Councilwoman Gloria Soto

Councilwoman Gloria Soto Gloria Soto is a Councilmember in the City of Santa Maria elected by the residents of District 3.

I stand by my statement.Last night, three months after I raised concerns about the District 1 appointment process, Mayor...
07/09/2026

I stand by my statement.

Last night, three months after I raised concerns about the District 1 appointment process, Mayor Alice Patino attempted to “correct the record.” Why now, Alice?

When I stated that I stood by my original statement, she attempted to silence me.

The District 1 appointment lacked transparency, occurred late into the evening, and applicants were never publicly questioned before the vote. District 1 residents were not given a meaningful opportunity to participate. No amount of explaining or repeating the process changes that fact.

The public records requests that followed only reinforce why transparency matters. Our community deserves a process that earns the public’s trust, not one that has to be defended months later.

Mantengo mi postura.

Anoche, tres meses después de que expresé mis preocupaciones sobre el proceso de nombramiento para el Distrito 1, la alcaldesa Alice Patino intentó “corregir el récord”. ¿Por qué ahora, Alice?

Cuando dije que mantenía mi declaración original, intentó silenciarme.

El nombramiento del representante del Distrito 1 careció de transparencia, se llevó a cabo hasta altas horas de la noche y a los aspirantes nunca se les hicieron preguntas públicamente antes de la votación. Los residentes del Distrito 1 no tuvieron una oportunidad significativa de participar. Ninguna explicación ni repetir una y otra vez el proceso cambia esa realidad.

Las solicitudes de registros públicos que surgieron después solo confirman por qué la transparencia es tan importante. Nuestra comunidad merece un proceso que genere la confianza del público, no uno que tenga que seguir defendiéndose meses después.

🗳️ Happy Election Day, Santa Maria!If you haven’t already, be sure to cast your vote today. Every election matters, and ...
06/02/2026

🗳️ Happy Election Day, Santa Maria!

If you haven’t already, be sure to cast your vote today. Every election matters, and your voice helps shape the future of our community.

I want to thank everyone who has called, emailed, and shared their thoughts on the City budget.

Tonight, the Santa Maria City Council will vote on the FY 2026–28 Budget. The graphic below shows how every General Fund and Measure U dollar is budgeted. Currently, 61¢ of every dollar is allocated to public safety, while the remaining 39¢ funds parks, roads, city services, and administration.

We also face an $8.8 million structural deficit. Without new revenue, the proposed budget includes closing the Paul Nelson Aquatics Center for six months each year to save $344,000.

I encourage you to attend tonight’s meeting and make your voice heard.

📍 Santa Maria City Hall, 110 E. Cook St.
🕠 5:30 PM





🗳️ ¡Feliz Día de las Elecciones, Santa María!

Si aún no lo ha hecho, asegúrese de emitir su voto hoy. Cada elección importa, y su voz ayuda a dar forma al futuro de nuestra comunidad.

Quiero agradecer a todas las personas que han llamado, enviado correos electrónicos y compartido sus opiniones sobre el presupuesto de la ciudad.

Esta noche, el Concejo Municipal de Santa María votará sobre el presupuesto para los años fiscales 2026–2028. La gráfica a continuación muestra cómo se asigna cada dólar del Fondo General y de la Medida U. Actualmente, 61 centavos de cada dólar se destinan a la seguridad pública, mientras que los 39 centavos restantes financian parques, calles, servicios municipales y la administración de la ciudad.

También enfrentamos una realidad difícil: un déficit estructural de $8.8 millones. Sin nuevas fuentes de ingresos, el presupuesto propuesto incluye el cierre del Centro Acuático Paul Nelson durante seis meses al año para ahorrar $344,000.

Le invito a asistir a la reunión de esta noche y hacer escuchar su voz.

📍 Ayuntamiento de Santa María, 110 E. Cook St.
🕠 5:30 p.m.



:

I unequivocally condemn the racist AI-generated attack ad targeting Ricardo Valencia, paid for by the Santa Barbara Coun...
05/23/2026

I unequivocally condemn the racist AI-generated attack ad targeting Ricardo Valencia, paid for by the Santa Barbara County Republican Party.

A Latino candidate depicted as a clown in face paint. A fake Latino accent. Images of poverty used to smear Santa Maria and its residents. This is not a campaign tactic, it is a racist caricature, and it is disgraceful.

Santa Maria is a city of hardworking, dignified families. We will not be mocked. We will not be used as a backdrop for political smears.

Now, Chairwoman Bobbi McGinnis calls this “experimenting with new technology.” No. This is racism dressed up in new tools. And voters deserve to know: the same Republican Party behind this ad is actively backing Maribel Aguilera for this seat. That is not being “an independent candidate”— that is a strategy.

I stand with Ricardo Valencia and with the people of Santa Maria.

— Councilwoman Gloria Soto

I unequivocally condemn the racist AI-generated attack ad targeting Ricardo Valencia, paid for by the Santa Barbara Coun...
05/23/2026

I unequivocally condemn the racist AI-generated attack ad targeting Ricardo Valencia, paid for by the Santa Barbara County Republican Party.

A Latino candidate depicted as a clown in face paint. A fake Latino accent. Images of poverty used to smear Santa Maria and its residents. This is not a campaign tactic, it is a racist caricature, and it is disgraceful.

Santa Maria is a city of hardworking, dignified families. We will not be mocked. We will not be used as a backdrop for political smears.

Now, Chairwoman Bobbi McGinnis calls this “experimenting with new technology.” No. This is racism dressed up in new tools. And voters deserve to know: the same Republican Party behind this ad is actively backing Maribel Aguilera for this seat. That is not being “an independent candidate”— that is a strategy.

I stand with Ricardo Valencia and with the people of Santa Maria.

— Councilwoman Gloria Soto

An AI-generated, deep fake political ad depicting candidate Ricardo Valencia as a sad-faced clown in the race for Santa Barbara County Fifth District supervisor—an ad paid for by the county Republican Party—was condemned as racist on Friday by area Democrats. Story in linkin.bio and newspress.com

DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT FEEDBACKCaltrans and the City of Santa Maria want your input on design concepts for Santa Maria S...
04/28/2026

DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT FEEDBACK

Caltrans and the City of Santa Maria want your input on design concepts for Santa Maria St. & Broadway.

Help shape a more walkable, bike-friendly, and connected downtown.

‼️ Take the short survey— link below (open through April).

Your voice will help guide the future of our downtown.

Link: https://engage.dot.ca.gov/b36283


COMENTARIOS SOBRE LA RECONSTRUCCIÓN DEL CENTRO

Caltrans y la Ciudad de Santa Maria invitan a la comunidad a compartir su opinión sobre los diseños preliminares para Santa Maria St. y Broadway.

Ayude a crear un centro más accesible, seguro y conectado para todos.

‼️ Responda la breve encuesta—enlace abajo (disponible hasta finales de abril).

Su voz ayudará a dar forma al futuro de nuestro centro.

Enlace: https://engage.dot.ca.gov/b36283

Paws-itively a great day for our community! 🐾Loved joining residents (and some very excited pups) for the opening of our...
04/18/2026

Paws-itively a great day for our community! 🐾

Loved joining residents (and some very excited pups) for the opening of our new dog park on W Carmen Lane.

Looking forward to seeing you and your pups at our newest dog park.

¡Un gran día para nuestra comunidad! 🐾

Me encantó unirme con residentes de nuestra comunidad, (y algunos cachorros muy emocionados) para la apertura de nuestro nuevo parque para perros en W Carmen Lane.

Estoy deseando verte a ti y a tus cachorros en nuestro nuevo parque para perros.

Last night, the Santa Maria City Council appointed Ricardo Batalla to fill the vacant District 1 seat. Congratulations t...
04/09/2026

Last night, the Santa Maria City Council appointed Ricardo Batalla to fill the vacant District 1 seat. Congratulations to Councilmember Batalla. I wish him well and look forward to working with him.

However, when it came to the appointment process, the residents of Santa Maria deserved better. Five qualified candidates applied for this seat , each with real ties to this community. When I tried to raise questions about the process, a nomination was immediately called and the conversation was over before it began. No interviews. No deliberation. A vote at 10pm.

Our residents, especially those from D1, deserved a process that took their representation seriously. One that was transparent, deliberate, and that gave folks the opportunity for engagement.

That didn’t happen last night.

The Santa Maria City Council on Tuesday appointed political newcomer Ricardo Batalla to the District 1 seat vacated last month by Carlos Escobedo, on a 3-1 vote.

This week’s Central Coast Housing Summit confirmed what our community already lives every day: housing in Santa Maria is...
04/06/2026

This week’s Central Coast Housing Summit confirmed what our community already lives every day: housing in Santa Maria is out of reach for too many.

Last year the City permitted 930+ units but is still falling short for low- and moderate-income families. Building activity alone won’t close that gap. While on council I’ve advocated for two proven policy solutions:

1) A Housing Trust Fund: Local, dedicated dollars to provide loans or grants, support rental projects, homeownership, and emergency shelters.

2) An Inclusionary Housing Ordinance: Ensure that every new development contributes to the affordability our community needs.

The tools exist. Other California cities use them. My frustration is that the political will hasn’t been there on our Council to move these policies forward, but we need to keep pushing because Santa Maria families can’t afford for us not to.

Local leaders and industry experts warned Tuesday of mounting housing pressures on the Central Coast, as demand continues to outpace supply and affordability challenges grow.

🎉 Huge win for Santa Maria!The Santa Maria Bonita School District just received a $30 million grant to transform all 21 ...
03/27/2026

🎉 Huge win for Santa Maria!

The Santa Maria Bonita School District just received a $30 million grant to transform all 21 of their schools into community schools, bringing health services, mental health support, and family resources directly to where our kids learn.

This is what investing in our community looks like. Congratulations to every student, family, and educator who made this possible! 🌟

The Santa Maria-Bonita School District has received roughly $30.6 million in state grant funding that will allow its 21 campuses to transition into a community school model designed to expand

03/21/2026

As an elected representative and a life-long member of this community, I have a responsibility to be clear about where I stand.

I believe the survivors who have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against Cesar Chavez. Their courage in speaking publicly deserves to be met with belief, not silence, not equivocation.

Accountability is not something that can be selectively applied based on a person’s historical significance or cultural legacy. No contribution to a movement, however real and however important to our community, shields anyone from responsibility for the harm they caused.

As an elected official representing a district with deep roots in the farmworker community, I also want to be clear: honoring the labor movement and its workers does not require us to protect any individual from accountability. The farmworkers, organizers, youth and families who built that movement deserve to have their history told fully and honestly.

I stand with survivors. I will continue to stand with survivors. That is not a difficult position, it is the only one consistent with the values I was elected to uphold.

In service,
Gloria S. Soto
Councilmember, District 3
City of Santa Maria

Address

Santa Maria, CA
93454–93458

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