New county redistricting map adopted, legal challenges loom

San Luis Obispo County's Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on Tuesday, along party lines, to adopt Map A for redistricting, with Supervisors Debbie Arnold and John Peschong opposing the move. The newly-adopted map bears a striking resemblance to the one chosen in 2011, despite numerous calls from supporters for a change.

Proponents of the map change contended that the Patten Map was discriminatory and illegal. However, Supervisor Arnold cautioned both her colleagues and attendees that the court did not find the Patten map to be either of those things, according to a report by CalCoast News.

In December 2021, after a lengthy and contentious process, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to adopt the Patten Map, with Supervisors Bruce Gibson and Dawn Ortiz-Legg dissenting. The issue was a partisan one, with local Democrats seeking minimal changes while Republicans preferred cities and communities to remain intact. In 2021, several supporters of Democratic candidates threatened to file a lawsuit if the board majority chose the Patten Map.

Enney wins Paso Robles school board election

According to the election results released on Friday afternoon, Kenneth E. Enney Jr. has emerged victorious in the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board election by a considerable margin of over 1,000 votes. 

Enney, who secured 54.42% of the total vote, received 6,524 votes, while his closest contender, Hollander, secured 5,464 votes, or 45.57%. The election is not yet completely finalized as 96 ballots with questionable signatures and those received through Monday are yet to be counted, according to a report from CalCoast News.

In response to his win, Enney expressed his eagerness to assume his position on the board and work towards a better academic performance for the district. Enney was previously appointed to the board in October 2022, but was later removed after he discovered a school webpage for LGBTQ students that contained a link to a chatroom where adults discussed sex. He brought this to the district's attention and subsequently sought an investigation by law enforcement.

Surfliner resumes Santa Barbara-San Diego service

Amtrak has resumed daily train service between Santa Barbara and San Diego after six months of track repairs in Orange County. 

Passengers were previously required to take a bus connection between the Irvine and Oceanside stations. The daily schedule will remain the same, with 10 daily round trips between Los Angeles and San Diego. 

While the Orange County section is now open, construction is expected to continue in the area through June, including installing permanent fencing between the slope and railroad tracks. The 351-mile railway is used for passengers and freight trains, moving $1 billion in goods annually. 

For more information and construction updates, visit pacificsurfliner.com/alerts and Service Alerts – Metrolink. Source: Noozhawk

Santa Barbara State of the City Luncheon April 20

The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce has announced that it will host its annual State of the City luncheon on Thursday, April 20, from 11 AM to 1:30 PM at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. 

This highly anticipated event will feature the Mayors of Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria as guest speakers, providing an update on their respective cities and sharing their visions for the future.

The State of the City luncheon is an exceptional opportunity for attendees to hear from all three South Coast Mayors at once. The Chamber has assembled a distinguished panel of speakers, including City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte and City Manager Robert Nisbet; City of Carpinteria Mayor Al Clark and Assistant City Manager Michael Ramirez; and City of Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse and City Administrator Rebecca Bjork.

State Legislature wants another $185 billion in taxes

According to a new report by the California Tax Foundation, in the first three months of the 2023-24 session, California lawmakers have considered introducing more than $185.6 billion in new taxes and fees, including a "wealth tax," a government-run health care system, a tax on oil company earnings, and several fee increases. 

This report includes all tax and fee legislation proposed from the start of the session until the date of publication. See the full report HERE.

It's worth noting that Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed $296.9 billion state budget, which includes a Managed Care Organization (MCO) tax and a $30 million tax increase, has not yet been introduced to the Legislature and is not included in this report. 

According to the January budget proposal, the state faces an operating deficit of approximately $22.5 billion, which could increase lawmakers' likelihood of proposing additional taxes and fees as the session continues. Source: California Tax Foundation

Off-road enthusiasts score a legal victory in Oceano

Friends of the Oceano Dunes has won a legal victory against the California Coastal Commission in a quiet title lawsuit. 

The lawsuit argues that off-road vehicle enthusiasts have the right to continue driving and camping on portions of the Oceano Dunes because they have been recreating there for more than five years without objection or permission. 

The Coastal Commission argued that other historical uses of the dunes were more prevalent, but a judge rejected all of the state's arguments and set the case for trial in October 2023. 

Grover Beach mayor resigns

Anna Miller, the Mayor Pro Tem of Grover Beach, has resigned from her seat with immediate effect due to a change in residency. 

Miller, who was elected in November 2020, was set to serve until December 2024. The city council plans to discuss options for filling the vacant seat in their upcoming meeting on March 27. 

Miller is the Chief Operating Officer for People's Self-Help Housing and has previously served on local non-profit boards.

Ventura board of supes moves to repeal campaign limit

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors in California has voted to repeal a local campaign finance ordinance that has been in place for 20 years. 

The ordinance placed a limit of $750 on contributions for candidates running for supervisor and countywide offices. With the ordinance now repealed, the county will follow state laws on contribution limits, which currently stands at $5,500 per election. 

The move has been met with opposition, with many urging the board to protect the current campaign finance rules to protect the voices of average voters instead of favoring special interests with deep pockets. 

The board will vote again on March 28 to adopt a new ordinance that repeals the current one.

Former top Ventura County official sues county

Former Ventura County Executive Officer Mike Powers has filed a lawsuit against the County of Ventura, claiming that he was forced out of his job without being given the chance to defend himself against a harassment accusation from one of his employees. 

Powers is seeking unspecified damages for invasion of privacy, wrongful termination, and other claims. He is also asking the court to force the county to defend him in the lawsuit brought by his accuser and to pay his legal costs. 

Powers had an employment contract as CEO that allowed the Board of Supervisors to remove him at any time with or without cause. Powers is denying all the allegations of harassment except one.

Camarillo eyes Days Inn for homeless housing

The City of Camarillo is considering using the Days Inn as a site for permanent and temporary housing for individuals who are homeless if the city receives Project Homekey funds. 

The proposed Homekey project involves renovating the building to create 62 units of permanent housing with wraparound services, a 20-bed navigation center for temporary housing and one unit for a resident manager. 

The city plans to submit a joint Homekey application with the County of Ventura and Jamboree Housing Corp., one of California’s largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing. The City Council will consider allocating $5.4 million of city funds toward the development and operation of the site at a future meeting. 

The state is expected to announce Homekey funding recipients in August, and city staff said the housing could open as early as December 2024.

Build-to-rent housing delayed in Santa Maria vote

The Santa Maria Planning Commission has delayed a decision on a build-to-rent, single-family home development that includes accessory dwelling units. 

Canfield Development has proposed a 105 single-family home Blosser Ranch development, including a community center and pool, with detached accessory dwelling units on 96 lots. On-street parking would be banned, but guest spaces would be included. 

After appearing to be evenly divided on whether to approve the project, the planning commissioners voted 3-1 to delay the item pending research on issues related to large rental properties and a specific plan for the broader area. 

Commissioners Esau Blanco, Robert Dickerson, and Yasameen Mohajer agreed to the delay, but chairman Tim Seifert voted against it.

Hastert chosen to lead Santa Barbara Airport

Chris Hastert, the new airport director for the City of Santa Barbara, has outlined his goals and plans for the Santa Barbara Airport in an interview with Noozhawk. 

Hastert discussed a range of issues, including commercial air traffic, noise, facilities expansion, the master plan, and historic structures. He aims to establish and improve relations with the cities of Goleta and Santa Barbara and all residents affected by airport operations. 

Hastert plans to expand the passenger terminal to the south and add new gates and jetways, based on meeting current and future demand. The airport experienced a record commercial air traffic of more than 1.2 million passengers in 2022, but he does not expect that level of growth to continue in the short run. 

Noise from airport operations is a persistent issue, and Hastert is working to analyze the most frequently used departures and the routing of flights to encourage airlines to take different routing for those early morning departures. Source: Noozhawk

DeSantis gaining support; Trump still popular in GOP

While recent public polling suggests that Republican voters in California are increasingly favoring Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as their preferred candidate for the 2024 presidential primary, attendees at the California Republican Party convention this past weekend remain firmly in support of former President Donald Trump. 

Delegates, activists, volunteers, and local officials at the convention in Sacramento made it clear that Trump is still the man to beat, with his name and slogans visible on signs and campaign paraphernalia throughout the event. 

In contrast, DeSantis, who has not yet declared that he is running for president, received much less attention. 

Courts uphold right of rgig companies to classify workers as independent contractors

In a recent ruling, a California appeals court has granted ride-sharing companies Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash the right to classify their drivers as independent contractors, rather than employees.

This decision upholds the results of Proposition 22, which was passed by California voters in 2020 and exempts ride-sharing firms from a law requiring them to classify their drivers as employees. While the ruling provides clarity on the classification of hundreds of thousands of California ride-share drivers, it is a blow to the unions who had hoped for a different outcome.

The ballot initiative saw ride-share companies pour over $224 million into the campaign, making it the most expensive ballot measure in California history at the time. Prop. 22 granted some benefits to drivers, including a partial health care subsidy under certain conditions, but they still don't have access to other workplace benefits, such as minimum wage, sick leave, unemployment benefits, and more.

OP-ED: Ventura County campaign limit change criticized

A state lawmaker and local leader of Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources urged residents to speak out against an intiative by two Ventura County Supervisors to raise political campaign limits.

Assemblyman Steve Bennett​​​​​ and Linda Parks, the Executive Director of SOAR and former Ventura County Supervisor, said in a joint op-ed that:

Ventura County has had a successful campaign reform law in place for the last two decades, which limits campaign contributions to $750 and has strict transparency and accountability requirements to prevent manipulations by big money donors. 

However, Supervisors Jeff Gorell and Janice Parvin are proposing to eliminate the county's campaign finance ordinance, which would increase contribution limits from $750 to the statewide limit of $5,500. This move would drown out the voices of average citizens and give big money donors more direct influence over supervisors.

The supervisors' argument that the local ordinance is no longer necessary because of state limits is unconvincing. In fact, 25 counties in California currently apply both state and local laws simultaneously to decrease the influence of big money in politics. Gorell and Parvin's claim that a new state law prohibiting voting on a project if a donation of more than $250 has been received in the past 12 months is also easily circumvented.

Florida governor speaks in Simi Valley

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, discussing his new book, "The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival," but did not announce his candidacy for the White House.

He criticized leftist politicians and their policies, claiming that these led to a great American exodus from states governed by them. 

DeSantis also praised Florida's handling of COVID, taxes, public education, and other issues, stating that the state stood as a "refuge of sanity, a citadel of freedom." 

He criticized California's teachers unions for having a partisan agenda and discussed his opposition to critical race theory in Florida's education system. 

Around 100 protesters gathered outside the library, but the event remained peaceful, with the exception of vandalism to an entrance sign. Source: Thousand Oaks Acorn

Ventura supes approve homeless shelter support

The Board of Supervisors has approved a revenue sharing agreement with the City of Thousand Oaks to provide financial support for a permanent year-round shelter with 30 beds for homeless individuals and families. 

The agreement includes an initial capital funding of $2 million and an annual operations funding of $450,000. The shelter will be complementary to the new permanent housing project in the city, which received $26.7 million in Project Homekey Funds to convert the Quality Inn into 77 units of housing. 

The County is committed to funding operations on a 50/50 cost share with local communities committed to developing emergency shelters within their communities, subject to the constraints of the County's budget. The development cost per bed for the Thousand Oaks shelter is slightly higher than the other two projects, but the ongoing operations are lower. 

The County's share of development costs for the project is estimated at $2 million for development and ongoing operations of about $453,000 per year. The Board will receive annual status reports on the shelter's occupancy and success in placing people into permanent housing. 

The revenue sharing agreement passed unanimously.

Paso Robles congressman speaks out on closure of Silicon Valley Bank

Silicon Valley Bank, a financial institution with approximately $209.0 billion in total assets and $175.4 billion in total deposits, was closed down by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. 

The FDIC was appointed as the receiver and created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara (DINB) to safeguard insured depositors. The closure marks the second-largest bank failure in US history, following the 2008 collapse of Washington Mutual Bank.

Customers with accounts in excess of $250,000 should contact the FDIC toll-free at 1-866-799-0959. As of closing time, the amount of uninsured deposits was undetermined, but the FDIC will provide an advance dividend to uninsured depositors within the next week, and a receivership certificate for the remaining amount of their uninsured funds.

Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D), who represents Paso Robles and Monterey areas, expressed concern about the bank's failure and urged the FDIC to provide clear updates to customers, both insured and uninsured. Panetta also hopes that a sale can be arranged to keep all depositors whole. The cause of the bank's failure is still unknown.

San Luis Obispo groups get state grant for climate messaging

The Diversity Coalition of SLO County, R.A.C.E. Matters, the Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success, and Brooklyn-based tech company BlocPower have received $340,000 from TECH Clean California, a state program funded by California gas ratepayers, to improve the equity of messaging around climate action. 

The goal is to develop "targeted and inclusive marketing and educational materials for equitable electrification." 

The grant partners plan to go directly into underserved communities of SLO County to test out different types of messaging about climate action that can cut through industry-specific jargon and connect with the people. 

The outreach events will focus on climate topics that range from simple tips to lower utility bills to why heat pumps and inductive stoves are more economical and environmentally friendly.

State Senator John Laird announces re-election campaign

State Senator John Laird, representing the 17th District, which includes Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz counties, and much of San Luis Obispo County, has announced the launch of his re-election campaign for 2024. 

Laird has secured tens of millions of dollars for important priorities and investments throughout the Central Coast, as well as making progress on climate change, education, and housing, among other legislative highlights. 

In his first term in the State Senate, he sent 29 bills to Governor Newsom's desk that were signed into law. 

Laird, a long-time resident of Santa Cruz, will be running as a Democrat in the primary election on March 5, 2024.