Our view: Gillespie good choice for VCCCD chancellor
The Ventura County Community College District has taken a big step forward with the hiring of Greg Gillespie as its permanent chancellor. Gillespie, president of Ventura College since 2013, knows the area and its politics, he has a proven track record and he’s extremely familiar with workforce needs in critical industries such as agribusiness, technology Read More →
Our view: Mike Towbes’ legacy will live on
The Central Coast will be remembering the late Mike Towbes for a long time. By creating a trust to ensure local ownership of Montecito Bank & Trust, the Princeton-educated engineer created a vehicle for community philanthropy that will stretch on for future decades. The people around him, family members, his widow Anne Smith Towbes, Montecito Read More →
Our view: Common sense key trait for city council candidates
As Goleta, Santa Maria and other municipalities contemplate district elections for city council — with dire predictions about anti-business bias among candidates — James Fenkner has a better idea. Fenkner, a self-described “radical centrist,” has launched a talent search for candidates in the upcoming Santa Barbara city elections. He is hoping that through informal networking Read More →
Central Coast foster care system needs more families
By Jim Roberts I believe it goes without saying, it is far better for our communities to solve local needs rather than depend upon the government. Right now on the Central Coast there is a significant need to which our families and individuals need to rally to solve. To put it bluntly, there are not Read More →
Our view: Infill development critical to meeting housing needs
At a time when hand wringing over the high cost of housing has become more of a political cop out than a panacea, a new study underscores the benefits of infill development. Next 10, a group that relies on interdisciplinary research from UC Berkeley’s law, environmental and business experts, has cited infill housing for many Read More →
Tri-county nonprofits need to adapt, innovate
By Charles Maxey and Linda Kimbrough Trump administration budget proposals should be sending early warning signals to the nation’s nonprofit organizations. The anticipated reductions in federal and, therefore, state spending will adversely impact many populations served by charitable organizations. At the same time, the need for services continues to rise. Nonprofit Finance Fund’s 2014 study Read More →
Community programs should not be chopped
By Marsha Bailey If you don’t speak acronym, you may not know what a “CDBG” or a “CDFI” is. You’re even less likely to know how these federal government programs, both of which are on the chopping block, impact you and your community. The Community Development Block Grant Program is a U.S. Department of Housing Read More →
