When attending meetings to give public comment I am always struck by the fact that the vast majority of the time is spent in self-congratulatory drek and drivel. And even though the "representatives" are well aware of the presence of citizens waiting in the cheap seats to state their opinions, those people are made to endure the sausage-making for literally hours before being given their tiny moment at the microphone. You mention a father having to wrangle his kids for hours, and I question why the protocol can't be changed to have public comments moved up to the beginning of the proceedings. Allowing the humans to get back to their jobs and lives once they have made their gesture at participatory democracy.
That is how public comment works right now. Open Public Comment for any items not on the agenda, and then you must wait until the item you would like to speak on is called to give your public comment. Since nobody knows how long each item will last, you must get the early ones.
Bonnie, I don't think I'm the only Santa Barbaran who's grateful for the hours you put into this. We are a distant second to our local government's major concern - ass licking their way to state and national power. You treat us the way our elected officials should, like our voices matter. Btw, I filed a complaint both by phone and by email.
Once again you’ve delivered an exceptional column—thoughtful, sharp, and rooted in the everyday reality of Santa Barbara’s residents. You capture the voices of neighbors who feel overlooked, while also holding City Hall accountable with facts, not fluff. The launch of your Fiscal Accountability Scorecard is a powerful step toward transparency and exactly what our community needs heading into the 2026 elections.
Public Comment:
As a Santa Barbara resident, I want to thank Bonnie Donovan for shining a bright light on the imbalance we see at City Hall. Ordinary families on the Eastside sit through hours of hearings without privilege or perks, while certain councilmembers blur the line between public duty and personal accommodation. Meanwhile, the Council continues to spend recklessly—handing out millions while staring at an $8 million deficit. That isn’t fiscal responsibility, it’s political theater at the expense of taxpayers.
Mayor Randy Rowse showed leadership by saying no to unnecessary spending, and that’s exactly the kind of accountability we need more of. Our community deserves a Council that values hard-working families, respects taxpayer dollars, and prioritizes core city services over pet projects. Enough is enough—it’s time for fiscal discipline and respect for the people footing the bill.
Bonnie I know you get this, yet I wonder if the voters (not illegals, green cards, or I am here for 2 months) understand the mentality of this Council, a very questionable staff, and the fact that SB is a Charter City that gives it much more leeway.
The Ruling Party in Sacramento touts job growth, but at the same time there is a loss in the private sector. That means the only "growth(?)" is in government jobs. The same jobs that do not create wealth, consumes wealth and is a greater burden on the taxpayers.
The Council majority and the BOS STATES we have to do something about these poor illegals. What is their answer???
INCREASE the City debt, obligate the property and business taxpayers when if they were that concerned where are emptying of personal bank accounts, and or obligation loans on businesses or property. They are more than willing to burden the wealth producers and puff up and say what concerned and wonderful people we are.
Where does this come from? Simple, Socialism/Communism.
Sure let's increase the height of buildings at a minimum of 4 stories. Has the any of the environmental committee types bothered to understand the impact on micro climates by blocking traditional air flow? How about 6-7 story buildings along State St.?
Ok another good article, pointing out that the combination of a questionable Council with kids running around council desks. A mounting deficit on top of lousy street planning that tells people don't come here.
Scott, I agree. Housing in California is sinkhole with no bottom. Here is a back of the envelope calculation. Assume the Biden-Newsom team permitted 3.6 million illegals to enter and the average housing unit holds 3 people. That means there will be a need for an additional 1.2 million units. If there is one new unit per day for the 250 business days of the year it will take 4,800 years. This does not include the 'other" homeless.
Thanks Bonnie for the details. Hmmm, $3.5 million spent in 90 minutes, or $39,000 a minute including time for public comments. Wiener maybe the culprit who initiates legislation so harmful to S.B. but he can only be successful if others vote for his stuff. Until the numbers that crossed the border are reduced there will always be a "crisis de jour."
Thanks Bonnie, for bringing up the child of Meagan Harmon sitting on the Dais. It's not the first time and I've always thought it was inappropriate.
I watched both meetings of the council with disappointment. Regarding 418 N. Milpas, I figured the appeal would be denied on a 6-1 or 6-2 vote, with Wendy & Oscar being the losers. But Kristen surprised me with her many minutes of talking points against the project. For a moment I almost liked her. But later on I was talking with another City Watcher and this person told me Kristen was playing politics. She read the room( Dais) and knew she could take a stand against the project, knowing full well the votes were there to deny the appeal. I'll give her credit, that was politics in motion.
What I find really scary is Kristen is rumored to run for mayor, even though we have a perfectly qualified mayor who has already stated he is running for reelection. . . politics, or should I say, career politics? Kristen is not on the side of SB residents, she's on her side.
To my friends here on Santa Barbara Current, please put the word out to find business minded, fiscally conservative, and electable candidates for the three open seats next year. PLEASE!!!
Think about this, Kristen Sneddon as mayor and two, possible three new council members that are more liberal than Wendy Santamaria!!!!!
To Michael Self and Dale Francisco, any chance you want to pull a Gregg Hart and run again?
I just waiting for the day that the council has to cancel the new police station.... again! They keep blowing our money on so many other things that are not in the budget!
I was thinking of jury duty. If you have a small child with you, you got called before the others. Maybe they should follow that proceedure for public comments.🌸
When attending meetings to give public comment I am always struck by the fact that the vast majority of the time is spent in self-congratulatory drek and drivel. And even though the "representatives" are well aware of the presence of citizens waiting in the cheap seats to state their opinions, those people are made to endure the sausage-making for literally hours before being given their tiny moment at the microphone. You mention a father having to wrangle his kids for hours, and I question why the protocol can't be changed to have public comments moved up to the beginning of the proceedings. Allowing the humans to get back to their jobs and lives once they have made their gesture at participatory democracy.
“Public comments moved up to beginning…” excellent suggestion, Pat.
That is how public comment works right now. Open Public Comment for any items not on the agenda, and then you must wait until the item you would like to speak on is called to give your public comment. Since nobody knows how long each item will last, you must get the early ones.
Put at topof meeting.
We in Buellton for it that way.
Works fine.
News flash
The meetings are designed to frustrate and get you and your opinions out of the way
In other words: They don’t care, you are a nuisance!
Bonnie, I don't think I'm the only Santa Barbaran who's grateful for the hours you put into this. We are a distant second to our local government's major concern - ass licking their way to state and national power. You treat us the way our elected officials should, like our voices matter. Btw, I filed a complaint both by phone and by email.
Good for you Pol.
Thank you, Mr. Brown. Enjoy the weekend.
people like Bonnie are who these communists fear the most!
she comes in well prepared and speaking the truth!
like showing Dracula the cross.
have a great weekend
You, too, have a great weekend.
Bonnie,
Once again you’ve delivered an exceptional column—thoughtful, sharp, and rooted in the everyday reality of Santa Barbara’s residents. You capture the voices of neighbors who feel overlooked, while also holding City Hall accountable with facts, not fluff. The launch of your Fiscal Accountability Scorecard is a powerful step toward transparency and exactly what our community needs heading into the 2026 elections.
Public Comment:
As a Santa Barbara resident, I want to thank Bonnie Donovan for shining a bright light on the imbalance we see at City Hall. Ordinary families on the Eastside sit through hours of hearings without privilege or perks, while certain councilmembers blur the line between public duty and personal accommodation. Meanwhile, the Council continues to spend recklessly—handing out millions while staring at an $8 million deficit. That isn’t fiscal responsibility, it’s political theater at the expense of taxpayers.
Mayor Randy Rowse showed leadership by saying no to unnecessary spending, and that’s exactly the kind of accountability we need more of. Our community deserves a Council that values hard-working families, respects taxpayer dollars, and prioritizes core city services over pet projects. Enough is enough—it’s time for fiscal discipline and respect for the people footing the bill.
Bonnie I know you get this, yet I wonder if the voters (not illegals, green cards, or I am here for 2 months) understand the mentality of this Council, a very questionable staff, and the fact that SB is a Charter City that gives it much more leeway.
The Ruling Party in Sacramento touts job growth, but at the same time there is a loss in the private sector. That means the only "growth(?)" is in government jobs. The same jobs that do not create wealth, consumes wealth and is a greater burden on the taxpayers.
The Council majority and the BOS STATES we have to do something about these poor illegals. What is their answer???
INCREASE the City debt, obligate the property and business taxpayers when if they were that concerned where are emptying of personal bank accounts, and or obligation loans on businesses or property. They are more than willing to burden the wealth producers and puff up and say what concerned and wonderful people we are.
Where does this come from? Simple, Socialism/Communism.
Sure let's increase the height of buildings at a minimum of 4 stories. Has the any of the environmental committee types bothered to understand the impact on micro climates by blocking traditional air flow? How about 6-7 story buildings along State St.?
Ok another good article, pointing out that the combination of a questionable Council with kids running around council desks. A mounting deficit on top of lousy street planning that tells people don't come here.
Scott, I agree. Housing in California is sinkhole with no bottom. Here is a back of the envelope calculation. Assume the Biden-Newsom team permitted 3.6 million illegals to enter and the average housing unit holds 3 people. That means there will be a need for an additional 1.2 million units. If there is one new unit per day for the 250 business days of the year it will take 4,800 years. This does not include the 'other" homeless.
Thank you, Bonnie, again and again. And thanks to Randy for not just rubber-stamping 'yes' to all spending asks.
Thanks Bonnie for the details. Hmmm, $3.5 million spent in 90 minutes, or $39,000 a minute including time for public comments. Wiener maybe the culprit who initiates legislation so harmful to S.B. but he can only be successful if others vote for his stuff. Until the numbers that crossed the border are reduced there will always be a "crisis de jour."
Thanks Bonnie, for bringing up the child of Meagan Harmon sitting on the Dais. It's not the first time and I've always thought it was inappropriate.
I watched both meetings of the council with disappointment. Regarding 418 N. Milpas, I figured the appeal would be denied on a 6-1 or 6-2 vote, with Wendy & Oscar being the losers. But Kristen surprised me with her many minutes of talking points against the project. For a moment I almost liked her. But later on I was talking with another City Watcher and this person told me Kristen was playing politics. She read the room( Dais) and knew she could take a stand against the project, knowing full well the votes were there to deny the appeal. I'll give her credit, that was politics in motion.
What I find really scary is Kristen is rumored to run for mayor, even though we have a perfectly qualified mayor who has already stated he is running for reelection. . . politics, or should I say, career politics? Kristen is not on the side of SB residents, she's on her side.
To my friends here on Santa Barbara Current, please put the word out to find business minded, fiscally conservative, and electable candidates for the three open seats next year. PLEASE!!!
Think about this, Kristen Sneddon as mayor and two, possible three new council members that are more liberal than Wendy Santamaria!!!!!
To Michael Self and Dale Francisco, any chance you want to pull a Gregg Hart and run again?
well done, props, kudos to Bonnie, again! Thank You
I just waiting for the day that the council has to cancel the new police station.... again! They keep blowing our money on so many other things that are not in the budget!
I was thinking of jury duty. If you have a small child with you, you got called before the others. Maybe they should follow that proceedure for public comments.🌸
Same thing here in Buellton.
We have one major thru way.
At 246/taco bell-a bottleneck!
But hundreds of units in works!
Democrat machine spent35000
To put Major dem SILVA IN MAYORS
OFFICE. Mayor king lost by 100
Votes with3500.00!
Urban blight/over crowding?
Keep voting democrat!
https://youtu.be/lMFKhSO7TXQ?si=1ruEREY9YqAqNFUt
https://www.youtube.com/live/vopmL0PvUlY?si=Bo3ueWZSxtlc05iS