Nicely written, right on point, and I especially like the "frosting on a stale cake' line. Brian, the City council needs you to join Randy and turn the council votes and numbers.
Brian--Exactly! The entire lot of councilmembers should be tarred and feathered. What a weak bunch of do nothings-no courage! The only thing they are good at is rubber stamping wasteful spending, as you clearly point out with specific examples.
Santa Barbara (and California) is in serious decline.
Excellent, Brian. I've mentioned this before here, and still don't know - who hired the “rebranding“ DSBIA “Placemakers Committee” that sent out a completely inane questionnaire like none of these “Placemakers” had ever even been to Santa Barbara? (“Placemakers” - got it? They make places!!!.) What elected-idiot (I call them EI for short) really thinks “rebranding” will fix the State Street problems? Here are the bullet points our taxpayer money got us:
For the purpose of this questionnaire, consider the word "Brand" in five parts:
• Visual Identity: Logos, colors, typography and design elements.
• Brand Messaging: Language and tone in communication.
• Brand Positioning: Perception in the market.
• Audience Experience: Interactions with the brand.
• Brand Values and Promise: Principles, commitments, and beliefs.
The only people who speak like this are bueruacrats, politicians, Democrats and schmucks. It is as if by substitution of grandiose verbiage, vapid thoughts are given meaning. None of the branding bullet points mean shit to the future viability of State Street. Most of these idiots, and this includes the council, have never had a job where any form of productivity is required. These parasites need to be plucked from the public crotch and crushed to leave a small brown stain to their legacy.
When deciding to visit and spend money on State, top of mind is consideration of State Street as a brand and if that brand comports with my values. I find some fonts triggering. I consider what others might think. The smell of urine, homeless sleeping in alcoves and on benches and the velodrome are invisible to me. https://youtu.be/pDCyNlE7Ldo
It’s worse than what you state. Why? Two words. Unfunded Liabilities. Yup the dirty little accounting trick that hides the massive unfunded future debt to pay city and county employees often bloated salaries and retirement/medical benefits forced in by local unions. Have you noticed the sneaky pay raise many city agencies got under the guise of closing Fridays? Supposedly to do paperwork but when I have shown up nobody is in sight. Seems a lot like less work for the same pay ie a sneaky hourly pay raise. We need a DOGE department run by citizens in every city and county. Lets get THAT on the ballot and maybe we can solve this. Otherwise as with all Democrat run cities it won’t be long before we too look like a third world country. It is starting already.
Not too many years ago, State Street was vital to the Celebration of Santa Barbara in many ways, Historically, Culturally, and Shopping! Taking those away, gone is Identity. Now we have an angry local population unable to carry on age old traditions. What appears to be completely logical to return our Paradise to its once glory days has been captured by elected more interested in their self preservation. Getting started, the need for “name changes” on the Council needs to happen.
Never vote for any incumbent. Find replacements now to actively support: D4,5,6 and Mayor race is almost here June, 2026! Convince Brian to run, then actively back him with time, money, and your voice.
Randy Rowse is doing a good job. He can’t do anything if there are not four other like- minded city council reps. Time for a good civics lesson. We the voters did not give him this.
Very sad, but all true. SB and more specifically, State Street has become a microcosm of our society as a whole. Vibrate shops, restaurants and retail which had paid massive city taxes, fees and the cornerstone of our community, has been replaced by boarded up shops, panhandling, urine soaked streets and a out of control E-bike autobahn.
What’s next? How about more taxpayer subsidized housing? Sure, who needs retail commerce when you have wealthy property owners who can pick up the tab?
SB city leadership is a disaster, made up in part, by neoliberal, “comunista” activists. Yes, Socialism is on the rise with entitled 20-30 year olds. Just look no further than NYC Mayoral candidate, Mamdani who is a devout socialist and is an example as to what is coming here locally. It would seem this is the direction young voters are going. After all, why save and work yourself to death when housing, shelter, healthcare and transportation can all be provided for you?
The 40% of those locally, who owns property and pays the salaries needs to unite and demand action, before it’s too late. Time is running out on State Street, should tourism fall off dramatically, our great city infrastructure may very well collapse.
Laugh, how many times will well written comments on the failure of this SB Council. Prioritizing spending that is long term over fu-fu street plans that kill retail and have not produced the vaunted revitalization of Down Town Santa Barbara?
Here is a quote from Mr. Campbell: "You don’t call a plan “community-driven” when the community keeps asking, “Where’s the plan?”
At each turn for over a decade the anti car, close the streets and make it hard on visitors to get around town have held the Council Majority. They did not and do not give a darn about what works.
CAB gave a "PLAN" that would open the streets, stop failed bublouts, use official City Stats proving bike use has failed.
The "PLAN" was open State Street to what it was in the 1970's. It would have cost less than $2. million. In experimental terms it would have been a clean and objective to prove or disapprove Dave Davis and his 40+ year old shut down State St.
Anyone watch NHK news? Just this week Japan is imposing strict e-vbike rules that include registration, operator licenses, and more safe and robust construction. They have had it with these e-motorcyles and are going to stop un-safe and irrational use on their streets.
Once again a reasonable look at "big government" spending while ignoring what works. You have a staff that was intentionally hired to coverup failure. How many code 3 responses on the street in the past 2 months involving bikes?
Thanks to Mr. Campbell for pointing out the continued failing pie in the sky of this council. The forecast from last year is now proving the failure. (thanks for the $11 million point - we stated it would fail and it now is)
Come to the CAB meeting today (Wed.) at the Elks Lodge in Goleta - 12:00 noon. Love to give you time to talk.
I share the many reader comments to this article . Closing State Street destroyed the Downtown as a vibrant pedestrian place. It took away many of the communities parades and shoved them over to side streets or down at the beach. How much time, money and effort have been put into the heart of the city—de La Guerra plaza—with what result? Have you noticed the neglect of restored adobes at the Presidio? Presidio founding day is no longer celebrated. And the general lack of commitment to our Hispano heritage at the presidio?
The 11 million dollar tunnel to nowhere says it all.
I am a George Frakes guy, you know the anti car and oil fuel guys of the 1970's are driving this.
You also know this organization supported keeping the Plaza open and had a good understanding with one of the top DO Directors. She told both Staff, Council including Hart and Williams State had to remain open.
The current City Administrators refuses to answer questions her previous CA's answered proving most of this transportation grid junk is just that.
Thanks for staying engaged ... I would be easy after the last 20 years to walk away.
What's it gonna take for the stupid voters to finally figure out it will take a Trump-type ass kicker to straighten out the mess that is now Santa Barbara. The whole city goes down the tubes?
How much power can one DOGE city council member have against the power of six other city employee union backed city council members? A reality check is needed. Otherwise all this good energy is only tilting at windmills. A strategic plan is needed. Re-elect Randy and identify four more votes to work together to get change.
What districts are next up for re- election and wha er WE going to do about getting better candidates elected, even when they are not in our districts? Who will we recruit and from what specific districts. Roll up your sleeves, and practical suggestion only please.
Thanks for writing. State Street was changing way before Covid; many stores were leaving and the enforcement of threatening crazies commandeering the benches, peeing where they needed and scaring the crap out of pedestrians was weakened by silly too compassionate laws.
The fix was in: anti business and emerging socialism led by the far left ranting in council meetings about how things aren't fair. Then, Covid shut down the city. It was interesting that the business resurgence to placate the restaurants by allowing makeshift street structures sailed right through council; sadly, the (remaining) retail shops were forgotten.
Folks were glad to be alive wearing masks and enjolyed walking in the street. The ridiculous battle began when folks said, "Move the unsafe structures back to the store front, allow restaurants to remodel opening the fronts and retlurn the street to normal. Well, some of council envisioned a car-less European promenade promising a huge business revival and dug in wanting another study to prove and convince. Business is bad, except for e-bike sales and most locals avoid the area. There is plenty of blame for the State Street mishandling and the majority of it is the council's fault. More importantly, we all know how to change this lousy leadership, but will we?
Charming European pedestrian promenades are not surrounded by two-story commercial buildings. The are surrounded by 4-6 story or higher studio apartment buildings. Did any of these gauzy eyed city planners ever actually live in these “vibrant” pedestrian mall cities year round? We would need a forest of view-blocking Granada buildings to even come close to replicating the whole package.
After returning from a trip that included a stop in Copenhagen, Denmark, my wife and I were struck by the vitality of the city’s pedestrian-only shopping streets. These lively zones were bustling—packed with shoppers, families, and diners spilling out onto narrow streets adorned with café tables. There were no curbs, no traffic, and notably, no bicycles allowed unless walked. The effect? A sense of calm, safety, and joy that encouraged people to linger, browse, and spend.
If Santa Barbara is serious about revitalizing State Street and making it a true pedestrian haven, we must stop trying to accommodate every form of traffic. A street cannot feel like a refuge while bikes are darting between strollers and sidewalk diners. The vision should be bold: a space where people feel safe, welcome, and prioritized. Copenhagen shows us what’s possible—we just need the will to make it happen.
We travel to other areas of So Cal and other areas of the country where they have thriving malls and promenades.
There are a few differences I’ve noted from observation and talking to business owners.
The Cities take more pride in their businesses than SB, the Cities are more business friendly, there are none to very little homeless around the areas.
My question is, what keeps petiole away from downtown?
Over the decades State St, Paseo Nuevo and Five Points have been slowly dying.
The City with its “professionals” have not done anything to stop the bleeding.
Now every anchor store has left the area.
And it was not because of the $1 rent. Yes, the rent was literally Pennie’s.
Paul- residents and tourists with money to spend need to live near — within 1/4 mile walking distance of pedestrian malls; which also require convenient major parking garages for visitors. I hear you having had a flat in London for a few decades. Building affordable low income housing around the core, Council’s desired pedestrian /bicycle mall, is a huge mistake! Council reps are provincial, unsophisticated, ignorant or stupid. Eli Luria and friends once paid for an impressive master plan of a 2-block pedestrian mall around DeLaGuerra Plaza. Council has that plan but preferred to gift $2M to cronies.
Surrounded by small 4-6 story apartment buildings where one lives primarily in a very small studio apartment, forcing one out on the street for breathing room. You must adapt the whole package, not just the superficial secondary effect.
Copenhagen has one main, continuous pedestrian zone called Strøget, which is one of the longest in Europe. It is not a single street, but a series of interconnected streets and squares, encompassing around 25 acres (100,000 sqm). There are also other smaller pedestrian streets and areas within the city, but Strøget is the most prominent and longest continuous pedestrian zone.
What seems to me to be importan in any local government is to find our what the actual priorities and plans are. Vs the ones stated in campaign runs and ongoing ads and public speeches. The idea that what one says isn’t as important as what one does speaks very clearly in politics today. From Trump (or anyone in either party) right down to local commissioners or trustees. Look at their actions vs listening to their words. Look at the trends of what has been “accomplished” vs what they tout. That shows clearer than words what the priorities are. Pocketing money; moving money into pet projects or the hands of people who control and bought you; all designed to ultimately destroy America in general. This is what we need to wake up to. From destructive weather control to destructive drugs and shots to economic collapse to local gangs and mobs or global wars. It’s all intended to destroy us.
My rep, Mike Jordan, failed to be honest when I ran against him. He lied about the bike patch along Cliff. He said it was approved ., but the City never applied. He said cars are the cause of global warming and said that everyone needs to ride a bicycle while he drive around in his full size pickup truck. He said there were no homeless on the mesa, then said the homeless just need a day time hang out spot like the library.
Randy in 12 years at City Hall has done, ?????
He passed an oversized vehicle parking ban because the homeless were parking under his window.
This far no one has been able to point to anything other than he’s a good guy. He’s definitely a politician.
Lying is “Freedom of Speech” replies CA Fair Political Practices Commission. Former elected official Economist Lanny Ebenstein lies, it’s made known to voters , and regardless, locals knowingly vote Lanny’s position to tax themselves to 2062 without a plan..
How can voter mindset be changed? It can’t: voters here are rich with discretionary income to waste, or they live here at the expense of others.
Only taxed property owners, homeowners, pay for public K-14 schools. No need for renters to care: they benefit at no cost thanks to rent control.
Apparently, the Homeowner majority don’t care as evidenced by their failure to object, organize, and shout: ENOUGH!
Catering to the demands of city employee union is job #1 which insures one’s re-election. Or selling out upfront to get elected in the first place.That is the hurdle we cannot ….yet….get past. Any ideas?
That’s a good observation and one all cities and towns need to deal with. Even if there’s no union, a tyranical mayor or town employees can wreck the same controlling damage.
The only hope I see is working to break the programming in the general population that has them believing the unions and tyranny are good for us. We are doing that in our isolated MT county and the county seat town by publishing what the mayor is doing to hinder a study commission. And then what that commission is unearthing. We are breaking open past, corrupt business deals and publishing that. It’s not an overnight fix. Here, we still have folks not programmed but just not paying attention. Which is a form of programming itself. But the more the truth gets out the more restless the citizens get. That can lead to change at the polls or even to getting petitions signed to recall folks from office.
The west and east coasts are basically communist countries controlled by elected dictators. With deeply indoctrinated/programmed from school years and MSM citizens. That has spread inland with about half and half going either away from or towards the same trend. Breaking that programming and indoctrination isn’t impossible but it’s damned difficult. Study that science. Propaganda and the making of cults. It is a science and you can get degrees in those areas in many universities. That is where you need to start. And that is the thing that needs undoing. You can really only do that in local areas. A tiny school district that a few people bring a new breath of fresh air into by stepping in to help. Keeping a sense of humor but always telling the truth that can be documented. Attending the board meetings and speaking up. Knowing when to speak and when to speak and then be quiet.
It’s hard work but this substack is a very good one. It’s one of the better wedges into the propaganda and programming that I see. Keep at it. Always tell the truth. Show the truth. Step up and keep trying to run against the folks who keep getting re-elected. It’s not the “fix it” answer anyone is looking for but so far, it seems to be the only answer we have.
Unions need to reinvent themselves, and get back on only one side if the bargaining table. They badly need a new mission and message instead of endless parroting of the exact same thing…we are overwork, underpaid, under appreciated, and our morale is bad.
They are a mockingbird tyranny today, have destroyed fiscal accountability and created unsustainable public debt we can no longer dig ourselves out from under.
When taxpayers are their only funding source and their only message is we want more of your tax dollars, no accountability for work product, efficiencies or rooting out internal corruption while having captured the entire political process, they earned every accusations of being the one primary causefor the down fall of our noble experiment in self-governance.
Unions in the public sector have no place. They must be eliminated. Then a new model for mutual benefit cooperation between employee-employer must be reinvented. Public sector unions are vile and must be banned. Period. They did this to themselves. Time for their bitter medicine.
The unions are part of the programming I mentioned. They won’t change because they are used to propagandize/program the union members and the citizens. They are run by people who are programmed themselves and controlled by still more programmed organizations and people. Until you get to the top where the strings are being manipulated. You can’t fight unions and propaganda and programming directly. Or by even saying “they need to change.” That becomes like a bird flying into a window. We want to simply counter their messages with documentable truth. And encourage fed-up citizens to not comply and to vote differently.
When you understand the enormity of propaganda and programming/indoctrination changing groups deeply indoctrinated is not possible. You have to work with people one at a time. Use these kinds of venues to speak and show the truth. Step up and run for a school board or board of health. And be the dissident on that board even if you are outvoted. Slowly, pockets of awareness evolve. Slowly pockets of resistence and non-compliance will form. But saying “they must” does no good. The wall of indoctrination turns a deaf ear to those words and destroys the person who runs into that wall. The words have no effect. We have to act on what we want to have happen. Even if we are alone as we act. Over time, truth slowly opens hearts, minds and eyes.
Nicely written, right on point, and I especially like the "frosting on a stale cake' line. Brian, the City council needs you to join Randy and turn the council votes and numbers.
Please pray about doing it Brian. Such a good article
Brian--Exactly! The entire lot of councilmembers should be tarred and feathered. What a weak bunch of do nothings-no courage! The only thing they are good at is rubber stamping wasteful spending, as you clearly point out with specific examples.
Santa Barbara (and California) is in serious decline.
Excellent, Brian. I've mentioned this before here, and still don't know - who hired the “rebranding“ DSBIA “Placemakers Committee” that sent out a completely inane questionnaire like none of these “Placemakers” had ever even been to Santa Barbara? (“Placemakers” - got it? They make places!!!.) What elected-idiot (I call them EI for short) really thinks “rebranding” will fix the State Street problems? Here are the bullet points our taxpayer money got us:
For the purpose of this questionnaire, consider the word "Brand" in five parts:
• Visual Identity: Logos, colors, typography and design elements.
• Brand Messaging: Language and tone in communication.
• Brand Positioning: Perception in the market.
• Audience Experience: Interactions with the brand.
• Brand Values and Promise: Principles, commitments, and beliefs.
The only people who speak like this are bueruacrats, politicians, Democrats and schmucks. It is as if by substitution of grandiose verbiage, vapid thoughts are given meaning. None of the branding bullet points mean shit to the future viability of State Street. Most of these idiots, and this includes the council, have never had a job where any form of productivity is required. These parasites need to be plucked from the public crotch and crushed to leave a small brown stain to their legacy.
Lololol. You said it, Jeff.
When deciding to visit and spend money on State, top of mind is consideration of State Street as a brand and if that brand comports with my values. I find some fonts triggering. I consider what others might think. The smell of urine, homeless sleeping in alcoves and on benches and the velodrome are invisible to me. https://youtu.be/pDCyNlE7Ldo
😂😂😂😂😂
Thank you, Brian. You nailed it! We need new leadership to bring back the heart and soul of and to our city--State Street.
You need a new majority on city council. “Leadership” is the wrong answer.
It’s worse than what you state. Why? Two words. Unfunded Liabilities. Yup the dirty little accounting trick that hides the massive unfunded future debt to pay city and county employees often bloated salaries and retirement/medical benefits forced in by local unions. Have you noticed the sneaky pay raise many city agencies got under the guise of closing Fridays? Supposedly to do paperwork but when I have shown up nobody is in sight. Seems a lot like less work for the same pay ie a sneaky hourly pay raise. We need a DOGE department run by citizens in every city and county. Lets get THAT on the ballot and maybe we can solve this. Otherwise as with all Democrat run cities it won’t be long before we too look like a third world country. It is starting already.
Not too many years ago, State Street was vital to the Celebration of Santa Barbara in many ways, Historically, Culturally, and Shopping! Taking those away, gone is Identity. Now we have an angry local population unable to carry on age old traditions. What appears to be completely logical to return our Paradise to its once glory days has been captured by elected more interested in their self preservation. Getting started, the need for “name changes” on the Council needs to happen.
Never vote for any incumbent. Find replacements now to actively support: D4,5,6 and Mayor race is almost here June, 2026! Convince Brian to run, then actively back him with time, money, and your voice.
Randy Rowse is doing a good job. He can’t do anything if there are not four other like- minded city council reps. Time for a good civics lesson. We the voters did not give him this.
*3 other, in other words: 4 total like-minded city council reps.
Very sad, but all true. SB and more specifically, State Street has become a microcosm of our society as a whole. Vibrate shops, restaurants and retail which had paid massive city taxes, fees and the cornerstone of our community, has been replaced by boarded up shops, panhandling, urine soaked streets and a out of control E-bike autobahn.
What’s next? How about more taxpayer subsidized housing? Sure, who needs retail commerce when you have wealthy property owners who can pick up the tab?
SB city leadership is a disaster, made up in part, by neoliberal, “comunista” activists. Yes, Socialism is on the rise with entitled 20-30 year olds. Just look no further than NYC Mayoral candidate, Mamdani who is a devout socialist and is an example as to what is coming here locally. It would seem this is the direction young voters are going. After all, why save and work yourself to death when housing, shelter, healthcare and transportation can all be provided for you?
The 40% of those locally, who owns property and pays the salaries needs to unite and demand action, before it’s too late. Time is running out on State Street, should tourism fall off dramatically, our great city infrastructure may very well collapse.
Laugh, how many times will well written comments on the failure of this SB Council. Prioritizing spending that is long term over fu-fu street plans that kill retail and have not produced the vaunted revitalization of Down Town Santa Barbara?
Here is a quote from Mr. Campbell: "You don’t call a plan “community-driven” when the community keeps asking, “Where’s the plan?”
At each turn for over a decade the anti car, close the streets and make it hard on visitors to get around town have held the Council Majority. They did not and do not give a darn about what works.
CAB gave a "PLAN" that would open the streets, stop failed bublouts, use official City Stats proving bike use has failed.
The "PLAN" was open State Street to what it was in the 1970's. It would have cost less than $2. million. In experimental terms it would have been a clean and objective to prove or disapprove Dave Davis and his 40+ year old shut down State St.
Anyone watch NHK news? Just this week Japan is imposing strict e-vbike rules that include registration, operator licenses, and more safe and robust construction. They have had it with these e-motorcyles and are going to stop un-safe and irrational use on their streets.
Once again a reasonable look at "big government" spending while ignoring what works. You have a staff that was intentionally hired to coverup failure. How many code 3 responses on the street in the past 2 months involving bikes?
Thanks to Mr. Campbell for pointing out the continued failing pie in the sky of this council. The forecast from last year is now proving the failure. (thanks for the $11 million point - we stated it would fail and it now is)
Come to the CAB meeting today (Wed.) at the Elks Lodge in Goleta - 12:00 noon. Love to give you time to talk.
I share the many reader comments to this article . Closing State Street destroyed the Downtown as a vibrant pedestrian place. It took away many of the communities parades and shoved them over to side streets or down at the beach. How much time, money and effort have been put into the heart of the city—de La Guerra plaza—with what result? Have you noticed the neglect of restored adobes at the Presidio? Presidio founding day is no longer celebrated. And the general lack of commitment to our Hispano heritage at the presidio?
The 11 million dollar tunnel to nowhere says it all.
I am a George Frakes guy, you know the anti car and oil fuel guys of the 1970's are driving this.
You also know this organization supported keeping the Plaza open and had a good understanding with one of the top DO Directors. She told both Staff, Council including Hart and Williams State had to remain open.
The current City Administrators refuses to answer questions her previous CA's answered proving most of this transportation grid junk is just that.
Thanks for staying engaged ... I would be easy after the last 20 years to walk away.
I’m reminded of some of the Ghost towns I’ve seen. When the Gold ran out , so did the people.
What's it gonna take for the stupid voters to finally figure out it will take a Trump-type ass kicker to straighten out the mess that is now Santa Barbara. The whole city goes down the tubes?
How much power can one DOGE city council member have against the power of six other city employee union backed city council members? A reality check is needed. Otherwise all this good energy is only tilting at windmills. A strategic plan is needed. Re-elect Randy and identify four more votes to work together to get change.
What districts are next up for re- election and wha er WE going to do about getting better candidates elected, even when they are not in our districts? Who will we recruit and from what specific districts. Roll up your sleeves, and practical suggestion only please.
Well stated
We’re a ship afloat without a rudder and the crew is below deck playing cards and drinking rum.
I hate to mention him but you know you could pull a "Gregg Hart" and run again for city council. . .
You've hit the nail on the head.
Thanks for writing. State Street was changing way before Covid; many stores were leaving and the enforcement of threatening crazies commandeering the benches, peeing where they needed and scaring the crap out of pedestrians was weakened by silly too compassionate laws.
The fix was in: anti business and emerging socialism led by the far left ranting in council meetings about how things aren't fair. Then, Covid shut down the city. It was interesting that the business resurgence to placate the restaurants by allowing makeshift street structures sailed right through council; sadly, the (remaining) retail shops were forgotten.
Folks were glad to be alive wearing masks and enjolyed walking in the street. The ridiculous battle began when folks said, "Move the unsafe structures back to the store front, allow restaurants to remodel opening the fronts and retlurn the street to normal. Well, some of council envisioned a car-less European promenade promising a huge business revival and dug in wanting another study to prove and convince. Business is bad, except for e-bike sales and most locals avoid the area. There is plenty of blame for the State Street mishandling and the majority of it is the council's fault. More importantly, we all know how to change this lousy leadership, but will we?
Charming European pedestrian promenades are not surrounded by two-story commercial buildings. The are surrounded by 4-6 story or higher studio apartment buildings. Did any of these gauzy eyed city planners ever actually live in these “vibrant” pedestrian mall cities year round? We would need a forest of view-blocking Granada buildings to even come close to replicating the whole package.
After returning from a trip that included a stop in Copenhagen, Denmark, my wife and I were struck by the vitality of the city’s pedestrian-only shopping streets. These lively zones were bustling—packed with shoppers, families, and diners spilling out onto narrow streets adorned with café tables. There were no curbs, no traffic, and notably, no bicycles allowed unless walked. The effect? A sense of calm, safety, and joy that encouraged people to linger, browse, and spend.
If Santa Barbara is serious about revitalizing State Street and making it a true pedestrian haven, we must stop trying to accommodate every form of traffic. A street cannot feel like a refuge while bikes are darting between strollers and sidewalk diners. The vision should be bold: a space where people feel safe, welcome, and prioritized. Copenhagen shows us what’s possible—we just need the will to make it happen.
We travel to other areas of So Cal and other areas of the country where they have thriving malls and promenades.
There are a few differences I’ve noted from observation and talking to business owners.
The Cities take more pride in their businesses than SB, the Cities are more business friendly, there are none to very little homeless around the areas.
My question is, what keeps petiole away from downtown?
Over the decades State St, Paseo Nuevo and Five Points have been slowly dying.
The City with its “professionals” have not done anything to stop the bleeding.
Now every anchor store has left the area.
And it was not because of the $1 rent. Yes, the rent was literally Pennie’s.
You nailed it with how shabby everything looks on State Street. Cobbled together 2x4 dining extensions, no coherence in landscaping, etc.
Paul- residents and tourists with money to spend need to live near — within 1/4 mile walking distance of pedestrian malls; which also require convenient major parking garages for visitors. I hear you having had a flat in London for a few decades. Building affordable low income housing around the core, Council’s desired pedestrian /bicycle mall, is a huge mistake! Council reps are provincial, unsophisticated, ignorant or stupid. Eli Luria and friends once paid for an impressive master plan of a 2-block pedestrian mall around DeLaGuerra Plaza. Council has that plan but preferred to gift $2M to cronies.
Surrounded by small 4-6 story apartment buildings where one lives primarily in a very small studio apartment, forcing one out on the street for breathing room. You must adapt the whole package, not just the superficial secondary effect.
How many blocks are closed in Copenhagen? - we have seven blocks closed - about 1800 lineal feet I'm guessing.
Copenhagen has one main, continuous pedestrian zone called Strøget, which is one of the longest in Europe. It is not a single street, but a series of interconnected streets and squares, encompassing around 25 acres (100,000 sqm). There are also other smaller pedestrian streets and areas within the city, but Strøget is the most prominent and longest continuous pedestrian zone.
I've seen what you describe in other medieval European towns. However, I have not seen one long linear closed pedestrian zone ..
What seems to me to be importan in any local government is to find our what the actual priorities and plans are. Vs the ones stated in campaign runs and ongoing ads and public speeches. The idea that what one says isn’t as important as what one does speaks very clearly in politics today. From Trump (or anyone in either party) right down to local commissioners or trustees. Look at their actions vs listening to their words. Look at the trends of what has been “accomplished” vs what they tout. That shows clearer than words what the priorities are. Pocketing money; moving money into pet projects or the hands of people who control and bought you; all designed to ultimately destroy America in general. This is what we need to wake up to. From destructive weather control to destructive drugs and shots to economic collapse to local gangs and mobs or global wars. It’s all intended to destroy us.
My rep, Mike Jordan, failed to be honest when I ran against him. He lied about the bike patch along Cliff. He said it was approved ., but the City never applied. He said cars are the cause of global warming and said that everyone needs to ride a bicycle while he drive around in his full size pickup truck. He said there were no homeless on the mesa, then said the homeless just need a day time hang out spot like the library.
Randy in 12 years at City Hall has done, ?????
He passed an oversized vehicle parking ban because the homeless were parking under his window.
This far no one has been able to point to anything other than he’s a good guy. He’s definitely a politician.
Lying is “Freedom of Speech” replies CA Fair Political Practices Commission. Former elected official Economist Lanny Ebenstein lies, it’s made known to voters , and regardless, locals knowingly vote Lanny’s position to tax themselves to 2062 without a plan..
How can voter mindset be changed? It can’t: voters here are rich with discretionary income to waste, or they live here at the expense of others.
Only taxed property owners, homeowners, pay for public K-14 schools. No need for renters to care: they benefit at no cost thanks to rent control.
Apparently, the Homeowner majority don’t care as evidenced by their failure to object, organize, and shout: ENOUGH!
Catering to the demands of city employee union is job #1 which insures one’s re-election. Or selling out upfront to get elected in the first place.That is the hurdle we cannot ….yet….get past. Any ideas?
That’s a good observation and one all cities and towns need to deal with. Even if there’s no union, a tyranical mayor or town employees can wreck the same controlling damage.
The only hope I see is working to break the programming in the general population that has them believing the unions and tyranny are good for us. We are doing that in our isolated MT county and the county seat town by publishing what the mayor is doing to hinder a study commission. And then what that commission is unearthing. We are breaking open past, corrupt business deals and publishing that. It’s not an overnight fix. Here, we still have folks not programmed but just not paying attention. Which is a form of programming itself. But the more the truth gets out the more restless the citizens get. That can lead to change at the polls or even to getting petitions signed to recall folks from office.
The west and east coasts are basically communist countries controlled by elected dictators. With deeply indoctrinated/programmed from school years and MSM citizens. That has spread inland with about half and half going either away from or towards the same trend. Breaking that programming and indoctrination isn’t impossible but it’s damned difficult. Study that science. Propaganda and the making of cults. It is a science and you can get degrees in those areas in many universities. That is where you need to start. And that is the thing that needs undoing. You can really only do that in local areas. A tiny school district that a few people bring a new breath of fresh air into by stepping in to help. Keeping a sense of humor but always telling the truth that can be documented. Attending the board meetings and speaking up. Knowing when to speak and when to speak and then be quiet.
It’s hard work but this substack is a very good one. It’s one of the better wedges into the propaganda and programming that I see. Keep at it. Always tell the truth. Show the truth. Step up and keep trying to run against the folks who keep getting re-elected. It’s not the “fix it” answer anyone is looking for but so far, it seems to be the only answer we have.
Unions need to reinvent themselves, and get back on only one side if the bargaining table. They badly need a new mission and message instead of endless parroting of the exact same thing…we are overwork, underpaid, under appreciated, and our morale is bad.
They are a mockingbird tyranny today, have destroyed fiscal accountability and created unsustainable public debt we can no longer dig ourselves out from under.
When taxpayers are their only funding source and their only message is we want more of your tax dollars, no accountability for work product, efficiencies or rooting out internal corruption while having captured the entire political process, they earned every accusations of being the one primary causefor the down fall of our noble experiment in self-governance.
Unions in the public sector have no place. They must be eliminated. Then a new model for mutual benefit cooperation between employee-employer must be reinvented. Public sector unions are vile and must be banned. Period. They did this to themselves. Time for their bitter medicine.
The unions are part of the programming I mentioned. They won’t change because they are used to propagandize/program the union members and the citizens. They are run by people who are programmed themselves and controlled by still more programmed organizations and people. Until you get to the top where the strings are being manipulated. You can’t fight unions and propaganda and programming directly. Or by even saying “they need to change.” That becomes like a bird flying into a window. We want to simply counter their messages with documentable truth. And encourage fed-up citizens to not comply and to vote differently.
When you understand the enormity of propaganda and programming/indoctrination changing groups deeply indoctrinated is not possible. You have to work with people one at a time. Use these kinds of venues to speak and show the truth. Step up and run for a school board or board of health. And be the dissident on that board even if you are outvoted. Slowly, pockets of awareness evolve. Slowly pockets of resistence and non-compliance will form. But saying “they must” does no good. The wall of indoctrination turns a deaf ear to those words and destroys the person who runs into that wall. The words have no effect. We have to act on what we want to have happen. Even if we are alone as we act. Over time, truth slowly opens hearts, minds and eyes.