Regarding the Feb. 21 article, “Goleta Community Advocates for Marine Life in Platform Holly Decommissioning,” let’s stick it to the oil companies! Let’s make them pay!
Most people see movies of the colorful fish swimming among colorful reefs and think that’s what the ocean is like. WRONG. Almost all of the ocean bottom is bleak, unwelcoming, featureless MUD.
Every soft-drink can that gets tossed into the ocean becomes a habitat for something — they have nowhere else to hide.
Platform Holly is a giant habitat for all kinds of creatures. It is teeming with life. If it is erased, where will they go?
University people get grants to make tiny little concrete mazes for the fish to hide in, but Holly is so much bigger, is already there, and is an oasis in a desert of emptiness.
I say cut it off at 30 feet and let the fish stay. Put a buoy on it so boaters will have a good place to fish and dive. The logical answer is SO obvious!
Fred Sanford
Santa Barbara
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Regarding the Feb. 26 article, “Tariffs, Labor Sprout as County Agriculture Industry’s Key Concerns,” some of the speakers at the EconAlliance’s Growing Possibilities Ag Forum complained about President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his “mean rhetoric“ toward Canada and Mexico, as well as his immigration policy being the problem with their ability to sell their products at a competitive price.
But the article includes a photo of the breakdown of prices over the last 20-30 years of the per-acre cost to grow their crops.
Almost NOTHING on that list has anything to do with federal policy. The costs have skyrocketed almost purely from state and local regulations that have been placed on them right here in good old California.
Not one word in the story even references these self-imposed costs placed on our local growers by our own representatives.
Before we start blaming the feds for sky-high prices at the supermarket, I think we should take a hard look at what we have done to ourselves by electing people who continue driving prices upward. And the reporting should include more than just sensationalized headlines.
Brian MacIsaac
Santa Barbara
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Bravo to the Friends of State Street for delivering meaningful, visible change in downtown Santa Barbara.
One standout accomplishment is the collaboration with the City of Santa Barbara and Sweep Inc. to launch the State Street Loop — a free electric shuttle connecting Stearns Wharf to Sola Street.
The State Street Loop operates a fleet of three electric golf carts — including one ADA-accessible vehicle — providing convenient service between the Dolphin Fountain at Stearns Wharf and Victoria Street.
By November, 16,656 riders had already taken advantage of the service, a clear sign that the community values an easy, car-free way to sightsee, shop and enjoy downtown. Due to its popularity, the program has now been extended through April.
Beyond transportation, the Friends of State Street are also revitalizing vacant storefronts through partnerships with property owners and creatives.
In addition, the Native Plant Program is introducing locally appropriate plantings along State Street, creating a more sustainable, beautiful and distinctly Santa Barbara streetscape.
These tangible results demonstrate what thoughtful collaboration and community vision can accomplish.
Barbara Hershberg
Santa Barbara
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There’s nowhere I can find to address my concerns regarding all of these rocket/satellite launches that are increasing and increasing. When will it STOP?!
There’s been rocket fuel detected in breast milk rather far away from Vandenberg Space Force Base, but in California!
I understand this is a divisive subject but, honestly, how much “space litter” can this planet and her delicate creatures tolerate?
I used to live in Vandenberg Village, where it was bad enough that the increased launches shook my apartment so much that windows and doors were no longer plumb. One early morning I stepped outside and could hardly breathe because of a petrol smell that was asphyxiating and that I’d never before encountered!
More than a year ago I felt respite because, after moving farther away, at first I could barely hear them. Now the payloads are so heavy that my windows, dishes, etc., here in Solvang rattle as well.
Do I just have to resign myself to this game of “playing God” will go on forever? IS the idea to absolutely block out the sun and control Earth’s inhabitants remotely?
It’s beginning to sound less kooky and more like where we’re headed. Noise pollution, outer space littering and air pollution.
Where and when will it be ENOUGH?
Evelyne Chezum
Solvang
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Noozhawk’s “brevity rule” has now gone from unenforceable to almost comical.
If your well-intentioned correspondents ignore it with impunity it should just go away. Otherwise, enforce it.
They will survive and maybe even learn how to get their message across before their readers become exhausted with their passion.
See, less than 100 words, but point made.
Stephen Weiss
Montecito
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Dave Blunk’s Feb. 20 letter to the editor is full of flaws regarding the partnership between the City of Santa Barbara and BCycle, the e-bike sharing business.
Blunk says the city has “moved into competition not only with other bicycle rental companies, but also taxi and ride-share businesses.” This is a terrible comparison.
BCycles are in racks all around the city, something none of those other services have ever had. I can walk a few blocks, get a BCycle, ride to my destination, drop it off and get another one to ride home.
Blunk said bad things will happen, but good things are really what happened.
Brian Epstein
Santa Barbara
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