We have incompetent leadership whose priorities are not us.
This what happens when the people stop caring about their own community.
It’s inevitable I guess. I watched the same thing happen to my own hometown I grew up in. Part of the reason I chose Santa Barbara decades ago was because it reminded me of my sleepy little home town.
Now some 40 years later both are unrecognizable soulless urban centers indistinguishable from each other. The people who live here and there have lost all connection to each other and pride in their town.
I thought when Randy was elected we would see a bit of business acumen on the council.
Where’s the dashboard on the web that shows us daily how many people showed up for work, what the full cost was for them: how many were off, and the cost? What about permits processed, permits outstanding, fees charged on a daily basis? These are not impossible things. Randy knows this, I know it. In the resturant business we would get a total in the register tape before the noon rush hour, and after, then before evening rush, and after, then at closing. We would know food and labor cost daily, and map that against income daily. Every employee has a cell phone or access to computer to log and account for activities throughout the day. Discipline and financial management is sorely needed. It’s not the council’s dime, it’s tax paying citizens. Accountability is needed for all the city folks and the council… daily. It’s business- act like it!
Majority elected have no business experience, and most are financially illiterate. Government is BIG BUSINESS. We need business pro candidates! Help identify and recruit them. Also, back with dollars and time BOB SMITH our stellar Congressional candidate!
Steve, Montecito93108 and Mike, FYI, Randy is the only member on the Dais that has business experience. 35 years owning Paradise Cafe. That's a pretty good resume in my mind. Unfortunately for us, Randy is outvoted all the time on these issues that Bonnie raises. If he's lucky he will be joined by Eric & Mike. Even more unfortunate for us the other four council members have no "real world" experience as I call it. Kristen is a geology professor at SBCC. Meagan is an attorney,(yuk) relatively new to SB. Oscar is. . . what IS Oscar? And newest member Wendy Santamaria is 26 years old. When I was 26 I was a bellman working at San Ysidro Ranch. I don't see any of these four as having the life experience that us old folks have.
The bottom line is the city administrator is the person the runs the city. Take your concerns about Randy to Kelly McAdoo. It's her job, not the mayor.
Yes, Rowse only has one-vote; but he has the Bully Pulpit as Mayor. He should be sounding off weekly to get State Street open--the silent majority of the electorate wants this to happen. A real leader would find a way to make it so.
Agree Mike! Where’s Randy? Where’s a nice guy mayor? Former SBUSD Trustee Bob Noel, PhD, was the lone, smart, student school focused elected trustee. He wrote weekly columns. Bob talked weekly to local clubs and groups; home coffee meetings. He’d debate anyone on issues. He gave volunteer activists like me research assignments. We did site visits. Learned what works elsewhere. Dr Noel worked tireless, 60 hours a week to make our schools better for every student. They collapsed after his 4 terms. An exceptional, exemplary, EFFECTIVE elected leader!
Rather harsh. We need pro-business candidates for D,4,5,6 as Sneddon, Friedman and Harmon are termed out. Friedman is responsible, a loss to Council and as Chair of the Finance Committee . He can say NO! He lived in East Berlin. He knows communism. He has the courage to oppose the City’s 4 Democrat elected SOCIALISTS. The Mayor race will be against Socialist Democrat Kristen Sneddon (Lodge’s Trainee) and Rowse, unless another electable MAYOR CANDIDATE runs. Rowse needs to be supported.
Great article, Bonnie ... as always. Instead of using the term "attractive nuisance," I'd prefer the term "hodgepodge." There's nothing attractive with the appearance of State Street and all the street paraphernalia. A motorcycle can be considered in legal terms an "attractive nuisance" which can, for example, attract a kid and in turn the presence of the motorcycle can somehow create an accident. Although the hodgepodge of "walking transitions" certainly can create an accident! Who maintains these "walking transition" devices. Are these foot traffic transitions engineered or someone just skillfully nailing something together. Will these "things" handle a 400-pound person? Will kids or animals get stuck in the crevices of these devices. Something to slip on in the rain? Will rats make nests under these things? Of course, the city has thought all about this stuff and the cost of potential lawsuits as a result of someone's creativity. It seems it's OK for your home, maybe, but used in the public ... I don't think so. I like the use of cost per minute of things.
I copied the picture of State Street and have studied it. Wouldn't it be a first to create a roundabout for walkers. Simply get rid of those corner traffic lights and use yield signs <g>. If someone stops on an addon street platform and turns their back to the street to talk to someone; and then backs up and doesn't think about the drop from the platform to the street surface, a cracked head or death of a SB resident could occur. Maybe the city government wants to kill its residents. The SB resident death results is a former homeowner's house going up for sale and the city gains by collecting ten times the property taxes. Don't laugh too hard. Our $400K home sold for $4M when the neighbors, city and FBI ousted us from our SB residence!
The only good thing about the street hodgepodge is the safety of not being noticed if you want to pee in a plant. You'd think all the plastic, orange "safety" posts would negate any "beautification" attempts. Next to the pee pots there's an unprotected drop-off at the sidewalk and where the platform ends. You got to be careful navigating this street "clutter." I'm almost convinced the SB government wants to kill their citizens or at least injure citizens so they can't make their house payments.
I'm thinking of a human roundabout needs a central island in the middle of the intersection. The pissoirs could be placed on this roundabout island along with a statue of a council person.
Bonnie, you are a force for change and improving the mess that has become State Street. Your passion for creating and maintaining an efficient and beautiful city is admirable. There are 87,290 fellow citizens of yours in Santa Barbara who should care as much as you do. Where are they?
This is not a party-political issue or should not be. However, the district voting system for such a small city, disenfranchises the majority of city residents, when only the mayor is elected at large.
There are only four priorities for this city council. The first is to keep being elected by their small constituencies. The second is keep firm control over private landlords. The third is to cram into the city boundaries as much high-density housing as they can. The fourth is to continue to find ways to impose sources for new taxes and fees as they can to pay for their profligate spending.
Where are members of the 87,290 city residents protesting in the streets against both the actions of the city council and the really serious money, they are paid in total, for part-time jobs they perform so badly? Why, also don't they call to account the full-time city executives who participate in the mismanagement of the city?
Perhaps, so many city taxpayers, in disgust, no longer visit state street that they don't care?
Alert: October 14 SB City Council is proposing RENT CONTROL at 60% of CPI, not a 2% cap. That is a significant change. Right now with inflation at 3% that would mean 1.8% If you are a PROPERTY OWNER, we’re on a slippery downhill slope picking up speed. Private Property Confiscation isn’t out of sight.
THE GOAL: More Public Housing that is financed with bonds and that pays no property tax required for schools, fire, police, roads & municipal services. That means either downsizing government or INCREASING TAXES. County is next. Oscar has already publicly stated vacant homes and spare bedrooms need to be occupancy controlled. Are we awake? Or still asleep at the wheel?
Enforcement of City Rent Control coukd be financed by another sales tax increase.
I read this article by the Bell Of Justice Titled "Dollars per minute"
By Bonnie Donovan and I have a supporting Title "Follow the
Public Corruption Money in Santa Barbara" I quote from the Bell of Justice>
"Unattractive, Confused, and Filthy AND Over $500,000 later for a city that is in the RED, Does anyone seriously like this utterly unattractive poorly thought-out condition??"
How about $7.0 Million embezzled in Santa Barbara in the form of alleged
"Legimate legal services" that leads to "Honest Service Fraud"
Follow the Money Folks as Director Kash Patel says >>
Perfect! Keep up the good work Bonnie...I just love that you tell it like it is!!
I personally use to spend a lot of money in the city of Santa Barbara, BUT no more! I refuse to shop under this conditions or go to weekly dinners like we just to do. This city council has destroyed a beautiful city and I cannot for the life of me understand how the citizens are OK with this. I have discovered lots of other options beside supporting this nonsense.
As the streets continue to fail businesses, and tourist as well as locals continue to avoid the core of the city it means only one thing. Failure.....
Did anyone see that San Diego is fighting a 8 story building demanded by builders remedy?
The fight against e-bikes, and the likes of b-cycle that are getting a free ride (get it?) is spreading .... just quote Forrest Gump and then ask why you elected them and are paying them.
Bonnie, a question for you that perhaps you have mentioned before but I may have missed. Although we are all affected by what the City Council does as far as the running of State Street, etc., but have no vote because of not living with the city limits, do you know approximately how many voters are there that can actually vote for the City Council?
We have incompetent leadership whose priorities are not us.
This what happens when the people stop caring about their own community.
It’s inevitable I guess. I watched the same thing happen to my own hometown I grew up in. Part of the reason I chose Santa Barbara decades ago was because it reminded me of my sleepy little home town.
Now some 40 years later both are unrecognizable soulless urban centers indistinguishable from each other. The people who live here and there have lost all connection to each other and pride in their town.
It’s sad but predictable.
Love it, Bonnie. Our local officials should have price tags on them just like those pots.
Polly, me thinks you might have hit the nail squarely on the head.
That'll be $105 for my time.
An art gallery in Santa Barbara should do a show of Bonnie's photographs.
Yes!
I thought when Randy was elected we would see a bit of business acumen on the council.
Where’s the dashboard on the web that shows us daily how many people showed up for work, what the full cost was for them: how many were off, and the cost? What about permits processed, permits outstanding, fees charged on a daily basis? These are not impossible things. Randy knows this, I know it. In the resturant business we would get a total in the register tape before the noon rush hour, and after, then before evening rush, and after, then at closing. We would know food and labor cost daily, and map that against income daily. Every employee has a cell phone or access to computer to log and account for activities throughout the day. Discipline and financial management is sorely needed. It’s not the council’s dime, it’s tax paying citizens. Accountability is needed for all the city folks and the council… daily. It’s business- act like it!
Majority elected have no business experience, and most are financially illiterate. Government is BIG BUSINESS. We need business pro candidates! Help identify and recruit them. Also, back with dollars and time BOB SMITH our stellar Congressional candidate!
Steve, Montecito93108 and Mike, FYI, Randy is the only member on the Dais that has business experience. 35 years owning Paradise Cafe. That's a pretty good resume in my mind. Unfortunately for us, Randy is outvoted all the time on these issues that Bonnie raises. If he's lucky he will be joined by Eric & Mike. Even more unfortunate for us the other four council members have no "real world" experience as I call it. Kristen is a geology professor at SBCC. Meagan is an attorney,(yuk) relatively new to SB. Oscar is. . . what IS Oscar? And newest member Wendy Santamaria is 26 years old. When I was 26 I was a bellman working at San Ysidro Ranch. I don't see any of these four as having the life experience that us old folks have.
The bottom line is the city administrator is the person the runs the city. Take your concerns about Randy to Kelly McAdoo. It's her job, not the mayor.
Rowse has been hiding under his desk. Zero leadership! Put him in the same category as the other progressive council members.
Yes, Rowse only has one-vote; but he has the Bully Pulpit as Mayor. He should be sounding off weekly to get State Street open--the silent majority of the electorate wants this to happen. A real leader would find a way to make it so.
Agree Mike! Where’s Randy? Where’s a nice guy mayor? Former SBUSD Trustee Bob Noel, PhD, was the lone, smart, student school focused elected trustee. He wrote weekly columns. Bob talked weekly to local clubs and groups; home coffee meetings. He’d debate anyone on issues. He gave volunteer activists like me research assignments. We did site visits. Learned what works elsewhere. Dr Noel worked tireless, 60 hours a week to make our schools better for every student. They collapsed after his 4 terms. An exceptional, exemplary, EFFECTIVE elected leader!
Rather harsh. We need pro-business candidates for D,4,5,6 as Sneddon, Friedman and Harmon are termed out. Friedman is responsible, a loss to Council and as Chair of the Finance Committee . He can say NO! He lived in East Berlin. He knows communism. He has the courage to oppose the City’s 4 Democrat elected SOCIALISTS. The Mayor race will be against Socialist Democrat Kristen Sneddon (Lodge’s Trainee) and Rowse, unless another electable MAYOR CANDIDATE runs. Rowse needs to be supported.
Great article, Bonnie ... as always. Instead of using the term "attractive nuisance," I'd prefer the term "hodgepodge." There's nothing attractive with the appearance of State Street and all the street paraphernalia. A motorcycle can be considered in legal terms an "attractive nuisance" which can, for example, attract a kid and in turn the presence of the motorcycle can somehow create an accident. Although the hodgepodge of "walking transitions" certainly can create an accident! Who maintains these "walking transition" devices. Are these foot traffic transitions engineered or someone just skillfully nailing something together. Will these "things" handle a 400-pound person? Will kids or animals get stuck in the crevices of these devices. Something to slip on in the rain? Will rats make nests under these things? Of course, the city has thought all about this stuff and the cost of potential lawsuits as a result of someone's creativity. It seems it's OK for your home, maybe, but used in the public ... I don't think so. I like the use of cost per minute of things.
I copied the picture of State Street and have studied it. Wouldn't it be a first to create a roundabout for walkers. Simply get rid of those corner traffic lights and use yield signs <g>. If someone stops on an addon street platform and turns their back to the street to talk to someone; and then backs up and doesn't think about the drop from the platform to the street surface, a cracked head or death of a SB resident could occur. Maybe the city government wants to kill its residents. The SB resident death results is a former homeowner's house going up for sale and the city gains by collecting ten times the property taxes. Don't laugh too hard. Our $400K home sold for $4M when the neighbors, city and FBI ousted us from our SB residence!
The only good thing about the street hodgepodge is the safety of not being noticed if you want to pee in a plant. You'd think all the plastic, orange "safety" posts would negate any "beautification" attempts. Next to the pee pots there's an unprotected drop-off at the sidewalk and where the platform ends. You got to be careful navigating this street "clutter." I'm almost convinced the SB government wants to kill their citizens or at least injure citizens so they can't make their house payments.
I'm thinking of a human roundabout needs a central island in the middle of the intersection. The pissoirs could be placed on this roundabout island along with a statue of a council person.
Bonnie, you are a force for change and improving the mess that has become State Street. Your passion for creating and maintaining an efficient and beautiful city is admirable. There are 87,290 fellow citizens of yours in Santa Barbara who should care as much as you do. Where are they?
This is not a party-political issue or should not be. However, the district voting system for such a small city, disenfranchises the majority of city residents, when only the mayor is elected at large.
There are only four priorities for this city council. The first is to keep being elected by their small constituencies. The second is keep firm control over private landlords. The third is to cram into the city boundaries as much high-density housing as they can. The fourth is to continue to find ways to impose sources for new taxes and fees as they can to pay for their profligate spending.
Where are members of the 87,290 city residents protesting in the streets against both the actions of the city council and the really serious money, they are paid in total, for part-time jobs they perform so badly? Why, also don't they call to account the full-time city executives who participate in the mismanagement of the city?
Perhaps, so many city taxpayers, in disgust, no longer visit state street that they don't care?
Alert: October 14 SB City Council is proposing RENT CONTROL at 60% of CPI, not a 2% cap. That is a significant change. Right now with inflation at 3% that would mean 1.8% If you are a PROPERTY OWNER, we’re on a slippery downhill slope picking up speed. Private Property Confiscation isn’t out of sight.
THE GOAL: More Public Housing that is financed with bonds and that pays no property tax required for schools, fire, police, roads & municipal services. That means either downsizing government or INCREASING TAXES. County is next. Oscar has already publicly stated vacant homes and spare bedrooms need to be occupancy controlled. Are we awake? Or still asleep at the wheel?
Enforcement of City Rent Control coukd be financed by another sales tax increase.
I read this article by the Bell Of Justice Titled "Dollars per minute"
By Bonnie Donovan and I have a supporting Title "Follow the
Public Corruption Money in Santa Barbara" I quote from the Bell of Justice>
"Unattractive, Confused, and Filthy AND Over $500,000 later for a city that is in the RED, Does anyone seriously like this utterly unattractive poorly thought-out condition??"
How about $7.0 Million embezzled in Santa Barbara in the form of alleged
"Legimate legal services" that leads to "Honest Service Fraud"
Follow the Money Folks as Director Kash Patel says >>
https://x.com/Chicago1Ray/status/1973918637732835500
And as former FBI Executive Tom Parker has stated >
"Perceptions of Political Corruption Too Often the Harbingers of Stark Reality"
https://www.independent.com/2020/02/22/perceptions-of-political-corruption/
Welcome to the Santa Barbara's Stark Realty folks.
Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family
Perfect! Keep up the good work Bonnie...I just love that you tell it like it is!!
I personally use to spend a lot of money in the city of Santa Barbara, BUT no more! I refuse to shop under this conditions or go to weekly dinners like we just to do. This city council has destroyed a beautiful city and I cannot for the life of me understand how the citizens are OK with this. I have discovered lots of other options beside supporting this nonsense.
As the streets continue to fail businesses, and tourist as well as locals continue to avoid the core of the city it means only one thing. Failure.....
Did anyone see that San Diego is fighting a 8 story building demanded by builders remedy?
The fight against e-bikes, and the likes of b-cycle that are getting a free ride (get it?) is spreading .... just quote Forrest Gump and then ask why you elected them and are paying them.
Bonnie, a question for you that perhaps you have mentioned before but I may have missed. Although we are all affected by what the City Council does as far as the running of State Street, etc., but have no vote because of not living with the city limits, do you know approximately how many voters are there that can actually vote for the City Council?
A quick look at Grok indicates that Santa Barbara city has 49,121 registered voters, while the county has 246,000.
Now, to check the population of both.
The population of the city is 88,000, the county 448,000.
And then Party affiliation - listed for the county only
Democratic 46%, Republican 26%, No Party Preference aka all others 21% and other 7%
Thank you, Bonnie.
Bonnie - Thank you for your reporting!