February 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Commission (CCC). The governing body’s role as planning commission for the 1,100 miles of California coastline was authorized by California voters in November 1972 with passage of Proposition 20. The initiative was launched after efforts to pass coastal protection legislation had been approved in the […]
Opinion
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Bad actors
California’s No. 1 inland oil polluter—aka Greka Oil & Gas, aka HVI Cat Canyon, aka owned by Randeep Grewal—is now on the hook for $65 million for more than 12 oil spills between 2005 and 2010. Oil spills, as in plural, as in multiple spills taking place over and over and over again on the […]
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‘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. […]
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Lompoc community members have ongoing concerns about ‘code enforcement’ and owners’ responsibilities
What is the purpose of a “code enforcement program”? In cities, the legislative body adopts policies and regulations designed to “protect the public,” and the public should be held accountable for compliance. Sometimes these policies can be open to interpretation, thus making enforcement a challenge. For example, the Lompoc Municipal Code says, “Excessive, unnecessary, or […]
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Feast and famine
Are you sick of hearing about snow yet? I hope not, because I’m not sick of talking about it yet. It snowed in Santa Barbara County! And not just on the peaks either. Highway 154 closed and Caltrans had to break out the snow plows. New Cuyama was blanketed in the white stuff. This February […]
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Santa Maria’s downtown revitalization will breathe new life into the city
Downtown redevelopment in Santa Maria is proceeding with very exciting revitalization projects that will be transformative. Three developers are working with the city on projects to bring in new housing, businesses, entertainment, and restaurants, sparking more life to the area. I will summarize the vision, each project, and as always, invite the public to continue […]
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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 […]
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How much does providing shelter to the homeless cost all of us?
Now that the “unsheltered” (homeless people) are being provided with what the homeless advocates call adequate temporary housing, how much is it costing? In Lompoc a few months ago, the city decided to “clean up” some property east of the airport so it could be leased to farmers (previously the homeless had trashed the place […]
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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 […]
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‘Old-World charm’
Modernity isn’t a word anyone would associate with Solvang, and the city’s Design Review Committee would like to keep it that way. The committee, which was revamped a few years ago to allow for more wiggle room when it comes to new building design concepts in the city, was nonplussed with the audacity of a […]
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The oil industry puts its profits ahead of your health, again
On Feb. 3, California’s secretary of state certified that oil companies got enough petition signatures to cancel the state’s oil well health and safety setbacks law until a referendum vote on the Nov. 5, 2024, ballot. Or, as state Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), author of the bill that was going to become a law […]
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Even Steven
Equilibrium. Balance. Equity. These are the things that 2nd District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps is very concerned about when it comes to housing. “How do we achieve an equilibrium of balance for these impacts?” Capps asked county Planning and Development Director Lisa Plowman during her Feb. 14 presentation on the 2023-31 Housing Element. […]
