I can’t help but remember Reagan’s comment on the government “ the nine most terrifying words in the English language are : I’m from the government and I’m here to help”
The clown show of our misguided local “ public servants “ destroying our city is enough to make a sane person weep or scream
If only the city would put an emphasis on business development at the level that they have for parking enforcement, fees for permits, and bike lane development… maybe things would improve.
Fifteen minutes is not enough time to get a hamburger at Habit Burger, or get an ice cream cone at McConnell's, or go to the bathroom at the public bathroom, or get money out of the Bank of America machines, or wait in the line to go to Joe's Cafe. And the City wants to add $3.00 to do any of these activities? It will eliminate folks going to State Street for any number of activities which affects the businesses, which then affects the point of increasing foot traffic on State Street. Wrong thinking for the public parking. Think about it.
They ae out of control. And don't get me started on the thousands of new units they are building here, where will the parking and the water come from for all those new people? The city is sadly imploding at the hands of incompetent management who keep getting elected by our Liberal majority here, and we all have seen the results of the dilapidated and crime ridden cities run by Liberal majorities. I remember when murders were unheard of here, not that long ago. Now you mix Liberal sanctuary city mindsets with formerly open borders and voila, murders appear regularly now. Great job folks.
Regarding the Use of Chalk Marks in Parking Enforcement
Residents should be aware that traditional chalk marks on tires are no longer used by the City for parking enforcement. The City is/has upgrading its enforcement vehicles with advanced technology, transforming them into mobile units equipped with cameras and onboard computers.
These vehicles now digitally record parked cars and communicate with other enforcement units in real time. This system allows for more efficient tracking of parking durations without the need for physical markings.
My experiences .....(1) Parking Enforcement Div. (in some cities) take a photo of tire stem and come back and see if the tire has moved. (2) Some private security companies will chalk the ground around the tire rather than the old method of chalking the tires to see if they have moved.
This article further illustrates the too often adversarial relationship between City government and its citizens.
The bureaucrats behind these proposals should be required to sit down face to face in a dynamic forum...eyeball to eyeball...with those who must live with the consequences of these decisions/recommendations. Not just limited testimony where a timer goes off after three minutes, a hook euphemistically sweeps in and yanks the poor stooge off the podium trying to engage some disinterested "bureaucrat for life" whose main focus is the clock on the wall. Something more akin to a deposition where recommendations and decisions are held accountable.
Does it not seem completely absurd that the same City that wants to dramatically raise parking rates hands off hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to illegal alien...with a straight face?
What is wrong with this picture is the city has nearly 2000 employees who have family members and friends who vote, and who think there is nothing wrong with this picture. Along with thousands of other local government employees, scattered throughout this voting district.
I read Mr. Zepke's comment with a combination of wonderment, disgust, and where have these people been for the past 1/4 of Century? I'll direct my comments to Macey, Waterhouse, the New Bid members, the now failed types who say "we'll talk with them."
As the last founding member on the Board of Cars Are Basic, I received a phone call from the last investigative reporter of the Santa Barbara News-Press before it closed. The primary question he asked is "Where has CAB been?" You have not been before Council in some time. The answer was and is why should I, or any other member of CAB attend Council or Staff meetings when the outcome has already been determined?
I also made the point that CAB has routinely sent comment letters to Council and among others such as the HLC. The N-P reporter was surprised and I told him to ask of Council members if they were in possession of these comments as part of "Public Comment" about various traffic issues including State St. and cutting various streets in the City. He called back and said they, the Council, were in possession of these letters as part of the official proceedings. Give the reporter credit, he was surprised, when not once were the CAB positions commented on. He was also surprised when the same people stated they had no public objections to their plans.
Mr. Zepke wrote: "There are reports of Santa Barbara City Council spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to have consultants’ opinions on ways to attract, and keep, businesses on State Street by increasing foot traffic." Well Sir you are correct but when they hire failed heads of the bike boys and others what would you expect?
Not once has City Planners (wink nudge) mentioned that there was a petition circulated on State St. (and one block each side) when the first plans to cut State at De la Guerra and block De la Guerra and the plaza from vehicle traffic. All but one businesses signed the petition against City Hall (the one owner that did not sign rents to the city attorney's office) if you need help that is 99.9% against.
Was there mention of the CAB letter in both email blast, and the the Council that San Jose big big plans ala current SB plans, have failed to generate the business they projected. There has been heavy handed pressure by SBCAG south county to force the continued closing. A fellow who's name sounds like jewel from LOSSAN has weighed in on Santa Barbara Closing of State. Oh and he is from the San Diego area.
The comment by former Councilwoman Self is absolutely correct. Sacramento wants to use Santa Barbara as the sacrificial goat to prove their idiotic RHNA plans are working (did I mention the high rise behind the Mission? Her statement about 6-7 story buildings is not hyperbolic.
I know rubbing shoulders with the great unwashed doesn't fit with the image, but heck. La Jolla is in the process of bringing the hammer down on the e-motorcycles on their city streets. Santa Monica has been doing the same.
Want an organization that has both legal standing and been trying to warn about the Stupidity Starting with the MIG State St. narrowing. Failed shuttles/bus routes? We're your group.
Want to continue to fail with your, we are pillars of society attitude? Keep doing what you have been doing.
Insanity and the fact that my taxpayer dollars pay these people. It’s time to take a stand and vote people into these positions that have common sense. Also, maybe get rid of these idiots and pay consultants with our tax payers dollars.
If I remember correctly, downtown business operators were required to pay dues to the Downtown Organization, as well as a per employee parking district surcharge. Loss of downtown businesses led to a sharp drop of those prior revenue streams.
Since closing State Street drove away many downtown businesses, is this new 15 minute parking scheme an attempt to make up for this lost income stream from those now displaced downtown businesses? Nickel dime those who still come down town a few bucks each, to use our previous "free" parking.
Or just one more example of our partisan city council majority creating yet another self-devouring ice cream cone.
"Tax the rich" (those who still patronize pricey downtown restaurants and remaining shops) .... drips out of every indifferent cockamamie scheme this city council majority comes up with. Developing sufficient revenue streams to pay off promises made to their city employee unions handlers, becomes more bizarre every day.
If cars are only allowed 15 minutes to park in city lots or on the streets, this will encourage more bicyclists and e-bikes - which is another problem you are trying to solve - and there hasn't been a solution for that either. If there is no reason for the e-bikers to stop and shop (because all the businesses moved away), they will just continue to to speed down State Street to get to the beach. Please open up State Street to cars and provide a place for them to park long enough to give downtown some business. Thank you.
They are not interested in helping businesses - capitalism is bad, remember? They are just looking for more ways to "tax the rich" in order to pay off promises made to their city union member supporters.
It is quite simple really. Parking garage revenues are way down. The city council is desperate to compensate for their profligate spending by forcing up garage revenues. In their minds, 15-minute street parking severely limits one's ability to shop or prevents it entirely. Ergo, you are forced to use a city garage or shop somewhere else. Try upper State Street to relocate your businesses. They have ample, free parking. Goleta too.
Does anyone really think the city council is trying to help shoppers and retail businesses with this 15-minute parking limit?
I believe the term is "salami cutting". Take a little bit off of a lot of people, and hope they won't notice it. Except there are now fewer people coming down town to cough up their own salami slice.
Sigh. . . I feel for the business owners on State but at this point it's best to move. I think the city should stop hitting this dead horse and focus on other economic areas. Funk Zone, Waterfront, and Coast Village Road for instance.
While I was reading these comments I also saw a post by John Palminteri on Instagram about the 500 block of State having all of the parkletts removed and something called pedlets being installed. On IG most of the comments are in favor of opening the street to cars, but I checked JP's Facebook page and it's back & forth. Reminds me of "Point, Counterpoint." Or even better the SNL sketch with Dan Akroyd and Jane Curtin.
This new fix, on a trial basis is another $500,000. The majority on city council don't get it, and don't have the business or life experience to know that this is a waste of taxpayer money. . .
I can’t help but remember Reagan’s comment on the government “ the nine most terrifying words in the English language are : I’m from the government and I’m here to help”
The clown show of our misguided local “ public servants “ destroying our city is enough to make a sane person weep or scream
"...make a sane person weep or scream" Or both.
Run for office.
If only the city would put an emphasis on business development at the level that they have for parking enforcement, fees for permits, and bike lane development… maybe things would improve.
Fifteen minutes is not enough time to get a hamburger at Habit Burger, or get an ice cream cone at McConnell's, or go to the bathroom at the public bathroom, or get money out of the Bank of America machines, or wait in the line to go to Joe's Cafe. And the City wants to add $3.00 to do any of these activities? It will eliminate folks going to State Street for any number of activities which affects the businesses, which then affects the point of increasing foot traffic on State Street. Wrong thinking for the public parking. Think about it.
They ae out of control. And don't get me started on the thousands of new units they are building here, where will the parking and the water come from for all those new people? The city is sadly imploding at the hands of incompetent management who keep getting elected by our Liberal majority here, and we all have seen the results of the dilapidated and crime ridden cities run by Liberal majorities. I remember when murders were unheard of here, not that long ago. Now you mix Liberal sanctuary city mindsets with formerly open borders and voila, murders appear regularly now. Great job folks.
Regarding the Use of Chalk Marks in Parking Enforcement
Residents should be aware that traditional chalk marks on tires are no longer used by the City for parking enforcement. The City is/has upgrading its enforcement vehicles with advanced technology, transforming them into mobile units equipped with cameras and onboard computers.
These vehicles now digitally record parked cars and communicate with other enforcement units in real time. This system allows for more efficient tracking of parking durations without the need for physical markings.
My experiences .....(1) Parking Enforcement Div. (in some cities) take a photo of tire stem and come back and see if the tire has moved. (2) Some private security companies will chalk the ground around the tire rather than the old method of chalking the tires to see if they have moved.
Ha ha. Now we have AI giving tickets
This article further illustrates the too often adversarial relationship between City government and its citizens.
The bureaucrats behind these proposals should be required to sit down face to face in a dynamic forum...eyeball to eyeball...with those who must live with the consequences of these decisions/recommendations. Not just limited testimony where a timer goes off after three minutes, a hook euphemistically sweeps in and yanks the poor stooge off the podium trying to engage some disinterested "bureaucrat for life" whose main focus is the clock on the wall. Something more akin to a deposition where recommendations and decisions are held accountable.
Does it not seem completely absurd that the same City that wants to dramatically raise parking rates hands off hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to illegal alien...with a straight face?
What's wrong with/ this picture?
What is wrong with this picture is the city has nearly 2000 employees who have family members and friends who vote, and who think there is nothing wrong with this picture. Along with thousands of other local government employees, scattered throughout this voting district.
By assessing the Council’s recommendations, in my opinion, they have hopes of turning downtown into a residential district.
By destroying retail they can remake downtown.
7-8 stories of low cost housing apartments is openly advocated.
Them penalizing landlords for empty spaces will help things along
It's clear our City counsel doesn't give 2 shits about this city.
I read Mr. Zepke's comment with a combination of wonderment, disgust, and where have these people been for the past 1/4 of Century? I'll direct my comments to Macey, Waterhouse, the New Bid members, the now failed types who say "we'll talk with them."
As the last founding member on the Board of Cars Are Basic, I received a phone call from the last investigative reporter of the Santa Barbara News-Press before it closed. The primary question he asked is "Where has CAB been?" You have not been before Council in some time. The answer was and is why should I, or any other member of CAB attend Council or Staff meetings when the outcome has already been determined?
I also made the point that CAB has routinely sent comment letters to Council and among others such as the HLC. The N-P reporter was surprised and I told him to ask of Council members if they were in possession of these comments as part of "Public Comment" about various traffic issues including State St. and cutting various streets in the City. He called back and said they, the Council, were in possession of these letters as part of the official proceedings. Give the reporter credit, he was surprised, when not once were the CAB positions commented on. He was also surprised when the same people stated they had no public objections to their plans.
Mr. Zepke wrote: "There are reports of Santa Barbara City Council spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to have consultants’ opinions on ways to attract, and keep, businesses on State Street by increasing foot traffic." Well Sir you are correct but when they hire failed heads of the bike boys and others what would you expect?
Not once has City Planners (wink nudge) mentioned that there was a petition circulated on State St. (and one block each side) when the first plans to cut State at De la Guerra and block De la Guerra and the plaza from vehicle traffic. All but one businesses signed the petition against City Hall (the one owner that did not sign rents to the city attorney's office) if you need help that is 99.9% against.
Was there mention of the CAB letter in both email blast, and the the Council that San Jose big big plans ala current SB plans, have failed to generate the business they projected. There has been heavy handed pressure by SBCAG south county to force the continued closing. A fellow who's name sounds like jewel from LOSSAN has weighed in on Santa Barbara Closing of State. Oh and he is from the San Diego area.
The comment by former Councilwoman Self is absolutely correct. Sacramento wants to use Santa Barbara as the sacrificial goat to prove their idiotic RHNA plans are working (did I mention the high rise behind the Mission? Her statement about 6-7 story buildings is not hyperbolic.
So the next time businesses are surprised, upset contact cab@CarsAreBasic.org.
I know rubbing shoulders with the great unwashed doesn't fit with the image, but heck. La Jolla is in the process of bringing the hammer down on the e-motorcycles on their city streets. Santa Monica has been doing the same.
Want an organization that has both legal standing and been trying to warn about the Stupidity Starting with the MIG State St. narrowing. Failed shuttles/bus routes? We're your group.
Want to continue to fail with your, we are pillars of society attitude? Keep doing what you have been doing.
Scott Wenz
Last Founding Member of CAB
CAB Board Member
NB: "Sacramento" = Gregg Hart and Monique Limon.
Insanity and the fact that my taxpayer dollars pay these people. It’s time to take a stand and vote people into these positions that have common sense. Also, maybe get rid of these idiots and pay consultants with our tax payers dollars.
___Tax the landlords with ruinous tenant protection schemes (D).
___Tax the downtown businesses with ruinous parking schemes (D).
___Tax the property owners with endless fiscally reckless school bonds(D).
___Take high value downtown real estate and hand it over to low income residents (D).
___Dilute the property tax paying base by converting more properties to tax-free NGO ownerships. (D)
Get the picture?
If I remember correctly, downtown business operators were required to pay dues to the Downtown Organization, as well as a per employee parking district surcharge. Loss of downtown businesses led to a sharp drop of those prior revenue streams.
Since closing State Street drove away many downtown businesses, is this new 15 minute parking scheme an attempt to make up for this lost income stream from those now displaced downtown businesses? Nickel dime those who still come down town a few bucks each, to use our previous "free" parking.
Or just one more example of our partisan city council majority creating yet another self-devouring ice cream cone.
"Tax the rich" (those who still patronize pricey downtown restaurants and remaining shops) .... drips out of every indifferent cockamamie scheme this city council majority comes up with. Developing sufficient revenue streams to pay off promises made to their city employee unions handlers, becomes more bizarre every day.
If cars are only allowed 15 minutes to park in city lots or on the streets, this will encourage more bicyclists and e-bikes - which is another problem you are trying to solve - and there hasn't been a solution for that either. If there is no reason for the e-bikers to stop and shop (because all the businesses moved away), they will just continue to to speed down State Street to get to the beach. Please open up State Street to cars and provide a place for them to park long enough to give downtown some business. Thank you.
UNBELIEVABLE
How could anyone think that shortening the time for parking would help businesses on State Street?
They are not interested in helping businesses - capitalism is bad, remember? They are just looking for more ways to "tax the rich" in order to pay off promises made to their city union member supporters.
It is quite simple really. Parking garage revenues are way down. The city council is desperate to compensate for their profligate spending by forcing up garage revenues. In their minds, 15-minute street parking severely limits one's ability to shop or prevents it entirely. Ergo, you are forced to use a city garage or shop somewhere else. Try upper State Street to relocate your businesses. They have ample, free parking. Goleta too.
Does anyone really think the city council is trying to help shoppers and retail businesses with this 15-minute parking limit?
I believe the term is "salami cutting". Take a little bit off of a lot of people, and hope they won't notice it. Except there are now fewer people coming down town to cough up their own salami slice.
Sigh. . . I feel for the business owners on State but at this point it's best to move. I think the city should stop hitting this dead horse and focus on other economic areas. Funk Zone, Waterfront, and Coast Village Road for instance.
While I was reading these comments I also saw a post by John Palminteri on Instagram about the 500 block of State having all of the parkletts removed and something called pedlets being installed. On IG most of the comments are in favor of opening the street to cars, but I checked JP's Facebook page and it's back & forth. Reminds me of "Point, Counterpoint." Or even better the SNL sketch with Dan Akroyd and Jane Curtin.
This new fix, on a trial basis is another $500,000. The majority on city council don't get it, and don't have the business or life experience to know that this is a waste of taxpayer money. . .
Hah...."Jane, you ignorant slut". Best ever. Fill in the blanks...