I remember back in 15’ when UCSB bought the Tropicana Apartments in IV for $156 million, which at the time was the largest commercial property purchase in SB County history. Back then, Tropicana was paying $1.1 million in property taxes per year.
Now we see UCSB buying up more commercial space on State St. with even more tax base erosion to County coffers. It would seem UCSB is engaging in predatory practices, which is even more outrageous since we support UCSB with our own taxes!
Why is it Randy Rowse in a recent interview was elated when discussing this transaction? He was once an entrepreneur, doesn’t he get it?
We see even more County tax base erosion with the numerous “land trusts” whereby tens of thousands of acres of ranch land, now in the hands of environmentalists so they may study butterflies and milkweed…tax free!
The top 6 employers now in SB County are: UCSB, CHS, UCSB, VSFB, Dignity Health and SBCO itself, all paying squat in County Taxes!
How much longer until we start circling the bowl? I ask again, where are the economic forecasts from UCSB Economics Department sounding the pending economic doom?
Hopefully the help we get from God is the fog being lifted from voters eyes and the development of clear common sense thinking. Otherwise, we are headed right down the toilet.
Bonnie-another good summary of the unintended consequences of a bad state law (SB1383).
I asked one of the Marborg drivers on my route (Mesa) how they would be able to use the "articulating arm" trucks on our streets due to the number of cars parked on both sides.
He laughed and said it is not going to work in most neighborhoods.
Their automated garbage plan is impossible with on street parking. Maybe all cars can be removed from both sides of public streets on trash days?! Allow residents to use setbacks and front yards for their vehicles.
Bonnie, how dare you "...bicycles on State Street and throughout the city; they wanted free use of our sidewalks and streets as a trial project." Chuckle, the city planners backed by a Council who have repeatedly ignored fierce objections.
There is a pesky item called "equal projection under the law" so how are non-paying "business license" businesses, compared to those who are demanded to pay? Free for one should be free for all.
Here is the hated we told you so comment. Cars Are Basic is 5 months short of 27 years in operation. CAB has repeatedly stated closing streets, removing parking requirements, and of course "kick the can down the street" (contact anyone else but me), and not responding to their own failures of anti car ideology it the truth of bigots.
When you are too busy back this organization who has filed complaints, pointed out voting for illegal legislation is stupid, stood before the Coastal Commission, and you hear the little protest by radical groups and organizations you now have the truth. It is not just a suggestion of a coverup by an elite power group it is in fact a coverup.
Personally I think they should take those housing mandates and stick them up their you know what. Yes we need housing, but we don’t need mandates. Housing costs more in services than it produces in taxes. Our shopping malls are dying and now we are losing valuable downtown real estate as a tax source. Yikes!
Ya, if you sense corruption is going on, ask Trump to investigate. The FBI isn't going to help because they are swayed by the Dems, at least till the new Sherrif in Town gets a handle on things. Unless Trump starts his own law enforcement organization, it will be difficult to find out what's really happening.
And the "people" have no idea how bad local government is unless they know what's really going on in secret. I know enough to set the City/County governments back millions of dollars in lawsuits ... and that's only the tip of the iceberg. The only solution to local SB government is to wipe the slate clean and start over. The smell inside those government buildings is way too stagnant and needs to be cleared out ... the big, red reset button needs to be activated.
Thank you, Bonnie, once again for a very informative article on the ruination of Santa Barbara. Seeing the ridiculous projects that are being put up in this town and reading your article about the amount of properties UCSB, et al have in this state , I feel like I am living through a scene out of Alice in Wonderland and am concerned that we may have gone down the rabbit hole just a little too far, wondering if we can ever get out. With information like yours, though, and making it available to more and more of the public, perhaps we can.
My two cents: Start putting LOTS of pressure on ALL members of the Board of Supervisors who are "supposedly" there on the BOS to represent "We the People." The pressure I'm talking about is: Get OUR work done or get ready to be "primaried and thrown out" in the next election. Without these actual brutal threats and actions, nothing will get done and no one will bother representing "We the People."
The same climate change crowd in Sacramento that have saved the delta smelt, while allowing the forests of the state near the urban interface to become tinder boxes, have inflicted development without parking on us. This includes Hart and Limon. “God help us” is a correct plea. We need to go to the ballot box and replace these people with someone who is not blinded by the failed ideas exemplified by Governor Newscum
Regents...aren't they the same people that keep voting pay increases for the chancellors while people get crushed by student debt?
Another thing, isn't UCSB all about environmental stewardship even as they destroy the environment with bring in endless numbers of people to an already-overcrowded area, not to mention the effects of overdevelopment?
Stellar summation of what’s wrong that needs to be made right! When will property owners UNITE, those of us who pay property taxes? Problem Identified: City Council has no leaders. They’re weak ‘electible’ DEM sheep who need the paycheck who choose to babble. Council reps refuse to take the offense or to join other cities like Huntington Beach to fight mandates. Mayor Rowse is a nice guy, the only one who represents all city residents but he has no support. He has opted to become a figurehead, Gaucho Alum in full support of both UCSB acquisitions and tax exemptions for commercial and residential properties. UCSB & SBCC love Council and BOS! The City can easily raise its fees on the remaining property owners who pay taxes, and charge more for water and other services. Besides with escalating home prices for years, County revenues have increased to provide all government workers excessive pay packages which they’re each holding onto by not taking any risks. They choose to hang low fearing one day the public will wake up and act. When will we unite to reverse course?
A spark of common sense! Thanks Bonnie.
Make California great again! Including Santa Barbara!
I decided this morning that I will work on Gruesome's recall and I've never done a political thing in my long life. There is hope in the air!
What do you think about Steve Hilton for governor?
Rick Caruso would be great too.
No more foreigners. We’ve many qualified Californians.
Non profit real estate ...the corruption ...it will all be exposed. Thank you, Bonnie Donavan for being the first to confront this .
Thank you Bonnie, I think it will take an act of God for our City, County and State officials to legislate with common sense in our behalf.
I remember back in 15’ when UCSB bought the Tropicana Apartments in IV for $156 million, which at the time was the largest commercial property purchase in SB County history. Back then, Tropicana was paying $1.1 million in property taxes per year.
Now we see UCSB buying up more commercial space on State St. with even more tax base erosion to County coffers. It would seem UCSB is engaging in predatory practices, which is even more outrageous since we support UCSB with our own taxes!
Why is it Randy Rowse in a recent interview was elated when discussing this transaction? He was once an entrepreneur, doesn’t he get it?
We see even more County tax base erosion with the numerous “land trusts” whereby tens of thousands of acres of ranch land, now in the hands of environmentalists so they may study butterflies and milkweed…tax free!
The top 6 employers now in SB County are: UCSB, CHS, UCSB, VSFB, Dignity Health and SBCO itself, all paying squat in County Taxes!
How much longer until we start circling the bowl? I ask again, where are the economic forecasts from UCSB Economics Department sounding the pending economic doom?
Oh that’s right, UCSB is the major culprit!
Thank you for your diligence and common sense.
It’s ridiculous replacing functional garbage cans. Why not wait until they are broken.
It would be interesting know how much property tax is forgiven for the non profits, educational and religious properties in SB.
Hopefully the help we get from God is the fog being lifted from voters eyes and the development of clear common sense thinking. Otherwise, we are headed right down the toilet.
Bonnie-another good summary of the unintended consequences of a bad state law (SB1383).
I asked one of the Marborg drivers on my route (Mesa) how they would be able to use the "articulating arm" trucks on our streets due to the number of cars parked on both sides.
He laughed and said it is not going to work in most neighborhoods.
Their automated garbage plan is impossible with on street parking. Maybe all cars can be removed from both sides of public streets on trash days?! Allow residents to use setbacks and front yards for their vehicles.
Fantastic article.
Bonnie, how dare you "...bicycles on State Street and throughout the city; they wanted free use of our sidewalks and streets as a trial project." Chuckle, the city planners backed by a Council who have repeatedly ignored fierce objections.
There is a pesky item called "equal projection under the law" so how are non-paying "business license" businesses, compared to those who are demanded to pay? Free for one should be free for all.
Here is the hated we told you so comment. Cars Are Basic is 5 months short of 27 years in operation. CAB has repeatedly stated closing streets, removing parking requirements, and of course "kick the can down the street" (contact anyone else but me), and not responding to their own failures of anti car ideology it the truth of bigots.
When you are too busy back this organization who has filed complaints, pointed out voting for illegal legislation is stupid, stood before the Coastal Commission, and you hear the little protest by radical groups and organizations you now have the truth. It is not just a suggestion of a coverup by an elite power group it is in fact a coverup.
Bonnie thanks.
Thank you Bonnie for the great reporting.
Personally I think they should take those housing mandates and stick them up their you know what. Yes we need housing, but we don’t need mandates. Housing costs more in services than it produces in taxes. Our shopping malls are dying and now we are losing valuable downtown real estate as a tax source. Yikes!
Why not ask Trump's team for help?
Carol: Team Trump is busy with bigger problems. Our local ones can be solved by electing informed, proven, strong leaders.
Ya, if you sense corruption is going on, ask Trump to investigate. The FBI isn't going to help because they are swayed by the Dems, at least till the new Sherrif in Town gets a handle on things. Unless Trump starts his own law enforcement organization, it will be difficult to find out what's really happening.
As I've said many times, way too much focus is placed on presidents and governors, while state and local politicians are ignored.
So many think the president (whoever they may be) is either the cause of all our problems, or has a magic ability to solve all of our problems.
And the "people" have no idea how bad local government is unless they know what's really going on in secret. I know enough to set the City/County governments back millions of dollars in lawsuits ... and that's only the tip of the iceberg. The only solution to local SB government is to wipe the slate clean and start over. The smell inside those government buildings is way too stagnant and needs to be cleared out ... the big, red reset button needs to be activated.
Thank you, Bonnie, once again for a very informative article on the ruination of Santa Barbara. Seeing the ridiculous projects that are being put up in this town and reading your article about the amount of properties UCSB, et al have in this state , I feel like I am living through a scene out of Alice in Wonderland and am concerned that we may have gone down the rabbit hole just a little too far, wondering if we can ever get out. With information like yours, though, and making it available to more and more of the public, perhaps we can.
My two cents: Start putting LOTS of pressure on ALL members of the Board of Supervisors who are "supposedly" there on the BOS to represent "We the People." The pressure I'm talking about is: Get OUR work done or get ready to be "primaried and thrown out" in the next election. Without these actual brutal threats and actions, nothing will get done and no one will bother representing "We the People."
The same climate change crowd in Sacramento that have saved the delta smelt, while allowing the forests of the state near the urban interface to become tinder boxes, have inflicted development without parking on us. This includes Hart and Limon. “God help us” is a correct plea. We need to go to the ballot box and replace these people with someone who is not blinded by the failed ideas exemplified by Governor Newscum
Regents...aren't they the same people that keep voting pay increases for the chancellors while people get crushed by student debt?
Another thing, isn't UCSB all about environmental stewardship even as they destroy the environment with bring in endless numbers of people to an already-overcrowded area, not to mention the effects of overdevelopment?
Stellar summation of what’s wrong that needs to be made right! When will property owners UNITE, those of us who pay property taxes? Problem Identified: City Council has no leaders. They’re weak ‘electible’ DEM sheep who need the paycheck who choose to babble. Council reps refuse to take the offense or to join other cities like Huntington Beach to fight mandates. Mayor Rowse is a nice guy, the only one who represents all city residents but he has no support. He has opted to become a figurehead, Gaucho Alum in full support of both UCSB acquisitions and tax exemptions for commercial and residential properties. UCSB & SBCC love Council and BOS! The City can easily raise its fees on the remaining property owners who pay taxes, and charge more for water and other services. Besides with escalating home prices for years, County revenues have increased to provide all government workers excessive pay packages which they’re each holding onto by not taking any risks. They choose to hang low fearing one day the public will wake up and act. When will we unite to reverse course?