The fight over State Street in downtown Santa Barbara has dragged on long enough.
Despite national trends suggesting retail is dying, city-funded high-priced studies continue.
Staff draws up grand plans. The City Council nods along.
Meanwhile, residents and shop owners are left arguing with each other over what to do.
The City Council pushed Measure A through without any transparency. Voters were misled then, and now the council wants to shove another massive downtown plan on us.
Where is the real governance? Our emergency reserves are already drained.
We do not want this, and we cannot afford it.
City Administrator Kelly McAdoo was hired to fix our roads, balance the budget and run basic services. She was not hired for advancing special interests behind closed doors.
The City Council should stop dividing this town and put State Street on the ballot. Let the voters decide.
Joann Olejnik
Santa Barbara
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I am a local pedestrian advocate, and a neighborhood schools/walk-to-school advocate of 25 years.
First if the City Council is going to close State Street to cars, at least close it to bicycles, too. Make it a true pedestrian promenade.
I agree with Strong Towns Santa Barbara on a lot of things, but not this State Street Master Plan.
Even if this were a good plan, which it is not, the city can’t afford it. And even if the city could afford it, it’s not worth the cost. And even if it were a good plan, and the city found the money, something of this magnitude should be put to the voters.
For $100 million, the city’s money would be better spent to 1) buy a square block downtown and build a downtown elementary school for the Santa Barbara Unified School District so 500 children currently living in our downtown neighborhoods could walk to school for the next 150 years; or 2) buy a number of commercial buildings on State Street, so the City Council could see for itself what it’s like to be a landlord of an empty building on a closed street. Then the council can tax itself a vacancy tax.
Get real. The city doesn’t have the money. It’s not too late to put on the brakes.
Alice Post
Santa Barbara
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In his Sept. 4 column, “2 State Street Debate Quotes Define Santa Barbara’s Choice for Mayor,” Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen is 100% right about City Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon, who said, “I’m not worried that we don’t know where exactly every dollar is going to come from right now. If we make a plan, and that’s how we’re oriented, the funding will come. There are investors who are waiting for us to be decisive.”
Hope is not a strategy, and Sneddon’s comments alone should be disqualifying.
Bonnie Herrick
Santa Barbara
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I fully support Lisa Reifel’s Aug. 31 commentary, “Why Is Santa Barbara Set to Spend $95 Million to ‘Fix’ State Street When It Wasn’t Broken?”
As a resident of the Santa Barbara area for 53 years I find the “improvements” to State Street to be confusing. There should be at least one lane open for car and truck traffic.
I’m fully supportive of bikes; however, many residents no longer ride bikes downtown, and many out of town visitors don’t either.
Santa Barbara has a large percentage of older inhabitants, Baby Boomers, etc., and we are all getting older! I would encourage bike riders, skateboarders, roller skaters, whomever, to imagine when and if they can no longer get around on two wheels what they would want in downtown for their accommodation!?
Some of us love to walk but not everybody is able. Please be inclusive to all ages and limitations.
Also, that price tag of $95 million for changes seems insane.
Kathleen Laurain
Santa Barbara
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Cass Ensberg is the most sensible observer with her State Street suggestions and plans, as is clear in her Aug. 30 commentary, “Santa Barbara Can’t Afford a $96 Million State Street Experiment.”
There is no need to hire fancy consultants over the last six years and going forward. The long-term planning of State Street should go on, but for now reinstate the pre-COVID-19 State Street.
It seems illegal to use an emergency ordinance and then, when the emergency is over, not to reinstate the norm.
Yvonne Neumann
Summerland
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It was refreshing to hear Santa Barbara City Councilman Eric Friedman bring a “man of the people” perspective and clear, direct answers from the heart at a recent mayoral candidates debate.
On rent “stabilization,” he opposed too much government control and said residents should be able to vote on the issue instead of justthe City Council.
Residents deserve a council member — and mayor — who listens, responds, communicates clearly, and follows through.
As co‑president of a local neighborhood association, I have not had that experience with our current District 4 council member, Kristen Sneddon, who is also running for mayor.
In the eight years she’s been in office, too often, members and my emails went unanswered. When meetings did occur, the concerns raised were not followed by meaningful action, clear communication or sustained follow‑through.
By contrast, Friedman stepped up to help me work on local neighborhood issues even though he is not our district representative. His responsiveness and willingness to engage have made me appreciate having a representative who listens and takes action.
I hope voters will consider this personal experience when they cast their ballots.
Sue Burk
Santa Barbara
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Regarding the Aug. 28 article, “Camp Canine in Santa Barbara Drains, Closes Pool After Dog Drowning,” why is Santa Barbara’s police chief commenting on the status of a police investigation for this case?
I am sorry that this dog died, but — at most — it might be a case of negligence. Santa Barbara has had murders, rapes, stabbings, assaults, child molestations, fatal hit-and-run crashes, and other truly vile crimes, and the police chief has had nothing to say publicly about those.
Of all the responsibilities I presume she has, why does this incident command her attention?
R. Guerra
Santa Barbara
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It’s very unfortunate what happened at the dog care center, but this story has gone on long enough.
The owners should be allowed to continue their business and rectify the problem. Getting another bulldog pup for the dog’s owners should happen if it already hasn’t happened.
However, the publicity that this story has generated suggests that some folks won’t be happy until the entire business is shut down and the owners are driven out of town.
Tom Gherini
Solvang
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I was extremely disappointed that Xochitl Tafoya was omitted from the Aug. 30 article, “Santa Barbara Welcomes New Principals at Santa Barbara Junior High, Harding, Community Academy.”
Tafoya is an esteemed member of our community. She is highly respected after recently serving as an assistant principal at La Cumbre Junior High and Franklin Elementary schools. She was appointed this year as principal at Cleveland Elementary School.
I’m not sure how Noozhawk missed this important part of the story that highlighted three other principal positions appointed by the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Her being a woman of color, her omission is perceived by me as a microaggresion.
I’m given the perception that the district or Noozhawk intentionally omitted Tafoya from the story.
Tafoya was born and raised in Santa Barbara. It is not often that one of our own achieves an important academic leadership position in Santa Barbara.
An opportunity to celebrate Tafoya’s appointment was missed. I hope the district and Noozhawk share in my disappointment.
Mark Alvarado
Santa Barbara
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Thank you to Dr. Hillary Quinn for her excellent Aug. 24 commentary, “Ticks – Creepy-Crawly Vectors of Disease,” on ticks and dogs. Lots of good and important information for dog owners.
Brian Cabrera
Mosquito & Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County general manager
Summerland
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Regarding the July 11 article, “Costco Eyeing Site Near Santa Barbara Airport for Possible Gas Station,” one must understand that this is only a one-year study between Costco and the Santa Barbara Airport Commission for the airport district site at the corner of Hollister Avenue and Frederic Lopez Road.
Some Goleta residents and city officials have voiced concerns and opposition about this proposed gas station, which I agree with — but with a different view.
We hear the words “traffic congestion” coming all the time from Goleta residents and officials — adding this to the possible gas station location. Really? As I see it, traffic congestion was created at a rapid pace since Goleta became a city.
But I have a question: Who gets the tax revenue that comes with a possible Costco gas station operating within Santa Barbara city limits? Goleta? With Costco having a business license in Goleta or Santa Barbara, the physical location of the gas station itself, yet operated by Costco.
Santa Barbara and the airport commission should do what is best for all and use the location of Hollister Avenue at Frederic Lopez Road for better use than a gas station for Costco.
Rob Guevara
Santa Barbara
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Collin Harmon’s Aug. 29 puff piece, “A World Away Without Leaving Home at Rosewood Miramar Beach,” might be more newsworthy if it (or Noozhawk) included the prices of all these supposed local benefits and pleasures.
It is true that Santa Barbara is a wealthy community. But if you’re thinking honestly, how many of Noozhawk’s readers do you think can ordinarily afford the day described without worrying about cost?
Noozhawk is theoretically a news source, and quite often a good one, but we already have enough “news” outlets selling a lifestyle out of most people’s reach. Why join the herd?
The main issue now for everyone not left over from the olden days when Santa Barbara’s real pleasures were available to average citizens is how to decently survive on the town’s strikingly low (for ordinary workers) wages compared to costs.
Without mentioning actual costs or describing affordable pleasures and ways to escape, you’re implicitly lining up with Oprah Winfrey and Harry and Megan (although, yeah, they now seem gone) without identifying with the town’s real workers and citizens struggling to maintain their places in what once was a cozy beach town open to all and is increasingly now just another playground for the rich.
Noozhawk is better — or used to be — than this.
Peter Marin
Santa Barbara
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There is a simple solution to the electric bike dilemma. It is a mortised vehicle. Require registration, and a license to operate. That then requires driver training.
The fees need not be onerous, the point being thatyoung kids would get training and control can be exercised over high-powered e-bikes that can be designated illegal.
It would also raise money by users for maintenance and development of bike paths.
Anton Hoffmann
Santa Barbara
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While California’s taxes are the highest in the country and local real estate taxes and regulations make it impossible to afforded a home, we commend the state for sending back barely enough money to build one house.
If the state would seriously like to expand home ownership, lower our taxes and address the issue of regulations.
Of course, this would require the state to reduce expenses and cut back on waste and fraud — which is much more difficult than raising taxes.
George Lilly
Santa Barbara
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Maintaining the perfect balance on our Lompoc Valley Medical Center Board of Directors is vital for Lompoc’s healthcare future.
Currently, our board blends financial oversight with frontline medical expertise, consisting of two businessmen, a nurse and two doctors.
In this election, a businessman is challenging the incumbent medical professionals. Losing these frontline voices would disrupt a proven leadership dynamic.
Our incumbent doctors and nurse bring years of board experience and invaluable medical insight to every decision.
Representation also matters. The incumbent medical professionals are two female leaders on a board overseeing a hospital district in which 75% of the staff is female. Our hard-working healthcare workers deserve to know their perspectives are represented at the highest level of decision making.
A hospital is not just a commercial business; it is a critical community lifeline. We need trustees who understand the balance between budget and bedside patient care.
Please join me in protecting our hospital’s leadership. Let’s keep the balance, honor our frontline workers and ensure experienced healthcare voices are at the table.
Re-elect our incumbents: Leslie Kelly RN, Chirs Lumsdaine MD and Ellie Novin-Baheran MD.
Leslie Kelly RN
Lompoc Valley Medical Center board president
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