Canary

One Buellton motel owner finally made good on a promise he made to the city months ago: He sued them. Farmhouse co-owner Kerry Moriarty is asking a court to nullify an ordinance the city passed earlier this year requiring the long-term housing Moriarty and his fellow co-owners’ have provided for years to revert back to […]

In no surprise to anyone who followed the mildly controversial roll-out of the Santa Barbara County Vintner’s Association running the county’s winery business improvement district (for a small fee, of course), Flying Goat Cellars finally sued the county over the deal. It could have been Stephen Pepe who pulled the trigger—after all, the Clos Pepe […]

Now might be the time for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to take a long hard look at the way St. Joseph High School Principal Erinn Dougherty has managed the Orcutt Catholic school over the past eight years. Dougherty’s on administrative leave pending a decision the archdiocese will make after reviewing what she told students—allegedly—while […]

Is there a way to have a civilized discussion about excrement and urine? The city of Solvang attempted it—but giggles ruled the day. Because you can’t talk about bodily functions with turning into a child. Apparently, it’s legal in that city to do your business in a public space because there aren’t any rules in […]

St. Joseph High School claims that it aims to be a “thoughtful community partner.” But some of its closest neighbors would beg to differ. Especially since softballs have been raining down in their yards, which butt up against the campus’s newest addition: an unpermitted softball field. How nice for the school’s neighbors! They can now […]

Lompoc’s little rebate program for local residents seems to be backfiring.  After the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office charged City Councilmember Steve Bridge with a litany of offenses, including committing fraud on the energy and conservation rebate program applications, the city is taking a closer look at things. As part of the city’s annual […]

Andy Caldwell sure likes to make a big stink about things! His e-blast before the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ April 21 meeting was dramatic.  “HUGE attack on Sheriff Brown and Law and Order at Tomorrow’s BOS MEETING,” the subject line screamed.  “Unfortunately, Chair [4th District Supervisor Bob] Nelson put an item … on […]

How much power does a local government have to change existing uses?  Turns out, local governments think they have a lot of power. They seem to have the power to kick people out of their homes, the power to force property owners to change the use of their properties, the power to kill people’s livelihoods, […]

The most problematic property in Orcutt continues to be a thorn in the side of developer Michael Stoltey, who didn’t get his wish granted by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on April 7.  Supes declined to agree to the proposed tax exchange from the city of Santa Maria for annexing the Richards Ranch […]

What’s happening with our elected officials?  We’ve got one who just pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and one who’s being tried for fraud, forgery, and so much more.  After two years of proclaiming that he did nothing wrong and casting blame on his victim, David Baskett, a former longtime Santa Maria Public Airport District board […]

Testy exchanges between Solvang City Council members over something their mayor built is becoming more common than it should be.  Mayor David Brown’s treasure-hunt style Solvang Passport cellphone app was the topic du jour at yet another City Council meeting and promises to come up again in the future. Apparently, the city doesn’t have other, […]

Everyone wants a piece of the Trump administration these days. In what should be a surprise to no one who’s been following the Sable Offshore Corp. saga, the administration ordered the company to restart that pesky pipeline that leaked oil all over the Gaviota Coast more than 10 years ago.  And Sable did what it […]