Do I sound exasperated? I am! I was just on the 500 block of State Street. I wanted to see the extended sidewalks (AKA Pedlets) the city purchased for over $500,000. Aren’t you curious where your taxes are going? After all, your tax money paid for the old parklets to be demolished and taken to the dump (and we will never know what that cost us).
So, I went to the 500 block to get you some pictures. Easy, right? No. You are no longer allowed on the old sidewalks AT ALL!
They blocked off your sidewalk. Not to everyone, just to you, taxpayer. It’s completely open to the restaurants.
During a recent city organized meeting of citizens, people kept telling me that the State Street Restaurants are really the Restaurant Mafia.
Really? I wondered. Now that I’ve been there – these people are right!
They have fencing to block you off your city owned sidewalks. But State Street Restaurants are again getting it for free.
Because Rick Caruso told them: if you are too far away from the store front, it won’t work with pedestrians being in the street…
And what do we see in this photo? They’ve now placed sandwich board signs on the newly constructed sidewalk.
Let’s not forget—for the past five years, they’ve occupied space on our street rent-free.
So, I asked city staff: Did they apply for and pay for a permit, just like every other property owner is required to do?
The answer: No.
I followed up with another question: Did they obtain plumbing approval? Because when you add seating, you’re supposed to upgrade plumbing infrastructure accordingly.
The answer: No.
Another question: And what about fencing? Was permission granted to drill into the brick sidewalk? If so, who approved it?
The answer: They’re each responsible for creating their own border fencing.
No review, No inspections?
While documenting all this, I noticed benches placed at the ends of the ramps. This design forces individuals with disabilities to find alternate routes. It’s yet another example of how accessibility is being overlooked. Was this ADA compliant?
Guess what? The City has located the missing benches that were removed from State Street!
What’s ironic is that these are the very benches I wrote about years ago—back when my column ran in the SB News-Press. Turns out, when the City wants something, they can make it happen. But when residents asked for the benches to be returned? That was a firm NO.
I even filed a Public Records Act Request (PRAR) years ago after being told the benches were “under repair.” If memory serves, each bench cost around $1,200 to refurbish—yet they were simply left in storage.
My questions were straightforward: Who is paying for the new fencing installed on our sidewalk?
The answer: Restaurants who wish to have expanded sidewalk dining are responsible for enclosing their areas with some sort of barrier (such as planters or stanchions).
Question: So, each restaurant took out permits?
Answer: The extended sidewalk dining areas are temporary and do not require permitting or updated fixtures at this time, although we will be executing license agreements with participating businesses.
Last Question: We did that (executing a license agreement) before when they were in the street for five years. (Maybe I should do another PRAR for the actual rents the city received for the parklets?)
So again, it's temporary, thanks I needed that. So, can everyone in the city just say theirs is temporary? (Even though they couldn't open until they had permits and then were approved…)
Answer: No response, still waiting for the answer
But if you are anywhere besides State Street
If you're a property or business owner in Santa Barbara and want to improve your patio or replace a deteriorating fence, you’re required to go through the City’s approval process. But if you're part of the so-called “State Street Dream Team” (aka the Master Plan), those rules apparently don’t apply. Want to offer outdoor seating for customers still cautious post-COVID? You must apply through the City’s process—unless, again, you’re part of the State Street setup.
Is this temporary process available to all property owners?
I’ll let you know when I hear back from them.
Hey City Council
If that’s the case, isn’t every Restaurant (renter) in Santa Barbara also “temporary”? Renters aren’t guaranteed permanent occupancy—so where’s the consistency? Where is the City’s commitment to equal treatment?
What’s happening with other businesses in town
I recently spoke with a property owner whose journey I’ve followed closely. He was trying to get approval for a patio—on his own private property. The patio already existed. No new construction.
I asked, “How long did it take?”
His answer: A year and a half. (Eighteen months for something that was already there.)
I asked another friend: How long did it take the City to approve the removal and replacement of his patio fencing—which was crumbling and unsafe.
His answer: “Six, maybe nine months.”
Now, that same friend is being pursued by the City for placing outdoor seating for customers who still prefer to sit outside post-COVID. And what’s the issue? The City says he must upgrade his bathrooms to accommodate the new seats.
So, here’s the question: Why are individual property owners held to such rigid timelines and requirements, while others—under the banner of the State Street Master Plan—seem to be able to bypass the same rules entirely? Where’s the fairness? Where’s the consistency?
The answer? I’m waiting for it. Will let you know, fellow taxpayer, as soon as I get it.
I asked a friend to walk the 500 block of State Street
Bonnie, I walked the pedlets last night. It’s important to the Transportation Department that we preserve the rights of 14-year-olds to ride their e-bikes at high speed on State Street, but it’s also important to maintain the fiction that State Street is a “promenade” and not just a bike boulevard, so the pedlets are a compromise.
I generally haven’t walked much in the 500 block since the restaurants took over the sidewalks. Last night I was able to walk relatively easily on the slightly wobbly pedlets, but it very much remains to be seen how durable they will be—though I’m sure the Transportation Department sees this as a step towards permanently narrowing State Street with hardscape.
One thing you notice more strongly because of the contrast between the new, clean (for a few weeks anyway) pedlets and everything else is just how dirty State Street has become. The landscaping is poorly kept, the sidewalks and street are filthy, as are most of the furnishings. We have succeeded in turning downtown Santa Barbara into Isla Vista.
Talking to a friend
Today (Wednesday), I heard from a dear friend—someone I deeply respect. She reminded me of something simple but powerful: We need to sit down and truly listen to one another. Don’t we all really want this kind of open discussion with each other? How can we possibly move forward if we don’t?
Tragically, as we all know, any open discussion stopped after the 2016 election. But after I heard from my friend, my spirits lifted. Maybe—just maybe—Charlie has finally reached Santa Barbara.
A follow-up
I requested a list of City Council meetings to better understand how much each meeting costs taxpayers. Here’s what I found:
The following Tuesdays were canceled—either for holidays or designated “dark weeks”: 1/21, 2/18, 3/25, 4/1, 5/27, 6/24, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 8/26, 9/2, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/25, 12/23, and 12/30. That leaves 35 active meeting weeks in the year.
According to Transparent California, Councilmember Meagan Harmon earned $119,300.07 in 2024. Divide that by 35 meetings, and her cost per meeting comes to $3,408.57.
Now multiply that by the seven council members seated each week: $3,408.57 × 7 = $23,859.99 per meeting—and that’s just in council salaries.
This figure doesn’t include the cost of staff, (legal advisors, administrative support, or other resources) required to run each meeting.
Ventura goes after the Cartel; when will Santa Barbara?
As I have been writing about for years… The Cartel is here! They are the Labor Line, the sidewalk vendors (fancy carts and large street kitchens). But if you bring it up to the City, County, or State, they just ignore it, WHY? Are they working with the Cartel? Are they afraid of the Cartel? We all know sex trafficking is here, are they working with them? Limon and Hart voted for AB495…Salud just attacks all right as if his raised voice will get him elected. As far as I’m concerned (Bonnie Donovan with Did you Know on SB Current) I want Salud out and I will have more upcoming… I will wait for the right moment. Read the following link.
Statement on Sex Trafficking and Civic Responsibility in Santa Barbara
Sex trafficking exists in both the City and County of Santa Barbara. This is not speculation—it has been publicly acknowledged by residents who have spoken during open comment periods at City Council meetings. Their voices deserve to be heard, and their concerns taken seriously.
Our elected officials take an oath upon assuming office. That oath is not symbolic—it is a commitment to protect the people they serve. When crimes like sex trafficking persist in our community, silence and inaction are unacceptable.
We must ask: Are our leaders fulfilling their duty? Are they doing everything in their power to protect the vulnerable, uphold justice, and ensure that Santa Barbara is not a safe haven for exploitation?
This is not a partisan issue. It is a human one. And it demands accountability.
Please watch the following video on Trafficking
Community Calendar:
Click here for more information and to sign up to Truth Rising Under the Stars
Got a Santa Barbara event for our community calendar? Fenkner@sbcurrent.com
Bonnie, I'm also did a "Danny Thomas." Thanks for another Santa Barbara Weird story. I looked up the word pedlet on the Internet and Santa Barbara pops up first. State Street looks like a hodgepodge of add-ons. The citizens should consider gathering together with chairs and tables and play games in the middle of State Street. Just tell the cops it's only "temporary" and therefore it's legal. Maybe setup a few card games with penny betting. Have a few saloon girls in decorative outfits join the fun. Tourism will increase bringing more money to the Mafia and the citizens will have a lot of fun, too. Unfortunately, the city government will be praised for its ingenuity. But that shouldn't stop anyone from experiencing the surprise, simulated O.K. Corral gunfight in full cowboy regalia. The nudist protestors will spice up things, too.
Great article, Bonnie !
We need more Charlie’s in every city, ours particularly.
The City Council and board of supervisors here, along with Limon, Hart and Carbajal all reek of the same rotting fish smell. We are not all having the same olfactory hallucination. Keep shining the light onto the darkness of our local government. We support you and pray for your success and safety. The events at the Utah college clearly showed that truth tellers are now targeted.