Tag archives: Joe Biden

I’m a WhatWorksocrat
By Jeff Harding   |   April 9, 2024

With elections on the horizon I’m often asked who I’m voting for, Trump or Biden? My answer is that I can’t stomach either candidate. I don’t think I’m unique. Biden may or may not be cognitively challenged, but what he definitely is, is a Progressive. You will recall that in his inaugural speech he said […]

Biden Picking the Right Winners?
By Robert Bernstein   |   June 6, 2023

“Government shouldn’t pick winners” is the constant refrain from the “free market” crowd. Except when they want government to pick their chosen winners. “President Trump has ordered Energy Secretary Rick Perry to ‘prepare immediate steps’ to stop the closing of unprofitable coal and nuclear plants around the country” was the lede of a June 1, […]

Letters Need Word Limits
By Montecito Journal   |   April 4, 2023

I think it’s time to cede Bryan Rosen space as a columnist; there is no other way to describe his way-too-regular contributions on a single topic. Certainly, no one can doubt his passion for the Hot Springs Trail and its attendant issues, but his letters exceed the accepted word limit by hundreds; often they cannot […]

Local National Treasure Awarded
By Richard Mineards   |   March 28, 2023

Montecito actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus was honored by President Joe Biden in a star-studded ceremony at the White House to present the 2021 National Humanities Medals and the 2021 National Medals of Art. In total, 24 artists, authors, and humanitarians, including rocker Bruce Springsteen, singers Gladys Knight and José Feliciano, fashion designer Vera Wang, and authors […]

Picking the President in 2024
By Bob Hazard   |   February 28, 2023

Political pundits still predict a polarizing presidential prizefight in 2024 between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. It seems inconceivable that voters of either party want a rematch between two tired octogenarians. Trump would be 79, Biden 82. John F. Kennedy was 43 when elected to the Oval Office. How does one choose between the divisiveness […]

Adjusting Views to Come Together
By Montecito Journal   |   December 6, 2022

Remember when certain environmental groups made it impossible to talk about nuclear power in a positive way, and Santa Barbara locals demonstrated at Diablo Canyon’s nuclear power plant just up the coast from here? Now Democratic Governor Newsom supports it and the Biden’s Energy Department granted $1.1 billion to upgrade it. California’s last operating nuclear […]

Thanks From the Roots
By Montecito Journal   |   November 29, 2022

On behalf of the entire ownership team, thank you to the community for supporting our application for a new cannabis retail dispensary in the Carpinteria Valley. While we recognize we have some additional hurdles to clear, we are 100% confident that Roots Carpinteria will open for business at 3823 Santa Claus Lane in 2023.  I […]

Why We Support the United Nations
By Montecito Journal   |   October 25, 2022

As members of the Santa Barbara and Tri-Counties Chapter of the United Nations Association-USA, we are frequently asked if the U.N. is still relevant and capable of carrying out its mission, and what does our organization do? Since United Nations Day is being celebrated on October 24th throughout the U.S. and the world, it is […]

An Open Letter to the Santa Barbara Community
By Montecito Journal   |   October 18, 2022

We knew Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree as the “Philanthropist of Santa Barbara.” As we lay her to rest, her presence in our city will continue as we pass by the many buildings and plaques that carry her name: The Ridley-Tree Cancer Center at Sansum Clinic; the Ridley-Tree Education Center at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art; […]

Un-Boxing My Life
By Montecito Journal   |   October 11, 2022

Most people want to compartmentalize everything. For example, I am a Democratic, Republican, Independent, or even a Green Party person. More examples would be I am a liberal or a conservative. I saw an interview with the actor Woody Harrelson. A good ole Texas boy. He described himself as a Redneck hippie. After careful consideration […]

More Parklet Considerations
By Montecito Journal   |   September 13, 2022

There are important issues Bob [Hazard] doesn’t address in his article about creative solutions to CVR parking. The first is equity. Why does the wealthiest business owner on CVR get parklets adding 150+ seats to Lucky’s and Tre Lune, for free, for years, and not K. Frank? Angel? All the galleries? Every business would benefit […]

Past As Prologue “Our Fortunes, Our Lives, Our Sacred Honor”
By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   July 5, 2022

Whether we like it or not, we are all witnessing something particularly horrific, an incredible tragedy, being televised for all the world to see as the January 6th Committee Hearings. The world’s democracies are getting scared — as should all of us be. In Germany this week, President Biden was confronted by our closest allies […]

Joyce Enright Service Announcement
By Montecito Journal   |   May 31, 2022

Joyce Enright’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 25 at El Montecito Presbyterian Church from 2 to 4 pm. Donations in Joyce’s honor can be sent to the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission and El Montecito Presbyterian Church. Please contact Lauren Enright at (805) 252-9031 with any questions. Citizens for the Restoration of […]

Guns and Butter Stagflation or Taxes
By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   May 10, 2022

A macroeconomic argument circulating during World War II stated that the nation couldn’t afford both “guns and butter,” pitting the costs of waging war against luxuries like silk stockings and abundant food choices like creamy milkfat. In fact, this saying originated decades earlier, with the passage of the National Defense Act of 1916 as the […]

Studies Are Vital in Policy Process
By Montecito Journal   |   May 3, 2022

I look forward to reading the studies that the Montecito Water and Montecito Sanitary districts have jointly commissioned, one by Carollo Engineers to evaluate recycling options and the other by Raftelis to explore the pros and cons of a business case for district consolidation.  The need for recycled water supplies is rather self-evident.  The self-evident case […]

Inflation, the Economy, and More! A Leviathan Lurking 
By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   April 26, 2022

Most folks are feeling significant pain at the gas pump and the grocery store these days. Remarkably, the cause for that “pain” is the same for both – inflation. The question is, should we all be worried about that issue in isolation, or should we focus on the economic fundamentals that underlie this spurt of […]

“Fortress America”: Electrical Grid Vulnerability It’s Not Just Putin
By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   April 5, 2022

A great many things about the Russian invasion of Ukraine bother us, as well they should: the genocide, the war crimes, the images of starving children intermingled with dead bodies and urban wreckage that hasn’t been seen in Europe since the bombing of Dresden. Through it all, we in the U.S. have imagined ourselves tucked […]

Sacrifice for a Better Future?
By Robert Bernstein   |   March 22, 2022

With Putin’s attack on Ukraine, many of us wrote to President Biden to ask him to cut off Russian oil imports, even if it meant a rise in prices and/or rationing. In my message I called on him to speak to the American people to sacrifice for a greater good. I talked of how my […]

“Take This Job and Shove It!” Worker Driven Economic Growth
By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   December 14, 2021

Have you heard all the news stories lately about “the Great Resignation” (or as some podcasters are calling it, the “Take this job and shove it” moment)? Tune into CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, or pick up a copy of the Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Washington Post, or even your […]

Inflation Worries, Wages and the Money Trail: Why panic is unnecessary
By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   December 7, 2021

Inflation is on everyone’s mind these days. Currently running at 6.2% (4.6% if you strip out food and energy), inflation is at its highest rate in many decades — since 1990 to be precise. And, although that number is unacceptably high, a historical lens can put things into perspective. From the early 1970s to the […]