Can you hear that? It’s the silence created by the sudden halt of lying, accusatory statements being flung far and wide by political candidates. Because it’s over! Now it’s all about popping a couple of ibuprofen, getting some much-needed rest, and trying to recover from the post-election hangover that comes after having endured months of political circus antics. Now the elected candidates (regardless of whether it was your candidate of choice) can get to work fulfilling all those promises of making the community a more awesome place to live. 

Right now we could really use whoever promised to create more jobs, as the holidays approach and several hundred workers get freshly inked pink slips. 

Zodiac Seat Shells began laying off workers earlier this year, and will continue with the layoffs in phases through next year, as the Sun has reported in recent months. Of course Zodiac insists the layoffs aren’t about closing its Santa Maria facility. (Of course not. That plant in Mexico? Oh that little thing? That’s nothing.)

And those workers getting notices? The majority of them are temporary workers, according to Zodiac. Because that makes it all better, right? 

When a Sun reporter talked to him earlier this year, Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Glenn Morris said he’d look into the situation—and he has stepped in and led efforts to help lead the workers to other places of employment. 

Maybe they can retrain for a career in a greener—and potentially lucrative industry—of cannabis. Things are always political around here, and when you want political clout you form a posse. The politically correct term is a council or a committee, but in essence it’s a bunch of like-minded people getting together and pooling their collective talents to effect change. Like the local cannabis farmers and business owners who recently announced the formation of the Cannabis Business Council of Santa Barbara County. The group came together in anticipation of the passage of Proposition 64, making recreational marijuana legal in the state. The council will work with local governments to regulate the cannabis industry. Whatever your thoughts on the herb, it’s not an issue that’s going to blow away. That’s why someone needed to step up and form a posse representing cannabis interests that can work with local government interests to hash out regulations in the best interest of the county. Whatever those might be. 

Speaking of forming a posse, there is yet another in the Santa Ynez Valley. At a press conference, (that we were not invited to) the Santa Ynez Valley Coalition announced its formation in opposition of the Santa Ynez Valley Band of Chumash Indians’ efforts to move its land, called Camp 4, into its reservation. They comprise the Santa Ynez Valley Concerned Citizens, No More Slots, the Santa Ynez Valley Alliance, and the Women’s Environmental Watch

Don’t let my general sarcastic talk of posse formation fool you, I like that these groups have come together to support a mutual concern. If there’s one thing we shouldn’t forget from this most recent election it’s that everyone deserves a voice. 

The Canary is thankful that she’s allowed to sing. Send comments to [email protected].

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