Rep. Carbajal to set up office at Ventura City Hall
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Rep. Salud Carbajal, the Santa Barbara Democrat, will set up a new office at Ventura City Hall by July 1. It will be his first office in Ventura County.
Carbajal represents the 24th Congressional District, which changed during redistricting to include less of San Luis Obispo County while adding voters in Ventura and Ojai. The district also includes all of Santa Barbara County.
On Monday, the Ventura City Council approved the use of the office in a 5-1 vote.
The term of the month-to-month lease will begin on June 1, city documents show. The rent will be $1 per year plus $417.60 per month to offset utility, maintenance, janitorial and operation costs.
Councilwoman Liz Campos cast the "no" vote in part because City Hall is located on a hill and can be hard to access.
"The city has failed to make the council chambers wheelchair accessible and my wheelchair is broken because of it," Campos said in a text message Tuesday. "When Salud said he wanted to use City Hall for office space, I stated then that it would be necessary to find a way for mobility impaired and vision impaired seniors to have equal access."
Campos said she has not been able to meet with Carbajal to discuss her concerns.
Ian Mariani, a spokesman for Carbajal, said he appreciates Campos' concerns. Anyone who wants an in-person appointment at a different location can reach out to the office, he said.
Carbajal's offices in Santa Barabara and San Luis Obispo have accommodated people with special needs before and will do it again on a case-by-case basis, Mariani said. Some constituents have also connected by phone or through online services.
More information is available at carbajal.house.gov.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Rep. Carbajal to set up office at Ventura City Hall
