Category: Government

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Important Update on COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”)

There is very new and important information on COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”). California Governor Newsom and the California Department of Public Health announced that large gatherings that include 250 people or more should be postponed or canceled. Smaller gatherings held in venues…

Hundreds Attend Port’s First Job Fair

400+ Job Seekers Line Up for Over 200 Local Jobs PORT OF HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme/Oxnard Harbor District hosted its first-ever job fair last Saturday, offering 450 members of the local community the opportunity to apply for over 200…

Ventura County Public Health reports one presumptive positive case of COVID-19

VENTURA – One presumptive positive case of the novel coronavirus has been confirmed by the Ventura County Public Health Lab. Secondary confirmation is pending from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The patient had traveled on the Grand…

Bilingual report: Ventura Unified receives $2.2 million in grant funding

Funding from a K12 Strong Workforce Program Grant will bring new initiatives and programs VENTURA — In 2018, the California legislature introduced the K12 Strong Workforce Program (SWP) grant to support Career Technical Education (CTE) connections between the Community Colleges…

Bilingual report: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness Public Health Urges Preparedness for Social Distancing

VENTURA — In the face of a significant increase in the numbers of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in mainland China and other Countries, many Ventura County residents are understandably worried and fearful. The Ventura County Department of Public Health…

Jackson Applauds California Companies for Adding Women to their Boards

SACRAMENTO – Citing a report released by the California Secretary of State, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) , author of the groundbreaking law that requires gender diversity on California’s corporate boards, applauded the more than 100 corporations that have added…

Diplomacy earns CSUCI students awards at a Model United Nations competition

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students have once again distinguished themselves with their diplomacy at the regional Model United Nations (MUN) conference. The 16 CSUCI students who traveled to Portland last month to compete in the Northwest Model United Nations…

Bilingual report: County of Ventura providing Coronavirus Information

VENTURA COUNTY — Go to http://www.vcnewschannel.com/coronavirus-information for the latest information from the County of Ventura on the Coronavirus. Recent Posts Feb. 24, 2020 – Statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on potential use of Naval Base Ventura County…

City of Oxnard Awarded $8.5 Million Grant to Expand and Revitalize Campus Park

OXNARD — The City of Oxnard will receive $8.5 million in Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program grant funds for the Campus Park Activation Project, which will transform an additional 26 acres of park space that has been closed…

Bilingual commentary: Gathering Dark Clouds

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. David Magallanes By David…

2020 Ventura County Mock Trial Semifinalists Announced

Public Invited as Competition Continues VENTURA COUNTY — The eight high school teams that will advance to the semifinals of the 2020 Ventura County Mock Trial were announced Feb. 27 by the Ventura County Office of Education. The semifinalists received the…

Bilingual report: Ventura County receives certificate of achievement in financial reporting

VENTURA — The County of Ventura has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for fiscal year…

Santa Rosa Valley Park Gate Fees

CONEJO VALLEY — The Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) has announced an agreement with the County of Ventura Parks Department to cover the costs of day use parking fees at the Santa Rosa Valley Regional Park located at 10241…

Bilingual report: Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Offers Helpful Tips for March 3rd Presidential Primary Election; Poll Workers Still Needed

VENTURA — Due to recent changes in legislation, the Ventura County Elections Division anticipates possible long lines at the polls on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. In an effort to prepare and staff each of the 389 polling places to accommodate…

Ventura College Foundation Endorses Proposition 13 Education Bond Measure on March 3 Ballot

VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation has endorsed Proposition 13 on the March 3 primary ballot. The statewide $15 billion education bond measure would enable seismic, safety and maintenance building improvements to California public schools including $2 billion earmarked for…

Statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on potential use of Naval Base Ventura County – Point Mugu for quarantine

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), working closely with the Department of Defense and other federal partners, is taking all reasonable steps to address an evolving public health emergency. As part of that effort,…

Oxnard Performing Arts Center has new operator!

Canyon at Oxnard to present first event: Tierra & Malo (April 10) OXNARD — The Oxnard City Council on Feb. 18 approved a five-year operating agreement with Sterling Venue Ventures (SVV) for the Oxnard Performing Arts Center’s 1,604-seat auditorium. A second…

February News from Peoples’ Self-Help Housing

Newsletter | February 2020 Employee of the Year, Gabriela Ruiz, Property Manager at Villas on Higuera, pictured with U.S. Congressman 24th District Salud Carbajal President’s Award Winner, Lauren Nichols Project Manager, pictured with President & CEO John Fowler Greetings! After…

Housing Authority Of The City Of Santa Barbara Opens Johnson Court, The First Housing Development in Santa Barbara for Homeless Veterans

SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority Of The City Of Santa Barbara (HACSB) on Feb. 14 came together with the community to celebrate the grand opening of Johnson Court – the first housing development in Santa Barbara County specifically for…

Bilingual report: Strong Leadership Delivers over $9 Million in Cost Savings

Ventura County Public Works Agency Director Jeff Pratt awarded CEO’s coveted “Champion for Change” VENTURA COUNTY – The Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) was recently recognized at the Ventura County Management Council’s annual award luncheon for outstanding leadership and success in…

Ports Day Grabs Attention of Top State Leadership

The California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA) hosted its 3rd Annual California Ports Day on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 in Sacramento, CA. The two day event centered around Governor Newsom’s State of the State Address with briefings from several top leadership…

Jackson, Social Justice Advocates, and Business Owners Call for an End to the Pink Tax

SB 873 outlaws gender-based pricing for products SACRAMENTO — State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) on Feb.18 was joined by Congresswoman Jackie Speier, business owners, and social justice advocates to call for an end to the “pink tax” in which many women’s…

Bilingual report: Ventura County Continues to Seek Public Input on Analysis of Environmental Impacts for Draft 2040 General Plan

VENTURA — The County’s Planning Division continues to seek public input on the environmental analysis completed for the draft 2040 General Plan.  Through notification to community stakeholders, agencies, newspaper noticing, and over 1,400 individuals on the General Plan Update interested…

Bilingual report: Update from Ventura County Public Health — Test Results Are Negative for Pending Novel Coronavirus Case in Ventura County

VENTURA — The Ventura County Public Health Department has received negative results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding a possible case of the novel coronavirus in Ventura County. There are no confirmed cases or pending cases of the…

Bilingual commentary: The Real ID Experience

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. David Magallanes By David…

Jackson Announces a Ban on Facial Recognition Technology

SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara),chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced plans today to introduce legislation to impose a five year ban on the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement and other public entities. The…

Applications for new PSHH affordable housing now available

Guadalupe Court waiting list opens February 28 Architectural rendering of Guadalupe Court CENTRAL COAST — Applications are now available for Guadalupe Court, Peoples’ Self-Help Housing’s (PSHH) newest affordable housing for farmworkers in Guadalupe, CA. Primary applicants must earn a substantial…

Bilingual report: Update from Ventura County Public Health on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus

VENTURA — The Ventura County Public Health Department continues to take steps to prevent the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus. The health and wellbeing of the community remains Public Health’s top priority. In Ventura County, as in counties across the…

Bilingual report: Barry Zimmerman named Chief Deputy Director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency

VENTURA — The Ventura County Health Care Agency is proud to announce that Barry Zimmerman has been selected as the new Chief Deputy Director. “Zimmerman has been an influential County leader with nearly 24 years of service spanning both the…

Bilingual report: What you need to know about the flu and the Novel Coronavirus

OXNARD — The City of Oxnard understands that some residents may be concerned about the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus. The novel coronavirus is a newly discovered virus that causes respiratory illness and is believed to have originated in Wuhan,…

Bilingual report: No ‘Forever Chemicals’ detected in Oxnard’s drinking water

OXNARD — Oxnard’s commitment to protecting local drinking water sources continues as the City’s tap water remains safe, clean and reliable.  Water quality testing shows there are no per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) contaminants in any of Oxnard’s water sources. PFAS…

Oxnard Harbor District Commission Appoints Celina Zacarias to Harbor Commission

PORT OF HUENEME — In a special meeting held on Monday, February 3, 2020, the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Commissioners appointed Celina Zacarias as Harbor Commissioner. Commissioner Zacarias will be filling the vacancy left by the passing of Commissioner Dr.…

As Valentine’s Day Approaches, Sen Jackson Introduces Bill to Create a Marriage Fact Sheet

SACRAMENTO –As one of the most popular days for marriage proposals approaches, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara)  introduced legislation today to ensure newlyweds are aware of the legal and financial commitments they agree to when they say “I do.” Senate…

2020 Ventura County Academic Decathlon Winners

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Office of Education is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Ventura County Academic Decathlon, which was held in Oxnard over the past two Saturdays. Calabasas High School won both first and second place…

VITA tax assistance sites offer free bi-lingual tax return prep and filing for individuals/families earning less than $56,000

SANTA BARBARA —  As we head into tax season, United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) will be providing  free income tax return preparation and E-Filing to help residents receive their tax refunds at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) locations…

Bilingual report: Ventura County Public Health Department Safety Alert – Novel Coronavirus

VENTURA — The Ventura County Public Health Department (VCPH) is working closely with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to prepare for and respond to the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak. There have been reports of two possible cases in Ventura…

Bilingual report: Vote By Mail Ballots for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election Available Next Week

VENTURA — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn announced today that Vote By Mail ballots for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election will be available beginning Monday, February 3, 2020. All voters have the option to vote by…

Guest commentary: Remembrances, Race, and Role Models: The Renaming of a Middle School

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Frank P. Barajas / Guest contributor…

Port of Hueneme Leads Ventura County’s Green Economy

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   PORT OF HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme kicked off 2020 drawing the attention of Ventura County’s business leaders and environmental advocates earning the California Green Business Network Certification and the 2020 Outstanding Business…

Ventura County Public Works Agency’s Employees Continue to Strive Further in Helping Community

Ventura County Real Estate Services Employees Recognized inInternational Right of Way Association VENTURA COUNTY — Three employees from Ventura County Public Works Agency’s Real Estate Services (RES) have been recognized by the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) for their commitment…

Guest commentary: When a country is perpetually at war and it views everyone as perpetual enemies

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor The…

Bilingual report: Oxnard Wastewater Plant to conduct required odor control maintenance

OXNARD — The Oxnard Wastewater Treatment Plant (OWTP) will be conducting required maintenance on the odor control system at the OWTP headworks facility building beginning February 3, 2020.  The work will require a temporary shutdown of the odor control system…

Jackson Bill Bans Pink Tax

SB 873 outlaws gender-based pricing for products SACRAMENTO – Charging more for a pink children’s helmet over a blue one could be outlawed under legislation introduced by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) on Jan. 22. Senate Bill 873 would make…