Did you notice that your natural gas bill went through the roof last month? Well, at our house we did, so I did a little research to find out why. When many of you vote, or for those who don’t vote, you may think that what goes on in Sacramento or Washington, D.C., has little […]
Ever-increasing gas bills are hardly natural
Posted inOpinion
Guadalupe is overdue for a real levee
Thank you for praising the Guadalupe community for coming together on the 9th and 10th of January to help the flooded-out people (“The little town that could,” Jan. 19). Since this flooding occurs periodically (as the mayor said, four times in 30 years) it should behoove the county, the state, and the feds to get […]
Posted inOpinion
Thank you, Rapid Rehousing
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rachel M. and Melanie M. at Rapid Rehousing (as they lived up to their name), as well as Denice S. and Priscilla L. at City Net, and Mary M. and Kathy O.—all of them were on top of their game to get me quickly housed and […]
Posted inOpinion
South Coast NIMBYs
Nobody likes housing development. Except for possibly Santa Maria, which doesn’t seem to have very much opposition to building homes or apartments. That city is all-in. And its residents are too—unless, of course, the housing aims to provide shelter for folks who don’t have it. Then there’s a problem. But I digress. The point is […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: February 2, 2023
• The California Department of Water Resources announced that recent storms will allow the State Water Project to boost deliveries to 29 public water agencies serving 27 million Californians, according to a Jan. 26 statement from the department. Based on the amount of water captured and stored, the state now expects to deliver 30 percent […]
Posted inNews
County Planning Commission denies appeal of Cat Canyon cannabis project
An appeal filed against a cannabis cultivation project—with a proposed site in the Cat Canyon area—recently met with unanimous denial from the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission. Despite county staff’s recommendations to reject the appeal, some Planning Commissioners were initially reluctant to deny the request, during deliberations at the Planning Commission’s Jan. 25 meeting. The […]
Posted inNews
New state legislation could require Narcan at schools
The Santa Maria-Bonita School District got ahead of a new state legislation by taking the steps to have naloxone hydrochloride, a medication that reverses an overdose’s effects, at all of its middle school sites, Health Program Specialist Carolyn Kleinsmith said. “I think it’s really important we have Narcan available in schools. Unfortunately, post pandemic, we […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria residents express concerns about new housing proposal from Santa Barbara County supervisors, nonprofit leaders
Neighborhood safety, home value, drug use, and density concerns met local leaders on Jan. 25 as they introduced Santa Maria residents to a new proposal to put an interim housing facility near the Betteravia Government Center. At the community meeting, one neighbor shared worries about loitering in nearby parks, neighborhoods, and shopping centers. “The people […]
Posted inNews
The Boys and Girls Club can serve more kids through its new, third location in Guadalupe
Through a partnership between the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast and the city of Guadalupe, the newly renovated community center at LeRoy Park will now serve as the Ron Estabillo Clubhouse—continuing child care services for Guadalupe residents. “There’s a real crisis in child care, and what we do for after school programming […]
Posted inOpinion
Better than nothing
Do you know how to put your political career at risk in Santa Maria? All you have to do is support a homeless housing program, apparently. At least, that’s according to the two members of Santa Barbara County’s Board of Supervisors who spoke at a recent community meeting about a new project slated for an […]
Posted inOpinion
Santa Maria needs options beyond developer paybacks to create affordable housing
The Santa Maria City Council recently approved a Disposition and Development Agreement with Vernon Property Group, for a revitalization project at Main Street and Broadway. The project involves the creation of new commercial space and 88 rental apartments, a majority to be leased at market rate. It also involves $1.25 million in financial incentives from […]
Posted inOpinion
Your local vote and participation help on many levels
The League of Women Voters, Santa Maria Valley (LWVSMV) joins with the LWVCalifornia in condemning senseless gun violence as evidenced very recently in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay. Our hearts and prayers reach out to the families and those victims, family, friends, and communities impacted. Laws regarding gun safety and mental health are […]