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While we were doing that this past week, 167,432 of you were reading Noozhawk, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories that our Google Analytics shows you were reading during the period.
This is my opinion column, not a news story, and I am Noozhawk’s publisher, not a reporter.
1. Former California Senate Democrat Gloria Romero Explains Why She Became a Republican
Former state Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, who once served as the Legislature’s top Democrat, says the Democratic Party has become “unrecognizable” from what it once represented.
Our Josh Molina was among a crowd of about 65 at Timbers Roadhouse in Goleta on Feb. 15 to hear Romero explain her surprising decision last year to register as a Republican and vote for President Donald Trump.
“I didn’t leave the party, the party left me,” she said. “It doesn’t exist anymore.”
Romero, who represented East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley from 2001 to 2010, asserted that today’s Democratic Party has abandoned working-class Americans in favor of “unions and coastal elites.”
Her political transformation began during her time in the Legislature when she advocated for school choice, which put her at odds with the powerful California Teachers Association.
“I paid the price politically,” she noted.
During her talk, Romero expressed support for Trump’s immigration policies, emphasizing that his deportation executive orders are targeting violent criminals rather than ordinary workers.
She also endorsed the dissolution of the federal Education Department to return control to states.
The funding would have more accountability at the state level, she explained, adding that high-poverty and special education students would benefit the most.
“What this would mean is no more blaming on Washington,” Romero said.
“Here it is Sacramento, it is your responsibility, these are your funds, and now Sacramento will have to show its value.”
Romero cited other high-profile Democrats who switched parties, including Trump; Elon Musk, who is spearheading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE; and newly confirmed national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard.
She said new Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s departure from the Democratic Party “brought tears to my eyes.”
Sharing how she has been warmly embraced by Republicans, Romero urged them to continue to welcome disaffected Democrats.
“California’s sheen can be restored if we open up the tent, invite people to work with us in search of a common good,” she said. “There’s so much we can do together.”
2. Public Gets First Look at 443-Unit Apartment Project to Replace Sears Building, Parking Lot
The developers of a 443-unit apartment project proposed for the former Sears site at Santa Barbara’s La Cumbre Plaza have officially unveiled their plans for the public.
As our Josh Molina reported, Beverly Hills-based Kennedy Wilson hosted a four-hour open house on Feb. 15 to present their vision for the old department store at 3845 State St.
The global real estate investment company — in partnership with the property owner, Riviera Dairy Property LLC — wants to demolish the existing structure and replace it with three- and four-story buildings featuring Santa Barbara’s signature white stucco façades and clay tile roofs.
The proposed development would include studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with 44 units designated as below-market rate for residents earning 80%-120% of the area median income.
Plans include a public pathway along Arroyo Burro Creek, on the east side of the property along Hope Avenue, and community amenities such as a swimming pool and volleyball courts.
The project is advancing under state Senate Bill 330, which limits public review as long as developers meet municipal planning standards. Kennedy Wilson isn’t requesting any modifications.
“Even though it’s high density, Santa Barbara is going to have to adjust a little bit,” said Dave Eadie, Kennedy Wilson’s senior vice president of entitlement and development.
“The city said this is where we want the high density.”
The development coincides with a separate 689-unit project at the current Macy’s site, bringing more than 1,100 units to La Cumbre Plaza.
Some residents at the open house expressed concerns about the lack of coordinated planning between the two projects after the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments rejected funding for a specific plan for the area.
Bob Permut, a nearby resident, noted that there now are multiple projects underway in the neighborhood without as much coordination.
The proposal heads to the city’s Architectural Board of Review on March 3.
3. Santa Barbara County Supervisors to Consider Giving Themselves $56,000 Annual Raise
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will vote Feb. 25 on whether to increase annual board salaries to approximately $171,000 from $115,000, just a modest raise of — cough, cough — 48.7%.
As our Josh Molina reported, the proposed $56,000 boost would align the supervisors’ pay with comparable counties.
It also would tie compensation to 70% of a state Superior Court judge’s salary, which apparently is the fashionable new payroll benchmark for California government employees.
Supervisor Laura Capps, the board’s chairwoman, said staff proposed the changes after doing a market analysis and identifying disparities in how county elected officials were paid locally versus Marin, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma and Ventura counties.
Andy Caldwell, executive director of COLAB (Coalition of Labor, Agriculture & Business), criticized the proposal as “obscene,” arguing that supervisors volunteer for public service rather than holding traditional jobs.
Supervisor Steve Lavagnino defended the increase, noting that board members currently earn almost 30% less than county staff and substantially less than comparable counties — except San Luis Obispo.
According to Lavagnino, supervisors oversee 23 departments, a $1.6 billion budget, and 4,700 employees while routinely working 50-hour weeks.
That’s actually news to me as all this time I was under the impression that county CEO Mona Miyasato was running things.
I’m not disputing the supervisors’ dedication or whether they merit a raise, but the optics of 48.7% in this climate and economy are preposterous.
And really quite insulting to the rest of us working stiffs, who would be laughed out the door if we asked our bosses for half as big a jump.
The Feb. 25 meeting will also address salary increases for other elected department heads, including sheriff, district attorney and assessor.
Hey, it’s only money.
4. Officials Mull Putting Brakes on Left Turns at Deadly Highway 1 Intersection
Caltrans is considering blocking left turns onto Highway 101 from Santa Lucia Canyon Road near Lompoc to address what Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson called “the most dangerous intersection in the county.”
As our Janene Scully reported, the proposed change follows multiple fatal crashes at the intersection between Vandenberg Village and Vandenberg Space Force Base.
“Our office has been reaching out to Caltrans for a couple years on this intersection, and it wasn’t until it finally reached a critical mass of public outcry that Caltrans decided to have a meeting,” Nelson said at a Feb. 12 meeting of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments in Solvang.
The immediate solution would eliminate left turns onto northbound Highway 1 by this fall, while maintaining emergency vehicle access.
The change would redirect approximately 200 vehicles during peak periods through Vandenberg Village, raising concerns about new traffic problems.
According to Caltrans data from 2018-2022, 10 crashes involved drivers turning left onto Highway 1 at Santa Lucia Canyon Road. One other crash involved a driver turning onto the roadway from Highway 1.
Nearly 60% of the wrecks were broadside collisions. Noozhawk reported on nearly all of them.
Lompoc Mayor Jim Mosby warned about difficult right-turn merges and potential congestion impacts elsewhere.
Caltrans has outlined additional solutions, including extending the right-turn lane within three years and potentially building an interchange over the next 10-20 years.
The agency will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. March 12 at Cabrillo High School, 4350 Constellation Road, to discuss these plans.
The California Highway Patrol has already increased enforcement in the area.
5. Police Investigating After Shooting Leaves Man Dead in Lompoc
A 29-year-old man was shot to death in Lompoc the night of Feb. 16, marking the city’s first homicide of 2025.
Lompoc police Sgt. Vincent Magallon told our Janene Scully that police and firefighters responded around 10 p.m. to the 800 block of North Seventh Street near East Pine Avenue, a residential neighborhood two blocks east of Fillmore Elementary School.
Officers provided immediate medical aid to the victim before paramedics took over.
The man was transported to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, where he later died from his wounds.
Police have not disclosed details about the shooting or the man’s identity. No arrests had been made as of Feb. 21.
Anyone with information is asked to contact LPD’s Detective Bureau at 805.875.8120.
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Good Reads
Here are six more stories before you go:
» Clutch Shots Power Santa Barbara Basketball to OT Win Over Mater Dei in CIF Quarterfinals — Like many locals, sports editor Diego Sandoval is closely following Santa Barbara High’s magical season, including the Dons’ latest playoff victory … over basketball aristocracy Mater-freaking-Dei. Next up is Mira Costa High at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 in Manhattan Beach.
» Passengers Clear About Unhappiness Over Fog Diversions at Santa Barbara Airport — Editor in chief Tom Bolton has your experience with Santa Barbara Airport fog on his radar.
» Santa Barbara Officials Talk Fire Safety with Focus on Preparedness — South County editor Josh Molina has a timely reminder about emergency preparedness.
» Cleanup of Spilled Nails Leads to Highway 101 Closure in Santa Maria — North County editor Janene Scully nails down the pointed details of an unusual crash story.
» Major Infrastructure Changes Come with Bumps in the Road for Isla Vista — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway reports that Isla Vista’s congestion is about to get worse, with the addition of the idiotic “protected” bike lanes and bulb-outs that have made Santa Barbara a mobility nightmare. Those are my words, not hers BTW.
» Judy Foreman: Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone, One Dance Step at a Time — 93108 columnist Judy Foreman is dancing to a new tune these days.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? See Photos and Videos From the Santa Barbara Storm.
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What I’m Up To
Although I’m not looking for a free meal, I occasionally do have free time if you’re looking for a speaker for your club, group or organization and want to hear more about Noozhawk. Email me at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com.
- March 31 — The Santa Barbara Yacht Club invited me to talk about the state of news media — and Noozhawk — at its Monday Forum.
- May 28 — My favorite topic, Noozhawk, is on the agenda for my appearance at the Rotary Club of the Santa Ynez Valley.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Who didn’t see this truck wreck of a grift ending in such calamity? Nikola EV Trucks, Once a Darling of Green Investment, Files for Bankruptcy.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
I’m rewinding my Instagram feed in SLO-mo this past week.
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Watch It
Which one are you?
