Posted inOpinion

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 […]

Posted inOpinion

More cities should do what Ojai just did, and outlaw ā€˜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 ā€œtorture breeding.ā€ Ā  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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Get fierce

There’s nothing like the feeling of turning a dream into reality, especially after a long wait. Allan Hancock College is right there, on the threshold of bringing a long-awaited goal to fruition for local students.Ā  For the 12 years he’s been at Hancock’s helm, Kevin Walthers has worked to get a bachelor’s degree offered on […]

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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 […]

Posted inOpinion

Vote Lydia Perez for Lompoc mayor

Everyone recognizes that Lompoc is a community with immense potential. From its beautiful natural surroundings, historical richness, and vibrant cultural life to its agricultural prowess and dedicated residents, Lompoc has all the makings of a thriving city. However, despite these desirable assets, we’ve seen the city struggle with a lack of active leadership on its […]

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Public participants

Wildwood in Solvang is getting wild before it’s even got roots in the ground.Ā  The proposed 100-unit, multi-family, two-story apartment and condo development is running into ye ol’ ā€œwe want development, we just want it to be the right kind of development.ā€ Which is code for ā€œThis development is going to bring in people who […]

Posted inOpinion

Americans love to hate

Nov. 5. It’s coming at us fast.Ā  The divisiveness is dragging us down. I keep hearing that, ā€œour bipartisan billā€; to be perfectly clear, the only bipartisan cooperation that I see is to protect the insider trading that’s going on among our elected officials, both sides being complicit in this. But, I digress.Ā  The election.Ā  […]

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