Regarding the July 22 article, “Community Protests Santa Barbara Camp Canine Where Dog Drowned,” I have lived in Santa Barbara since 1979 and have boarded our dogs at Camp Canine for more than 20 years and as recently as last week.
We found Camp Canine when they rescued our Bishon from, of all places, the Humane Society where we used to board our dogs when we were out of town.
Back in 2005, we got a call from the Humane Society that our dog, Willy, was sick and they demanded that we come immediately to pick him up. Unfortunately, we were in New York City and we sought the advice of our veterinarian who suggested we contact Camp Canine for help.
They gladly went to Goleta and picked up Willy, took him in and cared for him despite not knowing us. Their compassion was amazing, and over the years we can offer other deeds of kindness they have done for us.
Now some want to put them out of business without knowing anything about the incident or with any history with Camp Canine. Don’t let a small group of angry people influence your opinion of this cherished Santa Barbara establishment.
Yes, it appears that the incident could have been handled better, but these people are good people and awesome pet lovers.
We will not hesitate to board our dogs at Camp Canine if our plans take us out of town again.
Jim Breen
Santa Barbara
• • •
Regarding Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen’s July 24 column, “Dog’s Tragic Death Doesn’t Justify Online Lynch Mob,” I agree with him regarding the overblown reaction to Bruce the dog tragedy.
I think the protest was a feel-good activity for those who participated. The national media were kind of scary. Bruce died, it was handled poorly and the business is closed for now.
Since this has gotten national and international attention I want to ask something: As a working gardener, can I ask all dog owners to stop leaving your plastic bags full of your dog (poop, shitz) for me to pick up?
Dan Seibert
Santa Barbara
• • •
In his column, Bill Macfadyen stated that this unfortunate dog accident was being investigated by Santa Barbara police.
Seriously?! This doesn’t seem like the type of “crime” that is in the purview of the police.
Not that long ago some friends were told that SBPD was too busy to respond to a residential break-in but now it has the resources to investigate this accident.
Very interesting …
Art Thomas
Santa Barbara
• • •
Thank you to Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen and Ellie Altomare for sticking up for Camp Canine.
Bruce’s death is an unquestioned tragedy, but I don’t understand how people can expect that alone to be a just cause to destroy a mom-and-pop business after 41 years.
Anne Petty
Solvang
• • •
I read with disappointment the July 11 article, “Costco Eyeing Site Near Santa Barbara Airport for Possible Gas Station,” about the proposed negotiating agreement between the Santa Barbara Airport and Costco for a gas station in the heart of Goleta off Hollister Avenue.
How can a high-volume Costco gas station at that location possibly be under consideration? It defies good sense.
Nightmare traffic congestion is, of course, the first objection.
The second is Santa Barbara running roughshod over Goleta again, most likely with little or no input from Goleta citizens and leadership, short of a lawsuit.
Third, what does it say about our area’s attitude toward fossil-fuel dependency (which we brag and litigate about) and issues like gasoline vapor and likely leakage into groundwater resources?
Costco is usually a good neighbor but should rethink the message and concept of a proposal like this. We have plenty of gas stations, thank you very much.
Airports are well-known for grabbing all the revenue they can, frequently without regard to their neighbors. SBA is no exception, and we should remember the shady deal that put the airport in the middle of the Goleta Valley in the first place.
Airport director and Goleta resident Chris Hastert doesn’t have much choice in the matter but the Airport Commission does. One hopes that revenue desperation on the part of Santa Barbara and Costco does not trample other less toxic lease opportunities for this location.
Frank DiMarco
Goleta
• • •
The July 14 article, “Despite Progress on Homelessness, Santa Barbara County Faces Growing Challenges,” proclaims victory for a 6% dip in Santa Barbara County homelessness, but statistics can easily hide painful realities.
Beneath that data lie a disturbing shift: a sharp rise in working-poor vehicle dwellers and displaced youth.
We need to address these specific sub-demographics because the data tell an alarming story. Homelessness among young adults ages 18 to 24 jumped by 22%. At the same time, the number of people living in cars surged to 962 from 675.
The worst part is that nearly half of these vehicle residents are fully employed. They are teachers, grocery clerks and service workers who clock out of their shifts only to sleep in their cars.
This is a housing affordability issue, not a personal character flaw.
When a full-time job doesn’t pay enough to secure a basic apartment, there is something wrong with the system. Society is forcing its youngest adults and hardworking 9-to-5ers into the shadows of parking lots, treating vehicles as a substitute for affordable housing.
Let us look deeper before celebrating superficial drops in macro data. Instead, we must expand safe parking programs, provide targeted rental subsidies for young adults, and dare to dream of true affordable housing.
No community is succeeding if its youth are forced to live on the streets and its workers are forced to live behind their dashboards.
Greg Ortiz
Isla Vista
• • •
So you want affordable housing, a phrase that never has a number associated with it? With current permit cost, per square-foot building cost, utilities, actual living expenses, etc., you can’t build affordable housing in Santa Barbara.
When I see a 400-square-foot studio for rent at $2,950 a month, I guess that’s affordable housing.
It’s been pointed out that here in Santa Barbara we have a lot of Airbnbs, second and third homes, and all the homes around Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital are now offices.
I don’t know what a median income is here, but I do know you pay all rents, utilities and expenses after taxes.
So Santa Barbara, what’s AFFORDABLE HOUSING? Give us a number and vote out the City Council.
John Sween
Santa Barbara
• • •
Regarding the July 14 news release, “Santa Barbara Police Conduct E-Bike Safety Enforcement Operation,” a sincere thank you to the Santa Barbara Police Department for its proactive efforts to improve e-bike safety through education, enforcement and community outreach.
The commitment to keeping our streets safer is greatly appreciated.
Thank you as well to Noozhawk for covering this important story and helping keep our community informed about public safety efforts. Local journalism plays a vital role in raising awareness and encouraging responsible riding.
Barbara Hershberg
Santa Barbara
• • •
Jarrell Jackman’s July 21 commentary, “California Conservation Corps Rebuilt the Presidio — It’s Time We Honored Them,” begs the question of motive.
Does Jackman mean to imply that current management at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park would rather not honor the CCC?
Certainly, it fits Sacramento’s politically correct narrative that state history is awash in sin. Locally, the close of State Street is further proof of emboldened nobodies everywhere attacking Santa Barbara’s Spanish heritage.
Fine. Make it about diversity. Was there ever a more diverse group of young people than the California Conservation Corps? Not if they restored a suspect history, apparently. And so goes the daily soap opera at the Presidio.
I wish I had Jackman’s patience. In Seattle, where I live, every public program begins with a soap opera, too.
Face it, I remind my neighbors. You would never give your property back to the Duwamish. Santa Barbara isn’t going back to the Chumash, either.
If management at the Presidio doesn’t like the mission assigned it — Spanish history — in good conscience it should resign.
Now. Put up the plaque.
Alfred Runte
Seattle
• • •
Regarding Bart Bader’s July 17 letter to the editor, I wish to immediately correct the sadly widespread misconception that illegal immigrants have committed “thousands” of killings in the United States.
Reuters makes this clear: “There is no evidence for the ‘4,000’ figure, however. Studies and estimates by academics and think tanks show undocumented immigrants commit crimes at a lower rate than U.S.-born individuals.”
I am disappointed that Noozhawk published this letter as it contained a blatant untruth.
Susan Shields
Santa Barbara
• • •
I have news for Roy Belluz, Patty Darr, J.T. Rivera, Bart Bader and David Wright: The numbers from the available research are that immigrants make up about 17% of the U.S. population but are estimated to commit around 11% of violent crimes.
Not only that, for violent crime specifically, the arrest rate of illegal immigrants is around half that of native-born U.S. citizens.
You’re barking up the wrong tree. You’re much more likely to be “killed, raped, maimed or robbed” by a U.S. citizen than by an immigrant.
I don’t know where you’re getting your ideas, but they’re not factual, so I suggest you stop listening to whoever is telling you this, because you’re being lied to.
Brian Epstein
Santa Barbara
• • •
Mail Calls
Noozhawk welcomes and encourages expressions of all views on Santa Barbara County issues. Click here to submit a letter to the editor.
Letters should be BRIEF — as in 200 words-BRIEF — and letters under 150 words are given priority. Each must include a valid mailing address and contact information. Pseudonyms will not be accepted, and repeat letters will be skipped. Letters may be edited for clarity, length and style.
As a hyperlocal news site, we ask that you keep your opinions and information relevant to Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast. Letters about issues beyond our local region have the absolute lowest priority of everything we publish.
With rare exceptions, this feature is published on Saturdays.
By submitting any content to Noozhawk, you warrant that the material is your original expression, free of plagiarism, and does not violate any copyright, proprietary, contract or personal right of anyone else. Noozhawk reserves, at our sole discretion, the right to choose not to publish a submission.
Click here for Noozhawk’s Terms of Use, and click here for more information about how to submit letters to the editor and other announcements, tips and stories.