Letters To The Editor

Sheriff Brown’s commentary (“When the badge gets tarnished,” June 11) is right to point out the fallacy of generalizing one’s personal experience. It is not appropriate to brand all police based upon the actions of a few, just as it is not right to blame peaceful protesters for the destructive actions of a few.  The […]

The mission statement of CalGEM (California Geologic Energy Management Division) reads as follows, “CalGEM prioritizes protecting public health, safety, and the environment in its oversight of the oil, natural gas, and geothermal industries, while working to help California achieve its climate change and clean energy goals.” Failure to thoroughly deliver on its mission is not […]

I’m a recent transplant from a Northern California agricultural community. I lived in Lompoc last year and just moved to Santa Maria. Although I have no friends or family in the area, I moved here in 2019 for an amazing job offer in cannabis. Let me count the reasons why I say amazing: • Cannabis […]

CalGEM is embarked on an effort to write new rules. These will impact the health and well-being of all who live, work, play, and attend school in Cat Canyon. The creation of a 2,500-foot buffer zone separating oil drilling and infrastructure from homes and schools is crucial. In Cat Canyon one school’s water well is […]

This letter is in response to your paper’s article about the lawsuit filed against the county of Santa Barbara attacking its cannabis regulations (“Battle in the valley,” April 30). We have been farming organic vegetables in Goleta for the last 10 years. As much as we have loved this line of work, it has been […]

I’m writing in response to the article your paper recently published about the so-called “Coalition for Responsible Cannabis” filing a lawsuit against the county of Santa Barbara claiming the county has not provided adequate oversight of the local cannabis farms and businesses that are prospering in our area (“Battle in the valley,” April 30). My […]

The Central Coast Medical Association stands firmly in support of our public health servants and their recommendations throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Based solely on science, these policies are in place to protect the health and safety of our communities as we hasten a return to “normal life.” As health professionals, they are driven by the […]

After months of research, I decided to move to California and build a lab testing business in Lompoc and serve the legal cannabis growers in the Santa Barbara County community. It was surprising to me to read in the Santa Maria Sun that the “Coalition for Responsible Cannabis” is now resorting to suing the county […]

It’s amazing what having so much time on our hands can do for alternative media. Glen and Anna Starkey, movie reviewers for the Sun, discovered a hidden YouTube gem with Planet of the Humans (“Bitter pill,” April 30). Now that we are not able to go to the cinema, YouTube is a Pandora’s Box of, […]

The oil and gas industry fear the continued drop in the prices of their products worsened by the pandemic. They want to ensure our dependency on fossil fuels by taking advantage of this life-threatening virus. While Gov. Gavin Newsom is heroically combating COVID-19, the federal government has been rolling back environmental protections and lifting restrictions […]

I am writing to you today with a heavy heart. My family owns a small business, 34 years in our community. Not a franchise, not a chain. We are a small business. More than 90 percent of our store is dedicated to local purveyors, wineries, farmers, and entrepreneurs. Each day we support our community. We […]

April is the month we celebrate Earth Day. With the COVID-19 health crisis, we realize how critical a healthy and safe environment is for all communities. Many Americans have pulled together to secure safety for themselves and others. This is such a positive example of how our country can make sacrifices to benefit all citizens. […]