"Noleta"

[ Excerpt from SBN-P article by Thomas Schultz, 8/24/2005 ]

S.B. takes step to accept section of Goleta Valley


Responding to a petition bearing more than 4,000 signatures, the Santa Barbara City Council on Tuesday backed a proposal to put areas of the eastern Goleta Valley that are home to 30,000 people under the city's sphere of influence, a move that could lead to annexation.

Called "Noleta" by some and "West Santa Barbara" by others, the unincorporated zone in question spans the 93111, 93110 and a portion of the 93105 ZIP codes.

Its future could become apparent quite soon -- on Sept. 1, board members of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) will consider the suburban area's fate.

Tuesday's unanimous council decision came over objections from several mobile home residents, who could lose Santa Barbara County rent control protections if their neighborhoods were annexed by Santa Barbara...

Several council members pledged to do everything in their power to fight the loss of mobile home rent controls...

Expanding Santa Barbara's sphere would put eastern Goleta Valley residents in "a comfortable limbo" in which the city has more say in land use decisions, Councilman Das Williams said.

"It's like an extended engagement. We're not asking for more taxes. That comfortable limbo should be maintained for a time, and for some areas perhaps forever," he said...


S.B. takes step to accept section of Goleta Valley

DWSBC 35th Anniversary

[ Excerpted from ON THE TOWN: Lorraine D. Wilson, 8/24/2005, SBN-P ]

'Democratic Women Are the Life of the Party" was the theme for the annual summer brunch to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County.

Nearly 300 women and a few men gathered at Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort to honor past presidents and hear keynote speaker Phil Angelides, California state treasurer and candidate for governor.

The annual event features awards, highlighted by the 2005 Volunteer of the Year award honoring Jill Dexter and presented by Susan Turnbull, vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, who came from Maryland for the ceremony.

Susan Rose, 2nd District county supervisor, received the Ghita Ginberg Award for outstanding service, presented by Selma Rubin, a past recipient. Betty Stephens, who was unable to attend, received the Founders Award, presented by Mr. Angelides...

Elected officials participating included Assemblyman Pedro Nava; Salud Carbajal, 1st District county supervisor; Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum; and City Council members Iya Falcone, Helene Schneider, Das Williams, Roger Horton and Brian Barnwell.

Goleta City Council member Margaret Connell was there, as well as former Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, former Mayors Harriet Miller and Sheila Lodge, former Supervisors Naomi Schwartz and Gail Marshall and others running for office: Loretta Redd, Grant House and Dianne Channing.

Among the enthusiastic progressives were Marilyn Gevirtz, Anna Grotenhuis, Pam Boehr, Susan Jordan, Mickey Flacks, E.J. Borah, Roberta Weissglass, Tracy Bella, Janet and Harvey Wolf, Jean and Barry Schuyler, Lillian Lovelace, Suzanne Fairly-Green, Elizabeth Martinez, Barbie Deutsch, Ellen Nagler, Claire Chytilo, Mary Gordon, Ruth Profant, David Landecker, Lillian Flavin, Martha Clyde and Marcia Sherman...

ON THE TOWN: Lorraine D. Wilson

Navy League Hoodwink

[ Excerpt from SBN-P article on 8/17/2005 ]

Fee waived for visit by USS Reagan

By SCOTT STEEPLETON
NEWS-PRESS SENIOR WRITER

Unaware Dr. Laura offered to cover tax, Santa Barbara council makes one-time exemption


The Navy League got part of its wish Tuesday when the City Council agreed 4-2 to waive a controversial tax in connection with this week's visit of the USS Ronald Reagan.

Supporters had argued for lifting the waterfront service fee for all port stops by military vessels, but the council passed the broader question of fee-free future visits over to the Harbor Commission and other city agencies.

Whether waiving the fee for the Reagan was even necessary became an issue on Tuesday after Navy League representatives took their plea to the council without mentioning that earlier in the day, radio talk show host Laura Schlessinger had pledged $30,000 to cover the fee...

Not knowing of the generous offer, the council went on to OK the waiver for the visit of the Reagan, Friday through Sunday, and a small Coast Guard cutter in September. In the case of the Reagan, the disputed fee is in connection with ferrying people between the ship and shore.

Casting the yes votes on a motion made by Councilman Roger Horton were Mayor Marty Blum, Dan Secord, Iya Falcone and Mr. Horton.

Das Williams and Helene Schneider said no. Brian Barnwell was absent.

Despite loud applause following the vote, Connie Los, local Navy League president, still was not satisfied.

"They threw us a bone," she said. "I think it's shameful."

But, that Ms. Los made no mention of the donation was not exactly welcome news to Mr. Williams.

"It just proves to me that the public and the council were hoodwinked," he told the News-Press following the meeting. "It seems to me a power play has been made."

The mayor, who was among the yes votes, echoed Mr. Williams' sentiment.

"You can only hoodwink somebody one time," Mrs. Blum said. "They got one shot at us. Let's stop there."

...

Fee waived for visit by USS Reagan

Snowy Plovers

[ Excerpted from SBN-P Editorial, 8/12/2005 ]

Road to recovery at Coal Oil Point

OUR OPINION


News-Press article in 2001 delivered encouraging environmental news:

"For the first time in more than 30 years," the story read, "scientists have found snowy plover chicks on the beach at UCSB's Coal Oil Point Reserve, a discovery that gives researchers hope the area could again flourish as a breeding ground for the tiny birds."

... fast-forward from 2001 to the beach at Coal Oil Point today. Get out your binoculars, and with the assistance of a docent, you'll see dozens of Western snowy plovers and chicks. You'll see the father plovers watching over their offspring. You'll see the tiny birds running out of the fenced off areas down to the water.

And you'll see one of the more successful -- but largely unheralded -- stories of environmental stewardship on the South Coast...

What's inspiring about the Coal Oil Point program is that it's been able to operate a year-round docent program, to watch over the birds and educate the public, with relatively little help from government agencies and nonprofit groups.

About 400 plovers winter there, but it's the return of the area as a nesting site over the last five summers that is increasing optimism that the species is beginning to recover.

The members of the News-Press editorial board last week toured the site with Docent Coordinator Jennifer Stroh and Santa Barbara City Councilman Das Williams, who volunteers weekly as a docent. Mr. Williams also helped guard the plovers that unexpectedly nested at the Santa Barbara Harbor sand spit this summer...

But the story of the plovers at Coal Oil Point is... a living example of the kind of environmental stewardship the South Coast was known for in the '60s and '70s.


Road to recovery at Coal Oil Point

Roger Horton Support

[ Excerpted from the SBN-P "Life" section, 8/9/2005 ]

RAVE REVIEWS: Restaurant Nu was the site of a gabfest hosted by Film Festival king Roger Durling to boost arts-supporting city councilman Roger Horton, now running for re-election. The city's cultural mullahs attended, including S.B. Symphony's Barbara Burger, art museum's Phillip Johnston, Solstice Parade's Claudia Bratton and art commissioners Patrick Davis and Marshall Rose. Swilling martinis and singing Horton's praises were John Romo, Brian Barnwell, Das Williams, Helene Schneider, Pedro Nava, Marianne Partridge and fit and trim Mayor Marty Blum on a break from her daily workout pumping iron over at the S.B. Athletic Club. ...

Fleeing paradise

City Hall Split

[ Excerpted from SBN-P, 7/31/2005 ]

What a difference four years makes: Alliances have shifted as the election nears and struggles over leadership have altered the city's political landscape.

In the center is one woman: Iya Falcone...

In at least three separate incidents, she's managed to upset colleagues on the council, including the mayor, Mr. Horton and City Councilman Das Williams.

"There is a fear of disagreeing with her," said Mrs. Blum. "She has a strong personality that makes it hard to work with her."

... Much political criticism of Ms. Falcone stems from her behavior behind the scenes.

... The mayor said Ms. Falcone creates an environment around City Hall that "you are either with us or against us."

... Mr. Williams says his problems with Ms. Falcone began with Proposition 1A, an initiative on the November 2004 ballot that stopped the state government from taking money from local governments.

Mr. Williams says he felt pressured by Ms. Falcone to endorse Prop. 1A.

He claims that Ms. Falcone suggested to him that his chances of getting future endorsements from police and fire unions would be hurt if he didn't support the measure.

"She gave me the impression that you better be careful; this is really important to police and fire; and if you are not with us, you are against us," Mr. Williams said.

A surprised Mr. Williams said he promptly got on the phone with Capt. Gary Pitney, then-president of the Firefighters Association, and asked if his support of the measure would make a difference in future endorsements.

"The conversation was real simple," Capt. Pitney said. "His tone of voice was almost like he was letting us down. He was asking if this was going to hurt our relationship."

... Mr. Williams, who even gave an early $25 donation to the Prop. 1A campaign, said his only opposition to Prop. 1A was that he was concerned about schools because the measure did not protect them from state raids.

He said he didn't mind disagreeing with Ms. Falcone over Prop. 1A, but didn't like feeling pressured.

Mr. Williams isn't endorsing Ms. Falcone. She didn't endorse him when he ran two years ago. He is also trying to raise campaign money for some of her opponents in the race...

WHO'S RUNNING

While 14 people have pulled papers for a possible run for office, the following candidates have active campaigns and have publicly announced plans to run. The filing deadline is Aug. 12.

Mayor:
Marty Blum

City Council (three seats):
Dianne Channing
Iya Falcone
Roger Horton
Grant House
Loretta Redd

POWER PLAYS