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Scott Wenz's avatar

It was interesting that the SB Council funneled hundreds of thousands of taxpayer money into the fund for Santa Barbara.

Established years ago it is listed as a c.3 group and has given money to one side of the political spectrum. A c.3 group that has never received one penny of government money (taxpayer money) has twice approached them for funding to research and confirm government statements of how and why city or board of supervisors actions / money was/is spent. The answer both times was "It is doubtful you would get any money from us." It is interesting that supposed environmental groups, we are active for the downtrodden groups, and we need 15 minute city groups when it comes to election time are out in force acting as PAC's (political action).

As the author points out many of these supposed non-partisan groups use substantial amounts of their grants to pay for and support directors, worker bees, with little being passed down to the great unwashed.

Love this quote "Citizens of Santa Barbara are being manipulated .....""" Ya think?

Another quote "can’t communicate with local authorities due to SB54..." Uhhh and how do you think there will ever be community safe from scofflaws and down right major crimes types? A ms-13 type who has multiple complaints for spousal abuse, has been connected with smuggling illegals was just released in another state because of the same type of law as SB54.

The open borders crowd do not want vetting and tracking of those entering the good 'ol USA or the State of Calif. It is clear with the issue the House of Representatives there needs to be another amendment keeping the population distribution to US Citizens. That will solve many of these problems.

Christy well done. Now how does the other side put the toothpast back in the tube?

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elce's avatar

Fund for Santa Barbara website tells you all you need to know about she/he, he/him, they/them. https://fundforsantabarbara.org

Indeed, why are there getting even one single dime from Santa Barbara taxpayers. Was it not started with seed money from local social justice acrtivist Sara Miller McCune decades ago?

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Pat Fish's avatar

Those of us who are California natives and live in a nostalgic fantasy about the Golden State watch these travesties of justice and wonder how it ever came to this.

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Evelyne's avatar

Pat,

Quite right. Either I was absolutely clueless of the REAL political scene 30-40 years ago…(highly likely)…but that tale of those frogs slowly boiled in a pot comes to mind…before they realize it…they’re cooked!

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Bill Clausen's avatar

I started to wake up to what was happening in the early 1990's myself.

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elce's avatar

The biggest recent political change in my opinion happened when California voters tried twice to put government employee pension reform on the ballot in the early 2000's, back when Kamala Harris was AG. These government pension reform measures could have staved off this huge government pension under-funding free fall, we now face in this state. Do you remember seeing these pension reform measures at that time?

Because both reform measures failed, we find ourselves today required to fund promised government pensions in ever greater amounts every year, which drains out more tax revenues every year, as these baby boomer government employees now retire. Today we fund the present government worker, as well as being required to supplement the now retired worker, because not enough pension investment money was set aside. This is the now infamous "underfunded pension liability" tax payers must make good on.

This leaves all other present government needs and services begging for tax dollars, that today requires increased taxes. We have already seen this play out in Santa Barbara over the past few years, and are now chronically held hostage to keep passing even more tax hikes.

While being told you cannot do XYZ because "we don't have the money". The money is there, it is just that others got their hands on it first thanks to actions taken by past elected leaders. So no today one can be held accountable for this current free-fall situation. There are no do-overs. All efforts to change this new reality have failed.

Nor has any present group of elected officials, since those earlier pension promises were made, come to grips with this issue either. Term-limits insured no one needed to take a long term view of the long predicted fiscal peril we are now finally facing. Witness this current city council majority, who just spent even more money that we do not have.

After these two state-wide efforts to get government pension reform on the ballot failed in the early 2000's, Democrats swooped in to take over every elected position they could find with massive teacher union and SEIU support. Assume this take-over was their insurance policy to make sure "government pension reform" was never put in political jeopardy, ever again.

Next stop was testing the courts to see if there was a legal solution to falling off the government pension fiscal cliff, due to the ruinous nature of the prior government pension promises made. Courts turned this case down, using the California Constitution as their defense - once these pension contracts were made, they cannot be changed. The Calif Constitution would need to be changed first.

Now supporting under-funded government employee pensions becomes a primary driver in many decisions made by our governing bodies today - decisions such as who gets elected, what issues do the staff support, and who provides the campaign workers to get out the votes in their own favor. Pass more taxes, buy more votes, keep creating other "crises" to deflect and distract from the real fiscal crisis - we finally ran out of OPM.

Who ever wins elections claiming they are going to take a red pencil to the city budget, and a blue pencil to city operations? Voters don't want to deal with this either.

Government pension funding has become job number one for this state, and a few other states who are even worse off than California.

Best book, now dated, that explains this slow moving train wreck is "While America Aged" by Roger Lowenstein - How Pension Debts Ruined General Motors, Stopped the NYC Subways, Bankrupted San Diego and Loom as the Next Financial Crisis.

Buying present labor peace in both private and public organizations, with unsustainable future pension promises that would only need to be paid off "some day" was the name of the game. But that someday, when those promises were made to finally pay off, is now........20-30 years later.

We no longer are government of the people, by the people or, for the people. We are now government, just to support government itself.

Government employee unions, over the past several decades since 1962, have now fully inserted themselves and protection of their own promised benefits between we the people and our ability to control our own government.

That is one reason why everything feels so different now.

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elce's avatar

Remember back when we thought San Francisco Assemblyman Willie Brown's lock, command and control of the state legislature was the worst thing that had ever happened?

That led to voters passing term limits along with other deceptive "election reform" measures. Term limits in turn created successive waves of know-nothing state legislators under even less accountability than Willie Brown.

Instead it created majorities of state legislators who in turn were now wholly dependent on the teachers unions and SEIU support for their own short, but undistinguished, "term limited" political careers. And yet again we remain under the thrall of the uber-powerful SF contingent, but this time in the name of Scott Weiner.

The rest, as they say, is now history. Voters got lazy, elected officials increasingly irresponsible and unaccountable, and the growing power of unelected political insiders more perverse. The term-limits cure in retrospect was worse than the disease. Lest we forget.

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Earl Brown's avatar

Excellent analysis.

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EnoughIsEnough805's avatar

SB 54 (California Values Act, 2017): Prevents California law enforcement from using local resources to enforce federal immigration law. Prohibits cooperation with ICE in most cases, sharing inmate release info, or housing detainees for immigration purposes.

Sheriff’s limits: Critics argue Sheriff Bill Brown is “silent” not by choice but because SB54 restricts communication and coordination with ICE.

Criticism of consequences:

ICE now conducts larger, more disruptive raids instead of smaller targeted actions. Transparency and joint operations are restricted.

Communities are left with less accountability.

Political blame: Leaders like Gavin Newsom, Salud Carbajal, Monique Limón, and Das Williams are accused of creating “chaos” and scapegoating the Sheriff while directing taxpayer funds to nonprofits (805undocufund, Immigrant Legal Defense Center) that critics say waste money on administration and political campaigns rather than true services.

Underlying claim: SB54 manipulates citizens’ empathy to entrench political power, undermines public safety, and diverts millions in local taxpayer funds toward pro-illegal immigration nonprofits.

(Critical Reply)

I am deeply troubled by Congressman Salud Carbajal’s continued support for SB54, the so-called “California Values Act.” Let’s be clear—this bill has nothing to do with “values” and everything to do with stripping our local law enforcement of the tools they need to keep our communities safe.

Because of SB54, our Sheriff cannot coordinate with ICE, cannot even provide basic release information, and is forced into silence while federal agents are left to conduct larger, more dangerous sweeps. This law doesn’t promote safety—it invites chaos. It undermines transparency, ties the hands of those sworn to protect us, and shifts the blame onto local law enforcement for problems created in Sacramento and Washington.

Meanwhile, millions of our taxpayer dollars are funneled into politically connected nonprofits that pad salaries and recycle money into campaigns, rather than truly helping anyone. This is not compassion—it’s corruption hiding under the guise of “equity.”

Congressman Carbajal and his allies need to answer why they support a policy that weakens law enforcement, endangers our neighborhoods, and siphons hard-earned tax dollars to organizations more focused on politics than people. If this is their definition of “values,” then it’s time for new leadership that actually values public safety, accountability, and the law.

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LT's avatar

In the meantime, our schools, healthcare and public housing are all struggling, in part due to illegal migration. And they wonder why people are leaving California in droves. Remind us of the definition of insanity again?

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Howard Walther's avatar

Hello LT, I have already left. It's OVER.

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TVW's avatar

I believe there are quite a few people who have at least one foot out the door including selling/exchanging California investment real estate for places like Utah and Idaho...or entire families relocating to place their children in functioning public schools. Too bad, however this what your friends and neighbors support w/ their votes. Only other option is to riot and burn down cities...oh wait....

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Aug 23
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Howard Walther's avatar

Herr Haupt. "Guten morgen mein freund"

Cali-Storm-Trooper State ist Kaput!!!!

Zeit zu laufen laufen laufen ... zu einem neuen demokratischen Staat Nevada!!!

Thank You For Your Attention to this Matter. German Translation>

"Vielen Dank für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit zu diesem Thema"

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Earl Brown's avatar

Run to Nevada instead of staying here in CA and try get our state back?

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Bill Clausen's avatar

Like Rosie O'donnal (sp?) running to Ireland. I agree with you. We have to stop the mold from spreading.

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Aug 23Edited
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Howard Walther's avatar

Yeah gotta get out this place!!!

My Theme Song leaving CALI!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6gcxNFc1I0&ab_channel=TheAnimals-Topic

Lets sing together shall we all ................

"We Gotta Get Out of this Place

If it is the last thing we ever do"

"Girl it's a better life than me and you"

THE ANIMALS!!!

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Aug 23Edited
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Bill Clausen's avatar

If Newsom is elected to be president, it's over. California cannot export its weather but it can export its politics.

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LT's avatar

Don’t look now, but the left is trying to close Alligator Alcatraz because of “Environmental Impact.” Leave it to TREASONOUS leftists in playing the green card in order to derail Trump’s grand plan and getting our immigration policies on sound footing. It is truly amazing how the Democratic Party is actively working against our country.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/us/alligator-alcatraz-florida-ruling.html

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Earl Brown's avatar

Commie-Dems = 'TREASONOUS leftists' . . . right on!

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GM's avatar
Aug 23Edited

Kayla Hamilton was killed by an MS-13 gang member who had entered the U.S. illegally, and Jocelyn Nungaray was murdered by two Venezuelan nationals who had recently crossed the border illegally.

Never forget

Young womens lives were taken in the prime of their life by illegal aliens.

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LT's avatar
Aug 23Edited

Many people, (especially in our little SB enviro bubble) may not realize that RIGHT NOW, Trump has ordered a flotilla of US Navy Destroyers and other ships off the coast of Venezuela. Quite possibly to either do a snatch and grab (ala Noriega) or rub out Maduro. This military operation would send a stern messages to both the MS-13 Cartel and Putin that the gloves are coming off.

Difficult times require difficult measures. Apologies to the non-interventionist MAGA crowd, but Trump realizes that sometimes you need to kick some ass and take names!

https://www.twz.com/sea/u-s-navy-destroyers-submarine-amphibious-ships-being-sent-toward-venezuela

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Justin M. Ruhge's avatar

Our problems in California are due to Democrats, remember that in the next election.

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Chas McClure's avatar

I feel very unrepresented as a citizen, homeowner.

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elce's avatar

CMcC: You are not alone. There are issues than can win elections and insert new political forces in this town. But there needs to be a very sound vetting of what is at stake and awareness of the self-interested tactics that will be used against anyone who wants this structural change. You came to the right place, to start this new community sensibilities process.

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LiberalProf's avatar

It’s amusing to think these large raids are happening for legitimate law enforcement reasons and are more than Steven Miller trying to embarrass California.

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Jeff barton's avatar

Why is it hard to imagine that law enforcement actions are happening for what are actual legitimate law enforcement reasons? That is, going after people who have broken the law. Your comment is asinine. Would you say that it is hard to imagine that the Russian collusion hoax was happening for legitimate law enforcement reasons? I imagine you would not. Where do you teach? I would love to sit in.

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Thomas John's avatar

I love the idea of you in class again Jeff.

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Justin M. Ruhge's avatar

Our problems in California are due to Democrats, remember that in the next election.

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Brent's Journal's avatar

Thanks Christy. It is an important topic that has consequences for all of us. Besides the obvious ridiculousness of not cooperating with the federal government that we are funding, a few more local issues are bothersome, such as our local government giving our tax dollars to an organization to spend opposing our federal government. Why was our local law enforcement not doing anything about the illegal employment of minors at the cannabis operation at the Glass House? It was reported that the minors were employed by a contractor: is that supposed to make it all right? Is there an investigation of that alleged contractor? Now there is an activity for local law enforcement. What about the requirement that employers file an I-9 form?

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GM's avatar
Aug 23Edited

And news just came that an Obama judge,of course has disallowed Trump from defunding Sanctuary Cities.

Hopefully an appeal will allow this to proceed.

As stated, raids are happening because of SB54 and the limitations posed to the Feds in order to arrest Illegal criminals.

Sad people don't remember the young women that have died at the hands of Illegal aliens and now,Singh,who has killed 3 people due to California giving him a Trucking License.

Casa de La Raza has no information on Charity Navigator as to where and how money is distributed. Why would they not be transparent????

Why is our tax money allowed to be given to criminals and yet there are more homeless on the street and still many citizens are unable to afford housing ,food and other necessities?

Where is the support for them? Oh right they redistributed the money to support illegal criminals.

The government and news plays on peoples emotions and purposefully deceives them in order to push through their agenda.

Compassion is necessary but common sense is also needed to determine what is propaganda and brainwashing and not the truth.

We need to vote out these individuals who do not support citizens.

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Bill Evans's avatar

Here is a couple of clips that illustrate the mindset of Hartmann, Capps and the public defender's office of how they would go above and beyond the scope of SB54 to scheme to utilize public resources to further undermine legitimate federal immigration law enforcement operations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvl7kTwUCKY&t=23559s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvl7kTwUCKY&t=28713s

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Christy Lozano's avatar

Thank you for the videos! I have submitted to Pam Bondi at the DOJ for further proof. We (35 of us) submitted letters to the DOJ on July 30 to immediately launch a formal investigation into these matters.

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TVW's avatar

Given the reality of this beautiful state being in social, cultural and economic free fall I have an oblique option:

Support the concept of California seceding from the Union...a new nation...you know..."fourth largest economy", etc., ad nauseam. It would be a "Sanctuary Nation" as the voters continue to prove themselves fools...tax hikes, Newsom, Schiff, Carbajal, majority of SB City Council, etc.

I imagine most CA voters would "bite", particularly if marketed with Trump's strong opposition to such a proposition. CA would continue to be a one party state where voters could pay even higher taxes and fees, have criminals freely walk the streets, child trafficking declared a sport and the SB Council would have an even larger makeup of Leftists who demand high-rise buildings on every block...sans parking.

Spanish would be the official language since everything is set up that way now (yawn..."press six for English") and three state flags flown concurrently: Mexican flag colors of green, white and red with a burro replacing the bear...the rainbow flag (of course) and the tranny flag with a new state motto of "Ollie Ollie All in Free".

Ironically, I assume many legal immigrants would choose to leave the new nation of California and its' White liberal lunatics behind while being welcomed into the remaining 49 states...or Biden's case...53 remaining states. Ancillary bonus...there are potentially at least seven other states that could follow California's example.

Is this a great country or what...?

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Earl Brown's avatar

Great idea! We could call it PukeaFornia!

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TheotokosAppreciator's avatar

"Spanish would be the official language-" so long as Hapsburg Spain returns, I see no issue. "Plus Ultra!"

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elce's avatar

Gen Z holds the future of this state in their hands. Are they up to it?

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TVW's avatar

Tough call. If Gen Z women vote in larger numbers...then CA will continue free fall.

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Earl Brown's avatar

Really? You think it's the broads?

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GM's avatar

Yup. Most male Gen Z's are more Conservative than females.

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Mark's avatar

The Democrats love to scream at the Public, “No one is above the law”. Unless you’re a Democrat, Liberal, LBGTQ, radicalized minority, or an illegal alien! What hypocrites!

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Mark's avatar

The Democrats like to scream at the public. About no one is above the law. Unless you’re a Democrat, Liberal, LBGTQ, radical minority, or an illegal alien! What hypocrites!

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