Ojai Valley News - Editorial

OVN editorial on OPINION page: Ventura council hooked by BBK

Details: Published: Friday, 12 February 2021 09:00

At the status conference for the Ventura water lawsuit this week, Scott Slater, a 36-year-veteran water litigator for one of the most powerful lobbying firms in the country, representing the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation, which owns approximately 8,000 acres of land in Ventura, schooled Judge Highberger, who is new to water law.

OPINION page: City of Ventura in hot water with attorney general over water lawsuit

Details: Published: Thursday, 04 February 2021 22:04

2 5 21 OP REAL Water

OVN Editorial:

Ventura in hot water

with attorney general

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has leaped into the water lawsuit adjudication pool with a resounding splash, ripping the proposed "Physical Solution" (a step, not an end, in the water adjudication process) with a letter vigorously admonishing the city of Ventura, on behalf of Fish and Wildlife and the State Water Resources Control Board.

Ojai Valley News EDITORIAL on OPINION page: Ojai Valley needs a vaccination site

Details: Published: Friday, 22 January 2021 08:29

It took about 10 months for California to reach 1 million cases of COVID-19, then 40 days more to reach 2 million cases. We reached 3 million cases just 28 days later. How many days will it take to reach 4 million?

EDITORIAL on OVN OPINION page: Cannabis vote to be trumped?

Details: Published: Friday, 04 December 2020 09:03

After originally serving on the subcommittee that recommended Measure G — the Ojai cannabis tax — be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot, Councilmembers Suza Francina and Bill Weirick introduced an agenda item for the Dec. 8 City Council meeting to discuss the implementation of the measure. The Ojai Valley News’ position is that any move to alter or overturn the measure, which automatically goes into effect 10 days after the vote is certified, would nullify the votes of 3,165 people, and drive the city deeper into debt.

OVN EDITORIAL on Opinion page: 'Wash away stain of Mission/Pueblo water rights'

Details: Published: Wednesday, 25 November 2020 17:01

This is the Ojai Valley News’ public comment for the state of California’s Truth and Healing Council meeting on Dec. 3 and 4:

To Tribal Adviser Michael Park, California Truth and Healing Council members, and Gov. Gavin Newsom:

Gov. Newsom has proclaimed November as Native American Heritage Month.

OVN EDITORIAL on OPINION page: Want justice? Take the train

Details: Published: Friday, 20 November 2020 08:56

As Los Angeles County COVID-19 numbers surge, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Highberger denied Ojai Valley News reporters remote access to the water adjudication lawsuit proceedings.

The ruling against equal and meaningful access to the proceedings affecting thousands of Ojai Valley residents creates a constitutional problem. The ruling was handed down “with prejudice,” despite the valiant efforts of the Press Freedom and Transparency Team at the University of California Irvine School of Law, led by Susan Seager, Esq.

OVN EDITORIAL on OPINION page: Climate over-REACH

Details: Published: Friday, 30 October 2020 11:46

The all-electric building reach code that the Ojai City Council’s handpicked climate committee brought to the council Tuesday was authored by a Santa Rosa consultant. The reach code proposal to ban natural gas in all-new construction has been adopted by less than 1% of other California cities. It is considered to be a “symbolic gesture” by the climate committee and by the council, as the codes are expected to affect no more than one home per year.

OVN election endorsements on OPINION page

Details: Published: Friday, 16 October 2020 11:26

10 17 endorsements

The Ojai Valley News Editiorial Board recommendations for some of the Nov. 3 races and measures are:

Measure G: Ojai cannabis tax:

YES — The city of Ojai currently faces a $1.5 million shortfall due to COVID-19. Help restore financial stability to Ojai.

Proposition 15:

Initiative constitutional amendment to increase public funding sources for public schools, community colleges, and local government services by changing tax assessment of commercial and industrial property.

YES — This state proposition closes a tax loophole used by the wealthiest corporations. It will reclaim $4.8 billion annually for K-12 schools, community colleges, and critical local services. A total of $12 billion is expected to help fund public services.

Measure K: OUSD bond:

NO — With previous bond money unspent and with families facing financial insecurity, now is not the right time for a new $45 million school bond measure. It is not responsible to incur a total cost, with interest over 30 years, of $86.4 million for this bond on some items that will only last from five to 15 years.

Ojai mayor: William Weirick

Experience, expertise, and years of working for the betterment of the community.

OUSD Area 2: Jeffrey Starkweather

Independent voice, committed to school board transparency and excellence in our schools.

OUSD Area 4: Chiany Dri

A bold candidate with a passion for equity and inclusion in education.

CMWD Division 3: Pete Kaiser

He is the only director on the Casitas Municipal Water District board with more than two years of experience and institutional knowledge during this critical time for a vital agency.

Ojai Valley News Election Endorsement: Why No on Measure K? Yes on Proposition 15

Details: Published: Friday, 09 October 2020 10:49

Measure K — the Ojai Unified School District’s $45 million bond on the Nov. 3 ballot — is not “all about the kids.” In fact, it’s not about kids at all. The school bond is about buildings. Not one dime of the $86.4 million the taxpayers will commit to paying over 30 years will go for educating students or paying their teachers. And most of what they do pay for will no longer be in use during the last 10 years Ojai residents will be making payments. With no crystal ball to predict how the pandemic will affect our community for the next two years, the bond effort is a swing and a miss for education in the Ojai Valley at this time.

Ojai Valley News Election Endorsement: Starkweather, Dri for school board

Details: Published: Friday, 09 October 2020 10:47

While the job of school board member has always been important, no one who ran for school board four years ago could have predicted the responsibilities they now have.

2020 is the first year Ojai Unified School District board members will be chosen by districts due to a voting rights legal challenge affecting cities and school districts across the state.

EDITORIAL on OPINION PAGE: Weirick for Ojai mayor

Details: Published: Friday, 02 October 2020 08:47

10 2 Bill Weirick

Ojai Valley News endorses Councilman William Weirick for Ojai mayor.

When elections work as they should, dedicated, caring, informed citizens volunteer their time and ideas to improve he communities they call home.

That is the case this election season in Ojai and is exemplified by the two candidates running for mayor in the Nov. 3 election.

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