The premier issue of Amigos805, a 10,000-copy bilingual print edition, is coming to the region in April to better serve the community in the California Central Coast region. The publication is then scheduled to go weekly starting in May, the…
Category: Politics
Williams introduces bills promoting energy efficiency
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) recently introduced three bills aimed to help promote green energy technology, facilitate guidelines for efficiency upgrades and optimize investments in distributed generation, his office reported in a media release. AB 2339 will require…
UCSB to host Chicano Movement conference on Feb. 17-18
Event will examine impact of movement and how it relates to today SANTA BARBARA — “Chicano Power!,” a two-day conference at UC Santa Barbara to examine the Chicano movement of the 1960’s and ’70s, a major formative period in Chicano history, will begin…
Election 2012: Endorsements, fundraisers in the news
Amigos805.com staff report The election season continues to heat up with a number of candidates reporting endorsements and upcoming fundraisers in the 805 region. Several candidates announced this week that they had received endorsements from the California Democratic Party last weekend…
Capps votes for House Passage of the STOCK Act. Says stronger bill must be signed into law
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Thursday applauded the House of Representative’s passage of the Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act. Capps is a cosponsor of an earlier version of this legislation that would ban insider…
Capps applauds mortgage fraud settlement, urges additional action
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Thursday applauded the announcement that the federal government and 49 states, including California, reached a $25 billion agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers to penalize robo-signing and other bank…
Das Williams unveils middle class scholarship program
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) on Wednesday unveiled new legislation to create a middle class Scholarship program aimed to make higher education more affordable for working families. The proposal, which was introduced by Speaker John A. Pérez, (D-Los Angeles),…
District colleges placed on probation
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges has moved all three of the Ventura County Community College District’s (VCCCD) colleges to “Probation” status due to deficiencies identified by the commission pertaining to the board…
Capps critical of bill that would open up the Central Coast to new offshore oil drilling
WASHINGTON —Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) slammed the House Republican leadership’s transportation bill, the so-called “Energy Security and Transportation Jobs Act” (H.R. 3410), which would mandate new oil and gas drilling in the federal waters off Santa Barbara and Ventura counties,…
LULAC to hold membership meeting on Feb. 4 in Ventura
The League of United Latin American Citizens will hold its next monthly membership meeting from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 at Clinicas del Camino Real, 200 So. Wells Road, Ventura. Contact Jorge Napoles, deputy district director, at jnapoles@clunet.edu or…
Bilingual report: Williams receives perfect score on pro consumer votes
SACRAMENTO — When it comes to votes on key consumer rights bills, the 2011 Consumer Federation of California (CFC) scorecard found that Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) has sided with consumers 100 percent of the time. The first-term Assemblymember, has…
Election 2012: Endorsements coming fast
Race for Congress features former harbor commission president Amigos805.com staff report For those who have been watching, or seeking to avoid the nonstop media coverage of caucuses and primary races in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida — our time…
Democrats continue to see gains in Latino voters in Florida
The number of Latinos registered in Florida as Democrats grew at an accelerated rate, according to data compiled and released this week by the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington, D.C. The final registration statistics for Florida’s Jan. 31 presidential primary…
Former Lt. Gov. Bustamante endorses Herrera for Congress
OXNARD – Jess Herrera, candidate for Congress in the 26th District, received the endorsement of former California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, the highest elected Hispanic official to ever serve the State of California, the Herrera campaign announced in a media…
Santa Barbara Supervisor Carbajal endorses Hannah-Beth Jackson for Senate
Democrat supported by more than 50 current and former local elected leaders Supervisor Salud Carbajal announced on Jan. 20 that he has endorsed Hannah-Beth Jackson for State Senate – joining colleagues Doreen Farr and Janet Wolf along with Assemblymember Das Williams,…
Bilingual report: Das Williams announces Assembly fellowship
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Das Williams this week announced that application information for the 2012-2013 Jesse Marvin Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program is available in his district and Capitol offices. The Assembly Fellowship Program provides the opportunity for aspiring public servants of…
Foro sobre el Voto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior el Sábado 14 de Enero de 2012
Con el objetivo de apoyar al Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE), en México, en la promoción del Voto de los Mexicanos residentes en el exterior, particularmente para el registro a la Lista Nominal de Electores Residentes en el Extranjero (LNERE) que vence el…
David Cruz Show to start Jan. 16 on KTLK 1150 AM
LOS ANGLES – Clear Channel Radio – Los Angeles is launching a new program, the David Cruz Show, starting Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. The program will air weekdays 3-6PMon KTLK, 1150AM, the company reported this week in a media release. “This…
Commentary: Reflecting on 2011, working together in 2012
Dear Editor: As 2011 comes to a close one cannot help reflecting on the past while looking ahead to the future. For me, as I enter my fourth year on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, I feel very grateful.…
Commentary: Top ten in local education
By Denis O’Leary / Guest contributor We will see many lists within the next few days. I would argue that education is a topic of utmost importance and yet we will not see a resume of last year in this subject.…
Commentary: Time to turn the calendar to a new year
Amigos805.com staff report We wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2012. Residents of the 805 region and the rest of the nation in 2011 continued to battle back from the effects of the Great Recession. As noted recently by Bill Watkins, executive…
Das Williams: End-of-year report
It’s been an honor to serve you during this time of crisis and though it hasn’t always been easy due to the ongoing budget problems, I look forward to continuing the progress we’ve already made. As 2011 comes to an…
Capps writes to Entravision CEO urging him to reconsider cancellation of ‘Noticias Univision Costa Central’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Dec. 21 released a letter she sent to Mr. Walter Ulloa, Entravision Chairman and CEO, to express her concern about the potential cancellation of “Noticias Univision Costa Central,” the only Spanish-language…
Capps slams House GOP leadership opposition to middle class tax cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Dec. 20 slammed the refusal of the House of Representatives Republican leadership to bring bipartisan Senate legislation to extend the middle class payroll tax cut to the House floor for an…
Officials, community celebrate completion of the El Rio Sewer Project
Fifth District Supervisor John Zaragoza, State and local officials and representatives from the El Rio Community on Thursday celebrated with a brief ceremony and a ribbon cutting to commemorate the completion of the El Rio Sewer Project, Zaragoza’s office reported…
El Rio Sewer Project ribbon cutting ceremony set for Dec. 15
Fifth District Supervisor John C. Zaragoza will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of the El Rio Sewer Project at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 at the Roger Jones Community Center, 2864 Jourdan St., Oxnard. Since 1999,…
Interfaith leaders call on policy makers to stop separating immigrant families, stop endangering children
Dozens of immigrants and their allies gathered by candlelight in Oxnard’s Plaza Park on Dec. 10 to raise an urgent moral call to policy makers for justice for immigrant families, and especially for the children and young people who are being hurt by…
Zaragoza’s campaign holds successful fundraiser in Oxnard
Many of Ventura County’s Latino Leaders hosted a fundraising event on Dec. 8 honoring County Supervisor John Zaragoza, according to a media release. Host Committee Chairs Alfredo Placencia and Art Hernandez welcomed guests to Ruby’s restaurant in Oxnard. The packed…
LULAC urges community to attend college board meeting on Dec. 13
The League of United Latin American Citizens — Ventura County District 17 is urging LULAC members, Hispanic community leaders and other community members to attend the Ventura Community College District board meeting to support VCCCD Trustee Art Hernandez. LULAC Trustee…
Oxnard City Council to meet Dec. 6 to decide on Channel 25
Community members are urged to turn out in force at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Oxnard City Council meeting to support efforts to approve an agreement that will reinstate Channel 25 as Oxnard’s public access station. The council…
John Zaragoza re-election fundraiser set for Dec. 8 in Oxnard
A campaign fundraiser for the re-election of John C. Zaragoza to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 at Ruby’s Cafe, 348 So. Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard. Event includes hors d’oeuvers…
Bilingual report: Williams to host Emergency Preparedness Resource Fair and Workshop on Dec. 10 in Goleta
GOLETA — More than 20 agencies and community organizations will provide information and answer questions on how to prepare your family, pets and workplace in case of an emergency or disaster. This is part of the Emergency Preparedness Resource Fair…
Das Williams to host health and resource fair for veterans on Nov. 10 in Ventura
VENTURA — Assemblymember Das Williams is hosting a Veteran’s Health and Resource Fair to help those who have served in our Armed Forces access to resources available to them, his office reported in a media release. The fair will be…
Williams receives perfect rating from seniors
SACRAMENTO — First term Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) received a perfect score from the California Congress of Seniors on their annual legislative report card, Williams’ office reported Monday in a media release. Each year the state’s leading senior citizens…
Víctor Ríos to talk about the impact of juvenile justice policies on Latino youth on Nov. 8 in Santa Barbara
Víctor Ríos to talk about “Punished: Policing the lives of Black and Latino boys’ at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the UCSB Multiculture Center Theater, the university reported in a media release. Ríos analyzes how punitive juvenile crime policies…
Oxnard College to present the migrant farm worker documentary ‘The Purepecha…’ on Nov. 9
Award-winning writer, director and producer Cheryl Quintana Leader will present her short documentary “The Purepecha: Poorest of the Poor” from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Complex, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The…
Commentary: The Occupiers
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor We read about them and see them on the daily news: the Occupiers of Wall Street, Chicago, San Francisco, and now even of Ventura. They are protesting the economic conditions that have befallen the…
CVUUF community forum set for Oct. 27 in Newbury Park
The Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is presenting the CVUUF Community Forum David Korten — “American Awakening: From Wall Street Protests to a Main Street Economy,” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 at Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3327 Old…
Supervisor Zaragoza inducted into Oxnard High School Hall of Fame
Ventura County Supervisor and Oxnard High School alumnus John C. Zaragoza was inducted into the Oxnard High School Hall of Fame on Thursday, Oct. 13. “I am honored to receive this great award from Oxnard High School,” Zaragoza stated in…
Commentary: Final De Colores Art Show reception set for Oct. 15 in Santa Paula
By Frank X. Moraga / www.Amigos805.com Say it’s not true, but it looks like the final De Colores Art Show will kick off with a farewell reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Santa Paula Museum…
UCSB conference on Oct. 14 to highlight new scholarship on César Chávez and the UFW
SANTA BARBARA — New research and scholarship that have altered the general understanding of the United Farm Workers (UFW) movement as well as that of labor and civil rights leader César Chávez will be the focus of a daylong…
L.A. Xicano exhibits opens on Oct. 14 with ‘Art Along the Hyphen: The Mexican-American Generation’
One city, five exhibitions, more than eighty artists. An unprecedented view of Chicano art. Organized by the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center and curated by Chon A. Noriega, Terezita Romo, and Pilar Tompkins Rivas L.A. Xicano is a unique collaboration between the…
Commentary: Ending class warfare in education
Class warfare in education has been waged for years. It must end. Cries from the extreme right have accused President Obama of starting a “class warfare” because corporations and the ultra-rich are being asked to pay their fair share in…
Capps announces federal funds for Oxnard College to help Hispanic students earn degrees in science, math, engineering
SANTA BARBARA — Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) on Thursday announced that Oxnard College has been awarded a highly competitive grant from the Department of Education’s Science Technology Engineering Mathematics program for Hispanic Serving Institutions. Oxnard College has been awarded…
Capps applauds repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
WASHINGTON — Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) applauded the repeal of the military’s failed and discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy, her office reported today in a media release. Capps has long supported the repeal of DADT and…
Williams sides with consumer protections in votes
SACRAMENTO — As issues relating to consumer protection arose for state lawmakers during the first part of the legislative session, Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) sided with consumers 100 percent of the time, the office of Das Williams reported in…
Capps celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
WASHINGTON — Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) issued the following statement in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15 every year. “This week we begin celebrating Hispanic Heritage month and will pay tribute to…
Commentary: A Mexican cousin’s view of the U.S.
By David Magallanes /Guest contributor It was their 8/25. It doesn’t resonate with us as well as “9/11” does and always will. The events of August 25, 2011, weren’t of the gasping magnitude of 9/11, but it shook Mexican society…
Das Williams: Legislation secures federal funding for energy efficiency retrofits to state buildings
SACRAMENTO — A bill that Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) has authored jointly with the chairman of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce to authorize the transfer of additional money to help finance energy efficiency retrofits in state buildings…
Das Williams: Assembly passes tax relief for middle class families
Plan also Closes Tax Loophole and Helps Small Businesses SACRAMENTO — Assembly Democrats and two Republican’s approved a plan on Sept 8 that includes an income tax break for working families and provides an incentive for job creation here in…