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What residents are talking about in Santa Barbara public meetings, ranked by community engagement.
In the news
12 articlesRecent coverage of Santa Barbara from local and regional media.
Supreme Court Rejects Trump Emergency Intervention in California Elections
Only a few hours after the Trump administration sought an emergency order this Monday to require California election officials to set aside the ballots of 20,000 alleged noncitizens pending verification of thei...
Nov 3, 2026Santa Barbara County Students Stage Walkouts, Congressmember Calls for Investigation Amid ICE Surge
Community members and elected officials are speaking up in response to the recent surge of ICE activity on the Central Coast, following a wave of public incidents that included the detention of special needs st...
Nov 2, 2026Friedman Mayoral Campaign Flush with Cash; Sneddon Says Santa Barbara Not for Sale
With only one day left before Election Day, Santa Barbara mayoral candidate and city councilmember Eric Friedman enjoys a decisive advantage when it comes to campaign fundraising, having raised $275,000 for his...
Nov 2, 2026Work Needed on New Santa Barbara Renter Eviction Rules, Council Says
New renter eviction rules need more work and conversation before approval, the Santa Barbara City Council decided on Tuesday. Proposed amendments to the city’s just cause eviction ordinance tackle owners evicti...
Nov 1, 2026Fifth District Supervisor Campaigns Pass $530K in Pre-Election Push
The fundraising campaigns of Maribel Aguilera and Ricardo Valencia for the Fifth District county supervisor seat have surpassed $534,000 total, making it the spendiest local race on Tuesday’s ballot. ...
Nov 1, 2026How social media became a campaign tool for Santa Barbara City Hall candidates
The game has changed. Your favorite candidates for office are no longer on TV. They are in the palm of your hand.  While newspapers, television ads and mailers still play a role in campaigns, storytelling ...
Nov 1, 2026Entering the post-Maldonado era: What’s at stake for the 2026 Santa Barbara Unified school board election
No matter who gets elected, the new board will grapple with the arduous task of hiring a new superintendent. The trustees will also face the reality of stagnant test score growth, oversee a transformation in educational technology and tackle the looming $5 million budget deficit
Nov 1, 2026Santa Maria High School students walk out to protest ICE after assault on disabled student
A few dozen students turned out for the event on Friday, garnering honks, engine revving and shouts of support from people driving by. Volunteers for 805 UndocuFund showed up to lead the students in chants.
Oct 31, 2026After 45 Years, Goleta School Board Member Prepares to Say Goodbye
For 45 years, Richard Mayer has been a stable presence shaping the Goleta Union School District.  But in December, the distinguished UC Santa Barbara psychology professor and researcher will say goodbye to...
Oct 31, 2026Kristen Sneddon: Santa Barbara Is Not for Sale
Santa Barbara is not for sale. That is what we need to tell major developers and powerful, well-funded real estate interests in Tuesday’s election. They have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into our ci...
Oct 31, 2026City of Santa Barbara hopes to strengthen tenants’ eviction rights, but Just Cause Ordinance still needs work
Santa Barbara city officials proposed 11 changes to the city’s Just Cause Ordinance, which would restrict landlords from evicting tenants without specific legal reasons, at a Tuesday night meeting. The city’s J...
Oct 30, 2026Bill Macfadyen: Santa Barbara Salon’s Eminent-Domain Fight With City Is Anything But Clean Cut
Election Day is Nov. 3, but the decisions that matter most to Santa Barbara County won’t end when the votes are counted. However long that takes in California. From housing and water, sanitation and roads, pub...
Oct 30, 2026