Category: Politics

Moorpark College Alumnus Mike Madrid Recognized as a 2024 Distinguished Alumni Honoree

by Community Contributor • November 18, 2024 • Comments Off

MOORPARK — Moorpark College alumnus Mike Madrid will be honored with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award by the Community College League of California (CCLC) at its Annual Convention on November 22 in Burlingame, California.

Madrid and fellow honorees Marlin “Skip” Davies (Yuba College) and Mike McGuire (Santa Rosa Junior College) were nominated by their peers and colleges to receive this honor.

“On behalf of the Community College League of California, I am immensely proud to celebrate the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award honorees,” said Larry Galizio, CCLC president and CEO. “Their achievements exemplify the transformative power of California’s community colleges and reflect the profound impact our community colleges have on individual lives and our society as a whole.”

Guest contribution — American Immigration Council: Biden has 64 days left in office to protect vulnerable immigrants

by Community Contributor • November 18, 2024 • Comments Off

The federal government currently lacks the resources to fulfill Trump’s pledge of mass deportations in the first months of his presidency, but ICE?can and will act?quickly to target immigrants for arrests. However, before that begins, President Biden has two months left in office to take decisive action to protect people at risk under Trump’s indiscriminate immigration enforcement plans.

Gov. Newsom convenes a special session of the Legislature to protect California values

by Community Contributor • November 8, 2024 • Comments Off

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom (on Nov. 7) issued a proclamation convening a special session of the California Legislature to safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration. The special session will focus on bolstering California legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families.

This is the first of several actions by the Newsom Administration, in partnership with the Legislature, as the Governor begins shoring up California’s defenses against an incoming federal administration that has threatened the state on multiple fronts.

Santa Barbara City College thanks community for passing Measure P and welcomes new Trustee-elects

by Community Contributor • November 7, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) and the Santa Barbara City College Foundation express heartfelt gratitude to the Santa Barbara community, Yes on Measure P campaign, and their volunteers for the passage of Measure P, a vital bond extension that will enable the college to enhance facilities, update technology, and continue offering a high-quality educational experience. This bond extension reflects the community’s commitment to SBCC’s mission of empowering students through affordable, accessible, and innovative education.

Bilingual report — Election 2024: Ventura County, It’s Time to Vote!

by Community Contributor • October 24, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Whether you send in your vote by mail ballot or go to a vote center to vote in person, the time is NOW to make your voice heard for the November 5th Presidential Election.

More than a half-million ballots were mailed to Ventura County registered voters in early October. At the same time, the Elections Office at the Ventura County Government Center in Ventura opened for early in-person voting. This week, beginning Saturday, October 26, an 11-day vote center will open in each city in the county, allowing additional opportunities for early voting. More than forty more vote centers open beginning November 2. Vote Centers are open every day through Election Day, and you can visit any location in the county.

Bilingual report — Ventura Registrar Launches “Election Smart!” Online Resource Ahead of Nov. 5th Election

by Community Contributor • October 18, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Michelle Ascencion, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters, announced the launch of Election Smart! and the Election Smart! Blog, a new online resource at VenturaVote.org, to help provide Ventura County voters with accurate, official information about local elections and the upcoming November 5, 2024 General Election. Election Smart! is part of the Registrar of Voters’ commitment to increase transparency around election laws and procedures while countering the spread of misinformation during election season.

Registrar Ascencion’s larger efforts in public outreach began with the Election Education Series, a four-part series presented from October 2023 to February 2024. The series covered different election topics, such as running for office, election integrity and security, and the unique features of Presidential primaries. Videos of the presentations are accessible on the Election Smart! page.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura preparation for Nov. 5th Election Ramping Up With Less Than 30 Days To Go

by Community Contributor • October 4, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Michelle Ascencion, County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters, announced important activities for the November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election that will begin on October 7.

Throughout the State of California, counties will begin mailing Vote by Mail ballots to all active, registered voters on Oct. 7. Voters should expect to receive their ballot by Oct. 17; anyone who hasn’t received their ballot or State/County Voter Information Guide in the mail by then should contact the Elections Office. Voters are reminded they need to return their ballot in the SIGNED return, postage-paid envelope, and return it by U.S. postal mail; or, in 1 of 38 official ballot drop boxes; or, at 1 of 52 vote centers; or, at the County Elections Office by 8 pm on Election Day, Nov. 5. Mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day and received within 7 days. …

Bilingual commentary — Voting ‘Emotionally’

by Community Contributor • August 30, 2024 • Comments Off

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. By David Magallanes •…

Bilingual report — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters — List of City, School District and Special District Elected Offices in Extended Nomination Period for November 5, 2024 General Election

by Community Contributor • August 12, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced the extension of the nomination period for the following City, School District and Special District elected offices that are scheduled to be voted on in the November 5, 2024 General Election. The incumbent officer in each of these positions did not file nomination papers before the August 9, 2024, 5 PM deadline.

UCSB — The Current — ‘How the romantic institution props-up a racialized dating landscape’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • May 16, 2024 • Comments Off

View this email online May 16, 2024 Top News How the romantic institution props-up a racialized dating landscape In a new book, Sabrina Strings blends historical research, personal anecdotes and cultural criticism to consider the demise of romantic partnerships, emphasizing…

CLU School of Management — Watch and Explore second video from ‘Separating Myths From Realities’

by Community Contributor • May 6, 2024 • Comments Off

We’re delighted to present the second short video in our series that brings attention to the pivotal themes of the recent conference, “Separating Myths from Realities,” hosted by the Center for Economics of Social Issues. Our second video focuses on the crucial topic of “Fear of Undocumented Immigrants”, containing key insights from our esteemed presenter and panelists. We invite you to watch this informative video, which aims to present how fear is a human emotion that oppressors use to subjugate and rule over lives. Stay tuned for more insightful videos covering various aspects related to undocumented immigrants in California, from the demographics and economic impact to the degradation they experience.

Bilingual commentary — Using Science to Scare, Intimidate, and Control Americans

by Community Contributor • April 19, 2024 • Comments Off

The methods used to frighten and manipulate the ancient Mexicans are still being used today, for the same purposes, in modern America.

In the seventh and eighth centuries, the Mayan priests used their profound knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and politics to control and subjugate the masses within their jurisdiction. American politicians who understand politics and social media, but who have no apparent understanding of mathematics or astronomy, are attempting to do the very same thing.

Bilingual report — Michelle Ascencion, Ventura County Registrar of Voters, Announces 2024 Presidential Primary Election Night Results and the Start of the Canvass Period

by Community Contributor • March 7, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Primary Election Night Closing Results for Ventura County came in at 1:50 a.m., March 6, 2024, and are posted on the VenturaVote.org Election Results page, along with a link to the Secretary of State’s Semifinal Official Results for the State of California.

The Ventura County Election Night Results include: vote-by-mail ballots received and processed before Election Day, in-person ballots cast during early voting, and non-conditional and non-provisional ballots cast on Election Day.

March 6 is also the start of the Official Canvass Period, which must be completed within thirty days after Election Day. Election officials conduct numerous post-election activities during the canvass as mandated by State Law.

Bilingual commentary — How and Why to Vote Responsibly

by Community Contributor • March 1, 2024 • Comments Off

As I was filling out my ballot for the coming election here in California, most of the items were fairly easy choices for me (one of them at the top of the ticket was very easy). But then I came to the choices for judge for the Ventura County Superior Court. We are directed to vote for only one.

I stared at the names. One of them was immediately recognizable because I had seen his name in news items about some of our local civil and criminal trials. His credentials seem impeccable.

But then I realized that I knew essentially nothing about the other three candidates.

So why is it so important to vote for judges and not just skip over this section of the ballot?

Bilingual report — Ventura County Registrar of Voters Announces Schedule for Election Results Reporting for Presidential Primary Election Night

by Community Contributor • March 1, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — With March 5, 2024, Election Day less than a week away, Michelle Ascencion, Registrar of Voters, and her Elections team are not only planning for the busy voting days that remain ahead, they are also preparing for the long night of election results reporting that follows. The 8:00 p.m. official close of the Election starts the clock when candidates, voters and the media all start looking for the first ballot count results to be reported.

Bilingual report — Ballots for the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election Are On Their Way to Registered Voters in Ventura County

by Community Contributor • February 5, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Today, Feb. 5, 2024, starts the 29-day countdown to the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary election and all the activities mandated by California State Election law.

Throughout the State, Vote by Mail ballots are prepared to go out to all active, registered voters. Those voters should expect to receive their ballots within ten days. Military and overseas voters have already been sent their vote by mail ballots to ensure they have enough time to receive and return them and have them postmarked before the 8:00 pm deadline on Election Day.

Guest commentary — A Chicano’s Education Or How I Decided to Educate Myself on Zionism, part 1

by Community Contributor • January 26, 2024 • Comments Off

As a Chicano who lives in the historically conquered territory of the Southwest after the US attack on Mexico in 1846 and who lives in the state of California that systematically dispossessed indigenous peoples of their land and relegated them to lives in concentration camps known as reservations, I identify with the Palestinian struggle for national liberation. Hence, I refuse to abet via silence the continued catastrophe, Nakba, of ethnic cleansing against the people of Palestine perpetuated since 1948 by the United States-backed state of Israel.[i] This moral stand arose from witnessing the brazenly decontextualized propaganda of commercial network news streamed to my television since October 7, 2023. Indeed, I have yet to view corporate news functionaries addressing the fundamental causes of Zionist invasion, racial apartheid, and theft of Palestinian territories even before the mid-twentieth century that induced Hamas’ recent attack on Israelis and the taking of hostages.

Bilingual commentary — Preparing For the Collapse of Society

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2024 • Comments Off

Previously I was not known to be a pessimistic person by my friends and colleagues. Quite the contrary. They know me as someone who is forward-looking and generally optimistic about life.

Until recently.

Just over three years ago, I breathed a sigh of relief—not so much because Joe Biden had won the presidency, but rather because Donald Trump had lost.

However, by that time Trump had already primed his supporters to reject the possibility that he could lose. That Biden’s win was not exactly a landslide only served to infuriate his base as they disregarded all evidence supporting the results of the election.

Local Grassroots Organization Endorses Slate of Candidates Committed to Immigrant Worker Power, Environmental and Housing Justice for California’s Central Coast

by Community Contributor • January 3, 2024 • Comments Off

Editor’s note: * Shooting Star Communications LLC, the parent company of www.Amigos805.com, does not endorse candidates running for political office. We reserve the right to refuse any political advertisement.

“Every election cycle we witness huge sums of money drop into our communities to sway races in support of candidates that represent powerful interests’ runaway profits instead of peoples’ lives – and this year is no different. CAUSE Action’s people power will continue to defend our communities from the special interest money flooding into our communities,” said Hazel Davalos, Co-Executive Director of CAUSE Action. “We have laid the foundation for us to have one-on-one conversations with thousands of voters. And CAUSE Action will work from now until election day to educate and mobilize voters to support candidates committed to environmental and housing justice, and building immigrant worker power.”

Feb. 22 — Moorpark College and The Colleges of Law Present How to Save Democracy with David Pepper

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

MOORPARK — Moorpark College and The Colleges of Law welcome the community to attend “How to Save Democracy with David Pepper” on Feb. 22. This special event will feature a lecture by esteemed author David Pepper on election law and voting rights. Following the lecture, Dr. Jackie Gardina, Dean and Chief Academic Officer of The Colleges of Law, will engage in a conversation and Q&A session with Pepper.

Sept. 27 — Meet and Greet event to be held for Thousand Oaks City Council Candidate Connie ‘Tie’ Gutierrez

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

THOUSAND OAKS — A Meet and Greet event for Thousand Oaks District 5 City Council Candidate Connie ‘Tie’ Gutierrez will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 at Dover Hendrix Park, Picnic Table 2, Thousand Oaks.

Oct. 12 — Bilingual report — Latinx Voters Forum to be held at Santa Barbara City College

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — Stop by Santa Barbara City College and join us for an important discussion on upcoming issues in the November ballot affecting the Latinx community. Santa Barbara City Council members and candidates will be on hand to answer questions and share their perspectives on key issues. This non-partisan, informational forum will feature a moderated panel discussion. Spanish translation services will be provided. Stay after the forum to enjoy lunch and connect with your community! This event is sponsored by the Latinx Mental Health Students at Antioch University Santa Barbara and Antioch Works for Democracy.

Bilingual commentary — It’s Been Quite a Year

by Community Contributor • December 15, 2023 • Comments Off

Bilingual report — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Notifies ‘No Party Preference’ Voters of Their Ballot Options for the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election

by Community Contributor • November 20, 2023 • Comments Off

VENTURA COUNTY — This week, the Ventura County Elections Division will begin mailing notification cards to the nearly 113,000 County voters who are registered without a qualified political party. The notification cards will explain how No Party Preference (NPP) voters can request a ballot that includes the presidential contest.

All March 5, 2024 primary election ballots will have contests for U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, State Senator, State Assembly Member, Judges of the Superior Court, County Supervisors (if applicable), and state and local measures. However, only voters registered with a political party will have a ballot listing the party-specific contests for the office of U.S. President and County Central Committee members.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Begins Board of Supervisors Presidential Primary Election Education Series Oct. 17, Nov. 7, Feb. 6, 27

by Community Contributor • October 12, 2023 • Comments Off

VENTURA — In anticipation of the upcoming March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election, Michelle Ascencion, County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, will be presenting a five-part Election Education Series at the Ventura County Board of Supervisors Meetings. Over the next few months, Ascencion will be covering election topics that are of interest to the Ventura County voting and candidate community.

Bilingual commentary — The High Price of Illiteracy

by Community Contributor • October 6, 2023 • Comments Off

I was recently listening to a radio program discussing illiteracy and poverty in our country. These two intractable problems in our society are inextricably linked to each other. They also explain a lot of the darker forces that are shaping our future—and that of our children.

As I searched the Internet for some insight into the aforementioned forces, I came across a few uncomfortable propositions. I was reluctant to accept them. But I had to admit to myself that there were good reasons to at least entertain the possibility that these propositions contained some truth.

Bilingual report — American Checkmate, 2024

by Community Contributor • August 18, 2023 • Comments Off

In chess, “checkmate” occurs when the “king” on the board is threatened with capture and has no way out. At that point, the game is, for all intents and purposes, over.

We in the United States are being checkmated by Donald Trump, the current GOP frontrunner for the presidential primary nomination. Rather than a checkmate of the king, the very foundation of our country is being threatened. Increasingly, it appears that there is no way out of the upcoming fraught battle for the very soul of the nation.

Bilingual commentary — Is Teaching Conventional English and Math “White Supremacy”?

by Community Contributor • July 14, 2023 • Comments Off

A California high school English teacher, Marta Shaffer, has declared that teaching proper English grammar in our classrooms sustains white supremacy in our education system.

Either Ms. Shaffer has a point, or she is someone who searches tirelessly for supremacist underpinnings where there may be none—or at least not to the extent that she perceives.

Bilingual commentary — And We Thought Florida Had Problems with Gender…

by Community Contributor • June 2, 2023 • Comments Off

Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis, now officially a presidential candidate, has been implementing a tumultuous “War on Woke.” His crusade within the ongoing culture wars has infamously targeted transgender, LGBTQ, “personal pronouns,” and sexual identity issues.

Mr. DeSantis has gone so far as to place Disneyland directly in the crosshairs of his political weaponry. Disneyland dared to publicly disagree with one of his more contentious edicts against the gay population in his state. The governor has conjured a maelstrom of hatred to rile up and anger his base.

Bilingual report — Public Comment Period Begins for Voter’s Choice Act Election Administration Plan Renewal

by Community Contributor • May 22, 2023 • Comments Off

County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced the start of the 14-Day public comment period for Ventura County’s new draft of the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) Election Administration Plan (EAP) Renewal. Comments can be made directly on the Elections website at www.VenturaVote.org or they can be sent to the Elections Division email at elections@ventura.org, from May 22 through June 5.

Bilingual commentary — Are Latinos “White”?

by Community Contributor • May 19, 2023 • Comments Off

I had a moment of angst three years ago as I filled out the 2020 U.S. Census form. I froze in my tracks, just as I had with employment forms in the past, when I saw a question asking me to denote my race. I am thoroughly aware that much of the U.S. population, especially in the more conservative states, would not consider me “white.”

Their assessment is based solely on my appearance. I’m not particularly dark, but neither am I of “fair skin.”

In light of recent developments in our country, I am now less willing to declare myself as of the “white” race on any form inquiring about my ancestral background. However, in the following Census question inquiring about my ethnicity (as opposed to “race”), selecting “Hispanic or Latino” was an obvious choice.

Bilingual commentary — The Attacks on Jill Biden Are Attacks on Women

by Community Contributor • May 12, 2023 • Comments Off

For MAGA conservatives, women are fair game. Members of the extreme right wing of the conservative movement can pursue and verbally attack women with impunity. In fact, it raises their profile as they become heroes within their authoritarian, paternalistic tribes.

This was demonstrated recently when right-wing TV host John Fredericks lambasted First Lady Jill Biden on several fronts.

Bilingual commentary — Israel and the U.S.: A Tale of Two Countries

by Community Contributor • May 5, 2023 • Comments Off

As I read an article this past week about the 75th anniversary of the founding of Israel, I found myself wondering, for a few moments, whether I was actually reading about Israel or the United States.

Israel has been contending with a hyper-religious, ultra-Orthodox contingent in its government that is very influential regarding national policies. Since December of last year, Israel’s government has taken a hard turn to the right, guided by ultraconservative, extremist lawmakers who have strong authoritarian tendencies and who have no intention of negotiating with the Palestinians regarding their statehood. The history of the Palestinian territories has been fraught with dizzying complexity since 1916, around the time of World War I.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Small Insect, Big Impact’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • April 13, 2023 • Comments Off

The productivity of brine flies is tied to overall health of salt lake ecosystems; both are in decline.

Bilingual commentary — The Statue of David vs. “Parents’ Rights”

by Community Contributor • April 7, 2023 • Comments Off

Much like a hurricane that roars in from the Gulf of Mexico, the ultraconservative far right is gaining strength in Florida. Ron DeSantis, the Harvard-educated governor of the state, is an emerging authoritarian who is creating a political environment that resembles that of the autocratic government of Hungary.

Mr. DeSantis is a strong proponent of “parents’ rights.” This concept transfers educational authority from the highly trained educators to parents of elementary through high school students. These parents often have no training whatsoever in child psychology or school curricula, and little or no experience in the classroom.

Bilingual commentary — The Trouble With Words

by Community Contributor • March 24, 2023 • Comments Off

I love words. I am a writer. I believe I understand the power of words. The hermit that coined that moronic phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt!’ probably survived in a pitch-black cave isolated from all humanity. Words, as we all know that live in this chaotic and troublesome world, can start insurrections, wars, the collapse of nations, and they may even send a corrupt, immoral and evil ex-presidents to jail. On a personal level mean, abusive and cruel words are like a million vicious paper cuts that will inevitably destroy the intended target. On the flip side loving, kind and affirmative words can help heal the most broken soul, and give hope to a people, and perhaps save a nation and the world.

Registration deadline is Feb. 10 to attend Ventura County Elections Division’s Language Accessibility Advisory Committee (LAAC) Public Meeting meeting on Feb. 14

by Community Contributor • February 9, 2023 • Comments Off

The Ventura County Elections Division invites you to join our February 2023 Language Accessibility Advisory Committee (LAAC) meeting to be held on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We are requesting the publics assistance in reaching out to the limited English-speaking community to provide important voting information within Ventura County. We will be conducting the meeting via the Zoom web conference platform. I

Bilingual commentary — George Santos for President

by Community Contributor • February 3, 2023 • Comments Off

Most of us are aware of the story of George Santos, a Republican U.S. House of Representatives Congressman elected in November 2022. Actually, we think his name is George Santos. He has “embellished” his past so thoroughly, we may not ever know who, exactly, he really is.

“Embellished” is a polite euphemism. Apparently, Mr. Santos has lied profoundly to the American people, particularly to those who elected him based on his stated views and history. The story of his life that he provided was, as it turns out, a complete fabrication.

Bilingual report — Important Dates for the City of Oxnard Special Municipal Vacancy Election for Council Member District 6 (Short Term)

by Community Contributor • January 30, 2023 • Comments Off

County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced the details of the March 7, 2023, City of Oxnard Special Municipal Vacancy Election for City Council Member-District 6.

The Special Election is a Voter’s Choice Act Election, giving City of Oxnard District 6 voters the opportunity for “More Days and More Ways” to submit their ballot. Voters in this election can:

Bilingual commentary — The Big Lie and the Erosion of Democracy

by Community Contributor • January 27, 2023 • Comments Off

When Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, there was some speculation that perhaps he would “go quietly into the night.” On the campaign trail, he himself said that if he were to lose the election, we’d never see him again. He also stated that he “might have to leave the country.” Looking back, we now realize that he was just joking.

Fast-forwarding two years, we know that not only did he not leave the country, but rather he is very possibly planning a vengeful return to the White House. We also know that he concocted a Big Lie that has had troubling implications for our democracy. His Big Lie, which is the claim that the election was “rigged” and that he had actually won the election, has spawned an entire industry of election deniers who refuse to believe hard, unequivocal evidence that the election was, in fact, the most secure in American history.

But election deniers ignore the hard numbers. They “feel in their heart” that they are right, let the facts be damned.

Suddenly—not only here, but throughout the world—election denialism is all the rage (so to speak). Trump planted a seed that was fertilized by strategic misinformation. A plant grew from that seed, blossomed, and in turn nefariously spread its seeds far and wide.

May 15 — Bilingual report — County of Ventura Elections Office seeking community leaders for Language Accessibility Advisory Committee

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2023 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura Elections Office seeking community leaders to serve on a Language Accessibility Advisory Committee Committee (LAAC) in Ventura County.

You are cordially invited to participate in the quarterly LAAC meeting as we prepare for the 2024 Presidential Primary Election. Your voice matters!

The next quarterly meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 15. We will be conducting the meeting via the Zoom web conference platform.

Topic: LAAC Quarterly Meeting to discuss language preparation for the 2024 Presidential Primary Election

Statistics show dramatic increase in CSUCI student voting

by Community Contributor • November 3, 2022 • Comments Off

If statistics from the 2020 election are any indication, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students are very likely to show up at the polls for the critical 2022 midterm elections.

According to The National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) out of Tufts University, CSUCI voting rates increased from 55% showing up at the polls in 2016 to 77% in 2020, a 22% point increase.

“Voting rates across the state increased during this period, also, from 59% in 2016 to 71% in 2020, but this was only a 12% point increase, compared with CSUCI’s 22% increase,” said CSUCI Director of Institutional Research & Chief Data Officer Matt Zivot, Ph.D. “This is an indication that the gains we saw at CSUCI reflected the hard work done by the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) team, over and above a general change in voter interest and universal voting by mail.”

Bilingual commentary — The Specter of Nuclear War

by Community Contributor • October 7, 2022 • Comments Off

Those of us who were in grade school in the 1950s and early 60s will never forget the “duck and cover” drills we used to have in our classrooms. This was a Civil Defense exercise that put the fear of nuclear war into our little heads. At least once a month, as best I recall, we would hear the sirens wailing at 10 a.m. on a Friday. We knew what to do: kneel and drop, face down, below our desk—that mighty protector of our young lives—and cover our necks and heads with our arms and hands as much as possible.

The Soviet Union became a nuclear power in 1949, and suddenly we had a threatening nuclear rival. The Cold War that followed World War II was replete with the rattles of sabers and ominous words, not too unlike what we are hearing today from the leaders of Russia, the remnant of the Soviet Union.

Guest commentary — Can United States Democracy Survive the Big Lie?

by Community Contributor • September 22, 2022 • Comments Off

The late great poet, activist and musical genius Gil Scott-Heron, often reminds folks through his work that, “America has always lead the world in selective amnesia and hypocrisy” How can any honest, common sense thinking American disagree? But alas, we Americans are often a hard-headed, selfish, greedy and stupid people in full display of an incredulous world, some watch nervously others cheering madly, as Trump and his MAGA cult push our nation further toward the abyss of totalitarianism.

So to me, the short and long answer to whether will America survive the big lie is as scary as it is obvious. Of course, the United States of America will survive; it may even continue to flourish if and when Trump and his MAGA fellow fascists take over. After all what is more dangerous and entrenched than an army of MAGA/QAnon zealots that have collectively drank the orange Kool-Aid and believe to the marrow of their soul that the country that they ruled for over 245 years is being “stolen from them by the godless hordes of Mexicans, Blacks and other undesirables heathens.”

County of Ventura Language Accessibility Advisory Committee to meet Aug. 24. Volunteers needed

by Community Contributor • August 23, 2022 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura Elections Office seeking citizen volunteers to serve on a Language Accessibility Advisory Committee Committee (LAAC) in Ventura County.

The next quarterly meeting will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. We will be conducting the meeting via the Zoom web conference platform. Attached is a flyer for you to share with your organizations.

Bilingual report — List of City, School District and Special District Offices In Extended Nomination Period for Nov. 8, 2022, General Election

by Community Contributor • August 15, 2022 • Comments Off

Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn announced the extension of the nomination period for the following City, School District and Special District offices that are scheduled to be voted on in the November 8, 2022 General Election. The extended nomination period will close on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. The extension does not apply to incumbents.

CITIES

The nomination period extension for City offices applies to the following:

Fillmore City Council (Full term, Short term)
Moorpark Mayor
Ojai City Council, District 1
San Buenaventura (Ventura) City Council, Districts 1 and 5
Santa Paula City Council
Simi Valley Mayor
Thousand Oaks City Council

County of Ventura Elections Office seeking volunteers for Language Accessibility Advisory Committee

by Community Contributor • August 3, 2022 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura Elections Office seeking citizen volunteers to serve on a Language Accessibility Advisory Committee Committee (LAAC) in Ventura County.

Bilingual commentary — Our Aversion to Science

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2022 • Comments Off

Throughout the history of the world, there have been challenges to classical science.

It took a couple of centuries for people to embrace Isaac Newton’s heliocentric model, developed in the 16th century, establishing that the sun – and not the earth – was the center of the universe. That the earth was displaced from the center of the universe clashed with the belief that we were “exceptional.” Galileo had proposed this very idea nearly a century earlier, but he recanted when his life was threatened by the Catholic Church.

Bilingual commentary — Continuation of Attacks on Public Education

by Community Contributor • July 22, 2022 • Comments Off

As our country tilts menacingly toward a theocratic autocracy, the attacks on our public education system are becoming relentless. In some states, there is a determined effort to infiltrate school boards and administrative posts with supporters of an ultra-conservative, right-wing ideology. A traditionally conservative philosophy in our schools’ governance might be something society could tolerate and even negotiate, but this is different.

In certain states (not so much here in California), there is a troubling Christian nationalist facet of this movement that seems to be working to undermine traditional public education. Curricula and books in public schools are being unmercifully scrutinized. Anything that smacks of “wokeness” is discarded and replaced with a “patriotic” form of education. “Wokeness” is a euphemism for “liberal education,” and “patriotism” is a nefarious euphemism for censorship and distortions of history and science that are destined to warp our students’ understanding of the world and their place in it.

Bennett, Limón bill to restrict gun sales at Ventura County Fairgrounds signed by the Governor

by Community Contributor • July 21, 2022 • Comments Off

Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) and State Sen. Monique Limón announced today that Legislation to restrict gun sales at the Ventura County Fairground has been signed by the Governor.

According to a report published by UC Davis, gun shows are a source for illegally trafficked firearms. The Center for American Progress noted that gun shows have received criticism as being “the critical moment in the chain of custody for many guns, the point at which they move from the somewhat-regulated legal market to the shadowy, no-questions-asked illegal market.” And, according to American Academy of Pediatrics California, “Gun violence is among the greatest public health crises facing children and youth. Nearly 7,000 children younger than 18 are killed or wounded by gunshots each year.” Firearm-related deaths are now the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 19.

Bilingual report — Offices and Nomination Period Announced for Nov. 8, 2022 General Election

by Community Contributor • July 18, 2022 • Comments Off

Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn announced the offices eligible for the upcoming November 8, 2022 General Election. The 2022 General Election is a non-partisan run-off election for the state, federal and county top-two contest finishers who ran in the June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election. It is also the regular election for municipal, special district and school district races.

The nomination period for the municipal, special, and school district candidates runs from July 18, 2022, through August 12, 2022. If the incumbent in one of these races does not file by close of business on August 12, the nomination period will be extended an additional five days ending August 17, 2022. It should be noted that newly formed district offices (from previously at-large seats) do not have incumbents and therefore will not have an extension period.

“We are seeing more and more interest in local races in recent years, both from voters and possible candidates,” said Lunn. “We want to make sure anyone interested in running for a city office, school district or a special district is aware that, even though the election isn’t until November, they need to start reviewing the process right away. The deadlines come up quickly.”

Bilingual commentary — When Facts Don’t Matter

by Community Contributor • July 15, 2022 • Comments Off

For the past two and a half years, I have tried every way imaginable to understand how election deniers think. Of course, I’m referring to those who are convinced, or have convinced themselves, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump. Why do they so stubbornly refuse to accept Trump’s defeat despite the unambiguous evidence proving that he did indeed lose?

Before we attempt to answer that question, here are several noteworthy facts:

Bilingual commentary — The Erosion of Our Democracy

by Community Contributor • July 8, 2022 • Comments Off

For some time now, I’ve written here about the difficulties faced by young people today in comparison with those faced by the baby boomers. The boomer generation grew up in relatively prosperous times after the Second World War. In retrospect, we may have had contentious issues to deal with, such as the lack of racial equality (once again a burning issue), but our democracy seemed secure. Transitions of power at the highest level of our government always seemed to take place seamlessly.

Bilingual report — Official Final Results and Certification Announced for June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election, Ventura County’s First Full Voter’s Choice Act Election

by Community Contributor • July 3, 2022 • Comments Off

Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn (on June 30) announced the official election results certification for the June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election with 100% of Ventura County’s 1,519 precincts reporting. Full election results from Ventura County are now available on the VenturaVote.org website. Statewide contest results are on the Secretary of State website: https://electionresults.sos.ca.gov/

Voto Latino — Latinos in Battleground States support gun control & abortion rights

by Community Contributor • June 24, 2022 • Comments Off

Also see:

NBC News — Poll: Majority of Latinos in battleground states support abortion rights, gun reform

By Voto Latino

Latinos are the second largest voting bloc in the country and disproportionately reside in critical battleground states where they are also the fastest growing voting bloc. Candidates hoping to win in November and beyond will need to appeal to Latinos and the issues that matter to them. In order to understand how Latinos feel about two of the most salient issues in the country – abortion rights and mass shootings – Change Research surveyed 1,033 registered Hispanic and Latino voters in the seven key battleground states of Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania from June 2-7, 2022 on behalf of Voto Latino.1

A strong majority of Latinos are concerned about their personal safety from gun violence and believe weak gun laws are a major reason why perpetrators are capable of inflicting such carnage. Overwhelming majorities support many common sense gun safety laws Democrats have proposed and believe there would be fewer mass shootings if they were to be enacted. Latinos are also ready to reward leaders who take action on gun laws: an overwhelming 69% are more likely to support candidates who support the gun laws tested in this poll, including roughly half of Republican Latinos.

Latinos also fear for their reproductive freedoms as the conservative majority on the Supreme Court indicates it is prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade. Over two-thirds of Latinos support the right to an abortion in all or most cases.

Dr. César Morales Elected as Ventura County Superintendent of Schools

by Community Contributor • June 10, 2022 • Comments Off

For the first time, Dr. César Morales has been elected by voters as Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. He was initially appointed to the role in 2021 by the Ventura County Board of Education to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of former Superintendent Stan Mantooth. Upon his appointment, Dr. Morales made history by becoming the first Latino and first person of color to hold the office since it was created in 1873. Dr. Morales ran unopposed in yesterday’s primary election. His new term will run through 2026.

“I’m extremely gratified to have the opportunity to serve as Ventura County Superintendent of Schools for the next four years,” Dr. Morales said. “As local schools deal with declining enrollment and issues surrounding school safety and student mental health, my office will be at their side to find solutions and strategies that best meet students’ needs.”

First District Supervisor Das Williams — Vote by 8pm tonight in the California Primary Election!

by Community Contributor • June 7, 2022 • Comments Off

There are many important races in today’s California Primary Election that need your vote to ensure a good candidate moves on to November but also critical local County races that will be decided TODAY!

We have statewide offices at the top of the ballot, including Governor Gavin Newsom, who successfully defeated a recall attempt last year but needs your vote again today to stay in office. Additionally, my former colleague and friend, appointed Attorney General Rob Bonta is facing tough opponents from the right-wing and critically needs your support to stay in office. Lastly, you will need to vote for Senator Alex Padilla twice – once to move on to November for the new Senate term starting next year and a second time to keep him in the seat through the end of this year. That second vote is a nuanced one and critical to ensure we don’t have a Republican take over that seat for the rest of the year, altering the makeup of the Senate.

County of Ventura COVID-19 & County Update

by Community Contributor • June 7, 2022 • Comments Off

It’s election day! Voting centers are open today until 8:00 pm. Visit www.venturavote.org to find a voting center or ballot drop box. Shout out to the many county election workers supporting the 2022 CA primary election!

Bilingual report — Ventura County Opening 51 Vote Centers for June 7, 2022 Primary Election

by Community Contributor • May 27, 2022 • Comments Off

The next milestone of Ventura County’s June 7 Primary Election is being reached with 10 Vote Centers opening Saturday, May 28, 2022, followed by 41 additional Vote Centers opening Saturday, June 4, 2022. Ventura County registered voters will have a total of 51 Vote Centers and 11 possible days of in-person voting available.

For voters that prefer to vote in person, the California Voter’s Choice Act is structured to give voters more time to vote than ever before. For ten days prior to the Election there must be at least one Vote Center for every 50,000 registered voters. For three days prior to the Election there must be one Vote Center for every 10,000 registered voters. All Vote Centers are open Election Day and voters can vote at any Vote Center throughout the County.

Bilingual commentary — “Parental Rights” and Public Education

by Community Contributor • May 26, 2022 • Comments Off

Beware the impending chaos in our schools.

As conservative politicians make inroads to our local governments, they will be charged with the political duty of acquiescing to parents who demand “control” over school boards and other educational entities. Ostensibly, parents on the far right of the political spectrum want to ensure that their children are taught only what are deemed to be “American” or “Christian” values. Unfortunately, this is often code for the elimination of lessons and discussions that investigate our troubled racial history. Anything that barely grazes age-appropriate matters of sexuality will also be off the table.

California State Assembly Advances Gun Violence Prevention Package in Wake of Uvalde, TX School Shooting Tragedy

by Community Contributor • May 26, 2022 • Comments Off

In the wake of another tragedy and inaction at the national level, the Assembly Wednesday advanced a package of six gun violence prevention bills to the Senate, signaling California’s commitment to doing everything possible to take action where the federal government is not.

The group of six Democratic lawmakers – Asm. Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Asm. Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), Asm. Steve Bennett (D-Ventura), Asm. Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), Asm. Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego), and Asm. Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) – together brought their bills to a vote on the Assembly Floor. The Members expressed impassioned frustration with Congress’s failure to act on the issues of gun control and gun violence prevention, and emphasized the corresponding need for California to recommit itself with urgency to the fight.

“Our number one job as legislators is to keep our communities safe — and on the issue of gun violence, our federal lawmakers are failing horrifically” saidAssemblymember Buffy Wicks. “While we have strong gun violence prevention laws here in California, there’s still so much more that can be done. We must do everything in our power under state law to strengthen protections for our communities, and be an example for other state legislatures to take action where our federal policymakers are not.”

Letter to the Editor — Please protect our families and our water by voting Yes on A and B!

by Community Contributor • May 25, 2022 • Comments Off

As a California registered Civil Engineer for the US Navy I was responsible for the execution of hundreds of Environmental Security projects. Please join me in rejecting Big Oil’s attempt to overturn the bipartisan water protections that our Democrat and Republican Supervisors put in place. The Big Oil fliers that flood our mailboxes and ads that flood our TVs and even web sites are paid for by Chevron’s $6,000,000 campaign. The Oil campaign is funded by their price gouging which, thank God, is under US House Investigation. Chevron’s gouging got them $73 BILLION in profit in the year ending in March – a 92% increase year over year.

UCSB — The Current — ‘A Threat Reconsidered’ and more news

by Community Contributor • May 24, 2022 • Comments Off

A new study finds support for political violence in the U.S. is overstated.

Letter to the Editor — In support of Ventura County District Erik Nasarenko

by Community Contributor • May 18, 2022 • Comments Off

I am writing in support of Ventura County District Erik Nasarenko. In June, Erik will be on the ballot to continue his position as DA. I had the pleasure of serving with Erik on the Ventura City Council, and saw firsthand how his leadership style benefited the residents of Ventura, particularly during his term as Mayor. His intelligence and dedication, combined with a compassionate and thorough approach, were of immense help to our community during challenging times. Erik has the rare ability to communicate with clarity, precision and understanding of complicated issues. He works effectively with a wide variety of individuals and groups, facilitating consensus and action.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Elections Has Immediate Need for Election Workers

by Community Contributor • March 21, 2022 • Comments Off

Do you want to take part in our democracy? Do you enjoy public service? Apply to be a part of our awesome team! Ventura County Elections is seeking to fill 380 Temporary Intermittent Elections Voting Assistant positions immediately at an hourly rate of $22.37 to assist with the June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election.
***
¿Gustaría usted tomar parte en nuestra democracia? ¿Disfruta usted en el servicio público? ¡Aplique para ser parte de nuestro equipo impresionante! La División de Elecciones del Condado de Ventura está en búsqueda para llenar de inmediata, 380 posiciones Temporarias Intermitentes de Asistente de Votación Electoral a $22.37 por hora para asistir con la Elección Primaria Directa Estatal del 7 de junio de 2022.

Bilingual report — Nomination Period for June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election Extended for Four Offices

by Community Contributor • March 14, 2022 • Comments Off

Mark Lunn, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, announced the extension of the nomination period to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, for four offices that are scheduled to be voted upon at the June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election.

The extension applies to the following offices:

County Supervisor, 4th District
County Assessor
County Clerk and Recorder
County Treasurer-Tax Collector

Bilingual commentary — The Big Lie and the Flat Earth

by Community Contributor • March 11, 2022 • Comments Off

The vast majority of Republicans believe Trump’s Big Lie about last year’s election. They support the “alternative fact” that the election was “stolen” and “fraudulent” and that Trump indeed “won.” They cling to this belief despite the mountains of evidence and reams of data to the contrary. There are thoroughly fact-checked, credible reports about the 61 courts, including the Supreme Court, that struck down lawsuits claiming election malfeasance. This means nothing to the “True Believers” who consider themselves “real Americans” and “patriots.”

“Trump won.” That’s their belief and they’re sticking to it.

Bilingual report — The War on Education

by Community Contributor • March 4, 2022 • Comments Off

As I sit down to write this article, the Russian army is waging war on its neighbor, Ukraine. This is of enormous concern in Europe and around the world. But there is a different kind of war in our own midst that threatens to undermine the very foundations of our country’s success as a nation.

Until recently, education of our children and young adults was something that we valued – something in which we took pride and strove to provide for them. We thought it was important that our children were learning math and history and music. We used to admire young people who chose to go to our colleges and universities. Now we also recognize that higher education is not the only path to financial and personal success.

Bilingual report — Offices Eligible for Election in the June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election

by Community Contributor • February 10, 2022 • Comments Off

Mark Lunn, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, announced the offices eligible for election in the June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election; and the opening of the nomination period for those office on Monday, February 14, 2022.

Official nomination documents for candidates interested in the offices below may be obtained beginning at 8:00 a.m. on February 14th at the Ventura County Elections Division, Hall of Administration, Lower Plaza, 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura. To obtain or file official nomination documents, appointments for in-person services are highly encouraged and can be made online at https://bit.ly/3zcjWWx. Official nomination documents must be filed with the Ventura County Elections Division by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 11, 2022.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Getting a Read on Responsible AI’ and more news

by Community Contributor • January 25, 2022 • Comments Off

William Wang’s lecture on artificial intelligence launches UCSB Reads 2022.

LULAC Warns A Repeat Of The January 6, 2021 Insurrection Is Still Possible

by Community Contributor • January 6, 2022 • Comments Off

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued the following statement on the first anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The protest and violence were carried out in an attempt to stop the ratification of the electoral ballot results from the November 2020 presidential election that defeated Donald Trump. The US Justice Department issued a report six months following the attack and stated that more than 535 people who took part in the insurrection were arrested in all 50 states. Five people died during the incident, a Capitol police officer lost his life the following day of stroke complications from injuries he suffered in the violence, and four other officers on duty during the attack died later from suicide. A full congressional investigation into the insurrection continues.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Lunn Announces Signatures-In-Lieu Period for June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election

by Community Contributor • January 2, 2022 • Comments Off

County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn announced (Dec. 30) that signatures-in-lieu of the filing fee petitions for the June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election may be obtained from the Ventura County Elections Division beginning Monday, January 3, 2022, for the following offices:

Feb. 23 — LWV Ventura County Wraps Up Lunch and Learn Online Series with County Supervisor Interview

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2022 • Comments Off

What do our local elected officials do every day? What are the main challenges their office is facing? What skills do they need to be successful? These are just some of the questions that will be asked of County Supervisor Linda Parks, the last of six local elected officials to join League President Betsy Patterson for an informal online interview/Q&A presented by the League of Women Voters of Ventura County.

May 28 — Ventura County Bilingual Voter Education Workshop

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2022 • Comments Off

The Ventura County Election Division presents a Bilingual Voter Education Workshop at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28.

Learn about your voting options and the language assistance we provide!

Join us on zoom or via telephone!

Bilingual report — Ventura County Registrar of Voters Holding a Virtual Public Hearing on the Draft Election Administration Plan on Dec. 15

by Community Contributor • December 6, 2021 • Comments Off

The Ventura County Registrar of Voters will hold a virtual public hearing on the draft Election Administration Plan (EAP) on December 15, 2021, in accordance with the County’s upcoming transition to the California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) for the upcoming June 2022 election. Language interpretation will be available in the following languages: Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Gujarati.

The draft EAP was developed through a series of community meetings to gather feedback on the new voting model that will modernize the way Ventura County residents vote. The draft EAP is posted online in all required languages at VenturaVote.org under the “California Voter’s Choice Act” icon.

Bilingual report — City of Oxnard, District 2 Special Municipal Vacancy Nov. 2 Election Final Results and Certification Announced

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn announced today the final election results for the November 2, 2021 City of Oxnard, District 2 Special Municipal Vacancy Election with 100% of precincts reporting.

A total of 2,257 ballots were cast in this election. Final results for this election yielded a 12.57% voter turnout.

Bilingual commentary — Mexico’s “Third-World” Reputation

by Community Contributor • November 19, 2021 • Comments Off

Much of the world regards the United States with either admiration, envy, jealousy, anger, mistrust, or outright hostility.

I have a cousin in Mexico who frequently mentioned the U.S. with rancor and a hint of animosity. She disdainfully described her own country as “Third World.”

However, I’ve come to understand that the term “Third World” is now considered derogatory. It’s no longer “politically correct” to refer to a country as “Third World.” The term is a relic of the Cold War. It was originally meant to designate countries that were not aligned with either NATO or the communist bloc. At the time, Mexico fit that description, and the term stuck.

Rep. Brownley — Honoring Our Veterans – Today and Every Day

by Community Contributor • November 11, 2021 • Comments Off

On this Veterans Day, we must commit not only to express our gratitude to our veterans, but to also fulfill our nation’s solemn promise: just as the military pledges to leave no soldier behind on the battlefield, we must leave no veteran behind when they return home. How we care for our veterans is a measure of our character as a country.

Since being elected to Congress, I have made it my priority to ensure that as a nation we fulfill this promise to our veterans and their families. Without their selfless service, America would not have the liberties so many of us enjoy – and often take for granted.

So, today, we pay tribute to these men and women who have served our country in defense of our values, our security, and our way of life.

In Ventura County, Veterans Day perfectly illustrates our community’s traditions and steadfast commitment to recognizing and honoring the men and women who have served our nation in uniform. It is that ethos that also guides my work – both in Congress and in Ventura County.

Bilingual commentary — The Importance of Being Informed

by Community Contributor • November 5, 2021 • Comments Off

For me, keeping abreast of the news is a lifelong habit. For some reason, I tend to think that everyone keeps up with the news at least as much as I do. But then not everyone is as obsessed with the news as I am! And there are others who are far more diligent than I am about analyzing the affairs of the world.

I often talk with people I know about something in the news on the national, state, or local level. I mistakenly assume that “everyone” knows what I’m talking about, but I’m often faced with a blank stare. They may be interested but not aware of the circumstances that make something newsworthy. They may be embarrassed that they don’t know what I’m referring to. Or they flat-out may not care.

And then again, sometimes I’m the one with the blank stare.

Bilingual report — Revised Draft Supervisorial District Maps Available Ahead of November 9 Public Hearing

by Community Contributor • November 2, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura has released revised draft redistricting maps available for review atwww.ventura.org/redistricting/draft-maps/. The revised draft maps were developed by the project consultant, Redistricting Partners, in response to public comments and direction provided by the Board of Supervisors at the October 19, 2021 public hearing.

Redistricting Partners will provide an overview of the revised draft maps at the next redistricting public hearing at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on November 9 at 3:00 pm and again at 6:00 pm. An additional public hearing has been scheduled for November 16. Spanish and Mixteco interpretation will be available at the public hearings. Information about participating in the public hearings can be accessed at https://www.ventura.org/bosmeetings. All past public hearings and community meetings can be viewed at https://www.ventura.org/redistricting/participation/.

Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Presidential Candidate Julián Castro speaks before UCSB A&L audience in Campbell Hall on “Waking Up From My American Dream’

by Community Contributor • October 13, 2021 • Comments Off

CSB Arts & Lectures (A&L), the Central and South Coasts’ premier cultural arts presenting organization, proudly presented Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Presidential Candidate Julián Castro, who spoke Sunday, October 10th at 7:30 p.m. on Waking Up From My American Dream. Castro shared insights from his political journey and actionable ways we can effect change.

A former Democratic candidate for president, Julián Castro served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Obama from 2014 to 2017, and as mayor of San Antonio from 2009 to 2014. He made history in 2001 as San Antonio’s youngest city councilman at that time, and again in 2012 as the first Latino to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.

His memoir, An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up From My American Dream, published in 2018, is a candid account of race and poverty in America. Born to unmarried parents in a poverty-stricken neighborhood of a struggling city, Castro details his unlikely journey to becoming an emerging national icon.

Bilingual report — Draft Supervisorial District Maps Available for Review

by Community Contributor • October 12, 2021 • Comments Off

County of Ventura Draft Supervisorial Maps are now available for community review on the Redistricting website at www.ventura.org/redistricting/draft-maps/. Based upon the principles listed below, the County’s consultants Redistricting Partners have objectively prepared a series of draft alternative supervisorial maps. These draft maps were derived from an amalgamation of obligatory state and federal inputs, data points from the most recent census, and draft maps, comments, and statements submitted by the public.

Grant Program Championed by Assemblymember Irwin to Seize Weapons from Prohibited Persons Announces Open Application Window

by Community Contributor • October 11, 2021 • Comments Off

California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the opening of the application period for Gun Violence Reduction Program grants. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin led a coalition of over 20 of her colleagues in the Assembly to secure this funding in the 2021 Budget Act. Funding will be awarded by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to county sheriff’s departments to support activities related to seizing weapons and ammunition from individuals prohibited from possessing them.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Uniting Generations’ and more information

by Community Contributor • October 7, 2021 • Comments Off

A clinical trial explores how virtual reality can help older adults and their families stay connected.

Bilingual report — Sept. 14, 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election Final Results and Certification Announced

by Community Contributor • October 5, 2021 • Comments Off

Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn announced today the final election results for the September 14, 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election with 100% of precincts reporting.

A total of 321,553 ballots were cast in this election. Final results for this election yielded a 63.07% voter turnout. The county had a record-breaking total of 509,797 registered voters.

Bilingual report — Choosing the Enemy

by Community Contributor • September 10, 2021 • Comments Off

Sometimes we reach for an artifact, a bauble, a seashell, or a book because something—we don’t know what—attracts us to the object. It’s almost as if the object chooses us.

I’ve often randomly reached for books or watched a movie or documentary. For reasons unknown to me, they caught my attention and ended up giving me a new perspective that helped me understand more about the world around me. These sources of information have pulled my life into different orbits, and at times even changed the course of my existence completely and irrevocably. One of my latest book choices certainly had me reconsidering some of the things that I had observed and learned throughout my life.

Bilingual report — Sept. 14, 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election Reminders

by Community Contributor • September 9, 2021 • Comments Off

Fifty-one vote centers will be open throughout Ventura County beginning Saturday, September 11. Voters can vote at any location; they are not assigned a specific location. Vote centers will offer same day voter registration and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant touchscreen devices and voting assistance.

Bilingual report — Post-Census Redistricting Process Underway in Ventura County

by Community Contributor • August 18, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura’s Board of Supervisors has announced a series of upcoming public meetings on the County’s redistricting process, which is underway in every county in California and involves the redrawing of district lines to balance the population in each of the County’s five supervisorial districts. The process occurs every 10 years with the release of new U.S. Census data to ensure that each Board member represents about the same number of constituents.

Following Robbery of Senator Boxer, CDAA Calls for Withdrawal of Dangerous Theft Legislation

by Community Contributor • July 28, 2021 • Comments Off

There was nothing petty about what happened to former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer yesterday—it was a violent robbery, and it was awful. This crime occurred in broad daylight in Oakland’s Jack London District, a popular tourist destination that also happens to be in the California Senate District of Senator Nancy Skinner. The same Nancy Skinner who proposed declaring such horrific crimes misdemeanor petty thefts under SB 82.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Highway 101 Highlight, COVID Update, & more news

by Community Contributor • July 26, 2021 • Comments Off

Yes, concrete. I like to highlight innovative programs in our district, and the Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project has a big one. The new concrete mix site (see photo) is going in by the southbound on-ramp at the North Padaro Lane. This enables concrete for the new freeway lanes to be mixed on-site and reduces truck routes by 6-16 miles per trip, saving an estimated 463,771 truck miles for the Carpinteria, Padaro, and Summerland segments. This also reduces water use by 400,000 gallons (concrete mixed on-site uses less water), reduces off-site neighborhood impacts, and saves taxpayers between $10-$15 million. Old concrete is also being recycled across the freeway (see left edge of photo). Crews are also installing a new concrete surface that is a quieter and has a longer lifespan. For more project information, visit www.SBROADS.com.

Bilingual report — Candidate Nomination Period for September 14, 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election begins Friday, July 9, 2021

by Community Contributor • July 8, 2021 • Comments Off

On July 1, 2021, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis issued a proclamation declaring the California Gubernatorial Recall Election to be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.

Official nomination documents for candidates interested in the office of Governor may be obtained beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, July 9, 2021, at the Ventura County Elections Division, Hall of Administration, Lower Plaza, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura.

Bilingual commentary — John Cox’s Bear

by Community Contributor • May 28, 2021 • Comments Off

John Cox, a businessman and political activist, has been a perennial candidate for political office. He has not quite yet achieved his goal. He has run for Congress, a county office in Illinois, and even president of the United States. More recently, he ran for governor of California, but lost to Gavin Newsom, a former mayor of San Francisco, in the 2018 election. Now he is one of the current Republican candidates vying for the governorship of California in the effort to recall Mr. Newsom this year. Cox has his eye on being the incumbent in California’s gubernatorial election in 2022.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Anchors Aweigh’ and more news

by Community Contributor • May 13, 2021 • Comments Off

After months of COVID-related delays and cancellations, research vessels are once again sailing the ocean to study its carbon cycle.

Bilingual commentary — When Religion Channels Into Politics

by Community Contributor • April 29, 2021 • Comments Off

A Gallup news item from last month describes the precipitous drop in religious affiliation in the United States since the turn of the century—not that long ago. In just over 20 years, the number of those who declare themselves members of a church, mosque, or synagogue has decreased more than 20%. In fact, according to the Gallup poll cited in the report, less than half of Americans claim to belong to a religious organization.

Guest commentary — HR 1 For the People’s Act – Making Democracy Work

by Community Contributor • March 1, 2021 • Comments Off

On January 4, 2021, H.R. 1 For the People’s Act was introduced and is currently being reviewed by Congressional committees. The bill provides an opportunity to expand and protect voting rights, get big money out of politics, hold elected officials accountable and assure our democracy is representative of all Americans’ voices and values.

The vast majority of Americans support this bill, including 56% of Republicans. Special interests spent $14 billion to influence the 2020 election, the most amount of money spent on an election in the history of the U.S.

Bilingual commentary — Surviving the Belly of the Beast

by Community Contributor • January 29, 2021 • Comments Off

Amanda Gorman, our country’s first Youth Poet Laureate, stood proudly, if not nervously, before the country and the world during President Biden’s inauguration as she delivered her poem, aptly entitled “The Hill We Climb.” It was a formidable image, reminiscent of watching Barack Obama delivering his inaugural address to the nation as our first African American president.

Sept. 13 — Bilingual report — Community Members Encouraged To Provide Input On County Of Ventura Redistricting

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura is offering several ways to encourage and receive input from community members on its supervisorial redistricting process, including hosted virtual meetings, online resources at the County’s website and visiting a local library or by appointment at the County Government Center. Each one enables community members to learn about redistricting and give their input on how district boundaries should be drawn to best represent communities in Ventura County.

Guest commentary — Oxnard Must have a Special Election, and not permit the City Council to appoint a ‘Puppet’!

by Community Contributor • December 10, 2020 • Comments Off

…We have work too hard and long for district wide city council representation by and for the people. As I write this piece the City Council is deciding whether to appoint a new city council member to the seat that will be vacated on January 4, 2021, by Carmen Ramirez as she takes her new position as the Ventura County Supervisor of the 5th District. Or instead have a special election and have the voters of that district decide. An appointment by the city council of a favored “son or daughter” is highly problematic and will come with the inevitable strings attached. That appointee will be beholden to the political powers that put her/him in office.

Guest commentary — On Immigration (Migration), Genocide, Remembrance, Atonement and Reparation to the African-American and Indigenous Nations of America

by Community Contributor • November 26, 2020 • Comments Off

Approximately 30,000 years ago our early ancestors began migrating crossed the Bering Straits. Between 15,000 to 20,000 years ago these first migrants continued their long journey into what is now known as the Americas. We the Indigenous of the “Americas” are the progeny of these first migrant. In the ensuing 15,000 years our Indigenous ancestors would continue their migration from what is now known as the North Pole all the ways south to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.

Guest commentary — The Crucial Latino Vote Helped Elect Biden

by Community Contributor • November 13, 2020 • Comments Off

The American people have driven the mad tyrant out of the White House, long live Democracy! The last four years have been the most polarizing, uncertain, and painful years in our lifetime, nonetheless, we got the job done we have a new president. Without doubt Biden would not be the president-elect if Black, Latino, Asian, Native American and the young folks vote had not come to the rescue of the Democratic Party again. 19 million Latinos voted in this Presidential Election, more than 13million or roughly 67% of the Latino votes went to Biden. The first time in American history that the Latino vote represented the highest minority vote in the nation. The powerful and decisive Latino voting pattern will continue to grow in the coming years. Both the Democrats and the Republican are aware of this growing American electorate, and we will no longer will be appeased, marginalized, manipulated or simply be ignored. Biden know this better than most, and he must act accordingly! We will closely watch Biden not in what he says but in what he does.

Guest commentary — What I Learned About America as a Poll Worker in the 2020 Elections

by Community Contributor • November 6, 2020 • Comments Off

I volunteered to be a poll worker in the Santa Maria area of Santa Barbara County for the presidential election of 2020. I was assigned to work at Orcutt Junior High School, in the small agricultural city of Orcutt, here is what I learned. …At the end of the final night of poll work, I walked out to my car with a big smile on my face, with the satisfaction of knowing that I had just participated in a very important and sacred part of our American electoral process. And that our team had done a wonderfully honest, transparent, inclusive, and patriotic job.

Letter to the editor — Post Election Expectations

by Community Contributor • November 6, 2020 • Comments Off

November 3rd is Election Day, but we may not know all the election results for days or even weeks afterward. This doesn’t mean anything is wrong. It just means our elections officials are doing everything possible to make sure every vote is counted and the election results are accurate.

Letter to the Editor — Election offices to remain active to process all ballots postmarked by Nov. 3

by Community Contributor • October 30, 2020 • Comments Off

Once the Election Polls close, voters can be assured that the election offices will remain active to process all the ballots that were postmarked by November 3rd. Ballots properly postmarked will be counted at the elections office through November 20.

Get Out the Vote Nationwide #LULACvota

by Community Contributor • October 30, 2020 • Comments Off

Missed the online registration deadline in your state? Same-day registration is available in-person in the states highlighted above: TURQUOISE – Same-Day Registration during Early Voting Dates ONLY PURPLE – Same-Day Registration on Election Day (November 3) ONLY BLUE – Same-Day Registration during Early Voting AND on Election Day ALASKA – Allows Same-Day registration but ONLY for President and Vice President.

PLEASE NOTE: Same-day registration must typically be done IN PERSON and only at limited locations. An elections official may request a state-issued photo ID and proofs of residency for each new registration. Contact your local / county elections office for specific requirements for same-day voter registration.

Bilingual report — Oxnard Election 2020 Updates — In-Person Voting Starts this Saturday, Oct. 31st

by Community Contributor • October 30, 2020 • Comments Off

In-person voting will start on Saturday, Oct. 31 and run through Tuesday, Nov. 3. There are currently ten in-person voting locations in Oxnard, listed below.
***
La votación en persona comenzará el sábado 31 de octubre y se extenderá hasta el martes 3 de noviembre. Actualmente hay diez lugares de votación en persona en Oxnard, que se encuentran a continuación.

Bilingual report — COVID-19 Update for Oct. 23 — It’s Time to Vote!

by Community Contributor • October 23, 2020 • Comments Off

View the list of ballot drop off locations at the following link: https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/List-of-Drop-Off-Locations-9182020.pdf

View the list of in person voting locations at the following link:
https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IPVL-Insert-FINAL-1.pdf

Commentary — Registering to vote (Oct. 19) deadline looming

by Community Contributor • October 16, 2020 • Comments Off

Thank you to all those in the 805 region who have completed their U.S. Census surveys.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that the census count officially ended on Oct. 15. …

The high response rate will help the 805 region receive more federal funding for education, roads, health care, public safety and other projects and increase the number of representatives we have in Congress.

Congratulations.

Now, time to register to vote

Bilingual report — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn Announces Important Details Regarding November 3, 2020 General Election

by Community Contributor • September 25, 2020 • Comments Off

Under Executive Order, the Governor declared the November 3, 2020 General Election an all Vote By Mail election in the state of California. County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Lunn stated, “With the current Coronavirus pandemic and the confluence of the flu season upon us, I encourage all voters to utilize the Vote By Mail ballot they receive at home to take advantage of the health and safety measures that voting by mail provides.”

Guest commentary — The Fall of American Democracy and the Rise of White Nationalism and Tyranny: We all saw it Coming!

by Community Contributor • September 24, 2020 • Comments Off

Get Rid of the Ballots…That is what he said, that is what he will do, and who is going to stop him? We are less that 42 days away from the most cataclysmic, potentially apocalyptic, American election in our lifetime. However the election results turn out, approximately half of the American electorate will be enraged, convinced that the election was rigged. The evil tyrannical genius of Trump, is that in less than four years he has been able to consolidate all federal power under his control and in the process is annihilating all semblance of American democracy. Trump with his tyrannical power grab, along with the considerable help of all his well-placed and well-paid henchmen/women, has turned us all into a pathetic nation of cowards, haters, doubters and conspiracy theorists. Make no mistake all of us, by omission or commission, are responsible for the creation of this monster that now occupies the White House.

Letter to the Editor — Celebrate National Voter Registration Day

by Community Contributor • September 22, 2020 • Comments Off

National Voter Registration Day is celebrated each year in September. This nonpartisan civic holiday celebrates our democracy and encourages us to use our voice and VOTE!

Are you registered to vote? Have you checked your registration for correct address and language preference? It is easier to do than you may think.

Letter to the Editor — Voting has never been easier. Voting from home is safe, easy and convenient

by Community Contributor • September 22, 2020 • Comments Off

Once you receive your official ballot in the mail in early October, you can return it by the US Postal Service mail – postage is prepaid. It must be postmarked by Nov 3 and received by Nov 20 (in California) for your vote to be counted. We recommend you vote as early as possible after receiving your ballot.

An alternative to mailing your ballot is using one of the 34 Ballot Drop Boxes that are located throughout the county and will be open from Oct. 6 until Election Day, Nov. 3 at 8 pm. Ballot Drop Box locations can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/y45ol4mo.

UCSB — The Current — Food from the Sea

by Community Contributor • August 20, 2020 • Comments Off

If sustainably managed, wild fisheries and mariculture could help meet the rising demand for food in the long term.

Guest commentary — After 500 years it is Time for All Our History to be Heard and Respected!

by Community Contributor • July 17, 2020 • Comments Off

Last week I wrote an op-ed piece on racism that got quite a lot of circulation in the local electronic media. I want to lend some nuance to the often ugly race relations in American. I also wanted to give the reader a 62 year historical perspective through a few of my personal and traumatic race relation experiences I had in America. The negative comments from readers came fast and furiously as expected. Some of the exasperated readers wrote the usual racist advice and complaints, “get over it…stop whining…your comments are toxic…America belongs to white people…MAGA” and the old standard bile “If you don’t love this country then go back to Mexico”, but I also got positive feedback like, ”you should write a book… and the one that keeps me writing and helps me take on all the slings and arrows from the haters was, “you have to keep writing to tell our history.”

And then I read Caroline Randall Williams’s profound, painful and poignant article, My Body Is A Confederate Monument, in the New York Times and I was moved to tears and a solemn recommitment to speak truth to power as inspired by her searing and eloquent truth.

Bilingual report — Offices Eligible for Election and Voter Nominated Offices Run-Off Election in the November 3, 2020 Presidential General Election

by Community Contributor • July 13, 2020 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn announced that the November 3, 2020 Presidential General Election is a non-partisan run-off election, as well as a regular election date for cities, special districts, and school districts. Lunn stated,…

Guest commentary — Throwing the Proverbial Bones to the Mongrel Dogs

by Community Contributor • July 10, 2020 • Comments Off

American racism is complex, insidious and multi-layered. It is not a just black or white phenomenon. Our American racism comes in many shades of color and degrees of ignorance, contempt, stupidity and hatred. This brings me to the current seldom talked about or completely ignored ongoing racist beef/pedo between some Brown and Black folks in this country and in California, in particular.

Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley weekly ‘ZOOM CONEJO DEMS COFFEE’ cancelled this Saturday

by Community Contributor • June 19, 2020 • Comments Off

CONEJO DEMS COFFEE
CANCELLED THIS WEEK
Link to Zoom Meeting will be sent by bed time on Friday (or very early Saturday morning).
Sign ups taken until 10:30 a.m. day of. Hope you can join us.
Join your fellow Conejo Valley Dems
for some friendly conversation.
Every Saturday (next coffee on 6/27)
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
A DCCV ZOOM!
Hosted by Henry Montalvo

RSVP Here (for 6/27)
Fair warning:
Conejo Dem meetings will be strictly monitored.
Attendees may be refused service at the whim of the host or co-host.

Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley weekly ‘ZOOM CONEJO DEMS COFFEE’ on Saturdays

by Community Contributor • June 12, 2020 • Comments Off

CONEJO DEMS COFFEE
RSVP Here
Link to Zoom Meeting will be sent by bed time on Friday (or very early Saturday morning).
Sign ups taken until 10:30 a.m. day of. Hope you can join us.

Join your fellow Conejo Valley Dems
for some friendly conversation.
Every Saturday
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
A DCCV ZOOM!
Hosted by Henry Montalvo

Guest commentary — No Justice! No Peace!

by Community Contributor • June 5, 2020 • Comments Off

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 Just…

Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley weekly ‘ZOOM CONEJO DEMS COFFEE’ on Saturdays

by Community Contributor • June 5, 2020 • Comments Off

CONEJO DEMS COFFEE SPECIAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE EVENTS SURROUNDING GEORGE FLOYD We will welcome special guests… Michelle Grue, PhD candidate in Education and local mom Gregory K. Freeland, PhD, Associate Dean, Inclusion & Research/Creative Works and Professor of Political Science RSVP Here Link…

Conejo Democratic Club Meeting on Monday, June 8

by Community Contributor • June 2, 2020 • Comments Off

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING!
Monday, June 8, 2020
6:30 pm – Arrival & Mingling
7:00pm – Meeting Starts
A DCCV ZOOM!
Register Here

Guest Speakers include…
Tim Allison
CSUCI Political Science Adjunct Professor
Educating Activists: The 5 things everyone should know to understand CA politics
&
Speaker(s) – TBD
Social Justice Update & Actions
around George Floyd

Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley to present ‘CONEJO DEMS MID-WEEK’ on June 3

by Community Contributor • June 1, 2020 • Comments Off

CONEJO DEMS MID-WEEK
RSVP Here
Link to Zoom Meeting will be sent Wednesday Morning.
Sign ups taken until 6:30 p.m. day of. Hope you can join us.

Meet Lauren Gill,
candidate for CVUSD Trustee Area 5
(Newbury Park)
Also, Join your fellow Conejo Valley Dems
for some friendly conversation.
Wednesday, June 3rd – 7pm

Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley weekly ‘ZOOM CONEJO DEMS COFFEE’ on Saturdays

by Community Contributor • May 28, 2020 • Comments Off

CONEJO DEMS COFFEE
RSVP Here
Link to Zoom Meeting will be sent by bed time on Friday (or very early Saturday morning)
Sign ups taken until 10:30 a.m. day of. Hope you can join us.

Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley weekly ‘ZOOM CONEJO DEMS COFFEE’ on Saturdays

by Community Contributor • May 22, 2020 • Comments Off

CONEJO DEMS COFFEE
RSVP Here
Link to Zoom Meeting will be sent by bed time on Friday (or very early Saturday morning) Sign ups taken until 10:30 a.m. day of. Hope you can join us.Join your fellow Conejo Valley Dems for some friendly conversation.
Every Saturday
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley weekly ‘ZOOM CONEJO DEMS COFFEE’ on Saturdays

by Community Contributor • May 15, 2020 • Comments Off

CONEJO DEMS COFFEE
RSVP Here
Link to Zoom Meeting will be sent by bed time on Friday (or very early Saturday morning)
Sign ups taken until 10:30 a.m. day of. Hope you can join us.

Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley regular monthly meeting (via Zoom) to be held on May 11

by Community Contributor • May 11, 2020 • Comments Off

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING!
Monday, May 11, 2020
6:30 pm – Arrival & Mingling
7:00pm – Meeting Starts
Hosted on ZOOM
Register Here

RSVP to Conejo Dems Coffee on Zoom meeting on May 2

by Community Contributor • May 1, 2020 • Comments Off

Apologies for the late notice. Please click the link below to sign up for tomorrows (Sat) coffee. Looking forward to seeing everyone there. Below is a link to help you chose the right background for you. Also, I have include a cool link we spoke about last week – “View from my Window”.

Commentary: A quiet resistance to light our way

by Amigos805.com • April 22, 2020 • Comments Off

Resistance. Quiet, persistent resistance.

Every once in a while, that resistance comes to everyone and everything.

As we note Earth Day this week, we are reminded of that resistance. In our stay-safe-at-home times, we are now seeing a world where the air is cleaner, the sound of nature is clearer and the Earth is actually healing itself a little at a time. There is a chilling, yet quiet beauty seeing the streets of Paris, London, Rome and New York virtually empty and nature going on quite well without us.

It’s as if Earth finally said, “ENOUGH.”

Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley weekly ‘ZOOM CONEJO DEMS COFFEE’ on Saturdays

by Community Contributor • April 9, 2020 • Comments Off

Looking for more Coronoa Virus Information? Click the CLUB logo above. Hello Dems, A big thanks to everyone who participated last week. We laughed, we cried, we found out where we can buy toilet paper. In all seriousness, last week was REALLY…

Bilingual report: March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election Final Results and Certification Announced

by Community Contributor • April 3, 2020 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Ventura County Clerk–Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark A. Lunn announced today the official final election results for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election with 100% of precincts reporting. A total of 239,396 ballots were cast in this…

Bilingual report: March 3, 2020 Congressional District 25 Special Primary Election Final Results and Certification Announced

by Community Contributor • March 19, 2020 • Comments Off

VENTURA — Ventura County Clerk–Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark A. Lunn announced today the official final election results for the March 3, 2020 Congressional District 25 Special Primary Election with 100% of precincts reporting. A total of 38,702 ballots were cast…

Bilingual commentary: Awaiting a Political Messiah

by Community Contributor • March 5, 2020 • Comments Off

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

by Community Contributor • February 25, 2020 • Comments Off

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

by Community Contributor • February 24, 2020 • Comments Off

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…

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

by Community Contributor • January 31, 2020 • Comments Off

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

by Community Contributor • January 23, 2020 • Comments Off

Bilingual report: Three Political Parties to Permit No Party Preference Voters to Participate in Presidential Primary Election

by Community Contributor • January 3, 2020 • Comments Off

VENTURA — The American Independent, Democratic, and Libertarian parties adopted a party rule allowing No Party Preference voters to participate in their March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election. The Republican, Green, and Peace and Freedom parties did not adopt this rule.…

April 13 — Zoom meeting for Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2020 • Comments Off

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING! Monday, April 13, 2020 @ 6:30pm only on ZOOM Justine Fischer on the Census; Bob Engler on the City’s response to the pandemic Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Democrats, The last month has been a blur: the elections,…

Jackson Bills, Including Women on Corporate Boards Requirement, In Effect Jan 1

by Community Contributor • December 19, 2019 • Comments Off

SACRAMENTO –California’s publicly held corporations have until January 1, 2020 to add at least one woman to their boards as a result of legislation authored by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) . SB 826, signed into law by Governor…

Guest commentary: I am not illegal, I am not a criminal, I am a human being that yearns to be free!

by Community Contributor • August 23, 2019 • Comments Off

Conejo Democrats Aug. 13 meeting

by Community Contributor • August 12, 2019 • Comments Off

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — The Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13at the North Ranch Center, 1400 N. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. (1) What’s Behind the Far Right Attack on our Schools? (2) Gun…

Oct. 6 — Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley 17th annual Garden Party

by Community Contributor • August 1, 2019 • Comments Off

THOUSAND OAKS — The Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley will present its 17th annual Garden Party from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 at Los Robles Greens, Thousand Oaks. Click on image for more information.

Senate Approves Jackson Bill to Determine Cost of Shutting Down and Cleaning Up Oil & Gas Infrastructure

by Community Contributor • May 30, 2019 • Comments Off

SACRAMENTO – As California moves towards a greener economy and grapples with the taxpayer costs of cleaning up facilities such as Platform Holly and the Greka offshore facility, the California State Senate approved State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara)’s legislation to…

Senate Approves Jackson Bill to Close the Wage Gap with Data

by Community Contributor • May 22, 2019 • Comments Off

SACRAMENTO — As the gender pay gap persists, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara)’s legislation to require California’s larger employers to report salary data to the state passed off the Senate Floor today on a 27 to 9 vote. The bill…

Jackson Legislation to Reduce Wildfire Risk Passes Key Committee

by Community Contributor • April 23, 2019 • Comments Off

Strengthens local planning in high fire risk areas without compromising regional housing goals and encourages fire-resistant construction SACRAMENTO –As California prepares for the next catastrophic wildfire season, legislation by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to strengthen local planning requirements in high…

Guest commentary: The Unconstitutional Oxnard Civil Gang Injunctions are a Fear Mongering Fraud and must be Rescinded!

by Community Contributor • April 18, 2019 • Comments Off

Bilingual commentary: Alexa, Where Have You Been All My Life?

by Community Contributor • March 7, 2019 • Comments Off

State Sen. Jackson Reappointed as Vice Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management

by Community Contributor • February 28, 2019 • Comments Off

SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) ) has just been reappointed vice chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management, a bicameral committee that provides oversight of state disaster planning, response and recovery, by Senate President pro Tempore Toni…

A ‘People’s Statewide Conference on Gang Injunctions’ to be held April 13 in Camarillo

by Community Contributor • February 27, 2019 • Comments Off

Social Justice Perspectives and Critiques after 15 Years of Resistance CAMARILLO — A “People’s Statewide Conference on Gang Injunctions” will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13 at CSU Channel Islands, Broome Library – Conference Room 1360. On…

Senator Jackson Speaks Out Against Proposed Title IX Changes

by Community Contributor • February 1, 2019 • Comments Off

SACRAMENTO –In the final week to submit formal comments to Trump Administration Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s proposed changes to Title IX, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) ,released the following statement condemning the proposed regulations as dangerous and backward. Her formal letter,…

Jackson Announces Legislation on 50th Anniversary of Santa Barbara Oil Spill

by Community Contributor • January 28, 2019 • Comments Off

SACRAMENTO –On the 50th anniversary of the devastating Santa Barbara Oil Spill, the largest oil spill in California waters, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) introduced legislation today to strengthen pipeline safety requirements, furthering her work to prevent and remediate oil spills…

Page 1 of 4

1 2 3 4 »