Housing & Development · Santa Barbara County
Proposed amendments to Santa Barbara County's development review process would exempt some smaller Montecito projects from MBAR review, public notice, and appeals, including new or remodeled single-story homes up to 2,500 square feet in inland areas. The changes, directed by the county Board of Supervisors as part of a countywide effort to simplify permitting, would shift final approval for some projects from the Montecito Planning Commission to county staff. Montecito residents voiced concerns at a packed community meeting that the amendments could alter the area's semi-rural character and eliminate neighbor notification rights. The Montecito Planning Commission is set to vote on the amendments Monday at 1 p.m., after which they would proceed to the County Planning Commission and then the Board of Supervisors for final approval by year-end.
Local Politics · Santa Barbara County
The Santa Barbara County Elections Office reminds eligible residents that the last day to register to vote for the Tuesday, Nov. 3 General Election is Oct. 19. Voters can register online through the California Secretary of State's website or at two county offices: the Santa Maria Branch (511 Lakeside Pkwy., Ste 134) and the Santa Barbara Main Office (4440-A Calle Real), both open Monday–Friday with Saturday, Oct. 31 extended hours. Paper registration cards are available at elections offices, most post offices, and public libraries, and can be returned postage-free. To be eligible, individuals must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years old on Election Day.
Community News · Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, Oct. 19, from 9 to 10 a.m. at 310 Camino Del Remedio in Santa Barbara to open Tecolote House and a new Sobering Center. Tecolote House, operated by PathPoint, is a 12-bed adult residential facility offering interim supportive housing, while the 14-bed Sobering Center, run by Good Samaritan Shelter, provides stabilization services for individuals under the influence of alcohol or other substances. The Sobering Center replaces a former county facility that was vacated due to building conditions. County Behavioral Wellness Director Toni Navarro said the two facilities strengthen the continuum of behavioral health care.
Housing & Development · Santa Barbara, CA
The city of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Airport are seeking public feedback on a draft Climate Adaptation Plan to protect aviation infrastructure and Goleta Slough wetlands from rising sea levels and severe flooding. The airport currently faces a 20% annual risk of flood-related closure, which officials project could reach 60% by 2076 without intervention. Last December's holiday-season flooding forced flight cancellations at the airport. The project is in its second phase, evaluating strategies ranging from pump installations to slough restoration; a third phase will update the Coastal Land Use Plan by 2027. Community members have until Nov. 13 to submit comments on the draft plan.
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Social Events · Santa Barbara, CA
More than 1,000 people marched down Anacapa Street in Santa Barbara on Saturday to encourage residents to vote early in the Nov. 3 election, organized by Indivisible Santa Barbara. The rally began at Alameda Park with speeches from organizers and former California State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, then proceeded to De La Guerra Plaza, where an estimated 2,500 people gathered and many turned in mail-in ballots at a drop box in front of City Hall. Similar actions took place Saturday in Santa Maria, Orcutt, Guadalupe, and Lompoc. Election officials have urged residents to submit ballots early to ensure they are counted.
Community News · Santa Barbara County
The Santa Barbara County Health Department is urging residents to get vaccinated against influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ahead of the fall respiratory season. Health Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg emphasized that vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death, particularly for vulnerable groups including infants, parents, grandparents, and neighbors. Recommendations follow guidelines from the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA), supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, ACOG, and AAFP. Residents are directed to speak with their primary care provider or pharmacist, or use the CVEEP vaccine-finder tool, for available options.
Public Safety · Santa Barbara County
The California Highway Patrol Coastal Division is urging coastal communities to prepare for heavy rainfall, potential flooding, and hazardous roadway conditions expected with a strong El Niño pattern this winter season. CHP Coastal Division Chief Mike Alvarez said the agency will monitor highway conditions and collaborate with Caltrans and allied local agencies to respond to weather-related incidents. The division issued specific wet-weather driving recommendations including reducing speed, increasing following distance, inspecting tires and wipers, turning on headlights when wipers are in continuous use, avoiding sudden maneuvers, and never driving through flooded roadways.
Public Safety · Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County's six-month Sidewalk Vending Pilot Program, running April through October 2026 in unincorporated areas including the Santa Maria area and Santa Ynez Valley, resulted in the removal of 1,156 pounds of contaminated food, impoundment of 13 sets of cooking equipment, and issuance of 13 Notices of Violation. The county partnered with the California Highway Patrol to address roadside vending hazards along State Routes 154 and 246, where CHP issued 66 warnings and citations in June and July. A bilingual public awareness campaign, including the PSA "Before You Take a Bite, Take a Look," reached over 72,000 social media views. The pilot is complete, but Environmental Health Services will continue responding to community complaints about unpermitted vendors as part of regular operations.
Community News · Santa Barbara County
Unity Shoppe has launched its "Give Food. Give Hope. Give $1 Million" campaign to raise $1 million by year-end to support food-insecure families across Santa Barbara County, where an estimated 59,340 residents (13.4%) face food insecurity. Planned fundraisers include a Voices for Unity benefit concert featuring Kenny Loggins, Brad Paisley, and Michael McDonald on Nov. 24 at the Granada Theatre, and the 40th-anniversary telethon on Dec. 11 from 5–8 p.m. on NewsChannel 3 and Channel 12. The nonprofit currently serves more than 61,000 county residents and distributes over 1 million pounds of food annually. Organizers cite rising grocery costs (up 2.2% year-over-year through August 2026) and CalFresh policy changes reducing benefits for some recipients as drivers of increased need.
Community News · Santa Barbara County
The Strategic Alliance to Fight Exploitation Santa Barbara County (SAFE SBC) held its 3rd Annual Freedom to Flourish Gala on October 10, 2026, at La Cumbre Country Club, raising nearly $300,000 for anti-human-trafficking efforts countywide. The nonprofit announced grants supporting CSEC prevention education in North County schools, a full-time caseworker position at Noah's Anchorage (Channel Islands YMCA), Women's Care Days with Micah Mission in Lompoc, and flexible survivor assistance through Channel Islands YMCA and Good Samaritan Shelter. SAFE SBC also added two new board members—Megan Rheinschild of the Victim-Witness Assistance Program and Patrick Clouse, former Chief Investigator for the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office—and outlined future priorities including a countywide training platform and a 24/7 emergency response protocol for trafficking survivors.
Local Politics · Lompoc, CA
Incumbent Mayor Jim Mosby faces District 4 Councilmember Jeremy Ball in Lompoc's mayoral race, while Sarah Anne Read and Nick Gonzales compete for the open District 3 City Council seat. Both mayoral candidates discussed housing affordability, economic development tied to Vandenberg Space Force Base growth, public safety funding, and the city's use of Flock license plate recognition technology. Mosby cited approximately 350 housing units under construction and a 91-92% reduction in single-family residential construction taxes, while Ball emphasized cleaning up dilapidated properties and simplifying business permitting. The District 3 candidates focused on road maintenance, code enforcement, city revenue shortfalls, and proposed economic incentives for housing development.
Education · Santa Barbara County
The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara (SFSB) is accepting applications for financial aid during the 2027-28 academic year, with art and honors scholarship applications due Nov. 15 and general/employer-sponsored scholarships due Jan. 31. In May, SFSB awarded more than $8.4 million to 2,288 Santa Barbara County students, with undergraduate awards averaging $3,708 and graduate awards averaging $3,580. Eligible students may receive up to five years of undergraduate funding or four years of medical/graduate-level funding based on financial need, academic achievement, and motivation. The foundation also supports vocational training and offers free financial aid advisory services.
Local Politics · Santa Barbara, CA
The City of Santa Barbara is conducting a special recruitment for its Rental Stabilization Board. The board consists of seven members, requiring at least four to be tenants renting in the city, including one tenant aged 65 or older. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on December 2, 2026. The City Council will interview applicants at City Hall and make appointments on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
Social Events · Santa Barbara, CA
The Third Annual Día de los Muertos Calenda Santa Barbara returns Sunday, October 25, from 3:30–8 p.m., after being absent last year due to concerns over ICE enforcement activity. Organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB), the free, family-friendly procession begins at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and winds along State Street toward De la Guerra Plaza, ending at MCASB's Paseo Nuevo location. The event, which grew from 1,500 participants in 2023 to nearly 10,000 in 2024, features dance, live music, altar-building, and representation from Zapotec, Mixtec, Triqui, and other Oaxacan and Guerrero Indigenous immigrant communities. This year includes a special focus on Afro-Mexican culture through the dance group Los Diablos de la Costa. Organizers have implemented a "Cultural Safety Framework" for the event.
