Thank you, Current, for your efforts to offer the 805 area reporting and opinion based on sanity and facts. This community of readers is encouraging, as most comments are supportive and thoughtful. We are a definite minority in a blue city in a blue state. Many of us are committed to staying on the narrow road and encourage our friends and family to join us .
Always enjoy reading you, Dr. Aijian. I'm grateful for Santa Barbara Current because I've given up actually trying to talk sense to people - or at least give them a few facts they're not getting from Rachel Maddow or NYT or CNN. Since I worked in the NYC media world and know some of the liberal pundits Santa Barbara “liberals” like to regurgitate, the main fact I try to give them is that most journalists I've known are more concerned with sitting at what they consider to be the right table than the truth. When I was growing up here, one of my older friends was Mickey Ziffren, whose husband Paul was head of the Democratic Party. She was a fabulously smart woman who was interested in the truth (different era, alas.) One day we were talking on the phone and she said she was on her way to lunch with Nancy Reagan. I sputtered “Why would you have lunch with a Republican.” “Polly,” Mickey snapped, “don't be an idiot. And if you spend your life only having lunch with people you agree with, you'll remain an idiot.”
I really enjoy engaging with like minded folks. The rare hostile or unhinged comments directed at me get a special spot as humorous wallpaper next to my desk
A few years back I was called for jury duty for a case of a bicycle vs cement truck in Goleta. The large truck stopped at the corner of Hollister and Kellogg, then turned right. An illegal on a bicycle speeding in the bike lane was unable to stop and ran full tilt into the side of the truck and died. As I sat through several days of voir dire his baby mama sat with a crying baby in the courtroom, that it was revealed the man had never had ANY contact with but he was "planning on" having a relationship with. His parents were brought up from Mexico to sit and sob. Then, like most court cases, a pay out was agreed upon, everything was settled on for millions, and the potential jurors were dismissed. The construction company was extorted, the driver may have lost his commercial license, all for the irresponsible action of an entitled member of the bicycle riding privileged class. As I monitor the stream of collisions reported online and see near misses as I drive around town, this case often comes to mind.
Both articles written were right on target. I doubt that there is anyone in Santa Barbara (or anywhere) that has not witnessed some close calls and incredibly dangerous riding by the e-bikers. As Brian mentioned, the parents of the kids riding them should really clamp down and let them know the bikes will be confiscated if not ridden safely. I am not sure what can be done about the older e-bikers other than, like mentioned by other commenters, be licensed and fined like any other motorist. As far as journalism goes, except for the ones left who really want to believe the garbage spewed out the mainstream, the profession, in large, has lost all credibility with the majority of the American people.
I agree that these motorized bikes should be treated like mopeds because that is what they are. They should require the operator have a drivers license and be driven in the street not bike lanes. I mostly see the youngest kids on their bikes on sidewalks, wobbly, without a lot of control they don’t feel comfortable in the street. I think we are wasting our money creating bike lanes everywhere. Some of These vehicles operate way too fast for bike lanes.
Great letters. As for journalism, it can be divided between two recent eras: PD and AD. Pre Debate journalism was propaganda about how wonderfully Biden is doing. After Debate journalism is an unhinged disaster control attempt to distance the media from any responsibility for Biden. But the underlying message of both eras is the same: you must worship journalists because they are the ones protecting democracy against Trump. You can even find a local example of this insanity by reading Nick Welsh in The Independent.
Thank you, Current, for your efforts to offer the 805 area reporting and opinion based on sanity and facts. This community of readers is encouraging, as most comments are supportive and thoughtful. We are a definite minority in a blue city in a blue state. Many of us are committed to staying on the narrow road and encourage our friends and family to join us .
Always enjoy reading you, Dr. Aijian. I'm grateful for Santa Barbara Current because I've given up actually trying to talk sense to people - or at least give them a few facts they're not getting from Rachel Maddow or NYT or CNN. Since I worked in the NYC media world and know some of the liberal pundits Santa Barbara “liberals” like to regurgitate, the main fact I try to give them is that most journalists I've known are more concerned with sitting at what they consider to be the right table than the truth. When I was growing up here, one of my older friends was Mickey Ziffren, whose husband Paul was head of the Democratic Party. She was a fabulously smart woman who was interested in the truth (different era, alas.) One day we were talking on the phone and she said she was on her way to lunch with Nancy Reagan. I sputtered “Why would you have lunch with a Republican.” “Polly,” Mickey snapped, “don't be an idiot. And if you spend your life only having lunch with people you agree with, you'll remain an idiot.”
I really enjoy engaging with like minded folks. The rare hostile or unhinged comments directed at me get a special spot as humorous wallpaper next to my desk
A few years back I was called for jury duty for a case of a bicycle vs cement truck in Goleta. The large truck stopped at the corner of Hollister and Kellogg, then turned right. An illegal on a bicycle speeding in the bike lane was unable to stop and ran full tilt into the side of the truck and died. As I sat through several days of voir dire his baby mama sat with a crying baby in the courtroom, that it was revealed the man had never had ANY contact with but he was "planning on" having a relationship with. His parents were brought up from Mexico to sit and sob. Then, like most court cases, a pay out was agreed upon, everything was settled on for millions, and the potential jurors were dismissed. The construction company was extorted, the driver may have lost his commercial license, all for the irresponsible action of an entitled member of the bicycle riding privileged class. As I monitor the stream of collisions reported online and see near misses as I drive around town, this case often comes to mind.
Both articles written were right on target. I doubt that there is anyone in Santa Barbara (or anywhere) that has not witnessed some close calls and incredibly dangerous riding by the e-bikers. As Brian mentioned, the parents of the kids riding them should really clamp down and let them know the bikes will be confiscated if not ridden safely. I am not sure what can be done about the older e-bikers other than, like mentioned by other commenters, be licensed and fined like any other motorist. As far as journalism goes, except for the ones left who really want to believe the garbage spewed out the mainstream, the profession, in large, has lost all credibility with the majority of the American people.
I agree that these motorized bikes should be treated like mopeds because that is what they are. They should require the operator have a drivers license and be driven in the street not bike lanes. I mostly see the youngest kids on their bikes on sidewalks, wobbly, without a lot of control they don’t feel comfortable in the street. I think we are wasting our money creating bike lanes everywhere. Some of These vehicles operate way too fast for bike lanes.
Great letters. As for journalism, it can be divided between two recent eras: PD and AD. Pre Debate journalism was propaganda about how wonderfully Biden is doing. After Debate journalism is an unhinged disaster control attempt to distance the media from any responsibility for Biden. But the underlying message of both eras is the same: you must worship journalists because they are the ones protecting democracy against Trump. You can even find a local example of this insanity by reading Nick Welsh in The Independent.
FLASH NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESIDENT BIDEN TO BE REPLACED: HISTORIC SHIFT IN U.S. LEADERSHIP
Washington, D.C. - July 6, 2024
The Democrat party has announced President Joe Biden’s replacement, marking a shift in the leadership of the United States.
The new replacement will be Donald J. Trump, the best president we’ve ever had!
I like your sense of humour, Earl, I really do. From your mouth to the head of the DNC (whoever that is today); let freedom ring!
Great letters.
Most bicyclist feel the rules of the road do not apply to them. No one teaches children the rules of the road or to be defensive drivers.
Police spread thin don’t chase down bicyclists and give them tickets. Kids are not given warnings.
Once again parents, you need to be on your kids.