Broke

On Sunday April 13th, 2025 at 4pm, The Green Film Series will begin at The Marjorie Luke Theatre. 

Broke is the story of the 2015 oil pipeline rupture that spilled 140,000 gallons of crude oil onto the Gaviota Coast. The film highlights the reaction of citizens who came together in protest marches and healing ceremonies, rescued birds and marine mammals, cleaned the oil off our beaches, and demanded more stringent spill prevention and response. The community’s actions stand in stark contrast to the insensitivity of the oil industry and particularly Plains All-American Pipeline, Ltd.

In September 2018, a jury found Plains criminally responsible for the spill, and in May 2018, Plains settled a class action civil suit for $230 million to be paid to fishers, fish processors and property owners. And in 2019, a settlement with state and federal agencies called for payments of $60 million for damages to natural resources, penalties, and clean up costs.

Plains All American Pipeline filed an application in 2019 to replace pipelines 901 and 903 with smaller diameter, uninsulated steel pipelines.  The County of Santa Barbara has not completed environmental impact reports for this application as they are waiting for additional information they requested from Plains. Meanwhile, Plains reported selling the pipeline to Exxon and have approval of a permit from the Santa Barbara Planning Department Director to transfer ownership to Exxon.