I read this article by Ms. Bonnie Donavan titled "California Dreamin"
that should be titled "California Stealing & We are Leaving"
California and in particular Santa Barbara suffers from the same disease
that is Public Corruption and the loss of trust in California "So-Called-Leaders."
As I have pounded into the sand here in SB Current there are serious Corruption
problems right here in our little ole beach town as described by former FBI Executive
Tom Parker in his article in the SB Independent "Perceptions of Political Corruption
Too Often the Harbingers of Stark Reality"
Mr. Parker's article only provides a broad brush of this Corruption but still should
concern anyone reading his article and I quote "In today’s electronic world of emails and high-speed research, such concealment rarely lasts, and the act, or the perception of one, pops to the surface at the most unexpected times, such as right before an upcoming election. When challenged on such an apparency, they give diversionary or evasive statements in an effort to conceal their conspiratorial union."
I have left Santa Barbara some time ago as well as Elon Musk, Larry Elison (Founder of Oracle)
and many more leaving CA to much-better and less-corrupt areas.
"Rot at the Top" as described by Stanford is a good read >>
"He notes that Americans increasingly believe that private interests are corrupting democracy, which may be linked to calls by U.S. politicians on both sides of the aisle to “drain the swamp.” Former President Donald Trump based his 2016 platform on this pledge."
Sound familiar? Corruption Destroys Everything in its path.
Wonderful, Bonnie. Thank you. My ancestors on my father's side did come to California in the 1840s. They didn't find gold but they did find sulfur and made money off the baths at their hotel in Paso Robles with people like, I once read but am not sure it's true, the Polish concert pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski. The moral being you may not find a pot of gold if you follow your dreams but maybe you'll find something that smells like rotten eggs but makes your joints feel better. And yes, let's not just Make America Great Again but Keep Santa Barbara Great.
My stepfather was a concert pianist and had carpel tunnel syndrome, probably the same for Paderewski. Sulfur compounds may reduce the pain for carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS). My mother also had CTS from typing when she took a secretarial job after my dad passed away. I studied my stepfather, Gustav Nelson, college yearbooks purchased on eBay and old newspaper articles. The college yearbook showed his picture and spelled the word "piano" as paino, or as I interpreted a "pain in the ass." He was a very stuffy guy. His dad was a tailor ... dictating men clothing styles. I think Gustav spent his childhood practicing the piano and never learned any social skills from being a kid.
We all know about Polish jokes. But when I worked at Litton Aero Products, the company trained pilots from all over the world how to use their navigation equipment for the commercial airlines industry. The Litton people training the pilots commented on how the Polish pilots were the only pilots that asked the best questions and considered them the smartest.
Beware all overarching government requirements that supercede the wishes of locals who have a fondness for the uniqueness of Santa Barbara.
Everything that makes our town a tourist mecca is being eroded away, even as the destruction of the street grid aggravates those who travel here daily.
And now my own homeowner insurance was just cancelled because the entire city is being designated a high fire risk. To resort to the CA Fair Plan is costing me twice as much for half the coverage, and as I watch Malibu burn I could well imagine my recovery strategy would be reduced to parking an Airstream on ashes in my lot.
Or cash out and run away, which of course is what Vanguard and Black Rock want, shifting the demographics so that more people are tenants with less stake in the governance of their cities.
I don't see the level of tourism in Santa Barbara anymore. I see much more of a sickening liberal playground created by uneducated and corrupt city government not caring if we are made poor by financing their projects which they create to siphon off their share of our money. Really evil stuff.
The 7 largest insurance companies in California are not writing any new policies, and many are cancelling current ones. I was fortunate to be referred to a responsible agent who is getting me Fair Plan (which only covers fire), a DIC policy for liability, and CEA for earthquake.
But, but, but, the one party system in Sacramento has stated RHNA "demands" compliance. Come on Donovan the law? Brown stated RHNA is not constitutional but the left is jamming down our throats density infill and high rise builders remedy.
"efficiency and management within our departments" the current Council's in Goleta and Santa Barbara don't care about that as long as their "Stack'm & Pack'm" cities goals continue.
You mentioned Limon how about Hart? He doesn't give a heck except for far left infill and taking your auto from you.
Speaking of which who was the genius group on the City Council of Santa Barbara decided to fast forward street grid destruction in November and December? Where was the objection from the City Manager / Public Works? Think about it professional drivers, emergency response are shaking their heads at the absolute stupidity and violation of CEQA demanded EIR's. Where is the outrage from the Chamber of Commerce??? Destructive, stupid, and done in the two months of the year where most people shop, spend, and enjoy the holidays and not one Public Comment at Council stating is anti business and is going to cost the tax revenue the City is crying about not having enough of.
Great article Bonnie, very thought provoking. It reminded me of my family’s migration from Texas to California in 1960. My Dad, like many aerospace engineers, came to California in the droves because of work opportunities. Times were certainly different, Lompoc was a tiny, sleepy town with only 2 traffic lights in the entire town. It was a great place to grow up in. My Dad eventually retired from Vandenberg and moved the family to the big city of SB, where I finished HS.
Back then California undoubtedly was the leader in education, manufacturing, science and technology. I tried to imagine what went wrong in California, leading to more people leaving than settling here as my family once did.
Environmentalism: literally founded here in SB during the 69’ oil spill and which I witnessed firsthand. Unfortunately, what it left in its place is a twisted legacy tangled in bureaucracy and heavy handed laws and regulations. California Environmental Quality Act, “CEQA” is a weapon that can be used , neighbor against neighbor to squash any unwanted development and can result in millions being added to cost of proposed development. The California Coastal Commission has manifested as an out of control, unelected, ethically compromised state body which yields it power, often to the detriment of progress. Talking its marching order from the Sierra Club and not the taxpayers.
Illegal Immigration: has been great for agriculture and its interests, but has caused our education, criminal justice system and healthcare delivery systems to the brink of failure.
Trial lawyers: has made California a litigation paradise for lawyers looking to make a fortune in jury awards. Makes everything we do more expensive due to potential litigation. Why not have losing party pay for litigation? Tort reforms needed now!
Public Sector Unions: our state is infested with corrupt, self serving, unsustainable union rule over our state.
That about covers the how and why of our decline as a state. Throw in Ronald Reagan’s disastrous decision to close state hospital beds to the homeless mentality Ill and that leads us to where we are today.
Wasn't Reagan's words.... I won't let you sue the Californian taxpayers??? His actions protected us, yet they put their people in, and why we are paying multiple billions now....
Bonnie, you reminded me of my own road trips made years ago. Once one left coastal California, and entirely different America came into being. A slower, kinder, gentler more welcoming and helpful America. Thanks for taking us along on your road trip.
But you are right, so much of America today on road stops is a generic chain restaurant experience and not the charm of the former mom and pop road side attractions in the off the grid places where one could still get home made pie. Stopping at roadside cafes for early morning breakfasts put one immediately into the pulse of that community, where locals headed before they went on with their day. I also remember getting friendly sneers and curiosity about our California licenses plates.
Jack Ranch Cafe off Highway 146, close to where James Dean met his end, still remains a must stop place for a tuna melt sandwich and peanut butter pie, when they have it. Another one is Rock Creek Cafe up a narrow road to gorgeous hiking trails off Highway 365 near Mono Lake with at least a half dozen or more freshly baked pies - blackberry pie was worth the detour. But it has been a while since I have been there.
Update: Jack Ranch Cafe on Highway 146 has closed - news stories report it was a victim of Biden's mass "covid" hysteria lockdowns and increased gas prices. Owners just gave up. Yes, Joe did that too.
I enjoyed the ride along with you on the trip from yesteryear. It does make what our local
politicians and others in charge have done and are continuing to do here in Santa Barbara stand out even more as a betrayal to the residents. It is not keeping up with the future or betterment of
our city but a money, power scam. The letter you were given sounds very interesting. I will be anxious to see how it can help us.
Bonnie, another great and challenging article. The legal explanation letter presents an opportunity to rescue Santa Barbara from intense urbanization. But a polite presentation of the contents to a senior city official or city council member is unlikely to provide the response we desire. There has to be a solid people presence, to make any of the Democratic party hacks in the city officially recognize the strength of opposition against the current direction in building in Santa Barbara.
It is my sense Santa Barbara now suffers from too many absentee property owners (Prop 13 protections for inherited "family home" properties), which in turn created a significant voter base of mainly renters and/or transient students.
In turn this creates a less visceral response when faced with what is being lost due to overdevelopment, growth, traffic and far less immediate civic engagement.
Good to get some facts see if Prop 13 reform is also in order regarding this major property tax loophole. Eg: "family home" exemption only applies when a family member actually lives on the inherited property.
That too, Bonnie. Thanks for the update. Government is the largest employer. Government is now also the largest landlord.
That is how we changed so dramatically in the past few decades. I liked us better when we were mainly pensions and tourism back in the 1970's, along with home-owners who engaged actively in the community. Not just activists for personal power grabs, always at someone else's expense.
Instead, we became now collection of intentionally disinterested voters in public housing or renters; but very interested in perpetuating more hand outs. Good insights how the commons over time turned into stink weed.
There is an endpoint in all of this change. It cannot sustain itself - or at least no one has pointed out how it keeps floating so far.
Do the greatly increased housing prices for the diminishing numbers of market housing units now support the city tax base, in order to allows so much housing being to be taken out of the property tax base entirely?
Does online retail tax revenue reimbursement now make up for the destruction of State Street and overall retail shopping? Will perpetual class envy tax the rich and misguided voter resentments, finally causes the remaining wealthy and their local philanthropy to leave?
What now drives the growth in the city revenue base to make up for the city expenses now on an automatic up escalator?
I loved the article of which I read every word of and then came your mentioning of trees. And then I looked out my office window at the pine tree I plan to make very useful! After reading your article, I felt like all I wanted to do is climb the tall pine tree and scream, "I want my life back!" I do revisit the past via my hobbies of restoring old stuff, so that makes me feel good connecting with the past. But I have had this pine tree near my window on my brain. I am currently preparing all the stuff I need to climb it all the way to the top starting off with a 20-foot strap-on tree ladder. I like trees and once climbed to the top of a pine tree in Goleta to extract a cat from the tippity-top. When I was a kid, climbing trees was common. Tall ones, short ones, fat ones, skinny ones. When I get to the top of the pine tree near my office window, I'll let out a big, long scream. I kind of want to say, "Come and get me you f**kers!," only for the purpose of addressing the Feds in general, the city and county brainless twits, all the restaurants that gave me crappy food, all those people that make loud noises with their cars, you get the general idea. I sent our Homeowners' Association the following list of tree modifications I'm planning. But frankly, screw them, I'll start of slowly with the tree mods till someone questions my sanity <g>. The Tree Modifications:
A. Satellite Antenna Flat Panel Support for a Starlink G3 Internet System: To get the best coverage, the antenna panel needs to be located on the top of my pine tree, above other trees and the roofs of homes nearby. The Starlink system will be dedicated to the use of my office computer via an Ethernet LAN Port. The purpose of the direct link is to hopefully suppress and make life more difficult for a local WIFI Internet hacker next door, a.k.a. FBI Investigator, wasting the taxpayer's money (a DOGE case, for sure).
B. Weather Station System: Located below the Starlink antenna panel, a weather station assembly containing a wind speed and wind direction measurement, a rain gauge, humidity and temperature sensors is to be employed.
C. Security Camera 360-Degree Array Coverage System: Below the weather station, a 24/7 security camera array consisting of a minimum of four cameras: north, east, south and west, or 90-degree increment cardinal directions. A partial coverage of 45-degree increment cardinal directions is also a possibility to detect street activity that crosses into our property line. The purpose of the security cameras is to cover all the ground activity surrounding our home for trespassers.
D. Hornspeaker for Audio Alarm Alert of Intruders and Potentially Other Purposes: Mounted below the security camera array is a well-hidden, but large bell-shaped, horn speaker positioned towards the east which is towards the back of the house. Intention of the alarm is to ward off anyone triggering an alarm in hidden places on our property where nobody should be at any time of the day unless authorized. We need to thwart the occasional saboteurs we experience.
E. Lighting Array to Illuminate Areas Surrounding Protected Areas of Our Property: Mounted in the vicinity of the Hornspeaker could encompass up to three directional lights to cover the front area of the house during the nighttime.
F. Crow’s Nest Lookout: In the event I have a need to examine my surrounding environment from above the ground for suspicious activity, a crow’s nest lookout platform is to be incorporated, most likely for nighttime suspicious activity. The crow’s nest would be in the shape of an oval wooden tub with sides approximately four feet high and a wooden base between the two adjacent pine trees. Don’t worry about the presence of firearms in the tree, there won’t be any. I’ll use a string of low voltage lights for climbing illumination.
G. Aircraft Warning Light: I’ll look into the possible requirement of a blinking, low power red warning light for nighttime flying aircraft. I don’t see this as a probable requirement, but because aircraft on periodic occasions at night tend to make low level “bombing runs” over our property and others nearby and are endangering the souls onboard the aircraft by possibly crashing into a tree … a blinking red light is recommended during the evening. Aside of the mysterious, gray-colored Federal aircraft, myself, I would feel comfortable if there was a light reminding the pilot that he’s close to the ground and to add some distance between rooftops and the belly of his plane. The thought of installing an aircraft warning light seems bizarre, but nevertheless it has been of a safety concern to me with those taking unnecessary risks (FBI?).
H. Anchor Point for a Long-Wire Shortwave Antenna Extending to a Backyard Tree: As a shortwave radio listening hobbyist, the tree provides an unnoticeable antenna anchor point for a horizontal wire radio antenna running to a backyard antenna anchor point tree. The antenna would run above the peak of the roof. Also have a whip antenna for the top.
Find a tree to climb and feel the freedom of being somewhere others will leave you alone.
Yes Bonnie, lots of rules. Which a lot of people are sick off! There are rule maker-uppers and rule enforcers and rule violator courts determining jail time and fines for nearly every damn thing you can think of. And there are the character assassinators that enjoy destroying people, too. In general, these people are simply fulltime assholes which feel the need only to exist for applying power upon others. OK, I'm ready to go out and work on climbing my tree. One thing I want the horn speaker in the tree is for playing the ending of the 1812 Overture with canons and bells for the 4th of July. We need to remove the assholes from controlling our lives, once and for all.
It's fairly laxed here in my opinion. You can do most anything in the backyard, including installing a pool. You can pick your own mailbox (big or small) and some yards are neater than others. I'm more of a challenge because I like to "play" and that includes the front yard. I was kicked off the Windemere Neighbor Facebook. I lasted about three days. I'm a shaker and mover while most others are followers and think alike (ignorant). I asked if anyone had an email address to the local FBI office and that shook them up. And the HOA fee is $250 per year ... that probably pays the CPA.
There is a lot of similarities between the past and present, the scamming methods have changed. I studied a Russell in England that inherited land and also the King (made Russell a Knight because he liked the way he rode horses) gave Russell land and Russell taxed the poor for using his land. The "money taking" system seems always made up of a few takers taking from the masses. The system is different now than then, but the "taking" continues by using different methods. By the way, this particular Russell worked with two Kings and one Queen ... the comment is how did he manage to keep his head when working with so many; I say he must have been very careful.
I'm used to having a weather station that measures wind speed, temperature, humidity and the amount of rain. It's all part of my control central for all the stuff mounted on the top of the tree. The next door "investigator" was watching me study the tree while he pretended to clean up our property boundary. I kept looking up to the top of the tree and he would then look at me ... these guys make themselves so obvious. Maybe because they know I know what they are doing and there's nothing to hide. Wait till an 80-year-old guy starts climbing the pine tree. HIs mouth will drop open.
By the way Earl, what the hell can't our country do something about these stupid drones that fly slower than any weapon system we have to take care of airborne stuff. I mean, are nukes going to be delivered by drones we can't take out? I'm flabbergasted by all this. You'd think someone could think up in a half hour to figure out how to yank these things out of the sky. This really blows my mind. It's like having a kid's tricycle moving by itself on the ground and nobody can figure out how to stop it. Geez, I'm living in LaLa land! Trump could probably whack the thing out of the sky with a golf ball!
My half-hour study of how to take down a drone is to chase the drones and setup a trap to catch them. With a drone(s), raise a large net for the foe drones to crash into. A drone carrying net can be maneuvered into the flight path of the foe drone. The fact the foe drones use lights should make this an easy task. The drone weapon system would use drones that can be seen on a 3D monitor but not visible in the sky. Object is to take down the drone without destroying it and be able to determine where it came from. Get busy, Raytheon.
I was watching the Creeks Advisory Committee last night and was dismayed to see the forecast for FY2025 regarding the cost of street sweeping. Since the city of SB has moved the operation to Public Works, there are State regulations that must be follow, check this out.
In FY 2023 the cost for Residential street sweeping was $298K, the amount for next year is $552k. This is because the position of the driver will now be called, "Operator Engineer," governed by the CA Department of Industrial Regulation. Currently the drivers are paid $27 a hour w/o benefits. Next year the cost will rise to $65 a hour, plus benefits which would equal $95 a hour!!
Bonnie, would you like the position of DOGE for all things local, county and state related waste?
Need to also include lifetime pension obligations now too, so just a change in hourly rates is only part of the picture.
We all need to do better understanding the full costs and taxpayer obligation of "public service" sector jobs. The book "While America Aged" (Roger Lowenstein) is an excellent primer - very readable, very compelling. Your current city councils have ignored this topic totally. I suggest they read it too.
The corporate world has been looking at pensions because of potential sustainability problems. We, the "people" (or the "peons" as we appear in the eyes of the City), need to vote to eliminate the prospects of the "Kings and Queens" of the city workers collecting future money that won't exist. Let's face it, the city will have empty buildings because the former employees are breaking the City with their pensions. Potholes will outnumber by magnitudes of the pensioners living high on the hog ... with our taxpayer money.
PS, we had a really good street sweeping company and for some reason, they let them go and hired this new company that isn't as good.......... research needed
I agree, research is needed. I do know that the city moved street sweeping into the Creeks division for nefarious financial reasons. And now it's coming back and biting them in the hind quarters.
(also, I believe the entire Creeks Division should be abolished)
It's not like the "olden days" when city meetings were live on City TV then repeated once or twice, never to be seen again. Now almost every city meeting is live on You Tube, and can be seen by anyone at anytime. Maybe for 2025 I can provide a short description of the most awful moments with a time stamp so people can find it easily.
At the same time it's really discouraging to me that both the city tax increase and City College rate adjustments were passed by the electorate. . . how can I help people that vote against their own interests???
I don't thinks that's even close to the problem of voter turn out. I believe within the city of SB the problem is district elections.
Bonnie, and others at SB Current, Wendy Santa Maria won with 2,098 votes, Oscar Gutierrez, with 2513. Both of which had major campaigns to run against worthy opponents. And yet Mike Jordan who ran against someone nobody ever heard of. . . Mike got 5,518 votes.
My question is why is city policy being influenced by two districts who's voter turn out in less numbers than even one of the other four?
I grew up visiting Santa Barbara to visit my grandmother who lived there for 15 years. She left the state due to its issues, or so she says. Yet each time we talk she wishes she turn back time and return to the California that she loved so dearly.
Full article link below RE SB City corruption : Perceptions of Political Corruption Too Often the Harbingers of Stark Reality by FBI Executive Tom Parker in his article in the SB Independent
I read this article by Ms. Bonnie Donavan titled "California Dreamin"
that should be titled "California Stealing & We are Leaving"
California and in particular Santa Barbara suffers from the same disease
that is Public Corruption and the loss of trust in California "So-Called-Leaders."
As I have pounded into the sand here in SB Current there are serious Corruption
problems right here in our little ole beach town as described by former FBI Executive
Tom Parker in his article in the SB Independent "Perceptions of Political Corruption
Too Often the Harbingers of Stark Reality"
Mr. Parker's article only provides a broad brush of this Corruption but still should
concern anyone reading his article and I quote "In today’s electronic world of emails and high-speed research, such concealment rarely lasts, and the act, or the perception of one, pops to the surface at the most unexpected times, such as right before an upcoming election. When challenged on such an apparency, they give diversionary or evasive statements in an effort to conceal their conspiratorial union."
I have left Santa Barbara some time ago as well as Elon Musk, Larry Elison (Founder of Oracle)
and many more leaving CA to much-better and less-corrupt areas.
"Rot at the Top" as described by Stanford is a good read >>
https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/how-corruption-top-erodes-support-democracy
"He notes that Americans increasingly believe that private interests are corrupting democracy, which may be linked to calls by U.S. politicians on both sides of the aisle to “drain the swamp.” Former President Donald Trump based his 2016 platform on this pledge."
Sound familiar? Corruption Destroys Everything in its path.
Howard Walther, member of a Military Family
Wonderful, Bonnie. Thank you. My ancestors on my father's side did come to California in the 1840s. They didn't find gold but they did find sulfur and made money off the baths at their hotel in Paso Robles with people like, I once read but am not sure it's true, the Polish concert pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski. The moral being you may not find a pot of gold if you follow your dreams but maybe you'll find something that smells like rotten eggs but makes your joints feel better. And yes, let's not just Make America Great Again but Keep Santa Barbara Great.
My stepfather was a concert pianist and had carpel tunnel syndrome, probably the same for Paderewski. Sulfur compounds may reduce the pain for carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS). My mother also had CTS from typing when she took a secretarial job after my dad passed away. I studied my stepfather, Gustav Nelson, college yearbooks purchased on eBay and old newspaper articles. The college yearbook showed his picture and spelled the word "piano" as paino, or as I interpreted a "pain in the ass." He was a very stuffy guy. His dad was a tailor ... dictating men clothing styles. I think Gustav spent his childhood practicing the piano and never learned any social skills from being a kid.
We all know about Polish jokes. But when I worked at Litton Aero Products, the company trained pilots from all over the world how to use their navigation equipment for the commercial airlines industry. The Litton people training the pilots commented on how the Polish pilots were the only pilots that asked the best questions and considered them the smartest.
Beware all overarching government requirements that supercede the wishes of locals who have a fondness for the uniqueness of Santa Barbara.
Everything that makes our town a tourist mecca is being eroded away, even as the destruction of the street grid aggravates those who travel here daily.
And now my own homeowner insurance was just cancelled because the entire city is being designated a high fire risk. To resort to the CA Fair Plan is costing me twice as much for half the coverage, and as I watch Malibu burn I could well imagine my recovery strategy would be reduced to parking an Airstream on ashes in my lot.
Or cash out and run away, which of course is what Vanguard and Black Rock want, shifting the demographics so that more people are tenants with less stake in the governance of their cities.
I don't see the level of tourism in Santa Barbara anymore. I see much more of a sickening liberal playground created by uneducated and corrupt city government not caring if we are made poor by financing their projects which they create to siphon off their share of our money. Really evil stuff.
I have always encouraged tourism to my clients who come from out of area. But now I increasingly hear from them how disappointed they are.
If nothing else, the homeless population runs the city down because the city runs off by mostly a visual image. How is Carmel these days?
Yikes, thanks for the warning.
The 7 largest insurance companies in California are not writing any new policies, and many are cancelling current ones. I was fortunate to be referred to a responsible agent who is getting me Fair Plan (which only covers fire), a DIC policy for liability, and CEA for earthquake.
So why do you think your insurance was re-adjusted? What was eroded that caused that?
My Alta Mesa neighborhood has been re-classifed as a high fire risk so with some insurers the current policies will not be renewed.
But, but, but, the one party system in Sacramento has stated RHNA "demands" compliance. Come on Donovan the law? Brown stated RHNA is not constitutional but the left is jamming down our throats density infill and high rise builders remedy.
"efficiency and management within our departments" the current Council's in Goleta and Santa Barbara don't care about that as long as their "Stack'm & Pack'm" cities goals continue.
You mentioned Limon how about Hart? He doesn't give a heck except for far left infill and taking your auto from you.
Speaking of which who was the genius group on the City Council of Santa Barbara decided to fast forward street grid destruction in November and December? Where was the objection from the City Manager / Public Works? Think about it professional drivers, emergency response are shaking their heads at the absolute stupidity and violation of CEQA demanded EIR's. Where is the outrage from the Chamber of Commerce??? Destructive, stupid, and done in the two months of the year where most people shop, spend, and enjoy the holidays and not one Public Comment at Council stating is anti business and is going to cost the tax revenue the City is crying about not having enough of.
Good article.
HO! HO! HO!
Great article Bonnie, very thought provoking. It reminded me of my family’s migration from Texas to California in 1960. My Dad, like many aerospace engineers, came to California in the droves because of work opportunities. Times were certainly different, Lompoc was a tiny, sleepy town with only 2 traffic lights in the entire town. It was a great place to grow up in. My Dad eventually retired from Vandenberg and moved the family to the big city of SB, where I finished HS.
Back then California undoubtedly was the leader in education, manufacturing, science and technology. I tried to imagine what went wrong in California, leading to more people leaving than settling here as my family once did.
Environmentalism: literally founded here in SB during the 69’ oil spill and which I witnessed firsthand. Unfortunately, what it left in its place is a twisted legacy tangled in bureaucracy and heavy handed laws and regulations. California Environmental Quality Act, “CEQA” is a weapon that can be used , neighbor against neighbor to squash any unwanted development and can result in millions being added to cost of proposed development. The California Coastal Commission has manifested as an out of control, unelected, ethically compromised state body which yields it power, often to the detriment of progress. Talking its marching order from the Sierra Club and not the taxpayers.
Illegal Immigration: has been great for agriculture and its interests, but has caused our education, criminal justice system and healthcare delivery systems to the brink of failure.
Trial lawyers: has made California a litigation paradise for lawyers looking to make a fortune in jury awards. Makes everything we do more expensive due to potential litigation. Why not have losing party pay for litigation? Tort reforms needed now!
Public Sector Unions: our state is infested with corrupt, self serving, unsustainable union rule over our state.
That about covers the how and why of our decline as a state. Throw in Ronald Reagan’s disastrous decision to close state hospital beds to the homeless mentality Ill and that leads us to where we are today.
ACLU forced the closure of state care institutions by order of the court. Reagan had no choice.
Wasn't Reagan's words.... I won't let you sue the Californian taxpayers??? His actions protected us, yet they put their people in, and why we are paying multiple billions now....
Bonnie, you reminded me of my own road trips made years ago. Once one left coastal California, and entirely different America came into being. A slower, kinder, gentler more welcoming and helpful America. Thanks for taking us along on your road trip.
But you are right, so much of America today on road stops is a generic chain restaurant experience and not the charm of the former mom and pop road side attractions in the off the grid places where one could still get home made pie. Stopping at roadside cafes for early morning breakfasts put one immediately into the pulse of that community, where locals headed before they went on with their day. I also remember getting friendly sneers and curiosity about our California licenses plates.
Jack Ranch Cafe off Highway 146, close to where James Dean met his end, still remains a must stop place for a tuna melt sandwich and peanut butter pie, when they have it. Another one is Rock Creek Cafe up a narrow road to gorgeous hiking trails off Highway 365 near Mono Lake with at least a half dozen or more freshly baked pies - blackberry pie was worth the detour. But it has been a while since I have been there.
Update: Jack Ranch Cafe on Highway 146 has closed - news stories report it was a victim of Biden's mass "covid" hysteria lockdowns and increased gas prices. Owners just gave up. Yes, Joe did that too.
I enjoyed the ride along with you on the trip from yesteryear. It does make what our local
politicians and others in charge have done and are continuing to do here in Santa Barbara stand out even more as a betrayal to the residents. It is not keeping up with the future or betterment of
our city but a money, power scam. The letter you were given sounds very interesting. I will be anxious to see how it can help us.
Bonnie, another great and challenging article. The legal explanation letter presents an opportunity to rescue Santa Barbara from intense urbanization. But a polite presentation of the contents to a senior city official or city council member is unlikely to provide the response we desire. There has to be a solid people presence, to make any of the Democratic party hacks in the city officially recognize the strength of opposition against the current direction in building in Santa Barbara.
It is my sense Santa Barbara now suffers from too many absentee property owners (Prop 13 protections for inherited "family home" properties), which in turn created a significant voter base of mainly renters and/or transient students.
In turn this creates a less visceral response when faced with what is being lost due to overdevelopment, growth, traffic and far less immediate civic engagement.
Good to get some facts see if Prop 13 reform is also in order regarding this major property tax loophole. Eg: "family home" exemption only applies when a family member actually lives on the inherited property.
Oh, the state has already come after us on Prop 13 and our inheritance... Wasn't it prop 19 last election???
Totally not what it is....
SBHA Proudly got up at CC 2 weeks ago to say they are OUR largest landlord........... NO PROPERTY TAX on all those properties!!!!!!!!!!
That too, Bonnie. Thanks for the update. Government is the largest employer. Government is now also the largest landlord.
That is how we changed so dramatically in the past few decades. I liked us better when we were mainly pensions and tourism back in the 1970's, along with home-owners who engaged actively in the community. Not just activists for personal power grabs, always at someone else's expense.
Instead, we became now collection of intentionally disinterested voters in public housing or renters; but very interested in perpetuating more hand outs. Good insights how the commons over time turned into stink weed.
There is an endpoint in all of this change. It cannot sustain itself - or at least no one has pointed out how it keeps floating so far.
Do the greatly increased housing prices for the diminishing numbers of market housing units now support the city tax base, in order to allows so much housing being to be taken out of the property tax base entirely?
Does online retail tax revenue reimbursement now make up for the destruction of State Street and overall retail shopping? Will perpetual class envy tax the rich and misguided voter resentments, finally causes the remaining wealthy and their local philanthropy to leave?
What now drives the growth in the city revenue base to make up for the city expenses now on an automatic up escalator?
SCREAM FROM THE TOP OF A TREE:
I loved the article of which I read every word of and then came your mentioning of trees. And then I looked out my office window at the pine tree I plan to make very useful! After reading your article, I felt like all I wanted to do is climb the tall pine tree and scream, "I want my life back!" I do revisit the past via my hobbies of restoring old stuff, so that makes me feel good connecting with the past. But I have had this pine tree near my window on my brain. I am currently preparing all the stuff I need to climb it all the way to the top starting off with a 20-foot strap-on tree ladder. I like trees and once climbed to the top of a pine tree in Goleta to extract a cat from the tippity-top. When I was a kid, climbing trees was common. Tall ones, short ones, fat ones, skinny ones. When I get to the top of the pine tree near my office window, I'll let out a big, long scream. I kind of want to say, "Come and get me you f**kers!," only for the purpose of addressing the Feds in general, the city and county brainless twits, all the restaurants that gave me crappy food, all those people that make loud noises with their cars, you get the general idea. I sent our Homeowners' Association the following list of tree modifications I'm planning. But frankly, screw them, I'll start of slowly with the tree mods till someone questions my sanity <g>. The Tree Modifications:
A. Satellite Antenna Flat Panel Support for a Starlink G3 Internet System: To get the best coverage, the antenna panel needs to be located on the top of my pine tree, above other trees and the roofs of homes nearby. The Starlink system will be dedicated to the use of my office computer via an Ethernet LAN Port. The purpose of the direct link is to hopefully suppress and make life more difficult for a local WIFI Internet hacker next door, a.k.a. FBI Investigator, wasting the taxpayer's money (a DOGE case, for sure).
B. Weather Station System: Located below the Starlink antenna panel, a weather station assembly containing a wind speed and wind direction measurement, a rain gauge, humidity and temperature sensors is to be employed.
C. Security Camera 360-Degree Array Coverage System: Below the weather station, a 24/7 security camera array consisting of a minimum of four cameras: north, east, south and west, or 90-degree increment cardinal directions. A partial coverage of 45-degree increment cardinal directions is also a possibility to detect street activity that crosses into our property line. The purpose of the security cameras is to cover all the ground activity surrounding our home for trespassers.
D. Hornspeaker for Audio Alarm Alert of Intruders and Potentially Other Purposes: Mounted below the security camera array is a well-hidden, but large bell-shaped, horn speaker positioned towards the east which is towards the back of the house. Intention of the alarm is to ward off anyone triggering an alarm in hidden places on our property where nobody should be at any time of the day unless authorized. We need to thwart the occasional saboteurs we experience.
E. Lighting Array to Illuminate Areas Surrounding Protected Areas of Our Property: Mounted in the vicinity of the Hornspeaker could encompass up to three directional lights to cover the front area of the house during the nighttime.
F. Crow’s Nest Lookout: In the event I have a need to examine my surrounding environment from above the ground for suspicious activity, a crow’s nest lookout platform is to be incorporated, most likely for nighttime suspicious activity. The crow’s nest would be in the shape of an oval wooden tub with sides approximately four feet high and a wooden base between the two adjacent pine trees. Don’t worry about the presence of firearms in the tree, there won’t be any. I’ll use a string of low voltage lights for climbing illumination.
G. Aircraft Warning Light: I’ll look into the possible requirement of a blinking, low power red warning light for nighttime flying aircraft. I don’t see this as a probable requirement, but because aircraft on periodic occasions at night tend to make low level “bombing runs” over our property and others nearby and are endangering the souls onboard the aircraft by possibly crashing into a tree … a blinking red light is recommended during the evening. Aside of the mysterious, gray-colored Federal aircraft, myself, I would feel comfortable if there was a light reminding the pilot that he’s close to the ground and to add some distance between rooftops and the belly of his plane. The thought of installing an aircraft warning light seems bizarre, but nevertheless it has been of a safety concern to me with those taking unnecessary risks (FBI?).
H. Anchor Point for a Long-Wire Shortwave Antenna Extending to a Backyard Tree: As a shortwave radio listening hobbyist, the tree provides an unnoticeable antenna anchor point for a horizontal wire radio antenna running to a backyard antenna anchor point tree. The antenna would run above the peak of the roof. Also have a whip antenna for the top.
Find a tree to climb and feel the freedom of being somewhere others will leave you alone.
I have currently under review by the Homeowner's Association the installation of a tall flagpole.
Rules, Rules, Rules
Yes Bonnie, lots of rules. Which a lot of people are sick off! There are rule maker-uppers and rule enforcers and rule violator courts determining jail time and fines for nearly every damn thing you can think of. And there are the character assassinators that enjoy destroying people, too. In general, these people are simply fulltime assholes which feel the need only to exist for applying power upon others. OK, I'm ready to go out and work on climbing my tree. One thing I want the horn speaker in the tree is for playing the ending of the 1812 Overture with canons and bells for the 4th of July. We need to remove the assholes from controlling our lives, once and for all.
Can't complain if you chose to buy into a Homeowners Association, which proves pure democracy in fact does not work.
It's fairly laxed here in my opinion. You can do most anything in the backyard, including installing a pool. You can pick your own mailbox (big or small) and some yards are neater than others. I'm more of a challenge because I like to "play" and that includes the front yard. I was kicked off the Windemere Neighbor Facebook. I lasted about three days. I'm a shaker and mover while most others are followers and think alike (ignorant). I asked if anyone had an email address to the local FBI office and that shook them up. And the HOA fee is $250 per year ... that probably pays the CPA.
There is a lot of similarities between the past and present, the scamming methods have changed. I studied a Russell in England that inherited land and also the King (made Russell a Knight because he liked the way he rode horses) gave Russell land and Russell taxed the poor for using his land. The "money taking" system seems always made up of a few takers taking from the masses. The system is different now than then, but the "taking" continues by using different methods. By the way, this particular Russell worked with two Kings and one Queen ... the comment is how did he manage to keep his head when working with so many; I say he must have been very careful.
For weather, just hold your wet finger out in the air.
I'm used to having a weather station that measures wind speed, temperature, humidity and the amount of rain. It's all part of my control central for all the stuff mounted on the top of the tree. The next door "investigator" was watching me study the tree while he pretended to clean up our property boundary. I kept looking up to the top of the tree and he would then look at me ... these guys make themselves so obvious. Maybe because they know I know what they are doing and there's nothing to hide. Wait till an 80-year-old guy starts climbing the pine tree. HIs mouth will drop open.
HUH!?
Are you referencing to the flagpole as to why they should have any intervention?
By the way Earl, what the hell can't our country do something about these stupid drones that fly slower than any weapon system we have to take care of airborne stuff. I mean, are nukes going to be delivered by drones we can't take out? I'm flabbergasted by all this. You'd think someone could think up in a half hour to figure out how to yank these things out of the sky. This really blows my mind. It's like having a kid's tricycle moving by itself on the ground and nobody can figure out how to stop it. Geez, I'm living in LaLa land! Trump could probably whack the thing out of the sky with a golf ball!
My half-hour study of how to take down a drone is to chase the drones and setup a trap to catch them. With a drone(s), raise a large net for the foe drones to crash into. A drone carrying net can be maneuvered into the flight path of the foe drone. The fact the foe drones use lights should make this an easy task. The drone weapon system would use drones that can be seen on a 3D monitor but not visible in the sky. Object is to take down the drone without destroying it and be able to determine where it came from. Get busy, Raytheon.
I was watching the Creeks Advisory Committee last night and was dismayed to see the forecast for FY2025 regarding the cost of street sweeping. Since the city of SB has moved the operation to Public Works, there are State regulations that must be follow, check this out.
In FY 2023 the cost for Residential street sweeping was $298K, the amount for next year is $552k. This is because the position of the driver will now be called, "Operator Engineer," governed by the CA Department of Industrial Regulation. Currently the drivers are paid $27 a hour w/o benefits. Next year the cost will rise to $65 a hour, plus benefits which would equal $95 a hour!!
Bonnie, would you like the position of DOGE for all things local, county and state related waste?
Need to also include lifetime pension obligations now too, so just a change in hourly rates is only part of the picture.
We all need to do better understanding the full costs and taxpayer obligation of "public service" sector jobs. The book "While America Aged" (Roger Lowenstein) is an excellent primer - very readable, very compelling. Your current city councils have ignored this topic totally. I suggest they read it too.
The corporate world has been looking at pensions because of potential sustainability problems. We, the "people" (or the "peons" as we appear in the eyes of the City), need to vote to eliminate the prospects of the "Kings and Queens" of the city workers collecting future money that won't exist. Let's face it, the city will have empty buildings because the former employees are breaking the City with their pensions. Potholes will outnumber by magnitudes of the pensioners living high on the hog ... with our taxpayer money.
Dan, I can't watch every city meeting, would you be willing to report on Creeks and maybe another?????
PS, we had a really good street sweeping company and for some reason, they let them go and hired this new company that isn't as good.......... research needed
I agree, research is needed. I do know that the city moved street sweeping into the Creeks division for nefarious financial reasons. And now it's coming back and biting them in the hind quarters.
(also, I believe the entire Creeks Division should be abolished)
It's not like the "olden days" when city meetings were live on City TV then repeated once or twice, never to be seen again. Now almost every city meeting is live on You Tube, and can be seen by anyone at anytime. Maybe for 2025 I can provide a short description of the most awful moments with a time stamp so people can find it easily.
At the same time it's really discouraging to me that both the city tax increase and City College rate adjustments were passed by the electorate. . . how can I help people that vote against their own interests???
Regarding voting to tax us. When they give all the college kids taco parties to help them fill out their ballots... That's how they get the votes...
I don't thinks that's even close to the problem of voter turn out. I believe within the city of SB the problem is district elections.
Bonnie, and others at SB Current, Wendy Santa Maria won with 2,098 votes, Oscar Gutierrez, with 2513. Both of which had major campaigns to run against worthy opponents. And yet Mike Jordan who ran against someone nobody ever heard of. . . Mike got 5,518 votes.
My question is why is city policy being influenced by two districts who's voter turn out in less numbers than even one of the other four?
You are 100% correct, District Elections are our downfall...
When will the Eastside and the Westside get involved? I wonder what the total votes were in the previous election?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, very well said.
I grew up visiting Santa Barbara to visit my grandmother who lived there for 15 years. She left the state due to its issues, or so she says. Yet each time we talk she wishes she turn back time and return to the California that she loved so dearly.
Subscribed!
Full article link below RE SB City corruption : Perceptions of Political Corruption Too Often the Harbingers of Stark Reality by FBI Executive Tom Parker in his article in the SB Independent
https://www.independent.com/2020/02/22/perceptions-of-political-corruption/
FBI Executive
Tom Parker in his article in the SB Independent "Perceptions of Political Corruption
Too Often the Harbingers of Stark Reality"