State employee claims parks officials threatened new fines if they lose lawsuit

Ronnie Glick, a senior environmental scientist with California State Parks, testified that the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) threatened to impose new fines on State Parks if Friends of Oceano Dunes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving off-highway vehicle recreation, wins a lawsuit against APCD. 

The lawsuit alleges that APCD spent money earmarked for off-highway vehicle recreation. Glick testified that APCD’s executive director, Gary Willey, said he would use the APCD’s “enforcement authority under Rule 1001 to assess fines” against State Parks. 

Newsom seeks to change in enviromental law used by wealthy to block development

Governor Gavin Newsom has pledged to reform California's landmark environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which he believes has been used by wealthy homeowners to block housing development for students at the University of California, Berkeley. 

The announcement comes in response to a state appeals court ruling that found the university had not assessed potential noise impacts from loud student parties in nearby residential neighbourhoods as required by CEQA. The ruling could delay the building of a complex at Berkeley's People's Park for years or even decades. 

Guest Commentary: In Santa Barbara homeless and vagrants are not the same

In an article for the Montecito Journal, Lang Martinez, who has experienced homelessness as a former addict, argues that chronic vagrancy and homelessness are two different sets of problems and should be treated as such. 

He claims that the government's Housing First Model and programs like Project Room Key have had a less than desirable outcome for sustaining an individual in long-term permanent housing solutions. Millions of dollars are being spent on these programs, but the funds lack public scrutiny and transparency, and outcomes are not measured effectively. 

Santa Barbara residents spend majority of income on housing

Residents in Santa Barbara, California are struggling to afford housing due to the high cost of living in the city. 

According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, people spending 50% or more of their income on rent are experiencing severe cost burdens, and in Santa Barbara, residents are spending up to 70% of their income on rent. The city missed California's deadline to provide a draft for enough affordable housing to account for the amount of low-income people residing in the city. 

Newspaper: Sexual harassment allegations unanswered from Moorpark College

Moorpark College and the Ventura County Community College District have been criticized for their lack of transparency in handling sexual harassment allegations on campus. 

After the [Camarillo] Acorn reached out to the college and district, both referred the paper to other representatives who provided stock responses and refused to answer policy-related questions. Public records requests also went unanswered, and officials declined to speak with reporters. 

The district has since hired an outside company to address student concerns, but the lack of transparency has raised concerns about accountability and public relations. Source: Camarillo Acorn

Camarillo bridge gets $4 million funding from feds

The city of Camarillo has received $4 million in federal funding for an $18 million bridge improvement project at Las Posas Road and Ventura Boulevard. 

The 465-foot bridge needs replacement as it deteriorates from about 32,000 vehicles passing over it daily. The federal funding will be added to the $12 million of city funds already allocated to the project. The new reinforced concrete bridge will bring the infrastructure up to current standards for pedestrian and bicycle use and prevent weight limitations and road closures. 

The city plans to begin construction in the summer of 2025, pending additional state and federal grants. Source: Camarillo Acorn

SB County releases draft Climate Action Plan

Santa Barbara County has released a draft of its 2030 Climate Action Plan (CAP) with the goal of reducing carbon emissions in the community by 50% by 2030. 

The plan includes improving air quality, providing safer opportunities for bikers and walkers, enhancing energy resilience, preserving open spaces, and making buildings more efficient. The county will be hosting three public workshops to engage with the community and develop key strategies and actions for the CAP. 

Sustainability Division Chief Ashley Watkins emphasized the importance of community participation in achieving the ambitious goals set by the plan. The CAP draft and information about the workshops can be found at countyofsb.org/oneclimate. Source: Santa Barbara News-Press