Angry Poodle:The Poodle Barks Again

If macaws complaint is over poor mr lowes house and privacy then she needs re think her career. THE 1st AMMENDMENT calls for freedom of speach. If we want to talk about his friggin house then damn it we have the right too. She should be thrown out of SB!!!

remember the term carpet bagger?

Thank you, Nick Welsh, and the Indy! The story of Egar's treatment by County Czar Michael Brown is just outrageous. I thought Brown was supposed to have had anger management training and was under watch!! Has the probation period ended?

Where are the County Supervisors during this, cringing in fear? Taking advantage of the fact that there is no daily? (sorry, Sound, you just don't make it yet.)

I have a question regarding journalistic integrity; Mr. Hadley’s unprinted article was written while he was employed at the New-Suppress correct? Perhaps Mr. Hadley had a contract to that stipulated that his writings where his property and not that of those paying him to produce them? I by no means feel that our locale news rag is innocent and above the boards here but I do think the ownership of this particular story does need answered before we all consider it a supporting factor in the “integrity” issue at hand. Mr. Roberts deserves far better then having such an issue cloud the reasons for his resignation. Just because something shows the lack of character of those we do not support does not mean it affirms the character of those we do. When we call into account the integrity of others lets make damn sure ours is totally intact.

Can someone just pour me a fucking cocktail?

I actualy prefer wine. But what was I looking for when I was driving the wrong way on Santa Barbara Street near Haley Street?

What Mr. Armsrong means by "cocktail" is metaphorical -- he means "reporters" who will cover local news stories as they are directed, and won't let subjective notions such as "objectivity" interfere with ownership's right to ensure that stories aren't peppered with hostile, biased attempts to pretend that all people should be treated equally in the eyes of the news.

What Mr. Armstrong means by "wine" is "journalisitic integrity" -- meaning people who aren't owned by high density real estate developers. Mr. Armstrong was driving down Santa Barbara Street because he was investigating the type of appaling construction that's occuring -- check out the new condos at the corner of Santa Barbara and Carrillo and you'll understand.

Is anyone else pissed off about how hard it was to get a beer at the Pearl Jam concert last night? I mean, they ran out of beer at the top and I had to drink a Bacardi malt beverage for christsake. Then I waited in line below for half an hour and missed "Even Flow." When I drove home, I'd only had like 6 or 7 drinks. Put that on the front page, Hadley! Oh... wait...you don't have a job anymore!!

What Travis means by "beer" is "local coverage." It's hard to have too much, even when you have to drive.

(Travis, please call a cab and go home to bed)

Bacardi malt beverages make an excellent alternative to beverages historically associated with the exploitation of animals. As I eat my vegan breakfast in my yaught this morning, I just couldn't be more proud of the courage Mr. Armstrong has shown -- imagine a concert with no beer (which is a vegan beverage, as long as it's not Coors) -- as he has endured this inquisition at that hands of plebes who haven't tasted the liberating effect of spending a birthday on the open sea in the Mediterranean.

What Mrs. McCaw means by "vegan" is ... uh...

...Oh fuck it, I can't put up with this bullshit anymore Wendy -- I fucking quit, too.

Anonymity on the internet works for some of us very well :) Personally I like the "Malt beverage as an alternative to beverages historically associated with the exploitation of animals".

If you'd like to rant and rave in several places, try http://blogabarbara/blogspot.com as well. Thanks to the Indy for working hard to bring us the news!

Sorry, Sara, the new indy blogs are blowing away blogabarbara. Immediate posting. No censureship when someone is critical of Sara's ex-boss Marty. Better service. Original posts not relying on Travis for inspiration. More filling. Great taste.

sara's cool..she did get a little "censory" for a while, but it's getting better.Meanwhile carpblogshine.blogspot.com and carpinteriacoyotereview.com are 99% censor-free..just don't swear at me too much!

jeramy?

I know that everyone is curious what I was doing driving the wrong way down SB Street at 2:45 AM. I only have three words to say: Transvestite Hooker Hunt!

Uh...the missus McC needs to get back in 8th grade English grammar class...it's about her use of apostrophes.
Yuk

Not just apostrophes but also compound modifiers.

hmm can we stay away from the borderingonhomophobic comments about cocktails and transvestites? tempting distractions i know but as unnecessary as allusions to wendys choice of photos.......we're bigger than that eh?

Note to Mr. Welsh:

I follow you reportage on the SBNP with great interest, and thank you therefor. I only wish you have gotten a copy of Millstein's letter to Brantingham and published it too.

I wonder, do you know if anyone, e.g., Brantingham, is consulting counsel and is aware of the SLAPP remedy (C.C.P. section 425.16 authorizes a special motion to strike and attorneys fees against an action aimed at impeding free speeach) should Millstein and McCaw be so foolish as to follow up on Millstein's threat. It certainly seems like the issues Brantingham raises meet the CCP section 425.16 criteria. I should think any enterprising attorney in SB would love to have the publicity and income from a bite out of Millstein and McCaw.

Ardent subscriber to the unimpugned Daily Nexus

Actually, "Keep it in persective please," alot of my best cocktails are gay. Haven't you ever had a Midori sour?

If Mrs McCaw wants to make a remark about Bacardi malt beveages and about Mr. Armstrong's courage, from her yacht, she ought to be able to spell yacht and not yaught . I guess she didn't take a copy editor with her?

She did, but he "jumped ship."

Has anyone thought of what it will be like when Spendy and Von Sleaze make their first appearance back in the newsroom? Who's got the hidden videocamera?

For the record, the excellent ex-reporter's name is spelled Scott Hadly.

Let's see if the BOS reward Michael Brown on Tuesday for how he performs his job, including treats County employees such as the public defenders:

From the Sunday Sta Maria Times

County executive officer may receive a $23,000 salary hike
By Randi Block/Staff Writer
One of Santa Barbara County's highest paid employees may be getting another bump in his salary.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors is expected Tuesday to review raising County Executive Officer Mike Brown's annual salary to $220,000, a $23,000 increase from his current pay of about $197,000.

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The increase is part of an annual performance review and would address differences between Brown's current salary and what his colleagues are being paid in comparable jurisdictions, said Susan Paul, human resources director.

“We're looked at the market for CEOs and Mike's pay is significantly behind the market with respect to individuals who perform these duties,” Paul said.

The San Luis Obispo County administrative officer makes between $157,700 and $191,700, and the Ventura County executive officer makes $222,300, according to recent salary charts.

The Santa Maria city administrator makes between $144,600 and $175,800.

Tuesday's meeting is at 9 a.m. at the County Administration Building, 105 E. Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara. People can also participate via remote television testimony in Santa Maria at the Betteravia Government Center, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway.

Fourth District Supervisor Joni Gray of Orcutt and 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone of the Santa Ynez Valley said they supported the raise and thought Brown's performance over the past year was exemplary.

“I think this is an excellent idea. We had tremendous service from him and you just say, ‘you do it,' and it's done,” Gray said.

“He's worth it. We looked at comparable salaries of cities and counties from comparable jobs and took into consideration some changes, which indicated it's warranted,” Firestone said.

However, Andy Caldwell of the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business (COLAB), said that while Brown's service is excellent, a $220,000 salary is unrealistic based on what private companies are paying.

“I do realize jurisdictions are paying that kind of money, but it's totally unrealistic as far as the private sector goes. They are living in their own world,” Caldwell said.

The supervisors last approved a significant pay raise in December when Sheriff Jim Anderson's annual salary was increased $26,000 a year, or 11.8 percent, bringing his annual salary to $191,921.

July 16, 2006

What you really need to look at regarding the latest resolution penned by Paul to muck about with the County's management classification, particularly with regards to the changes in how they are paid, is how will this benefit the County's bottom line? What is the savings? This is something that has not been divulged. Yet it appears that the CEO is exempt.

Whoever is posting these Armstrong/Singer fake comments is detracting from the issues at hand. The first one was mildly funny, the others have been annoying and unappreciated. Let's stick to the topic please.

Singer hasn't been quoted in the past few articles, including the just published New York Times article. MIA. A new and smarter strategy to let Travis or Wendy finally talk for themselves? Or has Singer taken a hike or been kicked out?

You know, reading the exchange once more between Todd and McCaw reminded me that the proximate cause for something can really be and seem trivial. But the ultimate cause here is far more weighty.

The proximate cause of Nixon's resignation was a third-rate breakin, but the ultimate cause was Nixon's unbelievable paranoia. The proximate cause of Capone's arrest was income tax evasion, but the ultimate cause was an evil criminal empire.

A number of people have trivialized the drunk driving, the Lowe address, etc.. they are kind of right, just as those who trivialize the Watergate burglary and Capone's conviction.

But that misses the point: ultimately, Wendy McCaw is an inappropriate publisher.

There is more to this story.

The News-Press mess is not only about violating the separation of news and opinion, it is about a terrible social ‘disease’ that The Wendy is trying to introduce to Santa Barbara---elitism.

While actor Rob Lowe gets special treatment for his Montecito mansion, The Wendy and Travis Armstrong are busy bashing any public official or community group that is trying to create housing that local working people can afford. There have been endless editorials emanating from the News-Press railing against ‘high density’ and ‘overbuilding’, but apparently it’s okay for Rob Lowe to build an oversized mansion with a 24-foot wall! Travis Armstrong and the editorial page (that apparently now reaches into the newsroom) have given biased coverage in favor of groups who oppose any new development at all. Some of these groups and individuals have deliberately cited fears in neighborhoods by spreading disinformation about declining property values and the perils of ‘affordable housing’. As for the housing needs of the next generation and our community’s workforce---firefighters, nurses, police, teachers, non-profit and government workers---let them eat cake!

[By the way, has anybody looked into the strategic and financial connections between Rob Lowe, a small cadre of wealthy Montecitans, a certain Coalition for Sensible Planning (CPS) and The Wendy? Could be a juicy story here. I heard a wild rumor once that Rob Lowe considers Gary Earle of CSP to be his ‘attack dog’. Indy are you listening?]

I have lived in Santa Barbara for many years and have rubbed elbows with the poor, the middle-class and the wealthy. While there has always been politics and strong differences of opinion in Santa Barbara (particularly around ‘growth’ and ‘no-growth’), what has always impressed me is our community’s profound and deep respect for social equity and diversity. Underlying our surface differences is a strong recognition that we have all belong here, that our opinion as a community member is valued and that our lives and well-being are equally important, whether we own a mansion or live in a small crowded apartment. I have been proud to be part of a community that has fostered and maintained such an exemplary community spirit and humanism.

Now The Wendy, with her ‘A-List’ mentality and her henchman Travis Armstrong is threatening to change this. Santa Barbara can handle opinions. What we can’t handle is our newspaper being taken over as a propaganda machine for elitism. Enough already. Vive la Revolution!

Contrary to PR claims that subscriptions are down 200, the scoop is that they're down 800-1,000 and still going...and that this show of public support is appreciated.

p.s. those who cancel subscriptions may be picking up the News Press at stands, and PR may claim that sales are the same, but it is subscriber base that sells ads...

The past month has certainly indicated that things at the NP are unsettled at best. It would seem some large advertiser would soon be ready to request a circulation audit to confirm the real damage and the real subscription numbers. Those still subscribing are not getting what they thought they bought. Where, for example was the op-ed section? Are subscribers due a refund for at least that percent of their subscription?

HiAll provided us with some useful information. Not that I condone stealing, I'm just saying...

When those of you who have cancelled your subscription go to the newsrack to get your paper, just take enough copies to give to the rest of your neighbors. That's classic protest. Like going to a restaurant you hate, ordering an appetizer and drinking refills for 4 hours while a line of parties gathers near the hostess.

SO YEAH: don't STEAL. But damn that would be a good idea-- to TAKE ALL OF THE PAPERS OUT OF THE RACKS... But do not JUST STEAL THE PAPER!

OH YEAH, not that I'm condoning vandalism, but wouldn't it be funny if someone went around to PUT SUPERGLUE OR CAULK IN THE COIN SLOTS to make it hard for peeps to get the paper.

I'm not condoning, I'm just saying. Like a movie, or a song. Don't do it cuz someone said it. Do it because you care.

to jb, yes you get your money back from unused part of your subscription. NP is having to spin out a lot of checks/money right now, back to the public. And contrary to what was said at mike during the press conference, the $$ lost from cancelled subscription does NOT affect reporters/employees wages (those still slaving there under the prying eyes of management).

Andy Caldwell will be on Travis' radio show this morning...this should be good.

http://www.newspress.com/Top/index.jsp#

On the admittedly casual references to stealing the paper from the boxes it is important to know that you will be stealing from the carrier, not the SBNP. Newspapers sell the paper at a wholesale rate to carriers who make their profit on the difference between what they pay for the paper and what the reader pays for it. When you steal the paper you hurt only the carrier - the newspaper has already received its money.

What he said (expat). Vandalizing the News-Press is completely inappropriate in voicing your dissent toward the actions of News-Press management. Although I will let those comments stand, recognize them as weak humor.

Just like the outcome of the choices made in November, 2000, it's difficult to think the train wreck we're seeing today at the N-P would be happening with the NYT at the helm.

-Randy Campbell

Thanks for helping some see the weakness, Randy. Like "FUCK YOU, TRAVIS" and the like, it is weak humor. No one else needed a reminder...

But in that hypothetical, why wouldn't it be harmful to the paper if it lost its carriers because they were losing money?

I mean, yelling "shame" is nice, but sticks and stones, people. With all the smart folk here, where are the great ideas about how to change the management at the NP? Dems, Libs and your friends, speaches and explanations of logic do not win hearts and minds. That's why we keep losing elections. Where are the great ideas? T-shirts with slogans and bumber stickers would be unrecognizable to anyone but those who read this blog. These are not great ideas that will put pressure on bird-brain and the fake barron. Where are the great ideas?

Randy, Maryann, Nick--someone---do tell--

Why did the Indy bend to the cease and desist order of the N-P Owner-ess?

Et tu...what are you talking about? I just picked up this weeks Indy and it seems that the mess at the press continues...LOL

Did anyone save a copy of Scott Hadly's article? Since APB here has removed it, can someone repost it on a blog (or as a comment here).

The following is what I wrote Travis a few weeks ago regarding his putting down Solvang for its concern about the expansion of the Casino and the effects we're realizing that it's having. I took the pre-emptive strike of mentioning that he didn't have to respond to me because he never has anyway. -B.C.

-Dear Travis: Here's why they are carping: The Santa Ynez Valley used to be a quiet place that didn't reek of the drug/alcohol scene of S.B. Now, like S.B., the Valley has decided to go the way of vice-generated profits. (S.B.'s vice-economy being the bar scene)

You rightfully bring up the part about the anti-Casino folks whining about losing $90,000 in taxes while remaining silent about other tax-exempt properties, but here is an angle you may never hear from anyone else as my e-mail takes a left turn:

In today's culture, a culture devoid of straight-talking people out of the Harry S. Truman school, people will pick at ancillary things such as, as you point out, tax exemptions and so forth. I moved up here a year ago and I see the increase in traffic and I feel as though S.B. has followed me right up here. I remember reading the crime blotter in the Valley News recently and out of 11 entries, 5 were Casino-related and out of those, 2 were meth-related. That is why people are angry. Also, I have a question that apparently no one has the guts to ask, and I ask this not in a rhetorical sense, but I really want to know this: Is it impossible for Indians to make a living in any way other than gambling establishments? If the answer is yes, than why must we suffer these Casinos, and if the answer is no, than why isn't this an epic civil rights issue? Is it true that the 60's civil rights movement didn't apply to Indians? And if this is about recompense, let me please share with you that I am half-Assyrian and the Assyrians have endured persecution and death (My great-grandparents were killed during Armenian Massacre and a great-aunt was abducted by the Turks when she was 15 and was never seen again) My mother, Marge Clausen, was born in the U.S. and endured terrible racism as a child and young adult per her brown skin but her parents instilled her with an attitude of not expecting reparations from Uncle Sam and told her to apply herself and do the best she can and she did a pretty good job of it if I do say so myself, despite not having the civil rights protections of today. (She was born in 1927)

I think a lot more straight talk is needed in the issue about which you write. I don't care about the $90,000 or other economic issues vis-a-vis the Casino one way or the other. I just want to live in a place where I don't have to be confronted with the crime and problems this casino is bringing and I think THAT is what is the issue but as I said earlier, many people today won't come right out and say what they feel...I do. Again, if the racism against the Chumash is so bad that they can't make a living otherwise, then you should make it front-page news, if this isn't the case, they should take advantage of the civil rights that are now available, rights won at a high price.

As I close this I'd like to bring up one more point. The Chumash Casino has a great buffet. The food is outstanding and the people that wait on the tables couldn't be nicer and I'll give Armenta his due by saying that the place is kept so clean it's like a 5-star hotel. He's a brilliant organizer. One thing I remember is when I was in their with my sister we noticed one of the waitresses was dead-tired and we said "Why don't you sit down and rest" (there was almost no activity at that time) and she told us that they are not allowed to sit down, period. So much for the people that run the Chumash being compassionate toward their employees, same old story, eh?

You can respond to this letter or not, but I just wanted you to hear another point of view. -Bill Clausen-

Where can the Hadly article be found?

To SF follower: The following is what I dug out of my old e-mails. It has a reference to, and a quote by, Scott Hadley. I hope this helps. -B.C-

Santa Barbara News-Press owner responds to staff changes
GREG RISLING
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - Santa Barbara News-Press owner Wendy McCaw told readers Thursday that the resignations of nearly all her top editors were prompted by her unwillingness to let them "flavor the news with their personal opinions."
The editors quit last week, citing meddling in news coverage by McCaw and her team. In a "note to readers," McCaw said the editors - not her - were the problem.
"When I purchased the News-Press, I had goals to improve the quality of the paper, to have accurate unbiased reporting, and more local stories that readers want to read," McCaw wrote.
"Some of the people who lost sight of these goals and appeared to use the News-Press for their own agendas decided to leave when it was clear they no longer would be permitted to flavor the news with their personal opinions."
New acting publisher Travis Armstrong said a survey of readers conducted by an independent company late last year found many believed stories were slanted. He wasn't able to provide details about the findings.
Armstrong said the paper has lost several hundred subscribers since last week but newsstand sales have increased.
Editor Jerry Roberts, managing editor George Foulsham and his deputy, and the sports, business and city editors all quit, as did a longtime columnist.
"I resigned because of a difference in fundamental, journalistic, ethical and management principles," Roberts said Thursday. "Any other characterization is inaccurate."
Following McCaw's letter, another staffer quit. Reporter Scott Hadly, an eight-year veteran, said his decision was based on the letter and the paper's refusal to print his story on last week's resignations.
"She's trashed her own newspaper right there," Hadly said of McCaw's letter. "I can't fathom why she did that."
The News-Press, founded in 1855, is locally owned and published by McCaw's Ampersand Publishing LLC, which purchased the paper in 2000 from the New York Times Co. It has a 57-person editorial staff, publishes seven days a week and a has a daily circulation of about 41,000.
McCaw, a wealthy social activist, wrote that journalists and editors must separate their personal feelings from their professional news judgment, saying, "Otherwise, the reader is ill served and journalistic integrity is lost."
"When news articles became opinion pieces, reporting went unchecked and the paper was used as a personal arena to air petty infighting by the editors, these goals were not met," McCaw said.
Earlier this week, Armstrong appointed four new editors. The paper has yet to name a new chief editor and managing editor.

Thanks. Does that one sentence Hadly quote summarize the substance of his article? I'm wondering what was in it that prompted its removal (everywhere).