Liberate libraries. Last year the top two librarians were paid to not come to work. This year the top one was paid $500,000 through a Non-Disclosure Agreement; ie, taxpayer money paid so the top librarian would go away quietly and not tell us who did what to her. Who authorized that payment? A new librarian was just hired at a $281,000, a $40,000 raise over the departing one. Liberate libraries from these types of treatments and expenses.
At least our local government employees "can afford to live in Santa Barbara". Anywhere they want.
Spending one third of a $750,000 a year government employee family income on housing means mortgage/rent payments can be $250,000 a year or $20,000 a month.
You think we taxpayers would at least get a thank you note from them, but nooooooooo. Instead they try to take away even more of our private property and discretionary income in higher taxes, while calling us names and accusing us of reprehensible conduct. Gouging landlords seems to be a favorite epitaph.
Gheesh voters, what is wrong with this picture??????
Hopefully there will not come a day that the only property owners are government employees. Things certainly got turned around from the the way it was intended with our public "servants".
When you look at consistent SB voting patterns, one can conclude that day has already happened.
As I often say, we are company town. Work for the government or work for industries supported by government contracts, and/or government employee benefits ( health care benefits).
SBUSD, SBCC, UCSB and Cottage Hospital - the top employers in this area. We are a company town with lots of company town voters. Which is just a reality check, and nothing else.
But the squeeze on taxpayers to support this level of company town infrastructure (Eg: $750,000 year family dual income compensation packages) should keep us from feeling disabused when government employee contract negotiations come up again.
And the government employee-benefited elected officials bargain with themselves with our tax dollars. Sure, they pay taxes too, but their net benefit always lands in their favor; not ours.
We need government. That is not the issue. But we need essential and streamlined government. Not fixed numbers of employees doing the same things, whether they are still needed or not, with ever increasing compensation demands. And we certainly do not need elected officials spending money we do not have.
I support charging a small fee for a library card, in order to limit the use of our Library as daytime vagrant shelters.
With a controlled access via the funded library card. Make our public libraries temples of learning and quiet exploration; not the sterile bum gauntlets we let them become. Where you can no longer dare drop your children off, for a few hours of independent reading activity.
Just like they had to impose a small fee on the downtown "free shuttles" after vagrants quickly abused them for joy rides and harassing the other passengers all day long.
I hear what you are saying about a library fee, however, I can see that backfiring as the library may allow people under a certain earning bracket to get in for nothing (the homeless you mention for example). I would also be leery about the small fee in the beginning to being raised periodically at the whim of the city/county.
Scholarships always can be made available. Let that be the screening mechanism for minors. Let them scream. Libraries too should be privileges, not automatic rights.
They should be screaming about being forced to fund a vagrant day care center, using highly paid and credentialed library professionals so it can even open its doors when it its still called a library. While forced to support and maintain prime downtown real estate for little public value.
PUBLIC Libraries need to be free . Become a member of a private library. No need to comingle problems. Literacy and access are high priorities in our country!
Free access to the web for "reading and research" can be a free public library substitute and its public commitment can stop right there. Reading, browsing and research library "reading rooms" are another animal.
Literacy is duty of our $800 billion dollar a year public education system.
But I am only talking how to limit the abuse by those who care not for reading, browsing or research that we saw evolve in our own one time beloved downtown "public library and urinal". Maybe the library can be "free, but the lavatories and reading room chairs are fee based?
Right now in real life, our SB "public library" is a sad and unwelcoming joke. Plus good grief if you do visit the shell of its former self, it proudly displays every Micelle Obama book ever written, and nary a book written by Victor Davis Hanson.
I agree with you, Monica, BUT do you know we already have a large chunk of our budget going to the homeless at the library? Part of that goes to (I call it) policing them due to their actions in the past (not always our police department).
No, I did not know that. Pretty sad that our homeless problems have become so horrible. The distressing thing that is happening and will continue until the corruption is halted here and in our state, is there will be more homeless, but not because of drugs and mental issues but because the average person is finding it harder and harder to live here. As always, Bonnie, I appreciate your unrelenting work in getting the word out on the workings of our public servants. Thank you.
I read the article titled "The Push for Control" By Bonnie Donovan.
I have new title "Psychological Operations In CALI & Santa Barbara.
I quote Ms. Donovan "In Psychology 101, students learn about projection—a defense mechanism where people accuse others of the very behavior, they’re guilty of themselves. It’s a way to deflect blame while tightening their own grip on control"
What you have described is Intelligence PSY-OPS used by the Military & Other Intel Agencies
All your points are right on and hitting dead center! Reading and agreeing with you is the easy part. My hope is that anyone reading your article will be inspired to act by becoming more involved and vocal!!!!
Attending council and finance committee meetings, sending emails, meeting with our elected representatives and talking with them is what will lead to change if enough of us follow through.
Better yet, we need candidates to run next year for seats currently held by Sneddon, Friedman, and Harmon since they are all termed out. Sneddon is aspiring to be mayor, and after Tuesday’s meeting, I’m wondering if Harmon is possibly coveting the position too if she can do that and the Coastal Commission……
My appeal: Please, get more involved, everyone.!!!!
The City of SB is doomed unless financially literate, math proficient business people are identified and elected. Housing policies are actually Economic Ordinances, as noted by D2 Rep Michael Jordan. Reserves for disasters and the unexpected are near depletion. Council gifts money it doesn’t have to protect illegals, create a dysfunction maze of our streets, and waste costly staff time pursuing projects like rent control that it has no money to enforce.
One local stated, “compassion is not sustainable”. YES, IT IS! D4 Rep Sneddon stated: property owners are our partners. Sneddon the richest person on that dais in the district least impacted by Council edicts, says: “Increase revenues. We need to increase fees, create new fees”. Sneddon wants “no people, pay, or positions cut! Rather cut capital projects.” Kristen and her County public works husband Sneddon are compensated around $750,000 annually by County taxpayers with guaranteed lifetime pensions. Check it out: county, City, SBCC https://transparentcalifornia.com/
Rent stabilization was PAUSED to the end of the year, it did not “Fail” as per Noozhawk’s biased Josh Molina, who reports through a blue lens and teaches opinion journalism at SBCC. Prepare for a Rent Registry, if Sneddon is elected Mayor. Then for an ordinance mandating spare bedroom rentals.
Proposed Rent Stabilization Ordinance for Santa Barbara Fails Over Lack of Transparency | Local News | Noozhawk
By the way, the newly released SBUSD math proficiency rates for 11th grade soon to graduate seniors is 18% proficient so we need to look closely under the hood for candidates.
To repeat for emphasis, should we be taking any advice from Kristen Sneddon about city financial deficits, when she and her husband enjoy so much taxpayer largesse every single year:
......"Kristen and her County public works husband Sneddon are compensated around $750,000 annually by County taxpayers with guaranteed lifetime pensions. Check it out: county, City, SBCC https://transparentcalifornia.com/".......
Thank you Bonnie for once again presenting and stating the facts. Yes, projection is a common strategy the left uses in combating reality. Sure, accuse your opposition, with the standard sorry ass tropes, be it racism, fascism, homophobia, xenophobia or Islamophobia. You know, everyday lefty talking points. An important cousin to projection is “deflection.” Yes, deflect any and all criticism so the opposition (normal people) are caught off guard and looking like a deer in the headlights.
Such is the case this weekend with the “No Kings” hate fest. Basically, amounting to a huge hissy fit and tantrum en masse for the usual cast of malcontents, burn outs and rainbow worshipers. Ya, the predictable band of clowns yelling, banging their drums, bongos, pots and pans, about how unfair life is and attesting to their hatred for the “Orange One!” It’s all so tired and old. I’m sorry, maybe it’s just me, but nothing is more ridiculous than a grown man in their 80’s, sporting a ponytail with tie-tied attire, wearing Birkenstocks and in desperate need of a pedicure!
Subject: Insightful and Courageous Piece on Projection and Property Rights
Hi Bonnie,
I just wanted to say what an outstanding article this is — one of the most lucid, grounded, and courageously written local policy analyses I’ve read in a long time. You connected psychological projection to civic policymaking brilliantly, and your framing of how “compassion” can be weaponized into control really cuts through the noise. It’s rare to see someone call out the authoritarian creep in such plain, compelling language without resorting to hyperbole.
You’ve also done what too few are willing to do — follow the money trail and hold local government accountable. Your questions about Measure I are exactly what residents should be asking: if the city is collecting $15 million in new revenue, why are basic services like libraries still under threat while consultants and rent registries balloon the budget? That’s the kind of sunlight and scrutiny democracy depends on.
Your closing reminder — that authoritarianism often begins with “policy, paperwork, and the promise of protection” — hits home. It captures perfectly how subtle and incremental the erosion of rights can be when cloaked in benevolence.
Thank you for writing with clarity, courage, and a sense of civic duty that Santa Barbara sorely needs right now. Please keep shining a light where it matters most.
I’m new to this community…That was a great article Bonnie!
It’s about time we citizens start pulling aside the curtain on our city’s covert policies; I’ve been concerned about it for some time now as their policies are getting more and more restrictive, and seriously less friendly to those of us who pay taxes here.
The double-speak, cancel-culture has got to be challenged on every point and we cannot let up. I’m glad people are finally speaking out. By directly challenging these policies and citing fact after fact, why the policies are not sound (or financially sustainable), supporting our points with proven history, and publicly calling upon our elected city officials for not just transparency, but real financial accountability, we might be able to ‘turn the ship around.’ However, we’ll have to keep repeating ourselves for anything to stick. We’ll also have to do it publicly, not just in groups like this. After all, repetition builds retention, and as a successful tactic politicians have employed for many years now, it’s time for us to do the same. It’s time to get the ball rolling!
Welcome, L Hoff. I think you already have my vote, if you choose to jump right in and run for one of the open city council district seats. (!)
Glad you found this forum as this is only place for new ideas and new movements to hatch. Without getting too personal, what in broad general terms attracted you to come to this area. What are some strengths we can build on that we might be over-looking, that have not already been taken over by the current entrenched powers that be? Where can new blood flow in this community?
I'll pile on..."In Psychology 101, students learn about projection—a defense mechanism .."""
In my basic Philosophy Class it was pointed out the ALL CONCEPTS WORK!
Then the professor said but ONLY IF YOU CAN GET THE PEOPLE TO ADHERE TO THE CONCEPT.
Does anyone know who the Luddites were? How about the Pilgrims? What did they have in common? Simple they were hard core Socialist, and they failed. Why bring them up? Because they were societies that existed in North America.
What do the supposed elites of the Council support? Socialism in various forms. What has proven to work over thousands of years? (shhhh now whisper this one) Capitalism.
Rent control....sure why not..! Having traveled over the years to population centers of the nation it was and is clear, Rent Control and stealing funds from sources like Measure I, is a clear path to destruction. The same goes for shutting down streets, and refusing to acknowledge the failure of MIG's stupid plan that clearly destroyed the economy of Old Town Santa Barbara.
Remember people the majority accepted the fantasy mansion in the sky. You voted for them because sniff sniff it isn't fair!!!
Not opening State St. to commercial traffic, and ripping out stupid street street obstructions is both not fair and not intelligent. You voted for them.
The excuse of "we work for the Council" is more (sniff sniff) excuses for not having back bone and worried more about out of control benefits/retirement then telling the voters and council the truth.
Have no fear the Socialist brigades will be mobilizing and the spineless voters/civil(?) servants will run for cover........and you will get more of the same.
Thank you for writing. The Democrat Socialists that sit on the council have been given their marching orders to GET RENT CONTROL DONE! Santa Maria and Sneddon attempted to enact a rent control formula number without normal Staff input or input from Landlords, which wasn't thought out very well (typical).
Another potential nail in the Santa Barbara housing coffin.
They care nothing about the logic that the State has rent control NOW (which is still being sorted). They care nothing about the animosity that they are igniting between Tenants and Landlords by adamantly perusing the jerking string-pull from their puppet master donors; They care nothing about the unknown costs of running a city rent control department (of which there is no money for). They care nothing that it costs lots to maintain buildings - some insurance has doubled! They are hell bent on a rent control legacy for their future campaigns, period! This hair-brainer rent control idea they came up with is politically motivated and dismisses the real housing shortage problem. The more tenant rights, the less housing will be available.......DUH! Please write them with your objections.
Super article, Bonnie! I was thinking about how the city would gain by irritating rental owners. By harassing owners of rental properties and making their rental activities less desirable to engage in, rental property owners wanting to get out of the rental business will put these properties on the marketplace. The sale of older rental properties selling at high prices will bring in higher taxes for the local government. I sold a Goleta rental property for over $1M in 2021. It cost $130K back in 1983. Think of the taxes paid by the new homeowners occupying older rental properties. Just follow the money trail when it comes to why the city does stuff.
Good Job Bonnie…do you think it’s possible that a favorable Supreme Court ruling would affect congressional redistricting mapping here in California?
“This Court’s cases, in a variety of contexts, have said that race-based remedies are permissible for a period of time — sometimes for a long period of time, decades, in some cases — but that they should not be indefinite and should [have an] endpoint,” conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh contended.“
“According to The New York Times, if the Supreme Court guts Section 2, Republicans could gain as many as 12 to 19 seats in the House of Representatives—enough to potentially secure control for a generation.”
Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson opined the outrageous analogy equating minorities as “disabled,” as it pertains to redistricting. Can one imagine if one of the white Justices made a similar claim? Now, I would never make that comparison with minorities, but one could make the plausible argument that liberals in general do seem to have pronounced mental disabilities when it comes to reality!
Yay, Bonnie! Trump should appoint you to his CA team with Bill Essayli rounding up the crooks who stole from the homeless fund. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/10/trump-appointed-u-s-attorney-california-begins-investigating/
Hello Polly, I have been very focal here on SB Current the investigations that
began and long, long, long time ago for Public Corruption in this State.
Please carefully review the LA Counsel-members Corruption in this RICO Case>
https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/new-indictment-rico-case-against-former-la-city-councilman-jose-huizar-adds-5 (Filed 11/30/20 - Investigations 2015)
It takes the FBI around 5 years to support a major RICO with evidence; wire-tapping.
So from beginning investigation to end for Conviction 8 to 10 years.
Any other Sealed RICO Cases just hangin out waiting To Be Unsealed??
Thank you, Howard, you are a great and generous citizen with your knowledge!
Liberate libraries. Last year the top two librarians were paid to not come to work. This year the top one was paid $500,000 through a Non-Disclosure Agreement; ie, taxpayer money paid so the top librarian would go away quietly and not tell us who did what to her. Who authorized that payment? A new librarian was just hired at a $281,000, a $40,000 raise over the departing one. Liberate libraries from these types of treatments and expenses.
Those figures are absolutely obscene! Unfortunately they reflect the norm any more, along with the other city and county worker salaries.
At least our local government employees "can afford to live in Santa Barbara". Anywhere they want.
Spending one third of a $750,000 a year government employee family income on housing means mortgage/rent payments can be $250,000 a year or $20,000 a month.
You think we taxpayers would at least get a thank you note from them, but nooooooooo. Instead they try to take away even more of our private property and discretionary income in higher taxes, while calling us names and accusing us of reprehensible conduct. Gouging landlords seems to be a favorite epitaph.
Gheesh voters, what is wrong with this picture??????
NB: $21,000 a month rent does get you some nice digs in Mission Canyon: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/679-Mission-Canyon-Rd-Santa-Barbara-CA-93105/15885762_zpid/
Hopefully there will not come a day that the only property owners are government employees. Things certainly got turned around from the the way it was intended with our public "servants".
When you look at consistent SB voting patterns, one can conclude that day has already happened.
As I often say, we are company town. Work for the government or work for industries supported by government contracts, and/or government employee benefits ( health care benefits).
SBUSD, SBCC, UCSB and Cottage Hospital - the top employers in this area. We are a company town with lots of company town voters. Which is just a reality check, and nothing else.
But the squeeze on taxpayers to support this level of company town infrastructure (Eg: $750,000 year family dual income compensation packages) should keep us from feeling disabused when government employee contract negotiations come up again.
And the government employee-benefited elected officials bargain with themselves with our tax dollars. Sure, they pay taxes too, but their net benefit always lands in their favor; not ours.
We need government. That is not the issue. But we need essential and streamlined government. Not fixed numbers of employees doing the same things, whether they are still needed or not, with ever increasing compensation demands. And we certainly do not need elected officials spending money we do not have.
I support charging a small fee for a library card, in order to limit the use of our Library as daytime vagrant shelters.
With a controlled access via the funded library card. Make our public libraries temples of learning and quiet exploration; not the sterile bum gauntlets we let them become. Where you can no longer dare drop your children off, for a few hours of independent reading activity.
Just like they had to impose a small fee on the downtown "free shuttles" after vagrants quickly abused them for joy rides and harassing the other passengers all day long.
I hear what you are saying about a library fee, however, I can see that backfiring as the library may allow people under a certain earning bracket to get in for nothing (the homeless you mention for example). I would also be leery about the small fee in the beginning to being raised periodically at the whim of the city/county.
Scholarships always can be made available. Let that be the screening mechanism for minors. Let them scream. Libraries too should be privileges, not automatic rights.
They should be screaming about being forced to fund a vagrant day care center, using highly paid and credentialed library professionals so it can even open its doors when it its still called a library. While forced to support and maintain prime downtown real estate for little public value.
PUBLIC Libraries need to be free . Become a member of a private library. No need to comingle problems. Literacy and access are high priorities in our country!
Free access to the web for "reading and research" can be a free public library substitute and its public commitment can stop right there. Reading, browsing and research library "reading rooms" are another animal.
Literacy is duty of our $800 billion dollar a year public education system.
But I am only talking how to limit the abuse by those who care not for reading, browsing or research that we saw evolve in our own one time beloved downtown "public library and urinal". Maybe the library can be "free, but the lavatories and reading room chairs are fee based?
Right now in real life, our SB "public library" is a sad and unwelcoming joke. Plus good grief if you do visit the shell of its former self, it proudly displays every Micelle Obama book ever written, and nary a book written by Victor Davis Hanson.
I agree with you, Monica, BUT do you know we already have a large chunk of our budget going to the homeless at the library? Part of that goes to (I call it) policing them due to their actions in the past (not always our police department).
No, I did not know that. Pretty sad that our homeless problems have become so horrible. The distressing thing that is happening and will continue until the corruption is halted here and in our state, is there will be more homeless, but not because of drugs and mental issues but because the average person is finding it harder and harder to live here. As always, Bonnie, I appreciate your unrelenting work in getting the word out on the workings of our public servants. Thank you.
You are correct and building expensive housing downtown is the answer ? Ugh
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1420034866795442&set=a.456753593123579&type=3
I read the article titled "The Push for Control" By Bonnie Donovan.
I have new title "Psychological Operations In CALI & Santa Barbara.
I quote Ms. Donovan "In Psychology 101, students learn about projection—a defense mechanism where people accuse others of the very behavior, they’re guilty of themselves. It’s a way to deflect blame while tightening their own grip on control"
What you have described is Intelligence PSY-OPS used by the Military & Other Intel Agencies
https://www.psywar.org/psywar/reproductions/JP3_53_PSYOP_Doctrine.pdf (Military)
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP86M00886R001300010029-9.pdf (CIA)
Any Three-Letter-Agencies in Lovely-Lil-Ole Beach Town doing some PSYOPS??
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family
PS-1 Galatians by Paul, an apostle-not sent by men nor through man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father…” (Galatians 1:1)
I think this town needs alittle of Galatians in their life.
Bonnie-your essays are always informative-thank you.
How ironic that the long list of rent control actions by the progressives sounds like those of a King!
Thank you Bonnie for keeping an eye on and explaining the fiscal issues of our city.
Excellent work as usual, Bonnie!!!
All your points are right on and hitting dead center! Reading and agreeing with you is the easy part. My hope is that anyone reading your article will be inspired to act by becoming more involved and vocal!!!!
Attending council and finance committee meetings, sending emails, meeting with our elected representatives and talking with them is what will lead to change if enough of us follow through.
Better yet, we need candidates to run next year for seats currently held by Sneddon, Friedman, and Harmon since they are all termed out. Sneddon is aspiring to be mayor, and after Tuesday’s meeting, I’m wondering if Harmon is possibly coveting the position too if she can do that and the Coastal Commission……
My appeal: Please, get more involved, everyone.!!!!
The City of SB is doomed unless financially literate, math proficient business people are identified and elected. Housing policies are actually Economic Ordinances, as noted by D2 Rep Michael Jordan. Reserves for disasters and the unexpected are near depletion. Council gifts money it doesn’t have to protect illegals, create a dysfunction maze of our streets, and waste costly staff time pursuing projects like rent control that it has no money to enforce.
One local stated, “compassion is not sustainable”. YES, IT IS! D4 Rep Sneddon stated: property owners are our partners. Sneddon the richest person on that dais in the district least impacted by Council edicts, says: “Increase revenues. We need to increase fees, create new fees”. Sneddon wants “no people, pay, or positions cut! Rather cut capital projects.” Kristen and her County public works husband Sneddon are compensated around $750,000 annually by County taxpayers with guaranteed lifetime pensions. Check it out: county, City, SBCC https://transparentcalifornia.com/
Rent stabilization was PAUSED to the end of the year, it did not “Fail” as per Noozhawk’s biased Josh Molina, who reports through a blue lens and teaches opinion journalism at SBCC. Prepare for a Rent Registry, if Sneddon is elected Mayor. Then for an ordinance mandating spare bedroom rentals.
Proposed Rent Stabilization Ordinance for Santa Barbara Fails Over Lack of Transparency | Local News | Noozhawk
https://nextdoor.com/p/8R7H4s2pXw5F?utm_source=share&extras=MTg2MzQ0NTI%3D&ne_link_preview_links=&share_platform=7&utm_campaign=1760549615334&share_action_id=a9a486c0-ebbf-483d-a0f8-064c3ecd45c9
By the way, the newly released SBUSD math proficiency rates for 11th grade soon to graduate seniors is 18% proficient so we need to look closely under the hood for candidates.
To repeat for emphasis, should we be taking any advice from Kristen Sneddon about city financial deficits, when she and her husband enjoy so much taxpayer largesse every single year:
......"Kristen and her County public works husband Sneddon are compensated around $750,000 annually by County taxpayers with guaranteed lifetime pensions. Check it out: county, City, SBCC https://transparentcalifornia.com/".......
Thank you Bonnie for once again presenting and stating the facts. Yes, projection is a common strategy the left uses in combating reality. Sure, accuse your opposition, with the standard sorry ass tropes, be it racism, fascism, homophobia, xenophobia or Islamophobia. You know, everyday lefty talking points. An important cousin to projection is “deflection.” Yes, deflect any and all criticism so the opposition (normal people) are caught off guard and looking like a deer in the headlights.
Such is the case this weekend with the “No Kings” hate fest. Basically, amounting to a huge hissy fit and tantrum en masse for the usual cast of malcontents, burn outs and rainbow worshipers. Ya, the predictable band of clowns yelling, banging their drums, bongos, pots and pans, about how unfair life is and attesting to their hatred for the “Orange One!” It’s all so tired and old. I’m sorry, maybe it’s just me, but nothing is more ridiculous than a grown man in their 80’s, sporting a ponytail with tie-tied attire, wearing Birkenstocks and in desperate need of a pedicure!
Noozhawk reports the Lompoc No Kings leader wants to send a message to "the extremists" there are no Kings in America.
Nothing better than one more ginned up Indivisible astro-turf rally with pre-printed signs to scare the "extremists" into better behavior.
BTW: what do you call SEIU and teacher union bosses, if we have No Kings?
What do I call them?…mobsters!
How rich: Tracie Van Wie wants to send a message to "extremists", while her Instagram photo has her wearing a black beanie that says "I Am Aunt Tifa".
NYC "No Kings" funding sponsors revealed: All the logos including front and center the purple and yellow SEIU logo, in full display:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/10/shocker-no-kings-protest-new-york-city-saturday/
------------No Kings - No Troops in our Cities - No Billionaires-------------
*(Know them by the extremist company they themselves keep.)
and levels above unions & NGOs, funding mostly by Soros…
TOTAL FUNDS SENT TO NO KINGS 2 PARTNERS
ARABELLA (Soros) $79,786,678.00
BUFFETT $16,682,587.00
FORD $51,742,446.00
ROCKEFELLER $28,659,782.00
SOROS $72,117,577.00
TIDES (Soros) $45,498,571.00
Grand Total $294,487,641.00
Buffet too!! Yikes, what is their agenda besides buying protection from the crazies?
DLDawson, There is a question way down at the bottom of this thread asking Where/how did you find these numbers.
Can you let us know?
Thomas John
Thomas John
5m
Sorry Bonnie - I meant to ask DLD a funding question. I think by the time I logged in, I ended up posting to the general discussion.
That's what Democrats do best,spend and waste taxpayer money.
Subject: Insightful and Courageous Piece on Projection and Property Rights
Hi Bonnie,
I just wanted to say what an outstanding article this is — one of the most lucid, grounded, and courageously written local policy analyses I’ve read in a long time. You connected psychological projection to civic policymaking brilliantly, and your framing of how “compassion” can be weaponized into control really cuts through the noise. It’s rare to see someone call out the authoritarian creep in such plain, compelling language without resorting to hyperbole.
You’ve also done what too few are willing to do — follow the money trail and hold local government accountable. Your questions about Measure I are exactly what residents should be asking: if the city is collecting $15 million in new revenue, why are basic services like libraries still under threat while consultants and rent registries balloon the budget? That’s the kind of sunlight and scrutiny democracy depends on.
Your closing reminder — that authoritarianism often begins with “policy, paperwork, and the promise of protection” — hits home. It captures perfectly how subtle and incremental the erosion of rights can be when cloaked in benevolence.
Thank you for writing with clarity, courage, and a sense of civic duty that Santa Barbara sorely needs right now. Please keep shining a light where it matters most.
Warm regards,
Walt Hutton
Walt, THANK YOU!!!!
I’m new to this community…That was a great article Bonnie!
It’s about time we citizens start pulling aside the curtain on our city’s covert policies; I’ve been concerned about it for some time now as their policies are getting more and more restrictive, and seriously less friendly to those of us who pay taxes here.
The double-speak, cancel-culture has got to be challenged on every point and we cannot let up. I’m glad people are finally speaking out. By directly challenging these policies and citing fact after fact, why the policies are not sound (or financially sustainable), supporting our points with proven history, and publicly calling upon our elected city officials for not just transparency, but real financial accountability, we might be able to ‘turn the ship around.’ However, we’ll have to keep repeating ourselves for anything to stick. We’ll also have to do it publicly, not just in groups like this. After all, repetition builds retention, and as a successful tactic politicians have employed for many years now, it’s time for us to do the same. It’s time to get the ball rolling!
Welcome, L Hoff. I think you already have my vote, if you choose to jump right in and run for one of the open city council district seats. (!)
Glad you found this forum as this is only place for new ideas and new movements to hatch. Without getting too personal, what in broad general terms attracted you to come to this area. What are some strengths we can build on that we might be over-looking, that have not already been taken over by the current entrenched powers that be? Where can new blood flow in this community?
L Hoff, when you say "I'm new to this community...." Does that mean new to SB Current or Santa Barbara? WELCOME!!!
New to SB Current. I’ve been a resident of South Santa Barbara county (various cities) since 1983.
Welcome!!
I'll pile on..."In Psychology 101, students learn about projection—a defense mechanism .."""
In my basic Philosophy Class it was pointed out the ALL CONCEPTS WORK!
Then the professor said but ONLY IF YOU CAN GET THE PEOPLE TO ADHERE TO THE CONCEPT.
Does anyone know who the Luddites were? How about the Pilgrims? What did they have in common? Simple they were hard core Socialist, and they failed. Why bring them up? Because they were societies that existed in North America.
What do the supposed elites of the Council support? Socialism in various forms. What has proven to work over thousands of years? (shhhh now whisper this one) Capitalism.
Rent control....sure why not..! Having traveled over the years to population centers of the nation it was and is clear, Rent Control and stealing funds from sources like Measure I, is a clear path to destruction. The same goes for shutting down streets, and refusing to acknowledge the failure of MIG's stupid plan that clearly destroyed the economy of Old Town Santa Barbara.
Remember people the majority accepted the fantasy mansion in the sky. You voted for them because sniff sniff it isn't fair!!!
Not opening State St. to commercial traffic, and ripping out stupid street street obstructions is both not fair and not intelligent. You voted for them.
The excuse of "we work for the Council" is more (sniff sniff) excuses for not having back bone and worried more about out of control benefits/retirement then telling the voters and council the truth.
Have no fear the Socialist brigades will be mobilizing and the spineless voters/civil(?) servants will run for cover........and you will get more of the same.
Interesting read Bonnie
Thank you for writing. The Democrat Socialists that sit on the council have been given their marching orders to GET RENT CONTROL DONE! Santa Maria and Sneddon attempted to enact a rent control formula number without normal Staff input or input from Landlords, which wasn't thought out very well (typical).
Another potential nail in the Santa Barbara housing coffin.
They care nothing about the logic that the State has rent control NOW (which is still being sorted). They care nothing about the animosity that they are igniting between Tenants and Landlords by adamantly perusing the jerking string-pull from their puppet master donors; They care nothing about the unknown costs of running a city rent control department (of which there is no money for). They care nothing that it costs lots to maintain buildings - some insurance has doubled! They are hell bent on a rent control legacy for their future campaigns, period! This hair-brainer rent control idea they came up with is politically motivated and dismisses the real housing shortage problem. The more tenant rights, the less housing will be available.......DUH! Please write them with your objections.
Super article, Bonnie! I was thinking about how the city would gain by irritating rental owners. By harassing owners of rental properties and making their rental activities less desirable to engage in, rental property owners wanting to get out of the rental business will put these properties on the marketplace. The sale of older rental properties selling at high prices will bring in higher taxes for the local government. I sold a Goleta rental property for over $1M in 2021. It cost $130K back in 1983. Think of the taxes paid by the new homeowners occupying older rental properties. Just follow the money trail when it comes to why the city does stuff.
Keep it up Bonnie. God bless you. We owe you an unpayable debt, that keeps us informed with the range of your penetrating local research.
Good Job Bonnie…do you think it’s possible that a favorable Supreme Court ruling would affect congressional redistricting mapping here in California?
“This Court’s cases, in a variety of contexts, have said that race-based remedies are permissible for a period of time — sometimes for a long period of time, decades, in some cases — but that they should not be indefinite and should [have an] endpoint,” conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh contended.“
https://nypost.com/2025/10/15/us-news/supreme-court-seems-set-to-restrict-race-based-redistricting-in-potential-election-game-changer/
“According to The New York Times, if the Supreme Court guts Section 2, Republicans could gain as many as 12 to 19 seats in the House of Representatives—enough to potentially secure control for a generation.”
https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/supreme-court-ruling-on-voting-rights-act-could-reshape-congress-510800?ysclid=mgv0xz9rw1871991207
Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson opined the outrageous analogy equating minorities as “disabled,” as it pertains to redistricting. Can one imagine if one of the white Justices made a similar claim? Now, I would never make that comparison with minorities, but one could make the plausible argument that liberals in general do seem to have pronounced mental disabilities when it comes to reality!
https://nypost.com/2025/10/16/us-news/justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-argues-for-race-based-redistricting-citing-the-americans-with-disabilities-act-theyre-disabled/