You can’t predict the weather, they say.
But the proverbial “they” could always be wrong, and I like to think we’ve come a ways when it comes to meteorology. I’ve seen the satellite images of the “atmospheric river” churning its way into California, and we all know the risks that poses to areas ravaged by wildfire.
Who knows, maybe the days following March 20 won’t be so bad, and meager storms will lightly pepper the Central Coast for a few days. It’s also very possible that enough rain could come down in Tepusquet Canyon or areas in South County to trigger more mudslides. Santa Barbara County is sending out mobile phone alerts, social media posts, and email updates with by-the-minute information—people need to pay attention.
You’re always better being safer than sorry, “they” also say. They might have been on to something with that one, so be prepared!
I’m always prepared, but apparently never enough for what comes out of Lompoc these days. I never thought I would see “dumpster fires” preceded by the words “breaking news,” but I may underestimate the slow crawl of the daily news grind.
Maybe some of those numerous calls reporting fiery garbage in Lompoc were made by people watching the Lompoc City Council’s recent antics, including Councilmember Jim Mosby and his poop emoji bumper sticker that targets Lompoc Planning Commissioner Ron Fink. Maybe it’s not a full-blown scandal, but it’s still a hot mess.
I think there’s some factionalism at work in Lompoc. There’s a pretty clear schism between Mosby and his Libertarian-leaning base and Mayor Bob Lingl and his conservative supporters. This goes back way before anybody started pointing finger guns, and things have only heated up since the cannabis debate sparked up.
The election this year in Lompoc should be interesting. Councilmembers Dirk Starbuck and Victor Vega are up for re-election and Mayor Lingl’s term is up as well. Councilmembers Janelle Osborne and Mosby both have terms that run through 2020, but it’s rumored that they may duke it out for mayor. On top of all that, Lompoc will also have district elections this year, much like the Santa Maria City Council.
It’s hard to predict how the political winds will blow, but if that’s how the race shapes out, dumpster fires will be the least of Lompoc’s worries!
You know that feeling you get before something big strikes? There’s always a build up, first with small signs and later dark, ominous clouds. Then it comes, and builds, and comes again.
It sure feels like there’s a dam about to burst at President Donald Trump’s White House, which has hemorrhaged staff up to the secretary level, been embroiled in numerous scandals, and recently engaged in aggressive posturing against the FBI and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation by firing former FBI Director Andrew McCabe.
It’s especially hard to predict the weather in Washington, D.C., but it sure feels like a storm’s brewing.
The Canary knows which way the wind blows. Send your thoughts to canary@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 22-29, 2018.