Regarding the Aug. 20 article, “L.A. Developer Proposes 255-Unit, 8-Story Apartment Project Next to Santa Barbara Mission,” the City of Santa Barbara screwed up big time by not have its paperwork in on time!
Now any builder can come in and do whatever the hell they want and completely screw up the entire area!
Thanks a lot, Santa Barbara!
Missey Franks
Santa Barbara
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Regarding the Aug. 11 article, “Tensions Rise over Proposed Biltmore Renovations,” so Ty Warner thinks he needs a fancy pool complex because the Biltmore lost its pool privileges at the Coral Casino?
HOGWASH! The Biltmore HAS a pool, a rather nice one, if you look on the images in Google: a lush, landscaped area smack in the middle of a courtyard.
On top of that, they think the already stunning rooms and cabins need a private hot tub? Those rooms are among the most beautiful in the world, with lush private gardens. They certainly don’t need a hot tub; it’s just a money grab to squeeze the maximum amount of profit out of customers’ wallets.
And they are seeking approval to do this NOW? Months AFTER their past planned reopening date? Feels like the horse and the carrot here. Will it ever open again?
Please, please, Ty Warner, give Santa Barbara back one of its highly coveted jewels! I’ve been there for weddings, brunch, evening cocktails (could never afford to stay, but living in Santa Barbara already, why would I?).
We want our Biltmore back!
Cassandra King
Oxnard, and Santa Barbara native
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Regarding the Aug. 21 article, “Santa Maria Council Delays Decision on Downtown Land Deal,” I was born and raised here. I left Santa Maria because all my family moved to Orange County.
I lived in Orange, a small, quaint town. That is what Santa Maria was all about when I left. I came back in 2017 and was upset at what it looks like now.
The city was ruined with all the changes. I know other cities that are quaint and are still surviving profitably.
The changes are going to create more traffic. Most families own two cars or more. Why not have all who are for this proposal live in the apartments, along with their children and pets? I don’t get it, makes no sense to me.
These are my thoughts as I lived here when the town was smaller, families would walk from store to store. Now you have to drive to the stores unless one lives a couple of blocks away.
Elvira Nicasio
Santa Maria
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In his Aug. 16 letter to the editor, Richard Foster makes a suggestion about giving homeless people money to live on instead of paying for places for them to live.
But where is anyone going to find a place to live in Goleta or Santa Barbara for the measly $31,666 he suggests?
I get a little more than that from Social Security and savings, and in a few years, it will be gone, and I could be homeless myself.
Then he pulls out the old trope of safe streets and crime when violent crime here is almost nonexistent. What does exist comes from people who know each other, not criminals prowling the streets.
Foster needs to rethink his criticism.
Brian Epstein
Santa Barbara
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A recent survey was launched by the Santa Barbara Unified School District in regard to the 2025/2026 calendar with a limited time period to respond: three business days and due by Sunday.
The first scenario has a start date of Aug. 7, with a three-week winter break. The options provided are not ideal, and no context or transparency on the driving factors for these large-scale shifts were provided.
A petition has been created. The petition is to halt the district from implementing any changes until impacted families and students are made aware of what is driving this request.
The timelines proposed by the district are unsatisfactory and do not seem to take in to consideration the particular needs of this community.
This is critical for each stakeholder to have a voice and a timely window for response — and a dialogue beyond a survey with no context.
Sarah Brisendine
Santa Barbara
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When walking my dog on residential streets in downtown Santa Barbara, I always have to deal with bike riders — manual and electric — riding on the sidewalks.
Downtown bike lanes are abundant. Why do so many riders use the sidewalks?
This is problematic as well as dangerous.
Dolores Woodson
Santa Barbara
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I recently went to Assemblyman Gregg Hart’s street office hours, where I was introduced to the Goleta city manager, who happened to be there.
I talked to him about potholes and minor road repairs. He explained that these repairs were contracted to outside contractors.
I inquired about changing this to in-house, and explained my idea of a city truck with a couple of workers doing minor road repairs on a daily basis. He thought it was a good idea.
In fact, he said there were other road repairs they could also do that he has many requests for.
I explained that the repair team could come in and download the request and make the repairs.
I would hope after they catch up with the current repairs they could expand to cleaning up roadsides and upgrade the appearance as citizens and visitors drive around Goleta.
Maybe this could be expanded with additional trucks and teams.
It is hard for me to understand why these types of tasks are contracted out. It seems so inefficient and slow implementation while public safety is at risk during the contractor process.
Sounds like a better idea than the new Old Town parking. Just sayin’.
Bart Bader
Goleta
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