19 Comments
User's avatar
DANA NEWQUIST's avatar

Hope and Prayer no longer “cut it” throughout our Community and State. Action needs to prevail with election outcomes that position Officials with logic, not Politics.

Thank you Bonnie for taking a strong lead in your attempt to make positive change to our Community as well as State!

Mike's avatar

Happy New Year Bonnie! SB Current is one of the gems in Santa Barbara--Thank you!

Lunna29's avatar

Thanks Bonnie. Program sounds interesting.

I look forward to meeting you someday.

Happy 2026.

EnoughIsEnough805's avatar

Happy New Year Bonnie! ✝️🎉

Daniel  Cerf's avatar

Thanks for the heads up on the speaker series, I was looking for something to replace, Art and Lectures, that was more thought provoking and less book selling. Plus anything that Bill MacFarland of Noozhawk gets behind tells me the research has been done and will be worthwhile.

I agree with Mike, "SB Current is one of the gems in Santa Barbara".

Howard Walther's avatar

I read this article titled "A Pause at City Hall—and a Spotlight on What Makes Us, Us"

by Bonnie Donovan and I have a new title "Full Steam Ahead for 2026 and a Spotlight

on Fraud" I quote from Ms. Donovan "It’s a perfect moment to celebrate what makes our community special—new ideas taking the stage ..... a reminder that while some chapters close, others are just beginning ..." An early morning review on X shows us the beginning for

2026 and that is the Fraud throughout America with X-Links below>

https://x.com/nickshirleyy/status/2004642794862961123 (Fraud in Minnesota!)

https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/2006955206844498327 (Fraud in America!)

https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/2006946051748495704 (Catherine H. Fraud in the Media)

https://x.com/ImMeme0/status/1978952372207370638 (Fraud in California)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfN3Sjvg9KY (More Fraud in California)

Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family

TVW's avatar
Jan 2Edited

Sounds great! I'm in.

What a concept...something other than the almost wholly left leaning Arts and Lecture series.

Walters is a legend...calls balls and strikes...very refreshing. Should offer deeply discounted tickets to students as an opportunity to expose them to something other than the predictable mantra.

Allowing the City to shut down while granting themselves a protracted paid vacation is borderline immoral. Some of the most underworked overpaid paid people in my opinion...with exceptions of course. Shameful. Imagine if there was competition for City "services"...options to obtain permits etc...I suspect you would see extend hours offered...not "Closed for Business" signs. Pathetic. Unions are destroying this city in many ways.

Happy New Year Bonnie...thanks for the heads up.

Jeff Giordano's avatar

Bonnie, on behalf of Brian and me, I want to wish you—and the entire SB Current Team—a heartfelt thank you! We continue to believe that there is an appetite for an expanded public square in SB-land but the only way we can prove our theory is with an audience. This is absolutely a purpose driven endeavor so we hope Current readers will support us/ prove us right by purchasing a ticket (BTW $7 of each ticket goes to the NFP Lobero) and joining us for cocktails on the Lobero Esplanade at 6PM. We expect the event will be lively and interactive as Dan is an exciting lecturer so please bring your questions. We wish you and all Current readers a happy, healthy and successful 2026!!!

Michael Self's avatar

Bonnie thank you for letting us know about the event and a big thank you to you and SB Current for a year of great service to our community

Robert Ludwick's avatar

Spotlight is a great idea....why should one side of the political aisle/spectrum have a monopoly on hosting debate and discussion leading to issue or candidate endorsement (e.g., League of Women Voters, etc.)? I recall that for a time in the late 70's to mid 80's The Reason Foundation (https://reason.org/) had a presence or headquarters here in SB. I would suggest using that resource as an accelerant for the small flame that Spotlight hopes to spark & fan here locally. If possible, consider hosting voices such as Victor Davis Hanson, whose book Mexifornia remains a compelling tale of how unASSIMILATED immigration (legal or otherwise) has impacted our state over the last 50 yrs. Bonnie, you really have no idea how important your work and voice have become, but this conservative echo chamber needs a grander scale and audience to become as effective as it can and should be. THANK YOU, Happy New Year!

Celeste Barber's avatar

Bought my ticket! Thanks for the reminder, Bonnie. Lobero is a great venue as it's small enough that there are no bad seats (no "nosebleed" sections!). Prompts me to subscribe to CalMatters, something on my ever-growing list of stuff to do. And for those who missed yesterday's Rose Parade, check out the America 250 entry with the magnificent Bald Eagles with Aaron Copeland music. Magnificent tribute to US -- you and me and America.

Bill Russell's avatar

Thanks for the info, Bonnie. Perhaps after each presentation it can be posted on YouTube at a later date for the past occupants of the city. Happy New Year ... looking forward to getting through this year <g>.

Chas McClure's avatar

17 days off with pay and accrual.

Steve Johnson's avatar

"provocative centrist"; any others come to mind?

Brian MacIsaac's avatar

Like who Steve? You’re being provocative.

TVW's avatar
Jan 2Edited

Help us out Steve.

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Jan 2
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Celeste Barber's avatar

Well, if that's your definition of "centrist," you've just labelled the majority of America! Historically, our country has been politically to the center right. The takeover of by the extreme right and left of those in power -- that's new to governance. And it hasn't worked out so well, has it. Used to be, our electeds actually did cross the aisle, often in the Senate dining room. They worked together and compromised. Heck, our Founders' great documents were borne from compromise. Happy (just left) Centrist me!

david mccalmont's avatar

"Centrism" most likely implies he takes non-ideological stands on issues. More pundits these days are using that label to describe President Trump. Politics is the art of the doable and possible. "Ideology" is important in getting elected by 50% or more of the electorate. Once with the responsibility to govern, the "winner" has to consider the people who voted for the "loser". Dan Walters is not an elected official. I agree "provocative centrist" can be one of these weasel-like labels which attempts perhaps to elevate the label-holder above the common fray - making him appear wiser than the others. We'll see on February 5th!

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Jan 2
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TVW's avatar

did not see on Lobero schedule of upcoming events...