July 11: One local cannabis farmer is fighting back against Santa Barbara County’s crackdown on legal growers. Noozhawk reports Bosim Management Company has filed a lawsuit, claiming the Board of Supervisors overstepped its authority in denying extensions for farms to install odor-control systems. A small group of Carpinterians who live near the farms have filed thousands of complaints over the years, causing the board to take a hard line on getting owners to install carbon scrubbers or other expensive odor-control equipment. Nine farms asked for extensions and were all denied. The lawsuit asks that the board’s action be overturned, and that Bosim be given a year to comply. Other farms have also filed appeals with decisions expected in the next 30 days.
July 13: The filing period to run for Carpinteria City Council is now open. Last week councilmember Al Clark announced his retirement, with Alexandra Van Antwerp announcing her intention to run as his replacement in district five. Other members eligible for re-election are Monica Solorzano and Julia Mayer in districts one and three respectively.
July 11: Dozens of people turned out for a rally and march Saturday to commemorate last year’s violent ICE raid at a local cannabis farm. Federal secret police descended on Glass House Farms and a farm in Camarillo on July 10, 2025, making more than 300 arrests. One person died trying to escape ICE agents. Today’s rally included a ceremony to honor the Chumash, before marchers departed on a course that would take them to Glass House Farms on Casitas Pass Road.
July 8: Santa Barbara County has declared that immigration concentration camps can’t be built on privately owned land in the unincorporated county. ICE has been on an arrest binge nationwide the past few weeks, and the county board of supervisors voted unanimously not to allow construction on the camps in the unincorporated county, although they can still be built on federal land within the county. Many of the camps have been ordered closed nationwide, only to have the department of homeland security ignore the rulings.
July 8: Sable Offshore is doubling down in its fight against the people of Santa Barbara County. Defying state regulators, the company has restarted oil production at Gaviota, at the site of the disastrous 2015 oil spill. Now they’re seeking to increase production, even though their actions violate state law, and they’re also trying to have the federal government seize all the land in their construction area to keep the state from interfering. Sable is facing criminal charges and an $18 million fine for doing the work without state permits.
CANNABIS: A local cannabis farm is challenging the County Board of Supervisors’ denial of extensions to install odor-control equipment. Check the story on this page. The state of California has seized 63,000 pounds of illegally-grown cannabis in the past three months. $227 million has been set aside for efforts to curb black market sales. Local grower Glass House Brands began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “GLAS” after restructuring around its medical cannabis business, marking the latest cannabis company uplisting following federal rescheduling. Despite being home to one of the most productive growing areas in the country, Carpinteria does not allow dispensaries or related cannabis businesses within its city limits. A small group of locals is continuing their campaign to try and have local cannabis farms closed down because they don’t like the smell.
HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT: The long-awaited renovation of the Palms Hotel is underway, with scaffolding and construction crews present on the property. The public comment period is now open for the Farm Project, a large group of luxury homes proposed for The Bluffs. Opponents have contracted with the Environmental Defense Center in Santa Barbara to fight the project. A public scoping meeting is set for today. The Surfliner Inn is still undergoing an environmental review. The controversial proposed hotel would eliminate parking lot #3 to build a boutique hotel next to the railroad tracks. A proposed 18-story apartment building in the middle of the city has met with stiff opposition from locals. The developers have filed a lawsuit against the landowners and the city for allegedly taking too long to process their applications.
OCEAN/OIL: Chevron continues decommissioning work at the old Venoco property in Carpinteria, most recently removing underground pipelines extending three miles out in the ocean. A barge is now working to cut up and remove sections of old pipeline. Up the coast, the battle over restarting the Plains All-American Pipeline continues, with Sable Offshore plowing ahead with the restart despite court rulings and warnings from the state Coastal Commission. Most recently the company has asked the federal government to seize the land at its operation in the Santa Ynez Valley to avoid state interference.
BUSINESS WATCH: Rincon Designs has reopened at its old location on Linden Avenue. The store hosted a ribbon-cutting June 23. The building complex that houses Pizza Man Dan’s reportedly has been sold, but it’s unclear what it means for the restaurant and neighboring businesses. Cassie Wayne Hat Company on Linden Avenue has closed. Motel 6 has ceased operations in Carpinteria, with both franchises now under the control of Vagabond Inn. Carp Moon Cafe is changing hands, but has announced it will retain the same menu and services. No word yet what the new restaurant at 4745 CarpinteriaAvenue will be.
Ongoing: Registration for summer workshops. 865 Linden Avenue, call 805-684-7789.
Ongoing: Improv, Tuesdays 7pm, $10 at the door. July 4: Van Halen Tribute July 11-19: Hanne Pedersen One-Act Festival 4916 Carpinteria Ave., tix available at thealcazar.org
Ongoing: Carpinteira Songwriters Circle Tues. 4pm Babies Are the Best, Wed. 9am. Conversational Spanish, Tues. 2pm. 5141 Carpinteria Ave., carpinterialibrary.org.
July 10: Ray Jarique, Corktree Celllars 7pm
July 12: Molly Tuttle, Ventura Theatre 8pm
July 25: El Rayo X, Ojai Underground 7pm