If you plant oranges, you harvest oranges. Santa Barbara is a popular destination for tourists, but the city is not doing a good job, especially downtown. To be honest, I don’t feel comfortable recommending it to my friends anymore. It’s dirty, motorcycles speed through crowded areas, and there seems to be more space for motorcycles than for pedestrians on State Street. I used to be proud of our city, but not anymore.
When things occur that are illogical, then seek the answer as to why things are not as one believes as they should be. Why is the town dirty? More motorcycles taking over, city less attractive to tourism, not proud of city. Can you say, "San Francisco." SB is following the same path as SF, but only at a smaller scale. I lived in SF in the 60's and it was a fun city even with all the Hippy, Beatnik, Haight-Ashbury activities. I felt safe walking each day most anywhere in the city. Would you feel safe walking in SF now ... Hell No! Do you feel safe walking anywhere in SB ... HELL NO!
I read this "To-The-Point" article by Mr. Charles Plume de Cheval titled
"Connecting the Dots" that should read "Connecting the Dots To EXACTLY Who?"
and I quote from one of many serious problems in Santa Barbara from Mr. de Cheval>>
"It should be noted that at the San Roque branch of the United State Post Office, stolen mail bags have been reported since July. Attempts to steal mail bags from the Patterson branch have so far failed.
This wasn’t reported until September 15. If your checks can be stolen from the trusty post office, if federal employees have failed to secure mail bags, imagine what can happen with bags stuffed with election results."
I have a few questions for all here at SB Current to ponder?
1. Was there a large amount of US Mail stolen in Santa Barbara since 2020?
2. Was there US Mail sent to somone's US Mail Box by a Bank then stolen?
3. Exactly WHO Stole the US Mail from that Mail Box?
4. Was there a large amount of US Mail Stolen from SB Citizens houses?
5. Are there serious "Check Fraud" and possible Bank Fraud" Incidents in SB?
6. How many Check Fraud Cases are there?
7. Did someone send a "Request for Investigation" of the US Mail stolen in Santa Barbara
to the Main US Postal Investigators in Chicago Ill detailing large amounts of US Mail Stolen?
8. Is there currently "A Federal Investigation" on US Mail Theft in SB?
I have had two occasions in the last year where every piece of mail sent out in one day was lost. In both cases the loss included payment checks which went undelivered. I have never had this happen before. Until now I was impressed by the security of the US mail.
I initially attributed the loss to prankster youth in the neighborhood steeling outgoing mail from the curbside box. Perhaps something more nefarious has been going on. Thank you for your vigilance and civic duty.
Ballots cast will be lost. Track your ballot. Although just because it arrived doesn’t mean it gets counted. Too many problems to revolved with our local elections.
My student got 3 ballots during COVID. One from SB, one from SF, one from Boston. He did not get a ballot from NYC/ Manhattan where he lived and had registered, despite several calls to the NYC Election Office. When multiple ballots are mailed to you, do you cast? If you’re a DACA, non-citizen, and are mailed a POTUS election year ballot, do you cast it? Of course because CA never enforces voting laws: it’s the automatic registration system that has replaced the honor system. Few care enough to demand citizenship required to vote. Voting in CA is an all comer event
The question is "why" mail is stolen. Who's going through the stolen mail? Is the purpose of looking for money or is some entity (such as a government) looking for information? Ever wonder why the FBI offices advertise looking for "volunteers"? I ask, "Volunteers to do what"?
Maybe the FBI knows who is involved, or some of those involved, in the mail thefts and remains silent for nefarious reasons. I say so because there are so many unanswered questions you present. Me, I don't trust anybody these days.
Charles, you make an interesting, if distressing point about the national being reflected in the local. The Democratic Party seems intent on destroying the individuality of small cities, just as it is with personal individuality. They're taking a wrecking ball to everything charmingly unique about Santa Barbara, in the name of creating a better Santa Barbara, a Green Electric Santa Barbara, a Santa Barbara with no small farms anymore and with the food all being auto-trucked in from Chinese owned industrial “food” factories after being sprayed with Bill Gates' Appeel, a Santa Barbara with affordable housing, a Santa Barbara that only works for the four groups they support: illegal immigrants and homeless who will vote for them, over-paid government employees, zillionaires who will live in their estate bubbles and never think they need to contribute to this city the way the wealthy used to, but give millions to their political campaigns. And lawyers. This will be an even more lucrative place for lawyers.
But as they're taking a wrecking ball to America, Trump's team is ready to take a wrecking ball to them. Like RFK Jr., who has handled the sexting set-up beautifully, by telling them that when Trump is president, he looks forward to taking a wrecking ball to Big Pharm. And to their pseudo environmentalism. He says he can feed the nation's children real organic food on the money they want to spend building their electric dystopia.
It's too bad the Santa Barbara Bubble isn't the oasis it used to be. But maybe too many Santa Barbarans have counted on The Bubble to shield them from the realities of the political party they maniacally support because it makes them feel good. Maybe it's time they realized their Democratic Party is not about feeling good, it's about destroying everything that is already good.
Btw, I take from your last paragraphs that you don't think much of Mayor Rowse. I differ with you. I think he's doing a terrific job that few could right now.
A friend just sent me this from End Tribalism in Politics on X
RFK Jr: "Til tell you something interesting that happened today.
Robert Redfield, who I really go after in my Fauci book, wrote an editorial in Newsweek magazine today saying that he was endorsing President Trump because President Trump was going to restore American health. end he sea.'a lot of people might be surprised to hear me say this. but he has chosen exactly the only person who can do this. Robert F.
Kennedy.” This was breathtaking to me, because this is the guy who's the head of the CDC that I've been criticizing for years, and then this afternoon he came over and had lunch with me. It was the first time I've ever met him. and the first thing he said to me is, you got everything right.
Trump is choosing the right people this time.we will win.
I forgot to mention Polly my great-grandfather was a drinking buddy in the Boston area with Joseph Kennedy during prohibition. My great-grandfather (born Danish) was an immigrant and a former silversmith for the King of Prussia. Always wondered what an Irishman had in common with a Danish man. Maybe it was the booze.
Yes, many of us have “connected the dots” long ago. Virtually, every single issue related to our society can now be directly or indirectly connected to the liberal agenda and the Democrats controlling the related funding. Whether it be traffic, housing, education and even our climate…all controlled by radical leftists.
Is this by accident, deliberate, planned?…of course it is! It would seem the lefty cabal has identified the various “choke points “ in our society and now dictates to us, the folks who pays the bills, how the sausage is actually made!
Yep, how and what are kids are taught, how we are to construct our homes and businesses, how to speak using the correct terminology, what to eat, even how to interpret our gender roles!
What we are now seeing is exactly how the Socialist Manifesto is implemented. That is to say, controlling all significant aspects of daily life, based on the party orthodoxy.
I bet George Orwell and his buddy, Ernest Hemingway, are in a bar somewhere in Cuba sharing a bottle of Gin and Romeo y Julieta Cigars, laughing their collective asses off, proclaiming; “they fell for it!”
"The Carlist militiamen, armed and enthusiastic, were mostly elderly men, who looked less like soldiers than like medieval brigands." (Homage to Catalonia, Chapter 2)
“The Carlists, who made up a part of Franco’s army, were mostly peasants from Navarre and were by all accounts very brave. But they were fighting for something that is more normal in the Middle Ages than in the twentieth century – the semi-feudal ideal of ‘God, Fatherland, and King.’” (Homage to Catalonia, Chapter 6)
Ya sure Teko, modern day Spain is a real example of “harmony” with Basque separatists and Catalonian nationalism. The Franco murderous rampage was a disaster for Spain. Maybe if you traveled or lived there you would know that by now and stop proclaiming the need for a Catholic monarchy.
Modern day spain is a secular and godless republic, the Carlists have no power there - a monarchy actually would create order and repect local identities and customs.
Sure, why don’t you head over to Barcelona, check into a Youth Hostel, take in a Tapas Bar, some Sangria and suggest to the patrons, “how great it was under Franco and the Carlists.” Then see how long it takes them to throw you to the curb…Rapido!
Except the Carlists were never in power and they still have a regional presence in these provinces. Franco was a seculsr nationalist - thr Carlists respected thr autonomy of local regions and believed Spain was made up by numerous cultures.
It's like blaming Trump for Biden's failures... thr Carlists never implementrd their vision fot Spain nor did Trump in 2020...
Present day Santa Barbara feels much like the title of John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost. Perhaps that is due to the well-meaning but incompetent shift to "Paradise Left."
Well said! Keeping the Democrats in charge locally and nationally meets Einstein’s definition of insanity. We intend to vote in person, and pray that God gives our faltering nation one more chance to repent for the sin of killing millions of the unborn, and telling the mothers that they should make this choice for their health.
If this were an exercise in quote attribution I would admire your comment. But it is not and you seem to miss the message of the opinion. Feeling a little pissy today? Is it that time of the month for you JT?
Just interesting in how much wrong information you're all willing to live in Mr. Barfton. Pissy? What do you know about that time of month? Do you have women in your life?
You assume the puppet masters want what the locals want.
Most of our City Council & BOS & SBUSD are endorsed by the Democratic Party.
Wasn’t Randy endorsed by the Dems?
Randy has been in office for three terms, over a decade. I’d say at a minimum that he’s not digging in hard enough. Just like RINOs. Nice enough, handing out candy to children and butin* you drinks. But saying what they have to say to get the title.
The big issue, not enough people vote. Lazy, defeated, depressed, whatever the excuse. People are too la y to fill out the ballot sitting on the kitchen counter.
It is their fault SB is declining, in debt, state street cemetery, homeless abounding, deferred maintenance schedules on infrastructure. Didn’t the Montecito Water reserve fail significantly contributing to the debris flow? Did the county fail to clean out debris basins?
And 60% of children cannot read and write at grade level at any grade level. Not to mention poor math skills. And the excuse is racist. The District blame race and culture, in several ways and they insult all SB cultures in doing so.
Schools, Democrat run.
Big picture. SB has driving away brick and mortar stores for over a decade. They have chosen to harbor homeless with mental and drug issues. Purposefully choosing to not help them and refusing to help taxpaying renters and homeowners.
And Democrats love the results. They keep voting for it. And Republicans keep sitting on their thumbs complaining quietly or else a Democrat will yell at them to shut up and get in line.
So blame Democrats, but I blame Republicans for handing over our beautiful SB to the Deep State.
Are you Brian Campbell? I'm getting tired of reading posts by Brian on Nextdoor, or B Camp or whatever. I post with my name and I take the hits or the objections with the same humor. If you are Brian Campbell you ran and you lost, much to many of us's disappointment. So run again.
Randy is doing as best he can with four council members almost alway voting against him, and I think he's mostly,. . . mostly right these days.
Question is how do we get a strong slate of District candidates? Randy Rowse tries; he’s a nice guy. However, he doesn’t lead; he hasn’t push hard, met 1:1 to remind the other 6 he’s the only official on the Dias elected citywide. He’s not messaging to city residents. He goes along to get along. If something is wrong— electric bikes on sidewalks, open flames by street vendors blocking sidewalk access as per two examples of dozens, Mayor Rowse’s’ official response is: “It’s not allowed”. He does nothing! Constituents then beg: pass an ordinance, enforce existing ones, get signage, tell SBPD to enforce. Silence from the Mayor beyond reiterating: “it’s not allowed”.
While Mayor Rowse is a huge improvement over Murillo, this City next needs a strong business executive in the Mayor’s seat, and voters to recall or unseat the three progressive nihilists.
Rowse chose a DEI LIGHTWEIGHT (highly compensated) police chief, and a self described tiny “caring” Dyslexic deputy chief. Gzee, when the Courthouse was bombed in north county, male hulks brought down the bomb suspect. In South County, there’d be no response. Our top brass would need to call in ‘the trained, fit males.’ Our Chief simply isn’t capable.
How many illegal immigrans are here. How many attacks, rapes, trafficking goes unreported? Community silence is deafening.
Our highly competent City Manager Rebecca Bjork resigned because Mayor Rowse couldn’t hold the line with radicals Sneddon, Harmon & Oscar Gutierrez. As for fearful, unpredictable Michael Jordan, vote him out. The Mayor needs to regularly message to residents.
In my observation, strong Mayors can manage their city’s district reps, retain essential executive staff, and hire a physically fit police chief capable of enforcement. Mayors need to communicate!
I am in agreement with your points, but also astonished that you bring up the failure of the Montecito water reserve pipes that added SO significantly to the debris flow. Seriously, I thought I was the only person who remembered that, it went down the memory hole.
I work at the bottom East Valley lane, the amount of debris was astounding. But have you guys seen the raw sewage spills these last two winters along the Ennisbrook walking trail. Raw sewage spills big enough to close Miramar beach.
And yet, Kristen Sneddon complains about the cruise ship stopping by for a day because "they pollute."
How does one person become a majority vote on our city council, even if they are mayor?
How have you helped elect a new city council majority.
Democrats ginned-up district elections ensured divide and conquer would perpetuate city employee union domination elections for even our local issues. Let’s work on over-turning this first.
Absolutely right on - it's _always_ the voters' fault. They keep voting in crappy Democrat Commies who f**k everything up then bitch about it when they do.
Santa Barbara is a company town. Government is the biggest employer. Which in turn drives the voting majority. Plus Transparent California reveals our local government employees can very well live in Santa Barbara.
Most do vote in their own self interests. Government employees living of our tax dollars, and living very well off our tax dollars have reason to keep voting for the status quo politicians. The rest of us do have a self interest to stop their continual tax grabs every way we can. Vote down all new tax demands. That remains our power too.
Thanks for expressing the frustration we feel with the Bike Brats calling the shots and Sneddon, Harmon, Jordan and Oscar hanging their collective hats on climbing the political ladder by obeying their masters.
Could this be why less visitors are coming to SB? Our Transient Occupancy Tax has been down for almost a year.
Millions spent to close State St. What do we have? A drunken scene on lower State Street.
Raising tourist taxes but resulting in overall declining TOT revenues. Sounds like a plan born in failure. The animal spirits of the market place are sending city council a message. How will they respond? Cut expenses, improve the city’s appeal, or push the taxes even higher?
Just like SBCC is now claiming student enrollments are up, but students are taking fewer units so this results in no new revenue to solve their structural budget deficits.
It is good more students are dipping their toes back into higher education. A step in the right direction. SBCC’s job now is to hold on to them.
A friend sent me this political joke today: Five surgeons from big cities are discussing who makes the best patients to operate on. The first surgeon, from New York, says, "I like to see accountants on my operating table because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered." The second, from Chicago, responds, "Yeah, but you should try electricians. Everything inside them is color coded." The third surgeon, from Dallas, says, "No, I really think librarians are the best. Everything inside them is in alphabetical order. The fourth surgeon, from Los Angeles, chimes in: "I like construction workers. Those guys always understand when you have a few pieces left over." But the fifth surgeon, from Washington DC, shut them all up when he observed: "You're all wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There are no guts, no heart, no balls (or ovaries), no brains and no spine. Plus, the head and the ass are interchangeable."
In regards to street changes, luckily NONE of them would withstand sand blasting and jack hammers, except for the abortion of the State Street under-crossing...and whatever nonsense they are planning under the freeway at Castillo. The reality is, if this sucks SO hard that it f's up traffic, and most normal people hate it, when we get rid of all the commies, we can just rip it all out and pretend it never happened.
Yes, I agree Kamala taunted former Prez Trump during the debate and got away with it, because Donald has lost his mojo and responded to her rather than say, "Excuse me, what do you know of my rallies? I got shot, with two others and one brave man was murdered by this lunatic!!" But he didn't. Trump attacked her on her crowd size, that's a poor response.
But let me cut to the most important local races, District 1 on the East side of SB, and District 3 on the Best side of SB, my side. Please, Please Please, people. . . people of SB. . . Re-elect Alejandra Gutierrez in District 1!!, and for the love of all of us, vote for Tony Becerra from the West side.
It does all come down to money. The National and State funding comes with an agenda, and as we see in the mutating condition of our city's road system that agenda is to make automobile driving so aggravating that we will switch to eBikes. Neighborhoods are ruined by AUD build-outs with insufficient off-street parking provided, and single family homes are converted to short-term rentals and government owned and subsidized Section 8. Small locally owned businesses are taxed and required to abide by restrictions, while street vendors operate with impunity. The question always is: "Who does the Grail serve?" If we citizens are cheated of the democratic process upcoming, and this last gasp chance at a president who intends to lead us into a turn-around, God help us following the example of the autocratic empires like China who are celebrating our weakness and waiting to pounce.
I love the talk. I mean the spin. This from the party of conservative law and order values. The Republican party has been hijacked by a con man.
Poor Donald.
He of the vulgar coarse attacks on any one he no longer values.
And the author has the temerity to give KH some stick. At least her attacks were relatively to DT's sophisticated. If KH is not a good leader for the free world then DT should not even be consideration for the role. Get him off the ballot.
Sparkling social airhead personality vs offensive personality with solid policies. Let’s hope Americans don’t vote for another 4-years of social elite hide & seek play
Meanwhile, the former Grifter-in-Chief continues his lies and maneuvering to undermine the upcoming November election. He now has his racist MAGA RINO's purging Black soldiers and veterans from the voter roles in several States. You can find out more about how Trump's crazy crackers are implementing Trump's revised version "Jim Crow" voter suppression by visiting https://saveyourvote.org/. TAKE AMERICA BACK (...to 1950? 1930? 1910? 1850? Just how far "BACK" does Trump intend to go? This Republican prefers an America that is moving FORWARD into the future.
Just curious Stephen. While you have no limit write what you dislike about Mr. Trump, please try and convince me that Kamala Harris is the right choice for president. You don't need to go on any more about your dislike of Trump to do that, simply tell me how she will improve the United States for the common citizen. I would really like to know what you feel her attributes are.
More garbage Stephen…True The Vote has been working for over a decade to clean up the voter roles and you characterize those efforts as “He (Trump) now has his racist MAGA RINO's purging Black soldiers and veterans from the voter roles in several States.” Most people are now aware of the illegal voting that occurs. Why cite a two-bit “journalist” from Rolling Stone making stupid arguments to promote his road show?
PS. Trump is not a racist, misogynist, sexist, a Russian agent, Hitler, or any other of the labels (smears) that your Legacy Media has taught you to regurgitate.
You seem like a nice young man TJ, here to learn & discover…yes I can believe that JD Vance labeled Trump as such…that’s (unfortunately) how pols speak of their competition…your fact checking has become monotonous…instead, best to put forth ideas & join conversations…good luck
One of my pet peeves is what I call Google scholarship. It is so easy to find confirmation on the internet for any notion. I think it reinforces preconceived bias and blunts the ability to formulate defensible opinions. I avoid internet searches to the extent possible.
I see your point to a degree. There is just so many untruths on these threads - or ones that hold only one side responsible when both have a hand in it.
And just how magnanimous is the great and beautiful Donald John Trump. Only a true leader and great man can look through the petty barbs thrown in political debate and focus on the man and his merits. The progressives in this country could learn a lot from what Trump did in choosing Vance.
No J. Livingston, Trump is honestly a coward for resfusing to condemn abortion and I am increasingly less sympathetic to him. If Kamala wins I honestly could care less, Trump says’ America will collapse, I say so be it. A nation that slaughters the child in the womb and a conservative party and leader that refuses to condemn it totally should fade away with this culture of death.
The economy matters little. If the sins of the nation make America materially bankrupt I don’t care, that is the price of sin. For so many American “conservatives” to care so little for the pro life casue shows how little they care for morality. You know that saying as it relates to gun control about how sacrificing liberty for safety? Here’s my own take on it; “Those who sacrifice morality for pragmatism and political expediency deserve the immoral society they create. If morality can be discarded for these reasons - morality means nothing.”
Speaking of Jim Crow, mellow out with a few swigs of Old Crow Bourbon Whiskey. Hey, I like the term "crazy crackers." Is that what Harris is eating? I'm going out to get a box of "Crazy Crackers," so I'll feel goood.
Trump had a great rally yesterday outlining his agenda - reduce corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%, protect our manufacturers, deport illegals, mitigate government overreach, reduce regulations etc.
His MAGA motto might be getting a bit stale, so I came up with a fresh one that I think might give voters hope and a reason to vote for him - “A New America!” Maybe not super original, but with all his innovative solutions, inspiring !
I say STOP young fella, you're about to walk on a bug! You have to be careful not to squash any bugs because they have a right-to-life, too! Please obey the near-future installation of the bug protection system to be installed at each intersection. In addition to the usual lights, a new bug-present-warning light will indicate you might have or already have squashed a bug. Your picture has been taken. If you aren't careful, a BIG foot might come down on you if you don't protect the bugs with their equal rights. See you in court if you aren't "protected." However, if you join the Democratic Party, then you will receive a lifetime immunity for any bugs you squash. When joining the Democratic Party, you must learn how to babble, look stupid, not think and always vote for Dems, regardless. Understand?
Many things, Dems coming up with stupid causes such as one could be the protection rights of bugs ... another dumb cause the Dems will hit the taxpayer with. But you are protected from those schemes if you're a Dem of so-called "importance." Let's face it, as the Dems run out of causes, they'll will be dumber and dumber. Like going to jail for killing a bug.
With bugs now projected to be our daily diet, killing a bug will be as vile as Jean Valjean stealing , a loaf of bread. You are taking food off someone else’s table.
I probably used the "protecting bug cause" as an example because I recall two sisters that differed in bug disposal. One sister would not give a second thought to a bug's future and simply smash it. While the other sister would mention herbal remedies to make bugs go away, a don't-harm-the-bugs remedy. Presently, I'm eradicating roaches in a garage using a sticky-trap which means removal of the bug equates to a roach without legs, or effectively a dead roach. In fact, I'm surprised Amazon has taken this sticky-trap off the market.
But you know if a liberal is reading this, they will think, "Oh, we've got to save the bugs from extinction." I'm thinking is this how the Dems creep into our lives with this slow progression of got-to-save-a-life causes or any other cause that eventually surfaces that seems ridiculous. I think it would be a good project for someone to go back to each "nutty" cause and figure out how we are slowly, progressively manipulated into "accepting" some of this stuff from the Dems. Such as generating carbon, the lifeblood of plants.
The two sisters were from a Republican family. I think the sister with the kill-it bugs philosophy was a Republican and the other bug-protection sister was a Dem. But they both graduated out of UCSB ... both could be Dems.
Of course, the Dems are good because they would protect bugs like they do with fish, varmints and birds. And the Republicans don't care about bugs and so they are evil for not being considerate towards all life. Can't win.
Sadly, the Dems' Green crap programs are awful to birds and fish. Those solar farms kill birds. Fish and birds are two of my favorites. I'd love to have a koi pond - koi are wonderfully smart. And I'm a complete sucker for wild birds. Scrub Jays and Crows.
If you plant oranges, you harvest oranges. Santa Barbara is a popular destination for tourists, but the city is not doing a good job, especially downtown. To be honest, I don’t feel comfortable recommending it to my friends anymore. It’s dirty, motorcycles speed through crowded areas, and there seems to be more space for motorcycles than for pedestrians on State Street. I used to be proud of our city, but not anymore.
When things occur that are illogical, then seek the answer as to why things are not as one believes as they should be. Why is the town dirty? More motorcycles taking over, city less attractive to tourism, not proud of city. Can you say, "San Francisco." SB is following the same path as SF, but only at a smaller scale. I lived in SF in the 60's and it was a fun city even with all the Hippy, Beatnik, Haight-Ashbury activities. I felt safe walking each day most anywhere in the city. Would you feel safe walking in SF now ... Hell No! Do you feel safe walking anywhere in SB ... HELL NO!
I read this "To-The-Point" article by Mr. Charles Plume de Cheval titled
"Connecting the Dots" that should read "Connecting the Dots To EXACTLY Who?"
and I quote from one of many serious problems in Santa Barbara from Mr. de Cheval>>
"It should be noted that at the San Roque branch of the United State Post Office, stolen mail bags have been reported since July. Attempts to steal mail bags from the Patterson branch have so far failed.
This wasn’t reported until September 15. If your checks can be stolen from the trusty post office, if federal employees have failed to secure mail bags, imagine what can happen with bags stuffed with election results."
I have a few questions for all here at SB Current to ponder?
1. Was there a large amount of US Mail stolen in Santa Barbara since 2020?
2. Was there US Mail sent to somone's US Mail Box by a Bank then stolen?
3. Exactly WHO Stole the US Mail from that Mail Box?
4. Was there a large amount of US Mail Stolen from SB Citizens houses?
5. Are there serious "Check Fraud" and possible Bank Fraud" Incidents in SB?
6. How many Check Fraud Cases are there?
7. Did someone send a "Request for Investigation" of the US Mail stolen in Santa Barbara
to the Main US Postal Investigators in Chicago Ill detailing large amounts of US Mail Stolen?
8. Is there currently "A Federal Investigation" on US Mail Theft in SB?
The answer to all of the above questions is YES.
https://www.uspis.gov/report
Read these articles below for a large amount of US Mail stolen in SB as described above>>>
https://www.noozhawk.com/banks-report-rise-in-check-fraud-in-santa-barbara-area/
https://www.ksby.com/santa-barbara-south-coast/santa-barbara-residents-report-missing-mail-as-bank-sees-spike-in-check-fraud
https://www.kuow.org/stories/fed-up-with-her-mail-being-stolen-she-sent-herself-an-airtag-to-catch-the-thieves
If there are serious problems in SB like "Theft of US Mail" or ANY CRIMES immediately report it.
1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov
Howard Walther, member of a Military Family
I have had two occasions in the last year where every piece of mail sent out in one day was lost. In both cases the loss included payment checks which went undelivered. I have never had this happen before. Until now I was impressed by the security of the US mail.
Jeff and Monica and SB Current,
We knew about the large theft of US Mail here in SB back in 2020.
We reported exactly what Theft of the US Mail occurred and from
where. That is why I know.
I initially attributed the loss to prankster youth in the neighborhood steeling outgoing mail from the curbside box. Perhaps something more nefarious has been going on. Thank you for your vigilance and civic duty.
It is not kids doing this but serious felonies of US Mail Theft under
18 U.S. Code § 1708 - Theft or receipt of stolen mail matter generally.
H
Ballots cast will be lost. Track your ballot. Although just because it arrived doesn’t mean it gets counted. Too many problems to revolved with our local elections.
My student got 3 ballots during COVID. One from SB, one from SF, one from Boston. He did not get a ballot from NYC/ Manhattan where he lived and had registered, despite several calls to the NYC Election Office. When multiple ballots are mailed to you, do you cast? If you’re a DACA, non-citizen, and are mailed a POTUS election year ballot, do you cast it? Of course because CA never enforces voting laws: it’s the automatic registration system that has replaced the honor system. Few care enough to demand citizenship required to vote. Voting in CA is an all comer event
Thank you, Howard, for your pertinent questions and links about the mail thefts. I was very curious about them myself.
The question is "why" mail is stolen. Who's going through the stolen mail? Is the purpose of looking for money or is some entity (such as a government) looking for information? Ever wonder why the FBI offices advertise looking for "volunteers"? I ask, "Volunteers to do what"?
Bill you asked ""why" mail is stolen" which there are many answers.
Some are obvious and not so obvious provided below>
1. Simple Check Fraud by low-level criminals
2. Check Fraud by high-level criminals
See >>>>
https://apnews.com/article/check-fraud-banks-organized-crime-5f033b93bd87e2cbeb82b4ab4865a916
3. Credit Card Fraud
4. Theft of US Mail to conceal other crimes committed
5. Mail Theft for various crimes>>>
https://www.uspis.gov/tips-prevention/mail-fraud
FBI offices advertise looking for "volunteers"? I ask, "Volunteers to do what"?
That "what" is to catch criminals committing US Mail Theft and other Crimes
If I informed WHO stole some of the aforementioned "STOLEN US MAIL"
you would not believe it.
H
Maybe the FBI knows who is involved, or some of those involved, in the mail thefts and remains silent for nefarious reasons. I say so because there are so many unanswered questions you present. Me, I don't trust anybody these days.
Not a bad Policy Bill. As someone use to say "Trust But Verify"
H
Charles, you make an interesting, if distressing point about the national being reflected in the local. The Democratic Party seems intent on destroying the individuality of small cities, just as it is with personal individuality. They're taking a wrecking ball to everything charmingly unique about Santa Barbara, in the name of creating a better Santa Barbara, a Green Electric Santa Barbara, a Santa Barbara with no small farms anymore and with the food all being auto-trucked in from Chinese owned industrial “food” factories after being sprayed with Bill Gates' Appeel, a Santa Barbara with affordable housing, a Santa Barbara that only works for the four groups they support: illegal immigrants and homeless who will vote for them, over-paid government employees, zillionaires who will live in their estate bubbles and never think they need to contribute to this city the way the wealthy used to, but give millions to their political campaigns. And lawyers. This will be an even more lucrative place for lawyers.
But as they're taking a wrecking ball to America, Trump's team is ready to take a wrecking ball to them. Like RFK Jr., who has handled the sexting set-up beautifully, by telling them that when Trump is president, he looks forward to taking a wrecking ball to Big Pharm. And to their pseudo environmentalism. He says he can feed the nation's children real organic food on the money they want to spend building their electric dystopia.
It's too bad the Santa Barbara Bubble isn't the oasis it used to be. But maybe too many Santa Barbarans have counted on The Bubble to shield them from the realities of the political party they maniacally support because it makes them feel good. Maybe it's time they realized their Democratic Party is not about feeling good, it's about destroying everything that is already good.
Btw, I take from your last paragraphs that you don't think much of Mayor Rowse. I differ with you. I think he's doing a terrific job that few could right now.
A friend just sent me this from End Tribalism in Politics on X
RFK Jr: "Til tell you something interesting that happened today.
Robert Redfield, who I really go after in my Fauci book, wrote an editorial in Newsweek magazine today saying that he was endorsing President Trump because President Trump was going to restore American health. end he sea.'a lot of people might be surprised to hear me say this. but he has chosen exactly the only person who can do this. Robert F.
Kennedy.” This was breathtaking to me, because this is the guy who's the head of the CDC that I've been criticizing for years, and then this afternoon he came over and had lunch with me. It was the first time I've ever met him. and the first thing he said to me is, you got everything right.
Trump is choosing the right people this time.we will win.
I forgot to mention Polly my great-grandfather was a drinking buddy in the Boston area with Joseph Kennedy during prohibition. My great-grandfather (born Danish) was an immigrant and a former silversmith for the King of Prussia. Always wondered what an Irishman had in common with a Danish man. Maybe it was the booze.
That's great. Drinking during prohibition with Joe Kennedy!
Yes, many of us have “connected the dots” long ago. Virtually, every single issue related to our society can now be directly or indirectly connected to the liberal agenda and the Democrats controlling the related funding. Whether it be traffic, housing, education and even our climate…all controlled by radical leftists.
Is this by accident, deliberate, planned?…of course it is! It would seem the lefty cabal has identified the various “choke points “ in our society and now dictates to us, the folks who pays the bills, how the sausage is actually made!
Yep, how and what are kids are taught, how we are to construct our homes and businesses, how to speak using the correct terminology, what to eat, even how to interpret our gender roles!
What we are now seeing is exactly how the Socialist Manifesto is implemented. That is to say, controlling all significant aspects of daily life, based on the party orthodoxy.
I bet George Orwell and his buddy, Ernest Hemingway, are in a bar somewhere in Cuba sharing a bottle of Gin and Romeo y Julieta Cigars, laughing their collective asses off, proclaiming; “they fell for it!”
"The Carlist militiamen, armed and enthusiastic, were mostly elderly men, who looked less like soldiers than like medieval brigands." (Homage to Catalonia, Chapter 2)
“The Carlists, who made up a part of Franco’s army, were mostly peasants from Navarre and were by all accounts very brave. But they were fighting for something that is more normal in the Middle Ages than in the twentieth century – the semi-feudal ideal of ‘God, Fatherland, and King.’” (Homage to Catalonia, Chapter 6)
Ya sure Teko, modern day Spain is a real example of “harmony” with Basque separatists and Catalonian nationalism. The Franco murderous rampage was a disaster for Spain. Maybe if you traveled or lived there you would know that by now and stop proclaiming the need for a Catholic monarchy.
Modern day spain is a secular and godless republic, the Carlists have no power there - a monarchy actually would create order and repect local identities and customs.
Sure, why don’t you head over to Barcelona, check into a Youth Hostel, take in a Tapas Bar, some Sangria and suggest to the patrons, “how great it was under Franco and the Carlists.” Then see how long it takes them to throw you to the curb…Rapido!
Except the Carlists were never in power and they still have a regional presence in these provinces. Franco was a seculsr nationalist - thr Carlists respected thr autonomy of local regions and believed Spain was made up by numerous cultures.
It's like blaming Trump for Biden's failures... thr Carlists never implementrd their vision fot Spain nor did Trump in 2020...
Puro loco Chico!
Present day Santa Barbara feels much like the title of John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost. Perhaps that is due to the well-meaning but incompetent shift to "Paradise Left."
Our response, after 50 yrs: Left Paradise....
I am thinking more like Lord of the Flies. Mob action run amok.
Well said! Keeping the Democrats in charge locally and nationally meets Einstein’s definition of insanity. We intend to vote in person, and pray that God gives our faltering nation one more chance to repent for the sin of killing millions of the unborn, and telling the mothers that they should make this choice for their health.
I have a better definition of insanity.
“The definition of insanity is believing any quote you find on the internet which is attributed to Albert Einstein.”
The first 'citations' of that 'quote' show up 20-25 years after his death.....
If this were an exercise in quote attribution I would admire your comment. But it is not and you seem to miss the message of the opinion. Feeling a little pissy today? Is it that time of the month for you JT?
Just interesting in how much wrong information you're all willing to live in Mr. Barfton. Pissy? What do you know about that time of month? Do you have women in your life?
Our nations murders children because of it's liberal foundations you embrace. Christianity and tradition was never something the founders cared for.
Yet another nonsensical, stupid comment. Again, trolling and victimizing others beliefs.
You assume the puppet masters want what the locals want.
Most of our City Council & BOS & SBUSD are endorsed by the Democratic Party.
Wasn’t Randy endorsed by the Dems?
Randy has been in office for three terms, over a decade. I’d say at a minimum that he’s not digging in hard enough. Just like RINOs. Nice enough, handing out candy to children and butin* you drinks. But saying what they have to say to get the title.
The big issue, not enough people vote. Lazy, defeated, depressed, whatever the excuse. People are too la y to fill out the ballot sitting on the kitchen counter.
It is their fault SB is declining, in debt, state street cemetery, homeless abounding, deferred maintenance schedules on infrastructure. Didn’t the Montecito Water reserve fail significantly contributing to the debris flow? Did the county fail to clean out debris basins?
And 60% of children cannot read and write at grade level at any grade level. Not to mention poor math skills. And the excuse is racist. The District blame race and culture, in several ways and they insult all SB cultures in doing so.
Schools, Democrat run.
Big picture. SB has driving away brick and mortar stores for over a decade. They have chosen to harbor homeless with mental and drug issues. Purposefully choosing to not help them and refusing to help taxpaying renters and homeowners.
And Democrats love the results. They keep voting for it. And Republicans keep sitting on their thumbs complaining quietly or else a Democrat will yell at them to shut up and get in line.
So blame Democrats, but I blame Republicans for handing over our beautiful SB to the Deep State.
Are you Brian Campbell? I'm getting tired of reading posts by Brian on Nextdoor, or B Camp or whatever. I post with my name and I take the hits or the objections with the same humor. If you are Brian Campbell you ran and you lost, much to many of us's disappointment. So run again.
Randy is doing as best he can with four council members almost alway voting against him, and I think he's mostly,. . . mostly right these days.
Question is how do we get a strong slate of District candidates? Randy Rowse tries; he’s a nice guy. However, he doesn’t lead; he hasn’t push hard, met 1:1 to remind the other 6 he’s the only official on the Dias elected citywide. He’s not messaging to city residents. He goes along to get along. If something is wrong— electric bikes on sidewalks, open flames by street vendors blocking sidewalk access as per two examples of dozens, Mayor Rowse’s’ official response is: “It’s not allowed”. He does nothing! Constituents then beg: pass an ordinance, enforce existing ones, get signage, tell SBPD to enforce. Silence from the Mayor beyond reiterating: “it’s not allowed”.
While Mayor Rowse is a huge improvement over Murillo, this City next needs a strong business executive in the Mayor’s seat, and voters to recall or unseat the three progressive nihilists.
Rowse chose a DEI LIGHTWEIGHT (highly compensated) police chief, and a self described tiny “caring” Dyslexic deputy chief. Gzee, when the Courthouse was bombed in north county, male hulks brought down the bomb suspect. In South County, there’d be no response. Our top brass would need to call in ‘the trained, fit males.’ Our Chief simply isn’t capable.
How many illegal immigrans are here. How many attacks, rapes, trafficking goes unreported? Community silence is deafening.
Our highly competent City Manager Rebecca Bjork resigned because Mayor Rowse couldn’t hold the line with radicals Sneddon, Harmon & Oscar Gutierrez. As for fearful, unpredictable Michael Jordan, vote him out. The Mayor needs to regularly message to residents.
In my observation, strong Mayors can manage their city’s district reps, retain essential executive staff, and hire a physically fit police chief capable of enforcement. Mayors need to communicate!
I am in agreement with your points, but also astonished that you bring up the failure of the Montecito water reserve pipes that added SO significantly to the debris flow. Seriously, I thought I was the only person who remembered that, it went down the memory hole.
Nope, having been just off the mudslide path I remember that too.
I work at the bottom East Valley lane, the amount of debris was astounding. But have you guys seen the raw sewage spills these last two winters along the Ennisbrook walking trail. Raw sewage spills big enough to close Miramar beach.
And yet, Kristen Sneddon complains about the cruise ship stopping by for a day because "they pollute."
Is it because the cruise ships pollute the air or the passengers are giving off methane gas?
Because it revealed Government incompetence it was hushed up and the tragedy became an "act of God" entirely.
As are the many raw sewage spills this year and last year on City creek right of ways.
How does one person become a majority vote on our city council, even if they are mayor?
How have you helped elect a new city council majority.
Democrats ginned-up district elections ensured divide and conquer would perpetuate city employee union domination elections for even our local issues. Let’s work on over-turning this first.
Absolutely right on - it's _always_ the voters' fault. They keep voting in crappy Democrat Commies who f**k everything up then bitch about it when they do.
Santa Barbara is a company town. Government is the biggest employer. Which in turn drives the voting majority. Plus Transparent California reveals our local government employees can very well live in Santa Barbara.
Most do vote in their own self interests. Government employees living of our tax dollars, and living very well off our tax dollars have reason to keep voting for the status quo politicians. The rest of us do have a self interest to stop their continual tax grabs every way we can. Vote down all new tax demands. That remains our power too.
Very well written.
Thanks for expressing the frustration we feel with the Bike Brats calling the shots and Sneddon, Harmon, Jordan and Oscar hanging their collective hats on climbing the political ladder by obeying their masters.
Could this be why less visitors are coming to SB? Our Transient Occupancy Tax has been down for almost a year.
Millions spent to close State St. What do we have? A drunken scene on lower State Street.
Raising tourist taxes but resulting in overall declining TOT revenues. Sounds like a plan born in failure. The animal spirits of the market place are sending city council a message. How will they respond? Cut expenses, improve the city’s appeal, or push the taxes even higher?
Just like SBCC is now claiming student enrollments are up, but students are taking fewer units so this results in no new revenue to solve their structural budget deficits.
It is good more students are dipping their toes back into higher education. A step in the right direction. SBCC’s job now is to hold on to them.
A friend sent me this political joke today: Five surgeons from big cities are discussing who makes the best patients to operate on. The first surgeon, from New York, says, "I like to see accountants on my operating table because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered." The second, from Chicago, responds, "Yeah, but you should try electricians. Everything inside them is color coded." The third surgeon, from Dallas, says, "No, I really think librarians are the best. Everything inside them is in alphabetical order. The fourth surgeon, from Los Angeles, chimes in: "I like construction workers. Those guys always understand when you have a few pieces left over." But the fifth surgeon, from Washington DC, shut them all up when he observed: "You're all wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There are no guts, no heart, no balls (or ovaries), no brains and no spine. Plus, the head and the ass are interchangeable."
In regards to street changes, luckily NONE of them would withstand sand blasting and jack hammers, except for the abortion of the State Street under-crossing...and whatever nonsense they are planning under the freeway at Castillo. The reality is, if this sucks SO hard that it f's up traffic, and most normal people hate it, when we get rid of all the commies, we can just rip it all out and pretend it never happened.
Yes, I agree Kamala taunted former Prez Trump during the debate and got away with it, because Donald has lost his mojo and responded to her rather than say, "Excuse me, what do you know of my rallies? I got shot, with two others and one brave man was murdered by this lunatic!!" But he didn't. Trump attacked her on her crowd size, that's a poor response.
But let me cut to the most important local races, District 1 on the East side of SB, and District 3 on the Best side of SB, my side. Please, Please Please, people. . . people of SB. . . Re-elect Alejandra Gutierrez in District 1!!, and for the love of all of us, vote for Tony Becerra from the West side.
Yes, we do need to support candidates in districts that are not our own. Thank you.
It does all come down to money. The National and State funding comes with an agenda, and as we see in the mutating condition of our city's road system that agenda is to make automobile driving so aggravating that we will switch to eBikes. Neighborhoods are ruined by AUD build-outs with insufficient off-street parking provided, and single family homes are converted to short-term rentals and government owned and subsidized Section 8. Small locally owned businesses are taxed and required to abide by restrictions, while street vendors operate with impunity. The question always is: "Who does the Grail serve?" If we citizens are cheated of the democratic process upcoming, and this last gasp chance at a president who intends to lead us into a turn-around, God help us following the example of the autocratic empires like China who are celebrating our weakness and waiting to pounce.
I love the talk. I mean the spin. This from the party of conservative law and order values. The Republican party has been hijacked by a con man.
Poor Donald.
He of the vulgar coarse attacks on any one he no longer values.
And the author has the temerity to give KH some stick. At least her attacks were relatively to DT's sophisticated. If KH is not a good leader for the free world then DT should not even be consideration for the role. Get him off the ballot.
Warp speed still needed for fulminating TDS. Stat.
Hope you get better soon, Daniel. Orangeman is in fact good.
Sparkling social airhead personality vs offensive personality with solid policies. Let’s hope Americans don’t vote for another 4-years of social elite hide & seek play
Huh?
Meanwhile, the former Grifter-in-Chief continues his lies and maneuvering to undermine the upcoming November election. He now has his racist MAGA RINO's purging Black soldiers and veterans from the voter roles in several States. You can find out more about how Trump's crazy crackers are implementing Trump's revised version "Jim Crow" voter suppression by visiting https://saveyourvote.org/. TAKE AMERICA BACK (...to 1950? 1930? 1910? 1850? Just how far "BACK" does Trump intend to go? This Republican prefers an America that is moving FORWARD into the future.
Yet another lefty, nutty, word salad. I’m sure if we wait long enough you’ll throw another “racism” hand grenade.
Just curious Stephen. While you have no limit write what you dislike about Mr. Trump, please try and convince me that Kamala Harris is the right choice for president. You don't need to go on any more about your dislike of Trump to do that, simply tell me how she will improve the United States for the common citizen. I would really like to know what you feel her attributes are.
More garbage Stephen…True The Vote has been working for over a decade to clean up the voter roles and you characterize those efforts as “He (Trump) now has his racist MAGA RINO's purging Black soldiers and veterans from the voter roles in several States.” Most people are now aware of the illegal voting that occurs. Why cite a two-bit “journalist” from Rolling Stone making stupid arguments to promote his road show?
PS. Trump is not a racist, misogynist, sexist, a Russian agent, Hitler, or any other of the labels (smears) that your Legacy Media has taught you to regurgitate.
Wasn't it JD Vance that called him America's Hitler in 2016?
You seem like a nice young man TJ, here to learn & discover…yes I can believe that JD Vance labeled Trump as such…that’s (unfortunately) how pols speak of their competition…your fact checking has become monotonous…instead, best to put forth ideas & join conversations…good luck
One of my pet peeves is what I call Google scholarship. It is so easy to find confirmation on the internet for any notion. I think it reinforces preconceived bias and blunts the ability to formulate defensible opinions. I avoid internet searches to the extent possible.
D L Dawson, beautifully said!
I see your point to a degree. There is just so many untruths on these threads - or ones that hold only one side responsible when both have a hand in it.
Politics is the art of the possible. It is never revealed, divine truth, TJ. You might need to look for divine revelation elsewhere in your life.
I should keep the 'art' part more in mind for sure.
And just how magnanimous is the great and beautiful Donald John Trump. Only a true leader and great man can look through the petty barbs thrown in political debate and focus on the man and his merits. The progressives in this country could learn a lot from what Trump did in choosing Vance.
Although I really like Doug Burgum and wish Trumpy had selected him, the 'Trump - Vance Avalanche' is lookin' pretty good!
Trump supports abortion and the culture of death that has caused so much decay.
Yes, you are becoming very trollish with a needle stuck on repeat. Onwards, TA.
Reminds me of a frequent poster stuck on repeat bashing government employee unions, ad museum.
No J. Livingston, Trump is honestly a coward for resfusing to condemn abortion and I am increasingly less sympathetic to him. If Kamala wins I honestly could care less, Trump says’ America will collapse, I say so be it. A nation that slaughters the child in the womb and a conservative party and leader that refuses to condemn it totally should fade away with this culture of death.
The economy matters little. If the sins of the nation make America materially bankrupt I don’t care, that is the price of sin. For so many American “conservatives” to care so little for the pro life casue shows how little they care for morality. You know that saying as it relates to gun control about how sacrificing liberty for safety? Here’s my own take on it; “Those who sacrifice morality for pragmatism and political expediency deserve the immoral society they create. If morality can be discarded for these reasons - morality means nothing.”
Politics makes strange bedfellows, TJ. A truism you can take to the bank.
Speaking of Jim Crow, mellow out with a few swigs of Old Crow Bourbon Whiskey. Hey, I like the term "crazy crackers." Is that what Harris is eating? I'm going out to get a box of "Crazy Crackers," so I'll feel goood.
Sigh. Orangeman has been very, very good for America. We welcome him back.
That's for dang sure!
This monsarchist prefers a moral and traditional society, not a godless and morally bankrupt republic.
Theodoric of York
Trump had a great rally yesterday outlining his agenda - reduce corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%, protect our manufacturers, deport illegals, mitigate government overreach, reduce regulations etc.
His MAGA motto might be getting a bit stale, so I came up with a fresh one that I think might give voters hope and a reason to vote for him - “A New America!” Maybe not super original, but with all his innovative solutions, inspiring !
America, works fine for me. But an America that bans all government employee unions like pre-1962.
I say STOP young fella, you're about to walk on a bug! You have to be careful not to squash any bugs because they have a right-to-life, too! Please obey the near-future installation of the bug protection system to be installed at each intersection. In addition to the usual lights, a new bug-present-warning light will indicate you might have or already have squashed a bug. Your picture has been taken. If you aren't careful, a BIG foot might come down on you if you don't protect the bugs with their equal rights. See you in court if you aren't "protected." However, if you join the Democratic Party, then you will receive a lifetime immunity for any bugs you squash. When joining the Democratic Party, you must learn how to babble, look stupid, not think and always vote for Dems, regardless. Understand?
Made me laugh but what comment is this in reference to?
Many things, Dems coming up with stupid causes such as one could be the protection rights of bugs ... another dumb cause the Dems will hit the taxpayer with. But you are protected from those schemes if you're a Dem of so-called "importance." Let's face it, as the Dems run out of causes, they'll will be dumber and dumber. Like going to jail for killing a bug.
With bugs now projected to be our daily diet, killing a bug will be as vile as Jean Valjean stealing , a loaf of bread. You are taking food off someone else’s table.
I probably used the "protecting bug cause" as an example because I recall two sisters that differed in bug disposal. One sister would not give a second thought to a bug's future and simply smash it. While the other sister would mention herbal remedies to make bugs go away, a don't-harm-the-bugs remedy. Presently, I'm eradicating roaches in a garage using a sticky-trap which means removal of the bug equates to a roach without legs, or effectively a dead roach. In fact, I'm surprised Amazon has taken this sticky-trap off the market.
But you know if a liberal is reading this, they will think, "Oh, we've got to save the bugs from extinction." I'm thinking is this how the Dems creep into our lives with this slow progression of got-to-save-a-life causes or any other cause that eventually surfaces that seems ridiculous. I think it would be a good project for someone to go back to each "nutty" cause and figure out how we are slowly, progressively manipulated into "accepting" some of this stuff from the Dems. Such as generating carbon, the lifeblood of plants.
The two sisters were from a Republican family. I think the sister with the kill-it bugs philosophy was a Republican and the other bug-protection sister was a Dem. But they both graduated out of UCSB ... both could be Dems.
So true.
Of course, the Dems are good because they would protect bugs like they do with fish, varmints and birds. And the Republicans don't care about bugs and so they are evil for not being considerate towards all life. Can't win.
Sadly, the Dems' Green crap programs are awful to birds and fish. Those solar farms kill birds. Fish and birds are two of my favorites. I'd love to have a koi pond - koi are wonderfully smart. And I'm a complete sucker for wild birds. Scrub Jays and Crows.