Well, so much for reopening State Street, as reported in the Sept. 26 article, “Santa Barbara Council Again Votes Against Opening State Street to Cars.” These folks are under the influence of the green movement.
During my days working at the Presidio, there was a group called Cars Are Basic and they had considerable influence. I couldn’t even get cars parked in front of Casa de la Guerra removed.
Today, the reverse has happened. The car is the enemy.
I remember influential architectural historian David Gebhard arguing that cars driving up and down State Street was a fundamental Santa Barbara experience, viewing the Spanish colonial architecture on display.
Now we have ugly parklets that dominate the landscape. Plus, various homeless cesspools. The uglification of Santa Barbara, all for the cause of saving the planet.
To quote Puck, “what fools these mortals be.”
Jarrell Jackman
Santa Barbara
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The best statement of the five-hour State Street tit for tat was when Mayor Randy Rowse said, “There’s no money for any of this.”
Why can’t the City Council’s 4-3 majority endure a clean vibrant downtown rather than spend $3 million for nothing?
Councilwoman Alejandra Gutierrez correctly observed that Milpas Street and Coast Village Road are thriving without costly planning or government intervention.
With the council effectively embracing a 40% vacancy rate, the majority made it clear that generating tax revenues isn’t a priority.
Councilman Eric Friedman sized it up well as a tale of two cities.
Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon wants rents and standards lowered, seemingly to fill vacancies with whatever appeals to the low income who will soon be living, but not spending, in the new residential units the council has approved on and around State Street.
The four majority council members — Sneddon, Oscar Gutierrez, Meagan Harmon and Mike Jordan — to financial literacy and civics classes, if their constituents do not support destroying Santa Barbara.
Like Oscar Gutierrez’s mother, a 70-year-old Westside resident, I outgrew State Street and I hate speeding electric bikes, skateboards, filth and ugly chaos.
Vote out dysfunctional, grandstanding, fiscally irresponsible, politically ambitious City Council members.
Denice Spangler Adams
Montecito
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It is essential that we immediately restore El Pueblo Viejo (State Street in downtown Santa Barbara) by reinstating vehicular flow to revive business and to use our time, talents and money for more pressing issues!
This letter is a call to action — for division to cease, cooperation to commence, and for the vision that our city’s forebears charted prior to the 1925 earthquake (and formalized shortly thereafter) be respected and balanced with the present needs of all of our community members.
Any proposed changes need to be vetted in a nonbiased, nonpoliticized manner with reasonable timelines.
As residents and taxpayers, we rely on our leaders and city staff to make considered and objective decisions. Ideologies and subjective opinions are irrelevant and have no place in government.
It is essential that we take care of today’s needs before skipping to other possibilities of what our town “should” or “might” be.
Keep things simple, address our basic needs now and then work through the Master Plan to address possible future improvements. Protect the use of our public right-of-way for all of our citizens and visitors.
• Increase support of our local law enforcement to protect citizens, visitors and property.
• Ensure a safe and clean downtown, address and eliminate open drug use, hostile transients and open toileting, etc.
• Recognize that our downtown corridor and El Pueblo Viejo along State Street is one of our greatest city assets and attractions. Adhere to the Historic Landmarks Commission regarding elements in El Pueblo Viejo district, as required and outlined in our City Charter Section 817, subsection (c) “The Historic Landmarks Commission shall have the power and duty to review and approve, disapprove or approve with conditions, plans for exterior alteration, demolition, relocation, moving, or construction of or on (1) any structures or real property within El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District, (2) any structures or real property within any designated Landmark District, (3) any additional property authorized by action of the City Council; (4) a designated Landmark.”
• Recognize all members of our community — young and old — ARE the community and have value.
• Understand what equal access to the public right-of-way means and that it is required by law. Ensure that access is provided for those who live with challenges. Families with children and strollers need access, too!
• Work for equal and proportionate distribution of city resources to all businesses.
• Remove outdoor dining in the street — move outdoor dining back to sidewalks where it has successfully operated for years. We all agree and want outdoor dining!
• Encourage shop owners that sell unique and bespoke wares. Shopping is one of the most popular activities when one is on vacation. Tourists want to shop and find something uniquely Santa Barbara to purchase.
• Open up State Street to cars and bicycles and reinstate the trolley/shuttle — all sharing the two traffic lanes and with the pedestrians on the beautiful brick sidewalks. Keep the movement slow and relaxing.
• Parades belong on State Street within El Pueblo Viejo. Temporarily close State Street (or portions thereof) for parades, weekly farmers market, etc. as the city has done historically.
• Visit other communities — San Luis Obispo, Carmel, Solvang, Coast Village Road, Carpinteria’s Linden Avenue. All have returned to pre-COVID-19 conditions with vehicles and pedestrians in their downtowns. And all are thriving.
• Work to build housing with developers to achieve balance and diversity in our housing and built environment.
We encourage our community to embrace inclusivity and to welcome newcomers to our beautiful town and the enthusiasm that they bring. We encourage everyone who holds our city dear to participate in activities that bring a deeper understanding of Santa Barbara’s culture, history, buildings and natural environment.
I find it difficult to navigate around the on-street dining, dodging patrons and wait staff while using the sidewalk.
I prefer to walk next to the buildings — to see what is in the windows, rather than walking in the street. Opening State Street to vehicles will bring tourists closer to the shops that have been one of the key attractants to visitors.
We thank you for working on our behalf. We support our democratic process and count on you to support our needs. We will continue to be available, engaged and attentive.
G. Murray
Santa Barbara
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I enjoyed reading Rick Perkins’ Sept. 22 letter to the editor, which almost sounds like he is calling for the return of Piccadilly Square.
I moved to Santa Barbara in 1989, and my the office in my first job overlooked it. I remember wandering around inside, looking at the unique goods being offered.
I watched as Piccadilly Square was torn down, a big hole was dug and Paseo Nuevo erected. My view of the Mesa was replaced by a view of a wall.
Santa Barbara desperately needs more housing, and the basement parking of the mall can become parking for many of the residents. Let the first floor be a place for the small pop-up stores I’ve seen on State Street.
What have we got to lose?
Brian Epstein
Santa Barbara
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Frank DiMarco’s Sept. 22 letter to the editor decries Delta Airlines’ return to the Santa Barbara Airport because of an expected increase in aircraft noise.
But what he suggests that Santa Barbara and Goleta do to alleviate his noise concerns is really not possible since what he suggests is the purview of federal and state laws.
Federal law governs federal airspace and airports that receive federal funding, such as the Santa Barbara Airport. So the airport cannot restrict flights nor the hours that airlines fly in and out of the airport.
Several years ago, when similar daily noise complaints were being voiced, the airport invited the FAA regional director to attend a noise briefing, where he explained in no uncertain terms what the federal law is regarding airport operations. Perhaps airport management should do that again.
And DiMarco’s idea that “Goleta should pass an ordinance banning overflights within city limits” would violate a 1967 state law that established Airport Land Use Commissions to oversee land-use planning and management around airports to ensure that activities near airports are compatible with aviation.
In other words, Goleta cannot restrict airport activities but is instead required to ensure that nearby land use is compatible with airport operations.
Modern aircraft are much quieter than those of decades ago but unfortunately aren’t silent. And like many other airports, the Santa Barbara Airport was built away from built-up urban areas but later became surrounded by development.
Addison Thompson
Santa Barbara
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As an employee of the Santa Barbara Unified School District, I was happy to read the Sept. 27 article, “Santa Barbara School District Looks to Partner with Housing Authority to Build Apartments for Employees,” and that the district is FINALLY thinking about its employees.
However, placing apartments at elementary school sites is unacceptable. Parking is already impacted in those neighborhoods.
The district owns the National Guard Armory on East Canon Perdido and property in Hidden Valley. Those sites would be more realistic to provide housing for our important school district employees.
Please consider these options rather than building at elementary schools.
Elizabeth Brooks
Santa Barbara
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Thank you for the Sept. 25 article, “Santa Barbara Congressman Says Carbon Tax, Dividend Legislation Needs More Support,” reporting on some very important climate legislation being introduced in Congress by Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara.
This bill offers a serious, practical and realistic solution to the climate crisis, including a federal carbon pollution tax levied on coal, oil and gas companies; redistributing the revenue in the form of monthly cash payments to American households; and the establishment of a carbon tariff at the border to protect American exporters and to incentivize all nations, including China, to adopt similar policies.
This policy option is uncomplicated and does not add more government bureaucracy. It makes those responsible for carbon pollution pay. It creates jobs, builds a strong economy, and does not increase energy costs for low- and middle-income Americans.
Carbajal has demonstrated a commitment to work across the aisle with Republicans to get things done. Despite today’s polarized political environment, this market-based approach has the potential for support from both Republicans and Democrats.
If enacted, this legislation promises to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2030, reach net zero by 2050, and spur the transition to a clean energy future.
Robert Taylor
Montecito
• • •
In preparation for the Goleta Lemon Festival this weekend at Girsh Park, AYSO soccer played on Saturday and Sunday last weekend, coordinated with the City of Goleta.
Apparently, the grounds crew wasn’t advised of the schedule change and watered Saturday night, soaking the fields and turning it into a mud bog for the soccer league and now for the Lemon Festival, too.
I write this letter to get the attention of city management so this can be avoided in the future. This isn’t the first instance like this that I have seen since moving here.
Sad to see poor scheduling and communications damage the hard work of the grounds crew. I have observed them maintaining these fields through multiple sports leagues during the year, ruined in one weekend.
Bart Bader
Goleta
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The Sept. 28 news release, “Santa Maria Unites in Support of Farmworker Killed in Work-related Accident,” was little more than a self-promotional piece by the CAUSE organization.
Even though this tragic accident occurred when the worker was run over by the tractor he was operating and the accident is still under investigation, the organization automatically placed blame on the agricultural company.
It was literally two paragraphs about this young man who was killed in an agricultural accident and 16 paragraphs about themselves. It comes across as horribly unaware and using his death to promote their agenda.
Stefanie Hassett
Goleta
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I am a member of the American Federation of Government Employees, America’s largest federal employee union. I represent the proud men and women of the Transportation Security Administration in Southern California, from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, including the Santa Barbara Airport.
I’m very concerned about the impact a government shutdown will have on my family, my neighbors and small businesses in my community.
No one outside of Capitol Hill wanted this shutdown, but here we are. Why should federal employees have to suffer because Congress can’t do its job and agree on a budget? Why should taxpayers waste billions of dollars in lost productivity from furloughs just so a handful of lawmakers can make a political point?
While political chess reduces my pay, my expenses remain the same and my job is now at risk. I still have to pay the mortgage, the full cost of my health insurance, and put food on the table.
And if I am unable to pay my bills due to this new financial hardship, I could lose my security clearance and get fired. How does this keep our nation safe and secure?
How does the government expect us to serve our troops properly when the Defense Department furloughs its employees? And what about keeping the water supply safe? Good luck, because the Environmental Protection Agency is furloughing its employees, too.
What about housing assistance? No help in sight, because the Housing and Urban Development Department is furloughing its employees.
Have lawmakers thought about how these furloughs will affect the local economy?
In communities with large federal facilities, like the Federal Correctional Facility in Lompoc or Vandenberg Space Force Base, local businesses will get hurt when federal employees start losing pay.
Could someone from Congress please tell me why they want to hurt small businesses?
I am very proud of the services I provide to the American people, and I remain dedicated to serving the public despite these frustrations. However, enough is enough. Congress needs to do its job instead of stopping us from doing ours.
Erich Schmidt
Ventura
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