February 19, 2026
News Roundup
ICE Agents Caught Lying to Oxnard Police
Other recent news: 72-room hotel approved in Carpinteria; Open Air Bicycles update; half of Carpinteria cannabis farms miss the scrubber deadline; the widening of Mission Creek; Cottage Health's partnership with a local high school; downtown building nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. 4
February 12, 2026
Santa Barbara Bans Single-Use Plastic Foodware at Restaurants
Other recent news: The accidental deaths of a noteworthy couple; Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum will close; residents to vote on making a Paseo Nuevo deal more palatable to the developer; action on overtime abuse at the county sheriff's office; the Frog Wall's owner on the recent changes there; Carpinteria is shutting down an elementary school; public input on Gaviota state parks. 3
February 5, 2026
The Draft Plan for State Street Is Complicated
Other recent news: Could Anacapa and Chapala be made two-way?; county sales tax increase tabled; a step forward for Sandpiper Golf Club; Rincon Designs will return to Carpinteria; Naples compound approved; Austrian soccer team to train here; 6,500-acre ranch between Ventura and Ojai preserved from development; the tree of the month. 18
January 28, 2026
ICE Agents Pepper-Spray Citizens in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria
Other recent news: Rivian to open a dealership near the airport; California sues over oil pipeline jurisdiction; East Beach has reopened; Carpinteria looks to tighten e-bike regulations; Arroyo Quemado Trail closed for storm repairs; update on cannabis shops in Los Alamos and Noleta; La Conchita remains under year-round evacuation warning. 7
January 22, 2026
Downtown Film Center on Track to Open in Two Weeks
Other recent news: Final approval for five-story apartment building on W. De La Guerra; Santa Barbara County executive officer to retire; more on the overtime shenanigans at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office; step forward for the Goleta Valley Library; new theater company in town; Goleta to host a World Cup contender. 4
January 15, 2026
Santa Barbara Passed a Temporary Rent Freeze
Other recent news: A local man's tale of being deported by ICE; 72-hour "festival ban" for Deltopia weekend; Santa Barbara Airport's efforts to cope with flooding; another attempt to allow drilling on public land; Santa Barbara Dojo opened in Goleta; the Montecito Inn is redecorating again; changes to commuter train service; Highway 1 fully reopen in Big Sur; tours of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing; a fascinating ad. 7
January 8, 2026
Who’s Running for Mayor of Santa Barbara
Other recent news: Super-heavy rocket launches in consideration at Vandenberg; the craziest real estate video ever; emergency rent freeze in the works; Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi bought an estate in Montecito; more flights from Santa Barbara Airport to four cities; new-ish architectural guidebook; no construction yet at the Goleta Valley Library. 17
December 26, 2025
Sable Offshore Circumvents State Authority
Other recent news: No major problems from recent storms, aside from Santa Barbara Airport runway flooding; exploiting overtime at the County Sheriff's office; La Casa de Maria update; East Beach sewage spill; work starts on Goleta multi-use path; the tree of the month. 10
December 18, 2025
Santa Barbara County Is Facing Big Budget Shortfalls
Other recent news: Santa Barbara starts on the path to rent stabilization; reforming the way that the harbor's boat slips are sold; the Hilton's 73-room expansion gets the go-ahead; indoor volleyball facility in the works; Diablo Canyon nuclear plant can operate through 2030; no more identifying buyers of local real estate. 13
December 12, 2025
Recent Comments
Hold up… $525,000 for Whiskey Richards as a freakin sublease?? And my friend said the rent is going up from where its at now??? No… — Garrett
Surprisingly that corner is a busy spot. Used to be the Visitor Center for many years until moved to State Street. The SB Trolley Tours… — Mary
The house didn't sell for the asking price. The dropped it 250k (1 /4 million). Even the new price seems very high. — rds
The stone building at 1 Garden street has always been a favorite. Before it was here it was next to Rare Society on State street.… — Dan O. Seibert
Milios looks very promising cant wait to give it a try! — Don
The bell and the signage is gone. That doesn't give much confidence that this classic-shape Taco Bell will look much the same after a remodel.… — apzer
I thought Blackbird was a pretty good restaurant overall. This new incarnation is not something I would be interested in trying. There are too many… — Giovanni Sammartino