Sheds. Homeowners can’t live with ’em and they can’t live without ’em. And in Solvang, regulators seem to be having a hard time with the unintended consequences of a shed regulation situation caused by shed-stirrer and Skytt Mesa resident Kristin Kellner She complained about a neighbor’s shed not following city code guidelines, which eventually put […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Big energy fights solar
The Santa Barbara Planning Commission recently voted to deny ExxonMobil’s proposal to restart offshore drilling and truck oil to Kern County on the dangerous and windy route 166; in March the final decision will be voted on by the Board of Supervisors. Meanwhile, we face another threat to California’s goal of 100 percent clean energy […]
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There are no easy answers to the problem of providing housing for the homeless
Recently the county Board of Supervisors declined $17.9 million in grant funding and then later reinstated part of a request by the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara to purchase an old motel in Santa Maria and operate it as housing for the homeless. In the process, they reserved the right to deny the project at […]
Posted inOpinion
Excuses, excuses
COVID-19’s such a little devil. As of Feb. 1, this thing ain’t over yet, according to the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, which once again extended the indoor mask mandate for yet another month. Community transmission is still considered “high,” the department stated. The county had 4,330 active cases with 108 in the hospital, […]
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Nonprofits stand in solidarity against vandalism of the arts, cultural center
The undersigned arts and cultural organizations from around the Tri-County area are appalled by the recent Jan. 18 vandalism and racist stereotypes against Corazon del Pueblo in Santa Maria. We are writing this on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s holiday and were reminded of this quote of his, “Every man must decide whether he will […]
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Federal legalization is necessary to understand health benefits of cannabis
I just read about the research study from Oregon State University, which found that consuming two cannabinoids (called cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, or CBDA) could prevent the spread of COVID-19. Awesome! But the study falls short. CBG-A and CBD-A are both derived from hemp (i.e., part of the cannabis sativa species, but […]
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It’s not too late for Santa Maria leaders to save homelessness project
It saddens me to see some members of the City Council reject funding from the county to house the homeless. They complain about riverbed encampments, then refuse money that could house people who live there. Around the country, cities have found that housing the homeless is key to their success as people. Once housed they […]
Posted inOpinion
Appropriate politics
In a real shocker of a decision, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors sided with greenhouses in the political war over agriculturally zoned land in the Santa Ynez Valley. Should it be for residential uses only or should agricultural activities still be allowed on agricultural land? Well, according to the Santa Ynez Valley Community […]
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Lompoc’s new city manager hits the ground running with odd priorities and unnecessary proposed changes
The newly appointed city manager isn’t wasting any time establishing his priorities. In the first agenda of his administration, there are five consent calendar items and two public hearing items. One of the public hearing items is to restructure the Human Resources Division and make it a separate city department. In the process, the city […]
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Losing a voice
If the recent candidacy announcements for the Central Coast’s new Assembly districts are any indication of the areas that will feel unrepresented in the future, Santa Maria will be left out. So far, in new Assembly District 37—which together with the 30th District is replacing the district that Republican Assemblymember Jordan “I’m Not Running Again” […]
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Miss Information, aka COVID information
2021 crowned The Queen of COVID, Miss Information. But what information? Was it misinformation when Fauci initially said the Wuhan outbreak was nothing to worry about while Chinese authorities imprisoned residents of Wuhan where outbreaks occurred around a viral studies lab? Was it misinformation when Fauci said masks don’t work, they only give you a […]
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Coastal Commission owes us an explanation
Last March 18, the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to close Pier Avenue in Oceano to vehicle beach access on July 1, 2022, to stop crossings at the Arroyo Grande Creek and to extend the snowy plover exclosure. Last month, a backroom secret agreement was made to undo those conditions and maintain the status quo. […]
