Samuel (Mark Twain) Clemens would enjoy (as did I) your wit and humor while addressing an ongoing tumor of our society. While the homeless issues grow, our efforts to "fix" the problem dwindle. We misdirect funds (AKA Fraud) for pocket lining projects like trains to nowhere and homeless rehabilitation. As you know in your heart, many of our homeless are mentally "sick in some way". We need to begin building and staffing mental facilities to completely handle the load of homeless while being rehabilitated. Instead of a bullet train, let's build a place (plural) we can house, feed, and rehabilitate all those without hope. Thanks you Henry, for presenting this issue with caring eyes...Blessings ALL
6. Of course, the only homeless person happens to be a Mexican woman.
7. You blame her mental health issues on Democrats.
8. You blame the cost of rooms on Democrats.
9. You blame gas prices on Democrats.
Did I miss any other clichés here? I get it, you want to blame everything on a democrat. Gas prices were highest under Arnold (in current-day dollars.)
No elected official sets gas prices. You can argue that they set taxes. But, you are also misleading. SB1 was voted on by the citizens. That set the current tax structure for gas. So argue away all you want at politicians, but the voters did it.
No, it was not a republican tip line; it was a Republican candidate's tip line that asserts 250 bn in fraud. Is this to be classified as factual? WOW. I guess all the websites that claim to have seen Bigfoot, aliens, and the Loch Ness monster are true. Is your whole basis for your rant this candidate's assertion? WOW.
As to Luisa, you can not determine what the kindest thing is. Luisa is the only one who can. Telling her what is best for her is so judgmental. Perhaps OFFERING her that solution is the best, but telling her, no, that is not the best decision.
Wow. In typical deranged fashion you allowed your mind to wander off into woke space and create your own interpretation of how YOU think I see things. Most of the time it isn't worth the effort to respond to closed minds but somehow you managed, in classical liberal fashion to twist things to fit your narrative and I feel a need to reply. I lived in SB for over 62 years and just because I don't agree with the politics doesn't mean I didn't like the city. And your racism surfaced when you found a way to conflate eating a burrito and merely by happenstance the woman I encounter is Mexican into something planned. And where did you get I blame democrats for room prices? That's just weird. But yes, I do blame democrats for California gas prices. The democrats have ripped off Californians for years. They continue to raise gas taxes and add a multitude of other BS taxes that are supposed to fix roads etc. and I ask, how are the roads? California roads suck. There's already a built in tax of at least $1.50. Even if gas were $2.00 a gallon, we'd still being paying $3.50. There are places in the country getting close if not below $2.00. Are you happy to paying $5.00? Are you happy that your tax is wasted and thrown away or pocketed? And stop with the pettiness. A "Republican" candidates tip line? Really. That's what's important. Why don't you join the ranks of common sense and get the thieves and morons in Sacrament to care more about you than illegal murderers and themselves and fix the s..t hole they created. You have to stop living in fantasy land.
Dave downer. Your reply is like elementary school debate club but that is an insult to the debate club. Henry suggested the woman might have mental health issues but did not blame that on Democrats nor did he blame the cost of rooms or gas on democrats he simply stated that is the fact in California. SB1 was approved along party lines with 100% Democrat support so whatever mental gymnastics it takes for you conclude it is not Democrat policy inflating gas prices through taxation it clearly is. We have the most expensive gas except maybe for Hawaii (another Democrat dominated paradise) in the country and it is explicitly Democrat taxation and environmental policy that are responsible regardless of what Davie Downer has to say about it. Henry did not say that the 250B was factual he said it was a Republican backed tip line and that it could in fact be more or less. Dave your are an idiot, Henry never said it was factual. Where the F*** do you get off twisting the words and then feigning outrage? You are worse than an idiot, an idiot does not appreciate his idiocy. The whole basis of your rant is to lie about what Henry wrote and then react to those lies. Exactly like Democrat indignation at Trump suggesting the injection of bleach or commenting that Nazis are good people. If you listen to the original video it is not what was said. Nevertheless idiots like you like to reword what has been said or written and then react to your own lies. Surely you can put your time to better use.
It is not kindness or logical social policy to leave human beings lying in filth on the streets, huddled in doorways, or tucked into the corners of the parks or beaches. They live by theft, are a threat to taxpaying citizens and their children, and need to be incarcerated or placed in mental institutions for a chance at rehabilitation. The money already stolen could have built facilities for humane care for citizens and veterans who have fallen by the wayside. Illegals need to be deported back to country of origin. Of course the "Louisa" says her family is in Mexico but is "coming back." That's the former treadmill of the open border, but now that it has been closed she needs to be sent South. Once we purge the ones who do not belong here the housing situation will improve, medical facilities will be functional, schools will no longer teach to a median child who barely speaks English. Speed up ICE.
I guess the tiresome (Heritage Foundation's?) memo today was to accuse blue states of fraud. Just as yesterday's rallying cry was reverse discrimination against white males. They tweet it, and the "journalists" here at the S.B. Current dutifully regurgitate it.
But it all seems a bit hypocritical: Remember the "waste, fraud, and abuse" that Trump and his pitbull DOGE were going to squeeze out of the government? Elon promised to trim the Federal deficit in half; a proposed $2 trillion annually. Well, he later lowered that promise to $1 trillion and here now DOGE has saved the U.S. taxpayer exactly zilch as, the fact is, annual spending has gone up. Even DOGE's esteemed "Wall of Receipts" tallies the savings at only $215b, though even this figure is largely disputed as their 13 largest claimed savings are all either wildly inflated of just plain b.s. (For example: DOGE claimed to have cut ICE's budget by $8b, when in fact they only cut it by $8m. And, of course, ICE's budget has since gone way way up.)
But of course, this shiny distraction d'jour of fraud (just like yesterday's of reverse discrimination, just like previous distractions of, say, voter fraud or stolen elections or immigrants "eating the cats, eating the dogs!" or "I'll end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine on Day One" or "I'll cut energy costs in half," or "Climate change is a hoax" or "January 6 was a peaceful protest, a lovefest" or "Sure, I'll release the Epstein files," ad infinitum, ad nauseam) is just meant to yank our attention from the much more important and urgent problem facing us; namely, that Trump is a megalomaniac with an "alcoholic's personality" (White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles's words) who is drunk on power with only "...my own morality, my own mind" to stop him (his words).
My recollection is a bit different. I recall Democrat riots in the streets and vandalism of Tesla dealerships and a fight to the death over every penny that was to be cut from the bloated federal budget. It is as if Democrats depend on federal spending for their very existence which is in fact true or they believe that it is true. Your vision has been warped by an intense hatred of Trump and it pleases me to a very great extent that Trump is president and hopefully will win a third term. Gas prices are significantly down, reverse discrimination is real voter fraud is real or else why the opposition to voter ID and paper ballots? Maybe to facilitate fraud. Oh yes and the border is secure, now anyway but I recall Mayorkass claiming it was secure but at the same time the Democrat party claimed the need for a spending bill to close the border, What frauds are the Democrats. I could go on and on but Trump is what America voted for and I am glad for his policy and even more glad that it makes you crazy.
Growing up in SB in the early 60’s, it was always known as a quaint, sleepy little beach town. Even had pony rides down on Cabrillo. Where things seemed to go off the rails politically and socially was during Vietnam, as SB was the stopping off point between LA and SF. Wide hoards of humanity would camp out next to Butts Buick, next to the famous traffic light on 101. Things seemed to radicalize further after the 69’ oil spill, leading to a new industry, Environmentalism.
Santa Barbara has since been a dichotomy of where radical liberalism intersects with greed. Movie stars and the down trodden, with a working middle class getting smaller and smaller, the most sought after commodity being real estate. The common denominator? Everyone wants a piece of paradise.
Paradise is now defined as good weather, no bugs, and natural beauty from mountains, oceans, and topography. Seems everything else involving humans has deteriorated.
It’s amusing to me that you should mention Butts Buick. I worked there in the business office on the second floor with plate glass windows facing over the freeway towards the beach. We spent a lot if time watching these people trying to beat the red light at the 101, and betting who’d make it across before the light turned red😆 Many didn’t make it sadly😔
I don't think it is unreasonable for the taxpayer to expect that their taxes should be used for the intended proposes, with oversite, and not for fraud, and misuse. Top down and bottom up. When I meet any elected official my first question is what have you done to reduce fraud and misuse of public funds.
Midterms are coming and I am hoping for some resolution on this matter and not the same old lip service.
I’m against forced and increased taxation; exemption of NPOs,NGOs for the redistribution of wealth and resulting fraud. I respectfully disagree with the author coming to our town handing out a $20, and before returning to his community passing judgment : “How she’s living now is cruel and the city should be ashamed of itself.” Services are a County and CA State concern that will never be resolved in Santa Barbara County or City as long as friends and voters benefit from jobs from generous tax allocated grant funding.
Homelessness is a choice of some; a result of the need for County mental health long term residential facilities mandated to replace State Hospital closures; lack of veteran services; and a shortage of job placement resources.
Please don’t encourage with handouts when this city has no reason to be shamed.
My homeless former plumber saw me, reluctantly approached to ask for help. He lost all from a divorce: sold his truck & tools to pay child support for his 12-year old. I prepared and printed out his resume, bought 100 stamps, got him a POBox, and we mailed work requests to locals saying he’d work for $25 not $150. Within 2 years he’s back housed with a steady plumbing job earning $90/hour. How many here want to work and will house themselves in a room or vehicle?
Conversely, I see homeless on my morning walk along Cabrillo/ Por LaMar/ Chase Palm Park with Rolex watches telling me they vacation here for under $5 a day getting free gourmet food in the funk zone. And when lucky some stranger hands them a $20.
Henry, sorry to switch subject, but this is pressing: where do you stand on the invasion of Greenland? I know how republicans feel about anything green. Maybe renaming the country is part of Trump’s agenda?
To be honest, Jay, the jury is still out for me on Greenland. I understand the position of control we'll have. You can bet China has it's on eye on it. Trump did make a good point that if China were to step in first, then it would change things entirely. I don't like his approach. He could soften his stance which it appears he's done backing off on a military takeover. But I will say, Trump does have a way of eventually convincing people to see things his way. Should we somehow get some interest in Greenland would be a good thing for the US.
Henry, I strongly support your empathy for this woman, and even though we are on opposite sides politically I would have responded to this homeless person exactly as you’d. 800,000 unhorsed Americans is a huge problem that an airplane ticket would solve for only a few. By your questions I know you understand that many of the homeless are just working poor sometimes with two or three part time jobs. Each case is unique. I balked to a woman recently pushing all of her belongings in a shopping cart. Her mom had died and left her and her mentally challenged sister a house. She took in her sister off the streets and lapsed the fire insurance because she was barely keeping it together with part time work. She could not afford someone to watch after her sister who then burned down their hose forcing them both back to the streets. I am good at spotting and handling bull shit , but I strongly believe she was telling me the truth. I can not comment on your concerns with California government theft of your tax money because you provide no specifics. Should government get involved trying to solve the complex issue of homelessness? I think so and a good start would be incentives to build more low cost housing. Again, I admire your empathy which is a good place to start any effort to try and improve the lives of the poor.
Homelessness is a manifestation of another condition...most often drugs, alcohol, mental illness or combinations there of. I'm sure there are examples of people who lost their home, however I'm confident the overwhelming majority of homeless have significantly other issues.
Building shelter for the homeless, while humane, is completely ignoring underlying issues.
You might do a little digging…not the mainstream media... regarding California government, theft, fraud, etc.
Low Cost housing as a fallacy, particularly in paradise. If someone's looking for low-cost housing, there are many areas of the country where it is much much lower... but don't expect it in Santa Barbara. Many of us here made that trade off a long time ago. We are/were willing to pay more for housing to live in paradise.... although our elected officials are doing the best they can to tear down paradise.... where is Joni Mitchell when you need her?
same thing happened to me in grad school at ucsb, except it was an able bodied white man begging for money under the bridge and refusing to get a job. had a red hat on too
And yet it is ironic that you actually ask the question, "Okay yes, progressives have misplaced priorities, but what do you, or indeed any fiscal conservative do for these people who are homeless? ". Is that an attempt to have an individual "out" the charitable acts that they are performing?
Leslie - Multiple Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch moderates and conservative philanthropists have generously offered millions to shelter area homeless. Hearings are held. Locals protest NO, No, No, not here. Their offers declined. In the 1980s, like other beach communities still do — we bused to contracted shelters elsewhere those who were not native or long time local residents. Then homelessness became big business for friends and voters via state and local funding. Fraud is rampant, along with poor decisions from ignorant leadership. What will change until funding stops?
Let's hear some constructive and practical suggestions...I hear a lot of noise...specifics please...not hollow, unrealistic feel good soundbites. Keep in mind California has welcomed and encouraged every homeless person on the planet to live here...just as it has with illegal aliens from all over the world irrespective of their criminal background. "Build it and they will come"...and they have in enormous numbers. Most are either mentally disturbed and/or drug addicts.
Apparently it is incumbent upon California to assume responsibility for any and all comers...while concurrently paying the highest taxes in the U.S. What could possibly go wrong?
I must be traveling to the wrong states and countries. I have never seen a billboard saying, "Come to California, we don't care if you want to be homeless or enter the country and overstay a visa."
Please, tell me where I can get a selfie in front of those billboards.
Sounds like you do. I am the one who is all over the country and the world. I do not see anything that you have described. Perhaps time away from the TV and the echosphere that you live in will enlighten you.
You asked "...what do you, or indeed any fiscal conservative do...". You did not ask, "what is fiscal conservative policy as it relates to the homeless?". And so your question appeared to ask the author this question. I replied accordingly. You seem to be good at splitting hairs. I agree that we all need to find middle ground. But I enjoy a good linguistic argument, Nameless.
As a multigenerational Californian and having been raised in SB, Henry makes perfect sense. We can and should do better, but we can’t until we change the politics of CA.
“We” are residents of this state with common sense. And yes, I truly believe that most people would like to see the problems of this State be resolved. Unfortunately CA has become an exceptionally expensive place to live; therefore many who would like to live here, especially in a town like SB, may not be able to.
Class system? If you mean, people living within, their economic means is the equivalent of a class system...then yes. However, I'm not creating it. It has been in place for a very long time in buying large goes hand-in-hand with a meritocracy.
I believe you indicated that recently that you are traveling in Vienna... sounds great... me everybody can afford to travel to Vienna... does that mean you're part parcel of a class system or are you just deciding how you want to spend the rewards of your merits. Perhaps those fun should go to somebody less fortunate??
The difference between you and I is that I realize that I rely on services and products from others. I like these workers to be close to where I need them.
My ability to travel and see things does not mean that I still want to treat others as if they were not equal. I value the gardener as much as I value the CPA, as much as I value the plumber, as much as I value the attorney.
It's ok, I am only in Vienna until Sunday, then I am off to Turkey for two weeks. After, I am back in SB for 10 days, then to Tampa for 17 days, then back to SB for 15 days, then to London for 45 days, then to France for 45 days, then back to SB, for how long before I travel again, that is up in the air.
"Love it or leave it" right Judy? Many have moved...been watching the news? One $ trillion in net worth exited recently. 10% of Californians pay 80% of the personal income tax. Wave goodbye to those paying the bills Judy.
TVW 👏. Will the Judys of CA step up offering to pay the deficit? Rather, Monique Limon and allies will tax the remainder of us and continue to pursue private property confiscation.
How many support protecting 1976 voter approved Prop 13? It’s already on the chopping block.
We’re at HIGH risk. Only 250,000 Californians pay $10 a year to the Howard Jarvis Assoc to protect Prop 13 taxation cap, while an estimated 15M of 38M Californians live in owner-occupied housing. Why don’t more homeowners care to protect taxation increase limit of 2% annually?
CA has a 55.3% rate of owner households, or about 13.5M owner household units. National rate is estimated at 65%; NY 52%; 68.4% FL. West Virginia at 80% is #1 nationally, followed by states like Mississippi (75.8%), Delaware (75.1%), Vermont (74.3%), and Maine (73.8%).
Show me the math that shows it stays the same or goes down. It is not possible.
Nebraska, for example, has very high property taxes and a state income tax. Why? To support all the damn rural farmers. A 550k house has 1100 in property taxes a month. To get that in CA you would have to have a house that is ~1.1mm.
Samuel (Mark Twain) Clemens would enjoy (as did I) your wit and humor while addressing an ongoing tumor of our society. While the homeless issues grow, our efforts to "fix" the problem dwindle. We misdirect funds (AKA Fraud) for pocket lining projects like trains to nowhere and homeless rehabilitation. As you know in your heart, many of our homeless are mentally "sick in some way". We need to begin building and staffing mental facilities to completely handle the load of homeless while being rehabilitated. Instead of a bullet train, let's build a place (plural) we can house, feed, and rehabilitate all those without hope. Thanks you Henry, for presenting this issue with caring eyes...Blessings ALL
24 Billion divided by 200,000 homeless is 120k per homeless. Where did all that money go?
So let me understand this clearly.
1. You dislike SB.
2. You are happier in Solvang.
3. You come to SB.
4. You buy Mexican Food.
5. You sit at the beach.
6. Of course, the only homeless person happens to be a Mexican woman.
7. You blame her mental health issues on Democrats.
8. You blame the cost of rooms on Democrats.
9. You blame gas prices on Democrats.
Did I miss any other clichés here? I get it, you want to blame everything on a democrat. Gas prices were highest under Arnold (in current-day dollars.)
No elected official sets gas prices. You can argue that they set taxes. But, you are also misleading. SB1 was voted on by the citizens. That set the current tax structure for gas. So argue away all you want at politicians, but the voters did it.
No, it was not a republican tip line; it was a Republican candidate's tip line that asserts 250 bn in fraud. Is this to be classified as factual? WOW. I guess all the websites that claim to have seen Bigfoot, aliens, and the Loch Ness monster are true. Is your whole basis for your rant this candidate's assertion? WOW.
Let's stay on the fraud. You are implying that the fraud is perpetrated by the state. No, the state, and in essence, the citizens are the victims of fraud. https://x.com/GovPressOffice/status/2005502516554080629
As to Luisa, you can not determine what the kindest thing is. Luisa is the only one who can. Telling her what is best for her is so judgmental. Perhaps OFFERING her that solution is the best, but telling her, no, that is not the best decision.
Wow. In typical deranged fashion you allowed your mind to wander off into woke space and create your own interpretation of how YOU think I see things. Most of the time it isn't worth the effort to respond to closed minds but somehow you managed, in classical liberal fashion to twist things to fit your narrative and I feel a need to reply. I lived in SB for over 62 years and just because I don't agree with the politics doesn't mean I didn't like the city. And your racism surfaced when you found a way to conflate eating a burrito and merely by happenstance the woman I encounter is Mexican into something planned. And where did you get I blame democrats for room prices? That's just weird. But yes, I do blame democrats for California gas prices. The democrats have ripped off Californians for years. They continue to raise gas taxes and add a multitude of other BS taxes that are supposed to fix roads etc. and I ask, how are the roads? California roads suck. There's already a built in tax of at least $1.50. Even if gas were $2.00 a gallon, we'd still being paying $3.50. There are places in the country getting close if not below $2.00. Are you happy to paying $5.00? Are you happy that your tax is wasted and thrown away or pocketed? And stop with the pettiness. A "Republican" candidates tip line? Really. That's what's important. Why don't you join the ranks of common sense and get the thieves and morons in Sacrament to care more about you than illegal murderers and themselves and fix the s..t hole they created. You have to stop living in fantasy land.
Dave downer. Your reply is like elementary school debate club but that is an insult to the debate club. Henry suggested the woman might have mental health issues but did not blame that on Democrats nor did he blame the cost of rooms or gas on democrats he simply stated that is the fact in California. SB1 was approved along party lines with 100% Democrat support so whatever mental gymnastics it takes for you conclude it is not Democrat policy inflating gas prices through taxation it clearly is. We have the most expensive gas except maybe for Hawaii (another Democrat dominated paradise) in the country and it is explicitly Democrat taxation and environmental policy that are responsible regardless of what Davie Downer has to say about it. Henry did not say that the 250B was factual he said it was a Republican backed tip line and that it could in fact be more or less. Dave your are an idiot, Henry never said it was factual. Where the F*** do you get off twisting the words and then feigning outrage? You are worse than an idiot, an idiot does not appreciate his idiocy. The whole basis of your rant is to lie about what Henry wrote and then react to those lies. Exactly like Democrat indignation at Trump suggesting the injection of bleach or commenting that Nazis are good people. If you listen to the original video it is not what was said. Nevertheless idiots like you like to reword what has been said or written and then react to your own lies. Surely you can put your time to better use.
I just saw this Ginko after I responded to the stupid comments of David. Thank you for the backup. :)
It is not kindness or logical social policy to leave human beings lying in filth on the streets, huddled in doorways, or tucked into the corners of the parks or beaches. They live by theft, are a threat to taxpaying citizens and their children, and need to be incarcerated or placed in mental institutions for a chance at rehabilitation. The money already stolen could have built facilities for humane care for citizens and veterans who have fallen by the wayside. Illegals need to be deported back to country of origin. Of course the "Louisa" says her family is in Mexico but is "coming back." That's the former treadmill of the open border, but now that it has been closed she needs to be sent South. Once we purge the ones who do not belong here the housing situation will improve, medical facilities will be functional, schools will no longer teach to a median child who barely speaks English. Speed up ICE.
I guess the tiresome (Heritage Foundation's?) memo today was to accuse blue states of fraud. Just as yesterday's rallying cry was reverse discrimination against white males. They tweet it, and the "journalists" here at the S.B. Current dutifully regurgitate it.
But it all seems a bit hypocritical: Remember the "waste, fraud, and abuse" that Trump and his pitbull DOGE were going to squeeze out of the government? Elon promised to trim the Federal deficit in half; a proposed $2 trillion annually. Well, he later lowered that promise to $1 trillion and here now DOGE has saved the U.S. taxpayer exactly zilch as, the fact is, annual spending has gone up. Even DOGE's esteemed "Wall of Receipts" tallies the savings at only $215b, though even this figure is largely disputed as their 13 largest claimed savings are all either wildly inflated of just plain b.s. (For example: DOGE claimed to have cut ICE's budget by $8b, when in fact they only cut it by $8m. And, of course, ICE's budget has since gone way way up.)
But of course, this shiny distraction d'jour of fraud (just like yesterday's of reverse discrimination, just like previous distractions of, say, voter fraud or stolen elections or immigrants "eating the cats, eating the dogs!" or "I'll end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine on Day One" or "I'll cut energy costs in half," or "Climate change is a hoax" or "January 6 was a peaceful protest, a lovefest" or "Sure, I'll release the Epstein files," ad infinitum, ad nauseam) is just meant to yank our attention from the much more important and urgent problem facing us; namely, that Trump is a megalomaniac with an "alcoholic's personality" (White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles's words) who is drunk on power with only "...my own morality, my own mind" to stop him (his words).
God help us all.
My recollection is a bit different. I recall Democrat riots in the streets and vandalism of Tesla dealerships and a fight to the death over every penny that was to be cut from the bloated federal budget. It is as if Democrats depend on federal spending for their very existence which is in fact true or they believe that it is true. Your vision has been warped by an intense hatred of Trump and it pleases me to a very great extent that Trump is president and hopefully will win a third term. Gas prices are significantly down, reverse discrimination is real voter fraud is real or else why the opposition to voter ID and paper ballots? Maybe to facilitate fraud. Oh yes and the border is secure, now anyway but I recall Mayorkass claiming it was secure but at the same time the Democrat party claimed the need for a spending bill to close the border, What frauds are the Democrats. I could go on and on but Trump is what America voted for and I am glad for his policy and even more glad that it makes you crazy.
👍
Growing up in SB in the early 60’s, it was always known as a quaint, sleepy little beach town. Even had pony rides down on Cabrillo. Where things seemed to go off the rails politically and socially was during Vietnam, as SB was the stopping off point between LA and SF. Wide hoards of humanity would camp out next to Butts Buick, next to the famous traffic light on 101. Things seemed to radicalize further after the 69’ oil spill, leading to a new industry, Environmentalism.
Santa Barbara has since been a dichotomy of where radical liberalism intersects with greed. Movie stars and the down trodden, with a working middle class getting smaller and smaller, the most sought after commodity being real estate. The common denominator? Everyone wants a piece of paradise.
Paradise is now defined as good weather, no bugs, and natural beauty from mountains, oceans, and topography. Seems everything else involving humans has deteriorated.
It’s amusing to me that you should mention Butts Buick. I worked there in the business office on the second floor with plate glass windows facing over the freeway towards the beach. We spent a lot if time watching these people trying to beat the red light at the 101, and betting who’d make it across before the light turned red😆 Many didn’t make it sadly😔
Hey Nameless, how about some reality tossed in with your word salad. “Wake and bake” very often?
Two things,
What I have done is put together a Homeless Response Directory : that I downloaded on to my iPhone. This works for me, others hand out $20s
file:///C:/Users/Dan/Downloads/Santa_Barbara_Homelessness_Help_Cheat_Sheet.pdf
I don't think it is unreasonable for the taxpayer to expect that their taxes should be used for the intended proposes, with oversite, and not for fraud, and misuse. Top down and bottom up. When I meet any elected official my first question is what have you done to reduce fraud and misuse of public funds.
Midterms are coming and I am hoping for some resolution on this matter and not the same old lip service.
Daniel, your cheat sheet doesn't work, it says it has been deleted...
I’m against forced and increased taxation; exemption of NPOs,NGOs for the redistribution of wealth and resulting fraud. I respectfully disagree with the author coming to our town handing out a $20, and before returning to his community passing judgment : “How she’s living now is cruel and the city should be ashamed of itself.” Services are a County and CA State concern that will never be resolved in Santa Barbara County or City as long as friends and voters benefit from jobs from generous tax allocated grant funding.
Homelessness is a choice of some; a result of the need for County mental health long term residential facilities mandated to replace State Hospital closures; lack of veteran services; and a shortage of job placement resources.
Please don’t encourage with handouts when this city has no reason to be shamed.
My homeless former plumber saw me, reluctantly approached to ask for help. He lost all from a divorce: sold his truck & tools to pay child support for his 12-year old. I prepared and printed out his resume, bought 100 stamps, got him a POBox, and we mailed work requests to locals saying he’d work for $25 not $150. Within 2 years he’s back housed with a steady plumbing job earning $90/hour. How many here want to work and will house themselves in a room or vehicle?
Conversely, I see homeless on my morning walk along Cabrillo/ Por LaMar/ Chase Palm Park with Rolex watches telling me they vacation here for under $5 a day getting free gourmet food in the funk zone. And when lucky some stranger hands them a $20.
Henry, sorry to switch subject, but this is pressing: where do you stand on the invasion of Greenland? I know how republicans feel about anything green. Maybe renaming the country is part of Trump’s agenda?
Greenland has been on the radar for years…STRATEGIC location, extraction of key resources for US, better (richer) life for the people of Greenland…
https://x.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1163603361423351808?s=61
PS, Canada will also become part of US…same reasons, better (richer) life for the people +++
To be honest, Jay, the jury is still out for me on Greenland. I understand the position of control we'll have. You can bet China has it's on eye on it. Trump did make a good point that if China were to step in first, then it would change things entirely. I don't like his approach. He could soften his stance which it appears he's done backing off on a military takeover. But I will say, Trump does have a way of eventually convincing people to see things his way. Should we somehow get some interest in Greenland would be a good thing for the US.
Nice article. Thanks. Do you know where the 24 billion went? That would be really interesting to see.
Excellent - right with you. Here's the link to the CA Auditor's finding-the whole of all Sacramento are rotten, cancerous people killing the state:
https://www.auditor.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-601_Report-WordPress.pdf
Henry, I strongly support your empathy for this woman, and even though we are on opposite sides politically I would have responded to this homeless person exactly as you’d. 800,000 unhorsed Americans is a huge problem that an airplane ticket would solve for only a few. By your questions I know you understand that many of the homeless are just working poor sometimes with two or three part time jobs. Each case is unique. I balked to a woman recently pushing all of her belongings in a shopping cart. Her mom had died and left her and her mentally challenged sister a house. She took in her sister off the streets and lapsed the fire insurance because she was barely keeping it together with part time work. She could not afford someone to watch after her sister who then burned down their hose forcing them both back to the streets. I am good at spotting and handling bull shit , but I strongly believe she was telling me the truth. I can not comment on your concerns with California government theft of your tax money because you provide no specifics. Should government get involved trying to solve the complex issue of homelessness? I think so and a good start would be incentives to build more low cost housing. Again, I admire your empathy which is a good place to start any effort to try and improve the lives of the poor.
Homelessness is a manifestation of another condition...most often drugs, alcohol, mental illness or combinations there of. I'm sure there are examples of people who lost their home, however I'm confident the overwhelming majority of homeless have significantly other issues.
Building shelter for the homeless, while humane, is completely ignoring underlying issues.
You might do a little digging…not the mainstream media... regarding California government, theft, fraud, etc.
Low Cost housing as a fallacy, particularly in paradise. If someone's looking for low-cost housing, there are many areas of the country where it is much much lower... but don't expect it in Santa Barbara. Many of us here made that trade off a long time ago. We are/were willing to pay more for housing to live in paradise.... although our elected officials are doing the best they can to tear down paradise.... where is Joni Mitchell when you need her?
same thing happened to me in grad school at ucsb, except it was an able bodied white man begging for money under the bridge and refusing to get a job. had a red hat on too
And yet it is ironic that you actually ask the question, "Okay yes, progressives have misplaced priorities, but what do you, or indeed any fiscal conservative do for these people who are homeless? ". Is that an attempt to have an individual "out" the charitable acts that they are performing?
Leslie - Multiple Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch moderates and conservative philanthropists have generously offered millions to shelter area homeless. Hearings are held. Locals protest NO, No, No, not here. Their offers declined. In the 1980s, like other beach communities still do — we bused to contracted shelters elsewhere those who were not native or long time local residents. Then homelessness became big business for friends and voters via state and local funding. Fraud is rampant, along with poor decisions from ignorant leadership. What will change until funding stops?
Let's hear some constructive and practical suggestions...I hear a lot of noise...specifics please...not hollow, unrealistic feel good soundbites. Keep in mind California has welcomed and encouraged every homeless person on the planet to live here...just as it has with illegal aliens from all over the world irrespective of their criminal background. "Build it and they will come"...and they have in enormous numbers. Most are either mentally disturbed and/or drug addicts.
Apparently it is incumbent upon California to assume responsibility for any and all comers...while concurrently paying the highest taxes in the U.S. What could possibly go wrong?
Damn!
I must be traveling to the wrong states and countries. I have never seen a billboard saying, "Come to California, we don't care if you want to be homeless or enter the country and overstay a visa."
Please, tell me where I can get a selfie in front of those billboards.
You need to get out more David.
Sounds like you do. I am the one who is all over the country and the world. I do not see anything that you have described. Perhaps time away from the TV and the echosphere that you live in will enlighten you.
You asked "...what do you, or indeed any fiscal conservative do...". You did not ask, "what is fiscal conservative policy as it relates to the homeless?". And so your question appeared to ask the author this question. I replied accordingly. You seem to be good at splitting hairs. I agree that we all need to find middle ground. But I enjoy a good linguistic argument, Nameless.
What of forced charity via taxation and redistribution?
As a multigenerational Californian and having been raised in SB, Henry makes perfect sense. We can and should do better, but we can’t until we change the politics of CA.
“We” are residents of this state with common sense. And yes, I truly believe that most people would like to see the problems of this State be resolved. Unfortunately CA has become an exceptionally expensive place to live; therefore many who would like to live here, especially in a town like SB, may not be able to.
That is a fallacy. SB is not exclusive to high housing costs. This happens all over the US. What you are really stating is rural versus urban.
Secondly, why are you trying to create a class system? History has taught us that creates revolutions and a lot of violence.
Class system? If you mean, people living within, their economic means is the equivalent of a class system...then yes. However, I'm not creating it. It has been in place for a very long time in buying large goes hand-in-hand with a meritocracy.
I believe you indicated that recently that you are traveling in Vienna... sounds great... me everybody can afford to travel to Vienna... does that mean you're part parcel of a class system or are you just deciding how you want to spend the rewards of your merits. Perhaps those fun should go to somebody less fortunate??
The difference between you and I is that I realize that I rely on services and products from others. I like these workers to be close to where I need them.
My ability to travel and see things does not mean that I still want to treat others as if they were not equal. I value the gardener as much as I value the CPA, as much as I value the plumber, as much as I value the attorney.
It's ok, I am only in Vienna until Sunday, then I am off to Turkey for two weeks. After, I am back in SB for 10 days, then to Tampa for 17 days, then back to SB for 15 days, then to London for 45 days, then to France for 45 days, then back to SB, for how long before I travel again, that is up in the air.
"Love it or leave it" right Judy? Many have moved...been watching the news? One $ trillion in net worth exited recently. 10% of Californians pay 80% of the personal income tax. Wave goodbye to those paying the bills Judy.
TVW 👏. Will the Judys of CA step up offering to pay the deficit? Rather, Monique Limon and allies will tax the remainder of us and continue to pursue private property confiscation.
How many support protecting 1976 voter approved Prop 13? It’s already on the chopping block.
We’re at HIGH risk. Only 250,000 Californians pay $10 a year to the Howard Jarvis Assoc to protect Prop 13 taxation cap, while an estimated 15M of 38M Californians live in owner-occupied housing. Why don’t more homeowners care to protect taxation increase limit of 2% annually?
CA has a 55.3% rate of owner households, or about 13.5M owner household units. National rate is estimated at 65%; NY 52%; 68.4% FL. West Virginia at 80% is #1 nationally, followed by states like Mississippi (75.8%), Delaware (75.1%), Vermont (74.3%), and Maine (73.8%).
Killing prop 13 is a tax increase.
Show me the math that shows it stays the same or goes down. It is not possible.
Nebraska, for example, has very high property taxes and a state income tax. Why? To support all the damn rural farmers. A 550k house has 1100 in property taxes a month. To get that in CA you would have to have a house that is ~1.1mm.