In response to the Canary from the April 6 edition (āNo place for hateā): āThe whole public school system gets at least two weeks off school for a Christian holiday … but paint a crosswalk rainbow colors, and now thereās an ideology problemā should not be used to make the Canaryās case against Jesse Taylor […]
Letters To The Editor
Amtrak must check its priorities
On April 2, I rode Amtrak train No. 777 from LA Union Station to Grover Beach. It was overbooked and overcrowded, holding some 400 passengers. The result was standing room only in both coach and business class. All aisles and stairways were blocked. Conductors could not pass along the train. Discharge of passengers at stops […]
Support the Dana Reserve development
As a local business owner in our community, I am deeply concerned about the lack of affordable housing options for our workforce. Many of my employees struggle to find affordable housing near our business, which not only affects their quality of life but also impacts our businessās ability to attract and retain talent. There is […]
Stop playing chicken with the debt ceiling
Since Republicans took over House leadership, theyāve focused on settling political scores but made no serious effort to do the job. Instead, they are taking us to the brinkārefusing to pay the nationās bills, playing chicken with the debt ceiling, risking a default that threatens the American economy. And for what? More tax breaks for […]
Solvang didn’t show Pride prejudice
I hope our little yellow dicky fluffer didn’t injure her spine bending over backwards trying to demonstrate that there’s no prejudice here (“Policy prattlers,” March 23). I don’t think the Solvang City Council demonstrated prejudice concerning overt displays of Pride colors and banners. I think it was a feeling of caution, as more permissive displays […]
Santa Maria: Stop the gobble-gobble
The citizens of Orcutt are fed up with the actions of Santa Maria as they attempt to annex the Richards Ranch property into the city. It is located next to Highway 135 and Union Valley Parkway. The Parkway already has significant traffic. If approved, traffic will increase by 20,780 trips per day creating more unwanted […]
An open letter to landlords and apartment managers
With homelessness in America spiraling out of control and homeowners and apartment managers able to rent out properties at obscenely high rates, you are in effect causing the homeless crisis. Nobody can criticize any of you individually because supply and demand is the main reason for the crisis. There simply isn’t enough affordable housing to […]
‘Who’s zooming who?’
I never understood the exact meaning of that Aretha Franklin song title, but the lyrics imply a lack of trust. I just finished reading an investor newsletter explaining why some of my investments are not living up to my expectations. I have holdings in some natural gas companies, expecting a cold winter would boost demand. […]
Americans’ shortsighted consumerism is sickening
Can it be true that America’s sunshine patriots are wavering in their support of the Ukrainian people’s valiant struggle against Putin’s invasion of their country? Does “long-term COVID” include the loss of one’s spine? “Live free or die” is just a motto here, but it is being put to action in Ukraine. These same Americans […]
Thanks, ‘Sun’ and ‘New Times,’ for keeping us informed!
I appreciate your continuing to deliver the New Times as well as the Santa Maria Sun and the Santa Ynez paper to the Village Market in Vandenberg Village. It is good to keep up with southern San Luis Obispo County activities. Once the new Village Inn reopens, please consider including them as well. I particularly […]
Better planning at no cost
County Planning and Development is tasked with smoothing the way for thousands of new homes. Especially in unincorporated towns, which have little say in their own affairs, the process could be improved. A single green-lighted development in a small town like Los Alamos could increase its population by 10 percent or more. That has a […]
Guadalupe is overdue for a real levee
Thank you for praising the Guadalupe community for coming together on the 9th and 10th of January to help the flooded-out people (“The little town that could,” Jan. 19). Since this flooding occurs periodically (as the mayor said, four times in 30 years) it should behoove the county, the state, and the feds to get […]

