Taylor Saugstad

President Trump does not like windmills. In December, his Department of the Interior issued stop-work orders for five offshore windfarms along the Atlantic coast, putting thousands of workers out of a job just days before Christmas. Thankfully, a little more than a month later, federal judges ordered all the projects to move forward, putting workers […]

Regarding the “Learn to share” opinion piece (March 5), I agree with the thought, “You need to learn to share with those who have just as much right to the beach as you do.” In that spirit, I propose “vehicle-free beach days” be implemented for Oceano residents and others who would like to enjoy the […]

For those of us who dream of a future where fossil fuels are something only our grandparents can remember, the administration’s recent climate rollbacks have been disappointing, to put it mildly. Overturning the EPA’s endangerment finding was only the latest blow to protecting the climate for our children. But regardless of what happens in Washington, […]

We have lived over half a century in this lovely idyllic locale and through many uncertain and traumatic events and times. However, none compare to what is happening at this moment in time—none! To say that we are living in an unprecedented time cannot be overstated or over-emphasized. As such, our individual and collective responses […]

“It made me really sad,” Brisa, an 11th grader and daughter of immigrant farmworkers, said. “I had a feeling they weren’t going to vote for this because they are privileged, but I had a little bit of hope because I wanted them to help with this situation.”  Brisa, like many youth in Santa Maria, has […]

On Tuesday, Feb. 3, I attended the Santa Maria City Council meeting, excited to hear how my city officials would respond to the violent ICE presence harming my community. Instead, everyone, including myself, left feeling frustrated, unheard, and saddened by how quickly the issue was glanced through, despite many of us going to voice real […]

At the Feb. 3 City Council meeting, a resolution expressing support for immigrant residents was brought forward and approved. I could not support it, not because I oppose standing with immigrant families, but because what unfolded during council’s discussion revealed how easily words of support can be undermined by harmful rhetoric and a refusal to […]

Have you ever asked yourself, “If I had been alive during the Holocaust, what would I have done? If I had been alive during slavery, what would I have done? If I had been alive during the battle for equal rights for all Americans, what would I have done?”  Well, we each are doing it […]

Many people now turn to therapy not only for treatment, but for guidance, reassurance, and belonging. Therapy has become a massive industry. Some people truly need professional care. But many others are using therapists to replace relationships that once existed elsewhere. This concept is outlined in detail in Freya India’s Jan. 8 blog post, “Therapists […]