Yes! Make Home Ownership Great Again; end “rental serfdom” that is destroying Santa Barbara. Affordable rentals, public housing dominate the City. These rental projects — their occupants — do not pay property taxes that are essential to funding our failed SBUnified elementary schools and municipal services. Talk about an endless Free Ride in life. Worse, demands remain high for more, more, more!
Without ownership, Santa Barbara is becoming a ghetto at the direction of its City Council and our elected CA officials Senate Speaker Pro Tem and Assembly Rep Gregg Hart. We need new leadership in our Democrat controlled City, County and State.
Excellent. I'm hoping this will be read to our socialist Santa Barbara government at the next city and council meetings. I use “read to” rather than “read by” because they only know how to read the amount on their paychecks — from us. Btw, they love rent control. How about property tax control?
Polly- What’s your suggestion for “property tax control” beyond Prop 13? For starters, how about eliminating all property tax exemptions within SB County? Make all property owners pay toward the cost of municipal services, roads, law enforcement, schools, etc. Ending tax exemption on local assessed properties would increase revenues to offset any Prop 13 allowed 2% increases for the next 10+ years. Why don’t homeowners organize?
Excellent suggestion and a long overdue avenue to revisit, this country was built arround real estate ownership. Ownership breeds pride of ownership, tenancy has always bred contempt. An enhancement to the 1031 tax strategy to encourage individual sales is definitely doable, and I would also suggest an elimination of the capital gains tax to zero and/or tax credits for those, especially seniors, who sell real estate holding(s) to families
James, congratulations on your courageous, bold approach. Respectfully, I have my doubts on feasibility. What entity, other than government, will take on the risk of financing? How will buyers be able to afford these properties even at a substantial discount? How will it prevent scammers from out of town, scooping up multiple units? I fear a substantial bailout by taxpayers would be lurking somewhere on the horizon.
I’ve seen firsthand how local residential projects have been shaken down by the County into providing “affordable” units, whereby perspective homeowners enter a lottery in order to buy substantially discounted housing. In effect, shifting the cost to homeowners who pay market value. Originally, residents must reside in their subsidized units for 30 years before they can rent out or sell. Seemingly overnight, poof, the requirements were lowered to 10 years with owners either renting out their units or selling for a fast buck. All with little or no County oversight.
The main obstacle (as I see it), to young people buying homes, is the behemoth amount of student debt. The amount of debt is like an anchor around our youth’s neck. I know, my kids both have substantial student loans.
Secondly, we need to open up California into building new cities and communities. Get the California Costal Commission of the backs of development and in effect, “neuter” the CCC. Build up smaller communities, whereby land costs are much lower. Rethink public transportation from smaller outlining communities, Buellton, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, Lompoc etc.
Good points. As we have long learned in CA, any good idea can be turned on its head by progressive politicians. One reason I highlight the Russia privatization experience - other than my personal knowledge with it - is that even a society morally hollowed out by Marxism for generations can extricate themselves with simple, clear rules and enlightened self-interest. Perhaps I need to do a follow up describing how privatizing the SB Housing Authority would emancipate many of our town's rent serfs from the socialist grip and release millions in capital gains - that should be refunded to tax payers.
Well known “Housing Activist,” SB City Councilman, and liberal wack job, Oscar Gutierrez just recommended in open forum, during the Paseo Nuevo debate, that we give the land the mall sits on back to the Chumash. Citing “since it was their land originally,” and directed staff to waste time and staff hours formulating a plan!
How can we ever get serious about housing when we have incompetence like this on our City Council?
I was watching last night when he said that. . . good grief. I don't know what was more off putting, his comment or the many, many minutes of self grandiose speaking by Kristen Sneddon and my friend Eric Friedman. Did you notice Randy gently mocking all of them?
Thanks James for a thoughtful article that includes statistics for not only the problem but also for a potential approach to reducing it. SB City Council indicated its awareness of the problem when it decided that despite the City Administrator Ms. McAdoo salary of $353,000, which when benefits are included ballooned her compensation to $430,000., she needed a housing allowance of $3,500/mth. At what income level does the City Council feel a housing allowance is not necessary?
Very informative article that should be widely read in Santa Barbara. The home ownership statistics are frightening but the remedies that were supplied in this article sound like a good place to start. The problem I see is that there seems to be a clique of insiders here in Santa Barbara that appear to be doing very nicely under the present conditions and have no incentive to see it changed.
Well written, and logical. I predict that what will happen instead is that the attempt to repeal Prop 13 will begin with commercial property. Landlords will be included in the insidious propaganda that says "Make the Rich pay their fair share." When the credulous underclass votes for that, their rents will skyrocket as landlords give up and sell out to Blackrock and Vangard who intend for the mass of voters to be tenants forever. Then next the ballot proposition will go after individual home owners, and if I were required to pay tax on the current value on my home, massively inflated in "value" since I purchased it decades ago, I would be effectively a renter paying a huge annual stipend to the Government for what I thought I already paid for and own.
I see what you describe as being not just plausible, but probable. We have a certain history in this state which has the clown car rolling along on two (or more) flat tires. Yes, really well thought out article. From that keyboard to God's ears. It will take that sort of miracle. Those do happen....
James, good ideas. Not only would this create more homeowners, but it would frustrate the politicians that need a group or class of people that are perpetually beholden to politicians.
James: I hope you have forwarded this good article/advice to President Trump. Hopefully, listens and follows your recommendations. Thank you. Doug Large.
El Latino Newspaper Central Coast is published at 518 De La Vina Street and their website www.latinoncc.com displays the paper in Spanish. However, one is able to click the Translate button and see it in English. Perhaps Santa Barbara Current would be able to do this as well?
I could not believe my eyes when I read this fine article by James and had independently arrived at this exact same very serious problem and almost the exact same creative solution as this author. But I never heard anyone (even natioinwide) raise this issue the way he did!
In my opinion this is the no 1 problem facing our nation today and if we don't find and implement a solution the socialist re going to take over our beloved country --not by civil war but by winning elections for president and by changing our capitalist system one step at a time (a slippery slope).
I can clearly see it coming. And there is only one way to stop it --as this author brilliantly warns and informs us. I have additional creative solutions to this extremely serious housing problem and I'd love to meet the author of this article and discuss them.
Yes! Make Home Ownership Great Again; end “rental serfdom” that is destroying Santa Barbara. Affordable rentals, public housing dominate the City. These rental projects — their occupants — do not pay property taxes that are essential to funding our failed SBUnified elementary schools and municipal services. Talk about an endless Free Ride in life. Worse, demands remain high for more, more, more!
Without ownership, Santa Barbara is becoming a ghetto at the direction of its City Council and our elected CA officials Senate Speaker Pro Tem and Assembly Rep Gregg Hart. We need new leadership in our Democrat controlled City, County and State.
Bravo Monte, time to call out NFP’s scooping up properties and paying NO property taxes. UCSB and The Land Conservancy for starters!
Excellent. I'm hoping this will be read to our socialist Santa Barbara government at the next city and council meetings. I use “read to” rather than “read by” because they only know how to read the amount on their paychecks — from us. Btw, they love rent control. How about property tax control?
Polly- What’s your suggestion for “property tax control” beyond Prop 13? For starters, how about eliminating all property tax exemptions within SB County? Make all property owners pay toward the cost of municipal services, roads, law enforcement, schools, etc. Ending tax exemption on local assessed properties would increase revenues to offset any Prop 13 allowed 2% increases for the next 10+ years. Why don’t homeowners organize?
James, great article! We need to get this message out to the politicians and all the voters! This really could be a "turning point" for our country!
Excellent suggestion and a long overdue avenue to revisit, this country was built arround real estate ownership. Ownership breeds pride of ownership, tenancy has always bred contempt. An enhancement to the 1031 tax strategy to encourage individual sales is definitely doable, and I would also suggest an elimination of the capital gains tax to zero and/or tax credits for those, especially seniors, who sell real estate holding(s) to families
or to those working at lower wages.
Very good, James. My first home in SB cost $23,000. I sold it for $27,000 and was so excited I made a profit. My have times changed.
James, congratulations on your courageous, bold approach. Respectfully, I have my doubts on feasibility. What entity, other than government, will take on the risk of financing? How will buyers be able to afford these properties even at a substantial discount? How will it prevent scammers from out of town, scooping up multiple units? I fear a substantial bailout by taxpayers would be lurking somewhere on the horizon.
I’ve seen firsthand how local residential projects have been shaken down by the County into providing “affordable” units, whereby perspective homeowners enter a lottery in order to buy substantially discounted housing. In effect, shifting the cost to homeowners who pay market value. Originally, residents must reside in their subsidized units for 30 years before they can rent out or sell. Seemingly overnight, poof, the requirements were lowered to 10 years with owners either renting out their units or selling for a fast buck. All with little or no County oversight.
The main obstacle (as I see it), to young people buying homes, is the behemoth amount of student debt. The amount of debt is like an anchor around our youth’s neck. I know, my kids both have substantial student loans.
Secondly, we need to open up California into building new cities and communities. Get the California Costal Commission of the backs of development and in effect, “neuter” the CCC. Build up smaller communities, whereby land costs are much lower. Rethink public transportation from smaller outlining communities, Buellton, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, Lompoc etc.
https://youtu.be/xXTHkEeeT7w?si=oPXpRkS892bIdyId
Good points. As we have long learned in CA, any good idea can be turned on its head by progressive politicians. One reason I highlight the Russia privatization experience - other than my personal knowledge with it - is that even a society morally hollowed out by Marxism for generations can extricate themselves with simple, clear rules and enlightened self-interest. Perhaps I need to do a follow up describing how privatizing the SB Housing Authority would emancipate many of our town's rent serfs from the socialist grip and release millions in capital gains - that should be refunded to tax payers.
Well known “Housing Activist,” SB City Councilman, and liberal wack job, Oscar Gutierrez just recommended in open forum, during the Paseo Nuevo debate, that we give the land the mall sits on back to the Chumash. Citing “since it was their land originally,” and directed staff to waste time and staff hours formulating a plan!
How can we ever get serious about housing when we have incompetence like this on our City Council?
https://www.noozhawk.com/paseo-nuevo-housing-plan-falls-short-with-santa-barbara-council/
Oscar is a clown. We just need to think of solutions deeper and sell our ideas better.
I was watching last night when he said that. . . good grief. I don't know what was more off putting, his comment or the many, many minutes of self grandiose speaking by Kristen Sneddon and my friend Eric Friedman. Did you notice Randy gently mocking all of them?
Right on James. Great ideas. Homeownership is the way, not lifelong renting.
Thanks James for a thoughtful article that includes statistics for not only the problem but also for a potential approach to reducing it. SB City Council indicated its awareness of the problem when it decided that despite the City Administrator Ms. McAdoo salary of $353,000, which when benefits are included ballooned her compensation to $430,000., she needed a housing allowance of $3,500/mth. At what income level does the City Council feel a housing allowance is not necessary?
Good question. But it seems like Sansum/Sutter needs to help out new docs. https://www.independent.com/2025/11/17/1-million-gift-energizes-physician-housing-and-recruitment-in-santa-barbara/
Very informative article that should be widely read in Santa Barbara. The home ownership statistics are frightening but the remedies that were supplied in this article sound like a good place to start. The problem I see is that there seems to be a clique of insiders here in Santa Barbara that appear to be doing very nicely under the present conditions and have no incentive to see it changed.
Well written, and logical. I predict that what will happen instead is that the attempt to repeal Prop 13 will begin with commercial property. Landlords will be included in the insidious propaganda that says "Make the Rich pay their fair share." When the credulous underclass votes for that, their rents will skyrocket as landlords give up and sell out to Blackrock and Vangard who intend for the mass of voters to be tenants forever. Then next the ballot proposition will go after individual home owners, and if I were required to pay tax on the current value on my home, massively inflated in "value" since I purchased it decades ago, I would be effectively a renter paying a huge annual stipend to the Government for what I thought I already paid for and own.
I see what you describe as being not just plausible, but probable. We have a certain history in this state which has the clown car rolling along on two (or more) flat tires. Yes, really well thought out article. From that keyboard to God's ears. It will take that sort of miracle. Those do happen....
James, good ideas. Not only would this create more homeowners, but it would frustrate the politicians that need a group or class of people that are perpetually beholden to politicians.
Yes, it is a revolutionary idea. Power back to the people.
Great ideas. Thanks for laying this out in a readable and easily understandable way.
James: I hope you have forwarded this good article/advice to President Trump. Hopefully, listens and follows your recommendations. Thank you. Doug Large.
Nice ideas. Keep it up.
El Latino Newspaper Central Coast is published at 518 De La Vina Street and their website www.latinoncc.com displays the paper in Spanish. However, one is able to click the Translate button and see it in English. Perhaps Santa Barbara Current would be able to do this as well?
I could not believe my eyes when I read this fine article by James and had independently arrived at this exact same very serious problem and almost the exact same creative solution as this author. But I never heard anyone (even natioinwide) raise this issue the way he did!
In my opinion this is the no 1 problem facing our nation today and if we don't find and implement a solution the socialist re going to take over our beloved country --not by civil war but by winning elections for president and by changing our capitalist system one step at a time (a slippery slope).
I can clearly see it coming. And there is only one way to stop it --as this author brilliantly warns and informs us. I have additional creative solutions to this extremely serious housing problem and I'd love to meet the author of this article and discuss them.