Rallies both for and against a proposed fracking ban in Santa Barbara County hit the streets of Santa Maria Wednesday around lunchtime.
The Yes on Measure P supporters initiated the effort to rally North County voters. The No on Measure P side got wind of it and staged their own counter demonstration.
Representatives from both sides tell KCBX the interactions were civil. They say anywhere between 70 and 100 people participated with more more people showing up for the yes side.
Measure P is designed to ban new drilling sites from using high-intensity oil extraction methods--including fracking, acidizing, and steam injection on unincorporated Santa Barbara County land.
The issue has become one of the most expensive political campaigns in Central Coast history with the oil and gas industry contributing millions of dollars to block the measure from passing.
