• On Dec. 19, 2024, the U.S. Senate approved U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal’s (D-Santa Barbara) bill to rename the post office on E. Battles Road in Santa Maria in honor of Larry Lavagnino, the city’s former mayor and City Council member. “Every community should be so lucky to have a Larry Lavagnino,” Carbajal said in a press release. “A community champion such as Mayor Lavagnino is well deserving of recognition that will stand the tests of time—and I am proud as Santa Maria’s representative in Congress to be the author of this legislation that will help cement that recognition.” The bill passed the House on Dec. 4 and now awaits President Joe Biden’s approval. Lavagnino, who served as Santa Maria’s mayor from 2002 to 2012 and as a council member from 1996 to 2002 said he was humbled by the recognition. According to the press release, during Lavagnino’s time as mayor, the city added a new library, multiple fire stations, a new transit center, and police department building; expanded the city’s wastewater treatment plant; and widened the Santa Maria River bridge and Highway 101. He was also able to help secure more than $46 million in federal funding for Santa Maria River levee improvements. “I know there are many more deserving of this recognition, but I am also very excited for my entire family,” Lavagnino said in the release. “I only wish my mom and dad were around to witness this.” Lavagnino’s son, Steve Lavagnino, currently serves on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.
• President Joe Biden signed the American Relief Act into law on Dec. 21, providing funding for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) disaster loan program. With the funding, the SBA can resume processing financial relief applications from those impacted by Hurricanes Milton and Helene and more than 200 other declared disasters across the country that were waiting in a backlog caused by a lack of funding. “The SBA’s disaster loan program plays a vital role in helping communities recover by filling market gaps and providing resources survivors need to rebuild stronger,” SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman said in the release. More than 21,000 individuals and businesses impacted by the disasters were expected to receive details about their loan offers within 48 hours of Biden’s signature, according to a press release from the SBA. As of Oct. 15, 2024, the program had exhausted its funding, the release said, which prevented the SBA from continuing to accept and process disaster loan applications. Visit lending.sba.gov to learn more about what’s available or to apply for a disaster loan. In April 2024, the president declared a major disaster for California for severe flooding, landslides, mudslides, tornadoes, and storms from Jan. 31 to Feb. 9, 2024, in nine counties, including San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
• On Christmas Eve, Gov. Gavin Newsom joined other West Coast governors in requesting a federal fishery disaster declaration to support the albacore fishing industry. According to press release from the governor’s office, last year marked the worst season for the West Coast North Pacific pole and troll albacore fishery in more than 20 years. California’s albacore fishery declined by 71 percent in volume and 65 percent in value. Newsom, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, and Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek submitted the request to the U.S. secretary of commerce. If approved, the federal fishery disaster declaration would begin the process of providing relief to fishing communities financially impacted by the decline in albacore fishing, according to Newsom’s office.
This article appears in Jan 2-12, 2025.