At least one person made a salient point at a recent Santa Barbara County ad-hoc committee meeting about farmworker conditions, specifically when it comes to the concept of implementing a $26 minimum wage for farmworkers in the county. “Say I’m Driscoll’s. I could buy from Santa Barbara County, I could buy from our neighboring counties, […]
Opinion
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Democrats are paying now for their 2020 deal with the devil
Many Democrats may not realize that their loss in 2024 was sealed by two Faustian bargains that they struck in 2020 to win that election. A “Faustian bargain” is, in its broadest sense, the making of a deal that promises immediate rewards, but at a painful cost that must be paid later. Going into the […]
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Congressman Carbajal should not obstruct Trump’s agenda
Salud Carbajal sent out a letter to his constituents (that’s us the people) making it clear he intends to continue to obstruct President Trump’s agenda. Clearly, he can’t appreciate how soundly a majority of the people rejected the Democrat agenda. I encourage everyone send a response similar to the response I sent to him: I […]
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Don’t forget about history
The “America must do all it can to prevent nuclear war in the Middle East” (Oct. 10) author assumes Jews arrived in the Middle East in 1947. No mention is made of the Jewish kingdoms of Judea and Samaria 2,000 years ago. Yes, this is before the existence of British Palestine in the 19th century. […]
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Legal shenanigans
Protecting seniors means discriminating against everyone else, according to Nick Ubaldi with Harmony Communities, the company that’s now managing Del Cielo Mobile Estates—the once 55-and-older mobile home park in Orcutt. I say once because Ubaldi said it is no longer. Not only is it now an all-ages community, Ubaldi said in a statement, the park […]
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The election is over, now can we all just get along?
The 2024 general election is over; some candidates won and others didn’t. Some of the several measures on the ballot passed and others didn’t. The political signs are almost all gone and so are the spam calls urging your support for another two years. The months leading up to an election are interesting to watch; […]
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SLO County should reconsider Dana Reserve
On Nov. 14 at 9 a.m., at the Board of Supervisors chambers, the San Luis Obispo Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) was scheduled to consider annexation of the Dana Reserve project. Prior county decisions have justified overriding 19 unmitigable impacts, the largest number in county history. Below are four key reasons to reconsider approving the […]
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Calm down!
By the time you read this, you’ll either be crying, laughing, curled up in the fetal position, clapping, or losing your mind. It really depends on who wins and who you voted for in the presidential election. I don’t know what’s going on yet, because it’s 3:30 p.m. on Election Day and we’re about to […]
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The Santa Ynez Valley needs responsible development, not to cater to out-of-town developers
The Santa Ynez Valley has long captivated residents and visitors alike with its stunning landscapes and vibrant community spirit. However, as we face an onslaught of development projects, the need for a critical examination of these changes is more pressing than ever. While growth can be beneficial, we must be wary of the motivations behind […]
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More cities should do what Ojai just did, and outlaw ‘torture breeding’
Bravo to Ojai for adopting a groundbreaking new law—an ordinance protecting companion animals from unethical breeding—making it the first U.S. city to ban “torture breeding.” This cruel practice involves intentionally breeding animals to have distorted physical features—such as grotesquely flattened faces and disproportionately long spines—which lead to a lifetime of suffering. Ojai’s law will […]
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Jerri Thiel has a proven track record of serving on the Lompoc school board
Jerri Thiel is competing for reelection to the Lompoc Unified School District (LUSD) board of trustees for District 1. In her current term she has a credible voting record and has proven to be an able representative for her constituents and everyone else in the entire school district. Back in 2017, I wrote this Noozhawk […]
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Alice Patino is good for Santa Maria
Mayor Alice Patino has been serving the community of Santa Maria since 2000. As a city official for 24 years, she has a proven track record of supporting public safety. Under her leadership, backing, and approval, Mayor Patino has facilitated adding two new fire stations, relocating a fire station, and adding a second fully staffed […]
