Last week, the Santa Maria City Council approved funding for six more years of the Breeze commuter bus that links Santa Maria, Vandenberg Air Force Base and Lompoc. Mayor Larry Lavagnino stated, “For us to oppose this would be a major mistake on our part.”

The mayor could not be more correct.

People are turning to public transportation for obvious reasons - gasoline goes for about $4 per gallon. The world's largest investing bank, Goldman Sachs, recently reported that it thinks the price of oil will rise to $150 or $200 a barrel, probably within this year.

Finding ways to get around without driving ourselves or flying has only begun.

Once upon a time, the United States used to be the big oil power. This country's resources in the 20th century fueled our success in two world wars. Oil was the economic backbone that built the strongest economy in the world. It was oil that built our transportation and residential infrastructure. Oil production once played a significant role in Santa Maria Valley's economy. Those days are over.

Today, the United States produces only a third of what it consumes. Meanwhile, China - the most populous country in the world - is increasing its demand for oil by 7.5 percent annually. The second-most-populated country - India - increases its demand for oil by 5.5 percent each year.

The world's oil reserves cannot be increased. What is in the ground isn't going to multiply. Yet, that doesn't stop us from consuming it as if it we had an endless supply

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The City Council's action to support the Breeze bus was only a very modest step, but it is better than our current federal government.

Amtrak has reported an all-time-high ridership last year - some 26 million passengers. This is occurring despite the way the federal government has funded transportation. Last year federal funding for highways was $35 billion, the air-travel industry $14.5 billion. The national passenger train service -Amtrak - received $1.3 billion, which is the same amount as it received in 1980.

In the past, Mayor Lavagino and others on the City Council have expressed doubts about funding public transportation. Yet, this time, they have responded to the increased need for the Breeze bus.

Measure D is a half-percent sales tax that generates millions of dollars annually for transportation projects around Santa Barbara County. Groups such as SB CAN and former candidate for 5th District supervisor Jeanne Sparks have long advocated using transportation funds, such as Measure D, to build public transportation.

Now that people are paying $4 a gallon, with no decrease in sight, they are beginning to experience hardships when they fill up their Hummer or SUV to get across town or across the state. If the largest investment bank in the world is correct, just think what we will be paying for gasoline when a barrel of oil reaches $200 in the next year or so.

And when it happens, don't entirely blame the City Council that our city's public transportation infrastructure is not adequate to meet our needs.

For fiscal years 2008-09 and 2009-10, the city expects to receive about $9.9 million in Measure D funds. The current City Council plans to spend it as it always has - for street repair and maintenance. This would be a continuation of past shortsightedness.

However, the council has shown an ability to react to public pressure and public need. If we, the people, don't create an environment to make such issues as energy conservation and public transportation political issues and lifestyle choices, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Cameron Miller lives in Santa Maria. He can be reached at limabeansoup@hotmail.com. Looking Forward runs every Friday, providing progressive views on local issues.

May 16, 2008