Some punishments go too far. Like the prison sentences our justice system once assigned to criminal offenders caught with marijuana thanks to the “war on drugs.” They were aggressive. And aggressive is exactly how the Central Coast Youth Football League is being when it comes to the Orcutt Youth Football League. It’s confusing, but the […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Democrats are taking down our once golden state bit by bit
For decades California has had a single political party running the show in Sacramento; this had led to a steady decay in education, infrastructure, and public safety; a massive growth in the homeless population; outrageous cost for housing; and ineffective use of taxpayer dollars. Two recent actions by our elected officials point out how bit […]
Posted inLetters To The Editor
Choosing our Earth
On July 19, the world lost a visionary teacher, scholar, and beloved friend: Joanna Macy (1929-2025). A guiding light in systems thinking, deep ecology, and Buddhist philosophy, Joanna touched countless lives with her intellect, her heart, and her unwavering commitment to life on Earth. On Aug. 15, 2025, Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize formalized an agreement […]
Posted inOpinion
Central Coast has an affordable-housing lockout, not a market
The Central Coast doesn’t have a housing shortage—we have an affordability shortage (“The Central Coast desperately needs to build its way out of the housing crisis,” Aug. 14). A quick look at today’s housing market tells the real story. On Aug. 4, 2025, Zillow showed 1,407 homes and lots priced over $1 million in our […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s time for Americans to speak truth to power
On Aug. 25 Israel attacked Nasser Medical Complex, the largest health facility in southern Gaza, and murdered 20 innocent people. They used what is called a “double tap.” First they attacked the fourth floor stairway of the hospital with a drone strike, killing two and injuring dozens. The attack gathered rescuers, aid workers, doctors, and […]
Posted inOpinion
Crossy road
Happy Pedestrian Safety Month! Did you know that was a thing? I didn’t. But I’m not a pedestrian. Well, this winged wanderer just got another reason to be glad I’m neither a driver nor a walker. Local police are starting to enforce a new law this month, one that went into effect in January. The […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s up to you to be informed
We have received numerous questions from community members asking where the League of Women Voters stands on Proposition 50, the mid-cycle redistricting measure on the Nov. 4 special election ballot. The League of Women Voters of California will not take a position on Proposition 50. Voters may have received a mailer from “Protect Voters First” […]
Posted inOpinion
PCPA’s current show, Songs for Nobodies, is unforgettable
I have worked in the theater for 55 years and have never experienced a more moving performance than the one given by Bethany Thomas in PCPA’s current production of Songs for Nobodies. In this show, Miss Thomas plays Judy Garland, Edith Piaf, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, and Maria Callas. She also brings to life five […]
Posted inOpinion
Shifting away from fossil fuels isn’t a good idea for the county or the state
Is phasing out fossil fuels a good or even feasible idea? This is a question that none of the so-called “experts” who want to stop this county and eventually the entire nation from using this readily available resource have considered. You know who they are, the “what if” folks that are well funded by the […]
Posted inOpinion
Tri-tip tradition
Tri-tip sandwiches are the bread and barbecue sauce (or salsa) of fundraising in the Santa Maria Valley. Need to raise money for a school basketball trip? Tri-tip barbecue! Need some funds for soccer uniforms? Tri-tip barbecue! Senior center field trip? Barbecue. Nonprofit low on dollars? Barbecue. Santa Barbara County just made it a lot harder […]
Posted inOpinion
Lompoc’s luck
How many times has the city of Lompoc been denied by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of Santa Barbara County? I’m not sure, but the city’s efforts to annex some of the land near Bailey Avenue out of the county have met with roadblock after roadblock. For a quarter of a century, the city […]
Posted inOpinion
A fabricated “emergency” aims to reduce environmental protections
Do you know about the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule? It prioritizes the health and resilience of ecosystems on public lands. The rule, legally binding on the actions and decisions of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), requires them to “protect intact landscapes, restore degraded habitat, and make informed management decisions based on science and […]