The Santa Barbara County grand jury released a report on June 29 about its investigation into Alexander Ricardo Braid’s suicide while in a Santa Barbara County Jail cell last year. In its report, the grand jury lists nine findings and recommendations, most of which were related to jail personnel’s inability to spot Braid’s history with […]
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Spotlight on: Santa Maria Public Library Briana Martenies, library management analyst
For the first time in decades, the Santa Maria Public Library will soon be open for at least a few hours every day of the week. At a recent meeting, City Council approved the library’s hiring of two librarians and six additional support staff positions, which will give the library the staffing it needs to […]
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Five dead after shooting, explosion in mobile home park
An ongoing dispute at a mobile home park on the north side of Santa Maria led to a shooting and subsequent explosion on June 21. Investigators believe Claude Adams shot and killed Kurt Bracke and Richard Hanen near the clubhouse at Casa Grande Mobile Estates over a feud that resulted in Adams’ pending eviction from […]
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Lompoc passes budget with cuts, talks sales tax increase
After several months of meetings and contentious conversations, Lompoc City Council approved the city’s 2019-21 biennial budget, which includes numerous cuts to cover a more than $3 million deficit. Throughout this budget process, a debate has centered on whether the city should cover this deficit through a sales tax increase or by cutting expenses. City […]
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Spotlight on: Santa Maria Valley Humane Society
Despite these gloomy days, it’s supposedly the beginning of summer, which for a lot of people on the Central Coast means sunshine, warm temperatures, and days spent at the beach. However, to animal shelters and other organizations, the onset of summer means the beginning of kitten season. As adorable as that may sound, it can […]
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County supervisors consider tightening cannabis amendments
Commercial cannabis growers in Santa Barbara County may have to abide by more stringent policies if supervisors approve two changes at an upcoming meeting. The July 9 hearing will take place more than a year after the county approved its existing commercial cannabis ordinances. The two amendments would increase the number of people who are […]
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Supervisors approve first phase of new homeless plan
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved the first phase of a community action plan focused on homelessness at its June 18 meeting. Deputy Director of Housing and Community Development Dinah Lockhart presented the board with the first phase of the plan, which was developed from October 2018 to January 2019 with input from […]
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County deferred maintenance backlog continues to grow
In its most recent budget, Santa Barbara County increased funding for its deferred maintenance backlog, however, it’s not enough to keep pace with the backlog’s growth. The county Board of Supervisors approved the 2019-20 budget at a meeting on June 11, which included no service level reductions for the first time in years, county […]
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Local jurisdictions oppose plan to restore endangered trout population, raise water rights concerns
An attempt to restore the population of endangered Southern California steelhead trout living in the Santa Ynez River is being opposed by some jurisdictions that rely on the river and Cachuma Lake for their water supply. The number of trout, which travel to and from the ocean throughout their lifecycle, in the river began […]
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Open Streets event returning in 2020
Santa Maria residents will have a second opportunity to run, walk, bike, and skate on a portion of Main Street next year when it closes for an Open Streets event in late March. The event’s organizer, Carlos Escobedo, announced the 2020 event during a presentation at the June 4 City Council meeting where he discussed […]
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‘Meaningless vote’ sparks contentious conversation among county supervisors
A purely symbolic vote to support the Green New Deal, proposed federal legislation aimed at limiting climate change, sparked a tense conversation between Santa Barbara County supervisors during a meeting in June. Fourth District Supervisor Peter Adam kicked off the debate with a 20-minute monologue, where he claimed there isn’t consensus among the scientific community […]
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Public opinion split on Cat Canyon aquifer exemption
Hundreds of people filled the Santa Maria Veterans Memorial Building on June 5 to voice their opinion on a proposed aquifer exemption that would expand the area in Cat Canyon where oil companies can build injection wells. Some environmental activists and students pushed back on the proposal during the hearing, while some local ranchers and […]
