During Bruce Porter’s previous attempt to become a Santa Barbara County supervisor, I attended some of his public events. They were tightly controlled appearances where his credentials were recited but he took few questions. His campaign office does not return phone calls. And just last week, Mr. Porter was the only candidate who chose not […]
Letters To The Editor
Bruce Porter’s got what it takes
I am enthusiastically endorsing Bruce Porter for 3rd District supervisor. Bruce has a wealth of important experience from his years as colonel in the Army Corps of Engineers. This includes road construction, bridge building, water conservation, oil spill cleanup (think Kuwaiti oil disaster), and all aspects of practical infrastructure that are so important to the […]
What is environmental justice?
Environmental justice is one of those things most readily understood, and keenly felt, in its absence. If you’re unsure as to the meaning of “environmental justice” and have never felt it, you could also ask the residents of Oceano who can’t afford to live anywhere else, can’t safely use their beach, and face a future […]
Dear Salud Carbajal
I was very sorry to read you voted for impeachment, but not surprised. You have handed the Republicans a major victory in November 2020. The president is not going to be removed from office via impeachment. The Senate will never vote to impeach him. In 11 months, the American voters will decide Donald Trump’s fate, […]
The public can be engaged
Ron Fink’s lament about a disinterested public (“Time for an overhaul,” Jan. 2) isn’t so much about civic disinterest as it is about the changing methods of attracting attention. Most of it has evolved to the # awareness, but even that has morphed to, “OK I passed on a #, so I’m good, did my […]
We need civil discourse
It is with sadness that I feel the need to respond to the letter “Dear Adam Shiff and all Democrats” (Dec. 26). The writer seems to be a big Trump fan and disagrees with impeachment, but he also appears to not be prepared to admit that perhaps the Dems (and many citizens) feel that Trump […]
Thoughts on climate change
Have we seen global warming in Santa Maria? Yes, we have. I remember yearly frosts on the lawn in the mornings after a below-freezing night. In previous years, I’ve lost plants to freezing weather. But it hasn’t happened in years. That could be a short-time anomaly, but likely it’s the world warming, bit by bit. […]
Petty and fascist politics in Oceano
On Dec. 11, 2019, the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) removed and barred one of its board directors, Cynthia Replogle, from all present and future voting and non-voting committees with an aggressive, hurried, and single motion. Directors Karen White and Shirley Gibson claim that Replogle spoke publicly against board policy and presented a divided board […]
Dear Adam Schiff and all Democrats
Sir, on more than one occasion you stated you had proof the president had colluded with the Russians to win the 2016 election. Either you have the proof or you lied. Which is it? Show us the proof. You shift with the wind looking for any case you might manufacture against him. What have you […]
Guadalupe’s gentrification is at hand
In response to: “After years of stalled growth, the city of Guadalupe is rapidly adding homes and inching toward future commercial development” (“Building up,” Dec. 5). As a longtime Central Coast resident, I would suggest editing the title of this piece to read: After years of quiet preservation, the city of Guadalupe is rapidly adding […]
Using a single source of energy is impractical, shortsighted
You can laugh at the guy who wears a belt and suspenders, but it has been a practice to multi-source critical components for the military, aerospace, and anything that involves security, defense, and infrastructure. Now that electrical blackouts are to be considered the new normal, consumers are being enticed to get their own backup power […]
Dear Gov. Gavin Newsom
What is your response to out of control fire caused by global warming? It is to allow closure of our largest carbon-free generator, Diablo Canyon Power Plant. We see your support of more burning of more fossil fuel—natural gas. We see no protection of the people, even in this climate emergency. Diablo Canyon has a […]

