Celebrating Achievements
by Bonnie Donovan
The city always hands out proclamations celebrating achievements.
For instance, each month, they recognize city employees who have reached milestones in their tenure (5, 10, 15 years, etc.). For me, this makes me wonder why they don't celebrate local businesses that have weathered the storm of the pandemic, especially those on the outskirts that didn't receive the same financial support as the restaurants on State Street.
While it's nice to recognize employees for their years of service, it's important to remember that taxpayers and businesses are paying their salaries.
Business owners are huge contributors to our local economy, yet they go unrecognized. The city should acknowledge the hard work of these businesses that play a vital role in the community.
Acknowledging long-serving employees is okay, but it’s puzzling that when the city claims it is struggling to fill positions to keep up with work, whole departments show up at City Council meetings for the award ceremony. The focus seems to be on celebrating staff rather than the community funding their paychecks.
How about the city acknowledging those who create the wealth that funds city operations: taxpayers and businesses?
When we are at Council Chambers or any Commission meetings, we are always told that clapping or making any noise is not allowed. But when staff members are either receiving or presenting information, this doesn't apply, which raises some questions about fairness.
For several months now, Mesa Cafe has been proudly displaying 40th anniversary banners, a real milestone that deserves acknowledgment and celebration. Why haven’t our elected officials or local news sources taken the time to acknowledge the achievements of this business?
It would be wonderful to see elected officials show their support for establishments like Mesa Cafe, especially on such a momentous occasion. A simple acknowledgment could go a long way in strengthening the relationship between our city and local businesses.
The ‘80s Were a Great Time
The 1980s were a vibrant era filled with memorable trends, and many people fondly recall the iconic OP (Ocean Pacific) clothing, colorful Decker sandals, and the unmistakable Volkswagen bugs that roamed the streets. Surf culture thrived during this time, with Yater surfboards becoming a symbol of the laid-back lifestyle.
In May of 1984, a charming little place made its debut on the Mesa and quickly became a beloved spot in the community.
Forty years later, Mesa Café stands as a testament to those cherished memories, inviting all to reminisce about the good times while enjoying good food in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. As you step inside, you’re greeted by a cozy bar on the right side and booths lining the left. From the very first weekend, it became a popular gathering place, especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings when families and friends flocked there to enjoy a hearty breakfast together. If you want to sit outside, they have a large patio where many bring their dogs.
Over the years, the cafe has grown, now occupying a much larger space. However, if you glance up at the ceiling near the front TV, you can still spot the remnants of the original wall, a reminder of where it all began.
I’ve been visiting Mesa Cafe for the past four decades, and it’s a place I love. Every person I bring along always returns, which speaks volumes about the charm and appeal of the place. During my visits, I always notice the presence of local elected officials, commissioners, city staff, and representatives from local news sources, making it feel like a hub of connection.
Curious about why no one has written or acknowledged Mesa Café’s achievement, I sat down with the owner and our 2 ½ hour discussion was so rich in detail that I’ll be sharing it in segments over the coming weeks; there is much to share.
The owner admits that Mesa Café is more than just a place for food and drinks. “It’s an operation: the restaurant, the employees, and the customers. It’s the community of everyone young and old, where everyone comes together.” He is proud that Mesa Café is “blessed with forty-seven employees. You don’t manage people,” he says, “you manage situations, schedules, systems, and technology. People don’t wake up every morning to be managed. You lead people.”
As for his own longevity, he replies that “I never saw work as a burden, I saw work as a blessing. When you do your job with your heart, you will love it.” He goes back to his customers, who he thanks for “coming weekly for forty years.”
Many of his past employees have moved on and have become very successful.
Mesa Cafe used to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but dinners ended in 2021. “People were receiving more money to stay home. When they watched their roommates making four to five thousand a month to stay home, why would you continue to come to work for half of that,” he explains?
As for his secret for surviving the ups and downs of the past forty years, “Be an innovator; be a creator,” he advises.
•••
Throughout our conversation, the Mesa Cafe owner made it clear it isn’t about him. “I didn’t do it. It’s the managers, employees, and customers. Without them,” he says, “there is no Mesa Cafe.”
Mesa Cafe is only closed for two days of the year: Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Perhaps the City will present Mesa Cafe with a Proclamation.
Or not.
Kidding!? Our Liberal City would never think of awarding/applauding Mesa Cafe their achievements! They would award Montecito Journal for turning a wonderful Community Oriented paper into a Liberal periodical.
Like Reagan, Trump is going to “Tear down This Wall”!
Excellent points, Bonnie. A business-friendly city government? What a novel idea. Imagine city employees and their unions doing everything they can to foster a healthy local economy, because they finally recognize their own best fiscal interests are linked directly to the health of the private sector's best interests.
How little attention is paid for those who can afford to live here; instead of converting more and more of the city to the unearned benefit to those who cannot. All the while, city finances drop into an abyss and city employee pension promises devour more and more of the current city income stream. Stop this unbalanced fiscal insanity.
City employee union members worked hard to install a new business and private property hostile city council majority; poised, ready and organized to inflict even more damage. Elections clearly have consequences. Have they finally divided and conquered this city beyond repair? I fear the tipping point has finally been crossed. An autopsy is in order since this city's decline is a small case study.
Instead of wasting even another public dime on "rising sea levels", it is long past time to encourage a rising local economy that will lift all boats.
And yes, that means paying more attention to those who can afford to live in Santa Barbara. What are we actively doing for them? Besides turning once-vibrant State Street into a dead zone, rising property crimes, unsafe streets, destroying our local schools and foisting more and more of the local tax burdens on the few in the private property sector who have chosen to remain.