There are two City Council seats in Lompoc being contested in the upcoming election; one is for mayor and the other for the 1st District, on the north end of the city. The only qualification to run for a City Council seat is to be at least 18 years old and a registered voter. The […]
Patrick Wiemiller is the best candidate for Lompoc’s 1st District City Council seat
Posted inOpinion
Removal isn’t easy
So far, Santa Barbara County’s spent about $2.3 million cleaning out the Santa Maria Riverbed. It’s only one of the partners involved in the cleanup efforts, and those efforts have only tackled a third to half of what’s there. There was still a lot of work left to do, last I checked, and at least […]
Posted inNews
Buellton children’s thrift store, Kayla’s Kidz, moves to bigger storefront
Neat racks of colorful onesies, kids T-shirts, shorts, and baby shoes line the 350 square feet of retail space Kayla Perez purchased a year ago. “I think if you came in and didn’t know it was a thrift shop, you wouldn’t know it was secondhand,” said Perez, the owner of Kayla’s Kidz—a secondhand store for […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: October 3, 2024
• Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1866 into law during a signing ceremony in Inglewood, according to a Sept. 24 statement from Assemblymember Gregg Hart’s (D-Santa Barbara) office. The bill, written by Hart, mandates that oil companies meet targets to plug the estimated 40,000 idle oil wells in California. “The health of our communities […]
Posted inNews
Environmental groups ramp up efforts to prevent Sable resuming oil operations
The Center for Biological Diversity intends to sue the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to force the agency to update its plan for the Santa Ynez Unit’s offshore oil platforms—the latest in a series of increased efforts to prevent resumed operations. “The platforms and pipelines have outlived their expected lifespans; and oil production […]
Posted inNews
Guadalupe violates water board permits due to clogged sewage filters
A recent sludge buildup at Guadalupe’s sewage treatment plant put the city in deep water with a regional authority, which prompted a plan for course correction. During its Sept. 24 meeting, the Guadalupe City Council reviewed two interrelated proposals to dredge the plant’s filtering system ponds and improve the site’s maintenance procedures. Approved unanimously by […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County Planning Commission delays cannabis odor discussion to November
The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission pushed back its discussion on a cannabis odor ordinance until November to give more residents the time to understand and form their own opinions on the county’s proposed plans to improve mitigating the plant’s skunky smell. “I feel like where we are is we just got inside the ballpark, […]
Posted inNews
Unhoused pet families
A black-and-white kitten emerged from a makeshift fence made of blue tarp and wooden posts as Chris LaBossiere announced her arrival. “Hi … it’s Chris and Claire from C.A.R.E.4Paws,” LaBossiere said as she walked toward the encampment. Fellow volunteer Claire Sheehy stayed a few steps back. The resident pushed the tarp back as she came […]
Posted inOpinion
The Sun’s North County coverage is appreciated
Thanks to the Santa Maria Sun for its continuing coverage of events germane to Lompoc. Your Sept. 19 issue alone has three pieces of import, not to mention the cover. Your reporting that encompasses the entire North Santa Barbara County is much appreciated. Keep it coming! Barry Marks Lompoc
Posted inOpinion
Totalitarianism, fascism, and authoritarianism are not games
I don my team’s colors and make sure things are tucked in right. It’s game day. Off to meet with my fellow participants to strategize where to be to watch the game. We all compare our newest gear and are energized by the prospect of the past and future meetups of our team. We all […]
Posted inOpinion
Who’s got the dough?
Maintaining a city is hard. It costs money. It requires people. They need public safety services, recreation, parking, walkable spaces, city streets, and more—all of which require infrastructure, maintenance, and money. Lots of it. So why would a city willingly agree to reduce the fees it charges housing developers to pay for all of that […]
Posted inNews
Guadalupe’s new recreation services manager increases activities for locals
As someone who never considered herself a sporty person growing up, Annis Barajas wanted to offer Guadalupe residents more than sports when she joined the Recreation Department six months ago. “Guadalupe has [always] been super strong when it comes to sports,” said Barajas, the recreation services manager. “I wanted to have options for people who […]