More Campaigns $

[ Excerpt from an editorial by Travis Armstrong of the SBN-P, 5/30/2006, entitled "Candidates and Dollars" ]


... in the midst of a campaign, the top money-raisers will get mentioned high up in stories detailing the latest round of donations. Campaign managers think voters will see all the money raised as a sign of strength that suggests their particular candidate is a front-runner.

But this way of thinking only discourages grass-roots... campaigns...

... we're concerned about the amount of money that local candidates take in, particularly from people or interests that have immediate business before an elected body. In the 2nd District county supervisor's race, for example, candidate Das Williams has accepted $12,000 from the Service Employees International Union, which negotiates with the supervisors over pay and benefits for hundreds of county workers.

And big checks can make up a bulk of a candidate's donations. Supervisor candidate Janet Wolf, in the latest reporting period covering mid-March to mid-May, collected nearly $113,000 in cash donations. Of this, $75,000 came from just six individuals or groups, including $40,000 from public employee unions.

Developer money appears a factor. One $5,000 check came from an individual described on the Internet as having assembled a "track record in the development of high-end master planned communities, coastal ranch properties, premier resorts and commercial properties." Another $5,000 check was from a housing and commercial developer based in Riverside County.

Yet the Wolf campaign also demonstrates the problem of trying to limit donations to candidates because third parties still could spend whatever they please.

Rep. Lois Capps has been pouring money into the Wolf campaign from the congresswoman's political war chest, which has collected a half-million dollars in the latest cycle. An incumbent in a gerrymandered seat, Mrs. Capps on her own has the ability, if she wanted, to spend lavishly on many local candidates -- all from federal donations.

Ms. Wolf on the most recent disclosure forms lists $9,876 in "nonmonetary contributions" by the Capps organization for "media/printing/mail/television." But wouldn't the real-world figure be much higher than this?

For example, one Capps commercial appears solely meant to push Ms. Wolf's election bid. Yet a Capps campaign staffer says: "We have been advised by the FEC that 50 percent of the cost of our recent mailings and television ads should be reported as an in-kind contribution to Janet Wolf for supervisor."

...

Santa Barbara News-Press

Campaigns Funds Update

[ Excerpt from SBN-P article 5/27/2006 by Barney McManigal ]


County supervisor candidate Janet Wolf surged ahead of her three rivals in the battle for campaign cash, reporting $126,876 raised since March...

Accepting big checks from the county firefighters and sheriff's unions, Ms. Wolf took in $50,000 more than her nearest competitor, Das Williams, who raised $75,670 in the same period. Dr. Dan Secord and Joe Guzzardi collected $71,847 and $26,771, respectively.

While Ms. Wolf leads the race in funds raised, Dr. Secord has the most cash on hand, with $80,157 in the bank, more than twice the amount of the next closest contender -- Ms. Wolf, who has $31,580.

With the exception of Mr. Guzzardi's self-described "grass-roots" fundraising effort, the race for money has been very competitive all year. Mr. Williams started 2006 with the most money only to cede that position to Dr. Secord weeks later.

All the candidates have worked the phones, hustled supporters at soirees and shaken countless hands to fund the all-important television, radio and print advertisements that woo voters in the closing months of a campaign. The fundraising totals include all monetary gifts and "in-kind" donations, such as labor, materials or other resources.

... With four people in the race, many political professionals expect a runoff.

Overall, Ms. Wolf has raised $191,601, compared with $186,447 for Dr. Secord. Mr. Williams and Mr. Guzzardi have raised $147,341 and $40,000, respectively.

The firefighters and sheriff's unions each donated $20,000 to Ms. Wolf, who also accepted about $18,000 from Supervisor Salud Carbajal and $10,000 in television advertising from Rep. Lois Capps' congressional campaign committee.

Dr. Secord enjoys the luxury of having the most cash on hand, which follows from his status as the only Republican in the race. This position may allow him to save money as three Democrats -- especially Mr. Williams and Ms. Wolf -- canvass the same pool of voters. Mr. Williams has $19,673 on hand, and Mr. Guzzardi has $9,421.

"If you have a fair amount of money available, then you have options," said Dr. Secord...

Mr. Williams, who listed 124 donations, received $12,500 from the local service workers union, SEIU, $12,000 from Peter Sperling and $10,000 from Victoria Ward.

"I think our campaign has a whole lot of momentum, but I'm not worried about raising money at this point," Mr. Williams said between breaks on a door-to-door precinct walk. "I'm most concerned about talking with as many people in Goleta and Santa Barbara before Election Day."

...

e-mail: bmcmanigal@newspress.com

Santa Barbara News-Press

Steelhead Sighting

[ Excerpt from SBN-P article on 5/27/2006 by Joshua Molina ]


... A robust steelhead trout has been spotted in Mission Creek, rekindling hope among environmentalists and nature lovers that the federally endangered fish might one day prosper in Santa Barbara's streams and riverbeds.

The steelhead is approximately 18 inches long and is living under a bridge in Mission Creek in downtown Santa Barbara. On Friday, the fish was surrounded by several younger steelhead, each about 6 to 8 inches long.

"It would be kind of like seeing a deer walk across the road. You go, 'Hey, kind of neat,' " said City Councilman Brian Barnwell, who saw the fish earlier this week...

Steelhead live their adult lives in the ocean, but return to the freshwater streams they were born in to spawn. At one time, steelhead were so plentiful in Mission Creek that they could be fished with a pitchfork. But their numbers have sunk rapidly in the last several decades.

Two concrete flood control projects built in 1934 and 1961 make it extremely difficult for steelhead to migrate from the ocean and vice versa. The paved, flat-bottom concrete channels create shallow pools of rapidly flowing water -- too fast for the fish to survive during passage.

Steelhead have been spotted in five of the last seven years in downtown Mission Creek, and the frequency of the sightings of the endangered species means some of the fish are passing through despite the barriers. Still, how far and how often they are making it upstream is not known.

Rainbow trout, as landlocked steelhead are known, and even returning steelhead live in the pools much higher on a Mission Creek tributary in Rattlesnake Canyon. If steelhead cannot make it to the ocean, they can live in fresh water.

"It is another sign that steelhead are still trying to do their fish business but cannot swim upstream," said David Pritchett, a member of the city's Creeks Advisory Committee and an environmental consultant, "because a self-respecting fish would not settle in the mediocre habitat downtown."

Saving the steelhead is a topic of major importance among city officials, environmental activists and naturalists.

A coalition of groups is working together on the Mission Creek Steelhead Restoration Project, which would cost between $3 million and $4 million.

The proposal is to tear up half of the width of the mile-long concrete channel covering lower Mission Creek and replace it with a more natural, boulder-lined passage as seen in upper Mission Creek in the hills above Santa Barbara. The plan needs city, state and federal approval.

"Clearly, steelhead are still trying to migrate into our streams," said Jill Zachary, the city's Creeks Programs manager. "Given that they are trying to get into our streams, it means if we want to see more steelhead, we probably need to address the barriers that hurt the steelhead."

In addition to the barriers, City Councilman Das Williams said that people need to be more aware of the role that creeks play in ecosystem.

"If steelhead are in our creeks, it should be a reminder to the people of Santa Barbara that our creeks are alive and everything we put down our storm drains affects the life in the creek and people who use the ocean," Mr. Williams said.

Mark Capelli, area recovery coordinator for National Oceanic and Atmospheric and Administration fisheries, first spotted the fish. He believes it is at least 2 years old and that it could have come from the ocean because of its size and girth...

Ed Robinson, who owns a home next to Mission Creek, has been tending to the fish in recent days. Every day he looks out on the steelhead from his creekside deck to make sure it is still there. He even claims that he saw another one in the area, but it has since left.

This is the first time he has seen a steelhead that size since the heavy rains in 1995.

"I love it, man," Mr. Robinson said of his backyard pet.

The steelhead's future is unclear. It can't stay in that spot forever. The recent rains have given the fish a place to hang out and dine on tasty flies and other bugs.

"Right now the pool is nice and it has lots of insects that the fish are eating, but what will happen in two months when that pond dries up?" asked Mr. Pritchett, who has been coordinating informal tours.

This situation demonstrates why creating a fish passage is so important, he said.

"The fish are here and the experts pretty much all agree that if the fish could swim upstream to Rattlesnake Creek, they would," he said. "They are found downtown because they can't swim upstream."

Mayor Marty Blum, who saw the fish with Mr. Pritchett and then returned later with her husband, Joe Blum, said that the city needs to continue its efforts to restore its creeks.

"We need to be vigilant in cleaning our creeks because the fish out there are wanting to come up, and it is important that we keep it as natural as possible on this Earth," she said.

e-mail: jmolina@newspress.com

Santa Barbara News-Press


( Image courtesy of: http://www.tucalifornia.org/socalsteelhead.htm )

Democratic Party Endorsement

[ Excerpt of a Letter to the Editor of the SBN-P from the Democratic Central Committee, 5/27/2006 ]


... California Elections Code defines nonpartisan offices simply as those elected without primaries or party nominations. That does not, and should not, preclude political parties from being involved in communicating to voters about nonpartisan elections. Party affiliation is a valuable tool for understanding voters' interests and candidates' priorities. In our county, and in four of the five supervisorial districts, more voters register as Democrats than with any other party. They do so because they share Democratic values and want those values promoted at every level of elected office. The Santa Barbara County Democratic Party believes that the county's registered Democrats and independent voters who share their values, deserve to hear our endorsements for every elected office.

We are proud to endorse Yvette Andrade for 5th District supervisor, Das Williams for 2nd District supervisor and Kevin Ready for Superior Court judge. These candidates' approaches to honest government, protection of all citizens' quality of life, and respect for our environmental resources were most consistent with the values of the tens of thousands of registered Democrats in each district...

Vernon Schabert

Chair, Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara News-Press

Land-Use Policies

[ Excerpt from SBN-P article 5/26/2006 by Barney McManigal ]


... Two landmark decisions by the county to ease growth pressure on South Coast neighborhoods reflect a dramatic shift in land-use policy that could rattle the campaigns of four candidates vying to replace Supervisor Susan Rose.

Votes by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors earlier this week to exempt South Coast areas from state-mandated growth and to update the Goleta Valley Community Plan directly address two key issues that have dominated the June 6 race for the 2nd District supervisor seat.

Joe Guzzardi, Dan Secord, Das Williams and Janet Wolf are vying for the open seat. Mr. Guzzardi, who called on supervisors to defy the law, has billed himself as "100 percent opposed" to the mandate. So has Mr. Williams. All the candidates favored a community plan update.

Whether housing issues will continue to excite voters in the final days of the campaign remains to be seen. While some observers say the votes could deflate contenders focused solely on land-use issues, others argue that the war to protect neighborhoods from rampant growth is not over...

"Any property owner at any time can come forward with a project," Mr. [Gary] Earle [neighborhood activist] said. "We still need to elect a supervisor who is going to support the will of the community."

... Ms. Wolf said she looked forward to residents crafting a community plan that addresses the region's housing needs.

"I really do hope that people will come together and understand that we have a need for critical work force housing," she said...

Mr. [Das] Williams, who also warned that the state mandate still exists, questioned whether the Goleta Valley would achieve residents' goals, because, he asserted, the county's comprehensive planning division does not have the tools to do the job.

"We're dealing with a department that is being pummeled from above," he said, referring to efforts by three North County conservative supervisors to reform the division.

Mr. Williams suggested that supervisors agreed to update the Goleta Valley plan to convince South Coast voters that they support environmental protections. Mr. Williams asserts that they do not.

"People aren't going to be fooled," he said. "They know that there's still a strong pro-development (bias) on the board and there's still a need for strong leadership to protect the quality of life for people of the 2nd District."

e-mail: bmcmanigal@newspress.com

Santa Barbara News-Press

SB INDEPENDENT Endorsement

On May 25, 2006, on behalf of The SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT, Editor Maryanne Partridge endorsed candidate Janet Wolf for Second District Supervisor. The parts of the endorsement that are most pertinent to Das' campaign are posted below.

I will add that I think Maryanne and the INDPENDENT have missed the mark, here. This campaign has never really been about things like whether Das should serve out his term on the Santa Barbara City Council or Janet Wolf losing her house in the Painted Cave fire or Joe Guzzardi putting his signs up on public property all through the second district. This campaign has been about development, protection of open space and neighborhood advocacy. Underlying all these has been the question: Assuming no one candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in the primary election (June 6), what candidate is most likely to beat Dan Secord in November 2006?

The answer is DAS, not Janet, nor Joe.


M.P. wrote:

"To be a supervisor on the Santa Barbara County board, you can run but can't hide.
That's a lesson the four candidates now running for the 2nd District are fast learning... What is needed is a representative who can best navigate the treacherous terrain that is current county politics - one who will not hide behind a wall of rhetoric or a mask of making nice...

"Wolf cut her political teeth serving three terms on the Goleta School Board. For those who think school boards are a walk in the park, think again...

"We need a supervisor... who can sort out the muddled issues that find environmentalists opposing social activists, and private property rights conflicting with agricultural protections. The board is now controlled by a solid 3-2 propertyrights- minded majority. Whoever is elected must forge meaningful political relationships with members of that majority in order to protect the quality of community life. And to do that, whoever gets elected to the 2nd District must work effectively with Salud Carbajal...

"And though this might seem a minor point, Wolf, if elected, will be the first 2nd District supervisor in decades who actually lives in Goleta. Given that the hottest land use wars are taking place in the Goleta Valley, it is no little thing to have someone on the Board who has lived there for 18 years. True, she does not have a background in land-use planning, but she has proven to be a smart, fast learner.
Living in the district - as a parent, businessowner, and householder - has brought Wolf closer to the issues. She will uniquely be able to weigh the competing values associated with each undeveloped chunk of land. Of all the candidates, we believe Wolf is the most sensitive to the crisis of housing affordability.

"Lastly, we like Wolf because she tries to talk about issues other than land use planning. The highest percentage of uninsured children in California live in this county. Wolf will fight to change that. As a woman who lost her family home in the Painted Cave Fire, you can be sure Wolf will focus on securing funds for fire protection, as well as finding solutions to traffic congestion and proper watershed management.

"The other three candidates all are serious, responsible men.

"Dr. Dan Secord is a seasoned, straight talking politician, but a bit too aligned with the three sitting property rights supervisors. Joe Guzzardi is a likeable, knowledgeable candidate; however he is so commited to no-growth that he would not be an effective supervisor. We endorsed Santa Barbara City Council-member Das Williams when he ran for that office two years ago. A young, charismatic politician, he has shown talent, both as an environmentalist and as a social activist, but he needs to fill out his current term, the first and only elected post he has ever held..."

A Speedier MTD

[ Excerpt from the SBN-P article of 5/24/2006 by Joshua Molina ]


... The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District plans to speed up bus pickup times on many of its key lines.

In an aggressive attempt to encourage people to get out of their cars and ride the bus, top city officials on Tuesday voted to make sweeping changes to the city's transit system.

Working with the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District, the council voted 4-0 to spend about $500,000 to pay for faster pickups on its most crowded bus routes.

The changes mean buses will pick up passengers five to 10 minutes earlier, depending on the route...

As traffic congestion grips the South Coast, officials are looking for ways to reduce auto use. City and MTD officials believe that increasing pickup times will serve as an incentive for motorists to ride the bus instead, theoretically reducing traffic congestion.

In addition, many of MTD's bus lines are already packed during peak morning and afternoon times...

For the changes to Lines 1, 2, 6 and 11, the city plans to transfer about $350,000 from its MyRide program, which is paid through downtown parking lot rates. MyRide is a program that provides free bus passes year-round to downtown workers. The city will end that program but keep its 10-ride free pass program for downtown employees.

For changes to Line 3, the city plans to take about $105,000 in Measure D sales tax money and put it into transit.

The funds are currently used to pay for road and street repairs, such as fixing sidewalks and filling potholes...

The four members of the council who were present were eager to boost MTD. Council members Iya Falcone, Grant House and Helene Schneider were absent.

"The goal here is to reduce car trips," said Councilman Das Williams. "No matter what neighborhood you live in, traffic is an issue."

... The council also agreed to take another look at the changes in future years to determine whether they are effective and boosting ridership.

e-mail: jmolina@newspress.com

Santa Barbara News-Press


(Source: UCSB Environmental Studies Program)

Candidates Compared

Martha Sadler wrote about the differences between the candidates for the 2nd District in the May 18, 2006 issue of the SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT. Especially for those who think all the candidates sound a like, this is a helpful read:

The Santa Barbara Independent :: news :: The Candidates’ Catechism

Blue Ribbon Response

[ The following is a Letter to the Editor, SBN-P, published 5/21/2006, from Das, in response to 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone's "Blue Ribbon Commission" recommendations. ]


I believe half of leadership is the ability to reach out to people, even those of different political parties or parts of the county, negotiate and work on reaching common ground. However, the other half of leadership, often the toughest half, is the ability to stand up to a majority if it is headed off in a direction that will hurt the people of this county.

The bottom line is that I do not work for the other members of the Board of Supervisors, I work for the people, and I must stand up for them if their interests are threatened, as they are by the recommendations of Mr. Firestone's "blue ribbon commission" to increase oil development, the permitting of ugly auto malls, and the construction of new "urban villages" (apparently, that is a new phrase for suburban sprawl).

In 14 years of public service, I have a record of being able to wield both aspects of leadership in the cause of protecting our neighborhoods, our environment, and our future. If the North County supervisors are willing to address the concerns and needs of Santa Barbara and the Goleta Valley, then they will find me to be very reasonable. If they are not willing to do so, they will find that I can fight tooth and nail for the people that elected me.

DAS WILLIAMS

Santa Barbara News-Press

Cultural Landscape

[ The following is a Letter to the Editor of the SBN-P, published 5/20/2006 from Steven Lovelace, Alana Tillim, Laura Inks, ARTS ALIVE! ]

Das Williams has been a friend to the arts in Santa Barbara. With Das as a city councilman, it has been our experience that when called upon to support fundraisers for the arts, Das is there. He supported the building of community gallery space, art workshop space and low-cost dance rehearsal space with his votes through the redevelopment agency. Called upon to address the importance of protecting the environment at the Jackson Hole Film Festival held at ARTS ALIVE!, he spoke eloquently and intelligently to the audience reaching children and adults alike. Das cares about our community and is a man of action. He is accessible to his constituency and we believe he would do an exemplary job as 2nd District supervisor. A vote for Das is a vote for the cultural landscape of our community. We wish him much success.

Steven Lovelace

Alana Tillim

Laura Inks

ARTS ALIVE!, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara News-Press

Qualifications / Not Latino

[ The following is a Letter to the Editor of the SBN_P, published 5/20/2006 from Sarah Haviland Blackmun-Eskow, Goleta. ]


So, Das Williams isn't Latino. One could be forgiven for thinking he is. He looks Latino, and he has lots of support from our Latino community. What should he do, wear a T-shirt that says, "I'm not Latino"? Seriously. The next 2nd District supervisor will be in a position to influence important issues in Goleta's future: provision of adequate streets and roads, and creation of parks and recreation for an increased population; appropriate use of agricultural lands; future of the Gaviota coast; and other key public policy matters. Das has the education, background and experience to deal thoughtfully and constructively with the competing interests and agendas that are at play: developers, environmentalists, residents, university students, and businesses large and small.

The Board of Supervisors spends much of its time on issues of land use and development county-wide. Das Williams is the best qualified, by education, experience and lifelong interest, to deal thoroughly and creatively with these critical issues.

Visit Das's Web site at www.daswilliamsforsupervisor.com. It will tell you what you need to know about him as a candidate for county supervisor.

Ethnicity / Integrity

(Das' Grandfather, "Opa," full-blooded Javanese Indonesian, who immigrated to the United States [Ojai] in the early 1950's)

In answer to an anti-Das editorial by Travis Armstrong in the SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS on 5/16/2006, Das wrote:

------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,

Just wanted to send a personal message to my supporters and arm you with
some truth to combat the out-of-context insinuations in the News-Press.

First, though many people assume because of my skin color, and I did grow up
in Latino neighborhoods, I am not Latino by blood. Both Josh Molina and Barney Macmanagal know this, AS DO THE LATINO LEADERS
THAT GAVE ME THE AWARD, though Barney chose to treat it as a smoking gun in
his profile of me.

This morning, Travis Armstrong sought to further question my integrity by
bringing up a hearing in which I was decrying the lack of Latino
representation. He used a partial quote to make me look bad:

"This isn't a diverse council. In a community where we have a population
that is 35 percent
Latino, we now have half a Latino. That's me."

He did not include what I said after that: "I am the closest thing we have
to a Latino councilmember." I was trying to illustrate the need for more
diversity on our elected boards and, hey, I do think of myself as part of the
Latino community. Growing up, I was very much adopted into the culture,
learned Spanglish, and I know much more about being a Latino than I do about
being an Indonesian or a Native American.

I guess I should count my blessings that the NP is only getting this vicious
with me, compared to the things they've said about my mentor Hannah-Beth
Jackson and Mayor Marty Blum.

Anyway, what we really need now is more volunteers. I can't talk to
everyone myself (though I am trying), so I need you to come in sometime this
week to walk or phone. Please come help out!

Contact my Field Director Jim Taylor to help out. Jim's phone is 617.417.2541, e-mail jalama@gmail.com, you could also stop by our office at 3820 State St.

Thanks for your support,

Das

Das Opinion Letter

[ The following is an opinion letter Das wrote that was published in the SBN-P, 5/14/2006 ]

CHANGE ON THE HORIZON: DAS WILLIAMS


We are caught in a difficult bind here on the South Coast. If we do nothing to address our lack of housing that is affordable for people who work and live here, we will face increasing traffic and congestion as commuters clog up the freeways and use neighborhood streets as alternative routes. On the other hand, if we develop our open spaces and agricultural lands, we will lose the unique beauty that is the reason we live here in the first place.

Regional land-use and transportation planning is the key to solving this dilemma without compromising our quality of life. What happens in the city of Santa Barbara affects people living west of the city, and what happens in the agricultural lands of Goleta affects the residents of Santa Barbara.

If I were elected Second District supervisor, I would represent the interests of all residents of the district, whether you live in the city of Goleta, Santa Barbara or the unincorporated lands. I feel that includes commenting on major development proposals, since that's exactly what will negatively impact our quality of life.

Fortunately, as a Santa Barbara City Council member, I have been part of a great team that is working to plan the future livability of our community, and as supervisor, I will continue to work with them to reduce traffic congestion, protect our open space, and conserve water resources.

I have also received the support of leading environmental protection groups and community leaders, including Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Vote the Coast, former Supervisor Bill Wallace and the mayors of both Goleta and Santa Barbara, Jonny Wallis and Marty Blum.


Sincerely,

DAS WILLIAMS

Santa Barbara News-Press

Mansionization

[ Excerpt from SBN-P article 5/14/2006 by Joshua Molina ]

Proposed home size rules feed acrimony, rile residents


In the million-dollar oceanside neighborhoods on the Mesa, there is trouble in paradise.

Residents are locked in a fierce fight over the quality of life in their neighborhoods. The battle centers on the size of homes...

While most pronounced on the Mesa, the issue that critics have dubbed "mansionization" is one that affects the entire city, where large, two-story homes are casting shadows over the smaller, one-story, 1950s tract homes that once dominated Santa Barbara.

Younger people, retirees and others who love Santa Barbara are moving in, tearing down the old houses, and then building larger ones to accommodate their needs.

This trend has angered many longtime residents, who believe that new money and a pro-development Orange County mentality is consuming the city's housing stock and wrecking everything that makes Santa Barbara special.

The "mansionization" issue is one of the hottest, most controversial topics in the city and it sparks strong emotions. The acrimony over larger houses has sparked bad blood, turning neighbor against neighbor.

... [a recent] special public workshop on the topic followed more than two years of debate by a city committee whose members were supposed to come up with a consensus about new rules for house sizes.

Few people, however, are happy with the proposed new rules, which basically set ratios for house size based on the size of the lot.

Neighborhood activists, property rights advocates and many elected officials are disappointed that after two years the issue is still unresolved...

At its core, the conflict is philosophical...

"I don't want to live next door to some huge thing with people looking into my backyard," Mr. [Mac] Bakewell said. "It is not a happy feeling to feel like your home is being invaded by people of a different mindset."

Ms. [Michelle] Giddens [a recent neighbor, who moved here from Texas], doesn't agree with that perspective. She described the complaints as an "imaginary problem."

She is an advocate for property rights and believes that homeowners should be able to build larger homes. She said she doesn't mind if people build two-story homes in her neighborhood. One day, she may do the same. She doesn't relate to people who complain about their views being blocked by larger homes.

"You can always step outside," she said. "Santa Barbara is filled with beautiful views."

She represents a group called "CityWide Homeowners," which believes that the city's current rules work just fine, with larger projects being reviewed by the city's Architectural Board of Review, which makes subjective design determinations.

The new rules proposed by the steering committee, she said, are too strong. According to the recommendations of the committee, the maximum home size for a 6,000-square-foot lot, the size of most single-family residential properties, would be 2,700 square feet, which equals a floor-to-lot-area ratio of .45.

On the other hand, neighborhood preservationists say that a house of that size on a lot of that size is too big.

Further complicating matters, the proposed ratios would only apply to lots that are under 7,500 square feet. For properties 7,500 square feet or larger, the ratios are considered guidelines only. Critics contend that those larger lots will get less scrutiny...

The only two members of the public who sat on the steering committee, Dianne Channing and Joe Guzzardi, are upset with the proposed new rules. They believe that the committee was hijacked by architects and the development community, who pushed for larger house sizes.

"I just feel like the committee collapsed at the end and when the majority decided to have this ordinance apply only to 7,500 square foot lots (or smaller), that is very nearly a complete failure of what our original intent was," said Mr. Guzzardi, a candidate for 2nd District supervisor. "We spent two years trying to create something that was going to provide order for neighborhood development and we failed."

Mrs. Channing also feels that the new rules recommended by the committee will lead to houses that are too big.

"I do not feel that public expectations have been met," said Mrs. Channing, who chaired the committee. "We have failed these expectations."

Ultimately, the City Council will have the final say on the matter. It will take five positive votes to adopt the ordinance. The council is split on the issue.

"The main issue that people are scared about is mansionization, but the main recommendation coming to the council doesn't do enough to protect against mansionization or enough to protect the neighborhoods," said councilman Das Williams, also a candidate for 2nd District supervisor.

Council member Brian Barnwell said he has mixed feelings about the work of the committee, which he sat on. He said, however, "It is a good outcome." He trusts the design review boards to make good subjective decisions about design to guard against "monstrous homes."

... Ms. Giddens hopes the council does nothing and leaves the review of houses to the design boards.

"I don't see any logical arguments for why we shouldn't build a larger house," she said.

For the Bakewells, the reasons are clear.

"Everyone is against each other," said 13-year-old daughter Benyapa. "I really don't want big houses to ruin everything."

e-mail: jmolina@newspress.com

Santa Barbara News-Press

More Mesa Forum

[ Excerpt from SBN-P article 5/12/2006 by Barney McManigal ]

... Looking to save More Mesa from a bulldozer's path, 2nd District supervisor candidates... touted strategies for preserving the popular 300-acre coastal open space...

At a forum sponsored by the More Mesa Preservation Coalition, Janet Wolf, Das Williams and Joe Guzzardi shared options for blocking development across the privately owned property, in particular a 40-acre slice slated for up to 70 homes.

Candidate Dan Secord, who briefly dropped by the outdoor event, did not participate because of a schedule conflict, he said.

Titled "Who Will Do More for More Mesa?" the event drew close to 90 people and aimed to help environmentalists and nearby residents choose among candidates in the June 6 election...

The county has banned building on about 226 of the 266 acres owned by Utah-based oil man J. Earl Holding -- who has challenged that decision -- but approximately 40 acres remain ripe for development.

The county owns 35 acres, which it has designated as environmentally sensitive.

All three candidates said they support purchasing the land by crafting a patchwork of funds similar to that which purchased Ellwood Mesa for about $20 million.

So far, More Mesa has no price tag.

"I am an optimist," said Ms. Wolf, a former Goleta school board member. "We could make that work."

Mr. Guzzardi, a county Emergency Services planner, proposed levying an "open space tax" on property owners in the 2nd District.

"I would be proud to champion that in the community."

But Mr. Williams, a Santa Barbara city councilman, pointed out that a new tax would require a two-thirds majority of registered voters -- not an easy thing to get.

"It's hard to get that many people to agree on anything," said Mr. Williams, who endorsed creating a "conversion fee," or a charge to developers who want to alter the zoning on a property.

"Anytime there is a rezone, we should be tagging on a huge fee to it."

Beyond purchasing More Mesa, candidates also supported strengthening existing land-use policies to control growth in adjacent areas.

Neighborhood activists say proposals for large-scale homes in the More Mesa perimeter threaten the neighborhood's quality of life.

Ms. Wolf called for creating design standards that would limit the scale of nearby buildings to one-story.

"We need to have an understanding of what our standards are as a community," Ms. Wolf said. "I would push for those design standards."

But Mr. Williams called design standards "insufficient."

"It's subjective," he said, touting work done in the city of Santa Barbara to craft ordinances that restrict home sizes.

Mr. Guzzardi said that the city still has a long way to go before it can effectively control growth in neighborhoods.

"After two years, the process has been a complete failure," Mr. Guzzardi said, referring to a city advisory committee that has aimed to craft a neighborhood preservation law. He is a member of the panel.

More Mesa Preservation Coalition President Valerie Olson said residents were looking to the candidates for help...

e-mail: bmcmanigal@newspress.com

Santa Barbara News-Press


(Painting image courtesy of http://www.rschloss.com/images/avalable/1202.jpg)

More Mesa: In Whose Hands?

[ Excerpt from SBN-P article on 5/11/2006 by Barney McManigal ]

Future of More Mesa becomes a central theme in campaign


More Mesa, the sprawling 300-acre coastal property next to Hope Ranch, has emerged as a silent player in the heated 2nd District Supervisor's race, holding a prominent position in the four candidates' campaign statements, rallies and advertising.

Popular with strolling soccer moms, naturalists and nude beach enthusiasts, privately owned More Mesa has become a lofty symbol in a campaign where contenders all pledge to protect the environment and open spaces.

But the blufftop area zoned for several dozen homes faces an uncertain future...

Originally zoned for hundreds of homes, county planners now say More Mesa can hold about 70, tucked into 40 acres along the property's northeast corner. While owner J. Earl Holding has not proposed any specific project recently, residents say it is only a matter of time.

"There's a potential for a lot of development," said Valerie Olson, president of the More Mesa Preservation Coalition, a group of local residents and supporters formed in 2000 to combat recurring development proposals...

"People talk a lot about protecting the environment and open space," said Ms. Olson, a retired engineer. "We really want to know what they're [the candidates for the 2nd district] going to do. How are they going to help the community protect this incredible resource?"

... While the county owns 35 acres near a creek on the parcel's north end, Mr. Holdings, a Utah-based businessman who also owns an oil company, holds the remaining 266 acres.

The county has designated close to 200 acres as an environmentally sensitive habitat -- a category that would protect it from development under state law.

But the 40-acre slice next to Hope Ranch could take up to 70 homes. Ms. Olson and colleagues, who carefully monitor the county's pipeline of proposed projects, would like to see More Mesa purchased by the community.

But Mr. Holding will not negotiate with them, they say.

"They're just not interested in talking to us," said Ms. Olson, who speculates that the owner wants to get the legal designation lifted on the entire 266 acres...

Most of the candidates say they support purchasing the property, but concede the difficulty of collecting the needed funds. Other strategies include placing further constraints on the 40 acres, but the three North County conservatives who control the Board of Supervisors would likely oppose such a move.

"I believe it is possible for us to further down-zone More Mesa," Mr. Williams said. "I favor taking the hard line, placing a number of restrictions on where things could be built and how much."

Mr. Guzzardi favors buying the property.

"I think the buyout is the better solution, but I just don't know how it would happen," said Mr. Guzzardi, adding that he would urge planners to follow the state's environmental laws in making any decision on building.

Ms. Wolf said she would support placing a moratorium on two-story homes around More Mesa's perimeter. Residents may pursue such an option if supervisors provide funding for an update of the area's growth outline...

Only Dan Secord hinted that he may not oppose developing the 40 acres.

"You have to look at each project as it comes through," said Dr. Secord...

e-mail: bmcmanigal@newspress.com

Santa Barbara News-Press


(Painting image courtesy of: http://www.rschloss.com/images/avalable/1287.jpg)

DAS: What We Need

[ The following is a Letter to the Editor of the SBN-P, printed on 5/9/2006, by Bob Saffold of "Noleta." ]


Some 40 years ago, Santa Barbara had a city councilman from the second ward named Len Kopeikin. Len was a manager at GE Tempo, a downtown think tank -- a very full-time job. As councilman he acted as if it was his full-time job.

Len was a rare bird. You could practically hear the rest of the council groan when he came in with his usual bundle of papers to press his ward's concerns.

In his second term, he was named assistant secretary of defense. He and his family moved to Virginia. Later, he became a vice president of Boeing. We only had him for six or seven years, but his term was one of the most productive the city's known.

That was a long time ago. I've waited for someone like him to re-appear. Now, however, I live in Noleta, in the 2nd supervisorial district. And the county's situation is pretty desperate.

I've heard all of the candidates. Joe Guzzardi comes across as a very knowledgeable negotiator, and a dedicated candidate. But Das Williams comes closest to Len Kopeikin. He's knowledgeable, bright and, best of all, aggressive -- a trait the 2nd District desperately needs.

Of all the candidates, Mr. Williams has been able to juggle the demands of the council and become savvy about the 2nd District's needs. His leadership in rejecting the ill-advised land use on upper State Street is a good example. Another is his championship of tailoring LAFCO's sphere of influence recommendation.

Because of his efforts, the nearly 2,000 residents of four 2nd District mobile home parks will continue to have rent control. As many of these people are elderly, loss of rent control would have been disastrous.

Das Williams will represent the 2nd District well. He's just what Santa Barbara needs.

Santa Barbara News-Press

Candidate Profile in SBN-P

[ Excerpt from a candidate profile by the SBN-P, written by Barney McManigal, 5/10/2006 ]


Das Williams: Political warrior fights on


County supervisor candidate Das Williams is like the warrior parables he recites on the campaign trail: passionate and intense.

With his striking good looks, strategic brilliance and hard work, the veteran political consultant defied conventional wisdom in 2003 and propelled himself onto the Santa Barbara City Council at age 29. Two years later, he's aiming his fire at the open seat on the Board of Supervisors.

"I'm going to go where I am needed," said Mr. Williams, 31, who frequently criticizes three North County supervisors for shifting the region away from long-standing slow-growth policies. He sees himself as the best defender of the county's environmental ethos.

But Mr. Williams' bid for supervisor is not entirely selfless. The new job would more than double his $36,300 annual salary and strengthen his position in future runs for higher office. Critics, pointing to inconsistencies in his statements and record, call him untrustworthy and opportunistic. And his political maneuvering at City Hall has made him one of the most controversial young leaders in recent history.

Mr. Williams knows how to talk to people -- at political rallies, formal meetings and especially one-on-one.

His eyes light up when he describes his modest upbringing in Isla Vista and the equalizing effect of the famed coastline he shared with residents of affluent communities such as Montecito. Mr. Williams suggests that he would do anything to protect the region's natural beauty.

At a recent forum, he told 80 people at the Goleta Valley Community Center that he was "on fire."

"I have to be on fire, because there are mountains of ice around me to melt," Mr. Williams proclaimed to the largely senior citizen crowd, paraphrasing famed abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison.

To his supporters, Mr. Williams approaches cult status... Trusted veterans, such as former Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson and former Supervisor Gail Marshall, owe him big for elections he helped them win.

Even his most ardent critics praise his intelligence and street fighter's political instinct. He is smooth, often impeccably dressed, and eloquent on demand. And people notice.

"He's just got it," said Cheri Rae McKinney, who praised Mr. Williams for casting the lone vote to reduce the scale of Cottage Health System's plan to convert the now-closed St. Francis Medical Center into housing. The bungalow-haven-area resident likened him to an ancient Greek orator, calling his political skills "noble."

"He's not just an empty suit or a pretty face," Ms. McKinney said. "He listens and he delivers."

As a testament to his abilities, Mr. Williams has leveled the playing field in a battle with fellow Democrat Janet Wolf. Pulling dozens of endorsements from local leaders, unions and environmentalists, Mr. Williams has buffeted the early high-octane support for Ms. Wolf from party heavyweights like Rep. Lois Capps and former Supervisor Naomi Schwartz -- the latter urging him not to run.

But he could be a victim of his own eagerness... Earlier this year, he accepted an award for being one of the 50 most influential Latinos on the Central Coast, but admits he is not Latino [webmaster note: they insisted on including Das as a symbol to young Latinos of what an inner-city kid can do to improve his community]. He is European-American and Indonesian -- and 1/16th American Indian, he said.

Despite his emphasis on his local roots, Mr. Williams has spent many years away from the area [wemaster note:a grand total of about 4 years, when he went to UC Berkeley -- where he graduated with high honors in Politcal Science -- and then went on to work in several political campaigns in the Bay Area. Also, 2 years in Carpinteria], and only moved into Santa Barbara to run for the City Council in 2003 [wemaster note: again, not really accurate. Das returned to Santa Barbara after his 4 years in the Bay Area and lived with me on SB's Eastside for a number of those years. He moved to Carpinteria in 2000-2002, when he bought a condominium there, moving back with me when he sold it a year before the city election]. He moved into the 2nd District in 2004.

... a Board of Supervisors seat has several personal benefits... Besides increasing his income to $90,000, it would free him from term limits that would force him off the City Council in 2012. Insiders also consider the county a bigger stepping stone to the Legislature and Congress -- places he openly says he wants to go.

... After winning over low-income advocates by endorsing a living wage proposal on the council, Mr. Williams tacked in the other direction, courting staunch neighborhood activists in the Goleta Valley -- people who have fought the dense housing proposals sought by the same groups that make up Mr. Williams' base.

At a closed-door meeting last year, he told Coalition for Sensible Planning members that he would support their slow-growth aims "95 percent of the time."

Earlier this year, he urged supervisors to reject a state requirement for 1,240 high-density homes, a move that brings with it numerous financial and legal penalties, including court-ordered sanction of the county's planning department. The state law aims to ensure housing for people of all income levels.

Several affordable housing advocates have begun to grumble about Mr. Williams' aggressive politicking in Goleta Valley neighborhoods.

County Housing Authority Commissioner Mickey Flacks criticized Mr. Williams and fellow candidate Joe Guzzardi for using the state housing law as a political football.

"It's irresponsible for candidates to advocate resistance to duly enacted legislation and to propose putting the county at risk," Ms. Flacks said.

Despite Mr. Williams' overtures, some Goleta Valley residents question the sincerity of his promise to protect their area and have rallied behind Mr. Guzzardi.

"He's not trustable," said Ann Crosby, a Coalition for Sensible Planning member. "He is playing off so many opposing parties against each other."

In response, Mr. Williams says residents can trust him because he kept his campaign promises to protect neighborhoods and fight for improved water quality and commuter rail service. "It's rare that you find a politician who would live up to promises made on their campaign literature," he said.

On the City Council, Mr. Williams has had a successful but controversial couple of years. Through sheer persistence, he helped build momentum to sink two development projects: multihome condominium proposals on upper State Street and in the Las Positas valley that residents called wrong for the areas.

But he has been a divisive force since he stepped onto the dais in 2004 [webmaster note: in order to help create a progressive majority on the board]. Although he has numerous allies on the council, critics accuse him of grandstanding and taking credit for work done by others. Mr. Williams also played a key role in a move to oust Councilwoman Iya Falcone during her re-election bid last fall, rallying support for a rival's challenge.

The councilman defends his actions as standing up for his values.

Many insiders expect Dr. Dan Secord to finish first in June; Mr. Williams appears to be locked in a fight for second place with Ms. Wolf and Mr. Guzzardi.

Making the case for voters at a time when environmentalists find themselves struggling to maintain a foothold on the Board of Supervisors, the political warrior keeps the focus on battles fought and wars won.

"I deliver, and you can trust me to do what I say" ...

e-mail: bmcmanigal@newspress.com

Santa Barbara News-Press

Budget Balancing

[ Excerpt from SBN-P article by Joshua Molina, 5/9/2006 ]


In a dramatic budget hearing... the Santa Barbara City Council narrowly approved a plan [to balance the budget for the first time in several years].

... Both issues [parking at the harbor/beaches and police retention] are caught up in the high-stakes debate over the city's $99 million general fund budget. For the first time in several years, the city is on the verge of balancing its budget without using its reserves.

After hours of testimony and at-times acrimonious debate, the council resolved one budget matter and set the stage for another.

• Harbor slip fees are likely to go up as much as 2.5 percent next year after the council made a key policy change...

• After painting a picture of rising crime rates, slower response times and low-staffing, police union leaders and the council will meet behind closed doors to talk about a proposed 10 percent raise.

Of the two issues, the most contentious was the tussle over harbor fees. Angry slip holders crowded City Hall to protest a proposal that would have resulted in a 5 percent increase in slip fees. Initially, a majority of the council -- five members -- rejected that plan, which would have meant the transfer of $186,000 in beach grooming costs from the city's general fund to the Waterfront Department. The council members on Monday said that the issue needed to be studied more.

Currently the city's general taxpayers pay for the cleanup, which costs about $186,000 annually.

What seemed like a sure victory for slip holders, ended surprisingly in a partial defeat, after councilman Das Williams strategically countered with a last-minute vote. Just as the meeting was about to end, he made one last attempt to claim victory on a proposal he has taken the lead on for several months.

"We're here to make tough decisions, not always take the easy way out," said Mr. Williams, who is running for 2nd District supervisor, and has been accused by the slip holders of wanting to balance the budget to build political support for his campaign.

"Believe me, the last thing I want during an election is to have everybody mad at me," said Mr. Williams. "If we don't do this tonight, we are putting ourselves dangerously out of range to balance our budget this year. I think that's irresponsible."

One of the ways the city had proposed to balance its budget for the 2007 fiscal year, which begins July 1, was to force the Waterfront Department, a separate, self-sustaining city department, to pay for beach grooming, basically the cleanup of trash, kelp and other items on the sand.

Instead, Mr. Williams convinced three of his colleagues -- Mayor Marty Blum and council members Helene Schneider and Roger Horton -- to vote to transfer $96,000 in parking lot landscape maintenance costs from the city's general fund to the Waterfront Department.

After the meeting, Harbor Commissioners Frank Kelly and Ken Owen both said the council vote means that slip fees would now go up between 2.5 percent and 3 percent. Under the original scenario, the fees would have risen by 5 percent.

Harbor slip owners have protested any slip fee increase. About 100 of them live on their boats and believe that an increase would hurt their pocketbooks...

The council also agreed to set up a joint meeting of the council, Harbor Commission and the Parks and Recreation Department in the summer, to sort out beach cleanup and maintenance issues.

Prior to the debate over the harbor slip fees, the council got an earful from the city's Police Department and a leader of the police union.

Chief Cam Sanchez, Deputy Chief Rich Glaus, and Detective Jaycee Hunter and Sgt. Mike McGrew painted a dreary picture of the state of the department, just days before the union is headed into negotiations over a proposed 10 percent raise. Sgt. McGrew, president of the Police Officers Association, said the department needs the raise to "stop the bleeding" of officers taking higher-paying jobs in other communities...

Detective Hunter said that many officers cannot afford to buy a house in Santa Barbara and are moving. Others are putting up with an expensive commute, which he said could cost as much as $8,000 annually.

"The majority of officers are living out of town and must commute to the Santa Barbara Police Department."

Council members appeared to lean away from a 10 percent raise and toward boosting loan programs to help officers buy homes, paying for overnight local housing to avoid long commutes and other incentives to work for the department.

"I think we need to be more creative in our solutions," said Mr. Horton.

Sgt. McGrew said that the situation is bad.

"This is not about the union trying to get more money," he said. "This is about officers caring about this community."

e-mail: jmolina@newspress.com

Santa Barbara News-Press


(Image courtesy of:
http://www.clydeaspevig.com/images/artwork/)