At this point, can we all agree that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is shady? ICE officers have been caught lying as part of court cases—alleging hostile behavior from detainees as a way of justifying the outsized force they use during “enforcement operations.” Nobody believes you anymore, ICE. Anyone who’s watched a video of one […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Will elected officials abide by the oath they take?
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters face a serious political dilemma: Who should we support and will they agree to uphold their oath of office—which is “a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one’s future action or behavior”—and “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Lately many well-organized protests have occurred throughout […]
Posted inOpinion
A word about elections
Elections are an opportunity to consider the future of our community and the qualifications and qualities we value in those entrusted with representing it. The decisions we make, the trust we build, and the standards we uphold continue to shape our city long after the election is over. Throughout my years of service to Pismo […]
Posted inOpinion
The federal law enforcement is doing its job
A recent article about the Santa Maria City Council meeting where protesters were questioning why the city didn’t do more to counter ICE activities (“Santa Maria delays hearing ‘to ensure safety’ of City Council,” Oct. 15) highlighted the ignorance of some of these groups. The Constitution places immigration enforcement under the federal government, not the […]
Posted inOpinion
Vote Donna Kandel to represent Nipomo on Lucia Mar’s board
On Nov. 3, Nipomo voters have an outstanding choice for the Lucia Mar Unified school board of trustees, Area 7. Donna Kandel has deep roots in the community. She raised her family, graduated from Allan Hancock College and Cal Poly and taught math at Nipomo High School for many years. She is very experienced with […]
Posted inOpinion
Lucky duckies
Water shutoffs are coming, Guadalupe! Total unpaid water bills in the city have apparently reached $250,000, and it’s time to bring the hammer down, according to city staff. This is a problem that’s years in the making, according to City Administrator David Trujillo. Guadalupe’s stayed at a steady average of shutting off the water for […]
Posted inOpinion
County supervisors are to blame for policy problems behind high gas prices
Santa Barbara County supervisors did their part to make fuels more expensive when they passed an ordinance to ban new onshore oil and gas drilling in the county on Sept. 15. You can say that when the supes took this action, they didn’t miss the elephant in the room, but the foreign oil tanker. As […]
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Don’t let the government restrict hand-imports of prescription drugs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a dangerous new rule that was set to begin Oct. 22 that will threaten the healthcare of millions of Americans. The rule, “Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments,” will effectively end Americans’ ability to personally import their prescription medicines. CBP extended the date to […]
Posted inOpinion
Is gun violence a necessary cost of preventing tyranny?
Another school shooting, and it’s off the news cycle in 24 hours. Columbine and Sandy Hook shocked our conscience and were discussed for years. Have we accepted that losing children to gun violence is a necessary cost to prevent tyranny? Then why are gun advocates supporting a tyrant with insurrection and extrajudicial killings of U.S. […]
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ICEd out
Should someone who was caught lying to police and pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter after blaming the accident on another person be able to run for office? No. But, legally, yes. Yes, they can if the charge they pleaded guilty to is only a misdemeanor. And that’s exactly what’s happening in one of the races […]
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Your vote is your influence—it’s the most important part of the election
Article 26 of the U.S. Constitution says, “The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of age.” In California, “you must be a United States citizen and a resident […]
Posted inOpinion
Ricardo Valencia will best represent the county’s 5th District
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 […]
