Letters to the Editor

“Highway” 192’s Two-Year Closure

You absolutely buried your cover story (“Village Beat” MJ # 25/36 in a response on page 26 “Two Bridges Too Far”) about the bridge on Highway 192… the biggest problem facing all of us living to the west of it. It’s all we neighbors talk about here on Chelham Way.

We feel cut off from the upper village and have changed all our shopping habits: changed libraries, post offices, etcetera (the traffic coming back, by Casa Dorinda is unpredictable so most don’t venture over there).

So, there is no other story as important as that bridge on a California highway (a friggin highway!) that we care about until usable.

Thanks, and keep up the good work.

Ross Skinner
Montecito

(Editor’s note: That closure on East Valley Road between Sycamore Canyon and Hot Springs has also disrupted longtime patterns on this side of the divide, in that traffic has increased substantially south of East Valley, as residents on the west side of Parra Grande, unable to easily get to the upper village, head down to Coast Village to shop, eat, and even just to hang out. Of course, the back side of that has been a mini-boom for Coast Village businesses. We do hope the road opens sooner rather than later but as witnesses to the tortoise-like speed of Caltrans, we won’t be putting our bets on an early completion date. Despite that, the good news is that barring something really terrible happening, East Valley Road should be navigable once again by the end of April 2020. – J.B.) 

Under Water At Last

Was throwing away some old papers when I came across a map from 2007 regarding a seven-meter water level rise in the City of Santa Barbara as delineated by the people with the lightblueline.org, the group that was proposing to paint a light blue line around the new sea level the future held.

After reviewing the City of Santa Barbara’s proposal to locate the new police building across Cota Street from Plaza Vera Cruz, I have to ask: are SB City staff looking to combine SBPD and Harbor Patrol operations?

The map shows Plaza Vera Cruz underwater at high tide.

Steve Gowler
Cold Springs Landscapes, Inc.

(Editor’s note: In Venice, Italy, many of those older homes threatened by a rising sea and the constant wave production of thousands of cruise ships, have pumps and a variety of devices to remove water from under their structures, so perhaps Santa Barbara City planners have something like that in mind. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be spending millions of dollars and years of construction time on the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion, which would also be under water, according to that map. – J.B.)

Putting Out The Fire

I would like to comment on the recent boat tragedy that killed 33 people. Having spent a good portion of my life plying the Santa Barbara Channel and local islands, I have had many, many hairy experiences that required Coast Guard assistance to make it back to port safely. I have lost a propeller, I have had a drive shaft break, I have had the engine throw out valve seals etc., etc., etc., but never have I experienced anything that would remotely approach the magnitude of a fire on my vessel, which has to be every boat owner’s worst night-mare.

Regardless of what the investigation turns up as to the origins of the fire, I believe the casualties could have been drastically reduced if: 1) There had been a roving watchman, as we used to do in the army. It’s been stated there were six crew members, one and a half hours each would have covered the entire night. 2) It’s been stated that the passengers died of smoke inhalation. Given the fact that smoke detectors are such incredibly inexpensive insurance, why were they not deployed from bow to stern on every level? 3) Ditto for fire extinguishers.

Larry Bond
Santa Barbara

San Ysidro Roundabout

Per the recent “Going Around/Friends of San Ysidro Road” letter (which primarily comes across as a generalization), I’ve seen plenty of bicyclists and the occasional pedestrian use the Hot Springs Road traffic circle. If the writer is primarily traveling via auto, it’s then likely they’d miss this other traffic.

Mike McLaughlin
Santa Barbara

P.S. I wanted to say last week’s issue appears to be one of your best. Even the ads were impressive. I’m also noticing a lack of Editor’s notes in the last couple of issues; a trend?

(Editor’s note: Not really a trend; sometimes letters stand on their own and require neither response nor acknowledgement. But, as one who regularly traverses the Hot Springs-Cabrillo roundabout, I have to agree that it is, at the very least, inhospitable to both pedestrians and bicyclists. – J.B.)

A Wonderful Event

A beautiful event was put on by the Trump Campaign in Beverly Hills at the private estate of Jeffrey Palmer. The event started at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where all attendees congregated, received their security badges and were then taken by shuttle to the event.

Drinks and appetizers were plenty with a string orchestra entertaining. We then went into a carpeted massive tent that was beautifully draped with chandeliers hung all around. Tables of ten were set for the 800 guests. We had no idea there were so many very grateful enthusiastic Trump supporters in Beverly Hills. Our table was in the back, but we were able to see the President on stage; there were also big screens to see him close up. 

Dinner was filet mignon and sea bass, a beautiful salad, and delicious chocolate desert. Everyone was served in a timely fashion and we all felt part of this wonderful evening.

Many Trump people were everywhere. Kimberly G. spoke first with enthusiastic Trump support and a jab at the Governor of California. Donald Trump Jr. spoke next with great reverence for his father. And then he introduced the President.

If you saw Trump in New Mexico, he was as good and better in Beverly Hills. He is the show, he is the entertainer, he is the critic of the opposition, but mostly he is for America, all of us. 

He is the stand up, the bringer of ideas and agendas to keep us strong and energized for the future. You just feel it with President Trump, you just know he is always moving forward for this country.

Surprised that he came to California? Surprised that many Californians do support this President? Surprised that so much money was raised? Surprised at his energy? 

It’s what he does and will do and continue to do.

Chris Frisina
Montecito

(Editor’s note: It sounds like you had a terrific time and your letter serves notice that that’s the way politics once was: two (or more) sides, different opinions, and mutual respect. Maybe this is the beginning of a trend. – J.B.)

Democrat 2020 Platform

Recently, I watched the latest Democrat presidential debate. As a patriotic American who loves my country and what it stands for, I was saddened, stunned and frightened over what I heard. Many of the candidates seemed angry, disrespectful, unrealistic and anti-American. Where was their common sense and support for America?

Going forward, what would a possible Democrat administration look like? It would confiscate our guns, raise taxes, take away private healthcare, continue indoctrinating our children in schools, and gut our free market system in favor of socialism. And that doesn’t even include their march toward open borders and blanket amnesty.

Is this what America wants? 

Diana Thorn
Carpinteria

(Editor’s note: It may be what a majority of Californians want, and we’ll find out if it is what the rest of America wants in November, 2020 – J.B.)

Trickle-Down Learning

Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris is rightfully disgusted that school children must learn to hide in case of a shooting. My generation (1940s-’60s) dealt with air raid sirens and drop drills (hiding under the desk) in case of an atomic bomb attack. Actually, it was kind of fun to fall and giggle under the desk. A short break from the boredom.

The best answer, at least in regard to schools, would be to phase these child prisons-brainwashing centers out of existence. 

Carl Sagan: “Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist, and then we beat it out of them. A few trickle through the system with their wonder and enthusiasm for science intact.”

As a youngster, I always wondered what I wanted to do as an adult. In school, I was seldom, if ever, exposed to real life or career situations. It was all academic. Few of those sixteen (K thru B.S. degree) years prepared me to trade real estate, farm avocados, fly airplanes or deal with government. Rather, education served to mold me in a particular, guarded way, pleasing to my omniscient fabricators. Not in the least according to my interests, abilities or ultimate career choice.

Public schools are where some perfectly normal children, across a glorious, wide spectrum of variation, are drugged so they fit into a very abnormal institution. It’s normal for children to be very physically active, curious, imaginative, and creative. It’s not normal to make them sit still for hours, day after day, to undertake a boring regimen of academic study that does not prepare them socially or practically for real life. 

Steve King
Carpinteria

(Editor’s note: Please send us your ideas for primary education, as we can’t fathom how learning can take place on a broad scale without schools, public or otherwise. – J.B.)

“Good Parent” Tribunals

The 3-hour Sep 12, 2019 Democratic presidential debate contained a lot of good ideas from some strange and “interesting” people, but former Vice President Biden’s suggestion that “…social workers should help parents deal with how to raise their children…” was the best idea ever! 

Biden’s proposals for requiring “…consistent scheduled visits to provide tips on preventive health, breastfeeding, and developmental milestones…” is worthy of comment and enrichment.

Clearly, government experts have more educational and financial resources available than a lowly under-employed or unqualified parent. I’d suggest that it’s about time lawmakers consider a commonsense licensing program for parenthood.

First, to make the world safer for our children, we need to remove as many preventable hazards as possible, including firearms, concussion-causing sporting activities, alcohol, vaping devices, poor diets, genetically modified baby food, body-image shaming, bullying, and violent video games.

Any parent convicted of drunk driving, caught watching MMA sports, owning a Confederate flag, voting for Trump, or subscribing to Playboy or the American Rifleman should be required to explain themselves in front of a Good Parent Tribunal (GPT). This committee would have the power to place abused children in protective custody until parents have completed re-education programs. 

To qualify for a Good Parent License (GPL), the applicant(s) must have at least six years of college (PhD preferred), no criminal record, STDs, or a history of gambling, alcohol or drug abuse. 

A panel of experts would conduct a series of “final exam” interviews over a two-month period. The applicant would be required to answer “hypothetical” parenting questions and engage in role-playing, polygraphs, hypnosis and immersion therapy. Extra “points” will be granted for MENSA membership. Scores will then be used to determine if the applicant has any anger-management issues, compulsions, racist tendencies, delusions, politically-incorrect attitudes, or happens to be a climate denier.

If you want to drive a car, sell liquor, real estate, or perform surgery, what do you need? A license! Are any of these occupations more important than protecting (and raising) our children?

There is only one way to guarantee that America’s crumb-crunchers will be raised “properly,” and that is total government control and licensing of parents.

Finally, as brilliantly suggested by Uncle Joe, don’t forget to leave the record player on at night.

Dale Lowdermilk
Santa Barbara

(Editor’s note: I don’t know about you, but around here we always shut our record players off before going to bed – J.B.)

An Open Letter

To Supervisor Das Williams, Assemblywoman Monique Limon, Congressman Salud Carbajal, the Montecito Association, and other politicos:

The next time you schedule a Community Meeting for Disaster Victims, find an IRS employee who will attend the meeting. Your scheduled presenter, Joseph McCarthy, CPA from the IRS Stakeholder Division failed to appear. You wasted the valuable, limited time of hurting constituents already running on empty.

There are 74,454 IRS employees and you, our local elected reps and/or Montecito Association could not find one to attend the advertised scheduled meeting?

Really?

This ‘open public meeting’ was called to make amends for an earlier covertly held private meeting with reps Das, Monique, and some hand-picked supporters with disaster losses. 

When local residents are brought together for a noticed public meeting, access to the government professional, paid by taxpayers, needs to attend to be accessible. 

McCarthy could not be heard, there were multiple equipment failures requiring use of a cell phone, McCarthy could not see to interact with the audience, nor with the representative from the CA Franchise Tax Board. 

Moreover, audience attendees had no one from the IRS to access before or after with specific concerns.

I’d like to request my complaint be forwarded to the powers that be, if there is anyone in charge of anything, anymore, in the government sector. 

After three fires in nine years, as a single, elder female solely responsible for a large property, I have no time to waste. This is how persons are pushed over the edge. We don’t need swarms of SB County behavior wellness chatters justifying their public paychecks. 

We need facts and presentation of options and paths by professionals.

Don’t dangle the promise of meaningful assistance from IRS, Insurance pros, contractors, lawyers, and others with technical expertise, when there will be none. I would welcome one assigned person to come to Montecito to answer specific questions.

I have many. 

Dare I add, my insurance company still has yet to perform, and has stiffed vendors performing work. Agents only sell policies but do not service clients: not their job, I’ve been told. Headquarters does the fast shuffle. As mentioned repeatedly at public meetings and elsewhere, experienced trustworthy disaster and tax pros must be sought out. Then there’s the non-budgeted disaster-related costs requiring extensive credit.

Public policy needs improving, but if executing a simple meeting challenges our leaders, is there cause for hope? 

Denice Spangler Adams
Montecito

(Editor’s note: There is always cause for hope! – J.B.)