Regarding the Feb. 25 article, “Santa Barbara County Supervisors Approve Own Pay Raises as Meeting Turns Personal,” the squabble over supervisors’ pay — panned as “obscene” by Andy Caldwell and cautiously dissected by the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association — misses the point.
We entrust five individuals with shepherding a $1.6 billion budget, managing crises and a county of 450,000, yet compensate them with a fraction of what comparable jobs would earn in the private sector.
At $115,000, we’re shortchanging ourselves. This isn’t the prudent conservatism I champion — it’s pennywise folly that pounds foolishly at our county’s potential.
Private-sector benchmarks prove it. A 2023 Heidrick & Struggles survey shows CEOs at firms managing $1 billion-plus in revenue — comparable to our county’s budget — earn a median of $752,000, with top performers clearing millions.
Boards at private equity-backed firms of similar size pay directors $200,000-$300,000 annually, per 2024 private company director data, for four meetings per year.
Why? Because high stakes demand high skill, and top talent doesn’t work for peanuts.
Motivation matters, too. Public service inspires, but it’s not enough. A 2021 Harvard Business Review study found cash, not just purpose, drives performance — executives prioritize pay when stakes are high.
San Luis Obispo County’s $105,000 salaries left three of five seats uncontested in 2022. Ventura County’s $171,000 pay, meanwhile, drew multiple candidates per seat, yielding a board that slashed permitting times by 30% (2023 county report). Talent follows the money.
Conservatives value results. With all due respect to our current supervisors, their pay limits our pool of competitors for the seats, stifling innovation and limiting excellence.
Bump it to $170,000 or more, still a bargain next to private-sector rates — and watch more candidates step up. More and better choices, better county.
That’s the real conservative play that would benefit all.
Peter Sadowski
Santa Barbara
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Noozhawk South County editor Joshua Molina hits the mark again, and thank you, Andy Caldwell, for standing up for us.
To Supervisors Laura Capps and Steve Lavagnino, shame on you. I don’t care how much money other counties pay their supervisors. You work for us, and when you have the majority of us saying reduce this exorbitant raise, you need to adjust.
How about we put a ballot measure up, that each citizen can reduce his city and state tax by 5% every year after age 60?
I would save 40%. That’s right, I get to vote for my own tax savings.
Here is my point: I don’t care how many hours you work. Stop focusing on Caldwell’s claims (I believe he is right, though). Focus on what the voters are saying. They are saying 48% is too much.
But you didn’t adjust your number by even 1%. Because you don’t work for us, you work for yourself — and that we can fix at the next election.
All the Santa Barbara County citizens who are tired of Capps and Lavagnino not listening, let’s start today to get them out of office.
Make a handmade sign and put on your front lawn: “Vote No on Capps, Lavagnino, Hartmann and Lee.” Let’s remind the community every day of this vote and how they voted for themselves. We deserve better representation!
Capps, your mom was a great representative and wasn’t in it for the money. I voted for you, thinking you had her values.
Enjoy your raise, it will be short lived because many like me won’t be voting you back in office.
Bart Bader
Goleta
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I just don’t know the words for what the Board of Supervisors did: They did it because they could!
Ron Westerman
Santa Barbara
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Here are some takeaways from the recent Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting:
First was the decision regarding a $56,000 a year pay raise for supervisors. One justification for the raise was the need to attract the “best and brightest” for the job. Does this mean that we don’t have the best and brightest in those seats now? You decide.
Second, there was the 2-2 vote on an appeal of the county Planning Commission’s approval to transfer permits for operation of an oil processing facility due to a change of ownership. Several environmental groups appealed the decision; thus, the board was tasked with deciding the issue.
In my experience in city government, a 2-2 vote means “no decision” on the appeal so the original decision by the Planning Commission would remain valid.
Media outlets are reporting the opposite; thus, I am confused. Maybe Noozhawk can sort this out after speaking with the county counsel.
Ron Fink
Lompoc
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Regarding the Feb. 23 article, “Proposed New Creeks Ordinance in Santa Barbara is an ‘Extinction-Level Event,’ Homeowners Contend,” while I enjoy natural creeks as much as anyone, this proposal strays far from reality.
Perhaps the Creeks Division has forgotten that Santa Barbara is a built-out city and not a rural development zone. Perhaps it has forgotten that, even though we have several creeks passing through the city, those creeks all pass through constrained culverts under many city streets, the railroad, and Highways 101 and 19.
In some locations, the city and the Santa Barbara County Flood Control have channelized creeks for safety. How then will penalizing private property owners improve the city?
Is this perhaps the result of having a well-intentioned but over-staffed city department that feels the need to prepare laws like this to justify their jobs?
Art Thomas
Santa Barbara
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Regarding the Feb. 26 article, “Santa Barbara Council Approves New Bike Rules for State Street,” as experienced cyclists, my wife and I are all for rules that actually promote safety.
We follow the rules and bike safely — and get just as upset about throttle-bikes roaring down streets and sidewalks with no regard for others. So the proposed rule makes sense.
The first step should be properly defining what a bicycle is. Simple: if you don’t have to pedal, it’s NOT A BICYCLE.
Throttle bikes are motorcycles, and should be regulated accordingly. If we’re not going to do that, we might as well allow Harley-Davidsons on bike lanes and paths.
But even this only address HALF of the problem. What about rules for pedestrians who seem committed to walking right down the bike lanes, crossing streets against red lights and without even looking?
State Street features wide sidewalks specifically intended for pedestrians with easy access to shops and restaurants. Walk/Don’t Walk signs clearly signal when it’s safe to cross streets.
When we say something to folks walking right down the bike lanes, we are either ignored or often given the finger. Evidently, rules don’t apply to them.
How about rules and enforcement for all to keep everyone safe and enjoying our town?
Kirk Greene
Santa Barbara
• • •
Regarding Dan Seibert’s Feb. 21 letter to the editor and the issue of e-bike cyclists speeding and doing wheelies on State Street, the suggestion to first warn, then fine, and finally take away the bike and require the parents to retrieve it makes total sense.
This needs to be enforced by a police officer. I’m sure once a few bikes are taken away, the other cyclists will take heed!
Kate Mead
Santa Barbara
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Regarding Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen’s Feb. 21 column, “Ex-Top Senate Democrat Gloria Romero Shares Republican Conversion Factors,” I find it amazingly ironic that Romero would be standing in front of a banner sporting a California condor, a species that would be extinct if Republicans had their way in dismantling the Endangered Species Act and continually opposing funding for conservation efforts.
The condor represents so much that is opposed by Republicans, from protecting habitats to enforcing standards of environmental quality.
The banner is one more indication that today’s Republican Party, or the party of Elon Musk and Donald Trump, doesn’t get it.
Romero stood in front of a banner demonstrating respect for our natural heritage. It should have sported pipelines, oil derricks, towering buildings, Teslas and the profiles of a few billionaires.
Also absent in Romero’s explanation were words like integrity, honesty, compassion and empathy, concepts that I thought were fundamental to the foundation of our country.
Good for Noozhawk for covering Romero’s presentation. She owed her audience and her constituents so much more.
Richard Block
Goleta
• • •
Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen should select his weekly Top 5 stories more wisely. There is no excuse to promote the right-wing views of Gloria Romero, a Trump-loving supporter of school vouchers, school “choice” and other threats to public education masquerading as so-called reforms.
Romero’s incendiary, reckless and ignorant views should have no place in Noozhawk.
Martha Meara
Santa Barbara
• • •
Regarding the Feb. 24 article, “Federal Agents Reportedly Arrest Man in Raid on Santa Barbara’s Westside,” why would the donor coordinator for La Casa de la Raza be on the phone with a family at 7 a.m. on a Sunday, at the precise moment that federal authorities were arriving to take an illegal immigrant criminal into custody? Sounds like it was a made-for-publicity moment and Noozhawk fell for it.
Richard Dalton
Montecito
• • •
The headline should have read, “Donald Trump’s Gestapo Arrests a Santa Barbara Man by Breaking Down the Door to His Apartment.”
The reporter gave no details as to the “crime” committed, the name of the arrested person, or other details regarding the man’s Fourth Amendment rights.
Rob Phelps
Formerly of Lompoc
• • •
As the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee, we write to express our deep concern and strong opposition to the current administration’s actions against undocumented immigrants and the Latinx community.
These policies not only violate our core values as an organization, but also undermine the fabric of our diverse community.
The SBWPC has long stood for inclusive, intersectional and progressive feminist values.
It is troubling to see policies that perpetuate fear, suffering and the criminalization of individuals seeking safety and opportunity. These actions run counter to the values of compassion, justice and equality that we hold dear in our community.
The economic and social impact of such policies disproportionately affects women and children, who are often left traumatized by separation from their families, lack of access to basic resources and the uncertainty of their futures.
As an organization committed to social action against discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity and other factors, we cannot remain silent in the face of such injustice.
We call for the immediate cessation of inhumane practices against undocumented immigrants. We stand with those advocating for comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes the humanity of every person, regardless of their status.
We urge our community members to join us in advocating for the rights of all immigrants. Together, we can work toward a more just and equitable society that respects the dignity of every individual.
Elsa Granados and Lisa Guravitz
Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee
• • •
The illegal street vendor problem is serious.
State Senate Bill 946 meant nothing to me until I started researching how the street vendors are able to blatantly disregard Santa Barbara city ordinances. SB 946 makes it difficult for our cities to police illegal street vendors that are:
- Endangering our citizens’ health
- Stealing from law-abiding restaurants
- Robbing taxpayers of tax revenue
- Sending local money outside Santa Barbara County
- Tying up our limited local first-responders
- Messaging it’s OK to break laws
The most egregious offense is not adhering to food safety laws since it can lead to sickness and death.
Additionally, some conservative back of the napkin math: 15 locations, six days a week, $12 per meal with 75 customers per night. That’s $4,212,000 of lost revenue to our county’s restaurants per year.
~$390,000 of lost tax revenue. This could help maintain existing library hours or “unfreeze” police officer positions.
Affordable housing?
Ask Tacos Pipeye, Lito’s, Super Cucas (heck, ask Taco Bell) if they would like a piece of the $4 million.
These vendors have little in common with local pop-ups turned brick-and-mortar like Secret Bao. After conversation with the county, it was confirmed these illegal vendors are likely sending proceeds to Los Angeles.
SB946, passed in 2018, addresses sidewalk vendors and has no teeth. I can’t speak to what was initially intended with this law, but was theft, endangerment and tents blocking sidewalks what legislators had in mind?
It’s a detrimental bill because it removes the easiest way to clamp down on illegal street vendors. It now requires the city to use precious time from multiple departments and coordinate across police, fire, city administrators and attorneys.
I spoke twice with the office of state Sen. Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, who voted for the bill in 2018. It was clear she has no desire to push for a new bill to help combat the problem.
Therefore, it’s up to the county or city. I’ve spoken with both.
Both were genuine and understand the negative impact on our community. Barbara Andersen is guiding Santa Barbara’s response. She was gracious with her time, and I found her knowledgeable, passionate and wanting to end this problem.
Since we can expect no state-level support, I thank the city for its current actions.
Additionally, Supervisor Joan Hartmann is bringing forth a recommendation on March 4. I plead we give serious consideration to her recommendation to help combat this corrosive disregard of our law.
Mark Philibosian
Vice president of Santa Barbara Sister Cities
• • •
Regarding Justin Ruhge’s Feb. 23 article, “When a Japanese Submarine Brought World War II to Goleta,” we lived near Goleta at the time of the shelling by the Japanese submarine and heard many times about it.
I don’t know if this happened on the day of the shelling or shortly thereafter, but my parents were in Santa Barbara and headed home to Goleta. They were stopped on their way and told they could not go to Goleta.
I was less than a year old and was crying; the officer let them continue home but they had to keep the car lights off.
I have been told that there was a group that kept watch at night to prevent the enemy from coming ashore. My uncles (Manzetti family) were part of that group. Two of the other brothers were medics in the armed forces during World War II.
There are only six of the Manzetti family left, none with the family name.
Mary Shaw
Camarillo
• • •
I loved Leslie Sokol’s Feb. 25 article, “A Positive Outlook in Aging.” The article says that aging is inevitable, and that we should embrace change and maintain a positive mindset.
As an 83-year-old senior, I totally agree. I am a happy senior who loves dancing, works in my yard, walks a mile every morning, sets goals and has an active social life.
I believe life is a journey and that each of us should embrace it and stay positive.
Diana Thorn
Carpinteria
• • •
Regarding the Feb. 26 article, “Planning Commission Seeks Further Review for Isla Vista Housing Project,” we are very concerned about the proposed development at 6737 Sueno Road in Isla Vista.
The project consists of three, three-story apartment buildings with a total of 16 three-bedroom units. This is 48 bedrooms and at least 96 occupants. Only 24 parking spaces will be provided.
Parking in Isla Vista has been studied, and we have exceeded more than 100% capacity. Residents are parking in red zones, on corners, in front of driveways and sidewalks.
Trying to maneuver through IV — whether it be walking, biking, skateboarding or driving — has become very challenging. Visibility is very difficult for those driving cars to see pedestrians and bicycles.
There are no more empty parking spaces on Sueno Road. This development could add up to 74 more cars that need a parking space, exacerbating an already dangerous situation.
The neighborhood in which this project is planned has all single- and two-story homes and multiplexes. To the north and east there are larger apartments.
A series of three-story apartment buildings is completely out of character for our primarily single-story home neighborhood. The neighbors surrounding this development will not only be impacted by loss of parking, but loss of views and increased density.
This project and the dozens of other developments being approved through “builders remedy,” State Density Bonus and the push for auxiliary dwelling units will affect coastal access through an inability to park.
Large developments are also being proposed for the downtown IV area.
We understand because this project is part of the California state density bonus law, there are three variances to our zoning code being requested — namely, variances in density, parking and height.
Normally a project would have to go before the Santa Barbara County Board of Architectural Review, but because it is a state density bonus project it does not. The BAR is a safety net to ensure that neighborhoods maintain their character and are not negatively impacted by the scope and size of a project.
This is a bad precedent to set. The infrastructure of Isla Vista; parking, safety in mobility, emergency access, water, sewage and trash, is already overtaxed. This and other developments will only deteriorate a dangerous situation.
We understand there needs to be more housing in our county but until Isla Vista is functional, safe and has the infrastructure needed for the capacity we are at now, we do not need to be exacerbating this situation.
We have three requests. Please scale back this project to something more reasonable and in character with our neighborhood. Take the time to come out to Isla Vista and take a good look at our current condition and imagine the impact that all this new housing will have. It would be beneficial to our community for the county Planning and Development Department along with Second District Supervisor Laura Capps to host a town hall and present to the community all the proposed housing increases, those in the builders remedy category, state density bonus law projects, the ADUs and the large downtown proposals.
It would be helpful for all of us to be better informed so we can come up with strategies and solutions that will help us keep this community a place we all want to live in.
Pegeen and Jon Soutar
Janet and Rick Stich
Ian and Erin Stewart
Demi Cain
Sue Whisenand
Cathy and Peter Neushul
Jenny Dugan
Ann and Jerry Sanders
Constance Brown
Kathryn Miller
Carmen Bailey
Bruce and Bonnie Murdock
Sandra and Harry Reese
Jay Freeman
Florence Klein
Isla Vista
• • •
There is a significant financial situation brewing at the Carpinteria Unified School District. The district is currently engaged with a lawsuit as the plaintiff against the California State Commission on Professional Competence (CPC).
CUSD already invested several millions of general fund taxpayer dollars at the trade-off of student-centered resources to fund this lawsuit. I approach this from managing a business risk and am NOT reviewing the prior Office of Administrative Hearing decision.
There is severe business risk with the CUSD lawsuit and plaintiff against the CPC. While this lawsuit involves the CAUSE union president, he is NOT the defendant, but rather the Real Person in Interest.
The State of California is the defendant as the CPC ruled 3-0 against CUSD during the OAH hearing. The CUSD needs to prove that the CPC made the administrative decision incorrectly per state law.
Should CUSD lose, the district must make the Real Person In Interest whole, which could include back pay, interest, legal fees and employment reinstatement.
The California Public Employment Relations Board (CAPERB) previously issued a precedent-setting ruling directing them to NOT discriminate and retaliate against the CAUSE union president prior to the employment actions against him.
Thus, if CUSD does not prevail, they would also potentially be liable for a successful CAPERB grievance for violating the prior 2021 decision.
Additionally, CUSD is failing to find a successful labor agreement. I would observe that maybe CUSD is actively choosing to not ratify a labor contract given the potential financial positioning as a result of its choice to pursue the lawsuit.
The lawsuit against the state is totally within control of the CUSD as they are the plaintiff.
The Santa Barbara County Superior Court had a similar case in 2009 by the Santa Barbara Unified School District against the CPC and the SBUSD lost.
If the court follows this same path with how the CPC derived its 3-0 decision and determines it was made correctly, then CUSD will be in significant financial trouble.
If the Carpinteria Unified School District Board of Trustees and superintendent feel so strongly and personally convicted with the lawsuit against CPC and lose, are they willing to resign or cover all the legal costs from their own personal finances?
Cornelius Fitzgerld
Carpinteria
• • •
In response to Myra Paige’s Feb. 22 letter regarding President Donald Trump deporting the fewest immigrants so far … the number of deportations past presidents made were over a period of one or two terms, not in a month of being in office.
Carell Jantzen
Santa Barbara
• • •
In womansplaining how wrong my Feb. 14 letter to the editor is about “immigration,” Myra Paige conveniently omits the fact that I clearly stated “ILLEGAL immigration.” Then she goes on to say I’m “ignoring significant threats to our country at your peril.”
Thank you for making my points for me. I stand by them.
R. Miller
Santa Barbara
• • •
Why do some oppose identifying and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in government practices? Could it be they somehow benefit from governmental waste, fraud and abuse?
John Johnson
Santa Barbara
• • •
The Dec. 29, 2024, article, “Controversial Logging Project in Los Padres Forest Gets Court Approval,” spoke to me because I love being outdoors and surrounding myself with the nature of these forests.
They are sacred trees that have been growing for years and years and have become a part of the culture in the Santa Barbara area.
Cutting trees down that aren’t prone to wildfires is inconsiderate to the wildlife that it conserves. All trees are susceptible to catching on fire so why would it be fair to cut those that are at the least amount of risk.
It’s not a bad idea to cut down trees to reduce risks of fires, but unnecessarily cutting the most important ones is.
Older trees are much better at absorbing carbon dioxide than newer trees. With the recent reductions for climate protection, it is important we keep our older trees safe.
Not to mention this will impact indigenous land that is so valued in their culture. Trees, plants, and animals are all highly valued, and the trees play a vital role in the ecosystem of the forest.
I advise for the protection of our older trees.
America Sierra
UC Santa Barbara
• • •
Why does Noozhawk continue to give space to D.C. Collier and Jim Langley to promote their religious zealotry? What’s in it for Noozhawk?
S. Warner
Goleta
• • •
Please accept my opinion about recent articles and opinions on religion, Jesus Christ, etc. I do not want to read these articles and I do not believe they should be printed in your publication. Thank you.
Phyllis Bienstock
Santa Barbara
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