Posted on September 12 at 9:32 a.m.

What? An INCREASE in the number of parking spaces? And one space (484) for each seat (484)????

I thought Santa Barbara’s “Planning” strategy was to remove as many parking places as possible to force us all to car-pool, bike and take busses.

This is definitely the much needed second miracle for Father Serra’s sainthood!

On Our Lady of Guadalupe Demolished

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Posted on November 20 at 9:15 a.m.

FYI - The Bothins did not live "uphill from the area". Their home "Piranhurst" was below the "Tea Gardens" along the west side of Cold Springs Rd and the south side of Mountain Drive.

Until the fire I never heard of it as the "Tea Gardens" but rather, the "Teahouse," or the "Mountain Drive Teahouse" but no big deal as each generation that finds it can call it what they want.

Unless I'm behind in my news of owners (a possibility) the current owner's name isn't any kind of a secret. A few years back they were in the papers a number of times due to the controversial plans they had for a mega-mansion on the site.

On The Unusual History of the Tea Fire’s Point of Origin

Posted on October 22 at 7:41 a.m.

I agree with rc251 that the "the keep Santa Barbara Beautiful ship sailed long ago" but not because of mansions for Naples, Montecito or Hope Ranch.

Look at what used to be "neighborhoods" in the city. Where there were once single family homes with yards where the kids could play, rainwater could soak in, and plants could be grown, there are now condominiums and paving covering nearly every square inch of the lot.

This of course means instead of one family's worth of cars (let's say two or three - one for dad, one for mom and probably one driving teen) we now have 8, 10, 12 or more cars heading out onto the streets.

Then there are the monstrosities on Chapala Street - cramming even more people and their cars into the mix. And all this has been happening not because of those evil pro-growth North County Supervisors, but our supposed anti-growth, save the environment, City Council and Planning Department.

So much of what Santa Barbara fought for - set-backs, height limitations, preservation and keeping mountain and ocean views - is rapidly being lost.

It is ironic that in the 1970's they warned us of what would happen if the pro-growrth, business, real estate and developer interests took over the city. Well the nightmare they described for us is here but the goblins have turned out to be the very people and mindset that were supposed to save and protect us.

On Naples Approved 3-2

Posted on May 28 at 9:21 a.m.

Nice article Nick. But I think the blame goes more to the ACLU than the Protestants. Even well into the 20th century “Protestant” Santa Barbara had religious Christmas and Easter displays in and on City Property!

A few years back a group proposed putting up (and fully funding) a statue of Saint Barbara with some text about her life so locals and tourists might have some idea about who she was. The selected location was in Storke Placita where an earlier group had failed in its attempt to place The Cow, which at that time had been banned from its perch at Milpas and Canon Perdido, to the pedestal vacated by King Carlos.

Unfortunately a paranoid City Council feared that rampant Catholicism would result from simply gazing upon the statue and hid behind “separation of church and state.” The fact that they sign stationary marked “City of Santa Barbara”, live in a town called “Santa Barbara”,” and drive on a street named “Santa Barbara” was lost on them. Perhaps they were unaware that “Saint Barbara” and “Santa Barbara” mean the same thing?

Isn’t it odd though, they have no problem promoting the New Religion of Blue Lines and Global Warming, forcing Worship to the Oak upon farmers, ranchers and homeowners, and placing “mystic” and “sacred” Chumash symbols on City Property.

On Saints Alive!

Posted on April 18 at 8:39 a.m.

Ditto - get this on the ballot. Santa Barbara USED to be a model of Planning and Preservation. Now the idea is to cram as many people as you can into a building (especially if they are low income) and the mountain and ocean views once reserved for all to enjoy now belong to the elite who enjoy it from the roof top condos of the monstrosities the council and their “Smart Growth” planners encourage.

On Ceasefire in Downtown Height Fight