Two longtime advocacy groups focused on immigration rights, affordable housing, and cheap mass transit have announced a merger long in the works. CAUSE, a Ventura-based grassroots organization, will be merging with PUEBLO, rooted in Santa Barbara. In recent years, PUEBLO has found itself struggling economically and closed its South Coast offices last year. In light of the merger, the newly fused entity will reopen offices in downtown Santa Barbara. Both organizations emerged out of parallel campaigns in 2001 to establish living wage ordinances in their respective communities.
