Do You Ever Stop Thinking About Money?
By Jeff Harding   |   March 12, 2024

We think about money constantly. How to get it, how to keep it, and how to spend it. This is the human condition whether you are rich, poor, or just doing ok.  This article is about the problem of keeping your money in a world of inflation.  The Federal Reserve, the U.S. Treasury, the President, […]

The $50 Minimum Wage
By Jeff Harding   |   February 27, 2024

I always find it curious that proponents of higher minimum wages don’t aim high enough. The Federal minimum wage is $7.25. As of January 1, California’s minimum wage went to $16 per hour; fast-food workers get $20 per hour. If they believe this is the way to lift low-wage workers out of poverty, why is […]

 

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More from Montecito

Hope Dies Last
By Gwyn Lurie   |   February 27, 2024

This month a delegation of eight women who survived Hamas’ October 7th massacre, were brought to Santa Barbara as a delegation of “sisters” to share their accounts of what happened, and to feel the love, support and care of this community. I had the painful privilege of spending a few hours with Etti Koren, Sigal […]

Make Your Voice Heard on March 5
By Montecito Journal   |   February 27, 2024

Money in politics has been something we have seen for too long, and the results have been devastating. The 1st District Supervisor race pits incumbent Das Williams against challenger Roy Lee. Williams, with substantial campaign funds, has continued to accept financial contributions from the cannabis industry, despite the ethical concerns highlighted by the 2020 Santa […]

Re: Das Williams
By Montecito Journal   |   February 20, 2024

Your recent editorial describing Das Williams as ‘commitment to self rather than to public service’ surprised me. That is a term I have never associated with him. I have personally worked with Das over these last 20 years on issues that touched on his passion for improving our Environment – bike and pedestrian safety improvements, […]

Rich Land, Poor Land
By Jeff Harding   |   February 13, 2024

There was a popular book a few years back, Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki which gave some very good advice about financial health and wealth. It was a catchy title, so I came up with something similar: Rich Country, Poor Country.  I’m going to examine why some countries are rich and some are […]

What is to be Gained
By Montecito Journal   |   February 13, 2024

Dear Editor [Gwyn Lurie], You wrote, “And I say, what do we have to lose by giving him [Roy Lee] a chance to prove it? Seems not much.” (Montecito Journal, Feb. 1-8, 2024) It’s not a chance of losing anything. It’s a chance to gain a lot by electing Roy Lee 1st District County Supervisor! […]

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  • Montecito, The Das, and a New Kid in Town
    By Gwyn Lurie   |   February 6, 2024

    For the first 11 years my family owned our home in Montecito this town was represented on the Board of Supervisors by then Supervisor, now Congressman, Salud Carbajal. Carbajal was and is a politician with the soul of a civil servant who prioritizes constituent services. Which is one of the reasons the MJ supported his […]

    Location Location Location
    By Jeff Wing   |   January 16, 2024

    Montecito’s proximity to Los Angeles has long made our village the jewel in the crown for location scouts seeking blue-chip environs for unforgettable Hollywood classics. And then there is the great Olivia de Havilland’s silver screen zenith and its intersection with Montecito. “They shot Gone with the Wind in Montecito?!” No, you lovable fool. I’m […]

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    Welcoming in 2024
    By Gwyn Lurie   |   January 2, 2024

    We at the Montecito Journal wish everyone in our local and world community a New Year filled with good health, movement toward world peace, and a willingness to see the shared humanity in us all. We thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to what promises to be an interesting and eventful […]

    In Caltrans We (Don’t) Trust
    By Montecito Journal   |   December 26, 2023

    When you wrote the article about Caltrans tearing down the iconic trees in the Montecito median in order to expand the freeway, one of their excuses was that it would allow them to limit tearing up the landscape on the edges of the freeway. I wrote a letter questioning many of the positions Caltrans was […]

    The Dark Underbelly of County Politics: Nets & the Tale of Two Floods
    By Jeff Giordano   |   December 19, 2023

    This has been an illuminating few months as it relates to the dark underbelly of County politics and disaster-related funding. Allow me to explain: In November, our six ring nets were ripped from the canyons by the Project for Resilient Communities who privately funded their $6M installation. Now, I don’t pretend to know what behind-the-scenes […]

    Dem Women of Santa Barbara County honors Gwyn Lurie
    By Jerry Roberts   |   December 19, 2023

    The Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County political organization on Sunday presented its Woman of the Year award to Montecito Journal editor Gwyn Lurie, whose acceptance speech included a stinging rebuke of feminist groups for their muted response to the Oct. 7 Hamas strike on Israel. “Dem Women” is the most – perhaps the only […]

    Gwyn Lurie — Woman of the Year — Democratic Women of Santa Barbara
    By Tim Buckley   |   December 13, 2023

    Gwyn Lurie is my business partner and political opposite. The one thing we agree on is that we make each other better. Well, better and more tired. I was proud that Gwyn was honored this past Sunday as the Dem Women of Santa Barbara’s ‘Woman of the Year.’ Had the Dem Women checked with me […]

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