Two Santa Maria planning commissioners thought last weekās meeting drew the biggest crowd theyāve experienced at a hearing. The only item on the May 6 agenda occupied the bulk of the nearly three-hour discussion. Following three study sessions that date back to 2024, the Santa Maria Planning Commission approved a project that would bring a […]
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County Public Health pauses layoffs and patient transfers, left with budget deficits
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department paused its plan to make layoffs and transition thousands of patients away from county clinics due to āunsatisfactory immigration status.ā The decision follows an ongoing injunction to a change in federal law. Mouhanad Hammami, the director of Public Health, presented this update to the county Board of Supervisors […]
Board of Supervisors delay decision to make layoffs in health and social services department
Santa Barbara County supervisors pushed making a decision on budget rebalancing plans for the Public Health and Social Services departments. The plans discussed at the Oct. 7 supervisors meeting would eliminate more than 175 positions across both departments effective in January. āWeāve been receiving a lot of frustration for a lack of information,ā 2nd District […]

