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Hey Big Spender…

Weekly Column by Loretta Redd Leave it to LA to try and outdo everyone in California.  This time, it’s not Rodeo Drive’s couturier and jewels, nor Hollywood’s glam and paparazzi taking the headlines.  It’s election spending. By last Saturday, our neighbors to the south had set a less than enviable record of over $33 million ... Read More

5,000 Friends of Santa Barbara View on Facebook

Santa Barbara View is closing in on another milestone, 5,000 Facebook Friends! The Facebook page is incredibly active with additional comments, likes and custom content; so, if you’re not, be sure to follow the County’s fastest-growing social media page by clicking the like button below. And, to the person who becomes Friend number 5,000, Santa ... Read More

David Landecker Endorsed for SB City Council

David Landecker, the former Santa Barbara City Councilman who was forced to resign from the Council after he was caught stealing from the Home Improvement Center, is back. Not only is Mr. Landecker back, but he is being endorsed by the Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County. According to the questionable endorsement… “David Landecker was ... Read More

RE: AB5 Civil Rights Bill for the Homeless

By Nancy McCradie I write this to rebut the article that Sharon Byrne has written about the AB5 Civil Rights Bill for the Homeless. Sharon and I are great friends. We love each other’s company, have super great debates on the issues of homelessness and other aspects of political life. I have to disagree with ... Read More

History of the City of Santa Barbara: Part VII

According to the General Plan, Santa Barbara has had ten major historical periods. Over the last months, Santa Barbara View is posting the History of the City… ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES (1925 – 1939) One of the most significant catalysts for the architectural development of Santa Barbara was a massive earthquake which struck at 6:42 a.m. on ... Read More

Bendy White Kicks Off Re-Election Campaign for Santa Barbara City Council

By on April 25, 2013 in News

Last month, the Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County signaled the start to the 2013 campaign for Santa Barbara City Council with their unanimous re-election endorsements of Mayor Helene Schneider and Councilmember Bendy White.

Monday, Bendy White kicks off his 2013 campaign with a re-election celebration at Casa Blanca Restaurant and Cantina, 330 State St., 5-7 p.m.

Here is Bendy’s opening announcement:

“I was born and raised in Santa Barbara and have spent a good portion of my life serving the community as a member of the County Planning Commission, City Water Board, City Planning Commission and now on the City Council. In that time, protection of our community’s environment and our quality of life has been the foremost principle in guiding my decisions and policies. My deep background on local boards has helped me craft proposals which solve specific problems and have broad support.

When I joined the council at the beginning of 2010 the full effects of the great economic recession were just hitting the City. As a result over my term on council the City has struggled to both maintain our community’s values and recover from the economic slump.

I am proud to say that the City, with my support as a member of the finance committee and the chair of the sustainability committee, has done an excellent job protecting our financial health, while maintaining key programs such as the Rental Housing Mediation Task Force and making city departments leaner and more efficient.

Over the next four years we must fight to rebuild funding for our city’s infrastructure, protect our environment and our neighborhoods, and address social challenges such as the recent rise in youth gang violence.

I am asking for your support in ensuring the work that began four years ago continues over the next four and makes our City a better place to live. Please join Mayor Helene Schneider, the Santa Barbara County Democratic Women, Supervisors Salud Carbajal, Janet Wolf, Doreen Farr and many others in endorsing my re-election.

Please join my Monday evening at 5pm for the kickoff of my 2013 re-election campaign. I would be honored to have your support.”

Sincerely, Bendy White

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Santa Barbara’s First Drone?

By on April 24, 2013 in News


Oh my! There was my husband, working on tuning the Barracuda under the tree, and he was buzzed less than 50 feet by a drone. No question. We went into the backyard, and there it was, hovering about 5 feet from our downhill neighbors’ roof. It was about the size of a sea gull, very much like a model helicopter, fitted with four projections, which we figured were cameras. We waved at Big Brother and it scooted away down the hill. We read there was a base for drones in Mugu. We also read it had nothing to do with civilian use. Now you know, it’s coming to you too. We’ve been droned!  – Stella

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E-Waste and Old Pills

By on April 24, 2013 in Loretta Redd

Weekly Column by Loretta Redd

“Tis a tangled web we weave…” wrote Shakespeare, long before the age of digital electronics.  But open any ‘junk’ drawer in a kitchen or home office in America, and that’s what you will find.

Maybe not a “tangled web” of intrigue, but one of black, white and grey wires,  plugs, cables and chargers that come with every device we ever purchased, and few of which can be re-used with our newer version.  Although Earth Day was playfully celebrated over this past weekend in Santa Barbara, the city continues to honor the effort by hosting a free electronic collection and recycling event on Friday and Saturday, April 26 & 27th.

Held in the Sears parking lot at La Cumbre Plaza, from 8:30 till 4:00 each day, the city will collect computer monitors, keyboards, cables, CPUs, laptops, printers, fax machines, cell and landline phones, radios and televisions.  They will even destroy and recycle your hard drives.

Loose batteries, ex-husbands, toner cartridges, fluorescent light bulbs, unruly adolescents and large appliances like refrigerators will not be accepted.  Seriously, it’s a great way to do a little housekeeping, and since the time of purchase to obsolescence for most electronics is now about six months, I imagine we have more than a few outdated or non-functioning cords, computers or electronics lying around.

Toner cartridges have replaced typewriter ribbons and ball point pens, televisions used to be kept for decades, and computers were simply upgraded with additional RAM and program downloads.  Today, we drop into BestBuys or COSTCO or order online and toss the old one…where?

Facts and Figures on EWaste

The sheer volume of “e-waste” is impacting the landfills in many ways.  Although still only responsible for 2 percent  of America’s trash in our landfills, they account for 70 percent of the overall toxic waste. Around the globe, old computer monitors and televisions with their dangerous amounts of lead, continue to pile up into an environmental time bomb.

If we incinerate it, then toxins go into the air.  And if the precious metals contained in cell phones and other electronics, like gold and silver are not reclaimed, we’ve just dumped over $60 million dollars worth of reclaimable metals into the dumps.  Maybe the vagabon urchin brick-sitters on lower State Street can start a reclamation center and fund their way out of town with first-class tickets.

The environmental cost isn’t just in the graveyard side of the electronic lifecycle. According to businessinsider.com, It takes 539 pounds of fossil fuel, 48 pounds of chemicals and 1.5 tons of water to manufacture one computer and monitor.

The key is to recycle everything possible.  Old phones can be recycled for use by others, helping not only those who cannot afford them,  but the planet as well, especially considering over sixty per cent of the global population now has a cell phone.  And don’t forget the charger cords and any other parts that came with the phone. That is, if you can untangle and identify what went with the Nano or belonged to the Droid.

So, put that cell phone to use, and call your friends to tell them about the E-Waste collection event this weekend…and while you’re over at Sears, go around the corner to the La Cumbre Plaza and drop off any outdated or unused prescriptions between 10 and 2:00 on Saturday, April 27.

Whereas some of you might think of an “old pill” as someone you live with, prescription drugs are often the gateway for adolescent experimentation and dealing on school campuses.  If you aren’t taking the medication for a current condition, get it out of your house.

The sheriff’s department will be collecting these drugs  to keep them out of the landfill or from being flushed down the toilet…which might answer why our ocean creatures are behaving rather strangely recently.

 

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Protective Canary Island Palms for Goleta Beach

By on April 23, 2013 in News

Here is an artist’s rendering showing a line of Canary Island Palms which would be placed landward of the current sand covered protective rock wall at Goleta Beach as a further, natural, protective layer against the erosion of future severe winter storms. These palms are the basis for the Friends of Goleta Beach Park alternative to managed retreat that they hope will be included in the EIR process for Goleta Beach 2.0.

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What is the Current Status of Goleta Beach Park?

By on April 23, 2013 in News

Santa Barbara View caught up with the Friends of Goleta Beach Park to check in on the status of Goleta Beach Park and their ongoing efforts to stave off erosion.

What is the current status of Goleta Beach Park?

“This 29 acre Park and all its’ amenities have been well protected from the ravages of winter storms for many years by our County Parks Department,” said the Friends of Goleta Beach Park. “This preservation has been achieved through the use of protective rock walls, placed with the permission of the Coastal Commission on an emergency basis, to save the beach from the erosive effects of winter storms. The placement of these protective rocks occurred in 2004-2005.”

“The current philosophy and desire of the County and the California Coastal Commission (CCC) is to implement Goleta 2.0, which calls for ‘managed retreat’, that is to remove the protective rock and allow the ocean to reclaim a large portion of Goleta beach Park. If this process is allowed to continue it would permanently damaged and forever change the quality and nature of this Goleta landmark that is used by approximately 1.5 million users each year.”

What are the Friends of Goleta Beach Park looking to accomplish?

“Quite simply Friends of Goleta Beach Park wants to stop Goleta Beach 2.0 and preserve Goleta Beach Park as a recreational resource for those within the Goleta Valley and visitors alike. The changes proposed under Goleta Beach 2.0 would forever change the character and nature of the park, would reduce parking spaces, endanger future free parking while offering only a temporary area while waiting for the ocean to reclaim the land.”

“Our south-facing coastline is more in harm’s way, by its south facing orientation, to the damages of winter storms that come in from the south. These storms are associated with what is called El Nino and we have witnessed their destructive power several times over the past decades. Many of the protective measures that have been installed, like the rocks now buried 5′ beneath the ground, were approved through emergency permits. While it is true the permits have expired, there is no valid reason to dig up the sand and remove the rocks. These permits need to be made permanent just as they have been for over 100 miles of similar protective measures along the 1100 miles of our state’s coastline. Our beach and park should continue to be enhanced and protected for current and future generations by taking such a stance.”

What is wrong with Goleta Beach 2.0?

“Goleta Beach 2.0 calls for ‘Managed Retreat’, Managed retreat allows for the seas to prevail with no buffers, or protections, and to erode away the land regardless of whether the properties are private or public. Goleta Beach 2.0 would remove approximately 1200 linear feet of protection on the west side of the park, remove over 150 parking spaces, and spend millions more moving an underground utility corridor closer to Hwy 217. This idea is being driven by a political agenda that would set precedence on the California coastline, as the CCC needs a validation of managed retreat.”
Continue Reading →

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Lesley Wiscomb Enters Race for City Council

By on April 22, 2013 in News

Tonight, Lesley Wiscomb will kickoff her candidacy for Santa Barbara City Council with a fundraiser at Casa Blanca Restaurant and Cantina.

Lesley’s press release was focused on her resume headlines, which include leadership roles in Santa Barbara: Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Director and Secretary of Santa Barbara Beautiful, Director of PARC Foundation, Vice Chair of the UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Barbara County, and Co-Chair of the Public Education Committee for Master Gardeners.

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Art Critics: The 2013 Summer Solstice Poster

By on April 22, 2013 in News

Today, the Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Poster will be unveiled at SoHo Restaurant & Music Club, but Viewers get a sneak peak. This year’s Solstice Poster was designed by Neal Crosbie. “His work is like the Solstice parade — totally original, colorful and very creative,” says Solstice Executive Director Claudia Bratton.

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History of the City of Santa Barbara: Part III

By on April 22, 2013 in News, SB History

According to the General Plan, Santa Barbara has had ten major historical periods. Over the next few months, Santa Barbara View will post the History of the City…

MEXICAN PERIOD (1821 – 1848)

The Spanish period continued until 1821 when, as a result of the Mexican Revolution which began in 1810, Mexico achieved its independence from Spain and California became a Mexican territory. Santa Barbara continued to develop slowly as a Mexican pueblo. It was not until the late 1830’s that the lucrative hide and tallow trade made several Santa Barbara families wealthy. While a number of large houses were built in the pueblo by families such as the Arrellaneses, Aguirres, De la Guerras, and Carrillos, Santa Barbara, for the most part, remained a small community of modest adobe houses scattered around the decaying remains of the presidio.

A Mexican style adobe, circa 1825

During this period, Mission Santa Barbara was secularized and a portion of its lands were sold to Daniel Hill by Governor Pio Pico. Though Hill acquired much of the Mission’s property, he allowed the Franciscan friars to remain in the cloister and continue to hold services in the church. As a result, Mission Santa Barbara has the distinction of being the only one of the 21 original California Missions to have continuously remained a place of worship.

Santa Barbara would continue to remain relatively slow-growing until California was ceded to the United States by the Mexican government at the conclusion of the Mexican-American war. Under the terms of the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, largely dictated by the United States to the defeated Mexican government, Mexico agreed to sell California, Arizona, Nevada, parts of New Mexico and Utah plus other territory to the United States for 15 million dollars.

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Santa Barbara Twilight

By on April 21, 2013 in News, SB Photos

Santa Barbara Photo of the Week by Bill Heller.

This angle over the city is one of my favorite views of Santa Barbara. But I usually wait for just the right combination of weather and clear air to make the sky beautiful, and the islands sharp. Usually the islands are shrouded in mist at this time of the evening if there are good sunset clouds, and you can’t truly appreciate how large they actually are since they just poke out of the fog with their bases hidden. After my last shot at this location I knew I wanted to focus on the harbor and the wharf when I returned. This evening everything finally fell into place to get the image I was looking for.

-Bill Heller

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Whose City Is It, Anyway?

By on April 19, 2013 in News, Sharon Byrne

By Sharon Byrne

I passed by the grunge set hanging out on the brick “art” structure in the 500 block of State, and this is what I got:

“How bout you give me 5 bucks for sitting on my ass?” one calls out.

‘How bout you get a $%*! job!’ I responded. Not very ladylike, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let them bully me. When they started taunting and threatening me, I stopped, and said I am calling the police while taking their picture. One of them hid his face:

Most people don’t want the hassle, understandably. Better to just hurry by, or avoid the area altogether, so the louts win, effectively. They have control of the block.

This continual occupation of the public-art-brick-bench by the lout set is starting to boil. It’s long been a problem, but recent violent incidents, including an assault on a shopkeeper and a guy waving a machete while demanding money, have upset people. Citizens want something done.

Suggestions put forth, with some attempted:

  1. Police them out of here. I see Officer Beutel hover over them like clockwork around lunchtime, which curbs some of the nastier behaviors, but the cops can’t legally order them off the brick thing. It’s public art. Maybe not your taste, and maybe you don’t think taxpayer dollars should have funded it. But we have no ordinance against loitering, nor do we have a time limit on public spaces, so sitting there all day is legal. Cops can only make an arrest for illegal activities.
  2. Stop them from panhandling. Courts have ruled that anyone can be in a public space with a sign soliciting alms, protected as free speech, even if the sign contains offensive expletives. Strong-arm tactics are not legal, but tourists don’t know that, and few of us would make a citizens’ arrest and press charges.
  3. Repurpose it. I called the Chamber of Commerce and the Visitor and Convention Bureau and suggested we make it a temporary tourist kiosk, put out pamphlets, and have some volunteer tourism ambassadors sit there. ‘Er, well, um, we really don’t do that,’ was the awkward response. I even called groups to do voter registration drives there, but they’re only active during elections, and would they need a permit? Scratch that idea. This thing actually was an MTD stop, but because of the lout occupation, MTD drives on by.
  4. Put plants there. Preferably cacti.
  5. Move it. The artist disagrees. We’re just displacing the problem. It’s happening in front of Yogurtland too, so see, they’ll just find some new spot to take over. Physically, this one’s not going to be easy to move.
  6. Citizens reclaim it. If we sit there all day, they can’t, right? Shift sign-up lists, anyone?
  7. Get rid of it. The Arts Community is decidedly against this. Can’t the police deal with it? See #1 and 2 for limits on police power.
  8. Stop Wall St Greed, and end the disparity between rich and poor to solve homelessness. Sure, we’ll get right on that. No one’s solved it in decades, but let Santa Barbara lead the charge!

To the homeless advocates itching to plead these are mentally ill-drug-addicted-alcoholic-veterans-deserving-of-our-compassion…

…Stop.

They’re 20-somethings traveling the Seattle-Portland-California circuit. They’ve dropped out to hang out and do the sidewalk-sprawl that has driven Haight-Ashbury and Berkeley crazy for years. They pull in generous handouts from State St visitors, with the Bank of Mom and Dad for back-up. Offer them shelter and services, and they’ll laugh at you. They aren’t homeless. They’ve just decided to forgo the expense of lodging for camping freely in your town. They view employment as capitalistic penal servitude, utterly beneath them. They’d rather you keep handing over $5 to them for ‘doing nothing’, extortion for not harassing you.

So this isn’t about whether Santa Barbara has to sacrifice public art or public space to the homeless. The bench occupiers aren’t homeless.

This is about how tolerant we are, as a city, to packs of traveling youth who decide to camp here, take over our public space, and intimidate us for money for today’s grub, booze, and smokes. Some even chase or assault us, as happened recently, when we don’t willingly fork it over. We’ve been far too tolerant, apparently.

We whine that we won’t go downtown anymore because this crowd has taken over. Why did we hand it over to them in the first place? When we avoid State, we are indeed handing it over. Worse, we’re punishing local businesses, people who actually ARE our fellow citizens.

Whose city is it, anyway??? Ours, or the out-of-town youth grunge set’s?

There’s a saying:

Live in New York, but leave before you get too hard.

Live in California, but leave before you get too soft.

We’ve been way too soft on this one, people.

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That Brick Art Bench Thingy on State Street

By on April 19, 2013 in Sharon Byrne

I am stepping up to bat for lower State here. I couldn’t believe the News-Press ran a photo of that bench thing looking all neat and pristine. Sure, that’s how it looks at 7 AM. Then the Indy ran one of a nice fellow sitting there, strumming a guitar.

I am running one of how it REALLY looks. – Sharon

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EcoFacts: Love bees, Hate Fleas and Termites

By on April 19, 2013 in Green & Garden, News

Besides the bees who are a casualty of the targeted pests, fleas and termites also hate those neurotoxins we’ve been using on them, which are neonicotinoids and another - fipronil. As stated before, these are the active chemicals in the pesticides used on the farms that produce our food and feed for livestock, but also in termite and flea control products used on our pets and in our homes.

Immediately after researching these chemicals I learned of the termite connection because of work being done on my home. Sad to say that termites are eating most of the buildings in which we live and work in warmer parts of the world. They love moisture, and the two parts of my home that had sustained water damage at some point, later became termite infested. I learned that the older wood is much more resilient than the newer stuff. The old joists under my floor are in pretty good shape but the subfloor, newer, was not. I had ended my relationship with one environmentally preferable company and wanted to find another. The fact finding continued.

I was quite certain that I did not want to tent. Methyl Bromide, the extremely toxic stuff still used on our strawberries, used to be used for fumigation, but thanks to the damaged ozone layer it is being phased out, for that purpose anyway. In its place Vikane is often used - Sulfuryl fluoride -  a lethal chemical that remains in the atmosphere for decades after it leaves our homes. It is also thousands of times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas. Also important to know that tenting kills drywood termites only, not subterranean, and I have both. In any case, it would be no tenting for me. Continue Reading →

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Celebrate Earth Day with Earth-Friendly Fare

By on April 19, 2013 in Food & Wine, Green & Garden

Recipes by Santa Barbara resident and natural food chef, Melissa Costello.

This month I have been celebrating Earth Month by teaching a multitude of cooking classes around town, including at Whole Foods Market and Yoga Soup. I am always pleasantly surprised to see how many people want to learn how to cook healthy, delicious food.

I thought that since it’s Earth Day, I’d share my favorite Earth-Friendly recipe with you using local greens.

This recipe for Tahini Kale is a favorite among my clients, and usually turns most of them into kale converts. I love to use Dino (Lacinto) Kale in this recipe because of its thicker texture, but feel free to use any kind of green you like, including collards and chard.

Complete recipe below… Continue Reading →

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Santa Barbara Business Beat

By on April 18, 2013 in Business by Ray Estrada, News

New Book Store Plans Series of Events

The founders of the first independent book store to open in Santa Barbara in 22 years plan to hold a series of “First Edition” pre-launch events, with the first featuring Karma Chow founder Melissa Costello from 5 to 7 p.m. April 25.

Granada Books, 1224 State St., is scheduled to open in June near the Granada Theater. Co-owner Sharon Hoshida, former director of the Women’s Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara . The store owners have signed a 25-year lease for the 3,300-square-foot shop.

On April 25, Costello, a Santa Barbara resident, will sign copies of her book, “The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook,” which has 125 plant-based vegan recipes. A certified nutritionist and wellness coach, Costello works one-on-one with clients and leads 30-day, food-based cleanses with large groups.

Costello provides weekly recipes for Santabarabraview.com. She will bring samples of her recipes at the April 25 event.

To attend, RSVP to maria@coastlinemedia.com or (805) 452-5466.

Sit ‘n Sleep Grand Opening Set for April 23

On the other end of State Street , the Sit ‘n Sleep showroom, 314 Anacapa St. , plans to have a grand opening at 10:30 a.m. April 23.

The store is situated between Highway 101 and REI. Sit ‘n Sleep touts itself as Southern California ’s largest mattress retailer and sleep expert after being in business for more than 30 years. The showroom features the company’s Sleep Match Technology, which fits customers for a mattress that is customized to their specific needs.

The Santa Barbara store carries leading mattress brands, including Sealy, Simmons, Serta, Kluft, Tempurpedic, Sherwood, Octaspring, Dr. Breus, and Stearns and Foster.

Large Crowd Expected for Saturday’s First SB Biz Expo

Some 200 people are expected to attend the first Santa Barbara Business Expo, sponsored by the Women’s Community Business Network, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20 at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Hotel & Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

Organizers plan to make it an annual event, to develop continuity along with the launch of an on-line Business and Services Directory. For more information, e-mail sandy@wcbusinessnetwork.com. Vendors will display products and services they feel will be of interest to the business community of the area.

The expo will feature prominent area business people who will share their experiences and offer business tips and tactics. The expo will include dozens of displays, booths, hand-outs, samples, and information on a variety of organizations with business-oriented products and services.

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