County Enforcement or County Stunt?
By Jeff Giordano   |   June 10, 2021

I’m loving what I’m seeing on Coast Village Road as most of us pull ourselves from our cocoons — an inside table at Lucky’s, things really are getting “normal.” It’s a spring like no other and I can’t wait to become fully engaged in our community because, frankly, it needs as much help as we […]

Hats Off to the Gritty Graduating Class of 2021!
By Gwyn Lurie   |   June 2, 2021

They say the most important quality a student can have is “grit.” You want grit? I’ll show you grit — the class of 2021 began its freshman year with the onset of the Thomas Fire, which turned into the subsequent Montecito debris flow causing hundreds of students and their families to evacuate their homes — […]

 

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‘It’s the Economy, Stupid!’: ‘Happy Days Are Here Again’
By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   May 27, 2021

James Carville famously coined this phrase in 1992 as candidate Bill Clinton campaigned for president. He hung it (together with two other “targeting” phrases) in the Clinton “War Room” where that campaign was planned and executed. It turned out that the recession of 1992 was just the boost that Clinton needed to unseat then-President George […]

Mayo of the West? Sansum President Explains Why Santa Barbara is on the Cutting Edge of Medicine
By Gwyn Lurie   |   May 27, 2021

When my husband and I moved our family from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara in search of a more congenial habitat, we were determined to hold on to one key big city perk — excellent medical care. So, we kept our L.A. doctors despite the time we knew it meant we’d spend in the car.  […]

Threat of Vandalism Near Hot Springs Trailhead
By Montecito Journal   |   May 27, 2021

On May 17, 2021, a car was parked on Mountain Drive near the corner of East Mountain Drive and Hot Springs Road. It was barely sticking into the road, less than other hikers’ cars further west, near Ashley Road. A note was placed on it which said, “Park here again and you will be towed […]

Care for Bear!
By Montecito Journal   |   May 20, 2021

After receiving his second shot of Pfizer COVID vaccine, Carlos the Bear was relaxing in his den reading the Montecito Association’s most current email blast. He was eating some tasty takeaway from Pane e Vino and saw that a Town Hall Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 19 at 5:30 pm, regarding his troublesome […]

Loss of Parking for Hot Springs Trail — How to Remedy the Situation
By Bryan Rosen   |   May 20, 2021

The process for removing parking on Riven Rock Road was disrespectful because there were no public hearings or solicitation for hiker input. Notices could have been placed on the Hot Springs trailhead but weren’t. Parking access for trails should not be limited in the future without notice given to hikers and the community, so all […]

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  • Let’s Have Another Party! Many voices make better democracies
    By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   May 20, 2021

    Yeah! Sounds like a great way to celebrate California achieving the status two weeks ago of the state with the lowest background infection rate of all 50 (still true as of this writing). How about a party to celebrate how much fun it is to meet friends and neighbors on Coast Village Road and State […]

    Despite Recent Narrative, Cold Spring School Deserves Community’s Support
    By Montecito Journal   |   May 6, 2021

    Dear Concerned Community, Recent stories have been shared by the press which portray our beloved Cold Spring community as a war-torn battlefield, the casualty of infighting between the parents, teachers, school board, and administrative staff. Although that narrative is interesting, entertaining and presumably sells papers and gets clicks, it is also hurtful and grossly inaccurate.  […]

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    Earth Day: Backwards and Forwards Looking at the ebbs and flows of environmental wins
    By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   May 6, 2021

    Wow! Hard to believe we’ve celebrated 51 Earth Days and the environmental battles we are fighting are worse than ever. Looking back, we delight in the history of Earth Day, in part catalyzed by the Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969. Earth Day was officially launched in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson and Congressman Pete […]

    Fighting Fair Housing Initiatives is Counterproductive
    By Montecito Journal   |   May 6, 2021

    In reference to the recent Montecito Association meeting held on April 13, I was deeply disappointed to see that our esteemed, highly respected former senator, Hannah-Beth Jackson, has agreed to represent the anti-growth side of the discussion regarding California State Bills 9 and 10, or SB-9 and SB-10. The legislation proffered by Governor Newsom will […]

    The Privatization of Our Water is a Bad Idea, as is Combining Districts
    By Robert Roebuck   |   May 6, 2021

    The Community Voices article in the April 15 edition of the Montecito Journal by Charles C. Read and Eileen White Read attempted to identify the motive for suggesting that the Montecito Water District (MWD) and Montecito Sanitary District (MSD) should merge.  However, it reminded me of what someone told me several years ago. That person […]

    What is JUST Capital? And… Why Should You Care???
    By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   April 29, 2021

    Deepak Chopra has the precocious habit of asking the most prescient questions. On one occasion 12 years ago he asked what it would take to cause “Wall Street,” and/or large businesses generally, to cease being forces of social destruction and instead become positive forces for societal change? We had a conversation about how we could […]

    A Beneficial Debris Basin but No Silver Bullet
    By Gwyn Lurie   |   April 29, 2021

    I’m sure anyone who lived here in 2018 feels a wave of relief as they drive by the soon-to-be active construction site at East Valley Road and Randall Road – where a (once) tranquil neighborhood is about to be transformed into a debris basin. It’s also bittersweet because many of us knew Randall Road residents […]

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