GREASY WHEELS… Forty years after the disastrous Santa Barbara oil spill, state lawmakers are once again allowing drilling in California waters. Monday night’s deal to backfill the state’s $26.3 billion budget gap included a tentative agreement to allow oil producer Plains Exploration & Production Co. to expand drilling off the coast of Santa Barbara, where it already maintains platforms in federal waters. The company would pay the state $100 million up-front, plus royalties over the project’s 13-year lifetime, to drill in state waters closer to shore. Central Coast Assemblyman Bill Monning, who opposes off-shore drilling, says that the governor’s deal with Plains Exploration will result in less money for the state, as compared with a Democrat oil-extraction tax proposal that would have generated $900 million the first year. Read the July 21 story at http://montereycountyweekly.com/news[KA]

HOMEWARD BOUND… In April, the Weekly reported on homeless teens in Monterey County and the yet-to-open Safe Passage, a transitional living home with six beds for 18 – to 21-year-olds, the first of its kind in the area. Community Human Services’ drug-and-alcohol-free housing program will give the young adults access to counseling, education, job training, money-management and conflict-resolution skills, among others. Now, move-in day is nearly here. The affordable housing facility officially began taking clients in May, and CHS will celebrate Safe Passage’s grand opening on Aug. 27, with talks by local elected officials and formerly homeless youth. [JL]

DIDN’T DO IT… In a legal response filed July 17, attorneys for the city of Carmel-by-the-Sea denied all allegations by Human Resources Manager Jane Miller regarding the conduct of City Administrator Rich Guillen. They also rejected Miller’s entitlement to any damages sought in her complaint, instead asking the court to grant the city full repayment of attorneys’ fees and other costs related to the lawsuit. Miller’s June 17 complaint alleges City Administrator Rich Guillen had innapropriate relationships with former community services director Christie Miller and current City Clerk/Assistant City Manager Heidi Burch, and that Guillen discriminated against her because of her age and gender. Guillen is still on the job, and city officials including Mayor Sue McCloud are not commenting on the case. The first court hearing is set for December. [KA]