I stand behind Ricardo Valencia 100 percent in his run for District 5 county supervisor. I will vote for Mr. Valencia because he is a leader and not a politician. He is honest and not owned by the big wheelers and dealers in the Santa Maria Valley. When elected, he will be responsible only to […]
Gale McNeeley, Santa Maria
Posted inOpinion
Speak out now against our endless wars
For two years I have stood on the corner of Broadway and Main with a group of good people on Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m., protesting America’s dangerous and illegal military aggressions around the world. We hold signs saying, “War is Not the Answer,” “Stop the Bombing” and “No Hate, No Bombs.” My sign, […]
Posted inOpinion
We’re at risk of more than mutual destruction
Some militarists still claim that the country that has the greatest nuclear arsenal holds the best cards in the game of “mutual destruction.” “It has kept America and Russia from starting a nuclear war for 60 years,” they say. “Why change the equation?” They refuse to look at today’s total nuclear landscape and consider alternatives. […]
Posted inOpinion
Ricardo Valencia is best for supervisor
I’ve studied all the candidates running for Steve Lavagnino’s seat on the Board of Supervisors. I am voting for Ricardo Valencia in the June 2 primary. Ricardo’s campaign is powered by dozens of energetic volunteers, and like Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, he is funded by hundreds of small donations […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s time to stand up to the bully
Like a big, out-of-control bully, America strides across the world, making enemies wherever it goes, acting as if there will be no consequences. Both our president and our country are behaving like spoiled children, demanding whatever they want and giving nothing in return. They claim the world is theirs by divine right, and the president’s […]
Posted inOpinion
PCPA’s current show, Songs for Nobodies, is unforgettable
I have worked in the theater for 55 years and have never experienced a more moving performance than the one given by Bethany Thomas in PCPA’s current production of Songs for Nobodies. In this show, Miss Thomas plays Judy Garland, Edith Piaf, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, and Maria Callas. She also brings to life five […]
Posted inOpinion
An alternative to war
“Now, therefore, I, Harry S. Truman, president of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the cessation of hostilities of World War II, effective 12 o’clock noon, Dec. 31, 1946.” I was a little more than 10 months old when President Truman proclaimed an end to war and the beginning of what the world […]
Posted inOpinion
Vote Karamitsos for council
Dr. Carol Karamitsos will be a great member of the Santa Maria City Council. She brings to this office a lifetime of passion for helping families as their doctor, and 16 years of work on the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board. Like her father, Dr. John Karamitsos, she has birthed hundreds of […]
Posted inOpinion
Where will the water come from?
It is not fair to the taxpayers of Santa Maria for our City Council and Planning Commission to give the developer of the recently approved housing on the site of the old Fallas property in Town Center West $1.25 million in incentives, when he will make millions on this project without taking money out of […]
Posted inOpinion
Democracy is dead in Santa Maria, ‘Waterfield Worm’ lives on in the city’s districts
The leaders of our City Council do not listen to the people of Santa Maria. Everyone who spoke to the council on the re-creation of our voting districts supported a change to four clear quadrants, so we could easily know our district and council person. Alice Patino and Etta Waterfield voted “no.” The mayor asked […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s not too late for Santa Maria leaders to save homelessness project
It saddens me to see some members of the City Council reject funding from the county to house the homeless. They complain about riverbed encampments, then refuse money that could house people who live there. Around the country, cities have found that housing the homeless is key to their success as people. Once housed they […]
Posted inOpinion
Officials must wear masks too
The Police Department held a public meeting at the Minami Center last Monday evening, Sept. 20. There are signs on both front doors saying that anyone who enters any public building must wear a mask. Everyone in attendance did wear a mask over their nose and mouth, except for Councilperson Etta Waterfield. She sat among […]
