Category Archives: Uncategorized

By Joe Payne The Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) stationed two “long observers” with scoped rifles on the roof of the Santa Maria Town Center to surveil an April 24 protest against police violence in the city’s downtown area. The officers are usually part of the city’s SWAT team, SMPD Sgt. Woody Vega said, andContinue reading “Santa Maria Police Department placed “snipers” on mall roof to surveil protest against police violence”

By Joe Payne A group of dozens of indigenous farmworkers in Santa Maria, California walked off the field on April 15 after a coworker requested higher pay and was fired, according to organizers. Mixteco Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) organizer Jeremias Salazar said the group of non-unionized fieldworkers quit in solidarity with their coworker, whoseContinue reading “Indigenous farmworkers organize and strike in Santa Maria with help from MICOP”

By Joe Payne Local rightwing media host, lobbyist, and failed candidate for Congress, Andy Caldwell, sunk to even lower lows on his radio show on Jan. 6, 2021, the day far-right domestic terrorists goaded by President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol Building in an attempt to overthrow American democracy. After our criminal presidentContinue reading “Andy Caldwell sinks to new low, spreads lies about Capitol Hill attack”

A San Luis Obispo County judge ruled on Friday, Dec. 11, that SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow was hopelessly biased against Black Lives Matter organizer Tianna Arata and co-defendants and would not be able to try their case through his office. The decision from Superior Court Judge Matthew Guerrero pointed to politically-motivated appearances onContinue reading “Victory for Tianna Arata as judge kicks SLO County DA Dan Dow off the case”

By Joe Payne — Nov. 9, 2020: Santa Maria, California *See update video below, including direct accounts from those involved in the incident. A video of a Santa Maria man held in a chokehold by Trump supporters has gone viral across the internet. The motorist was being “detained” by members of a “Stop the Steal”Continue reading “UPDATED: “Welcome to MAGA Country motherf*cker” Viral video shows Trump supporters choking man involved in car wreck during Santa Maria MAGA Drag”

Trump supporters took to the streets last weekend, just not on foot. MAGA Drag the Interstate, as it was called, saw Trump flags flying as trucks, SUVs, convertibles, and bikers cruised through interstates, cities, and even blocked bridges nationwide, including here on the Central Coast of California. Some of these events included violent altercations withContinue reading “MAGA Drag: Trumpists idea of political action”

There’s now less than a week until the 2020 election and several things are happening at once—efforts to suppress the democratic process, massive early voter turnout, and questions on how the newly stacked conservative Supreme Court will factor in to the president’s strategy to hold power. President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are uppingContinue reading “Political Payne 2020 Election UPDATE”

The Republican Party and President Donald Trump are truly masters of projection. Despite the fact that there’s virtually no evidence of widespread fraud committed through vote by mail in the United States, it doesn’t stop Trump and the Republicans from claiming there is and seeking to delegitimize the will of the electorate. Trump has beenContinue reading “How Trump and Republicans are working to STEAL the 2020 Election”

Oct. 3, 2020: As another heat wave rolls through the Central Coast, along with the smoke from deadly wildfires raging throughout California, tensions between Santa Maria Trump supporters and counter demonstrators reached a boiling point. While live streaming the demonstration and counter protest at the Crossroads Shopping Center in my hometown, I approached and interviewedContinue reading “Pro Trump and counter protestors scuffle in Santa Maria, CA”