Regarding Noozhawk’s June 13 article, “Mission Canyon Bridge Discussion Spans Structural, Roadway Changes for Santa Barbara Landmark,” I endorse the preservation and and maintenance of the bridge.
Options to consider include but are not limited to improve and enhance the adjacent pedestrian pathways running before and after the bridge; add multiple pedestrian-activated flashing lights; create disability access on the existing pedestrian bridge; put crosswalks already proposed in the pedestrian master plan that are recommended at Alameda Padre Serra for safe routes to schools with proximity to Roosevelt School; install electronic speed indicator signs; and, finally and most important, lower the current 35 mph speed limit to 25 mph for all of Mission Canyon.
Please do not allow any manner of demolition for reconstruction to this historic landmark bridge that has full structural integrity and a sustaining natural environment. The bridge must be preserved and maintained for now and for all future generations.
Paul Bielaczyc
Santa Barbara
• • •
Regarding Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen’s June 18 column, “SBCC Gets Historic Gift in MacKenzie Scott’s Philanthropic Blitz,” it’s beyond pathetic that he still can’t bring himself to give Gov. Gavin Newsom any credit for his reasoned, compassionate leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
If Newsom had listened to Macfadyen and other selfish, profit-first businessmen, California residents would have been left completely unprotected, leading to an astronomical death toll. But by asking for reasonable restrictions and sacrifices and requesting that we all give up some of our privileges temporarily, Newsom has proven that California did things the right way — unlike places like Florida, which willingly put its citizens in danger and paid the price.
And Macfadyen’s complaints about his precious business environment are wrong as usual. California’s economy is doing just fine, the state has a record budget surplus and Newsom is even sharing some of that surplus with taxpayers. Those are facts.
Alex Richard
Santa Barbara
• • •
Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen should charge a subscription for his columns. His acerbic commentary about Gov. Gavin Newsom is hilarious and worth any price. And he’s so deadly accurate with his observations. Thank you.
Ed Parker
Santa Barbara
• • •
When I think of reopenings I think of balloons, ribbon-cutting and lots of fanfare, but on June 15 we just unlocked some of our front doors and provided a sad perforated box of masks along with a jug of hand sanitizer.
A reopening occurs after a closing.
A closing is usually a planned event or a disaster of some kind.
This closing happened in a slow/disconcerting, nonceremonious way — like an old drip coffee machine on its last leg; something we were never quite sure how long would last. Instead, we just slowly realized things were not going to be the same … but we didn’t know what they would be, or how long we’d be living in this new normal.
Suddenly, we were all now living in purgatory.
During this time some of us lost loved ones, some of us lost components of our health, and some of us lost portions of our income, while all of us watched all of our plans slowly fall apart.
We don’t yet know the negative long-lasting effects of any of this, but I do know some of the positive ones.
It is now impossible for me to take some uneventful events for granted:
» Hugging
» Dinner with loved ones
» Traveling
» Not wearing a mask
» Working with others
» Making plans
» Seeing smiles
» Going back to school or meetings
» Shopping
» Sitting at a bar
And the list goes on …
Like many of you, I hope we don’t go BACK to the way things were. I hope we move FORWARD with a new resolve and a deeper appreciation for each other and life’s uneventful events.
Joyce Dudley
Santa Barbara County district attorney
• • •
Loretta Redd’s June 11 letter to the editor exemplifies the incredible burden faced by those wanting to tackle the “water crisis” in California.
Her emphasis is on chastising local water agencies for not requiring individuals using water for domestic purposes to engage in less of that. But already personal consumption of water in California has been significantly reduced — probably less than 20% per capita than a decade or so ago.
The most important thing to note is that domestic use represents maybe 10% of the total human consumption of water in the state. Asking for more from this sector is sort of asking it to stop spitting; it is not going to help much.
Agriculture is by far the biggest abuser of water in California. The June 12 story, “State Agency Knocks ‘Deficiencies’ in Cuyama Valley Plan to Replenish Groundwater Basin,” demonstrates this cavalier attitude.
Watering carrot crops in 100-degree heat in the Cuyama Valley, sucking water from a declining aquifer to water another vineyard and other such wrongs abound. Flood irrigation in the Central Valley is still being used even as the earth collapses there on sinking underground water basins being drained dry.
Focusing on whether one waters a lawn or washes their car or takes a longer shower is designed to keep us from attacking the malfeasant, which is Big Agriculture. We need laws to implement the most basic water conservation measures on these users.
Remember, if they just “saved” 10% of their water each year, that would provide for all urban statewide use!
Glen Mowrer
Santa Barbara
• • •
Thank you to Noozhawk for the very informative weekly COVID-19 updates that have been emailed to me each Wednesday. I appreciate the information and the effort your reporters are putting into keeping me informed.
Noozhawk is my first read in the morning.
Jill Wilson
Buellton
• • •
Mail Calls
Noozhawk welcomes and encourages expressions of all views on Santa Barbara County issues. 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 used, and repeat letters will be skipped. Letters may be edited for clarity, length and style.
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.