Scott Fina

The Santa Maria City Council recently approved a Disposition and Development Agreement with Vernon Property Group, for a revitalization project at Main Street and Broadway. The project involves the creation of new commercial space and 88 rental apartments, a majority to be leased at market rate. It also involves $1.25 million in financial incentives from […]

I was on vacation walking down a wooded road in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania on July 20, 2019, 50 years to the day after the first moon walk in 1969. I was remembering seeing Neil Armstrong on TV as he descended the ladder of the lunar landing module when I was 13 years old. […]

Cities are difficult to govern. They are not empowered, protected, or even recognized by the U.S. Constitution. They cannot print money or set interest rates. They cannot control the people and businesses that move into them, or move out. They sit between the rock and hard place of raising enough tax revenue to cover the […]

The rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach who were trapped deep in a cave in Mae Sai, Thailand, by flooding from monsoon rains in late June captured worldwide attention.   “Miraculous!” was the common exclamation made in response to the news when the last boy and coach were escorted out of the cave. […]

Imagine walking into a doctor’s office with a glaring, malignant growth on your face. He responds: “Oh, I can remove that!” Then he does, and sends you home without further attention. Would you be satisfied? Consider yourself healed? Or would you sense confusion between the symptom of your illness and its cause? Therein lies an […]

Immigrants are an irreplaceable source of labor for the United States. They are essential for many regional economies, and the support of our aging society over the long term. Immigrants bring vitality and ingenuity to our communities. Despite common belief, they are less likely to commit crimes than native-born residents. These are readily supported findings. […]

I’ve had the opportunity to vote for presidential candidates in 11 general elections. During this time, my political views shifted from right to left, as a young man who enlisted in the U.S. Marines, but evolved into a pacifist as an aged one. This was a twisted journey with a disproportionate share of regrets and […]

My residence is located near County Supervisor Peter Adam’s residence in Orcutt. We live close enough to hear the same coyotes howling at night. I also share some background with Mr. Adam. Yet, our views are worlds apart. My first job was stacking hay in a barn down the road from where I lived when […]

In remarks at a public hearing on the coordination of county law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 4th District Supervisor Peter Adam referred to an “utter breakdown of the rule of law” in describing illegal immigration in the U.S. Supervisior Adam also asserted that “people shouldn’t be here without permission, that is, illegally.” […]