News Roundup

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

Highway 101 Construction Will Move North Starting This Spring

Other recent news: New emergency dispatch center; U.S. Women's National Team to play a game here; automotive garage to close; Goleta post office on the path to getting renamed. 4

December 4, 2025

Pressing Pause on the Redevelopment of Paseo Nuevo

Other recent news: Milpas Street Holiday Parade canceled due to deportation fears; king tides return today; cannabis shop not opening on Santa Claus Lane; Sable Offshore Corporation is trying another tack; the tree of the month. 4

November 28, 2025

The Argument Against the Paseo Nuevo Deal

Other recent news: The land under the former Nordstrom store is now excluded from the proposal; SBIFF's downtown multiplex got named; Zoe Bikini to close; new fees and requirements possible for Santa Barbara massage therapists; adaptive reuse of an old airport hangar and two Quonset huts; an update from Edhat. 6

November 20, 2025

Delta Is Ending Flights Between Santa Barbara and Atlanta

Other recent news: Birnam Wood's plan to remove the 77 eucalyptus trees along East Valley Road; city council member Kristen Sneddon is running for mayor; an option for fewer affordable-housing units at Paseo Nuevo; more citations issued to e-bike riders; the University of California bought a Hope Ranch house for UCSB's chancellor; Summer Solstice Celebration's 2026 theme. 24

November 13, 2025

The Trump Administration Plans to Reopen the Santa Barbara County Coast to Drilling

Other recent news: The contentious proposal to redevelop Paseo Nuevo; 18-story Builder's Remedy project submitted to Carpinteria; objections to the design of Sears lot at La Cumbre Plaza; Gold’s Gym locations bought by Eos Fitness; the renovation of Dwight Murphy Field. 17