Terrific, Brian. But please don't say the blood is on everyone's hands. It's not. There are a lot of people here who are doing their best - whether writing columns, such as yours here on SB Current, or writing comments, or speaking up at City and County meetings. Let's get this straight: there are bad people in Santa Barbara and the blood is on their hands. They should be taken to court for this and possibly, hopefully to jail. The rest of us fall into two groups: 1) duped and deluded followers of these corrupt, uncaring (sociopathic) officials and their propaganda media. They have blood on their hands. 2) Those of us who are having to pay more and more taxes to support our local government and have no choice in this, because if we don't pay our taxes we'll be punished much faster than any criminals. What do we have on our hands? A mess that we don't deserve.
Some write to the mayor and city council members, but always feel our voices there are also lost in a bottomless pit of indifference. But write we must.
Some choose to write letters to committed woke "Dems" aka Marxists, and complain at City Council meetings dominated by same. Once Woke Marxist "Ds" are elected, lobbying them is pointless. They don't care what we think. Waste of time & energy better spent volunteering to elect decent reps who will do right in the 1st place so we don't need to lobby, and if we do lobby they'll listen. Or earn money to fund campaigns. Or organize & fund recalls.
I rarely donate to groups that send fundraising emails asking members to "write your rep", despite "your rep" being a commie in a secure seat who takes comfort knowing your group's dumb or venal enough to waste your time writing them. Groups rarely focus member lobbying on potentially vulnerable legislators in swing districts, claiming they won't listen to nonresidents. Wrong. Every pol knows you're a potential donor, for or against who took the trouble to focus outside your district or state. I made >1000 such calls over decades. Only one had a staffer dumb enough to dismiss over non-residency. Nowadays they rarely ask where you live anyway & can't tell thanks to phone-# portability.
My focus is elections. When I was young, I organized & volunteered. Now I donate to campaigns that can make a diff, good chance of taking a seat or draining the enemy's pocketbook. And they ARE enemies, domestic, of the USA. Grassroots campaigns I helped organize drained >$50 million of enemy money & drove corrupt Ds out of office. We helped slow the wreckage of Cali. In the end it made no diff thanks to the progressive effects of Reagan's border dereliction & amnesty betrayal, and subsequent RINO amnesties & border subversion, all passive-aggressively or actively aided by "Libertarians", and the "cheap labor" & developer crowds who own politicians in our own "R" tent, Cali & nationwide.
I focus on "Rs" in primaries since saboteurs in our own tent are far more destructive than the obvious "D" enemy outside. Ask why these vicious little Fiesta stabbers & murderers are here (or their parents if anchor babies), when Reagan could've easily deported them, or when Republicans had the White House, Senate & Congress under W Bush, etc?
It's not enough to bounce Ds. We must replace them with America-1st Rs who will honor the oath, not with corrupt RINOs & businesswhores. Else things will keep going to hell like under Deukmejian-Wilson-Schwarzenegger when they could've been turned around.
Five stars Brian! I have no doubt the culprits on each of the City Councils/Boards have or will read your accurate piece that summarizes to a large degree the frustration of the (legal) citizenry. This forum would be excellent for each and everyone of those members to offer a reply (defense) for their malfeasance. Additionally, I wonder if there is legal exposure, via a class action lawsuit etc., to challenge these bodies for spending taxpayers dollars to aid and abet criminality...including the DA and City Attorneys? I would contribute to such as effort.
Just for Fun: GROK - What is Santa Barbara Current?
The Santa Barbara Current is an online publication focused on independent-minded journalism, analysis, and opinion, covering cultural, economic, and political topics relevant to Santa Barbara's central coast.
Edited by Jim Buckley, founder of the Montecito Journal, and published by James Fenkner, it was launched on November 15, 2023, as a platform for thoughtful content creators, often with a libertarian or conservative perspective.
It features contributions from notable local figures like Andy Caldwell and Christy Lozano and aims to fill the gap left by the bankruptcy of the Santa Barbara News-Press.
The publication operates on Substack, emphasizing chatty yet informative writing, and adheres to a strict editorial style guide to ensure quality and originality
Very well written, Brian. Will it make a difference? Not unless those in power take off their ear mufflers and pay attention, and they have to simultaneously STOP listening to the screamers and the organization's you listed. Praying for us all, even our "enemies," before there is a lot of blood on our streets.
Brian, Great Truths outlining the divide between those that want to control/eliminate crime & those that promote crime!
Our Country has been captured by these evildoers & those that follow their policies & programs, from local to state to national levels…Great to see Team Trump federalize Washington DC, the last of the Cabal’s triad control centers, each of which are not part of the surrounding nations, with DC being their military arm, London the financial arm (put into submission 2017), and Vatican City the spiritual arm & top decision makers for the Cabal (put into submission 2017)…
Thank God for Team Trump & the US Military (+++ military alliances with Patriots in other key nations) — Saviors of Mankind!!!
Thank you Brian for this article. Our State and City Leaders are defending Criminals and funding criminals.
If there weren't Sanctuary City policies ICE wouldn't have to go through the City because they could easily arrest them at the jail. Catch and release another great Dem policy has contributed to criminals in the street.
How many illegals had killed innocent young women under Biden. And not a peep or support for them.
There is a list of the criminals they found working at Glass House and they had quite a rap sheet and in addition some of them had already been deported.
The City and State have chosen to only support a group of their citizens and not others. The unsupported half are the ones funding the City and State.
But they know that is their voter base,their Congressional seats and who knows what else.
With a new Census maybe that will change but Newsome and his restricting plan might completely change the political map.
Keep speaking up and fighting. That's how we won the last election.
Last Friday, while police were investigating a burglary across the street from us (at least 3 police cars were there), the burglars moved on to our house. I was sound asleep (around 11:00 - midnight, or so), when a noise woke me up. I yelled out, “Jim, is that you?”. Didn’t hear anything more. I figured he didn’t hear me and went back to sleep. When I went to make coffee in the morning, I saw that a 10’ glass door had been smashed in. I’m just grateful that the thieves moved on. Called the police. Later that day, neighbor came over to tell us about what happened to him while he was away.
Let's talk more about this often shared conclusion: "nothing will change". How did we get to this point in our unique form of "representational" governance?
We have a 250th anniversary coming up for our country. What made this "democratic" form of government, of the people, by the people and for the people, so appealing to the Founders founder into this current sense of shared malaise and growing indifference on one side and rabid protectionism on the other side?
How and when did this start going wrong? What course changes are still open to us. How much did mandatory withholding income taxes change the underlying and responsive vitality? How did the growth to unionized government employment since 1962, put an impenetrable buffer between the governed and their own government.
But it is then on the record. I had two police experiences when I was young. One great, protected me, one who tried to have sex with me. I reported praise for the Sheriff who protected me when I was 16 here in Santa Barbara. And I brought it up to all the people demanding police defunding during the BLM summer. When I was 16 I was alone, my parents were out of town. Around midnight I got a call from a man and woman saying they knew where I live - they'd seen me and my mom at Santa Cruz Market with a black man (a gay friend) and they got our number and address off her check. And they were coming over to … fill in the racist expletives. I was terrified. This was the fall after the Manson murders. I called the Sheriff and he came right over and stayed outside until he got a work call but told me to call the office if there was anything. He also said it was likely they were just cowardly obscene phone callers. But so much for our awful, racist police here I told these Santa Barbara a-holes during the BLM summer. The other experience was in LA on the freeway when I was 22 driving home alone late at night. A cop pulled me over and told me he was going to follow me hone to make sure I was ok. I thought fast and barked at him that my dad was an important lawyer who knew the mayor (true) and I'd see him in jail. He swore at me but drove off. I regret not reporting him because a few months later it came out some bad cops were indeed raping women like that. But I didn't think it would make any difference and I was scared. I lived alone.
It all seems so obvious that I can’t believe there are still people being taken in by mainstream media. I keep thinking at some point enough factual news will reach them and they will awaken. I think it’s happening but much too slowly for my liking. Keep laying out the facts and let’s hope more people see them and begin to think for themselves again. I guess it’s just hard coming to the realization that you have been duped for so long and then facing that fact and calling out the liars for their deceit
It is ironic to speak of how easy it is to brainwash others given how you as a presumed conservative so easily adopt the liberal ideas of the enlightenment... but I suppose only liberalism of the 21st century is an issue... when in truth every form of it since the 18th century has been rotten.
I keep reading about the ICE raid on Glass House Farms. One question, if Glass House was hiring underage workers why weren’t they prosecuted? What’s missing here? Do they have connections?
MC: How long does it typically take for a case to wind its way through the local DA's office to get to a "prosecution". Let alone, a federal one. We probably need to educate ourselves on the whole "crime and punishment" process, and put DOGE on it to see where we can remedy in-house inefficiencies or leave with a more sober appreciation of the ground work required.
The DA is an elected office. But we also do have elected judges who years ago declared we had no gang problem in Santa Barbara, who is still sitting on the bench. The criteria voters apply to their choices for either of these positions is arcane at best . If/when they even get a chance to vote on incumbents.
Thank you Brian for speaking out on this critical issue. Aiding, abetting, protecting, obstructing, this is what our elected officials are doing in support of criminals. It is outrageous how many municipalities are enjoining in lawsuits on behalf of the ACLU. Oxnard is the latest city and I heard recently that activists are shaking down their city officials for $2 million in support. How is it city officials up and down California are using tax dollars to support criminals? How is it SB CC is using tax dollars meant for Measure C? What is going on here? This is embezzlement!
As for our Congressman who attempted to crash an ongoing ICE investigation, why has he not been arrested and how can voters condone his unhinged behavior?
How can the public continue to allow elected officials to spend THEIR tax dollars on obstructing federal law enforcement AND continue to spend OUR tax dollars on housing, healthcare and education on illegals when OUR infrastructure is crumbling?
So will these bullies like Casa de La Raza stop once they get a cut from the 500k or are they going to keep extorting the City for money. Maybe the City thinks if they pay this Bribe they will stop. Doubt it. They have to pay for their rebuild.
If past is prologue for Casa de la Raza, fiscal misfeasance and failed accountability will soon devour this reckless cash grant of tax payer dollars. But it will also be a chance to prove they have left their past fiscal misfeasance behind. We the voters will make the final decisions about our elected city council members actions on this matter.
Sure, their clubhouse (House of the “Race”) is marginal at best, rife with corruption, incompetence, unsafe nest of political affiliation and favoritism.
Notice the $1 million dollars is not coming from these well-meaning "protestors" themselves? But they are dunning anonymous taxpayers instead, who have little say in the matter, via these same virtue-signaling "elected representatives".
What is going on with our dimwitted DA in being “appalled” by ICE activity? Time for him to be shown the door or get on board with methods used by DC Federal Prosecutor, Jeanine Pirro. What part of the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution does he not understand? Prior to coming to SBCO, he served in Fresno. You’d think by now he would understand the danger of illegal criminals?
The "One Themers," much like a horse with blinders, only attack certain aspects of ICE while ignoring the "other" aspects including protecting us from criminals, minors from abuse, and exposing multiple violations of state laws by a local company.
Terrific, Brian. But please don't say the blood is on everyone's hands. It's not. There are a lot of people here who are doing their best - whether writing columns, such as yours here on SB Current, or writing comments, or speaking up at City and County meetings. Let's get this straight: there are bad people in Santa Barbara and the blood is on their hands. They should be taken to court for this and possibly, hopefully to jail. The rest of us fall into two groups: 1) duped and deluded followers of these corrupt, uncaring (sociopathic) officials and their propaganda media. They have blood on their hands. 2) Those of us who are having to pay more and more taxes to support our local government and have no choice in this, because if we don't pay our taxes we'll be punished much faster than any criminals. What do we have on our hands? A mess that we don't deserve.
Yes, there are a few that speak up. A few. Most do not. And many choose to not vote but complain.
Some write to the mayor and city council members, but always feel our voices there are also lost in a bottomless pit of indifference. But write we must.
Spoke up with letters to my City Council. No response. I'm part of the other 5O%,they don't support.
Some choose to write letters to committed woke "Dems" aka Marxists, and complain at City Council meetings dominated by same. Once Woke Marxist "Ds" are elected, lobbying them is pointless. They don't care what we think. Waste of time & energy better spent volunteering to elect decent reps who will do right in the 1st place so we don't need to lobby, and if we do lobby they'll listen. Or earn money to fund campaigns. Or organize & fund recalls.
I rarely donate to groups that send fundraising emails asking members to "write your rep", despite "your rep" being a commie in a secure seat who takes comfort knowing your group's dumb or venal enough to waste your time writing them. Groups rarely focus member lobbying on potentially vulnerable legislators in swing districts, claiming they won't listen to nonresidents. Wrong. Every pol knows you're a potential donor, for or against who took the trouble to focus outside your district or state. I made >1000 such calls over decades. Only one had a staffer dumb enough to dismiss over non-residency. Nowadays they rarely ask where you live anyway & can't tell thanks to phone-# portability.
My focus is elections. When I was young, I organized & volunteered. Now I donate to campaigns that can make a diff, good chance of taking a seat or draining the enemy's pocketbook. And they ARE enemies, domestic, of the USA. Grassroots campaigns I helped organize drained >$50 million of enemy money & drove corrupt Ds out of office. We helped slow the wreckage of Cali. In the end it made no diff thanks to the progressive effects of Reagan's border dereliction & amnesty betrayal, and subsequent RINO amnesties & border subversion, all passive-aggressively or actively aided by "Libertarians", and the "cheap labor" & developer crowds who own politicians in our own "R" tent, Cali & nationwide.
I focus on "Rs" in primaries since saboteurs in our own tent are far more destructive than the obvious "D" enemy outside. Ask why these vicious little Fiesta stabbers & murderers are here (or their parents if anchor babies), when Reagan could've easily deported them, or when Republicans had the White House, Senate & Congress under W Bush, etc?
It's not enough to bounce Ds. We must replace them with America-1st Rs who will honor the oath, not with corrupt RINOs & businesswhores. Else things will keep going to hell like under Deukmejian-Wilson-Schwarzenegger when they could've been turned around.
Good point
Five stars Brian! I have no doubt the culprits on each of the City Councils/Boards have or will read your accurate piece that summarizes to a large degree the frustration of the (legal) citizenry. This forum would be excellent for each and everyone of those members to offer a reply (defense) for their malfeasance. Additionally, I wonder if there is legal exposure, via a class action lawsuit etc., to challenge these bodies for spending taxpayers dollars to aid and abet criminality...including the DA and City Attorneys? I would contribute to such as effort.
Just for Fun: GROK - What is Santa Barbara Current?
The Santa Barbara Current is an online publication focused on independent-minded journalism, analysis, and opinion, covering cultural, economic, and political topics relevant to Santa Barbara's central coast.
Edited by Jim Buckley, founder of the Montecito Journal, and published by James Fenkner, it was launched on November 15, 2023, as a platform for thoughtful content creators, often with a libertarian or conservative perspective.
It features contributions from notable local figures like Andy Caldwell and Christy Lozano and aims to fill the gap left by the bankruptcy of the Santa Barbara News-Press.
The publication operates on Substack, emphasizing chatty yet informative writing, and adheres to a strict editorial style guide to ensure quality and originality
Thank you Brian! It is nice to hear the other side for a change.
Very well written, Brian. Will it make a difference? Not unless those in power take off their ear mufflers and pay attention, and they have to simultaneously STOP listening to the screamers and the organization's you listed. Praying for us all, even our "enemies," before there is a lot of blood on our streets.
Excellent analysis. This line of reasoning is impeccable and should be pushed at city and county council meetings and beyond.
Excellent analysis! Thank you!
Brian, Great Truths outlining the divide between those that want to control/eliminate crime & those that promote crime!
Our Country has been captured by these evildoers & those that follow their policies & programs, from local to state to national levels…Great to see Team Trump federalize Washington DC, the last of the Cabal’s triad control centers, each of which are not part of the surrounding nations, with DC being their military arm, London the financial arm (put into submission 2017), and Vatican City the spiritual arm & top decision makers for the Cabal (put into submission 2017)…
Thank God for Team Trump & the US Military (+++ military alliances with Patriots in other key nations) — Saviors of Mankind!!!
https://x.com/immeme0/status/1933653972968989090?s=57
Panic in DC!
Thank you Brian for this article. Our State and City Leaders are defending Criminals and funding criminals.
If there weren't Sanctuary City policies ICE wouldn't have to go through the City because they could easily arrest them at the jail. Catch and release another great Dem policy has contributed to criminals in the street.
How many illegals had killed innocent young women under Biden. And not a peep or support for them.
There is a list of the criminals they found working at Glass House and they had quite a rap sheet and in addition some of them had already been deported.
The City and State have chosen to only support a group of their citizens and not others. The unsupported half are the ones funding the City and State.
But they know that is their voter base,their Congressional seats and who knows what else.
With a new Census maybe that will change but Newsome and his restricting plan might completely change the political map.
Keep speaking up and fighting. That's how we won the last election.
Last Friday, while police were investigating a burglary across the street from us (at least 3 police cars were there), the burglars moved on to our house. I was sound asleep (around 11:00 - midnight, or so), when a noise woke me up. I yelled out, “Jim, is that you?”. Didn’t hear anything more. I figured he didn’t hear me and went back to sleep. When I went to make coffee in the morning, I saw that a 10’ glass door had been smashed in. I’m just grateful that the thieves moved on. Called the police. Later that day, neighbor came over to tell us about what happened to him while he was away.
I'm so sorry you had to go through this. Awful. Are you going to let them know at the next City Council meeting?
No, but don’t see the point. Nothing will change.
Let's talk more about this often shared conclusion: "nothing will change". How did we get to this point in our unique form of "representational" governance?
We have a 250th anniversary coming up for our country. What made this "democratic" form of government, of the people, by the people and for the people, so appealing to the Founders founder into this current sense of shared malaise and growing indifference on one side and rabid protectionism on the other side?
How and when did this start going wrong? What course changes are still open to us. How much did mandatory withholding income taxes change the underlying and responsive vitality? How did the growth to unionized government employment since 1962, put an impenetrable buffer between the governed and their own government.
But it is then on the record. I had two police experiences when I was young. One great, protected me, one who tried to have sex with me. I reported praise for the Sheriff who protected me when I was 16 here in Santa Barbara. And I brought it up to all the people demanding police defunding during the BLM summer. When I was 16 I was alone, my parents were out of town. Around midnight I got a call from a man and woman saying they knew where I live - they'd seen me and my mom at Santa Cruz Market with a black man (a gay friend) and they got our number and address off her check. And they were coming over to … fill in the racist expletives. I was terrified. This was the fall after the Manson murders. I called the Sheriff and he came right over and stayed outside until he got a work call but told me to call the office if there was anything. He also said it was likely they were just cowardly obscene phone callers. But so much for our awful, racist police here I told these Santa Barbara a-holes during the BLM summer. The other experience was in LA on the freeway when I was 22 driving home alone late at night. A cop pulled me over and told me he was going to follow me hone to make sure I was ok. I thought fast and barked at him that my dad was an important lawyer who knew the mayor (true) and I'd see him in jail. He swore at me but drove off. I regret not reporting him because a few months later it came out some bad cops were indeed raping women like that. But I didn't think it would make any difference and I was scared. I lived alone.
It all seems so obvious that I can’t believe there are still people being taken in by mainstream media. I keep thinking at some point enough factual news will reach them and they will awaken. I think it’s happening but much too slowly for my liking. Keep laying out the facts and let’s hope more people see them and begin to think for themselves again. I guess it’s just hard coming to the realization that you have been duped for so long and then facing that fact and calling out the liars for their deceit
https://rumble.com/v6xj64i-breaking-cnn-msnbc-realize-live-on-air-why-theyre-losing-its-glorious..html?e9s=src_v1_ucp_l
Now they are saying it's a trap that someone set them up to protect murderers.
It is ironic to speak of how easy it is to brainwash others given how you as a presumed conservative so easily adopt the liberal ideas of the enlightenment... but I suppose only liberalism of the 21st century is an issue... when in truth every form of it since the 18th century has been rotten.
Alot of people are "Smart" but they lack common sense.
That was then,this is now.
Yeah and modern liberalism descends from classical liberalism... to argue that the past is irrelevant is insane.
Good luck with that
You'd think they'd realize it but unfortunately they are easily brainwashed.
I keep reading about the ICE raid on Glass House Farms. One question, if Glass House was hiring underage workers why weren’t they prosecuted? What’s missing here? Do they have connections?
Do the pot farmers pay taxes to the local government or state? Is there a conflict of interest?
MC: How long does it typically take for a case to wind its way through the local DA's office to get to a "prosecution". Let alone, a federal one. We probably need to educate ourselves on the whole "crime and punishment" process, and put DOGE on it to see where we can remedy in-house inefficiencies or leave with a more sober appreciation of the ground work required.
The DA is an elected office. But we also do have elected judges who years ago declared we had no gang problem in Santa Barbara, who is still sitting on the bench. The criteria voters apply to their choices for either of these positions is arcane at best . If/when they even get a chance to vote on incumbents.
Thank you Brian for speaking out on this critical issue. Aiding, abetting, protecting, obstructing, this is what our elected officials are doing in support of criminals. It is outrageous how many municipalities are enjoining in lawsuits on behalf of the ACLU. Oxnard is the latest city and I heard recently that activists are shaking down their city officials for $2 million in support. How is it city officials up and down California are using tax dollars to support criminals? How is it SB CC is using tax dollars meant for Measure C? What is going on here? This is embezzlement!
As for our Congressman who attempted to crash an ongoing ICE investigation, why has he not been arrested and how can voters condone his unhinged behavior?
How can the public continue to allow elected officials to spend THEIR tax dollars on obstructing federal law enforcement AND continue to spend OUR tax dollars on housing, healthcare and education on illegals when OUR infrastructure is crumbling?
https://www.calonews.com/featured-topics/immigration/oxnard-votes-to-join-the-aclu-lawsuit-targeting-ice-raids-as-unconstitutional/article_b6dcb918-b018-43e2-b6ca-da29a5f61951.html
So will these bullies like Casa de La Raza stop once they get a cut from the 500k or are they going to keep extorting the City for money. Maybe the City thinks if they pay this Bribe they will stop. Doubt it. They have to pay for their rebuild.
If past is prologue for Casa de la Raza, fiscal misfeasance and failed accountability will soon devour this reckless cash grant of tax payer dollars. But it will also be a chance to prove they have left their past fiscal misfeasance behind. We the voters will make the final decisions about our elected city council members actions on this matter.
Sure, their clubhouse (House of the “Race”) is marginal at best, rife with corruption, incompetence, unsafe nest of political affiliation and favoritism.
I've looked at Charity Navigator and they aren't even listed on there. So where is all their money/ donations going?
IDK, but I bet Santamaria, Limon, Gutierrez knows!
Jackie Inda is running a new operation at this location at the present time, under a new name.
You betcha. They are washing that money
Ventura is being extorted for $1 million also. A few held signs against this but they'll fold. Their Mayor, was the first to make a proclamation.
Notice the $1 million dollars is not coming from these well-meaning "protestors" themselves? But they are dunning anonymous taxpayers instead, who have little say in the matter, via these same virtue-signaling "elected representatives".
https://www.independent.com/2025/08/01/santa-barbara-city-council-approves-500000-to-immigrant-support-services/?amp=1
Brian-You nailed it. The hypocrisy of the local progressives is rich.
What is going on with our dimwitted DA in being “appalled” by ICE activity? Time for him to be shown the door or get on board with methods used by DC Federal Prosecutor, Jeanine Pirro. What part of the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution does he not understand? Prior to coming to SBCO, he served in Fresno. You’d think by now he would understand the danger of illegal criminals?
https://www.noozhawk.com/john-savrnoch-appalled-disheartened-by-ice-actions/
The "One Themers," much like a horse with blinders, only attack certain aspects of ICE while ignoring the "other" aspects including protecting us from criminals, minors from abuse, and exposing multiple violations of state laws by a local company.