Regarding the April 2 article, “Ready for 1,127 New Apartments at La Cumbre Plaza? Here’s the Plan for Santa Barbara Mall,” 1,127 apartments equate to about 2,000 cars as most have two per family. Or let’s pare it down to 1,500-1,700.
Have you been on the four lanes on Upper State Street? It’s already crowded now. Where’s the traffic impact report?
Also, I believe there is a new building mandate that all new construction must be all-electric and no gas appliances. And where’s the water? Maybe the projects will have diesel generators for Tesla charging?
John Sween
Santa Barbara
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Regarding the April 3 article, “County Planning Commission OKs Controversial Isla Vista Housing Project,” the commission’s approval of a 48-bedroom development at 6737 Sueno Road in Isla Vista — with just 24 parking spaces — smacks of ideological overreach.
This isn’t planning rooted in reality; it’s social engineering dressed up as progress.
Isla Vista is a cramped college community with spotty buses and a parking crisis that’s already suffocating.
The Isla Vista Community Services District’s November 2024 Parking Needs Assessment pegs on-street spaces at 2,772, many clogged for days. Assembly Bill 413 will slash another 157 spots with new red-curb rules near crosswalks.
These aren’t just stats. They’re proof the streets can’t breathe.
Now add a building for dozens of residents and visitors handed half a parking space per driver on a theory that tenants will ditch cars for bikes and buses. Some might. But many juggle off-campus jobs, odd hours, and late-night safety concerns.
And does the commission expect that deliveries, repair crews or ambulances will pedal in? Urban studies show up to 74% of city traffic can stem from the hunt for parking — clogging streets, pumping emissions and risking lives.
This isn’t smart growth. It’s dogma force-fed to a community that’s not asking for it. Isla Vista isn’t a lab for urban experiments. It’s home to real people who’ll live in the mess.
Peter Sadowski
Santa Barbara
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I especially enjoyed the March 29 article, “12 Santa Maria Valley Churches Help Erase $1.8 Million in Medical Debt,” on the network of Santa Maria Valley pastors (and churches) raising $19,000 to eliminate $1.8 million in medical debt for nearly 1,700 Santa Barbara County residents.
What an informative AND inspirational piece.
Judy Frost
Santa Maria
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The Santa Barbara Unified School District is facing difficult financial realities, with a $9.65 million budget reduction this year and an anticipated $4 million shortfall next year unless revenues or expenditures change.
Like many districts across California, we are adjusting to shifting enrollment and budget constraints while staying committed to serving our students.
In recent weeks, we have had to make difficult decisions, including issuing reduction in force (RIF) notices across a range of positions — teachers in all content areas, classified staff and district office management.
This process is legally mandated and requires districts to issue preliminary notices by March 15, with final decisions made by May 15.
While the impact of these reductions is significant, we are actively working to minimize disruptions by reviewing department budgets, reallocating resources, and supporting affected employees in securing available positions within the district.
Some staff have already been placed in vacant roles, allowing their notices to be rescinded while still maintaining budget balance.
Santa Barbara County has the second-highest student poverty rate in California, and more than 60% of our students come from low-income households. Many of our families face challenges beyond the classroom, including access to food, transportation and housing.
At the same time, our staff are navigating the high cost of living, and we continue to explore ways to provide support, including investments in salaries, benefits and affordable housing initiatives.
We understand the uncertainty this process creates for our staff and community. Our leadership team, along with the Santa Barbara Teachers Association and Classified School Employee Association, is working closely to support those affected while ensuring that our students continue to receive the high-quality education they deserve.
While this is a challenging time, we remain focused on protecting priority programs and making thoughtful, student-centered decisions that will sustain our district for the long term.
We appreciate your patience and dedication as we navigate these financial realities together, and continue to deliver an excellent education that students, families and educators can be proud of.
Because our mission hasn’t changed. Every child. Every chance. Every day.
Hilda Maldonado
Santa Barbara Unified School District superintendent
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As a parent in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, I’m alarmed that while essential teachers — especially in arts, music and band — face layoffs, top-level administrative salaries continue to grow.
These teachers build community, enrich school culture and help students thrive. Their value was made clear at the recent board meeting, where students, families and staff spoke passionately in their defense.
Yet during this budget crisis, what’s increasing? Cabinet-level compensation. Since Superintendent Hilda Maldonado began, student enrollment has dropped 5%, while administrative pay has risen 8%.
One clear example is the chief operating officer role, created under Maldonado and held by Steven Venz. His total compensation rose 21% from 2021 to 2023, from $222,000 to more than $269,000.
If the role was initially supported by COVID-19 relief funds, and those funds are drying up, shouldn’t it be on the chopping block?
District leaders say administrative pay cuts would be legally complex — but that hasn’t stopped them from issuing 85 reduction in force notices to educators. Why is complexity only a concern for the highest-paid?
In 2016, the Hope School District superintendent took a voluntary pay cut to protect student services. That’s leadership.
It is time to realign our budget priorities with our values.
Michele Voigt
Santa Barbara
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Regarding the March 31 article, “Man from China Sentenced for Flying Drone Over Vandenberg Space Force Base,” wow! A $225 fine for spying with a drone on Vandenberg Space Force Base during a satellite launch.
That will surely scare the Chinese Communist Party and its spy network!
John Thermos
Lompoc
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Regarding the April 1 article, “County Declines Ambulance Subcontract, Will Sell Surplus Vehicles,” will anyone be held accountable for the mishandling of the Santa Barbara County emergency medical service (ambulance) contract?
Who was responsible for this mess? Was it the firefighters union that lobbied hard to eliminate American Medical Response as the provider? Or the county fire chief who purchased 35 new ambulances and now will sell them at a loss? The County Counsel who allowed the Board of Supervisors to circumvent state law that requires the Local Emergency Medical Services Authority and not the Board of Supervisors to contract for ambulance services? Or the Board of Supervisors, which ignored an evaluation by the LEMSA and rejected the legitimately awarded contract to AMR?
The Fire Department claimed its proposal was about “better service,” but now Chief Mark Hartwig says, “the areas we were offered were areas that are generally not profitable.”
So, was it about money or better service?
Will any of these folks be held accountable? It doesn’t look like it since the Board of Supervisors gave themselves a hefty pay raise even though they knew they were paying millions of dollars to AMR in a settlement for the botched ambulance contract.
Ron Fink
Lompoc
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As an update to the Jan. 10 article, “Isla Vista Co-op Takes Over Cantwell’s as Part of Transformation of Santa Barbara Corner,” I was very impressed by what I saw in the Isla Vista Food Co-op’s new location, at the old Cantwell’s location in Santa Barbara.
They carry many very good brands, try to address special needs such as gluten-free, and the prices were reasonable. Also, the checker offered to carry out my bags for me.
What more could you ask for?
Sally Gordon
Santa Barbara
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As predicted in March and April 2024 by public commenters at Carpinteria Unified School District board meetings, Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Donna Geck denied the writ of mandamus against the Commission on Profession Competence.
This is just one more step toward financial insolvency the CUSD is facing, in addition to the $3.5 million spent in legal expenses.
As a result of this decision, the union president must now be made whole and returned to full employment.
However, given that CUSD also lost a 2021 Public Employment Relations Board decision, the district’s potentially illegal actions against the union president may result in a successful grievance filing against CUSD for continued discrimination and retaliation.
On top of all this are the way overdue labor negotiations, which are now past impasse and at the fact-finding stage.
Should an agreement finally be reached, it will result in back payments and then starting the next severely late round of negotiations for the next year — all chosen to be done with severely expensive legal support instead of direct negotiations.
The San Francisco Chronicle published an article regarding four cases to which CUSD is a defendant as a result of Assembly Bill 218, which allows victims to seek relief for assaults committed years before.
All of this comes with considerable legal costs at the trade-off expense to supporting the students, which the political leadership has actively supported instead of seeking less intensive resource solutions.
The public commenter at the April 2024 board meeting asked if they will resign if they lost in court in their petition against the state, and they responded “yes.”
Will the board members keep their integrity and resign during the board announcements section of the April 8 meeting?
Cornelius Fitzgerald
Carpinteria
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