Facing increasing costs and revenue that’s struggling to keep up, the Santa Barbara County Executive Office is recommending that the county allocate funds that will maintain current services and avoid expansions. “Our theme this year is prudence and progress,” County CEO Mona Miyasato told the Board of Supervisors during the April 9 budget workshops. “We […]
Slowed revenue, new state legislation limit county’s 2024-25 budget
Posted inNews
Solvang prioritizes solving parking issues for 2024-26 budget
With the aim of completing 15 projects in a two-year time frame, the city of Solvang is recruiting additional staff members, including a management analyst. At least half of the hiree’s workload will be dedicated to helping resolve issues the City Council decided to prioritize for the 2024-26 budget. Traffic congestion, code enforcement, and water […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Gallery Los Olivos’ April show transports viewers to a historic cattle ranch
Home on the ranch Voices and Vistas 2024 runs through April 30 at Gallery Los Olivos, located at 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. Visit gallerylosolivos.com for more info on this new solo exhibit of Jim Tyler’s pastel paintings. On Sunday, April 28, Tyler will host a special plein air pastel workshop at the Camatta Ranch […]
Posted inOpinion
‘Do the right thing’ should extend beyond liberals
Having read John Donegan’s recent epic “Do the right thing” (March 28), I do have to admit that I agree with a lot of what he has to say, which, as a recovering progressive, is a bit painful for me. It does seem that it takes American liberals, especially progressives, an inordinate amount of time […]
Posted inOpinion
Lompoc’s street and alley conditions are measurably bad
Anyone who lives in the city of Lompoc knows that many streets and alleys in our city are in poor shape. But when subjected to a professional review using a nationally accepted roadway standards, how bad are they? During a City Council meeting on March 19 to discuss a public hearing to consider Measure A, […]
Posted inOpinion
What would Texas do?
For everyone who’s yammering on about how California is such a strict state to do business in, we sure are lax when it comes to holding oil companies accountable for their messes. Texas has stronger laws than California does. Texas. The state all the RINO’s are leaving us for. Texas state law requires oil field […]
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Lompoc Valley Middle School expands its wellness program to address ongoing mental health needs
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lompoc Unified School District has been expanding its social-emotional learning program to help students navigate heightened anxiety and other mental health-related issues as they returned to in-person learning. “We saw that the needs were really big; the district was awesome in supporting us by giving us more roles […]
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Political Watch: April 4, 2024
• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) led 17 Senate Democrats in requesting administrative relief for undocumented immigrants, according to a March 26 statement from Padilla’s office. As the Biden administration considers executive actions on the border, the letter outlines recommendations to make immigration relief more efficient for […]
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Board of Supervisors holds off on new sales tax measures
Recent Santa Barbara County survey results showed that cost of living and financial security concerns would hold many voters back from voting in favor of any additional sales tax this election. “There’s a level of trust we need to build before we ask [voters] for more money,” 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson said during the […]
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Buellton amends zoning laws on emergency shelters
While a dedicated emergency shelter doesn’t currently exist in Buellton, the option to build one was on the table for property owners in the city’s commercial districts before a recent ruling. During its March 28 meeting, the Buellton City Council enacted an urgency ordinance to temporarily ban the development of emergency shelters in areas zoned […]
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Santa Maria amends ADU ordinance amid lingering frustrations
Since 2018, Santa Maria’s approved 1,526 accessory dwelling units (ADUs), equivalent to eight apartment complexes, leaving residents frustrated with overflowing trash bins, increased traffic, and less parking. “It’s not uncommon for us to see a single-family property with one or multiple ADUs and so it begins to take on a neighborhood characteristic of something that’s […]
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Clean up and abandon: While the state undertakes its largest orphan oil well project in California history, environmental groups worry about lack of accountability for oil operators
About a year ago, the California Department of Conservation embarked on the largest oil well plugging and abandonment project in state history, starting in Santa Barbara County. The department’s Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) set off to plug and abandon 171 orphaned wells in the Santa Maria Valley’s Cat Canyon with $34 million in state […]