An Arizona public-interest law firm specializing in libertarian-leaning lawsuits has sued the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the county vintners association on behalf of Lompoc winemaker Flying Goat Cellars. The lawsuit charges that the Business Improvement District (BID) that the supervisors approved last February violates the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly guaranteed under the Constitution to Flying Goat owners Norm Yost and Kathleen Griffith. They have objected to the one percent in gross sales that the newly created Santa Barbara County Wine Business Improvement District will take off their top to sustain what was projected to be a $1.5 million marketing campaign proposed by the vintners association to keep Santa Barbara competitive as a wine-tourism destination.
Although the Business Improvement District had been endorsed by 126 wineries — who make up 60 percent of all county wine sales — Griffith and Yost argue they should not be forced to belong to an organization they don’t support and pay fees to sustain a marketing effort they oppose.
“The dollar amount is not relevant,” Griffith said. “Anything is too much. It’s a matter of principle.”…