Yawn, let me get this straight, gasoline blowers are a health risk and battery powered blowers do not pose the same risk by virtue of spreading similar particulate matter? Further, our schools are failing miserably with reading, writing, arithmetic and you chose to focus on leaf blowers? Talk about a solution looking for a problem.
Sounds like more of the same nanny state, “Chicken Little, the sky is falling,” mentality. Seriously, if it was an issue like getting lead out of schools, repairing corrosive plumbing or even getting males out of girls sports, you’d get some cred. I guess wind farms will now be banned for spreading dust?
I’m in agreement about getting boys out of girls sports, but first they need to be able to breathe - and avoid getting cancer, kidney damage, and the myriad other serious diseases I cited in my article. Even hearing loss is a concern: both boys and girls need to be able to hear the referee.
Mr Rock your point well made. There are simply too many school issues that California and this community are facing. PLEASE pick up today’s Montecito Journal: MUS Faces Its Past. Read that as a result of our incompetent, inept CA State Legislature including our Dem Machine elected Reps Gregg Hart and Monique Limone, one of California’s very best performing elementary schools, Montecito Union, faces a lawsuit of abuse from 1972-1976 that could cost its survival. Who pays but property taxpayers and families.
Besides SBUSD, think about all the other exposed local elementary schools- Cold Spring District, Hope District, Goleta District, Carp District … the list is long. Schools didn’t have liability insurance back in 1972, conflicts and wrongs were handled on the spot.
My foremost concerns are student safety, equity of instruction versus existing zip code realities, opportunities for every student to find their passion to love learning, and student performance outcomes required for civic duty participation .
Again, I applaud the SBHS faculty and principals for their response to you. The incoming principal Mr Garcia is known on campus, and I’m told has the essential experience to oversee one of the most demographically diverse campuses in California. The concerns of the poor differ significantly from the seriously wealthy. The health and safety risk from blowers is low. Afterall, we all know the wind blows pollution here from China.
True, all dirt blowers put the dust and garbage back into the air. I think that’s why they titled it “dirt blower”
Having a dirt blower blowing dust and pollutants into the air around people and kids playing can cause harm, allergies, etc.
Also my take away was how immature our teachers are. They act like children, you can see this in board meetings as well.
As to privacy of kids. That’s a joke considering in every class from pe, to language to math they harass the kids with questionnaires trying to out children.
SBUSD does not care about safety or emotional health.
Respectfully, Gardners just left my home using leaf blowers. To expect them to manually rake all the foliage is time and cost prohibitive. I simply closed the windows until they leave.
Cost prohibitive? Yes, it's not about you and your children's health, it's all about saving LT a couple of bucks. BTW, are those gardeners here legally? From his frequent postings it is obvious he does not have the time nor the energy to mow his own lawn. Heaven forbid his neighbors see him doing "manual labor"! Play your Hip-Hop music too loud and he calls the cops, but you can just "suck it up" when it comes to his gardener's lawn mowers and leaf blowers. >sigh< The windows are not all LT has closed.
And expect your neighbors to “simply” close their windows as well (on a summer day). And expect them to “simply” put in earplugs. And “simply” expect all the children, and every other pedestrian breathing that toxic stew, to take another route.
I hope you’ve taught your children to think exactly the same. The world would be such a better place if there were more people like you in it.
Thank you, Mark. It's great that you care about Santa Barbara and write about it. You give me hope for this city. I just filled out a Santa Barbara government questionnaire about “rebranding” downtown. This is where we are now. Our elected officials think that if they can successfully “rebrand” downtown Santa Barbara, that will solve everything. Here are a few of the searingly crucial “rebranding” questions they asked and my responses:
Q: What current brand elements do people recognize or value (logo, tagline, signage)?
MY RESPONSE: Why don't you fix problems rather than dwell on this bs?
Q: What words or feelings should the new brand communicate? (Eg. coastal, vibrant, artsy)
MY RESPONSE: The new brand should shut up and go away.
Q: Any other ideas, thoughts or feedback you'd like to share?
MY RESPONSE: Yes, you guys are a complete waste of Santa Barbara's time and money.
In contrast to this government overpaid drivel (DOGE, HELP US!!!) you, Mark, have focused on something that matters, whether or not everyone agrees that it matters. Please continue. Santa Barbara cannot survive without people like you.
Thanks Polly. Some people here have focused on the dirt blowers, but the main point was about Santa Barbara Unified: the example of the dirt blowers was a vehicle for demonstrating how completely inept they are when it comes to matters of student safety. One thing that I should’ve put in the piece was about how the vice principal tried to intimate that his teacher believed the representative from the Coalition for a Safe Santa Barbara was somehow a risk to the children (because, of course, people who volunteer their time in civic service typically are), but COMPLETELY IGNORED the fact that this same dimwit teacher provoked that supposedly dangerous person who was in an elevated position above a courtyard full of children. The vice principal suggested no remediation for the teacher, not indicated concern for the fact that the teacher had communicated to children that breathing the toxic spew produced by dirt blowers was perfectly safe.
Leafblowers are dreadful, not only the illegal gas powered ones but the legal electric ones as well. Our neighbor's property might look tidy but this is at the expense of everyone surrounding it. And while out enjoying my walk in the fresh air, I find it really unpleasant to walk through that cloud of dust containing who knows what, not to mention the noise. Leafblowers benefit only the user and property owner - at the expense of everyone else. My agreement with the points in this article stops here.
It doesn’t concern you that teachers at SBHS indicated to the students that breathing “that cloud of dust containing who knows what” was perfectly safe? Or that those same teachers are confronting people standing in an elevated position above a courtyard full of children, and rather than de-escalating, are using language that would be likely to provoke a violent response?
It takes time and effort to write an article for The Current. Contributors donate their time to support this publication. As the only conservative voice in Santa Barbara it is important to support The Current. While not every article may be Pulitzer Prize material, when it comes to one of our own I like to adhere to the adage that if you do not have something good to say then say nothing at all. I do support complete abandonment of this guidance when it comes to replying to libtards who comment here.
Thank you Mark Rock for taking the time to write for The Current.
Yes JB, I really appreciate what I learned from reading Mark Rock’s article. I’m now curious if my sweeping my drive has the same adverse impacts, and if I need wear a mask when sweeping if particles can enter my house either way: broom or blower. I refuse to live isolated in a protective bubble for health reasons.
Most noteworthy to me: Mr Rock’s inclusion that SBHS responded NOT TO PHOTOGRAPH STUDENTS without parent written authorization. Knowing that SBHS staff continues to prioritize messaging this important fact is a relief!
Apparently my gorgeous daughter was photographed, and photoshopped. As we entered the UCSB Thunderdome for a tournament my son grabbed me saying “Look straight ahead, don’t look”. He knew I’d explode — which I did — seeing my young daughter’s head image attached to a seductive skimpy bikini clad woman’s body on large posters on the entry hallway: Come To Games! Hot Babes! I’ll spare any reader the long thereafter beyond that I applaud SBHS and those local public schools that continue to require and enforce parent consent to photograph. We’ve one known District elementary principal who violates this policy, and even posts student photos on Instagram.
Protecting minors entrusted to our schools must remain a priority! Good job SBHS!!
In communicating with the principal, CSSB made it quite clear that the children were not being photographed, but rather the violation across the courtyard. One week prior this had occurred ON the school grounds; that was also documented by CSSB, and School administration had no concerns at that time. Including a message to not film “in the direction“ of the school was nothing more than a red herring in order to avoid taking responsibility. Typical for this district. The principal’s response had nothing to do with an actual concern for children (consider what might have happened if there truly was a dangerous person -perhaps armed- in an elevated position above a courtyard full of children. Wouldn’t the right approach be to de-escalate, rather than provoke a violent response through insults and offensive language? The principal had no concern for that either). This principal is in fact the same principle on who’s watch a staff member at the high school had been discovered exchanging “inappropriate” texts with children. His response? Another tone-deaf, accountability-dodging admonition, this time emphasizing “the importance of being aware of your child’s online presence and social media activity“ and referring parents to “ “The Sexual Violence Resource Center.” With their usual palpable myopia (and irony), Santa Barbara Unified released a statement encouraging “anyone with concerns to report them to an administrator… right away.“
Mr Rock - Appreciate your informed replies which confirm, no denying, that there’s need for increased community and parent oversight and accountability; and also, most important, for voters to elect SBUSD School Board Trustee replacements.
The perpetuation of the downward spiral has picked up pace under Dem Machine and union puppets who hired failed Los Angeles Unified District Administrators starting with Supt Hilda Maldonado who brought in her cronies. However, the voting majority gets what they want. (At least Celeste was elected a SBUSD Trustee for a 4-1 vote.) I admire your active civic participation, and I sincerely appreciate your article and subsequent posts. You’ve increased awareness. Thank you.
You are very welcome! My experience has always been that most people are not skilled at critical analysis. That’s true on either side of the political equation. Those same people have a difficult time viewing issues independent of generic categories, e.g. liberal vs. conservative. In this case, people are equating expressing concerns about the very real health risks of dirt blowers with embracing environmentalism generally, which is traditionally the purview of the political left. In this case, there is no question about the health hazards of these machines; denying this simply reveals a profound ignorance that gives ammunition to our opponents. As for those who are saying that we should focus on the other risks that Santa Barbara Unified poses to our children - of course we should (see my comment above regarding the other staff member at SBHS who engaged in “inappropriate” texts with children on this same principal’s watch). Having a teacher behave in such a profoundly stupid manner, and then having a principal respond in such a buffoonish way, was meant to be an illustration of the incompetence at work in our schools, not to be mutually exclusive of other concerns. Thank you for your encouragement and kind words, but rest assured I’m not at all bothered by imbecilic responses that reveal an inability to grasp a main point. In fact, they give more credibility to my position.
“Imbecilic responses?” Seriously? So, readers of SB Current are imbecilic? No Bruh, what is truly “imbecilic” are those that over analyze all and every issue in modern life, constantly trying to mitigate human existence. Take your pick, firearms, nuclear power, automobiles and even walking across the street. There is inherent risk in being alive. Let me guess, you’re against air travel because of chem trails?
Ya, California leads the way in “Risk Management,” that’s one reason we’re going bankrupt.
I only applied “imbecilic” to those who take a point that is context specific and extrapolate it to every other element in a general category. An example of that would be what you’ve done here: inferring that because there are SOME people on this forum who have not been able to grasp the main point of the article, it somehow implies ALL readers of the current are dimwitted. No, many readers are not “imbecilic.” However, as you’ve now demonstrated twice, some are.
LT- not that it matters to several posting here but Mr Rock’s article provided additional insights that are helpful. Rehiring felons to teach; plus Sextexting is a concern that a group of parents are tracking with now the added benefit of one more documented principal’s response. I understand the SBHS Principal’s reply knowing that principals have been replaced for agreeing with anyone on a matter of possible litigation. The back stories are seldom disclosed. I watched one SBHS PRINCIPAL removed— kicked up to County schools— for a courageous action that I had witnessed hearing both sides on a speaker phone. Teachers and school site administrators must be cautious of the strong armed far left SBUSD District managers hired from LAUSD who are all controlled by the all-powerful teachers’ union. The Union Rep meets with the Supt prior to every Board meeting to decide Trustee decisions.
Read the SBUSD and SBCC Board administrative policies.
Jeff, it's time I call you out. While I agree this site would benefit from all people commenting to be civil, yet right now you call people libtards?? Really?
You have no credibility.
I can say that because last year a person by the moniker named, Granny Snakebite posted about her time in house arrest. She was convicted of trespassing on the Capitol grounds, and her humiliation being arrested. . . and such.
I posted that I had no sympathy for her since I had worked at the Capitol for then Congressman John McCain and I knew it was illegal to step foot on the Capitol steps.
You responded to my comment by saying, I'm not quoting you directly but you said something like,
"I'll have no sympathy for you when you get cancer."
So Jeff, shut the hell up about Kumbaya, and coming together. You are not leading by example.
I said if you got cancer I would stand in solidarity with the tumor. It was intended to compare how J6`ers were treated as legitamite threats when the real threat was election frsud. Granny Snakebite is a patriot. https://youtu.be/ZC1YZVWgIUI.
I am sorry to read you find so much fear in you life on this wondrously integrated planet. Where bioswales are demanded because they can "detoxify" alleged pollutants, yet now dirt is full of nothing but lurking nasties where even an errant molecule can kill?
Good point JL. Maybe some of us owe our lifelong good health to ‘the 3-second rule’ of consuming dropped food; and eating without washing what we picked from a tree or pulled from the ground. Seems the trend is to process food and also over-sanitize; and that’s not to minimize the dangers of contaminated soil when farming.
I suspect eating habits and obesity result in greater health costs and harm than airborn particles; but I’m topic ignorant. I learned what I’d never considered from reading the article. I’m pleased by SBHS’s response.
Dirtblowers are an awful invention, no matter how they are powered, they are irritatingly noisy, unhealthy for the user and only blow the trash/waste around! Bring back the rake!! The bigger local problem is the the stupid teacher…
Agree with LT! If the SBHS Principals or faculty addressed leaf blowers rather than the many other serious school issues, every SBHS active involved parent and alum would be screaming. As per one example, I became concerned one night around 9p following a BB game when a student threatened to harm another, landing on the hood of my van. I called the former principal at home who blew it off, only to have the plan successfully executed on State Street the next day, when the murder could have probably been avoided.
Most SBHS faculty and past principals have their priorities right! The bad ones, we work to shuffle out, kick upstairs into higher paying do-nothing positions at County schools.
Be assured, SBHS has students with functioning lungs and stellar health. The SBHS Jazz band has produced some of the nation’s top successful reed and brass musicians with expansive blowing power who were, and still are, GATE and AP level inquisitive thinkers. Moreover, SBHS’s water polo/ swim teams have produced Olympians, All-American Scholar Athletes, and hundreds of D1 Varsity athletes with strong lung capacity who are focused on personal responsibility for their health. Several continue to meet up annually for the Alcatraz to San Fran swim; others are competitive triathletes into their fifties!
I can assure you as a former parent who was on campus typically M-F volunteering and for weekend performances, practices, and tournaments that SBHS staff has many challenges including students with a MIA or dysfunctional parent or mentor; young Teen parents who hurriedly drop off their babes at one of two large day care centers (one next to band room and cafeteria), only to return home rather than go to class; and students wanting instruction to learn who are in need of vocational training opportunities and/or the Honor Track. Elimination of the Honor Track resulted in these highly capable students being placed in with low performing third grade level students, and/or discipline problem students.
Let’s keep our priorities on instructing students, expanding and improving opportunities.
BTW: Do you agree SBHS needs to remove laundry facilities on campus or do you support adding student dorms on campus for those students with no place to go?
Well I'm torn here. Leaf blowers are obnoxious, especially when you are trying to sleep in. I always fear when I'm driving by someone blowing their yard that a particle or small rock will hit and damage my car. Also, it would be dreadful to ride a bike or walk in the area of someone doing any leaf blowing as I know my allergies would go crazy. However, I agree with someone's comment that electric leaf blowers are just as obnoxious as gas ones and have the exact same effect so I don't understand the difference between the gas and electric ones besides my electric bill being higher and gas powered ones being more efficient without the dreadful cord tagging behind you as well as being less expensive.
Now, hear me out but this is probably not going to be a popular opinion. I'm okay with that, I'm Gen X 😂
I've never thought about all of the particulate matter in the dust that surfaces from air blowers. I always figured it was inconvenient and probably not great to walk through, but that's about it. I'm a bit of a germaphobe so this actually surprises me.
Here's the part that might be controversial...I agree with the vice principal in that someone should have notified them that there would be a video taking place around the school. If it was directly above the school, I believe this was wrong. As a parent, I would not want to see anyone doing any kind of video or taking photographs in, around, or above a school where my child is attending. So I agree that this was wrong.
Aside from that, I agree with the notion that most SBUSD teachers need to mature, vice principals and principals need to take more responsibility, and that we have bigger fish to fry than leaf blowers so we need to get cooking!
But since so few people are willing to put on their chef hat, I stand behind anyone willing to take a stab at fixing our ever-broken public school system in Santa barbara.
Please read my comments above. To recap: The administration was fully aware that a civic organization was documenting violations, as CSSB had visited them the week prior when dirt blowers were being used on school grounds by district employees. They had no issue at that time. Only after one of his instructors put children in jeopardy did he turn the tables and suddenly become “concerned” about kids, and used the documenting as a ruse to avoid holding the instructor accountable. That type of “we’re not the problem, you’re the problem”, “let’s not talk about us, let’s talk about you” is how they ALWAYS respond when they do wrong. The vice principal also had no concern that the instructor had not de-escalated the situation, but had used language likely to provoke a violent response had the person actually been dangerous - and the person was in an elevated position above a courtyard full of children. If nothing else, the vice-principal should have been concerned about THAT. Accolades are not fitting for someone so inept, particularly when it puts children at risk.
Oh please, not one child has been harmed by gas leaf blowers. I could have picked up the Independent today if I wanted to read environmental wacko doomsday scenarios.
Seems to me that with the importation of our new underclass, sweeping manually is an excellent occupation for non English speakers. Tidy up the environment in a slow and careful way, earn a wage and be a productive part of society. Lots of dirt to be swept !!
They are euphemistically called “leaf blowers” by the landscaping industry and others with a vested interest in minimizing appreciation for their health and environmental impact. “Dirt blowers” is what they are more accurately called. Do a test: go watch one in use (they aren’t hard to find; you can easily hear them from a half-mile away) and look at what’s being blown around. You’ll see a lot of dirt and trash - and very few leaves.
The children were not being photographed. That’s been clarified several times; the vice principal never alleged it was the case either. Re-read the article and comments.
Years ago homeless men were photographing and filming children on the playground at Washington elementary.
When a mother confronted them they aggressively chased her off.
Neither SBUSD nor SBPD did anything.
The statement, the children are in public space where they. And be seen from a public position. If they are visible from a public area there is nothing they can do about videoing.
Those homeless continued this practice, one living in his red suv in front of the park right across the street from the school for years.
SBUSD has never cared about health of our children.
When there was documented mold in one of the elementary school classrooms we wanted our child’s classroom tested as he was having respiratory issues. SBUSD denied our request.
We offered to pay for the testing. They denied, despite a nearby classroom having mold.
We hired a mold testing company to come in, the principal blocked the door and would not allow us to enter.
Covid, CDC stated children had a zero percent risk from the virus. Yet they pushed the mRNA on children, knowing the FDA disclosed that children suffered the highest risk of myocarditis.
The high schools had windows painted shut, meaning no means to evacuate in case of fire. Their intercoms did not function well in case of the need of a lockdown, like school shooter. They ignored this while they built a stadium that cost tens of millions.
We can continue into their purposeful lack of academics. But these are just a few examples of their c9m9,etc kick of concern over safety.
The common thread, they get paid to ignore the safety of children and they need to continue paying themselves those six figure salaries.
I read this misinformed article titled "Dirt Blowers are Safe: A Dangerous Lesson"
by Mark Rock. I have a more accurate title "Corruption Blows Thru-Out CALI and SB
A Dangerous Lesson Concealed" I quote from Mark Rock "CSSB was alarmed to discover that gasoline-powered dirt blowers were being used in an area immediately adjacent to Santa Barbara High School (SBHS)" AND "When it comes to damaging health, dirt blowers are exceptionally insidious:" AND "An assistant principal was assigned to investigate the matter." AND
"Worse, this incident came on the heels of an investigation conducted by CSSB one week prior"
You have major sexual abuse in the SB schools and in this County being concealed and then uncovered. You have SB County and City serious financial problems. You had major Medicare
Health Care Fraud In the County prosecuted by the DOJ. You have additional major Corruption Issues in SB and you all are talking about and I quote from Mark Rock "Gasoline-powered dirt blowers pose a risk to health without peer." Do as Bonnie Donovan, FOIA requests on the financials
of this County and other serious problems and DIG DEEP. Corruption pose a major risk to health
without peer. That is why the FBI is surging more agents into CALI and SB. Listen to Deputy Director Dan Bongino this morning and yesterday on X>
“If you are a corrupt politician ...... we're going to find you." AND "No One Is Going to Get OFF!!"
Bongino is a neocon and your comment was rude. You're also no better than anyone else because you are a "Member of a Military Family" which you staunchly announce in every single comment you make.
I do not think a reply to your statement "Bongino is a neocon and your comment was rude. You're also no better than anyone else because you are a "Member of a Military Family" is going to make any difference to you. Today is June 6, 2025, D-Day and therefore I will leave you with some remembrances from X below>
"For many young men, this was their last day at the beach and for that sacrifice I am forever grateful."
"Omaha Beach in Normandy, France—one of the most sacred places on earth, where bravery, sacrifice, and the fight for freedom came ashore on June 6, 1944."
Yawn, let me get this straight, gasoline blowers are a health risk and battery powered blowers do not pose the same risk by virtue of spreading similar particulate matter? Further, our schools are failing miserably with reading, writing, arithmetic and you chose to focus on leaf blowers? Talk about a solution looking for a problem.
Sounds like more of the same nanny state, “Chicken Little, the sky is falling,” mentality. Seriously, if it was an issue like getting lead out of schools, repairing corrosive plumbing or even getting males out of girls sports, you’d get some cred. I guess wind farms will now be banned for spreading dust?
I’m in agreement about getting boys out of girls sports, but first they need to be able to breathe - and avoid getting cancer, kidney damage, and the myriad other serious diseases I cited in my article. Even hearing loss is a concern: both boys and girls need to be able to hear the referee.
Mr Rock your point well made. There are simply too many school issues that California and this community are facing. PLEASE pick up today’s Montecito Journal: MUS Faces Its Past. Read that as a result of our incompetent, inept CA State Legislature including our Dem Machine elected Reps Gregg Hart and Monique Limone, one of California’s very best performing elementary schools, Montecito Union, faces a lawsuit of abuse from 1972-1976 that could cost its survival. Who pays but property taxpayers and families.
Besides SBUSD, think about all the other exposed local elementary schools- Cold Spring District, Hope District, Goleta District, Carp District … the list is long. Schools didn’t have liability insurance back in 1972, conflicts and wrongs were handled on the spot.
My foremost concerns are student safety, equity of instruction versus existing zip code realities, opportunities for every student to find their passion to love learning, and student performance outcomes required for civic duty participation .
Again, I applaud the SBHS faculty and principals for their response to you. The incoming principal Mr Garcia is known on campus, and I’m told has the essential experience to oversee one of the most demographically diverse campuses in California. The concerns of the poor differ significantly from the seriously wealthy. The health and safety risk from blowers is low. Afterall, we all know the wind blows pollution here from China.
True, all dirt blowers put the dust and garbage back into the air. I think that’s why they titled it “dirt blower”
Having a dirt blower blowing dust and pollutants into the air around people and kids playing can cause harm, allergies, etc.
Also my take away was how immature our teachers are. They act like children, you can see this in board meetings as well.
As to privacy of kids. That’s a joke considering in every class from pe, to language to math they harass the kids with questionnaires trying to out children.
SBUSD does not care about safety or emotional health.
Respectfully, Gardners just left my home using leaf blowers. To expect them to manually rake all the foliage is time and cost prohibitive. I simply closed the windows until they leave.
Cost prohibitive? Yes, it's not about you and your children's health, it's all about saving LT a couple of bucks. BTW, are those gardeners here legally? From his frequent postings it is obvious he does not have the time nor the energy to mow his own lawn. Heaven forbid his neighbors see him doing "manual labor"! Play your Hip-Hop music too loud and he calls the cops, but you can just "suck it up" when it comes to his gardener's lawn mowers and leaf blowers. >sigh< The windows are not all LT has closed.
And expect your neighbors to “simply” close their windows as well (on a summer day). And expect them to “simply” put in earplugs. And “simply” expect all the children, and every other pedestrian breathing that toxic stew, to take another route.
I hope you’ve taught your children to think exactly the same. The world would be such a better place if there were more people like you in it.
I humbly nominate LT for asshole of the year.
Ya Vincent, the bow tie says it all.
I couldn't agree more. LT is a genocide apologist troll who argues endlessly with any positive comment on this thing.
“LT for asshole of the year”?
No. He’s overqualified.
What a clown!
…and expect you to STFU.
LT Read my post below because THE SHIT IS GOING TO HIT THE FAN.
Bravo Howard, glad I’m not down wind!
Yes, LT get ready for a BIG BLOW AND I AM NOT TALKING LEAF BLOWERS
I AM TALKING MAJOR-DIRT-BAG-BLOWERS. WELCOME TO CALI!!!!!!!!!!!
Respectfully, I’ll believe it when I see it. But to your point, time to take the trash (and leaf blower contents) to the curb!
Yes nothing filed by DOJ on DC Swamp Creature Corruption
so Are they Going after the CALI Swamp Creature Corruption
oh ...... many of those CALI Swampers are one and the same as
the DC Swampers.
Between inhaled toxins, injected toxins and ideological toxins, the SB public school system could reasonably be declared a toxic waste site.
Ya Doc, correct diagnosis. The “contagion” being woke liberalism!
Thank you, Mark. It's great that you care about Santa Barbara and write about it. You give me hope for this city. I just filled out a Santa Barbara government questionnaire about “rebranding” downtown. This is where we are now. Our elected officials think that if they can successfully “rebrand” downtown Santa Barbara, that will solve everything. Here are a few of the searingly crucial “rebranding” questions they asked and my responses:
Q: What current brand elements do people recognize or value (logo, tagline, signage)?
MY RESPONSE: Why don't you fix problems rather than dwell on this bs?
Q: What words or feelings should the new brand communicate? (Eg. coastal, vibrant, artsy)
MY RESPONSE: The new brand should shut up and go away.
Q: Any other ideas, thoughts or feedback you'd like to share?
MY RESPONSE: Yes, you guys are a complete waste of Santa Barbara's time and money.
In contrast to this government overpaid drivel (DOGE, HELP US!!!) you, Mark, have focused on something that matters, whether or not everyone agrees that it matters. Please continue. Santa Barbara cannot survive without people like you.
I agree again with you here, Polly.
Thanks Polly. Some people here have focused on the dirt blowers, but the main point was about Santa Barbara Unified: the example of the dirt blowers was a vehicle for demonstrating how completely inept they are when it comes to matters of student safety. One thing that I should’ve put in the piece was about how the vice principal tried to intimate that his teacher believed the representative from the Coalition for a Safe Santa Barbara was somehow a risk to the children (because, of course, people who volunteer their time in civic service typically are), but COMPLETELY IGNORED the fact that this same dimwit teacher provoked that supposedly dangerous person who was in an elevated position above a courtyard full of children. The vice principal suggested no remediation for the teacher, not indicated concern for the fact that the teacher had communicated to children that breathing the toxic spew produced by dirt blowers was perfectly safe.
Leafblowers are dreadful, not only the illegal gas powered ones but the legal electric ones as well. Our neighbor's property might look tidy but this is at the expense of everyone surrounding it. And while out enjoying my walk in the fresh air, I find it really unpleasant to walk through that cloud of dust containing who knows what, not to mention the noise. Leafblowers benefit only the user and property owner - at the expense of everyone else. My agreement with the points in this article stops here.
It doesn’t concern you that teachers at SBHS indicated to the students that breathing “that cloud of dust containing who knows what” was perfectly safe? Or that those same teachers are confronting people standing in an elevated position above a courtyard full of children, and rather than de-escalating, are using language that would be likely to provoke a violent response?
It takes time and effort to write an article for The Current. Contributors donate their time to support this publication. As the only conservative voice in Santa Barbara it is important to support The Current. While not every article may be Pulitzer Prize material, when it comes to one of our own I like to adhere to the adage that if you do not have something good to say then say nothing at all. I do support complete abandonment of this guidance when it comes to replying to libtards who comment here.
Thank you Mark Rock for taking the time to write for The Current.
Yes JB, I really appreciate what I learned from reading Mark Rock’s article. I’m now curious if my sweeping my drive has the same adverse impacts, and if I need wear a mask when sweeping if particles can enter my house either way: broom or blower. I refuse to live isolated in a protective bubble for health reasons.
Most noteworthy to me: Mr Rock’s inclusion that SBHS responded NOT TO PHOTOGRAPH STUDENTS without parent written authorization. Knowing that SBHS staff continues to prioritize messaging this important fact is a relief!
Apparently my gorgeous daughter was photographed, and photoshopped. As we entered the UCSB Thunderdome for a tournament my son grabbed me saying “Look straight ahead, don’t look”. He knew I’d explode — which I did — seeing my young daughter’s head image attached to a seductive skimpy bikini clad woman’s body on large posters on the entry hallway: Come To Games! Hot Babes! I’ll spare any reader the long thereafter beyond that I applaud SBHS and those local public schools that continue to require and enforce parent consent to photograph. We’ve one known District elementary principal who violates this policy, and even posts student photos on Instagram.
Protecting minors entrusted to our schools must remain a priority! Good job SBHS!!
In communicating with the principal, CSSB made it quite clear that the children were not being photographed, but rather the violation across the courtyard. One week prior this had occurred ON the school grounds; that was also documented by CSSB, and School administration had no concerns at that time. Including a message to not film “in the direction“ of the school was nothing more than a red herring in order to avoid taking responsibility. Typical for this district. The principal’s response had nothing to do with an actual concern for children (consider what might have happened if there truly was a dangerous person -perhaps armed- in an elevated position above a courtyard full of children. Wouldn’t the right approach be to de-escalate, rather than provoke a violent response through insults and offensive language? The principal had no concern for that either). This principal is in fact the same principle on who’s watch a staff member at the high school had been discovered exchanging “inappropriate” texts with children. His response? Another tone-deaf, accountability-dodging admonition, this time emphasizing “the importance of being aware of your child’s online presence and social media activity“ and referring parents to “ “The Sexual Violence Resource Center.” With their usual palpable myopia (and irony), Santa Barbara Unified released a statement encouraging “anyone with concerns to report them to an administrator… right away.“
Mr Rock - Appreciate your informed replies which confirm, no denying, that there’s need for increased community and parent oversight and accountability; and also, most important, for voters to elect SBUSD School Board Trustee replacements.
The perpetuation of the downward spiral has picked up pace under Dem Machine and union puppets who hired failed Los Angeles Unified District Administrators starting with Supt Hilda Maldonado who brought in her cronies. However, the voting majority gets what they want. (At least Celeste was elected a SBUSD Trustee for a 4-1 vote.) I admire your active civic participation, and I sincerely appreciate your article and subsequent posts. You’ve increased awareness. Thank you.
You’re looking for an adult at SBUSD? Good luck.
Emmett- I’d like to introduce you to the many exemplary, exceptional adults who teach and staff SBHS. I’m certain your negative opinion will change.
You are very welcome! My experience has always been that most people are not skilled at critical analysis. That’s true on either side of the political equation. Those same people have a difficult time viewing issues independent of generic categories, e.g. liberal vs. conservative. In this case, people are equating expressing concerns about the very real health risks of dirt blowers with embracing environmentalism generally, which is traditionally the purview of the political left. In this case, there is no question about the health hazards of these machines; denying this simply reveals a profound ignorance that gives ammunition to our opponents. As for those who are saying that we should focus on the other risks that Santa Barbara Unified poses to our children - of course we should (see my comment above regarding the other staff member at SBHS who engaged in “inappropriate” texts with children on this same principal’s watch). Having a teacher behave in such a profoundly stupid manner, and then having a principal respond in such a buffoonish way, was meant to be an illustration of the incompetence at work in our schools, not to be mutually exclusive of other concerns. Thank you for your encouragement and kind words, but rest assured I’m not at all bothered by imbecilic responses that reveal an inability to grasp a main point. In fact, they give more credibility to my position.
“Imbecilic responses?” Seriously? So, readers of SB Current are imbecilic? No Bruh, what is truly “imbecilic” are those that over analyze all and every issue in modern life, constantly trying to mitigate human existence. Take your pick, firearms, nuclear power, automobiles and even walking across the street. There is inherent risk in being alive. Let me guess, you’re against air travel because of chem trails?
Ya, California leads the way in “Risk Management,” that’s one reason we’re going bankrupt.
I only applied “imbecilic” to those who take a point that is context specific and extrapolate it to every other element in a general category. An example of that would be what you’ve done here: inferring that because there are SOME people on this forum who have not been able to grasp the main point of the article, it somehow implies ALL readers of the current are dimwitted. No, many readers are not “imbecilic.” However, as you’ve now demonstrated twice, some are.
Ya Rock, I think you know what you can do with your leaf blower.
LT- not that it matters to several posting here but Mr Rock’s article provided additional insights that are helpful. Rehiring felons to teach; plus Sextexting is a concern that a group of parents are tracking with now the added benefit of one more documented principal’s response. I understand the SBHS Principal’s reply knowing that principals have been replaced for agreeing with anyone on a matter of possible litigation. The back stories are seldom disclosed. I watched one SBHS PRINCIPAL removed— kicked up to County schools— for a courageous action that I had witnessed hearing both sides on a speaker phone. Teachers and school site administrators must be cautious of the strong armed far left SBUSD District managers hired from LAUSD who are all controlled by the all-powerful teachers’ union. The Union Rep meets with the Supt prior to every Board meeting to decide Trustee decisions.
Read the SBUSD and SBCC Board administrative policies.
Thanks for the explanation, not withstanding the virtue signaling, name calling and hissy fits.
Jeff, it's time I call you out. While I agree this site would benefit from all people commenting to be civil, yet right now you call people libtards?? Really?
You have no credibility.
I can say that because last year a person by the moniker named, Granny Snakebite posted about her time in house arrest. She was convicted of trespassing on the Capitol grounds, and her humiliation being arrested. . . and such.
I posted that I had no sympathy for her since I had worked at the Capitol for then Congressman John McCain and I knew it was illegal to step foot on the Capitol steps.
You responded to my comment by saying, I'm not quoting you directly but you said something like,
"I'll have no sympathy for you when you get cancer."
So Jeff, shut the hell up about Kumbaya, and coming together. You are not leading by example.
I said if you got cancer I would stand in solidarity with the tumor. It was intended to compare how J6`ers were treated as legitamite threats when the real threat was election frsud. Granny Snakebite is a patriot. https://youtu.be/ZC1YZVWgIUI.
Sorry JB, not drinking the kombucha, no matter who’s serving it.
Might help with your mood today.
TJ & L.A, please read my response to Jeff.
It's his mood everyday on here.
On the other hand, even leftist NPR claims dirt is good and children need more exposure to germs. I am in agreement. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/07/16/537075018/dirt-is-good-why-kids-need-exposure-to-germs
I am sorry to read you find so much fear in you life on this wondrously integrated planet. Where bioswales are demanded because they can "detoxify" alleged pollutants, yet now dirt is full of nothing but lurking nasties where even an errant molecule can kill?
Good point JL. Maybe some of us owe our lifelong good health to ‘the 3-second rule’ of consuming dropped food; and eating without washing what we picked from a tree or pulled from the ground. Seems the trend is to process food and also over-sanitize; and that’s not to minimize the dangers of contaminated soil when farming.
I suspect eating habits and obesity result in greater health costs and harm than airborn particles; but I’m topic ignorant. I learned what I’d never considered from reading the article. I’m pleased by SBHS’s response.
And drinking from the hose!
Dirtblowers are an awful invention, no matter how they are powered, they are irritatingly noisy, unhealthy for the user and only blow the trash/waste around! Bring back the rake!! The bigger local problem is the the stupid teacher…
Agree with LT! If the SBHS Principals or faculty addressed leaf blowers rather than the many other serious school issues, every SBHS active involved parent and alum would be screaming. As per one example, I became concerned one night around 9p following a BB game when a student threatened to harm another, landing on the hood of my van. I called the former principal at home who blew it off, only to have the plan successfully executed on State Street the next day, when the murder could have probably been avoided.
Most SBHS faculty and past principals have their priorities right! The bad ones, we work to shuffle out, kick upstairs into higher paying do-nothing positions at County schools.
Be assured, SBHS has students with functioning lungs and stellar health. The SBHS Jazz band has produced some of the nation’s top successful reed and brass musicians with expansive blowing power who were, and still are, GATE and AP level inquisitive thinkers. Moreover, SBHS’s water polo/ swim teams have produced Olympians, All-American Scholar Athletes, and hundreds of D1 Varsity athletes with strong lung capacity who are focused on personal responsibility for their health. Several continue to meet up annually for the Alcatraz to San Fran swim; others are competitive triathletes into their fifties!
I can assure you as a former parent who was on campus typically M-F volunteering and for weekend performances, practices, and tournaments that SBHS staff has many challenges including students with a MIA or dysfunctional parent or mentor; young Teen parents who hurriedly drop off their babes at one of two large day care centers (one next to band room and cafeteria), only to return home rather than go to class; and students wanting instruction to learn who are in need of vocational training opportunities and/or the Honor Track. Elimination of the Honor Track resulted in these highly capable students being placed in with low performing third grade level students, and/or discipline problem students.
Let’s keep our priorities on instructing students, expanding and improving opportunities.
BTW: Do you agree SBHS needs to remove laundry facilities on campus or do you support adding student dorms on campus for those students with no place to go?
Well I'm torn here. Leaf blowers are obnoxious, especially when you are trying to sleep in. I always fear when I'm driving by someone blowing their yard that a particle or small rock will hit and damage my car. Also, it would be dreadful to ride a bike or walk in the area of someone doing any leaf blowing as I know my allergies would go crazy. However, I agree with someone's comment that electric leaf blowers are just as obnoxious as gas ones and have the exact same effect so I don't understand the difference between the gas and electric ones besides my electric bill being higher and gas powered ones being more efficient without the dreadful cord tagging behind you as well as being less expensive.
Now, hear me out but this is probably not going to be a popular opinion. I'm okay with that, I'm Gen X 😂
I've never thought about all of the particulate matter in the dust that surfaces from air blowers. I always figured it was inconvenient and probably not great to walk through, but that's about it. I'm a bit of a germaphobe so this actually surprises me.
Here's the part that might be controversial...I agree with the vice principal in that someone should have notified them that there would be a video taking place around the school. If it was directly above the school, I believe this was wrong. As a parent, I would not want to see anyone doing any kind of video or taking photographs in, around, or above a school where my child is attending. So I agree that this was wrong.
Aside from that, I agree with the notion that most SBUSD teachers need to mature, vice principals and principals need to take more responsibility, and that we have bigger fish to fry than leaf blowers so we need to get cooking!
But since so few people are willing to put on their chef hat, I stand behind anyone willing to take a stab at fixing our ever-broken public school system in Santa barbara.
Please read my comments above. To recap: The administration was fully aware that a civic organization was documenting violations, as CSSB had visited them the week prior when dirt blowers were being used on school grounds by district employees. They had no issue at that time. Only after one of his instructors put children in jeopardy did he turn the tables and suddenly become “concerned” about kids, and used the documenting as a ruse to avoid holding the instructor accountable. That type of “we’re not the problem, you’re the problem”, “let’s not talk about us, let’s talk about you” is how they ALWAYS respond when they do wrong. The vice principal also had no concern that the instructor had not de-escalated the situation, but had used language likely to provoke a violent response had the person actually been dangerous - and the person was in an elevated position above a courtyard full of children. If nothing else, the vice-principal should have been concerned about THAT. Accolades are not fitting for someone so inept, particularly when it puts children at risk.
And silly me thought those damned machines were just noisy!
That’s some solid writing and further convinces me to never live anywhere close to SB - like I could afford it yikes.
Oh please, not one child has been harmed by gas leaf blowers. I could have picked up the Independent today if I wanted to read environmental wacko doomsday scenarios.
Louie,
You may wish to peruse this information from one of your red state publications regarding gas leaf blowers effect on children and others.
https://www.lincolntown.org/DocumentCenter/View/735/Quiet-Lincoln-brochure_postfinal-032213?bidId=
Info on gas leaf blowers in red publications?
Here's a red publication, well, their uniforms are red:
https://www.momscleanairforce.org/mom-detective-leaf-blowers/
Still too blue?
This organization is a play on words of a very famous red slogan.. Will this do?
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/make-america-rake-again-leaf-blower-bans/
Idk, Peter Scott.
Seems to me that with the importation of our new underclass, sweeping manually is an excellent occupation for non English speakers. Tidy up the environment in a slow and careful way, earn a wage and be a productive part of society. Lots of dirt to be swept !!
Although I generally agree regarding the hazards of leaf blowers, I have a problem with your article.
1. The devices in question are called leaf blowers. Dirt blower is clearly inflammatory rhetoric, as is “toxic material-spewing machines”.
2. Photographing children without parental approval has been against state law for several years. (CPC 11165.3)
3. “...machines conclusively linked to the development of COPD, asthma, cancer, heart failure, and hearing loss." What is your source?
They are euphemistically called “leaf blowers” by the landscaping industry and others with a vested interest in minimizing appreciation for their health and environmental impact. “Dirt blowers” is what they are more accurately called. Do a test: go watch one in use (they aren’t hard to find; you can easily hear them from a half-mile away) and look at what’s being blown around. You’ll see a lot of dirt and trash - and very few leaves.
The children were not being photographed. That’s been clarified several times; the vice principal never alleged it was the case either. Re-read the article and comments.
Years ago homeless men were photographing and filming children on the playground at Washington elementary.
When a mother confronted them they aggressively chased her off.
Neither SBUSD nor SBPD did anything.
The statement, the children are in public space where they. And be seen from a public position. If they are visible from a public area there is nothing they can do about videoing.
Those homeless continued this practice, one living in his red suv in front of the park right across the street from the school for years.
Go talk to SBPD & SBUSD.
SBUSD has never cared about health of our children.
When there was documented mold in one of the elementary school classrooms we wanted our child’s classroom tested as he was having respiratory issues. SBUSD denied our request.
We offered to pay for the testing. They denied, despite a nearby classroom having mold.
We hired a mold testing company to come in, the principal blocked the door and would not allow us to enter.
Covid, CDC stated children had a zero percent risk from the virus. Yet they pushed the mRNA on children, knowing the FDA disclosed that children suffered the highest risk of myocarditis.
The high schools had windows painted shut, meaning no means to evacuate in case of fire. Their intercoms did not function well in case of the need of a lockdown, like school shooter. They ignored this while they built a stadium that cost tens of millions.
We can continue into their purposeful lack of academics. But these are just a few examples of their c9m9,etc kick of concern over safety.
The common thread, they get paid to ignore the safety of children and they need to continue paying themselves those six figure salaries.
Yes, there are numerous great teachers.
A few bad apples ruin the batch.
Which are at the board meetings and here in this article.
With that said with all the wonderful teachers we have the worst academics in the country.
Teachers kick the kid who cannot do academics at grade level to the next grade up bec they're told to.
Those same sweet teachers also did as they were told and harass kids for their sexual identity.
If all these great teachers stood up for our children’s academics and health we would have a much better society.
But even the good teachers as much as they may say they care, they care more about their paycheck.
I get it, it’s not their kid and they need the job.
So the cycle of woke agenda and money over education and safety continues.
The voters seem to enjoy the woke agenda and worst academics in the country.
I read this misinformed article titled "Dirt Blowers are Safe: A Dangerous Lesson"
by Mark Rock. I have a more accurate title "Corruption Blows Thru-Out CALI and SB
A Dangerous Lesson Concealed" I quote from Mark Rock "CSSB was alarmed to discover that gasoline-powered dirt blowers were being used in an area immediately adjacent to Santa Barbara High School (SBHS)" AND "When it comes to damaging health, dirt blowers are exceptionally insidious:" AND "An assistant principal was assigned to investigate the matter." AND
"Worse, this incident came on the heels of an investigation conducted by CSSB one week prior"
You have major sexual abuse in the SB schools and in this County being concealed and then uncovered. You have SB County and City serious financial problems. You had major Medicare
Health Care Fraud In the County prosecuted by the DOJ. You have additional major Corruption Issues in SB and you all are talking about and I quote from Mark Rock "Gasoline-powered dirt blowers pose a risk to health without peer." Do as Bonnie Donovan, FOIA requests on the financials
of this County and other serious problems and DIG DEEP. Corruption pose a major risk to health
without peer. That is why the FBI is surging more agents into CALI and SB. Listen to Deputy Director Dan Bongino this morning and yesterday on X>
“If you are a corrupt politician ...... we're going to find you." AND "No One Is Going to Get OFF!!"
THINK SANTA BARARA CALIFORNIA FOLKS!!!!
https://x.com/NanLee1124/status/1930446342196973818
https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1930439670296465531
Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family
PS1 - Per Dan Bongino I am now getting a Labrador-Doddle.
Bongino is a neocon and your comment was rude. You're also no better than anyone else because you are a "Member of a Military Family" which you staunchly announce in every single comment you make.
I do not think a reply to your statement "Bongino is a neocon and your comment was rude. You're also no better than anyone else because you are a "Member of a Military Family" is going to make any difference to you. Today is June 6, 2025, D-Day and therefore I will leave you with some remembrances from X below>
"For many young men, this was their last day at the beach and for that sacrifice I am forever grateful."
https://x.com/sanderling68/status/1930760876153549138
Two Brother's Killed on Omaha Beach
https://x.com/kershaw_alex/status/1930663237260906816
"Omaha Beach in Normandy, France—one of the most sacred places on earth, where bravery, sacrifice, and the fight for freedom came ashore on June 6, 1944."
https://x.com/walkamongheroes/status/1930574833969995778
"Dog Green Sector, Omaha Beach, the deadliest place on D Day. 102 from 180 men in A Company 116th died here. @WWIIMemorial"
https://x.com/kershaw_alex/status/1930897449045872982
"He stood at salute on Omaha Beach for hours facing the cold wind."
https://x.com/ellie_bufkin/status/1930925921805942898
"All Gave Some, Some Gave All D-Day 1944, We WILL Remember Them"
https://x.com/ActivePatriotUK/status/1930898586385969458
IT IS 4:00 AM ON JUNE 6, 2025 D-DAY GET UP AND REMEMBER
Howard Walther Member of a Military Family
That has absolutely nothing to do with my comment or the article.
L Angel, here is more for your consideration on JOINT TASK FORCE VULCAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-VTy_HWEBc&ab_channel=ForbesBreakingNews
Thank You Dan Bogino and Pam Bondi
"Bongino is a neocon"
No, The FBI Deputy Director Bongino is working to make this Country SAFER.