05/15/2022
SURJ supports the expansion of the Santa Maria Levee Trail!
📣Action is needed before Tuesday, May 17. Do you have a couple minutes to send an a email to our county supervisors?
🗞Here is our letter to the editor: Santa Maria Levee Trail - Community Builder
On May 17, the County Board of Supervisors will discuss the much-needed extension of the levee trail from the North end of Santa Maria to Guadalupe. The existing Tom Urbanske Multipurpose Trail is very popular but is only 2.7 miles of unpaved trail. The extension would begin where the existing trail ends and continue to the town of Guadalupe. Think of it-an improved bike and pedestrian-friendly trail that unites the communities of the fifth district! As exciting as that is, this extension would be more than just adding miles of improved trail but also building community.
It has been well documented that communities of color are often the sites for industry and receive less investment in green spaces all the way down to having fewer trees in their neighborhoods. This is clearly the case in Santa Barbara County. Despite being the largest city in the county, Santa Maria has only eight miles of trails over two locations while Santa Barbara has over 130 miles of trails over 52 locations! Why the big discrepancy? Our residents are majority working class, communities of color, with few local options for healthy activities such as walking, hiking, and bicycling. We deserve better.
We can work through the obstacles but Santa Maria needs this extended trail. Investing in this trail is investing in the community. SURJ Santa Maria urges the Supervisors to approve this project and to begin the process of building community.
SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) Santa Maria works to eliminate racism and support those most impacted by it.