We Might Have a Chance of Finding Joe Holland
There may be a possibility of locating Santa Barbara’s well-paid but mysteriously missing County Clerk/Registrar of Voters Joe Holland. The LLC associated with the Builders Remedy project near the Mission is currently engaged in a lawsuit against the County of Santa Barbara regarding property taxes. It raises the question of whether Joe will personally appear in court or delegate the responsibility to someone else.
Builders Remedy
The existence of these builder remedy projects stems from the city's failure to submit and secure approval for its Housing Element Master Plan by the designated deadline. If the city staff and council had not been preoccupied with initiatives like State Street Pedestrian Promenade, could they have completed the Housing Element Master Plan in time to circumvent the Builders Remedy situation?
It is said that the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development was rejecting every city's Housing Elements for 2023-2031 cycle. Constantly rejecting them and sending them back. If this is true, have any formal complaints been lodged in response?
Transparent California
Transparent California is preparing to release its latest update (2024) on government employee compensation, benefits, and pensions. This initiative plays a crucial role in promoting transparency regarding public sector finances, allowing citizens to gain insight into how taxpayer money is allocated.
The organization operates at no cost to the public, relying solely on donations for its funding. Currently, they are conducting their annual fundraising campaign, and contributions are essential to sustain their efforts. If you are in a position to help, consider making a donation to support Transparent California. Donate | Transparent California
The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated. Without it, the public would lack access to vital information about government spending, making it difficult to comprehend the implications of our tax contributions and the state’s significant debt, which currently stands at an alarming $520 billion.
Back to State Street
Remember the city hired Jason Harris as the Economic Development Manager and was in charge of State Street “Pedestrian” Promenade.
Jason Harris
2020- Regular Pay $133,141.25, Cost to the taxpayer $198,767.73
2021- Regular Pay $178,252.19, Cost to the taxpayer $364,527.85
2022- Regular Pay $185,024.00, Cost to the taxpayer $283,607.91
Total cost for three years… $864,903.49
And then he was let go…
In 2021, the city hired Therese M. Harris (we know her as Tess) with the job title of State Street Master Planner.
Therese M. Harris
2021- Regular pay $49,327.00, Cost to the taxpayer $70,249.71
Wait for it…
2022- Regular Pay $157,264.00, Cost to the taxpayer $242,701.19
Yep, a big fat raise…
2023- Regular Pay $173,506.73, Cost to the taxpayer $260,526.81
So far, our cost for three years $573,477.71
Total cost for both from 2020 to 2023, one million four hundred thirty-eight thousand three hundred eighty-one dollars. ($1,438,381.00) That doesn’t include 2024 or 2025.
So, you thought all these consultants that have been hired were expensive! Three years later and we are still waiting on the State Street Master Plan, (Tess Harris job title).
More Information from Transparent California
Labor Relations Manager, Sam Ramirez Castillo $234,837.79, his title Labor Relations. At this cost, why are we paying large sums to departed unhappy employees?
2023 councilmembers Meagan Harmon $110,792.43, while Michael Jordan is $90,012.99. Why difference in pay? Harmon’s Benefits are $27,749.69 while Jordan’s is $6,970.25. Their pensions are the same at $15,567.19 each. Looks like their car allowance went up to $9,558.29 why aren’t they on bikes or transit? That could save us money.
The city of Santa Barbara in 2023 had 1,787 employees and the cost to taxpayers was $186,304,012.00; per resident: $2,116.00.
Other cities aren’t paying pensions to staff
When you have the correct spelling of an employee's name, search the name in the first box without going to a city, county, or the state.
When I did this, I found their former jobs in other cities. Why weren’t they getting pensions at their jobs in other cities?
Santa Barbara is in debt due to pensions and all the employees receive it including part-time city council members.
I don’t think the city should be negotiating with outside interest groups trying to change Santa Barbara.
•••
STRONG TOWNS
Formation: November 2009
Legal Status: 501©3 non-profit
Headquarters: Brainerd, Minnesota
Founder and President: Charles Marohn
Website: strongtowns.org
Strong Towns is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to helping cities and towns in the United States and Canada achieve financial resiliency through civic engagement.[1][2] The advocacy group points to American post-World War II suburban development as a failure[3] and seeks to improve communities through urban planning concepts such as walkability, mixed-use zoning, and infill development.[4] According to Strong Towns, the group seeks to end highway expansion; encourages localities to use transparent accounting practices in showing the financial impacts of infrastructure, especially suburban infrastructure; build incremental housing; build safe, productive, and human-oriented streets; and end parking mandates and subsidies.[5]
Proponents of Strong Towns describe its philosophy as "a conservative vision for community."[6] Critics describe it as anti-government, business-libertarian economics and politics cloaked in "progressive" clothing.[7]
History
The organization was founded by Charles Marohn.[7][1] Marohn is a former professional engineer and city planner,[8] and the organization is headquartered in his home town of Brainerd, Minnesota.[9]
Prior to Strong Towns, Marohn started the Community Growth Institute, his own planning firm, in the early 2000s. Marohn often felt that the cities his firm was collaborating with were becoming overbuilt and could be heading towards financial problems in the long run. Frustrated at officials in these cities resisting change, and due to the 2008 financial crisis, Marohn was spurred into starting a blog to bring attention to these concerns.[10]
The name Strong Towns was chosen by Jon Commers, an associate of Marohn's.[11] Marohn's blog was subsequently renamed from theplannerblog.com to the Strong Towns blog, and in November 2009 the Strong Towns organization was officially launched by Marohn, Commers, and Ben Oleson, a former business partner of Marohn's from the Community Growth Institute.[12]
Members
Strong Towns members are primarily from the U.S. and Canada as historically both nations adopted shared approaches to transportation engineering, city planning and zoning during the 20th century. Membership requires a yearly or monthly fee with membership dues being used to fund the operation of the Strong Towns organization.
The Strong Towns 2024 annual report revealed that the organization had 5,700 members at the end of 2024.[13]
•••
Have a Great weekend, a fun event in Carpinteria this weekend is St. Joseph’s 68th Annual Festival.
Exit Linden Avenue and turn left, you can’t miss it.
Admission is free
Friday: 5-11
Saturday: Noon-11
Sunday: Noon -9 PM
We're not Santa Barbara citizens to our local government, we're not their employers, we're not even people. We're just ATMs. How much would you like to withdraw today? Would you like that in 20s or 1000 dollar bills? I keep saying I'm not leaving Santa Barbara no matter what. You know why I'm not leaving? Because by the time our government gets through with me I won't have enough money to buy a ticket out of here.
Thank you Bonnie for the great information on where our tax dollars are being spent. Of all things almost $10k/yr for the council folks 'car allowance seems the nuttiest.