California: Santa Barbara

Last week, I posted a brief entry about CYD's endorsements in CDP leadership races.  I received some complaints about it, and I agreed to post CYD's official press release as a clarification of sorts.  It is rather lengthy, so I am posting the full text below the fold.
Santa Barbara, CA- The California Young Democrats (CYD) took official positions on the race for the California Democratic Party's Executive Board:

Chair- John Burton.  A founding member of the San Francisco Young Democrats, John Burton has spent decades in the trenches fighting to put progressive principles into action. A leader on such issues as universal healthcare, college affordability and the living wage, CYD is confident that John Burton will continue to fight for issues young people across the state care most about.

Senate GOP leader Dennis Hollingsworth, in his second week as Republican leader, has announced a trio of senators that will serve as part of his new leadership team:

Sen. Mimi Walters, a freshman from Laguna Niguel, will serve as assistant majority Republican leader.

Sen. Tony Strickland, who squeaked out a victory last November, will serve as assistant GOP leader for elections. The freshman Republican represents Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Solana Beach, will be assistant GOP leader for policy development.

In a 15-member caucus -- and in a leadership vote in which four of the caucus members walked out -- that provides a pretty good idea of who Hollingsworth's backers were.

The State Lands Commission scuttled a proposed compromise that would have brought new oil drilling to the Santa Barbara coast for the first time in California since 1969, in what is seemingly a victory for environmental and coastal protection advocates.  However, some are arguing that the proposal, which would have mandated closure of 4 additional oil platforms off the coast within 13 years, should have gone through.
But a parade of local officials, residents and environmental activists insisted the plan would have advanced efforts to protect the coast by eventually closing four of the region's 20 platforms.

"For the first time in history, the public and the state will be able to shut down existing oil production," argued Linda Krop, an attorney for the Environmental Defense Center and one of the people behind the proposal.