Melinda Burns, Author at The Santa Barbara Independent

Infrastructure By Melinda Burns | Thu Jul 02, 2020 | 12:00am

Santa Barbara Seals 50-Year Deal to Sell Water to Montecito

Partners will share cost of city’s $72 million desalination plant.

Infrastructure By Melinda Burns | Thu Jun 25, 2020 | 6:30pm

Wealthy community to pay off $33 million of the city’s $72 million desalination plant, making it a regional venture.

Cannabis By Melinda Burns | Fri Jun 12, 2020 | 5:00pm

Modest proposals would affect only North County cannabis “grows.”

Cannabis By Melinda Burns | Wed Jun 10, 2020 | 6:00pm

Officials say one-third of 2020-21’s tally will go toward policing, regulating the industry.

Cannabis By Melinda Burns | Thu Jun 04, 2020 | 3:51pm

Inundated with public comments, the board pushed its deliberations on stronger regulations to June 11.

Cannabis By Melinda Burns | Fri May 29, 2020 | 5:15pm

Project would be too big and traffic too unsafe for rural community, officials say.

Cannabis By Melinda Burns | Thu May 28, 2020 | 12:00am

Proliferation of pot farms is “driving everybody mad,” critics say.

Cannabis By Melinda Burns | Thu Apr 30, 2020 | 12:00am

County must rein in booming cannabis industry, coalition says.

Courts & Crime By Melinda Burns | Thu Apr 23, 2020 | 12:00am

Water rights engineer says she was underpaid, bullied, and forced out.

Cannabis By Melinda Burns | Wed Apr 22, 2020 | 3:00pm

Vintners’ pleas again fail to sway the Santa Barbara county Board of Supervisors.