How to resolve AdBlock issue? Ojai City Manager James Vega writes letter to congresswoman opposing uranium mining in area
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- Published: Friday, 24 July 2020 09:05
Ojai City Manager James Vega wrote this letter on July 22 to Rep. Julia Brownley, who represents the Ojai Valley in Congress:
The city of Ojai has learned that a document recently released by the Department of Energy outlines a federal strategy for ensuring domestic procurement of nuclear fuel raw materials in the interests of national security. A document, entitled “Restoring America’s Competitive Nuclear Energy Advantage,” has generated concern.
OP-ED on OVN OPINION page: Ojai Councilman Haney: 'Time to put action behind our words'
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- Published: Friday, 17 July 2020 11:08
By Randy Haney
In light of national policing issues brought about through the tragic killing of George Floyd and the protests of the Black Lives Matter movement, a great deal of concern has arisen on the part of many local citizens regarding Ojai’s current contract renewal with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. I am in complete agreement that now is the time to review, reform and provide complete transparency in our community regarding this contract. I think we are fortunate that this renewal comes at a time when our country is struggling to face the issue of racism and police reform with more honesty and a willingness to grow and change.
Op-Ed on Opinion page: Dr. Rogove: 'A pandemic is not a political event'
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- Published: Friday, 10 July 2020 12:33
By Herb Rogove
Opinion and pronouncements, all based upon misinformation, were the essence of a letter to the editor, “Inappropriate response to a pandemic,” by Andrew R. Holguin.
Firstly, this is a time in our nation when unity is an example of American exceptionalism. It occurred after both World Wars and the Great Depression. But today, the health of our country and our world follows the usual course we have witnessed over the past several years of tribalism based upon two extreme opposing views.
Op-Ed: Ojai resident Brad Sloan explains what July 4th in Ojai means to him
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- Published: Friday, 03 July 2020 09:13
Photo by Bradley M. Sloan
The Seats on Ojai Avenue represent Ojai’s spirit.
By Bradley M. Sloan
California doesn’t stop. It has this aura of being incredibly fast paced, where people are always, “Go, Go, Go.” But then there’s us. Ojai. No, not Ohio. It’s 10 minutes inland of Ventura. Or an hour north of LA. And when you get here, it’s quiet, small and rural. There’s almost nothing like it anywhere else in California. And that’s why we are so proud to say this is where we are from.
Keep Sespe Wild Committee: Oppose logging Pine Mountain
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- Published: Tuesday, 23 June 2020 11:14
By Alasdair Coyne
Friends,
Los Padres National Forest just announced days ago their proposal to log over 15,000 ancient pine trees (up to 24" diameter) on the north slopes of Pine Mountain and Reyes Peak, north of Ojai, at an elevation of 7,000 feet.
Please respond with your comments to LPNF by the deadline of June 30th, next week.
Op-Ed: Distance learning a reminder that education is all about connections
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- Published: Friday, 19 June 2020 11:38
By Jem Ruf
Last June, at my Nordhoff graduation, I spoke a bit about public education in our technology-ridden world. I concluded that, perhaps counterintuitively, what made my Ojai education so special wasn’t necessarily the information. If we think about information in its barest sense, we have all the information in the world at our fingertips — in our cell phones and computers. Rather, what made my education so valuable (what made me want to go to school) was the ability to connect with my fellow students and, especially, my teachers. In my view, the connections one makes while absorbing and being exposed to new information are what make a formal education particularly worthwhile.
Op-Ed: ‘Act, engage, change’: Teachers pledge to help
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- Published: Friday, 19 June 2020 11:31
Forty-two high school teachers across the Ventura Unified School District wrote this letter to their students:
Our Dear High School Students, Tomorrow’s Leaders,
Life and History, in the forms of a virus and the largest racial uprisings of your lifetime, have perhaps taught you more in the last 12 weeks than you have learned in our classrooms … if you have been paying attention.
Robbed from the opportunity to see you and speak to you face-to-face in times that history books and classes will mark, we — some of your teachers and counselors — hope to reach you now in this time when we cannot remain silent.
OPINION: Listen to voices of the unheard
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- Published: Tuesday, 09 June 2020 13:05
Photo courtesy Renee Mandala
By Renee Mandala, Ellen Nightingale, Carol Castanon and Adrienne Hoskins
We are writing today in solidarity with the daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles and aunties who have lost loved ones because of institutional racism, oppression and violence. Secure Beginnings will not be silent during this critical time and denounces racism in all forms.
We stand for a vision where violence against communities of color ends, and we envision a world of healthy, resilient communities where black lives matter.
OP-ED on OVN OPINION page: Steve Colomé: 'Seeking truth in the age of COVID-19'
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- Published: Friday, 05 June 2020 11:15
By Steve Colomé
“How much is your health worth, Ladies and Gents? One half-dollar is all it takes to cure all that ails you. That's right! This remedy will succeed where doctors have failed.”
Health order should not discriminate against Ojai businesses5-15 Op-Ed
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- Published: Friday, 15 May 2020 11:46
By James Vega, Ojai city manager
On May 11, Ventura County officials stated that, under their most recent public health order, big-box stores can begin allowing customers in store to purchase any items. Previously, these stores were limited to only selling essential items. The order allowed other retail shops that had been closed under prior orders to open, but only for curbside pickup and delivery.
Don't scapegoat older adults by reopening carelessly
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- Published: Friday, 08 May 2020 11:51
By Douglas Parker
The Ojai Valley News editorial on May 1, and a companion letter from Andrew Holguin, both urged a loosening of social-distancing and stay-at-home restrictions. Neither, however, specified just what is to be loosened and how. Those are the difficult questions. Various states across the country are experimenting with loosening such restrictions (and doing so with the encouragement of President Trump, even where their actions conflict with the guidelines of his own administration). At a time, when the death toll is projected to rise steadily over the next several weeks, it seems a particularly questionable moment to proceed with an extensive program of reopening.