Thank you for the Dec. 28 article, “Which Are the Most Affordable Grocery Stores in Santa Barbara?” I usually end up going to three and sometimes four markets because of the price disparities, but I had not tried Grocery Outlet Bargain Market. Thank you for the tip!
Jan Domínguez
Santa Barbara
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Really well researched and written article — consistent with our personal experience.
We go to Trader Joe’s for much of our needs — always a good selection and prices — but, as noted, it doesn’t carry all the products we want.
We use Costco for bulk needs and good frozen protein products. And finally Gelson’s for a few name-brand products and miscellaneous items. Once in a while on to Lazy Acres for fresh poultry.
A combination of stores provides what we need while keeping costs reasonable.
Kirk Greene
Santa Barbara
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Regarding the Dec. 21 article, “Santa Barbara City Council Considers Pathway to Rent Stabilization,” I gather that Noozhawk’s intention is to be fair to all sides, and I offer these comments toward that goal.
The term “rent stabilization” is a euphemism for rent control that is used by proponents to soften the idea that citizens are going to be “controlled” by their elected leaders.
I recommended that you adopt “truth in labeling.” For good or bad, this is rent control. Why avoid the term if not to mislead?
Good reporting also requires some analysis into the implications of policy. While a history lesson would be going too far, I will point out that politicians have been trying to control wages and prices since Babylonian times, inevitably without success.
The prices of goods are in the absence of monopolies, are a force of nature. Trees freeze and the price of apples goes up, and if the government were to set a price that disallows a profit, the farmers will leave the apples on the trees, since it costs money to pick them.
With regard to rent control, the effect is to reduce construction of rental units or to see them pulled off the market, in the long run reducing the housing stock.
In addition, landlords are far less willing to invest in improvements, knowing it will be harder to get a return on investments to maintain or upgrade the property.
A deteriorating housing stock is the result. Take a look at the decay of Oakland, Berkeley, Detroit, Philadelphia and many other cities with rent control if you have any doubts.
This information is an essential ingredient in informing the public, which is otherwise misled by ambitious politicians into thinking slightly cheaper rents are cost free.
In fact the costs are high, and they are passed on to future would-be renters who face a smaller supply of units for rent. Noozhawk owes it to the readers to inform them of the history of rent control, which has been a uniform failure.
Santa Barbara is a high-cost community. Trying to hold back an increase in rents is like trying to control the price of apples, which are set by forces beyond the reach of governments, as humanity has seen from Babylonian days to the present.
Stephen Forrest Beck
Santa Barbara
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Regarding the proposal to begin rent control in Santa Barbara, how harsh is the city’s approach when compared around California?
San José’s property values increased at 11% HIGHER than Santa Barbara in the last 10 years. As Silicon Valley’s bedroom community, San José requires a 5% rent cap on properties before 1979 of three units or more. The California 5% and consumer price index remain for all newer units.
Santa Barbara’s proposed 60% of CPI would have been 1.6% against costs, which increased 2.7% on the same index; an annual recurring loss. There is no additional return, incentives or motivation to continue or increase housing stocks.
San José exempts in-law units, duplexes, townhomes and has a “Fair Return and Capital Expense” category:
“Landlords can seek a fair return on their property investment … If a landlord believes that regular rent caps hinder their income, they can request a fair return increase. This ensures they earn profits without overburdening tenants … In special situations, landlords can apply to go beyond the rent caps set by regulations. This often involves justifying expenses that affect regular maintenance or unexpected costs.”
In Santa Barbara, nothing escapes the caps, even ROOMS:
C. “Controlled Rental Units” means all rental units in the City of Santa Barbara …
N. “Rental Unit” means any unit in any real property, rented or offered for rent for residential purposes, regardless of zoning or permitting status … A room or rooms rented separately from other rooms at the same real property shall constitute a single Rental Unit, even if Tenants share other common spaces or amenities.
More housing is needed, not less. Alienating investors is the concern, and whether these three or four City Council members can run it all into the ditch.
Eliza Augustsson
Santa Barbara
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Regarding Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps’ Dec. 22 commentary, “Affordable Housing Can’t Wait — Counties Need the Tools to Build It Now,” Capps continues to champion her quest for affordable housing in a county where the cost to build an apartment was recently lamented in front of the Board of Supervisors to be more than $745,000.
Housing expert Frank Thompson exclaimed “it’s crucial” for the funding request. Land is surely a cost consideration, as is labor with an electrician running $1,000 per eight hours, and the pinnacle of the podium is entitlements.
Ask anyone who has tried to get a simple permit for a demolition of a nonload-bearing wall, now two years into regurgitation by the plans examination maze. Or talk to Gregg Petty, the owner of the home crushed last spring on Canon Perdido who just finished the repairs after suffering five months of “we will make it a priority case” by jurisdictional agencies.
These agencies could utilize a number of services to expedite plans examinations, but the supervisors of the examination process lament “local rules” as a way to restrict fluidity.
Capps et al might focus on the processing of entitlements, Planning Department procedures not designed for swift action, and the cumbersome process accomplished by hard-working people who are charged with “resubmit” directions to try to balance budgets always overdrawn by the public employees’ retirement system.
Affordable housing is a fantasy on the South Coast. Land is only a fraction of the issue.
Steven Fairly
Santa Barbara
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I’d like to give a New Year’s shout out of thanks to the management and grounds staff of Camino Real Marketplace in Goleta for keeping the shopping center and parking lot clean every day, all year.
This is not an easy chore, what with some human behaviors, but they’re out there every day doing a great job. I know I’m not the only one who says “thank you” for all their work.
Frank DiMarco
Goleta
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