Comments by VoiceofSB
Page 1 of 2 | Next
Posted on July 17 at 7:54 a.m.
Once again Nick, you've hit the nail on the head with this one. I've long looked at the OpEd pages of the News Supress for my comical releif, having given up the funny pages years ago...
Posted on July 9 at 8:17 a.m.
What a great exchange of thoughts! The gang problem has been in existance in Santa Barbara since before I can remember. It has only surfaced as a major "problem" recently because of the brazeness of these recent incidence. It used to be an after school fight, a back alley after midnight attack, or other covert gang action. Now it seems that you get extra gang member points for doing a daylight, middle of an event, or otherwise crowded gang deed.
Let's be real folks. The gang problems and crime in general will not be solved with one solution alone. We need to embrace ALL of these ideas and put them to work. We need to stand firm on enforcement. Give our Law Enforcement the power and the directive to go out and seek gang members and trouble makers wherever they are and SHAKE THEM DOWN. Give them jay walking tickets, cerfew violations, speeding tickets, get the zoning departments and housing authorities to come down on their places of residence with whatever violations they can find. Basically, make life so uncomfortable for them, they don't want to stay. But, we also need to identifiy those "victims of circumstance" who's family members are gangsters and who's parents are absent, and give them the education and alternatives to stay out of the lifestyle. And for those already in the lifestyle, who show some glimmer of hope of getting out, give them the opportunity to rehabilitate (those are few and far between, by the way).
As for city hall...don't get me started. I see more worries from the mayor about letting Santa Barbara get labbeled as having a gang problem, then I do about fixing the problem. Blum needs to do a ride along with the police departments gang unit on a Friday night, and get a grip of what's happening in her city's underworld.
Ta for now!
Posted on June 12 at 8:26 a.m.
Why is it that Sheriff Bill Brown is able to outline cuts and cost saving measures, but no other county department is willing to do the same?
Posted on June 11 at 8:45 a.m.
Thanks winegal...could you point out again in the definition where transient means, "a derogatory and inflammatory term used to carefully and systematically dehumanize those human beings who fall outside society's preferred socioeconomic strata." I missed that part. Holly must be looking in a different dictionary.
I love it when people find a need to grandstand to bash others, instead of focusing their energy on more productive things.
Let's look at the real issue of homelessness; substance abuse, mental health and even a desire to beholden to no one.
Posted on June 10 at 8:28 a.m.
Thank you RHS, the only voice on this topic that sees ADMHS's wasteful spending and mismanaged budget. Why do you think there have been so many turnovers at the top? Why do you think ADMHS contracts with a private company to provide their crisis response services (AMR's MHAT Team), why do you think there are so many mentally ill, homeless, substance abusing individuals wandering our streets? It's because ADMHS does not want to do the dirty work. They spend their money on fluffy programs like the Lompoc teen drop In center. God forbid you need help if your a teen in crisi in the south county. How about the fact that if you are not already in the mental health system, and you have a psychotic break, you can't really GET into the system through ADMHS's new CARES program...I could go on and on.
It is time for reform, from how mental heath services are provided, to how they are managed and budgeted. It's going to take a lot of hard work, buy in from the public and private sector, and a leader who is willing to stand up to the politicos and spear head reform.
Posted on June 10 at 7:49 a.m.
Johnathansmith, maybe you have not seen the condition of our state budget, or heard about the across the board cuts all county departments are facing. In a perfect world with endless money, your right, the "community", aka the Taxpayers, would pay for all Police services. Unfortunatelty, the Sheriff's Department is being forced to cut postitions or leave them vacant, not increase staffing and ask for more tax revenue to pay for them.
This private party donation of space and funding is great. You could rally the old town businesses and see if they can come up with some money to donate to the city. Perhaps they can imporve and staff that old town sheriff's office. Or, if you had it your way, we could all pay more property tax and sales tax and fund the upgrades and staffing that way!
On Goleta Gets Police, Party, and Potentially Problematic Planning
Posted on June 4 at 9:57 a.m.
Wow, another reason to drink in Isla Vista. When will UCSB, the Daily Nexus and even the Independent stop endorsing the destructive nature of the party scene in Isla Vista? "It's just a way of life out here" is all I hear. How about, "Your way of life is destructive, causes you and your community trouble, and is the social and political blight of our county"!
Posted on June 4 at 9:33 a.m.
Neither Farr or Pappas have a real grasp of Isla Vista, it's people or it's problems. They should spend some "real" time in IV, not just set up a booth on a sunny afternoon. Maybe they should invest some time in exploring the dark side of IV...
On 3rd District Supervisor Candidates React to Santa Barbara County Votes
Posted on May 8 at 9:52 a.m.
Thank you Indy for giving us such a comprehensive read of the 3rd district race!
On Five Candidates Vie for the County’s Hottest Supervisorial Seat
Page 1 of 2 | Next
Previous Month
1 of 5 people thought this was a good comment.
Posted on November 20 at 2:19 p.m.
Get a grip Ray. The "information void" as you put it probably exhisted for a good reason. Perhaps the investigation was not complete. Prematurely releasing information tending to identify the bad guys could have scared them off. Information such as this is typically held for weeks or even months. Bravo to Sheriff Brown and his department for finding those responsible so quickly. Bravo to Sheriff Brown and his department for putting the peoples minds at ease. Knowing those responsible have been found and a lunatic firebug is not on the loose in Southern California is a comfort.
On Westmont College Owed a Public Apology