SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- City council officials in Santa Barbara, Calif., voted against a county proposal to urge state officials to support off-shore oil drilling.
The City Council voted 5-1 against an Aug. 26 proposal from Santa Barbara County supervisors that was aimed at convincing California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to support the controversial energy pursuit off the state's coasts, the Los Angeles Times said Wednesday.
Councilwoman Helene Schneider said during Tuesday's meeting by the council, which has no power regarding off-shore drilling, that California is on the forefront of the growing nationwide energy debate.
"Like it or not, we're at the eye of the storm when it comes to energy policy" in the United States, Schneider said.
The drilling advocacy group, SOS California, responded to the council's decision on the measure by saying the council's opinion didn't reflect the "attitudes" of Santa Barbara residents, the Times said.
