It’s All About the Color
by Bonnie Donovan
The third day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) has wrapped up, leaving just one more day ahead. However, the deadline for submitting my column is Thursday morning, so I have no information on the Kamala Harris speech.
On the first day, Biden had the opportunity to address the audience before being whisked away across the country to Santa Barbara of all places. It makes one wonder about the atmosphere in the White House; are there any signs of life or just silence?
There were claims about Kamala's efforts against international gangs, but it raises questions about the current situation in the U.S.
Then focus on trafficking, whether drug-related or sexual, seems to overlook the pressing issues at home.
As they said, she cynically promises to “secure the border.” Many are left waiting for tangible results; we haven’t seen any yet.
She will get so much done for you!
Remember, she dropped out of the 2020 election due to less than 1% support, even though she was a female and black.
Now she’s the Democrat nominee because she is so qualified?
It’s interesting to note that during the DNC, many voiced concerns about the wealthy benefiting from tax breaks, yet a significant portion of the speakers and entertainers were indeed affluent individuals.
This contradiction raises questions about the true representation of the party's values.
Many interviewed, particularly men and women of color, express their reluctance to support Kamala simply because she is a black woman. They are acutely aware of the struggles they have faced over the past few years, particularly with rising costs of living under the current administration.
On a Positive Note
In a favorable turn of events, BIBI JI restaurant has successfully relocated their restaurant after having to close due to insufficient foot traffic on the State Street Promenade.
The restaurant has successfully relocated and is now welcoming guests once more, inviting everyone to enjoy a delightful dining experience along with fine wine at their new address: 1213 State Street, Santa Barbara.
For reservations or inquiries, please reach out to Alejandro at 805-560-6845 and mention that his God Mommy referred you.
Movie Night
You’re invited to a delightful evening event at the Aijian’s ranch: Enjoy a root beer float and a free screening of “Letter to the American Church” on Sunday, August 25, at 7 pm. The Aijian’s ranch is located at 1160 San Marcos Rd in Santa Barbara.
We would love for you to join us. If you’d like to arrive early, feel free to bring your dinner and enjoy some time mingling with others. Some guests will start arriving around 5 pm, ready for a picnic-style meal (bring your blanket).
It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together and share in a meaningful experience. We’ll have 75 chairs available for the movie, so RSVP to (805) 452 6688 for your attendance.
On To the City
My involvement in the preservation of the Franceschi House began in the 1990s, during which I discovered that my great-grandmother served on a board that redirected funds intended for the Franceschi House to the Carrillo Recreation Center. At the recent City Council meeting, it was revealed that over two million dollars is being allocated to the Carrillo Recreation Center once again.
The Santa Barbara we once cherished is changing dramatically.
Looking for a Home?
The housing “crisis” could be alleviated if there were fewer out-of-county, out-of-state, and international students at SBCC.
UCSB faces a critical situation; if the university does not construct adequate housing for its growing student population, it needs to reconsider its enrollment numbers.
The challenge is significant, especially as we reflect on the vacancy rates during Covid, which hovered around 6%. This figure could have been even higher if all landlords had allowed students to exit their leases more freely.
There is no cause for concern, as the City Council is set to initiate discussions regarding the La Cumbre Plaza housing project, which may include 500 to 700 residential units. Meanwhile, Ed St. George will return to the Architectural Board Review with his housing proposals on Chapala that lack adequate parking.
Political Debate
Whoops, nothing to see here folks, our U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal is not interested in debating anyone. Guess he figures he’s got his safe seat wrapped up tightly, just got to send his minions out to harvest all those UCSB student and faculty mail-in ballots and needn’t bother himself with this stupid “democracy” stuff.
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Terrific column, Bonnie. Dr. Aijian is a Santa Barbara treasure, the rare doctor who cares more about the well-being of people than being well-off. It's also wonderful that he's open about his religious beliefs. Too many doctors aren't. I'm not a Christian. But I have enormous respect for Dr. Aijian's deep relationship with his religion and how it has shaped his integrity in medicine. He was and remains one of the few doctors who questioned the origins of Covid, its treatment and the public policies. This took enormous courage on his part.
My late brother, Dan, was a cancer surgeon who had a very cynical view of the medical establishment. In his experience most doctors he knew only read the summation, the last few paragraphs, in the research papers they were given. They were too lazy to read the whole report or go through the tests and see how they were done. They didn't question. And in my brother's view, this lead to disastrous health policies.
Dan originally set out to be a scientist. He was accepted into Caltech classes as a high school student. Then one day he said to our parents, “I don't have what it takes to be a first-rate physicist.” My parents were shocked - he was getting A's. My brother just sighed. “Look, I've been around science geniuses in physics for a year now at Caltech. I'm not one. And I'm fine with that. And I can be a really terrific surgeon, so that's what I'll do.”
He loved science research and carried that into his practice. He went deeply into the research that was informing medical establishment practices and he was stunned by how lazy many of his colleagues, even the most highly respected and awarded, were.
A few decades ago he was appalled at what he saw as the sloppy way the medical establishment was implementing supposed cholesterol findings. He would tell me there was no basis for the dietary “no fat” craze that was supposed to cure cholesterol and heart attacks in America. Dan was disgusted by the way the medical establishment and the media brainwashed people into diets which not only didn't reduce the rates of heart attacks, but resulted in more obesity and worse health in Americans.
I have really missed Dan during the last few Covid years. I think it's safe to say he would have questioned the vax, the lockdowns and the reports of how it originated. It was what I admired most about my brother - his honesty about medicine. And I was grateful to see a like-minded questioner in a Santa Barbaran, Dr. Aijian. It's an easy road for a doctor to go along with whatever the medical establishment says. It's infinitely more difficult to question. And we who aren't doctors but rely on them to stand up for us and what is best for our health rather than their careers should take the time to thank them.
Thank you Dr. Aijian. And thank you, Bonnie.
Yes, Carbajal will cruise to victory in his re-election. Nothing new to see here folks. The last Republican to hold that seat was Micheal Huffington…remember him? The well has been dry ever since and as I said earlier, but bares repeating ; “SB Republicans sightings are about as rare as the California Condor!” We have become an endangered species!
It would be interesting to know exactly how many votes are seemingly automatic from the block of voters from UCSB, 20-30k? Yep, kids who are barely adults, own no property and here temporarily deciding every single election. What a country!
Local Republicans need to stop hiding under the bed and get out, rally, and engage with voters, especially young voters! Start with questions like; do you ever plan to have a job, own a house, start a business or family? We need to STOP writing off these kids!