Stay Informed
Local News
AI-curated coverage of what matters across the Central Coast
Showing news for Simi ValleyClear filter
News from Simi Valley
Simi ValleyApparent winners emerge in Simi park, school board races
Simi Valley voters have made their voices heard in two races that shape everyday life here — the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District board and the Simi Valley Unified School District board. The latest returns show apparent winners pulling ahead comfortably, though results aren't final until every ballot is counted. These aren't glamorous races, but they matter more than most people realize. The park district oversees the trails, pools, and rec programs that make Simi such a livable place, while the school board makes decisions that affect thousands of local families. If you've got kids in SVUSD or you've spent a Saturday morning on the Rancho Simi trails, this is your government at work. Hats off to everyone who cast a ballot. The Simi Valley Acorn has the full rundown on the apparent winners and vote totals — worth a read if you want to know who'll be steering these two institutions for the next term.
Simi ValleyKlein Lopez ready to join California Assembly
Big news for our corner of the 805: Agoura Hills Mayor Pro Tem Deborah Klein Lopez is headed to the California Assembly after a strong showing in last Tuesday's election. She beat Republican Ted Nordblum by an unofficial 12 points in the race for the 42nd Assembly District, which stretches across western LA and eastern Ventura County and includes our neighbors in Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Calabasas, and Simi Valley. That means our community will have a new voice in Sacramento — and a Democrat who's spent years in local government, so she knows the day-to-day issues we care about: traffic on the 101, housing, and the cost of living. The Simi Valley Acorn has the full breakdown of the results, and we'll be watching to see how she represents our side of the district. For now, congratulations to the mayor pro tem on a hard-fought win. Local politics is where the rubber meets the road, and it's worth paying attention to who's speaking for us up north.
Simi ValleyJudge wins Simi Valley mayor
Simi Valley has a new mayor, and it's a judge — a headline that's already got folks talking around town. Early results show the gavel-to-city-hall jump, though the county still has more than 161,000 ballots to process, so the final tally could shift. It's a good reminder that election night is just the first chapter. For a community that values stability and straight talk, having a jurist in the mayor's seat raises interesting questions about how the city will handle growth, public safety, and the everyday issues that hit our neighborhoods. The Simi Valley Acorn is keeping a close eye on the numbers and will post updates as they come in. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for the latest — and if you haven't already, make sure your ballot was counted. Local elections matter, and this one's a prime example of why every vote in the 805 counts.
Simi ValleyCounty elections chief urges voters to cast ballots early
Ventura County's top elections official has a simple message for Simi Valley voters: don't wait until Nov. 3. Clerk-Recorder Michelle Ascencion wants residents to treat Election Day as a deadline, not a plan, and cast ballots early to sidestep long lines and last-minute surprises. It's practical advice worth heeding, especially for neighbors juggling work, school runs and everything else that fills a fall Tuesday. Voting early also gives you breathing room if something goes sideways — a misplaced ballot, a schedule conflict, or a question about your registration that's easier to sort out before the rush. The Simi Valley Acorn flagged the reminder this week, and it's the kind of small nudge that makes a real difference in turnout. So whether you drop your ballot off or head to a vote center ahead of time, get it done while the calendar's still on your side. Your future self on Nov. 3 will thank you.
Simi ValleySanta Susana Field Lab demolition draws scrutiny
If you've driven the 118 near the Santa Susana Pass, you've passed the Santa Susana Field Lab without maybe knowing it. Now Boeing is wrapping up demolition of five former nuclear research buildings in Area IV, and watchdog groups are asking the questions a lot of us have been wondering for years: is any of that debris releasing radioactive material, where exactly is it going, and who's actually checking? This isn't a new story for Simi Valley — the 1959 partial meltdown at the Rocketdyne site has been part of our local history for decades, and neighbors have long pushed for a full, safe cleanup. As the buildings come down, the Simi Valley Acorn reports that oversight is the big concern, and honestly, it's worth paying attention to. This is our backyard, our air, our water. We'll keep following this one. In the meantime, if you've got questions or memories about the site, we'd love to hear them — this is exactly the kind of local story that deserves a closer look.
Simi ValleySelect Home Warranty Introduces Expanded HVAC Protection Plans Offering Up to $9,000 in Coverage for Simi Valley Homeowners
If you've lived in Simi Valley for more than a summer, you already know the drill: the AC runs hard from June through September, then the Santa Ana winds show up in October and make you wonder if your heater even remembers how to work. Our spot between the Santa Susana and Simi Hills means we get the full range of extremes, and HVAC systems here take a beating that homeowners in milder parts of the 805 never think about. That's why the news from the Simi Valley Acorn about Select Home Warranty expanding its HVAC protection plans — now offering up to $9,000 in coverage — is worth a look for local homeowners. When a compressor dies in August or a furnace quits during a cold snap, that repair bill can hit four figures fast, and not everyone has that sitting in savings. It's a business story, sure, but it's also a practical reminder to check what your own home warranty or insurance actually covers before the next heat wave rolls through the valley.
Simi ValleyJobs, Town Center and homelessness shape city council debate
Simi Valley voters in District 2 have a real choice on their hands this November, and the Oct. 6 League of Women Voters forum at City Hall gave us a preview of the conversation ahead. Candidates Sam Cohen and Richard Perini squared off on the big three: jobs, the future of the Town Center, and how the city responds to homelessness. These aren't abstract issues — they're the things you talk about at the grocery store or over the back fence. The district stretches across much of southeastern Simi Valley, including Corriganville Park, so neighbors there have a direct stake in who sits on the council. Economic development and the Town Center question will shape what our community looks like for years, and homelessness touches every corner of the valley. The Simi Valley Acorn has the full rundown on the forum, and it's worth a read before ballots go out. Local elections often get lost in the noise, but this one decides who's at the table when these decisions get made. Take a few minutes, get informed, and make your voice count on Nov. 3.
Simi ValleyWhole Foods market prepares from November Simi opening
Simi Valley is about to get its first Whole Foods, and honestly, it's a moment a lot of us have been waiting for. The 35,000-square-foot store at 2631 Tapo Canyon Road opens its doors at 9 a.m. on Nov. 10, bringing organic produce, specialty foods, and that famous hot bar to our corner of the 805. As the Simi Valley Acorn first reported, this is the chain's first location here, and it's a sign of how our community has grown. For locals, it's more than just a grocery run. It means fewer drives down the 118 for that specific brand of almond butter or a fresh-squeezed juice after a hike in the Santa Susana Mountains. It also brings new jobs and a little extra foot traffic to the Tapo Canyon area, which is always good to see. So mark your calendar, Simi. Whether you're a longtime foodie or just curious about the buzz, Nov. 10 is worth a trip. And if you go, say hi to your neighbors in the checkout line — that's what makes this town feel like home.
Simi ValleyDistrict 4 hopefuls agree on safety, split on how to pay for services
Simi Valley neighbors, if you live in District 4, you've got a real choice on your hands this November. Four candidates are running to represent much of our community, and they're all saying the same thing: keep us safe and keep life affordable here. That part's easy to agree on. The split comes down to how we pay for it. Measure A on the Nov. 3 ballot would bump the tax on hotel rooms and short-term rentals from 10% to 12%, bringing in roughly $400,000 a year for city services. Some candidates see that as a sensible way to fund what residents expect without reaching deeper into local pockets; others aren't sold on a tax hike, even a targeted one. This is the kind of local decision that shapes our day-to-day — from police staffing to park upkeep. The Simi Valley Acorn has the full rundown on where each hopeful stands, so give it a read before you cast your ballot. Your neighborhood, your voice.
Simi ValleyDistrict I council candidates say Simi ‘can do better’
Simi Valley's District 1 race is heating up, and four candidates made their case at a League of Women Voters forum Oct. 6 at City Hall. District 1 covers the north side of town — above the 118, from Rocky Peak out toward the city's edge — so if you live up that way, these folks want to be your voice on the council. The headline from the Simi Valley Acorn says it plainly: the candidates agree the city "can do better." That's a sentiment plenty of neighbors share, whether the topic is traffic on the 118, keeping our parks and streets in shape, or making sure growth pays its way. Local elections like this one often get lost in the noise of bigger races, but they're where the decisions that actually touch your block get made. Take a few minutes to learn where each candidate stands before your ballot arrives — your neighborhood is worth it.
Simi ValleyWhen ‘GTFO’ is not a joke
You've heard it at last call — that familiar tune that means it's time to head home. Now CAL FIRE is borrowing the same idea with a blunt reminder: GTFO, or "Get the Family Out." It's not crude for shock value; it's a gut-punch meant to cut through the noise when wildfire threatens. Here in Simi Valley, we know the drill all too well. The Santa Ana winds, the hillsides turning brown, the alerts on our phones — fire season isn't abstract for us. It's the reason we keep go-bags by the door and know which neighbors might need a hand. As the Simi Valley Acorn reports, the message is simple: when evacuation orders come, don't wait to see what happens. Grab your people, your pets, your essentials, and go. A little blunt language beats a lot of regret. Stay safe out there, neighbors.
Simi ValleyTransit center squeezes out Simi’s historic citrus grove
Simi Valley has always had a complicated relationship with its citrus past. Those orange trees near the Civic Center aren't just landscaping — they're living reminders of the packing houses, the railroad, and the farmland that became the city we know today. The protected sycamores have stood watch through all of it. Now the Planning Commission's unanimous Oct. 7 vote clears the way for a transit hub, and most of those trees will come down. I get it — we need infrastructure, and a transit center could genuinely serve residents. But there's something bittersweet about paving over the last tangible pieces of our agricultural roots to build it. As the Simi Valley Acorn reported, these trees have outlasted nearly everything else from that era. If they have to go, let's at least make sure we honor what they represented. Maybe new plantings, a plaque, something that tells the next generation this wasn't always a city of subdivisions. Worth watching how this unfolds.
Have a News Tip?
Know about something happening in your community? We are always looking for local stories that matter to the 805.
Share a Story