Love Thy Neighbor

You’d think someone moving into a new neighborhood would want to maybe take a beat and see what the vibe is like, maybe see how things happen, maybe get a feel for the place. After all, who wants to start off on the wrong foot with the people who are going to be living next you? Well, that’s not the way some new owners played it. 

Like most of the streets in Montecito, Hodges is a quiet street, a private street like many others — houses, some big, some small, some behind gates, some behind shrubbery, some street-visible. Nothing notable except the privacy and the quiet.

But here we are, newly neighbored to a rich couple from out of town, drawn as the woman in the couple put it, to their half-acre by that privacy and quiet and intent on creating a peaceful garden for their children. 

How? By running a large work crew seven days a week from early morning to well past dark for the last two months, driving excavators and forklifts, breaking rocks, piling rocks, hammering, drilling, yelling, building stone walls. Peace for thee, perhaps, but not for me, not for the neighborhood. 

It’s been a truly lovely autumn, but we had to forget about Sunday lunch outside with friends. It does tend to get on one’s nerves. 

Several of us have reached out, as best we could — we weren’t able to discover their names until last week. Their real estate agent forwarded our letters politely asking they show some consideration and leave us some quiet on the weekends. Answer came there none. Until the male was on site and told a neighbor somewhat combatively that we should be glad he’s working the crew at all hours all days, because then they’d be finished sooner. 

I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed that some people who manage to gather a great deal of money, like ten digits worth, can experience a withering of empathy, a loss of the capacity to put themselves in others’ shoes.

Honestly, we don’t require much empathy; if we’re living here, chances are we’re pretty comfortable. But still, it’s galling to be brushed aside by people who simply think whatever they do is fine if it’s good for them and it’s not against the law (and it’s not).

Montecito, while historically rich, isn’t usually like that. We have all seen a lot of caring over these last years of fire and flow. Maybe it would be a good idea for those who’ve moved here recently to take a breath, look around, read the MJ and see how good people behave here.

Word to the wise, new neighbors… when the welcome wagon rolls around with cakes and pies, you might want to hire a taster.

L

It’s Time for a New First District Supervisor in Santa Barbara

Since Das Williams has taken office as First District Supervisor, the communities of Santa Barbara’s First District have experienced NUMEROUS FAILURES from Mr. Williams to prioritize the safety and welfare of Santa Barbara’s citizens along with his inability to manage the County’s budget. As many are fearing that his leadership will put an end to the Santa Barbara County we have all worked so hard to conserve and protect, I want to remind everyone that there is a very important election coming up for a new County Supervisor. Roy Lee, a member of the Carpinteria City Council, is running against Das Williams and his priority is to put the constituents of Santa Barbara first. The date of this election is this coming March 5, 2024. Mail-in ballots will be mailed out February 7. This is our only opportunity to effect a positive change.

Kohanya Groff, Ph.D.