Thank you, Bonnie for your invaluable community service. Whenever I talk to people who live here I guide them to your column. They always say they had no real idea of where their money's going before reading you.
About the Carbajal/Cole debate: it should be mandatory for Carbajal, or any of our other elected officials, to engage in regular debates. That he's allowed to stay in his “safe space” where he refuses to debate Cole and can pretend to be protecting his constituency from possible “hate” speech is absurd and proves he's a minor-league dictator. And should be illegal.
If Carbajal really was trying to protect people he would welcome the debate as a chance to do so. The truth is Carbajal cares nothing about anyone or anything except himself. I don't think he's completely stupid - he definitely is canny in his ambition. But for him to play the immigrant card is disgusting. He's a disgrace to all other immigrants in this country.
And here's where I want to say something about Trump. I'm tired of hearing the anti-Trumpers blather on about how he wants to be a dictator and he's going to take away our freedoms. Dictators do what Carbajal is doing. They refuse to address their public and answer questions. Trump is ready any time to talk to anyone.
This is a really key thing that I hope Santa Barbarans will wake up to. All the Democratic Party does is censor and cancel. They won't even tell us who's actually running the country right now. And anyone who asks is called an “agent of Putin” (like even I was here yesterday). We have to take back our country and it's as important to get someone accountable running Santa Barbara as it is in the White House.
Don't the Dems understand the optics are poor when not willing to debate? Or is it because the Dems have free pass to debating because they are "above it all." I think we know the answer though, it's because they fear foot-in-the-mouth disease. Their arguments are so weak you can blow air through them. Seems they don't believe in what they are saying, so it's better to shut up. There's something interesting going on with the Dems. Maybe they are free falling from the sky, probably have a sense of doom. We know one thing, Harris thinks all she has to do is smile ... and how is that working out for her?
And not just shut up but namecall! Notice how in Salud’s press release announcing that he won’t debate he and his staff manage to declare Cole to be anti-immigrant, anti-trans, and pro-censorship. Straight from the current Woke Dem playbook: any disagreement with our current list of krazy Woke kommandments means that you’re a Nazi and hence deserve to be shut down. Apparently in the Woke Dem mind there can be no legitimate disagreement of any kind. They won’t engage, because they’re evidently too good (and we’re too evil) to engage. Yet another clue to how totalitarian they really are at heart.
As usual, I assume that the people at the top of the Woke Dem world are cynical and powermad, while the foot soldiers who do their dirty work are credulous (and occasionally even well-meaning) idiots. Which is Salud? Halfway in between?
Funny how the Dems seem to now infer they are everything the Republicans stand for ... going against all the typical Dem BS. The brainwashed Dems probably understand this and let it go as a voting tactic to win the election. I don't believe they'll gain one Republican with this tactic, but just keep most of the Dem voters they have from escaping to the other side by simply being quiet. After all the Dems remaining below the level of Biden and Harris have to be feeling doomed. The Biden and Harris team created a huge amount of chaos in the country like nobody ever has before. And now Dems foolishly attempt to have the same ideals as Republicans ... good luck with this tactic, you Dem dummies!
Thinking about it; the Dems know two things: (1) If they talk to both a Republican and Democrat audience, the chances are great they'll move Dem voters over to the Rep side of the isle and (2) If they don't talk, then they'll keeps their "religious" Dems.
Polly good comment "This is a really key thing that I hope Santa Barbarans will wake up to. All the Democratic Party does is censor and cancel. They won't even tell us who's actually running the country right now."
So Polly who is really running Santa Barbara as I have eu·phe·mis·ti·cal·ly illuded to as the
SB So-Called-Leaders? What is going on here in Santa Barbara which is a smaller subset of Washington. "I hope Santa Barbara will wake up." The people in Santa Barbara have no idea what is actually going down in thier own community and I doubt they will wake-up if they do not know............. as stated before thier is real Evil in SB.
Polly, most American are completely niave. They have no idea what is going on
in general or what is going on specifically in thier communities. I did not and had no idea until I was quite litterally dragged into the Lions Den and was "Sacrificed" but then I woke to the reality and I then saw "All Hell Break Lose."
I Once was Lost, but now I am Found (Luke 15:10)
At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. Daniel 6
Has anyone been thrown in the "Lions Den" in Santa Barbara for false acussations?
4…..hates age inappropriate books in tax payer supported public schools
Carbajal
1…….hates Trump ……..and 50% + of the US population
2. ……hates ….hateful rhetoric
Shame on you, Salud. You have brought disrepute to the political process and those who have continued to pay your Congressional salary and will be forced to pay your life time pension.
But you must allow perverse material in schools... how else will children be brought into ruin through the destruction of their innocence and their acceptance of sexual immorality... parents don't have the right to speak of sexuality and sexual morals to their children at the appropriate time - clearly that responsibility lies with the secular left...
And what do we know about Carbajal, other than he doesn’t seem to miss many meals? We know he served in the Marine Corps Reserve and he was the errand boy for Naomi Schwartz, former BOS. That’s it, zip, nothing, no job creations, no running a business…nada!
You’ve confirmed that increasing revenues rather than cutting expenses is their only way. Rarely is cutting waste, payroll, consulting and legal fees raised for so much as even discussion. Have you read on line the number of bonds CA and our local Districts expect us to approve to increase our indebtedness for our housing to 2061? Check it out on-line the bonds we’re expected to pass on 11/5/24 at the Secretary of State’s website, despite the fact there’s no accountability for how past approved bond proceeds were spent. Don’t be tricked: bond counsel has advised once approved the governing body can ‘bait & switch.’ Oversight Committees are a handpicked joke; some created after the fact to shield official corruption. Don’t be fooled: VOTE NO on every bond.
Also, when on the SOS website look at how RFK Jr is WRONGLY listed on the ballot as a far right candidate. Seems like a mistake to influence the vote. It’s never ending what our powerful keepers will do. Get involved! You’re needed to message.
Salud Carbajal is excellent at hiding under his desk. How many years has he been sucking off the taxpayer's teat? If we have to suffer through an endless parade of progressive congress representatives, at least bring the county some significant pork for the middle class!
Mike, here’s your pork! Until the local republican “Central Committee” keeps providing the quality of candidates they can get to run for the 24th congressional district, enjoy your middle class pork chops!
Pork chops? No, more like Chicharrones! That’s right, full of hot air! Interesting how you use The Independent as your “source .” That lefty, partisan rag isn’t even worthy of lining a bird cage! The “news article “ you cite is no more than a political ad and hit piece.
For example, why did Ward Memorial NEED to be rebuilt? Shouldn’t UCSB pony up since the 217 is actually their driveway? Ya, I bet Carbajal’s buddies over at Granite and the Union Hall love all these projects that we can’t pay for. Oh, I’m sure massive pork for the environmental lefty cause as well. All this leading up to the election, how convenient! What were you saying about the middle class?
LT, regarding your question about “middle-class”, you may wish to re-read the last paragraph in Mike’s post that I responded to. As far as the Indy story, the article correctly summarized monies that Representative Carbajal (as both parties do) brought home to his district. No editorializing in the article that I encountered. Regarding your confusion about Granite Construction, they, along with any other qualified contractors, are awarded contracts based on the lowest responsible bid.
Merely look at the title “Carbajal brings $1billion to central coast infrastructure.” He didn’t BRING anything, it was passed in the Congress by both parties. It erroneous gives the impression to the reader that it is due to his efforts.
As is common, congressional representatives of BOTH parties facilitate (bring) projects to benefit their home districts. Remember “Infrastructure Week”?
Thank goodness the 24th district is not represented by MTG and Boebert! Check out what those losers did!
Peter, you intentionally miss the point. Those are our tax dollars. You make them sound like they are pay to play dollars used to reward another term for ineffectual Salud Carbajal —whose only justification for his votes, is a tirade of hate speech?
Try re-wording the point you are trying to make. Or perhaps you just did trying weakly to attack MTG and Boebert. — both very sharp and articulate young ladies. Do conservatives threaten you?
Peter, I'm genuinely curious, not doubting you, of course: how do you know it correctly summarizes anything Carbajal has done? Did you fact check the piece? Are you allowed to look over how the contracts were actually awarded?
Peter has yet to get back to me about how he knows the Indy piece is accurate… maybe next year. Maybe never. Meanwhile someone like Daryl Cooper is being vilified right now by the White House and its media outlets for his research into Jonestown and Churchill. My husband has known Daryl for over ten years. He's the real deal when it cones to journalism.
How utterly silly. Fact check funds (Bills) that have been passed by both parties and allocated for their intended purpose? No. Perhaps you might wish to contact the recipients of the funds might be contacted to confirm. You could the provide fodder for the Current!
Oh, I see, we're supposed to do your work for you, Peter, while you get to throw out statements and act like you have authority. You refuse to back up your statements, therefore I will take them as worthless. It's up to you to prove differently.
Carbajal did not “bring” one billion dollars to the central coast. He redistributed our own tax dollars, to support his own re-election. This is crazy wealth re-distribution.
Show us the real numbers, Salud. How much did you take from us first?
Can’t emphasize enough how much I learn from Bonnie’s columns about how SB really works.
I wouldn’t mind knowing more about Visit Santa Barbara, the organization. Somebody’s making a nice living from our tax dollars. Does much that’s worthwhile get accomplished by the org?
Thank you Bonnie for being the sleuth that dives into City of SB finances. As a Goleta resident, I sit on the sidelines with interest. As always, follow the money with “Visit Santa Barbara,” …”Cui Bono,” who stands to benefit? Who owns “Visit SB” and do they have political ties to the CC?
Hey, maybe if we got the bums off State St. it would boost tourism? After all, who wants to step over people passed out or step onto human waste!
As for our Congressman Salud Carbajal, what a lightweight! He can’t even debate his lefty, out of touch with reality, partisanship. As usual, the Dem machine paints anyone who dares to question the status quo as “transphobic,” “racist,” and a MAGA extremist. This gets so old. Hey Carbajal “el Gordito,” put on your big boy pants, get out there and debate your position and the position of the death cult you belong to! You owe it to your constituents!
The "big boy pants" are getting too tight for him. He senses doom and prefers to do nothing but avoid the public. Maybe Carbajal has dipped his hand in the fishbowl just too many times and he now fears being discovered of his true wealth. Just follow the money trail.
Right you are Bill. I find it ironic that Carbajal, as a NATURALIZED citizen from Mexico, would refuse to engage in political debate which is the cornerstone of our democracy! What a phony and fraud! Then again, who would want to debate for a party which supports the systematic downfall of our country? Voters need to send a clear message to Mr. Carbajal.
The media certainly is working hard to hide all the Dem fallacies. In the end, the truth will surface ending the Dems for years, decades or perhaps a century. How long can Dems pretend to be superior when they have incredibly corrupt leaders?
Should anyone be surprised? It is the entire city that is in decline. SBCC wants money for a failed program that was converted to one party rule. Surprise.
The Destructo Squad is fast at it. When communities are thriving and people are out shopping at malls, what is the word amongst the lets kill Santa Barbara? More, kill the streets, shopping we don't need no shopping..... After all it is only a 30 minute drive to spend your Santa Barbara money in Ventura. The SY Valley shoppers are going repeatedly to Santa Maria. After all why support Santa Barbara and the anti car groups when what we want is a few miles away.
The Goleta and Santa Barbara Councils do not understand basic economics. As the city centers are destroyed and the LA crowd that drives here finds destruction of streets why would anyone want to visit what 30 years ago was the jewel of the Calif. Coast? How many of the idiots killing the streets are carpetbaggers who have moved here and do not care about a vibrant Santa Barbara?
Still think the open and free traffic of cars being basic doesn't work. Look at Death Valley aka State St. and the new mini-me Old Town Hollister.
It really is a matter of prejudice and who cares about the truth?
Thanks, Bonnie, for your stellar fact gathering and on-point analysis regarding the City's tax revenue budget deficit. Could the sales tax decline be related to our lack of worthwhile retail options in SB, particularly along the downtown corridor? Hmm, I wonder...
Most worthwhile would be to support the following Santa Barbara City Council candidates in November:
District 1 (Eastside) Alejandra Gutierrez will do the least harm, and I believe she is a fan of Cass Ensberg's State Street designs, featured on the Fix State Street site, and ...
District 3 (Westside) Tony Becerra - the candidate who supports an open State Street.
And I don't think that I'll be voting for the sales tax increase >:-(
EVERYONE I just found out that 20 of our out-of-state SBCC football players and their coach are benched for some reason for tonight's game, ANYONE able to shed light on this???
Bonnie, thanks, once again for a good, fact filled article. What a crock that Carbajal will not debate Cole and the statement put out by Carbajal's spokesperson sounded pretty slanderous to me.. Let's hope that the majority of Santa Barbarians have had their fill of Mr. Carbajal and will vote him out.
I read this "revealing" article by Bonnie Donnovan and I quote from same>
"Carbajal's spokesperson, Ian Mariani, said the congressman does not want to give Cole a forum to share messages that "Pose a Threat to Central Coast residents." "
“Thomas Cole’s campaign,” Mariani posits, “spews hateful rhetoric against LGBTQ+ individuals, using the same anti-trans conspiracies that put transgender lives at risk every single day in America. Cole demonizes and fearmongers about immigrants fleeing violence and seeking asylum in the United States. He also accuses Salud Carbajal – an immigrant himself – of supporting sex trafficking and human smuggling. And he’s even tried bringing failed MAGA policies to the Central Coast, fighting for extremist book bans in local schools.”
Ok I have a question for Mr. Carbajal and all of the So-Called-Leaders of Santa Barbara as follows>>
Was there an incident, where a legal immigrant was "Interrogated" in a closed-small-room for over one hour and repeatedly "THREATENED" by the "INTERROGATORS" and at the end of that "INTERROGATION" these words were stated to that legal immigrant >>>>
"I am going to Deport you back to the country that you came from"
NEVER THREATEN anyone let-alone-legal immigrants or ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS or ANYONE.
The United States Constitution Guarantees Rights and Priviledges TO ALL.
I would suggest to Mr. Carbajal and to the Santa Barbara So-Called-Leaders to follow that law of our Country, that is "The United States Constitution."
Howard Walther, member of a Military Family
PS - The above incident is a "HATE CRIME" and a Federal Felony under 18 U.S. Code § 249
Carbajal spews hateful rhetoric. He has done enough damage to this Congressional district. Bring back independence, efficiencies, and accountability to the South Coast; dump the failed mono-culture Democrat party line.
Nothing is wrong at all with the censoring of degenerate material, especially in schools. Sexually explicit materials shouldn't seen by adults, and definitely not children. Some of the things getting past censors these days... and I don't even speak of books like "GenderQueer" which promote gender ideology/LGBT colonialism, my sister (who goes to high school) was handed some borderline erotica type book from the "Library on the Go" service where one line literally mentioned a man's hand going up a woman's dress and touching her inner thigh...
I have to agree with you, Theo, on the type of books that the schools are promoting these days are not necessary and could be quite confusing to some children.. Science class was created to help children understand the biology of the body and the difference in the sexes. That should be sufficient for the school curriculum. I don't believe, either, that it is the school's duty to provide condoms. I can't say that banning explicit sexual materials for adults is a duty of the government. We all have different sexual tastes and what one may construe as gross another may construe as racy.
I'm sorry but your last point seems like a particularly weak argument that ultimately undermines itself. It's founded upon moral relativism and asserts that pornographic content is okay because some people find it racy - well guess what even minors can see certain things as "racy" and allowing harmful content for adults isn't conservative or helpful. Children will eventually become adults and adults influence children around them as role models, how can a society function well and how can it be moral of it allows the propagation of perverse materials on the basis of it being "racy" for adults?
Tim Walz made a similar comment "One man's socialism is another man's neighborliness..."
I hear what you're saying, ,Theo, but I have a feeling that you would view certain things pornographic that perhaps I wouldn't. The devil is in the details and I have a pretty good idea that we are not going to come to a meeting of the minds on this topic concerning most rational adults. As far as the children, I think we are on the same page.
Schools that stock books on sex in their libraries are sick and ruining education. Adults who stock books on sex in their own libraries are healthy and enhancing their marriages or partnerships.
Yes, a book like Theology of the Body which focuses on the sacredness of sex and the dignity of humans, in addition to the spiritual dimensions of sex absolutely enhance marriages. Sex must still be chaste, but "steamy sex scenes" in erotica do not contribute to anything good...
Voyeurism and any other materials that seek to evoke arousal in othera regardless of the medium used is pornographic. Anatomy and texts or otherworks meant to inform are not pornographic. Many in the Catholic Church have used allusions of sex and the marital union as a means of describing God's love for humanity, and of course there's the Song of Song's - but these are not meant to be stimulating...
Earl, if you're a conservative how dp you honestly justify consuming degenerate material? Conservarism values the family or so I've heard, so how can one claim to be in support of the family but is okay with reducing the marital act (which is what creates families, and is supposed to represeny a man and woman becoming one flesh, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually) to mere eroticism/voyeurism, you attack the family. When you divorce morality from sex, we see the decline preseny today that commmodifies sex, turns people into objects, and turns a sacred act into mere pleasure.
No bruh, what two consenting adults do behind closed doors is no one’s business. Morality ends at the bedroom door, that’s TRUE freedom, NO morality police!
Besides, I ONLY read “Gent” and “Player” for the compelling articles!
Lol. Some of those mags did run good articles and paid writers well. My mom used to buy Playboy for my brother because she said he'd just shoplift it anyway like the other boys in the neighborhood. My mom dd not believe in censorship. When we went to Europe she came back with banned books like Henry Miller, Sam Beckett. Years later, in NYC I contacted Barney Rosset who ran Grove Press and Evergreen Magazine during that time and who brought those books here. And fought many legal battles. I thanked him for fighting for great literature. I also told him that when I was 12 I picked up a copy of Evergreen off our coffee table and opened it to the famous photo of Allen Ginsburg and Gregory Corso. Scared me off sex better than any church lecture :-) My mom passed away three years ago so she was around for all the looney Leftist trans and non-binary stuff in schools and she was very vocal about hating it and called it child abuse. She was right. What Barney Rosset championed was art and literature. What the Left is doing is permanently damaging and destroying for the sake of nothing but their own power.
Porn is neither art or literarture. It is deeply disturbing why any woman would even interact with playboy unless she was attracted to women, it is just as disturbing to note that a mother would indulge her son in porn that reduces her own sex to an obect, this is not normal or virtuous behaviot and relflects a failure to uphold morality for ones children.
Theo, you're smart and interesting, but I'm not going to be responding to your comments any longer. Word to the wise: don't go around insulting other people's beloved mothers.
This is a culurally liberal take, and is ultimately modernist. You would rather adapt and conform to liberal norms than reject what is causing this decline.
"Two consentinf adults" is insufficient for morality, the LGBT nonsense we see today is a direct result of accepting this classical liberal foundatiom of "freedom" and "free expression/choice" disregarding social and moral constraints. There's literally nothing funny about PlayBoy, it's caused so much harm to sexual morals, relationships, and human dignity. For someone who appeals to Christianity when defending things like capitalism or nationalistic immigration policies (which aren't at all Christian as I've pointed out, capitalism/market liberalism and nationalism are secular products of the enlightenment) you seem content in tossing these appeals aside at times...
And yet despite my age, my beliefs are traditional. And you consistently deflect rather than engage my ideas - are you incapable of defending your beliefs as a conservative from traditionalist criticisms?
Theo, I find people who indulge too much in something, then give it up and proceed to lecture others tiresome. If you were watching too much porn and gave it up, great. Don't lecture anyone else. I gave up cigarettes at 21 - I think you say that's your age. And alcohol recently. I don't like to be around people who smoke because I can't breathe. But I have no problem with anyone of legal age and not driving drinking around me. My husband drinks. His business. As for porn … I am friends with the sister of porn legend Ron Jeremy. I have a great deal of respect for Ron as he is wonderful to his family. When he was young he wanted to be a Shakespearean actor but couldn't make a living. He modeled for Playgirl and became a sensation. He was billed with his family name Hyatt - as R Hyatt. His granny was deluged with phone calls! This was still the day of the phone book. So he changed his name. In West Hollywood in my twenties I lived next door to a gay porn star, he was a wonderful neighbor who collected art and ceramics. Ten years ago I was asked to read an erotic story at a black erotica event in Harlem. It was a blast. At one point in the story, which I wrote, the narrator asks to be spanked with an Oprah Winfrey book club book, i was nervous how a black audience would respond. They roared with laughter, gave me a standing ovation and asked to hear it again. You are an absolutist. That's fine. Your business. But I'm way more concerned with the utter lack of morality in our rapacious government than I am with people who enjoy porn. Watch porn - just don't stock school libraries with it.
I fail to see how you're making a moral case - porn is evil period. If I were to destroy every single pornographic material ever, the only thing of value lost would be calories I burned...
The reason as to why porn is even being introduced in school libraries is because of the social and moral decline that comes with permissive attitudea toward evil, perverse adults create a perverse society that will eventually affect children...
Always fun to take a walk through a Medieval monastery with Theo. But you probably would have left me off at the fire to burn for heresy. I worship Hildegard and Eckhart.
Hildegard of Bingen is a saint, not a pervert. And worship is due to the Triune God alone.
I fail to see what you're getting at: I made a principled stand against all forms of perverse materials as they subvert the morals of a society, of we permit a moral evil simlly because it seems small or justify it on the basis of free choice/expression, we open ourselves to even more and obscene evils.
As for being an "expert", I was exposed to pornogrpahy when I was 10, and I continued indulging in this evil without fail until my confirmation (and when I came back into the Catholic faith) when I was 17. I don't see how it's bad for someome who has had a very personal and horrid relationship with perversion to be so against it...
Don't want to be the fly in the ointment, but Trump refused to participate in 5 Republican primary debates. It should be interesting to hear why his refusal to debate is different than Carbajal's excuse.
Trump didn't participate because he was so far out in front, the same with Carbajal. The reason I was pissed off about it is because Trump lied incessantly about DeSantis and his record in Florida, and then refused to debate him like a man. DeSantis in all likelihood would have confronted the myriad of malicious lies in which Trump engaged to smear DeSantis.
Thank you, Bonnie for your invaluable community service. Whenever I talk to people who live here I guide them to your column. They always say they had no real idea of where their money's going before reading you.
About the Carbajal/Cole debate: it should be mandatory for Carbajal, or any of our other elected officials, to engage in regular debates. That he's allowed to stay in his “safe space” where he refuses to debate Cole and can pretend to be protecting his constituency from possible “hate” speech is absurd and proves he's a minor-league dictator. And should be illegal.
If Carbajal really was trying to protect people he would welcome the debate as a chance to do so. The truth is Carbajal cares nothing about anyone or anything except himself. I don't think he's completely stupid - he definitely is canny in his ambition. But for him to play the immigrant card is disgusting. He's a disgrace to all other immigrants in this country.
And here's where I want to say something about Trump. I'm tired of hearing the anti-Trumpers blather on about how he wants to be a dictator and he's going to take away our freedoms. Dictators do what Carbajal is doing. They refuse to address their public and answer questions. Trump is ready any time to talk to anyone.
This is a really key thing that I hope Santa Barbarans will wake up to. All the Democratic Party does is censor and cancel. They won't even tell us who's actually running the country right now. And anyone who asks is called an “agent of Putin” (like even I was here yesterday). We have to take back our country and it's as important to get someone accountable running Santa Barbara as it is in the White House.
Don't the Dems understand the optics are poor when not willing to debate? Or is it because the Dems have free pass to debating because they are "above it all." I think we know the answer though, it's because they fear foot-in-the-mouth disease. Their arguments are so weak you can blow air through them. Seems they don't believe in what they are saying, so it's better to shut up. There's something interesting going on with the Dems. Maybe they are free falling from the sky, probably have a sense of doom. We know one thing, Harris thinks all she has to do is smile ... and how is that working out for her?
And not just shut up but namecall! Notice how in Salud’s press release announcing that he won’t debate he and his staff manage to declare Cole to be anti-immigrant, anti-trans, and pro-censorship. Straight from the current Woke Dem playbook: any disagreement with our current list of krazy Woke kommandments means that you’re a Nazi and hence deserve to be shut down. Apparently in the Woke Dem mind there can be no legitimate disagreement of any kind. They won’t engage, because they’re evidently too good (and we’re too evil) to engage. Yet another clue to how totalitarian they really are at heart.
As usual, I assume that the people at the top of the Woke Dem world are cynical and powermad, while the foot soldiers who do their dirty work are credulous (and occasionally even well-meaning) idiots. Which is Salud? Halfway in between?
Gosh, can you imagine that after the DNC theme of "unity and joy?"
Funny how the Dems seem to now infer they are everything the Republicans stand for ... going against all the typical Dem BS. The brainwashed Dems probably understand this and let it go as a voting tactic to win the election. I don't believe they'll gain one Republican with this tactic, but just keep most of the Dem voters they have from escaping to the other side by simply being quiet. After all the Dems remaining below the level of Biden and Harris have to be feeling doomed. The Biden and Harris team created a huge amount of chaos in the country like nobody ever has before. And now Dems foolishly attempt to have the same ideals as Republicans ... good luck with this tactic, you Dem dummies!
Thinking about it; the Dems know two things: (1) If they talk to both a Republican and Democrat audience, the chances are great they'll move Dem voters over to the Rep side of the isle and (2) If they don't talk, then they'll keeps their "religious" Dems.
Carbajal & Harris both understand well progressive politics and its requirements. Republican voters are still trying to figure it out.
Polly good comment "This is a really key thing that I hope Santa Barbarans will wake up to. All the Democratic Party does is censor and cancel. They won't even tell us who's actually running the country right now."
So Polly who is really running Santa Barbara as I have eu·phe·mis·ti·cal·ly illuded to as the
SB So-Called-Leaders? What is going on here in Santa Barbara which is a smaller subset of Washington. "I hope Santa Barbara will wake up." The people in Santa Barbara have no idea what is actually going down in thier own community and I doubt they will wake-up if they do not know............. as stated before thier is real Evil in SB.
Howard Walther, member of a Military Family
Agree completely,
Polly, most American are completely niave. They have no idea what is going on
in general or what is going on specifically in thier communities. I did not and had no idea until I was quite litterally dragged into the Lions Den and was "Sacrificed" but then I woke to the reality and I then saw "All Hell Break Lose."
I Once was Lost, but now I am Found (Luke 15:10)
At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. Daniel 6
Has anyone been thrown in the "Lions Den" in Santa Barbara for false acussations?
Polly! Love your rap!
Why it's the Duke of Earl. Just in from the outer territories
How very astute! :)
According to Carbajal, his opponent Thomas Cole:
1….hates LGBTQ+
2. ….wants transsexuals dead
3…..hates unvetted open borders
4…..hates age inappropriate books in tax payer supported public schools
Carbajal
1…….hates Trump ……..and 50% + of the US population
2. ……hates ….hateful rhetoric
Shame on you, Salud. You have brought disrepute to the political process and those who have continued to pay your Congressional salary and will be forced to pay your life time pension.
But you must allow perverse material in schools... how else will children be brought into ruin through the destruction of their innocence and their acceptance of sexual immorality... parents don't have the right to speak of sexuality and sexual morals to their children at the appropriate time - clearly that responsibility lies with the secular left...
And what do we know about Carbajal, other than he doesn’t seem to miss many meals? We know he served in the Marine Corps Reserve and he was the errand boy for Naomi Schwartz, former BOS. That’s it, zip, nothing, no job creations, no running a business…nada!
You’ve confirmed that increasing revenues rather than cutting expenses is their only way. Rarely is cutting waste, payroll, consulting and legal fees raised for so much as even discussion. Have you read on line the number of bonds CA and our local Districts expect us to approve to increase our indebtedness for our housing to 2061? Check it out on-line the bonds we’re expected to pass on 11/5/24 at the Secretary of State’s website, despite the fact there’s no accountability for how past approved bond proceeds were spent. Don’t be tricked: bond counsel has advised once approved the governing body can ‘bait & switch.’ Oversight Committees are a handpicked joke; some created after the fact to shield official corruption. Don’t be fooled: VOTE NO on every bond.
Also, when on the SOS website look at how RFK Jr is WRONGLY listed on the ballot as a far right candidate. Seems like a mistake to influence the vote. It’s never ending what our powerful keepers will do. Get involved! You’re needed to message.
Bring in Elon to audit our local government! (Or someone else dynamic, smart and independent.)
Excellent, thank you 93108.
Official Voter Information Guide | California Secretary of State
https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/
Interesting. I just looked at the candidates for president and RFK was still on the ballot. Didn't he drop out?
He dropped out of ballots in Swing States, he said he would remain in states that were safe for Trump.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newsnationnow.com/politics/2024-election/rfk-jr-tried-to-get-off-swing-state-ballots/amp/?espv=1
RFK Jr.: ‘We’ve tried to get out of all of the swing states’
Oh, thanks for the clarifiation.
I just noticed that you already mentioned RFK.
Salud Carbajal is excellent at hiding under his desk. How many years has he been sucking off the taxpayer's teat? If we have to suffer through an endless parade of progressive congress representatives, at least bring the county some significant pork for the middle class!
Mike, here’s your pork! Until the local republican “Central Committee” keeps providing the quality of candidates they can get to run for the 24th congressional district, enjoy your middle class pork chops!
https://www.independent.com/2024/08/07/carbajal-brings-1-billion-to-central-coast-infrastructure/?amp=1
Pete,
Pork chops? No, more like Chicharrones! That’s right, full of hot air! Interesting how you use The Independent as your “source .” That lefty, partisan rag isn’t even worthy of lining a bird cage! The “news article “ you cite is no more than a political ad and hit piece.
For example, why did Ward Memorial NEED to be rebuilt? Shouldn’t UCSB pony up since the 217 is actually their driveway? Ya, I bet Carbajal’s buddies over at Granite and the Union Hall love all these projects that we can’t pay for. Oh, I’m sure massive pork for the environmental lefty cause as well. All this leading up to the election, how convenient! What were you saying about the middle class?
Funding construction worker union jobs. Buying Democrat re-election votes with our money. Something has gone very, very wrong.
LT, regarding your question about “middle-class”, you may wish to re-read the last paragraph in Mike’s post that I responded to. As far as the Indy story, the article correctly summarized monies that Representative Carbajal (as both parties do) brought home to his district. No editorializing in the article that I encountered. Regarding your confusion about Granite Construction, they, along with any other qualified contractors, are awarded contracts based on the lowest responsible bid.
Merely look at the title “Carbajal brings $1billion to central coast infrastructure.” He didn’t BRING anything, it was passed in the Congress by both parties. It erroneous gives the impression to the reader that it is due to his efforts.
It was our money to start with.
Well, duh?
Buzz words alert:
1. …money brought home to his district….
2. ….qualified contractors……..
This is rank money laundering……our money for his election year bragging rights, handed to his voter friendly cronies.
As is common, congressional representatives of BOTH parties facilitate (bring) projects to benefit their home districts. Remember “Infrastructure Week”?
Thank goodness the 24th district is not represented by MTG and Boebert! Check out what those losers did!
https://newrepublic.com/post/179945/marjorie-taylor-greene-caught-bragging-bill-voted-against-funding
Peter, you intentionally miss the point. Those are our tax dollars. You make them sound like they are pay to play dollars used to reward another term for ineffectual Salud Carbajal —whose only justification for his votes, is a tirade of hate speech?
Try re-wording the point you are trying to make. Or perhaps you just did trying weakly to attack MTG and Boebert. — both very sharp and articulate young ladies. Do conservatives threaten you?
Peter, I'm genuinely curious, not doubting you, of course: how do you know it correctly summarizes anything Carbajal has done? Did you fact check the piece? Are you allowed to look over how the contracts were actually awarded?
….handed to “qualified” contractors. That is where the spoils system gets its oxygen.
Peter has yet to get back to me about how he knows the Indy piece is accurate… maybe next year. Maybe never. Meanwhile someone like Daryl Cooper is being vilified right now by the White House and its media outlets for his research into Jonestown and Churchill. My husband has known Daryl for over ten years. He's the real deal when it cones to journalism.
How utterly silly. Fact check funds (Bills) that have been passed by both parties and allocated for their intended purpose? No. Perhaps you might wish to contact the recipients of the funds might be contacted to confirm. You could the provide fodder for the Current!
PETER, Please do a PRAR, Salud should be able to FOLLOW the CASH he is sending to District 24.
Oh, I see, we're supposed to do your work for you, Peter, while you get to throw out statements and act like you have authority. You refuse to back up your statements, therefore I will take them as worthless. It's up to you to prove differently.
Carbajal did not “bring” one billion dollars to the central coast. He redistributed our own tax dollars, to support his own re-election. This is crazy wealth re-distribution.
Show us the real numbers, Salud. How much did you take from us first?
Can’t emphasize enough how much I learn from Bonnie’s columns about how SB really works.
I wouldn’t mind knowing more about Visit Santa Barbara, the organization. Somebody’s making a nice living from our tax dollars. Does much that’s worthwhile get accomplished by the org?
Thank you Bonnie for being the sleuth that dives into City of SB finances. As a Goleta resident, I sit on the sidelines with interest. As always, follow the money with “Visit Santa Barbara,” …”Cui Bono,” who stands to benefit? Who owns “Visit SB” and do they have political ties to the CC?
Hey, maybe if we got the bums off State St. it would boost tourism? After all, who wants to step over people passed out or step onto human waste!
As for our Congressman Salud Carbajal, what a lightweight! He can’t even debate his lefty, out of touch with reality, partisanship. As usual, the Dem machine paints anyone who dares to question the status quo as “transphobic,” “racist,” and a MAGA extremist. This gets so old. Hey Carbajal “el Gordito,” put on your big boy pants, get out there and debate your position and the position of the death cult you belong to! You owe it to your constituents!
The "big boy pants" are getting too tight for him. He senses doom and prefers to do nothing but avoid the public. Maybe Carbajal has dipped his hand in the fishbowl just too many times and he now fears being discovered of his true wealth. Just follow the money trail.
Right you are Bill. I find it ironic that Carbajal, as a NATURALIZED citizen from Mexico, would refuse to engage in political debate which is the cornerstone of our democracy! What a phony and fraud! Then again, who would want to debate for a party which supports the systematic downfall of our country? Voters need to send a clear message to Mr. Carbajal.
The media certainly is working hard to hide all the Dem fallacies. In the end, the truth will surface ending the Dems for years, decades or perhaps a century. How long can Dems pretend to be superior when they have incredibly corrupt leaders?
Voters sent Das Williams a message. Enough was enough.
And now it's time to send Salud the same message!!!
Revenue declines? Say it ain't so Joe.
Should anyone be surprised? It is the entire city that is in decline. SBCC wants money for a failed program that was converted to one party rule. Surprise.
The Destructo Squad is fast at it. When communities are thriving and people are out shopping at malls, what is the word amongst the lets kill Santa Barbara? More, kill the streets, shopping we don't need no shopping..... After all it is only a 30 minute drive to spend your Santa Barbara money in Ventura. The SY Valley shoppers are going repeatedly to Santa Maria. After all why support Santa Barbara and the anti car groups when what we want is a few miles away.
The Goleta and Santa Barbara Councils do not understand basic economics. As the city centers are destroyed and the LA crowd that drives here finds destruction of streets why would anyone want to visit what 30 years ago was the jewel of the Calif. Coast? How many of the idiots killing the streets are carpetbaggers who have moved here and do not care about a vibrant Santa Barbara?
Still think the open and free traffic of cars being basic doesn't work. Look at Death Valley aka State St. and the new mini-me Old Town Hollister.
It really is a matter of prejudice and who cares about the truth?
Now that our armies of “city planners” have put their own compensation demands at risk, perhaps they will start “planning “differently?
Thank you CarsAreBasic. Who cares about the truth, indeed. Or even who cares about honest businesses being able to flourish?
Thanks, Bonnie, for your stellar fact gathering and on-point analysis regarding the City's tax revenue budget deficit. Could the sales tax decline be related to our lack of worthwhile retail options in SB, particularly along the downtown corridor? Hmm, I wonder...
I urge my fellow Current readers to sign Ed Fuller's Petition https://www.change.org/p/re-open-state-street-santa-barbara as well as to Join the Effort with "Fix State Street" https://www.fixstatestreet.org (scroll to the bottom of their home page)
Most worthwhile would be to support the following Santa Barbara City Council candidates in November:
District 1 (Eastside) Alejandra Gutierrez will do the least harm, and I believe she is a fan of Cass Ensberg's State Street designs, featured on the Fix State Street site, and ...
District 3 (Westside) Tony Becerra - the candidate who supports an open State Street.
And I don't think that I'll be voting for the sales tax increase >:-(
EVERYONE I just found out that 20 of our out-of-state SBCC football players and their coach are benched for some reason for tonight's game, ANYONE able to shed light on this???
Bonnie, thanks, once again for a good, fact filled article. What a crock that Carbajal will not debate Cole and the statement put out by Carbajal's spokesperson sounded pretty slanderous to me.. Let's hope that the majority of Santa Barbarians have had their fill of Mr. Carbajal and will vote him out.
I read this "revealing" article by Bonnie Donnovan and I quote from same>
"Carbajal's spokesperson, Ian Mariani, said the congressman does not want to give Cole a forum to share messages that "Pose a Threat to Central Coast residents." "
“Thomas Cole’s campaign,” Mariani posits, “spews hateful rhetoric against LGBTQ+ individuals, using the same anti-trans conspiracies that put transgender lives at risk every single day in America. Cole demonizes and fearmongers about immigrants fleeing violence and seeking asylum in the United States. He also accuses Salud Carbajal – an immigrant himself – of supporting sex trafficking and human smuggling. And he’s even tried bringing failed MAGA policies to the Central Coast, fighting for extremist book bans in local schools.”
Ok I have a question for Mr. Carbajal and all of the So-Called-Leaders of Santa Barbara as follows>>
Was there an incident, where a legal immigrant was "Interrogated" in a closed-small-room for over one hour and repeatedly "THREATENED" by the "INTERROGATORS" and at the end of that "INTERROGATION" these words were stated to that legal immigrant >>>>
"I am going to Deport you back to the country that you came from"
NEVER THREATEN anyone let-alone-legal immigrants or ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS or ANYONE.
The United States Constitution Guarantees Rights and Priviledges TO ALL.
I would suggest to Mr. Carbajal and to the Santa Barbara So-Called-Leaders to follow that law of our Country, that is "The United States Constitution."
Howard Walther, member of a Military Family
PS - The above incident is a "HATE CRIME" and a Federal Felony under 18 U.S. Code § 249
https://www.thefederalcriminalattorneys.com/federal-hate-crimes
To the Brave Men and Women of the SBPD, do not commit HATE CRIMES, it divides and causes
great harm to your community.
Carbajal spews hateful rhetoric. He has done enough damage to this Congressional district. Bring back independence, efficiencies, and accountability to the South Coast; dump the failed mono-culture Democrat party line.
"Extremist book bans"
Nothing is wrong at all with the censoring of degenerate material, especially in schools. Sexually explicit materials shouldn't seen by adults, and definitely not children. Some of the things getting past censors these days... and I don't even speak of books like "GenderQueer" which promote gender ideology/LGBT colonialism, my sister (who goes to high school) was handed some borderline erotica type book from the "Library on the Go" service where one line literally mentioned a man's hand going up a woman's dress and touching her inner thigh...
I have to agree with you, Theo, on the type of books that the schools are promoting these days are not necessary and could be quite confusing to some children.. Science class was created to help children understand the biology of the body and the difference in the sexes. That should be sufficient for the school curriculum. I don't believe, either, that it is the school's duty to provide condoms. I can't say that banning explicit sexual materials for adults is a duty of the government. We all have different sexual tastes and what one may construe as gross another may construe as racy.
I'm sorry but your last point seems like a particularly weak argument that ultimately undermines itself. It's founded upon moral relativism and asserts that pornographic content is okay because some people find it racy - well guess what even minors can see certain things as "racy" and allowing harmful content for adults isn't conservative or helpful. Children will eventually become adults and adults influence children around them as role models, how can a society function well and how can it be moral of it allows the propagation of perverse materials on the basis of it being "racy" for adults?
Tim Walz made a similar comment "One man's socialism is another man's neighborliness..."
I hear what you're saying, ,Theo, but I have a feeling that you would view certain things pornographic that perhaps I wouldn't. The devil is in the details and I have a pretty good idea that we are not going to come to a meeting of the minds on this topic concerning most rational adults. As far as the children, I think we are on the same page.
Schools that stock books on sex in their libraries are sick and ruining education. Adults who stock books on sex in their own libraries are healthy and enhancing their marriages or partnerships.
Yes, a book like Theology of the Body which focuses on the sacredness of sex and the dignity of humans, in addition to the spiritual dimensions of sex absolutely enhance marriages. Sex must still be chaste, but "steamy sex scenes" in erotica do not contribute to anything good...
Voyeurism and any other materials that seek to evoke arousal in othera regardless of the medium used is pornographic. Anatomy and texts or otherworks meant to inform are not pornographic. Many in the Catholic Church have used allusions of sex and the marital union as a means of describing God's love for humanity, and of course there's the Song of Song's - but these are not meant to be stimulating...
W h a a a t …? “Sexually explicit materials shouldn't [be] seen by adults . . .” Why not? Afraid it might distort our perverted minds?
Earl, if you're a conservative how dp you honestly justify consuming degenerate material? Conservarism values the family or so I've heard, so how can one claim to be in support of the family but is okay with reducing the marital act (which is what creates families, and is supposed to represeny a man and woman becoming one flesh, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually) to mere eroticism/voyeurism, you attack the family. When you divorce morality from sex, we see the decline preseny today that commmodifies sex, turns people into objects, and turns a sacred act into mere pleasure.
Ring-a-ding-ding buddy - it's called life. I know a couppla people I'd like to 'objectify' but they won't co-operate! :)
A la orilla del Ebro un Requeté,
que veía su Patria sucumbir,
levantó la bandera de la Fe,
y juró defenderla hasta morir.
Por España sus ojos paseó,
y llamó a sus hermanos de ideal,
y en un grito de guerra convocó,
como un clarín que fue llamada triunfal.
A la sombra de un templo milagroso,
de la España magnífico solar,
formaremos un Tercio victorioso,
que será el Tercio de Montserrat.
Y lleno de coraje nuestro noble corazón,
daremos cuanto somos por la Santa Tradición.
La boina roja es testigo,
de que la lleva un valiente,
y le dice al enemigo:
con ese color te obligo*,
que me apuntes a mi frente.
Mi frente no vale nada,
mi pecho debo guardar,
porque en él llevo encerrada,
la Virgen de Montserrat.
Boinas rojas a luchar,
como lucharon nuestros mayores,
y a sus pasos a seguir,
¡boinas rojas vencer o morir!
y a sus pasos a seguir,
boinas rojas, boinas rojas,
y a sus pasos a seguir,
¡boinas rojas vencer o morir!
No bruh, what two consenting adults do behind closed doors is no one’s business. Morality ends at the bedroom door, that’s TRUE freedom, NO morality police!
Besides, I ONLY read “Gent” and “Player” for the compelling articles!
Lol. Some of those mags did run good articles and paid writers well. My mom used to buy Playboy for my brother because she said he'd just shoplift it anyway like the other boys in the neighborhood. My mom dd not believe in censorship. When we went to Europe she came back with banned books like Henry Miller, Sam Beckett. Years later, in NYC I contacted Barney Rosset who ran Grove Press and Evergreen Magazine during that time and who brought those books here. And fought many legal battles. I thanked him for fighting for great literature. I also told him that when I was 12 I picked up a copy of Evergreen off our coffee table and opened it to the famous photo of Allen Ginsburg and Gregory Corso. Scared me off sex better than any church lecture :-) My mom passed away three years ago so she was around for all the looney Leftist trans and non-binary stuff in schools and she was very vocal about hating it and called it child abuse. She was right. What Barney Rosset championed was art and literature. What the Left is doing is permanently damaging and destroying for the sake of nothing but their own power.
Porn is neither art or literarture. It is deeply disturbing why any woman would even interact with playboy unless she was attracted to women, it is just as disturbing to note that a mother would indulge her son in porn that reduces her own sex to an obect, this is not normal or virtuous behaviot and relflects a failure to uphold morality for ones children.
Theo, you're smart and interesting, but I'm not going to be responding to your comments any longer. Word to the wise: don't go around insulting other people's beloved mothers.
"La democracia en nuestra patria entró, rompiendo los cimientos de nuestra tradición
De nuestras leyes Dios desapareció, Y la familia desunida quedó
Pornografía, drogas y corrupción, los tiranos creyéron ganar la situación
Pornografía, drogas y corrupción, los tiranos creyéron ganar la situación:"
This is a culurally liberal take, and is ultimately modernist. You would rather adapt and conform to liberal norms than reject what is causing this decline.
"Two consentinf adults" is insufficient for morality, the LGBT nonsense we see today is a direct result of accepting this classical liberal foundatiom of "freedom" and "free expression/choice" disregarding social and moral constraints. There's literally nothing funny about PlayBoy, it's caused so much harm to sexual morals, relationships, and human dignity. For someone who appeals to Christianity when defending things like capitalism or nationalistic immigration policies (which aren't at all Christian as I've pointed out, capitalism/market liberalism and nationalism are secular products of the enlightenment) you seem content in tossing these appeals aside at times...
Last time I checked you’re 21 years old? DON’T lecture me son, let it go.
And yet despite my age, my beliefs are traditional. And you consistently deflect rather than engage my ideas - are you incapable of defending your beliefs as a conservative from traditionalist criticisms?
Theo, I find people who indulge too much in something, then give it up and proceed to lecture others tiresome. If you were watching too much porn and gave it up, great. Don't lecture anyone else. I gave up cigarettes at 21 - I think you say that's your age. And alcohol recently. I don't like to be around people who smoke because I can't breathe. But I have no problem with anyone of legal age and not driving drinking around me. My husband drinks. His business. As for porn … I am friends with the sister of porn legend Ron Jeremy. I have a great deal of respect for Ron as he is wonderful to his family. When he was young he wanted to be a Shakespearean actor but couldn't make a living. He modeled for Playgirl and became a sensation. He was billed with his family name Hyatt - as R Hyatt. His granny was deluged with phone calls! This was still the day of the phone book. So he changed his name. In West Hollywood in my twenties I lived next door to a gay porn star, he was a wonderful neighbor who collected art and ceramics. Ten years ago I was asked to read an erotic story at a black erotica event in Harlem. It was a blast. At one point in the story, which I wrote, the narrator asks to be spanked with an Oprah Winfrey book club book, i was nervous how a black audience would respond. They roared with laughter, gave me a standing ovation and asked to hear it again. You are an absolutist. That's fine. Your business. But I'm way more concerned with the utter lack of morality in our rapacious government than I am with people who enjoy porn. Watch porn - just don't stock school libraries with it.
_Great_ rap Polly! I've watched Ron Jeremy's stuff - he's great. An honest guy with wacky adult action.
"Spanked with an Oprah Winfrey book . ." Put me in coach! :)
Thank you! Hope you are enjoying the beautiful day.
I fail to see how you're making a moral case - porn is evil period. If I were to destroy every single pornographic material ever, the only thing of value lost would be calories I burned...
The reason as to why porn is even being introduced in school libraries is because of the social and moral decline that comes with permissive attitudea toward evil, perverse adults create a perverse society that will eventually affect children...
You make yourself out to be an expert on degenerate books which means you've studied them.
Field work.
How? Degenerate books contain inappropriate materials and are usually explicit - except when in schools where they are hidden to be subversive.
Always fun to take a walk through a Medieval monastery with Theo. But you probably would have left me off at the fire to burn for heresy. I worship Hildegard and Eckhart.
Hildegard of Bingen is a saint, not a pervert. And worship is due to the Triune God alone.
I fail to see what you're getting at: I made a principled stand against all forms of perverse materials as they subvert the morals of a society, of we permit a moral evil simlly because it seems small or justify it on the basis of free choice/expression, we open ourselves to even more and obscene evils.
As for being an "expert", I was exposed to pornogrpahy when I was 10, and I continued indulging in this evil without fail until my confirmation (and when I came back into the Catholic faith) when I was 17. I don't see how it's bad for someome who has had a very personal and horrid relationship with perversion to be so against it...
Only in the interest of science my dear! (yeah, s u u re)
Don't want to be the fly in the ointment, but Trump refused to participate in 5 Republican primary debates. It should be interesting to hear why his refusal to debate is different than Carbajal's excuse.
Maybe take Trump out so the media wouldn't take the time away from the others TRYING to run.....
Trump didn't participate because he was so far out in front, the same with Carbajal. The reason I was pissed off about it is because Trump lied incessantly about DeSantis and his record in Florida, and then refused to debate him like a man. DeSantis in all likelihood would have confronted the myriad of malicious lies in which Trump engaged to smear DeSantis.
I regularly post this (his unwillingness to debate) on his official Facebook page, I suggest you all do the same. Expose him to his constituents.