Those of us who were fortunate to live in Santa Barbara during the 1980s and ’90s fondly remember times spent dining downtown, relaxing with friends, then
By Noozhawk Editors
| 9:00 p.m.
In the May 11 Noozhawk article, “Santa Barbara Ordinance Committee Supports 15% Inclusionary Housing Requirement,” we read about a new proposal to increase Santa Barbara’s mandatory low-income housing inclusionary rules for new residential properties that was reimposed two years ago.
Once again, we see our elected officials making rules, without understanding the costs of developing property in the city (with all of the myriad regulatory requirements, both state and local), thinking that will magically result in more “affordable” housing being produced.
Perhaps they should look back to see that, when these types of restrictions were in place years ago, NO rental housing was produced for about 40 years.
By Noozhawk Editors
| 9:00 p.m.
Regarding Noozhawk’s April 8 article, “3 Arrested on Murder Charges in January Double Homicides on Santa Barbara’s Eastside,” many thanks are owed the Santa Barbara Police Department for the arrests in the Jan. 3 murders of two Santa Barbara High School students. As a resident of the neighborhood where the murders occurred, I’ve been resentful of how the case was handled, but I hope the suspects will be convicted and rot in prison.
Acting Police Chief Barney Melekian was quoted as saying, “As a society we must continue to work with the young people in our community to ensure that no more lives are lost.” I agree, and I hope the police will start with being more forthcoming with people like me who live in neighborhoods where gang members live. I’d like to see more police patrols.