Ventura County Star

A new report takes a unique look at quality-of-life issues in the Golden State, measuring social well-being using health, education and income factors. The study concludes that the state is divided into 5 areas with different ecologies.

Gene Dunn, a 63-year-old resident of Ventura, California cuts weeds with his square shovel on public streets. City leaders would like to recruit an army of Gene Dunns.

Like anything 'free', it's difficult to make the transition to charging, especially when you are City Hall, but pay stations are on their way that will apply charges on the busier streets to 10pm or midnight while the parking garage will be 'free'.

Residents in an Oxnard neighborhood install a community garden which will provide them with fruits and vegetables.

Church officials in Ventura County, California, are challenging a decision barring them from expanding into protected open space, arguing that federal law allows them exemptions from zoning controls.

In Southern California, Ventura County has begun a Groundwater Enhancement and Treatment Program to increase its supply of local, affordable water.

Wendell Cox charges that Ventura County, CA's plans to promote alternative transit strategies over expanding highways is a "fairy tale" that will result in additional pollution and more traffic.

Architect and smart code expert Ann Daigle resigns suddenly from Ventura's planning department to join Andres Duany's CNU-sponsored rebuilding effort.

The City of Ventura, CA adopts an all-infill general plan, replacing it's previous plan from 1989.

Oxnard, CA, earns an award from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department for its efforts to increase its supply of affordable housing.

Electeds and community leaders focus on solutions to traffic and housing affordability woes

If we want to improve our cities, we should start by throwing away the traditional municipal zoning code.

Ventura, California looks destined to become the new model for smart growth with the addition of another smart growth expert, Ann Daigle.

Two sales taxes for open space and transportation are defeated in Ventura, CA, despite popular support for the goals.

Beachfront town selects Rick Cole, former mayor of Pasadena and current city manager of Asuza, California.

Mountain House, CA, is "the newest new town of the new millennium."

Is affordable housing by lawsuit the next trend for California cities?

Under state law, counties and cities must devise new rules for so-called "second-dwelling units" to help ease the state's affordable housing crisis.

The Ventura County Grand Jury commended the city of Thousand Oaks for finding a place for day laborers to wait for work and offered some suggestions to improve the site.

Curtis P. Stiles and Joseph Anthony Perez provide a citizen's primer on recognizing and fighting sprawl in Ventura County, California.