuts, and clothing. Capps’ office had staff onsite to provide information on assistance with obtaining federal services and benefits for veterans.
“I am so proud to live in a community that is committed to recognizing the sacrifices and service of our veterans,” Capps said. “We have an obligation to every man and woman who served our nation and that includes ensuring they have access to the services they have earned. I am especially grateful to Supervisor Lavagnino for organizing this event every year and his dedication to taking care of veterans,” Capps said in a press release.
Capps has also focused on supporting alternative energy in recent weeks.
On Wednesday Oct. 14, Capps led a capstone conversation at the Central Coast Sustinability Summit at UCSB with a panel of industry leaders and academic experts. The discussion focused on the impacts of climate change, advances in clean energy technology, and strategies to overcome the remaining barriers to fully transitioning to a clean energy future.
Capps hosted a second panel on Friday, Oct. 16, at Cal Poly that focused on the development of cutting edge energy technologies on the Central Coast, how clean energy is strengthening our local economy, and what should be done to further advance this state-of-the-art innovation.
“While climate deniers in Washington have certainly made progress at the federal level difficult, I am proud to say that the Central Coast is forging ahead and leading the transition to a clean energy future here at home,” Capps said in the press release. “With two cutting edge research universities, a multitude of ambitious renewable energy projects, forward-thinking community leaders, and some of the most innovative entrepreneurs and businesses in the country, I am excited to see what the future holds.”
Capps also attended Solarthon, an annual solar installation block party and fundraiser put on by GRID Alternatives, Saturday, Oct. 17. Volunteers installed solar electric systems for five low-income families who just finished building their homes through the Peoples’ Self-Help Housing sweat equity program in Los Alamos. GRID Alternatives is a nonprofit solar contractor and job training organization.
“The annual Solarthon is yet another wonderful example of the Central Coast coming together to lead the way on clean energy,” Capps said. “I am so proud of the work GRID Alternatives and Peoples’ Self-Help Housing are doing to strengthen our community and make solar energy more accessible.”
This article appears in Oct 22-29, 2015.
