Higher Sales Tax Needed to Throw More Money at Departing City Employees
Do you now understand the City Council's urgency in advocating for another sales tax increase, (Measure I) just six years after the last one?
Do you recall Rob Dayton and his substantial $500,000 payout/settlement? How about Ariel Calonne? Finance Director Robert Samario?
Recently, we learned that four more city employees are departing, with two receiving extremely large packages.
“Cadiente was paid $500,000 in her departure from the city, an amount that includes attorney fees. She also was on a paid leave of absence for nearly a year. According to public records, she earned about $241,000 annually, with pay and benefits.
“Maurer received his complete annual salary – about $281,000 – for the upcoming year.” (per Josh Molina’s article in Noozhawk)
Some have suggested that if the library functioned without a director (Cadiente) for a year, perhaps that position is unnecessary. It has been noted that the director's salary escalated from $36,000 to over $200,000.
Critics argue that such high salaries are necessary to attract candidates to Santa Barbara. With the departures from Human Resources, Public Works, Community Development, and the Library, the situation raises further questions.
All these payouts are drawn from our General Fund, which is also where Measure I funds are allocated. Measure I was justified by claims of inadequate library hours and insufficient funds to keep the neighborhood fire station open, public safety, for our parks, etc.
Given that department heads have recently unionized, why are we incurring legal fees? Wasn't this addressed in a meeting with the union?
If taxpayers are responsible for these legal costs, shouldn't we have transparency regarding their nature? Furthermore, do city employee contracts include clauses allowing them to sue taxpayers if they are dissatisfied? Are these outrageous “going-away-gifts” a new avenue for quick financial gain, akin to tenants receiving payouts from landlords?
Do You Remember Before Covid?...
Do you recall the period before the pandemic when there was a strong collective effort against bullying? Social media campaigns encouraged individuals to report instances of bullying, and schools actively participated in these initiatives.
The phenomenon of Cancel Culture also emerged during that time, in which consumers were urged to withdraw their support from companies based on their political stances. This trend seems to have resurfaced, reminiscent of its peak in 2016, but now the focus has shifted from My Pillow to Tesla.
Tesla is the company that was lauded for making electric vehicles to help fight global warming/climate change. Now, Cancel Culture protestors are contributing to climate change with the fires they’re starting. Hmmm.😣
These same people protest the supposed “depravations” of oil companies yet use the same ingredient they protest so loudly about to create the Molotov cocktails they fling at the now-hated Tesla dealerships and Tesla vehicles. They are probably against guns too, yet use them to shoot up Tesla dealerships.
Cancel Culture and Cyber Bullying Arrives at NextDoor
Recently, a situation unfolded on NextDoor involving an individual using the pseudonym Pat Riot, a name that appears in various cities. This person advocated for a boycott of businesses advertising on SB Current, even suggesting that properties associated with these advertisers, such as the Granada Theater, should also be boycotted. I managed to capture the post before its removal, and I encourage you to review it along with the accompanying comments:
And here are just some of the many accompanying comments:
I believe they removed the post because people were standing up against it and in support of SBCurrent and the other establishments mentioned, particularly Mollie’s.
I know Mollie. She is a woman of color, an immigrant from Ethiopia, a Muslim, and a widow. She gives cooking lessons and has a world-wide reputation. She has cooked for Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and even at the White House for Barack Obama. I know her little place in the strip mall in Carpinteria called Shepherd’s Place, just off the 101 at the Las Casitas exit. It’s tucked between Uncle Chen’s and Taco Bell.
I told her about this ugly note that appeared in NextDoor.
Here is Mollie’s Response
“Dear Santa Barbara-Montecito-Carpinteria loyal customers,
I thank you from the bottom of my heart. For the past 32 years I have worked my restaurant. Thank you so much for supporting me, I’m very grateful.
We have an expression in my language. When you grow wheat there are few bad wheat and there are bad wheat in the community as well. Write negative on me?
I’m not Republican, Democrat or Politician, I’m just me. Why would you poison me, what have I done to you?
It is a free country and why I came from Africa, to be free.
You have free speech but don’t need…
But you don’t need to be negative.
Don’t you have anything to do? What have I done; I apologize for that.
I am a widow and work very hard to support my family.
Come see how I work. What is going on is useless people, low life.
I’m paying to support my business, I’m not going to say they are Republicans, Democrats…
You are uneducated and low life.
I used to have a 4,000 SF restaurant and now I have 1,000 SF deli and I struggle because of the mudslides. I lost my business in Montecito. I’m trying to cook great quality food for less price. I have a small place and I’m happy. I work 9am to 9pm 6 days a week.
I make sure you get good pasta, what I eat, I serve you.
I never ever felt people would do that to me. People come from far away and always say they are glad I am here.
It is not worth it to be negative.
You must be unhappy and must have an issue.”
As I was leaving a woman walked in and asked for a Mollie Melt, the delicious sandwich she makes for lunch every day. Thanks for reading her advertisement (and all our advertisers) on SB CURRENT. 🙂
Mollie’s Italian Deli (Cocina Italia) is located at 1036 Casitas Pass Road in Carpinteria. 805-452-2692 or see her advertisement below.
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Celebrating Women’s History Month
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year, passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March. Click here for more.
I have known Mollie for over 30 years, she is the most wonderful hardworking woman I have ever known, I was her meat supplier for many years and she was nothing but a pleasure to work with, I was always impressed with not only what a wonderful hardworking woman working woman she was but what a fantastic, generous person she was to our community always finding a way to give back in some way or fashion, anyone that does not know her and then finds a way to criticize her should get a friggin life.
Thank you for reading my Rant !
Jerry Shalhoob
Founder of the Shalhoob Meat Co.
Est: 1973
Nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, are not appropriate and not should be permitted for public employees: why? Because some public employee is spending public money to prevent the public from knowing how, or why, their money is being spent.