Who's Ready for the Fall?

By Bonnie Donovan

Sep 26, 2025

Since last week’s column

Local news personality John Palminteri visited the 500 block of the State Street Promenade and shared this update:

“New potted plants have been added to the downtown decor where the trial pedlet pedestrian pathways have been installed on State St…” Friday, 9/19/2025

The City might want to take a closer look— at the public response. Over 400 comments have poured in across John’s multiple Facebook pages, including John Palminteri NewsChannel 3-12. The feedback is passionate, detailed, and worth reading.

Here are a few of the photos John posted. Below, you’ll see how well the pedlets are—or aren’t—working in practice.

The latest State Street obstacle course. Photo courtesy of John Palminteri’s FB

If you notice the ramps are narrower than the pedlets—causing a delay moving forward or people having to detour or step up to continue forward.

Does this look safe?

An elderly man transitions from the old sidewalk to the pedlet—note his cane and the uneven surface. Is this safe, or are we creating new hazards for those who rely on stability and accessibility?

Pedestrian with cane navigating new pedlet. Photo courtesy of John Palmintari’s FB

If you go to John’s Facebook post and read the comments a father posts about his daughter having slipped on the pedlet and fractured her wrist.

If a newly installed pedlet caused a pedestrian to slip and fracture her wrist, does that point to a design flaw or unsafe installation?

Reports of injuries. Screen shot courtesy of John Palmenteri’s FB

City staff said they placed the new planted pots to differentiate the road and the pedlets.

“It is a way to differentiate between the road and pedlets”

Wait, what, a road?

An additional obstacle course of small potted plants recently appeared. Photo courtesy of John Palminteri’s FB

Question to staff: I’ve been asked to find out if the recently added pots and plants were approved when the pedlets passed at the city council.

Answer: The Council did not approve a budget for the pots and plants – staff has used existing resources on hand for these. It is a way to differentiate between the road and pedlets.

Question: What fund did the money come from for the added pots and plants? And who got it authorized? and authorized by whom?

Waiting for the answer…

While we wait

Hi Bonnie,

Your columns are fantastic! Inspired by your piece, I visited the new pedlets on the 500 block of State Street. They’re clunky, an ADA disaster, and feel weird to walk on. I wonder how many drinkers will stumble over them after imbibing? Speaking of which, after walking State Street, I was thirsty. Yet, all four drinking fountains I found were bone dry. The only one that had water trickling out was unusable as a mentally disturbed man was monopolizing it and grinding soap into the drain.

Cheers,

Your biggest Fan

High and dry in Santa Barbara. Photo courtesy of DKY reader

Dear Biggest Fan,

Thank you for your kind words—and for taking the time to walk the 500 block yourself. Your observations echo what many others have shared: the pedlets feel awkward, raise serious ADA concerns, and may pose risks, especially in a nightlife-heavy area. Your comment about drinkers stumbling over them isn’t far-fetched—it’s a real safety issue worth flagging.

And the drinking fountains? That’s another layer of neglect. Public amenities should be functional and accessible to everyone, especially in a downtown meant to welcome locals and visitors alike. I’ll be digging deeper into both concerns in an upcoming column. Stay tuned—and stay hydrated!

Time is ticking

Hi Bonnie

I love your column and follow it closely. I watched the city council today (Tuesday, September 23, 2025) and realized it was only 2 hours 14 minutes. Maybe you should break their pay down per minute each week.

Please keep educating us.

Teri

Hi Teri, Thanks for reading and for the kind words. You’re onto something. If we take the per-meeting cost to taxpayers—$23,859.99—and divide it by the 134 minutes they met, we get a staggering $178.06 per minute. And that’s just for the Council. It doesn’t include the cost of city staff, legal counsel, or administrative support. Efficiency is great, but at that rate, every minute counts.

Why Are Part-Time Council Members Receiving Full-Time Benefits?

Bonnie, It’s time we ask a simple but serious question: Why are Santa Barbara City Council members receiving pensions and benefits when their roles are not full-time positions?

Councilmembers like Meagan Harmon, Eric Friedman, Kristen Sneddon, and Mike Jordan all hold full-time jobs outside of their council duties. Yet they receive taxpayer-funded benefits—including health insurance and pension contributions—despite serving in what is officially a part-time capacity.

This raises a broader issue: Does the City offer pensions and benefits to other part-time employees? If someone works part-time at a city-run facility or in a support role, are they given the same package? Most likely not. In fact, if you work part-time at Trader Joe’s or any other private employer, you wouldn’t receive these benefits unless you meet specific thresholds.

Furthermore, many of these councilmembers already receive benefits through their full-time employers. So why are taxpayers footing the bill for a second set of benefits?

This isn’t just about dollars—it’s about fairness. If the City is serious about fiscal responsibility and equity, it must re-evaluate whether part-time elected officials should receive full-time compensation packages. Public service should not come with perks that exceed what everyday working residents receive.

Sally and John

I haven’t had time to get into Sally and John’s questions, but I will soon. But don’t you want to know why we are giving them pension and benefits along with nearly $10,000 per year for car allowance?

Plastic Surgery coming to SB

“The projects are proposed to be built directly behind the SB Mission at 505 East Los Olivos St. (two eight-story buildings with a total of 270 units and 445 parking spaces) and on the Lower Riviera at 1609 Grand Avenue (a building of massive bulk and height). Both projects will cause the evacuation corridors to be overburdened with vehicles, creating major public safety hazards. This directly affects all residents in high fire zones who must evacuate onto Foothill Road.” (21) News Feed—Nextdoor

Multiple groups are asking for you to get involved and write to the city council on these two projects.

People responding

The Charlie Kirk Memorial held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, has shattered viewership records and made history. Organized by Turning Point USA, the event drew an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 attendees in person and was streamed over 100 million times across platforms including YouTube, Rumble, and church livestreams. The memorial featured high-profile speakers such as President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, whose emotional message of forgiveness toward her husband’s assassin became a defining moment of the evening.

According to TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet, the viewership numbers were verified by production and media partners, with actual reach likely even higher due to group watch parties and untracked streams. The memorial blended political messaging, religious revival, and personal tribute, reflecting the scale and influence of Charlie Kirk’s legacy. It marked not only a farewell to a prominent conservative figure but also a rallying point for a movement that continues to grow in reach and intensity.

Charlie Kirk Memorial Viewership Shatters Records and Makes History: Turning Point USA Claims 100 Million+ Views

There will be a vigil for Charlie Kirk tonight at UCSB, 7 pm. (There is a map below in Community Events)

Really Disappointed, Salud

Congressman Salud Carbajal voted present on the Charlie Kirk resolution—a moment that called for leadership, not neutrality. This wasn’t just a procedural vote. It was a chance to take a stand, and instead, he chose to sit on the fence.

Salud often speaks about bipartisanship and representing all constituents. But when it mattered, he didn’t vote yes or no. He voted present. That’s not representation. That’s avoidance.

We deserve a representative who’s willing to make hard choices and stand by them. Silence in moments of consequence speaks volumes.