A Pause at City Hall—and a Spotlight on What Makes Us, Us
With the City closed since Thursday, December 18, and not reopening until January 5, 2026, the pace around town slows just enough to notice the things that often get overlooked. It’s a perfect moment to celebrate what makes our community special—new ideas taking the stage and longtime favorites taking a well-earned bow. From the launch of an exciting new speaker series to the farewell of a beloved boutique after four decades, this week is a reminder that while some chapters close, others are just beginning—and that’s what keeps a town vibrant.
Spotlight Santa Barbara Brings Big Ideas—and a Legendary Voice—to Town
Santa Barbara is known for its beauty, creativity, and quality of life. What it has sometimes lacked is a consistent forum for thoughtful, in-person discussion of the big ideas shaping California and the country. That gap is what Spotlight Santa Barbara aims to fill.
Founded by Montecito Water Board District Member and Public Policy Professor Brian Goebel together with sometimes Montecito Journal Community Voice contributor Jeff Giordano, Spotlight Santa Barbara is a new speaker series built around a simple but timely mission: provoking thought and inspiring change. The series is designed to bring respected, credible voices to Santa Barbara—people who offer context, history, and insight rather than slogans or sound bites.
The inaugural event makes that intention clear.
On Thursday, February 5, 2026, Spotlight Santa Barbara will welcome author, lecturer and journalist Dan Walters, the most widely syndicated political columnist in California history. Cocktails begin at 6 pm, followed by the program at 7 pm.
Buy a ticket here: Spotlight SB: Dan Walters - Lobero Theatre
The Vision Behind Spotlight Santa Barbara
Goebel and Giordano launched Spotlight Santa Barbara with a shared belief that meaningful conversation still matters—and that Santa Barbara is the kind of community that values it. In an era where civic dialogue often happens online, in fragments, or through partisan filters, they wanted to create a space where ideas could be explored fully, respectfully, and in person.
Rather than importing a generic lecture series, the founders designed Spotlight Santa Barbara to feel intentional and local, pairing nationally respected voices with an engaged community. Their goal is not to tell audiences what to think, but to give them the tools, context, and perspective to think more deeply.
Launching the series with Dan Walters signals exactly what they are aiming for: substance, credibility, and conversations that endure beyond a single news cycle.
A Singular Voice in California Politics
For decades, Dan Walters has been one of California’s most influential—and independent—journalistic voices. Known for his sometimes-controversial insights, Walters has chronicled California’s political and social trends with a depth and institutional knowledge few can match.
His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and Time, and he has been featured on CNN, Fox News, and Capital Public Radio. Today, he continues his work at CalMatters, where his analysis remains essential reading for anyone trying to understand how California actually works.
Walters is often described as a provocative centrist—a journalist guided not by ideology, but by evidence, history, and experience. That perspective has earned him respect across the political spectrum, even when his conclusions challenge conventional narratives.
He is also author or co-author of two influential books: The New California: Facing the 21st Century and The Third House: Lobbyists, Money, and Power in Sacramento, which examine the often-unseen forces shaping policy in the state.
Topics That Matter—Right Now
Walters’ talk, “California Politics: Past, Present & Future,” will explore many of the defining tensions shaping the state today, including:
The ongoing Trump–Newsom political wars
California’s oil and energy “flip-flop”
State-mandated housing requirements and their real-world impacts
The upcoming governor’s race
The Democratic Party’s growing generational rift
And much more
Rather than offering talking points, Walters brings context—connecting today’s headlines to decades of political decisions that continue to shape outcomes. In an era dominated by outrage and oversimplification, his approach offers something increasingly rare: understanding without spin.
A Thoughtful Local Host Team
The evening will be hosted by Spotlight Santa Barbara, alongside Bill Macfadyen, publisher of Noozhawk and an event sponsor. Their involvement underscores the series’ commitment to serious discussion rooted in the local community.
Together, they reflect the spirit of Spotlight Santa Barbara—locally grounded, intellectually serious, and focused on meaningful dialogue rather than performative debate.
Mark Your Calendar
Spotlight Santa Barbara presents Dan Walters
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Cocktails: 6 pm
Program: 7 pm
Grab a ticket (they start at $35) and join me at the event:
Spotlight SB: Dan Walters - Lobero Theatre
To learn more about Spotlight, visit: www.Spotlightsb.com
Doors open at 6 pm with a no-host cocktail hour for all ticket holders, offering a chance to connect before the conversation begins.
Spotlight Santa Barbara tentatively plans four more speaker events across 2026, continuing its mission to bring thoughtful dialogue to the community.
An End of an Era: Indian Summers Bids Summerland Goodbye
After nearly four decades of style, soul, and small-town charm, Indian Summers Women’s Boutique—located at 2275 Ortega Hill Road #D—is preparing to close its doors. Established in 1987, this beloved Summerland boutique has been a quiet constant on the coast, known for women’s fashion perfectly suited to California living. Starting today, Indian Summers is offering 60% off storewide, making this both a heartfelt farewell and a rare opportunity to take home pieces from a boutique that has dressed generations of locals and visitors alike. It’s the end of an era—but also a moment to celebrate a business that brought style, warmth, and community to Summerland for nearly 40 memorable years.
As we close the door on 2025, we look forward to a new year with fresh ideas, open minds, and a deep appreciation for the community we call home.
P.S. 2026 marks SB Current’s third calendar year. Today is our 801st consecutive daily article. Our sincere appreciation to all who read, share, comment, and subscribe.
Community Calendar:
Got a Santa Barbara event for our community calendar? Fenkner@sbcurrent.com
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!
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".