When city, county, and state officials express a desire or demand for certain actions or policies, it often implies a unilateral expectation for compliance from the public. Citizens may find themselves compelled to acquiesce to these demands, with the underlying message being that noncompliance will not be tolerated, despite the obligation to fulfill tax and fee requirements.
In instances where elected representatives or administrative staff pursue specific objectives, the expectation is that the populace will accept and adapt to these initiatives even if it leads to a detrimental outcome.
Furthermore, in scenarios where significant damage occurs, the burden of rectification falls on the taxpayers, who are also responsible for funding the salaries, benefits, and pensions of those who contributed to the deterioration.
Housing
The push for increased housing has led to significant changes in local regulations, allowing neighbors to construct multiple Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) without notifying or consulting the surrounding community.
This streamlined approval process effectively bypasses any public review or notification, resulting in a lack of transparency and community involvement in decisions that directly affect neighborhood dynamics.
This lack of oversight means that decisions are made internally, bypassing public input and potentially disregarding the concerns of those living nearby.
This streamlined approval process bypasses any public review or notification, effectively granting a rubber-stamp approval from city staff.
And you thought it was just open spaces and yards they were coming after!
This development can also result in the construction of new units on apartment building parking lots, eliminating previously mandated parking spaces. Consequently, vehicles that once occupied these spots now compete for limited street parking, which could have been utilized by customers visiting local businesses.
This not only inconveniences visitors to local businesses but also adds an influx of cars—potentially two to four additional vehicles per ADU—further congesting the area.
With a total of 16 added cars now lining this one street, with three more projects within this same block. The next projects also without parking.
This not only increases street congestion but also threatens the viability of shops and restaurants, ultimately impacting sales tax revenue for the city.
The presence of parked cars now in red zones poses safety hazards, obstructing visibility for drivers and pedestrians at intersections and blocking access to fire hydrants, which could hinder emergency response efforts.
Despite these issues, enforcement appears lax, with vehicles often going unticketed, depriving the city of potential revenue, and contributing to the ongoing burden of increased taxation.
The existence of a traffic and circulation department (aka Streets and Engineering) and committee raises questions about its effectiveness in addressing these growing concerns
.I was told this project is within the area of a parking lot. The train station parking lot. Do you believe: 1) that they will pay for parking and 2) that they would walk from there?
Many argue that a significant portion of the workforce, including maids and construction workers, rely on vehicles to transport their tools and equipment.
Parents getting their children to school or daycare need vehicles…
So please don’t say tenants won’t be allowed cars.
This reality underscores the need for a balanced approach to housing development that considers the broader implications for traffic, parking, and community safety.
Just watch how two other projects at 425 Garden and 425 Santa Barbara Street affect those neighborhoods, they will also be built without parking.
Did you watch City Council Tuesday?
Have you had the opportunity to listen to Mike Jordan's remarks?
It is refreshing to hear a voice other than Mayor Rowse advocating for us.
As Mike Jordan articulated, it is imperative that we pursue the State of California regarding the burdens imposed on us without adequate compensation.
He echoed our concerns about the implications of Santa Barbara Housing Authority (SBHA) and other non-profits acquiring properties that would subsequently be removed from the tax roll, thereby affecting funding for essential services such as fire, police, schools, and infrastructure. Considering this, it is only reasonable for the state to provide compensation.
He also brought up SBCC and UCSB not doing their part in housing their students.
Kudos to Mike Jordan for his advocacy!
Proof Santa Barbara is trying to get rid of your cars, this was in 2019
https://www.mmasc.org/jobs.aspx?jobID=11803
Public Transportation Aug 12, 2019
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Save 20% on an Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® ticket to Santa Barbara for the 2019 MMASC Annual Conference. Support the Santa Barbara CAR FREE initiative and take the train to Annual Conference this year. Plan your trip, register your travel dates, and then purchase your discounted ticket!
Follow the housing project at La Cumbre Plaza
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Stay Updated on La Cumbre Plaza Redevelopment
The City of Santa Barbara’s Community Development Department is pleased to announce the launch of a dedicated webpage to keep you updated on all redevelopment activities and proposals related to the La Cumbre Plaza Shopping Center.
The new La Cumbre Plaza Redevelopment webpage will serve as a central hub for information, with updates added as new projects or changes are proposed.
Currently, the webpage includes responses to frequently asked questions and a link to a page with details about the proposed redevelopment of the former Macy’s site at 3805 State Street, called the Neighborhood at State and Hope project.
Visit the La Cumbre Plaza webpage to stay informed and check back regularly for updates.
Christmas Season is here
The Nutcracker Ballet: Coming Saturday, 12/14 & Sunday, 12/15 to the Arlington Theatre. Tickets On-Sale Now.
santabarbarafestivalballet.com
You only have 9 days left to get your tickets, at LIONS Club 15th Annual Festival of Trees. These raffle tickets are only $1.00 each.
Allowing unlimited housing development without consideration of how it affects parking, traffic and overall congestion, is folly. The fact that it is the result of mandates from Sacramento is more proof that we need a total replacement of the current regime there. What evidence do we have of any sanity on this matter locally? Santa Barbara’s charm and difference from other cities used to be limited growth, lack of billboards and ugly advertising, and a coherent architectural style. Abandonment of these distinctives is sadly turning our lovely city into something that will soon look like Oxnard, and LA. We moved here 45 years ago
to avoid the congestion and growing chaos of the San Gabriel Valley ( Pasadena).
Sadly, the blight is being imposed on the entire state by or Democrat leaders.
What a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get an E-bike for Christmas! There's nothing like e-biking on a rainy day, let me tell you, I've done the rain thing so many times on a motorcycle. Give everyone six months to obtain an E-bike. Then afterwards let's get our graffiti paint and spray the obnoxious vehicles still remaining on the road. I think it would be so much fun to spray the cars of all the city workers giving us the finger. Letting the air out of their cars would be hilarious ... thump thump thump down the road they go.