From previous letters in this space, readers may be aware of ill-conceived plans for a widely unpopular housing project here in Los Alamos. It involves as many as 13 dwellings on a relatively small plot with poor road access and traffic hazards. Sacramento is requiring our county to add 25,000 new housing units this decade. […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
We are not allies on immigration
An article featured in the Sun stated that U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal recently visited a border facility that temporarily housed unaccompanied minors (“Carbajal says border facilities are improving, but work remains,” April 1). If he is so concerned with the safety and welfare of these illegal immigrants, mostly children, why doesn’t he sponsor a few […]
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Jordan Cunningham mocks COVID-19 restrictions
Editor’s note: Since the writing of this commentary, the California Department of Public Health updated its youth sports guidance to allow more spectators (see Political Watch). Some of our friends are still grieving the loss of their loved ones. Some are still trying to recover from the virus. A dear friend of mine is still […]
Posted inOpinion
Temper that tantrum
While Los Alamos, Goleta, Isla Vista, Carpinteria, and Santa Ynez all know what could potentially be coming their way when it comes to recreational cannabis retail, Orcutt will have to wait until at least May 21. Why? A capitalistic temper tantrum. The Natural Healing Center—the totally non-controversial cannabis company that purchased the building that once […]
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Trucker charged for oil spill, first of many if Exxon project approved
Last year an oil tanker crashed on Highway 166 and spilled 4,533 gallons of oil into the Cuyama River. Someone certainly needs to be held accountable for this disaster, but is blame only to be placed on the truck driver who was charged? What about the fossil fuel company that decided to transport crude oil […]
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Nature, not humans, rules the Western snowy plover population
More than 25 years ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) declared the Western snowy plover a threatened species and afforded “protections” that included nature establishing a sustained plover population of 400 adult birds on three Vandenberg Air Force Base beaches. Apparently the science didn’t support this conclusion then and still doesn’t. In doing […]
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NIMBY alert
Whenever there is a development project, you know they’ll be there. Hitch in their giddy-up, all discombobulated over housing—especially higher density housing. The NIMBY opposition is predictable. I can make the arguments for them. They don’t even need to waste their breath telling the world. We already know! Don’t you realize that there will be […]
Posted inOpinion
Stop dangerous drilling
More than 7 million Californians live within 1 mile of an oil or gas well. Of those, 362,000 live in Santa Barbara County, the majority in low-income communities or communities of color. Living near oil and gas wells is linked with an increased risk of cancer, asthma, high-risk pregnancies and learning disabilities in children, as […]
Posted inOpinion
No more trucking!
Last year, on the first day of spring, an oil tanker truck crashed on Highway 166 east of Santa Maria, spilling 6,700 gallons of crude oil and fuel into the Cuyama River. The driver was speeding and is finally being prosecuted by the Santa Barbara County district attorney. ExxonMobil recently revived plans to send 70 […]
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Let’s take real steps to disrupt racist rhetoric and narratives by educating ourselves and inserting our voices
Born and raised in the United States, I have never pledged allegiance to any other flag but ours. This country is my home. I am that person who sings patriotic songs on road trips, and if we’re driving together, there is a high likelihood that, at some point, our windows will be down, and we’ll […]
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Easy target
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley is sure keeping environmental polluters in check! She’s saving the world, one working man at a time by throwing the book at people who drive too fast on Highway 166. Everyone, be wary! Actually, Dudley’s only got her eagle eyes on one guy—the driver of a tanker truck […]
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Should more ag land be sacrificed for the proposed Bailey Avenue annexation?
Extending the boundaries of the city of Lompoc west to Bailey Avenue has been the dream of politicians, some property owners, and developers for several decades. But there are two opposing arguments, one supporting and another objecting to westward expansion of the city. Supporters of an annexation point out that going back over 50 years, […]
