Water Warnings for 2023
By Bob Hazard   |   October 11, 2022

What is the current outlook for California water in 2023? Researchers tell us that our state is experiencing “the driest 22-year period in the last 1,200 years.” They warn: “Likely El Niño conditions are predicted to continue into 2023; prepare now for another dry year.” Locally, the Montecito Water District’s (MWD) position remains strong, principally […]

Is There a Solution to America’s Abortion Quandary?
By Bob Hazard   |   July 19, 2022

Large numbers of women are still processing the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn almost 50 years of legal precedent and strike down Roe vs. Wade. Even though most knew the decision was coming, that didn’t ease the shock, grief, and outrage felt by those who believe that the demise of Roe […]

 

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More from Montecito

Has the County Lost Its Mind?
By Sharon Byrne   |   July 5, 2022

We work a lot with the county, from sheriffs to Public Works to Flood Control to Zoning. Normally, the relationship is pretty good. The county is usually responsive, and our community benefits from working closely with our government.  But our county is doing something we don’t understand at all. Apparently, neither do the judges. You’ve […]

Are we doing all that we can to keep our students in school and safe from Delta variant?
By Laura Capps and Kate Ford   |   September 22, 2021

By Laura Capps and Kate Ford, Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Education Our world is not the same, and we’ve learned so much since COVID-19 struck nearly 20 months ago. Above all, we must do everything possible to keep students and staff in school, safely.  We are 150% committed to doing so, as […]

It’s Time to Require Vaccines: Our Students, Teachers, and Staff Deserve Healthy and Safe Schools
By Kate Ford and Laura Capps   |   August 12, 2021

As members of the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) board, we understand that our paramount responsibility is to ensure the health and well-being of our students. Incorporating all we’ve learned about COVID-19, we are determined to open schools safely for all staff and students on August 17. Sadly, our community is still in a […]

Merging the Montecito Sanitary and Water Districts: A Foolhardy Step Toward Cityhood
By Eileen Read   |   April 22, 2021

By Charles C. Read & Eileen White Read The Montecito “water wars,” circa 2015-2020, brought ugly, big-city political shenanigans that shattered the peaceful commonweal of our village. We all remember the misleading mailings that implied Montecito was unlawfully dumping sewage in the ocean.  The $100,000 campaign budgets amassed to get a seat on a water […]

Stop Asian Hate: A call to action and why I’m speaking up today
By Susan Salcido   |   March 25, 2021

Born and raised in the United States, I have never pledged allegiance to any other flag but ours.  This country is my home.  I am that person who sings patriotic songs on road trips, and if we’re driving together, there is a high likelihood that, at some point, our windows will be down, and we’ll […]

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  • A Revolutionary Plan for Santa Barbara’s Children
    By Laura Capps   |   March 20, 2021

    There’s a lot that has me optimistic these days: the declining case rates of COVID, millions of people getting vaccinated, kids safely returning to the classroom and a return to competency from the White House. One of many positive developments that will have massive ramifications is the inclusion of the child benefit in the COVID […]

    Support Sharon Byrne and City Net for a Montecito Homeless Solution
    By Jim Witherell   |   October 13, 2020

    Solving tough community problems requires committed people coming together to build effective coalitions. Congratulations to Sharon Byrne, executive director of the Montecito Association, for her courage in launching “Hands Across Montecito,” a community-based homeless outreach project, scheduled to roll out this month in Montecito. Homelessness in Our Area The State of California leads the nation […]

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    Arc of the Moral Universe
    By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   August 13, 2020

    When it comes to criminal justice reform, the compassionate path is also the wisest. President Obama had one quote woven into the carpet of the Oval Office. It read: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” That Martin Luther King, Jr. quote has resonated with us down through history […]

    Looters Attack More Than a Courthouse
    By Bob Hazard   |   August 6, 2020

    Many in Montecito are conflicted. The senseless killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has jarred 100 percent of us into re-examining the fight for equal rights and justice under the law. Unfortunately, while our country attempts to come together in its search for racial justice, a highly visible minority of violent rioters and anarchists has […]

    Why Are We Here?
    By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   July 30, 2020

    My wife and I have significant comorbidity issues that would be extremely dangerous were we to contract COVID-19. Many of us have been self-quarantined since mid-February with no end in sight. Why are we here? California started way behind New York in experiencing large pandemic infections, only to pass it. Why are we here? Santa […]

    Death and Taxes!
    By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   July 16, 2020

    Benjamin Franklin observed that “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Right now, we are up to our eyeballs in coronavirus deaths (over 140,000 as of today) and equally consumed by taxes. The coronavirus death numbers conclusively prove the necessity for the U.S. to have a better public […]

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