Santa Maria

Police Chief Christopher Williams acknowledged the technology could make errors, but said other cities have implemented it successfully.

Supervisor Joan Hartmann expressed concern over the design and whether it would meet the needs of inmates.

A nationwide day of “No Kings” protests is returning this weekend, with multiple demonstrations planned across the Central Coast.

Central Coast leaders and immigration advocates gathered outside the Santa Maria ICE facility Friday calling attention to what they describe as a sharp surge in immigration enforcement during the holiday week.

Colectivo Mariposa 805 is a community-led organization giving mutual aid to families affected by immigration enforcement activity. The group is based in Santa Maria and serves over 70 families in the cities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe, and the unincorporated community of Nipomo.

The Santa Maria City Council has postponed a decision on forming an Immigration Ad Hoc Committee, pushing the discussion to Spring 2026. Council members said they want more clarity on what the proposed committee would do to support the city’s immigrant community.

The City of Santa Maria is inviting the public to weigh-in on fee increases on new development projects. These one-time fees are meant to offset the cost of public services for a growing population. The public workshop is scheduled for October 6, which makes it the third public workshop this year regarding new development fees.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the allocation of over $42,000 to pay half of the cost of a Santa Maria Park Ranger. The new ranger will patrol the Santa Maria riverbed for unhoused residents.

More than 20 community members voiced their opinions this week at the Santa Maria City Council meeting, where council members were scheduled to consider forming an ad hoc committee on immigration. The council postponed discussion on the committee because one council member was absent.

In Santa Maria, the city council on Tuesday is scheduled to look at continuing a contract for emergency dispatch services with the City of Guadalupe. The contract ended over the summer and the City of Guadalupe has said they are ready to continue this partnership for the next three years.