Excellent, Bonnie. Thank you for everything you do for *us,” as opposed to our government which does everything for their own personal gain. You make me feel like being a taxpayer doesn't put a bullseye on my wallet, which is how our “elected” “officials” (can't we come up with better words - how about “grifting” “knuckleheads”?) behave towards us.
I agree with you; we need a better name for "elected officials." If you read the article about the typical democrat placement of their climbers... (County Planning Commission). Capps is putting Kate Ford in the newly vacant seat. In chess, we are the pawns, and they are the King, Queen, Knights etc etc.
And they couldn't win at real chess because they're such dimwits, so they rig the game. That's why they hate Trump, because he is a brilliant chess player.
Kate Ford seem to be the always available plug-in option. Marty Blum got Kate Ford plugged into the SBCC board of trustees, after a member of Blum's SBCC four person take-over slate of SBCC in 2010 chose not to run for a second term. Outsiders need not apply, is the message these one-party local politicos keep sending out. Leaving one to wonder if Ms Ford is wildly experienced, or just convenient and dutiful.
Another name for elected officials? Well we know "public servants" doesn't work either.
Time to return to the original intent ... elected representative ..to hopefully remind them what their job actually entails - representing us, not the government employee unions. Though "elected taxpayer representative" perhaps would be the most appropriate of all.
Bonnie- I always appreciate your columns as they regularly expose the rampant corruption in the city, county and state. Today we learn yet another UCSB Environmental Studies major will be hired by the city. Next up someone needs to dig into the massive cost overruns taking place in the construction of the Police station. More taxpayer pain on the horizon.
Mike: The construction fences just went up for the police station, and already there are major cost over-runs? I hope you can report this in more detail. Hard cost, soft costs, unexpected construction complications on this site? Historic structures uncovered? Chumash burial grounds?
How can I find out how how the SBGAG housing study work?
Also, how can we get something on the ballot for the city?
Also, it doesn’t matter what fund is paying for the Mobility position. We don’t need or want any more intrusion into local mobility. NEW CONCEPT. City, save the money.
Anne-Marie, contact your city council member and ask your questions. Let's see if they give you the answer. Please forward me their response to you. Meanwhile, I will ask.
Along with an army of other local volunteers I worked countless weekends a few years back on the past citizen-generated city height limitation ballot measure. Only to watch the city write the ballot measure in the most confusing way possible, so that it took a no vote to actually vote yes we want limits, and vice versa.
All those hours spent, all those enthusiastic petition signers who eagerly wanted height limits, all down the drain due to this intentionally confusing ballot language. We were not smart enough to know the campaign was not over, just getting this on the ballot.
We failed to broadcast the confusion inflicted on the voters before they cast their ballots, when they innocently thought they were voting "no" to tall buildings, but in fact were voting just the opposite.
Just a tip to the unwary, there is still work ahead, even after you jump through the grueling hoops to get the necessary valid signatures and field the armies of signature gatherers necessary for this critical step one.
Calif Rep Kevin Kiley exposes how Democrat Gov Newsom is using this same confused ballot language trick to pass his ruinous midterm redistricting ballot measure, virtually stripping away all California GOP representation in Congress, if his deceitful Measure 50 passes: https://x.com/RepKiley/status/1963684644466946298
I just hate to see what is apparent waste of our tax payer dollars (this coming from your stated “highest tax remiter SBHIC) on things that are of only secondary importance. The aging and now inefficient Laguna Canal and its half broken flood gates need immediate attention as I have been mostly asking of the City since the last big El Niño flooding of 1995 (NOW 30 YEARS) post the Caltran’s rebuilding of the new elevated freeway through down eliminating the four cross freeway signal lights. Overtaxed storm drain waters beforehand, such as in ‘83 and ‘69 would flow down street arteries and across the freeway without resultant property damage we now risk with heavy precipitation episodes. Hundred of millions of dollar in repair costs occurred from 95’s flooding and many additionally since with repeated floodings more minor but significant enough to cause property damage. The City finally has some FEMA funds thanks to Mayor Rowse and my entreaties with Salud, but much more work needs to be done beyond the scope of those monies to protect property, which to me should absolutely be a City top priority. Let’s stop wasting money on consultants that don’t fix our dreadful State Street or create unnecessary jobs (sounds like to me) such as this job position described by Bonnie and fix things that really matter such as the Laguna Canal!!
Great work as always. Retired here in Orcutt and I read your column in the morning. Not especially good for my blood pressure. But I do like to know what's going on. Your reports on SB City malfeasance are mind boggling! Thanks for bringing attention to UCSB’s Community Labor Center and its socialist indoctrination programs. I knew that our universities were very progressive, but actual training grounds for activist leftists under the guise of "helping workers" & paid for by taxpayers is criminal. But this is California after all. Keep up the great reporting.
The City is quickly collapsing. Major spending cuts are needed. Fiscal demands on property owners paying taxes will continue to increase, as more “property tax exempt housing” is added to squeeze out middle and professional class homeowners. Seems majority work for the government, a NGO or NPO. Your weekly articles remind us with updates, Bonnie.
We need solutions! Stellar business experienced candidates for D4, D5, D6; major spending cuts; a business friendly government, fewer NGOs and NPOs, and informed, involved citizens. The City, County, Country are in a spending crisis with a huge leadership void.
How do we to make voters aware assuming the majority of voters even care, when an estimated 70% — or perhaps more — benefit from spending, corruption, and exiting chaos? How do we convince informed, qualified, locals to run when too few voters are willing to actively support the candidates we need in leadership positions?
The only hope on the horizon is Congressional Candidate Bob Smith. We need him! Our County ranks in the bottom 10% of recipients of federal dollars (with the exception of Vandenberg). The status quo isn’t delivering needed results.
Mobility coordinator??? Alternative transportation??? What has worked???
How about this George Gerth (a nice guy) working as the City of SB Transportation Engineer was a proud backer of bikes, buses, and rail... Gerth failed in all of the above. When the group Cars Are Basic, Inc. started reviewing bike counts they found that there were more bike riders on the streets without a single bike path on the streets (1981-82-83). The number dropped almost in direct relation to the number of miles of bike paths. (Oh and I forgot to mention without notice to the Council he moved the Granada Parking Garage 20 feet towards Anacapa because he failed to account for performance buses having access to the theater. That move made exit dangerous and removed the planned for turn out lane to the garage.)
Mayor Blum touted the final connection of bike paths with the Mission Street underpass. The numbers continued to drop. The bike guys admitted to failure of safe routes to schools to promote more students instead of parents driving them.
MTD Shuttle failed with 2 different options (1 open parking lot shuttles and 2 new electric shuttles). Fact presented to SBCAG. MTD "Last Mile" failed to attract work commuters to use rail and then get to work by bus. Presented to SBCAG.
Who was the last "Mobility Coordinator" that was highly touted? Ah, it was a member of the bike guys (now Move), a female (automatic success?), a Ph.D., and the person who reported the last official bike count by the City of SB showing literally hundreds of fewer bike riders in the City. (pull the video she almost choked on that report knowing CAB was in the gallery) Then when she was shown the door, her job was filled by a male.
A fellow who stated before the Finance Committee and then Councilman Gregg Hart that walking planning had failed with the statement "You cannot get people to walk 5 minutes." This is the same fellow who promoted downtown living and the minute he had the chance he moved north of Foothill and drove his truck to work every day. Did I mention he was heavily involved with b-Bike that to this day still does not pay a red penny / let alone a dime, for its use and rentals of e-bikes? Eventually he also ran himself out of his job and claimed discrimination? Ah, forgot when he was asked by CAB to list the costs of the initial closing of State St. he ran for cover like a scared rabbit.
Sure with a deficit and cities all over the state failing with their visionless "Vision Zero" let's get another sucking sound on the taxpayers wallet with a "Mobility Coordinator"...........
MIG and narrowing State St. failed! The Bike riders failed. The infill sidewalks failed. MTD shuttles and routes failed. Destroying a 100 year old successful transportation grid has failed. Pouring literally 10's of $millions on fantasy transportation for the past 3 decades has failed.
Now faced with growing deficits and reduced tourist trade, sure let's hire another dolt who will build his retirement on the backs of the taxpayers.
Understand this comment is just "part" of Donovan's article. List the failures of local government that is the totality of this and the grinding under of Santa Barbara, even the other side should finally get it.
As the boomers fade and those with backbone stood formation at 0400, the soft and entitled sitting at their keyboards want to know why they are not getting theirs.
Just because a hand book says this is the outcome does not mean the premise is correct. Taking your freedom is a fool's folly.
Being a pre-boomer, it has been an interesting ride watching from this earlier side of the great boomer demographic lump. Knowing life a little bit before boomers started defining it for everyone else. And now to still be around to see boomers pass from the scene, while their impact can now still be both subjectively and objectively assessed. Take away -- never underestimate the power of high birth rates. However and whenever they show up.
Term limits gave us one-party musical chairs, except no chair gets taken out. Just like progressive pre-school indoctrination camps now demand. Actual competition might make a snowflake feel bad.
This can make an excellent job interview questions - did you play musical chairs as a child and how did they play it.
I came from the days when the whole point was taking a chair out and scrambling to fill any empty chair you could find. Which could even get a little boisterous.
Did it feel bad when one got cut out? Not that I recall. I remember watching others to learn how did they survive the cut, and planned on doing things differently next time. The game taught me strategy and observation.
Plus, it was a game and we were all laughing - win some, lose some. We all played well with each other back then. And some kids were just better at this than others. While we less nimble losers had other parts to play were we could shine - I was a killer at 20 questions.
Thank you for writing. Following a Ventura to SB commuter bus that was spewing very visible exhaust says it all for me about pollution remedies and more supervisors. Why should it cost the city anything to require restaurants to suck in their now very generous dining space (on the street)? Hopefully restaurants have saved a few $$ (over the last five years) to remodel their store fronts. What took so long to realize how unrealistic parklets are after Covid scare (council egomaniacs)? How could there be corruption involved with new police station? (It's not a hen house, you know); they're the police!
Mobility Coordinator will .......develop programs ....... administer...... collaborate..... research ........ manage....... provide assistance ........ coordinate....
Oh, for a taxpayer-funded city job that actually has specific performance goals, instead of asking just for more vague, unmeasurable bureaucratic squish.
How about trying any new "transportation schemes" on the 2000 or so city employees first. Use them as a hot house model for public acceptance, instead of imposing their schemes on the rest of us at great expense, learning too late they simply do not work.
Maybe Bridley can be convinced to run for Assembly or State Senate. Laura Bridley has depth of knowledge, experience, thinks analytically, and is a proven leader.
Excellent, Bonnie. Thank you for everything you do for *us,” as opposed to our government which does everything for their own personal gain. You make me feel like being a taxpayer doesn't put a bullseye on my wallet, which is how our “elected” “officials” (can't we come up with better words - how about “grifting” “knuckleheads”?) behave towards us.
Good Morning, Polly!
I agree with you; we need a better name for "elected officials." If you read the article about the typical democrat placement of their climbers... (County Planning Commission). Capps is putting Kate Ford in the newly vacant seat. In chess, we are the pawns, and they are the King, Queen, Knights etc etc.
And they couldn't win at real chess because they're such dimwits, so they rig the game. That's why they hate Trump, because he is a brilliant chess player.
Kate Ford seem to be the always available plug-in option. Marty Blum got Kate Ford plugged into the SBCC board of trustees, after a member of Blum's SBCC four person take-over slate of SBCC in 2010 chose not to run for a second term. Outsiders need not apply, is the message these one-party local politicos keep sending out. Leaving one to wonder if Ms Ford is wildly experienced, or just convenient and dutiful.
Another name for elected officials? Well we know "public servants" doesn't work either.
Time to return to the original intent ... elected representative ..to hopefully remind them what their job actually entails - representing us, not the government employee unions. Though "elected taxpayer representative" perhaps would be the most appropriate of all.
Great article today
The title should be "Anti Mobility Coordinator"
They're doing enough damage to our transportation system already.
The fuel taxes are paying for this anti mobility nonsense.
Bonnie- I always appreciate your columns as they regularly expose the rampant corruption in the city, county and state. Today we learn yet another UCSB Environmental Studies major will be hired by the city. Next up someone needs to dig into the massive cost overruns taking place in the construction of the Police station. More taxpayer pain on the horizon.
Mike: The construction fences just went up for the police station, and already there are major cost over-runs? I hope you can report this in more detail. Hard cost, soft costs, unexpected construction complications on this site? Historic structures uncovered? Chumash burial grounds?
Once again, Bonnie, you have nailed it. Thank you for your ongoing battle to show how our city is being destroyed from within.
I concur. Excellent post.
How can I find out how how the SBGAG housing study work?
Also, how can we get something on the ballot for the city?
Also, it doesn’t matter what fund is paying for the Mobility position. We don’t need or want any more intrusion into local mobility. NEW CONCEPT. City, save the money.
.
Anne-Marie, contact your city council member and ask your questions. Let's see if they give you the answer. Please forward me their response to you. Meanwhile, I will ask.
Along with an army of other local volunteers I worked countless weekends a few years back on the past citizen-generated city height limitation ballot measure. Only to watch the city write the ballot measure in the most confusing way possible, so that it took a no vote to actually vote yes we want limits, and vice versa.
All those hours spent, all those enthusiastic petition signers who eagerly wanted height limits, all down the drain due to this intentionally confusing ballot language. We were not smart enough to know the campaign was not over, just getting this on the ballot.
We failed to broadcast the confusion inflicted on the voters before they cast their ballots, when they innocently thought they were voting "no" to tall buildings, but in fact were voting just the opposite.
Just a tip to the unwary, there is still work ahead, even after you jump through the grueling hoops to get the necessary valid signatures and field the armies of signature gatherers necessary for this critical step one.
Calif Rep Kevin Kiley exposes how Democrat Gov Newsom is using this same confused ballot language trick to pass his ruinous midterm redistricting ballot measure, virtually stripping away all California GOP representation in Congress, if his deceitful Measure 50 passes: https://x.com/RepKiley/status/1963684644466946298
I just hate to see what is apparent waste of our tax payer dollars (this coming from your stated “highest tax remiter SBHIC) on things that are of only secondary importance. The aging and now inefficient Laguna Canal and its half broken flood gates need immediate attention as I have been mostly asking of the City since the last big El Niño flooding of 1995 (NOW 30 YEARS) post the Caltran’s rebuilding of the new elevated freeway through down eliminating the four cross freeway signal lights. Overtaxed storm drain waters beforehand, such as in ‘83 and ‘69 would flow down street arteries and across the freeway without resultant property damage we now risk with heavy precipitation episodes. Hundred of millions of dollar in repair costs occurred from 95’s flooding and many additionally since with repeated floodings more minor but significant enough to cause property damage. The City finally has some FEMA funds thanks to Mayor Rowse and my entreaties with Salud, but much more work needs to be done beyond the scope of those monies to protect property, which to me should absolutely be a City top priority. Let’s stop wasting money on consultants that don’t fix our dreadful State Street or create unnecessary jobs (sounds like to me) such as this job position described by Bonnie and fix things that really matter such as the Laguna Canal!!
Measure B 2% going to city Creeks very year - who has jurisdiction over the Laguna Canal?
Great work as always. Retired here in Orcutt and I read your column in the morning. Not especially good for my blood pressure. But I do like to know what's going on. Your reports on SB City malfeasance are mind boggling! Thanks for bringing attention to UCSB’s Community Labor Center and its socialist indoctrination programs. I knew that our universities were very progressive, but actual training grounds for activist leftists under the guise of "helping workers" & paid for by taxpayers is criminal. But this is California after all. Keep up the great reporting.
The City is quickly collapsing. Major spending cuts are needed. Fiscal demands on property owners paying taxes will continue to increase, as more “property tax exempt housing” is added to squeeze out middle and professional class homeowners. Seems majority work for the government, a NGO or NPO. Your weekly articles remind us with updates, Bonnie.
We need solutions! Stellar business experienced candidates for D4, D5, D6; major spending cuts; a business friendly government, fewer NGOs and NPOs, and informed, involved citizens. The City, County, Country are in a spending crisis with a huge leadership void.
How do we to make voters aware assuming the majority of voters even care, when an estimated 70% — or perhaps more — benefit from spending, corruption, and exiting chaos? How do we convince informed, qualified, locals to run when too few voters are willing to actively support the candidates we need in leadership positions?
The only hope on the horizon is Congressional Candidate Bob Smith. We need him! Our County ranks in the bottom 10% of recipients of federal dollars (with the exception of Vandenberg). The status quo isn’t delivering needed results.
Mobility coordinator??? Alternative transportation??? What has worked???
How about this George Gerth (a nice guy) working as the City of SB Transportation Engineer was a proud backer of bikes, buses, and rail... Gerth failed in all of the above. When the group Cars Are Basic, Inc. started reviewing bike counts they found that there were more bike riders on the streets without a single bike path on the streets (1981-82-83). The number dropped almost in direct relation to the number of miles of bike paths. (Oh and I forgot to mention without notice to the Council he moved the Granada Parking Garage 20 feet towards Anacapa because he failed to account for performance buses having access to the theater. That move made exit dangerous and removed the planned for turn out lane to the garage.)
Mayor Blum touted the final connection of bike paths with the Mission Street underpass. The numbers continued to drop. The bike guys admitted to failure of safe routes to schools to promote more students instead of parents driving them.
MTD Shuttle failed with 2 different options (1 open parking lot shuttles and 2 new electric shuttles). Fact presented to SBCAG. MTD "Last Mile" failed to attract work commuters to use rail and then get to work by bus. Presented to SBCAG.
Who was the last "Mobility Coordinator" that was highly touted? Ah, it was a member of the bike guys (now Move), a female (automatic success?), a Ph.D., and the person who reported the last official bike count by the City of SB showing literally hundreds of fewer bike riders in the City. (pull the video she almost choked on that report knowing CAB was in the gallery) Then when she was shown the door, her job was filled by a male.
A fellow who stated before the Finance Committee and then Councilman Gregg Hart that walking planning had failed with the statement "You cannot get people to walk 5 minutes." This is the same fellow who promoted downtown living and the minute he had the chance he moved north of Foothill and drove his truck to work every day. Did I mention he was heavily involved with b-Bike that to this day still does not pay a red penny / let alone a dime, for its use and rentals of e-bikes? Eventually he also ran himself out of his job and claimed discrimination? Ah, forgot when he was asked by CAB to list the costs of the initial closing of State St. he ran for cover like a scared rabbit.
Sure with a deficit and cities all over the state failing with their visionless "Vision Zero" let's get another sucking sound on the taxpayers wallet with a "Mobility Coordinator"...........
MIG and narrowing State St. failed! The Bike riders failed. The infill sidewalks failed. MTD shuttles and routes failed. Destroying a 100 year old successful transportation grid has failed. Pouring literally 10's of $millions on fantasy transportation for the past 3 decades has failed.
Now faced with growing deficits and reduced tourist trade, sure let's hire another dolt who will build his retirement on the backs of the taxpayers.
Understand this comment is just "part" of Donovan's article. List the failures of local government that is the totality of this and the grinding under of Santa Barbara, even the other side should finally get it.
Don't bet on it.
Shamrocks to you...*S*
As baby boomers aged, they probably gave up their bikes. Since their demographics long identified what ever was popularly trending.
Thank you Scott, for all the work you do to keeping the local scoreboard full and current. You are a local treasure too.
Epidemiology made your point in the 1960's.
As the boomers fade and those with backbone stood formation at 0400, the soft and entitled sitting at their keyboards want to know why they are not getting theirs.
Just because a hand book says this is the outcome does not mean the premise is correct. Taking your freedom is a fool's folly.
Being a pre-boomer, it has been an interesting ride watching from this earlier side of the great boomer demographic lump. Knowing life a little bit before boomers started defining it for everyone else. And now to still be around to see boomers pass from the scene, while their impact can now still be both subjectively and objectively assessed. Take away -- never underestimate the power of high birth rates. However and whenever they show up.
Term limits gave us one-party musical chairs, except no chair gets taken out. Just like progressive pre-school indoctrination camps now demand. Actual competition might make a snowflake feel bad.
This can make an excellent job interview questions - did you play musical chairs as a child and how did they play it.
I came from the days when the whole point was taking a chair out and scrambling to fill any empty chair you could find. Which could even get a little boisterous.
Did it feel bad when one got cut out? Not that I recall. I remember watching others to learn how did they survive the cut, and planned on doing things differently next time. The game taught me strategy and observation.
Plus, it was a game and we were all laughing - win some, lose some. We all played well with each other back then. And some kids were just better at this than others. While we less nimble losers had other parts to play were we could shine - I was a killer at 20 questions.
Thank you for writing. Following a Ventura to SB commuter bus that was spewing very visible exhaust says it all for me about pollution remedies and more supervisors. Why should it cost the city anything to require restaurants to suck in their now very generous dining space (on the street)? Hopefully restaurants have saved a few $$ (over the last five years) to remodel their store fronts. What took so long to realize how unrealistic parklets are after Covid scare (council egomaniacs)? How could there be corruption involved with new police station? (It's not a hen house, you know); they're the police!
Average weekly cost to taxpayers per city council member: $2,000
Whether they show up to work that week, or not. Still counts as credit for their lifetime city funded pension.
Mobility Coordinator will .......develop programs ....... administer...... collaborate..... research ........ manage....... provide assistance ........ coordinate....
Oh, for a taxpayer-funded city job that actually has specific performance goals, instead of asking just for more vague, unmeasurable bureaucratic squish.
How about trying any new "transportation schemes" on the 2000 or so city employees first. Use them as a hot house model for public acceptance, instead of imposing their schemes on the rest of us at great expense, learning too late they simply do not work.
https://www.noozhawk.com/kate-ford-nominated-to-replace-laura-bridley-on-county-planning-commission/
Maybe Bridley can be convinced to run for Assembly or State Senate. Laura Bridley has depth of knowledge, experience, thinks analytically, and is a proven leader.
https://www.independent.com/2025/09/04/santa-barbara-county-planning-commission-chair-laura-bridley-resigns/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Indy%20Today%3A%20Santa%20Barbara%20County%20Planning%20Commission%20Chair%20Laura%20Bridley%20Resigns%C2%A0&utm_campaign=Indy%20Today%2C%20Thursday%209%2F4%20%28Copy%29
Can you imagine the slugs that will apply for that ludicrus job posting?