As a historian, educator and later a custom builder of Craftsman-style homes, I was saddened to read of Santa Barbara’s great loss of Erin Graffy in the Jan. 21 article, “Author and Historian Erin Graffy, Santa Barbara’s ‘Society Lady,’ Dies of Cancer.”
Each week as I opened Noozhawk, I would hope to see one of Graffy’s stories. She lent such a vibrant, colorful and life-evoking use of our language to tell us stories of the history of Santa Barbara and its environs. Her gift was so precious and illuminating, that now a void will certainly exist.
For me she touched all aspects of my life’s interests and constructive purposes. I hope Noozhawk will republish some of Graffy’s great volume of work so that those who had not had the opportunity to be enriched and educated by this dynamic writer will be granted that gift.
Brian Massey
Sonoita, Arizona
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What a truly lovely and heartfelt tribute that Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen wrote about our friend, Erin Graffy, in his Jan. 24 column, “In the History of Santa Barbara, Erin Graffy Has Her Own Chapter.” She was a wonderful, gracious and colorful character, and will be missed by many for a very long time.
Thank you for your coverage.
Louise Williams
Santa Barbara
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Regarding the Jan. 22 article, “Santa Barbara MTD Gearing Up to Roll Out Higher Bus Fares,” this idea seems like a recipe to reduce the number of riders and start a downward spiral of reduced passengers and higher fares.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that if the City of Santa Barbara and MTD are truly interested in increasing bus ridership, they need to reduce, not increase fares.
The only users who will remain are those who have no other choice and can least afford increased fares.
Lower fares and increased bus frequency on the routes are needed if the city and MTD hope to convince people to give up their cars in favor of the bus.
Art Thomas
Santa Barbara
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In light of the onslaught of forest and open land wildfires, Cars Are Basic, as a public safety proponent NGO, makes the following points.
CAB has for decades called for the State of California to CANCEL the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) and the changes the Legislature voted to alter California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
CEQA used to require adequate road and parking to handle new building and housing. No longer.
CAB requests that the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments place on its January agenda as an X-agenda or the February regular agenda a vote to call on the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom the following: a) eliminate RHNA across the board as being detrimental to the state and public safety, and b) to bring back CEQA requirements for roads and parking to handle both daily street capacity and off-street parking.
After the 2018 Paradise Fire that destroyed almost 100% of that community and killed 85 residents, we asked of all government agencies within Santa Barbara County to immediately stop building small roundabouts and street encroachments (called bulb-outs).
Cal Fire stated that these two street designs caused a number of deaths and inhibited evacuation and emergency response.
The public is once again faced with building density and street capacity that makes rational emergency response difficult at best, as the recent Malibu and now Pacific Palisades disasters demonstrated.
The City of Santa Barbara, with its now matured St. Francis Traffic Plan, has failed to produce less auto use and more bike and pedestrian use, but now has a proven failed concept (bulb-outs and roundabouts), including difficult emergency response.
The city has also proven that an aggressive anti-car street narrowing/blocking has destroyed commercial districts, and has created a serious emergency response problem.
Santa Barbara just boasted of nearly 100 miles of bike paths while at the same time the number of bike riders has failed to return to its dismal pre-COVID numbers.
The City of Goleta with an ill-planned narrowing of Hollister Avenue in Old Town has seen both a reduction of customer auto use, and amazing congestion on what traffic planners called a major commercial artery and alternative to Highway 101 closures. Goleta’s Pacific Oaks to Ellwood bike path has also failed.
Density and inadequate streets are a massive public safety error.
Scott Wenz
Cars Are Basic
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Regarding the Jan. 22 article, “Possible Federal Designation of Santa Barbara Historic District Divides Neighbors,” it’s such a shame, reality below the fold.
Only after leading with the bones of a neighborhood dispute, the article about the withdrawn Bungalow Haven application for National Register listing adds some reality of owning a historic home in Santa Barbara.
(Full disclosure: I own one — not in the bungalow neighborhood — and made a major renovation in 2010. It was easy.)
City architectural historian Nicole Hernandez notes in the article that national recognition brings tax and value benefits on top of pride of ownership. Studies have shown historic home values are higher than comparable nonhistoric homes.
To qualify for the 2021 California Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, homes must be listed on the ceremonial National Register or California Register of Historic Places.
The credit must be for rehabilitation expenses greater than $25,000, but are not available to owners earning $200,000 or more. Maybe the local complainers make more than that.
And then there is the 1972 Mills Act, which involves committing to follow national standards for rehabilitating historic properties. The benefits can include an almost two-thirds reduction in local taxes.
The complainers are misinformed if they believe avoiding National Register listing will avoid local historic review. It won’t.
Every structure in Santa Barbara older than a half-century is considered a potential historic resource requiring review by the Historic Landmarks Commission for renovation projects.
One complainer worries that insurance restrictions COULD apply to historic homes. Another “has questions” whether the ceremonial designation WOULD increase fire insurance costs. So many vague concerns.
The complainer worries historic labeling “will obstruct increased (housing) density.” Maybe he wants to build up?
Historic listing does not restrict interior improvements, only things you want to do to the exterior. But they “limited the scope of a remodel he did six years ago.” Hmmm.
The message here of a derailed good thing (National Register listing) seems to be that a campaign of nastiness, poorly researched “worries,” and innuendo win.
Rick Closson
Santa Barbara
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Just wanted to thank Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen for his description of illegal street vendors as “fry-by-night operations” in his Jan. 17 column. He never fails to make me laugh!
Karen Johansson
Solvang
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News flash: President Donald Trump was inaugurated on Jan. 20. I find it interesting that Noozhawk didn’t see fit to write about that, but did see fit to write about the now former (thankfully) President Joe Biden and the Democrats’ annual anti-Trump protest a couple days before.
For a news outlet that claims to be nonpartisan you have a strange way of demonstrating it.
Amber Benton
Montecito
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Regarding the Jan. 17 article, “Residents Air Concerns About Environmental Impacts of More SpaceX Launches,” as the Air Force develops an environmental impact statement to consider expanding the SpaceX launch program at Vandenberg Space Force Base’s Space Launch Complex 6, I wish to comment.
As a 30-year Lompoc resident and with 40 years in the California aerospace business, I support the planned efforts to use SLC 6 for Falcon 9 heavy launches and an increase in the number of launches.
While living here, many of the launches have gone over my house without damage of any kind. Most noise is a rumble of about 20 seconds. My garage door rattles.
Many “heavies” have been launched from SLC 6, also without damage. SpaceX heavies should be no different.
There is no reason to restrict in any way the very good quality work by SpaceX for the U.S. Space Force and foreign and private parties that use the SpaceX launch systems.
Justin Ruhge
Lompoc
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Maria Barrell’s Jan. 17 letter to the editor about the sonic booms from Vandenberg Space Force Base started by stating we are fortunate to have such thriving and innovative space technology, then counters by saying how unhealthy the noise is.
I do wish there were ways to defy or trick physics and prevent sounds emitted after breaking the sound barrier. Maybe Elon Musk can find a way to slow down the rocket and still make it into and back from orbit, but I am doubtful.
Barrell did mention a concern closer to earth and more solvable as it relates to the EPA’s 80 decibels limit on motorcycles and 90 for autos.
The enforcement of that constant violation along Santa Barbara’s Eastside streets and APS at night, between 10 p.m. and midnight, would certainly add to the health and well being of the overwhelming number of tired residents who just want an evening of peace, quiet and a little sleep!
J.W. Burk
Santa Barbara
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The whole world is aware of the devastating impact and destruction of wildfires. The destruction in Maui, Greece and now Southern California is a blatant reminder that action is needed.
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and helpless against the destruction of these fires. But when you’re overwhelmed, the only option you have is to take a step back and look at your options.
My option is to advocate for legislation that is conducive and productive. Even if our government is run by a party that derails climate change legislation, we can still throw sand in the gears of destruction.
As a volunteer for Citizens Climate Lobby, I will continue to advocate for public policies that make the carbon polluters pay.
Economists have long advocated policies that tax coal, oil and gas companies on the heat-trapping pollution their products cause and return that revenue to households to support the transition to clean energy.
Louise Stivers
Goleta
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I just read Kirk Greene’s Jan. 20 column, “Who’s Gonna Pay the Check for Latest California Disaster?,” on the dumpster fire that is homeowner’s insurance in our state.
I commend Noozhawk for publishing that content. Hopefully, it gets lots of page visits.
Greene gets my “Beacon of Reality Award” for the week.
Hib Halverson
Goleta
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California’s solar energy is growing by leaps and bounds in order to meet the state’s renewable clean energy goals, while wind power is lagging behind.
Every dollar spent on residential and commercial solar energy, produces three to four times more clean energy than offshore wind.
Offshore wind turbines are heavily dependent on oil and mining.
A single wind turbine blade requires more than 18,000 barrels of marine petroleum during construction. After construction, more marine petroleum is needed for the boats to maintain the turbines, and the turbines need regular synthetic oil for lubrication.
Solar panels are mostly made of glass, are light and installation takes a day.
As environmental groups — such as Morro Bay’s REACT-Alliance (Responsible Energy Adaptation for California’s Transition) — continue to protest offshore wind energy, the path for wind energy only becomes more difficult.
To accomplish our renewable clean energy goals, all levels of government should focus on solar energy projects, while protecting our ocean environment and wildlife from offshore wind turbine development.
As climate change wreaks havoc with devastating wildfires and extreme weather, it’s imperative that we don’t react with panic by destroying the ocean environment with offshore energy projects that slow down the progress to our renewable energy goals.
Ruston Slager
Santa Barbara
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Would you like a wireless facility 15 feet from your bedroom window, 20% decreased property values, huge carbon footprint, fire risk, and health and environmental impacts?
On Feb 4, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will vote on a wireless ordinance, removing notification, hearings, opposition, setbacks and environmental protection. Applications and permits will be rubber stamped!
We need requirements for fire safety protocols, emergency shutoffs, inspections and monitoring by a licensed electrical engineer.
Four Southern California wildfires have been started by telecom equipment and overloaded poles. Small cells close to homes increase the risk of fires.
The 2007 Malibu Fire was caused by an overloaded utility pole. The 2018 Malibu Woolsey Fire ($6 billion in damages) and 2020 Silverado Fire (130,000 evacuated) were caused by faulty telecom lashing wires.
Telecom equipment is exempt from most federal, state and county fire codes.
Dangerous telecom equipment fires cannot be extinguished with water and require waiting for the power to be shut off. This leaves little or no time to evacuate.
Our public officials’ HANDS ARE NOT TIED. Protective ordinances can follow federal regulations and protect public safety.
Urge supervisors to Vote NO on the wireless ordinance.
Lesley Weinstock
Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara’s Westside is again being bombarded by loud fireworks being set off in late night, early morning hours.
Recently, between 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. there were loud fireworks being set off somewhere in the neighborhood. If I had to guess, it’s likely between Mission and Micheltorena streets and Mission Creek. They sounded like M-80s to me.
This is not just a Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve occurrence; this is an ongoing issue that happens at least once a month.
I have probably contacted the nonemergency Santa Barbara police line 10 times and the response is always “Do you have an address where this is occurring?” No, I don’t, because how could I?
I completely understand that the police can’t find the location unless they are there at the time. What else can be done to cease this illegal and dangerous behavior?
Last July, Noozhawk reported that Santa Maria had made a significant impact on the use of illegal fireworks. The Santa Barbara police and fire departments need to put forth a plan to cease this type of activity year round, especially on the Westside.
Some ideas:
- Drones to locate where the fireworks are being set off
- More regular patrolling of neighborhoods to see/hear the fireworks being set off
- A public-service campaign encouraging neighbors to call SBPD and let them know the exact location where fireworks are being set off
Although Santa Maria issues citations, $1,000 is way too minor. It should be higher, like $5,000, jail time and community service. People getting caught and prosecuted will show others that the consequences are drastic and the behavior will cease.
My neighbors, kids, pets, seniors all deserve peace at night and this is a violation, disturbing the peace and is also a fire danger.
Charles Wilcox
Santa Barbara
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On Nov. 12, the Lompoc Unified School District governing board approved a resolution “as a result of the recent national election many students and staff have experienced apprehension,” saying that federal law guarantees the right to a free K-12 education for “children who were brought to the United States without legal status.”
Not mentioned in the resolution are federal laws that prohibit crossing into the United States without proper documentation.
LUSD has consistently failed to educate students as measured by state Department of Education standards. Thus, the district hasn’t provided students with an education no matter what their status is.
Maybe the Lompoc school district should focus more on that and less on changes in national leadership.
Ron Fink
Lompoc
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It’s sad but interesting that in these days of high education that the difference between science and religion needs to be addressed, but apparently that’s where we are.
In science, a theory needs to withstand all attempts to disprove it. A single instance in which the theory does not agree with a presented fact means that the theory is disproved and must be withdrawn or modified to agree with all known facts.
This is named the “Scientific Method” and is responsible for mankind’s advances over the last 1,000 years or so.
The theory of gravity, for instance, has (so far) withstood all efforts to disprove it since Galileo’s time. Any attempt to disprove it is welcomed as this is how theories (and mankind) are advanced.
Religion is completely different and has been around as long as mankind itself. It involves a faith-based system to explain the unknown and the unknowable.
Attempts to disprove an article of religious faith is not generally encouraged by some faiths that sometimes attempt to bury it. This occurred with Galileo’s discoveries of gravity, heliocentrism and the Catholic Church.
Last month, Noozhawk posted a set of commentaries from Michael Rattray that calls into question some of the aspects of what has become known as “climate change.” These articles included interesting facts and research (fully credited) that (if true) discredit parts of the climate change orthodoxy.
In response, instead of refuting the set of facts in Rattray’s commentaries, some letters to the editor seek to stop Noozhawk from publishing these articles and personally attack Rattray and his defenders.
Canceling Rattray is the opposite of a scientific response and is much more of a religious response.
Galileo was forced to rescind his theories of gravity and heliocentrism on threat of death by the Catholic Church (the ultimate in Cancel Culture). Let’s not go down that road. We’d all benefit by examining the facts and claims presented in a science-based manner.
Gordon Hodge
Goleta
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