Candidates for Congress focus on affordability in District 26 race
Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park)
May 21, 2026
If you’ve been feeling the squeeze every time you fill up the gas tank or look at rent prices in Newbury Park, you’re not alone—and it turns out the folks hoping to represent us in Congress are feeling it too. According to the *Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park)*, the race for the 26th Congressional District is drawing a crowded field of nine candidates, and the big topic on everyone’s mind is affordability. From Camarillo to Simi Valley and right here in our own backyard, housing costs and the rising cost of living are dominating the conversation, which makes sense when you consider how fast our corner of Ventura County has grown.
We all know that “Newbury Park charm” comes with a price tag these days, and this election feels like a real chance to talk about solutions that hit close to home. Whether you’re a longtime resident or a newcomer drawn by the trails and schools, the outcome of this race will shape everything from local infrastructure to how we manage the balance between development and preserving our open spaces. So grab a coffee, read up on the candidates in the *Acorn*, and get ready to make your voice heard—because these decisions start at our kitchen tables.
This summary was written by AI based on the original article from Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park).
City
Newbury ParkPublished
May 21, 2026
AI-curated summary from local news sources
Explore Newbury ParkAll Newbury Park NewsMore News from Newbury Park
Newbury ParkFirefighters gain ground on Sandy fire after overnight air assault
Well, neighbors, it was another one of those nerve-wracking evenings here in Newbury Park as the Sandy Fire lit up the hillsides just over the ridge. According to the Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park), the blaze exploded Monday near Simi Valley, forcing thousands to evacuate and burning close to 1,500 acres by Tuesday morning. For those of us who remember the Springs Fire or the Woolsey Fire, that sight of smoke and ash drifting our way hits a little different—it’s a reminder that our beautiful canyons and open spaces come with a real responsibility to stay ready. Thankfully, our firefighters launched an overnight air assault and have started to gain ground, with containment at 5% as of Tuesday. One home was lost, but there are no reported injuries, which is a relief we shouldn’t take for granted. The winds and steep terrain made this a tough fight, but our local crews and mutual aid partners from across Ventura County have been working nonstop. For now, let’s keep our neighbors in Simi and the threatened areas in our thoughts, and maybe take a moment to double-check those go-bags—because in the 805, we know fire season never really takes a day off.
Newbury ParkDebate follows party-line script
If you missed last week’s candidate forum in Moorpark, the *Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park)* has the recap—and it sounds like a familiar story. The two candidates for California’s 42nd Assembly District, Agoura Hills Councilmember Deborah Klein Lopez (Democrat) and Newbury Park business owner Ted Nordblum (Republican), stuck to their party scripts on immigration, student privacy, and taxes. No surprises there, but for those of us in Newbury Park, this race feels especially local. Nordblum’s a familiar face around town, and the issues hit close to home—especially with our schools and families navigating state policy. What struck me is how this debate reflects a bigger challenge for our community: we’re a purple pocket in a blue state, and these party-line answers don’t always capture the nuanced views I hear at the coffee shop or PTA meetings. The primary is June 2, so now’s the time to dig past the talking points. Whether you lean left, right, or somewhere in between, this seat matters for our daily lives—from how our kids’ data is handled to what we pay at the pump. Let’s make sure our voices are heard before the ballots go out.
Newbury ParkMan pleads guilty in fatal Thousand Oaks protest confrontation
You know how sometimes a story just hangs over a community for years, like a heavy fog that won’t lift? That’s how many of us have felt since the tragic confrontation at a Thousand Oaks protest back in 2023. According to the *Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park)*, Loay Alnaji, a 52-year-old Moorpark man, has now pleaded guilty to manslaughter and battery charges in the death of a Jewish protester. For those of us who remember the raw tension in the air that day—when religious divides turned a public gathering into a place of fear—this plea brings a complex mix of relief and sorrow. It doesn’t undo the loss, but it does close a painful chapter that weighed heavily on our Ventura County neighborhoods. For Newbury Park families who drive through Thousand Oaks for school drop-offs or weekend errands, this isn’t just a courtroom headline—it’s a reminder that the peace we cherish here is fragile. The guilty plea, entered on May 5 in Ventura County Superior Court, spares our community a long, divisive trial that could have reopened old wounds. Instead, it offers a chance to reflect on how we talk to each other across differences, especially in a region where we’re all neighbors, whether we live in Moorpark, Newbury Park, or TO. Let’s hope this moment nudges us toward more listening and less anger.