BlogaBarbara

Santa Barbara Politics, Media & Culture

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

In Memoriam: Goleta USPS Employees

Let's do a day without blogging unless it is in memoriam to our friends at the Storke Road Postal Distribution Center...our hearts go out to their friends and families; some of whom are friends of mine and likely friends of yours. We'll keep you in our prayers.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Frat Fight in the Sheriff's Race

From the News-Press today:
"At some point it just looks like a big fraternity fight among wealthy council members," said Mr. Davis.(sic)
Overlooking the typo, "never-quite-retired-from-politics" consultant John Davies has a good point here. At some point, doesn't it look more like a soap opera?

Saturday, January 28, 2006

CPR and Dr. Dan

Gee -- what a surreal story today. I can't imagine Dr. Secord lying about something like this. If you want at it -- do so here, but please show restraint and civility. I deleted a comment in the other post earlier -- let's keep on topic!

Most importantly, were any BB readers there? AND PLEASE -- no fake stories for political gain. :) I know none of you would do that but....

Friday, January 27, 2006

Sheriff Has Only Himself to Blame

From today's News-Press about Lompoc Chief Bill Brown's candidacy announcement:
"A series of events and decisions have called into question the ability of our current sheriff to effectively lead the organization," Chief Brown said with a few dozen supporters standing behind him. "Morale is low, and our citizens want their confidence in the office of our sheriff to be restored. In short, our Sheriff's Department is in need of a visionary leader who can chart a new direction and lead its members on a new course. I believe I am that leader."


Without knowing much more about the guy -- let me just say with former Sheriff Thomas coming back from the dead and a city police chief running against him -- Sheriff Anderson's got a race now and he only has himself to blame.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

A Republican Vegan?

North County farmer and Republican martyr Victor Tognazzini says he eats what he grows and is basically vegan. Can one be basically vegan? Good for him though for losing so much weight...

Tognazzini hopes to unseat Rep. Lois Capps -- I'm not sure that appealing to the South County granola crowd will do the trick.

Good for Google, Good for SBNP

Kudos to the News-Press for coming out in support of Google for refusing to give our government our computer data -- this should be something all of us support, liberals and conservatives alike.

Friday, January 20, 2006

Two Feet in a Vacuum

The News-Press reported that City Public Works miscalculated the width of Anacapa Street near the new Granada Garage and chose to eliminate a turn lane into the new garage without public review or notifying council.

With all of the super-size vehicles out there, I am not looking forward to trying to get to County Admin or the Library while Excursions and Denalis need that street space to turn into the garage.

More importantly, with all the money spent on this project -- was the street length double checked for accuracy?

This is the latest poor press surrounding the multi-million dollar garage -- is Public Works working in a vacuum? It seems like ever since George Gerth passed away Public Works has not quite been able to get back on their feet.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

What was on that tie?

It seems the News-Press thought Council Member Williams had a fox on his tie but our very own frequent commenter Valerio de Cacique says it was a wolf....hmmm. Thanks for the eagle eye Valerio.

Let's put our posts about the council member's announcement and the 2nd district race in here so we don't get other posts off topic. Please watch the name calling and mean spiritedness. Don't drink and blog. I am going to start deleting mean posts more frequently -- we need a little order here.

This comment on Susan Rose was interesting: "need people who are not going to equivocate." Dictionary.com says it means "To be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or to avoid committing oneself to anything definite." You got your word for the day from the newspaper!

I might have said "we don't always agree on the issues"....

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Wither Mission County?

The NP online posted a letter this morning but failed to identify who the writer was. The writer made a good case for why the county split study was a waste of money other than to find disparities in services between the north and south.

The Citizens for County Formation group, which organized on behalf of Mission County, seems to have lost the bog mo' in a serious way. One of the most interesting things I've seen during the process is that more than a few environmentalists have chosen the bunker mentality to support south county succession to promote slow-growth policies. The assumption is that without a north county voting block we could protect more open space. Still, the social justice activists show how services in north county would drop heavily. Can't enviros and social justice activists find a middle ground here?

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Neighborhoods and N/S Relations

The main issue in todays opinion piece on neighborhoods is a good place to begin a discussion -- how important is the "Carbajal" model for a moderate to slow growther that wants to be Supervisor?

Is it more important to galvanize supporters in the early stages of a campaign strategically and then work on a conciliatory approach? Does this make voters in Noleta every consultant's target in a race where few other issues seem to have been brought up by candidates?

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Gimme a Break!

Today's article in the News-Press on how feminist a feminist can be was dissapointing to say the least. There's nothing wrong with having a "small d" democratic process to choose our next 2nd District Supervisor. How anyone could question Council Member Schneider's credentials is beyond me considering she has been fighting for women's rights for years at Planned Parenthood.

Many people haven't chosen who they will support, including myself, but it should not occur like the "right" candidate is being forced down our throats. Mayor Blum had it right -- "Gimme a break!"

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Council Inauguration

Congrats to Grant House, Iya Falcone, Roger Horton and Marty Blum on their inauguration today.

Also, best wishes to Dr. Dan in his "retirement" -- no matter what you think about his stances on issues, he is a gentleman and a scholar.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Sheriff or Godfather?

In the real world they call it blackmail, maybe even extortion -- at the Sheriff's Department, I guess it's no worse than failing to report an assault.

News reports say that Sheriff Anderson may have threatened possible candidate Cmdr. Domick Palera in a phone call saying that Palera might lose his position and have to undergo a lengthy Civil Service process.

Anderson said he "provided education". Nice euphemism from the head law enforcement officer in our county. Sounds more like a Mario Puzo novel. Sheriff Anderson forgot one of the first rules in the business which Hymon Roth told Michael Corleone in the Godfather: "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."

Too bad for Palera -- although I understand his decision, I think he should run anyway.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Supervisorial Priorities and Salaries

Supervisor Joni Gray, taking the gavel from Susan Rose yesterday as Chair for the County Supervisors, called for "pleasant" debate on upcoming big issues such as oak tree pretection, oil development and development along our coast.

Although I get where he is coming from, I question the quote about Andy Caldwell's statements in the same article:

At the inaugural session of the year, county budget hawk Andy Caldwell ripped board members over the size of government salaries, which he denounced as too high. He cited examples of first-year secretarial positions that pay a minimum of $26,000 per year without requiring a college degree -- positions that he complained are eligible for a $32,000 annual salary one year later.

Perhaps COLAB's committee of one hasn't tried living on $26,000...I found a cost of living calculator at salary.com that explained that to move from Bakerfield to SB when you are making $26,000 in Bakersfield means the following:

  • The cost of living in SB is 24.9% higher.
  • You would have to make $32,484 to maintain a Bakersfield standard of living.
  • Although SB employers pay a little more, you could expect to make $26,930 for the same job in Santa Barbara.

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Happy New Year!

All of us at Blogabarbara wish you a Happy New Year!

It looks like the News-Press web site got a makeover and is being launched this weekend, but it isn't showing up today.....makeover looks good, reliability unsure.