Just Say “No” — Again — to Goleta General Plan Amendments

Ah, nothing like waking up and seeing yet another enviro-hypocrite on the Independent. Why is it ok for your plot of land to completely destroy the beautiful land of Goleta, but it isn't for others who want to develop here. I just would like you to justify what makes you feel like you have a moral high ground over developers when you contribute to the exact problem.

Now the anti-big box thing perplexes me. So it' totally fine for Santa Barbara to have mid and upscale chains like a Nordstrom, a Saks, two Macys, Abercrombie & Fitch, and tons of super-upscale boutiques like Blue Bee. It's a rich person's paradise here. Yet when we try to get a Target here, which is a lot more accessible the poor, well, there's no way we can have that. No Wal-Mart, no Marshalls, no TJ-Maxx, only a smaller K-Mart and one Ross store. I guess you wouldn't want anyone knowing we have dirty poor people living in Goleta/Santa Barbara, eh?

Speaking of which, why is Camino Real so popular? I mean, since all of you clearly hate the center, obviously you wouldn't be shopping there. I mean, that would make you a huge hypocrite. So are there any stats as to who the majority of shoppers there is? It it UCSB students? Santa Ynez Valley residents?

Also, why the opposition to Bacara and Naples? I mean, the entire South Coast is already filled with a bunch or rich snobs who destroy beach access, like Hope Ranch, Montecito, etc. What's the problem with adding a few more rich snobs?

Anyway, I wish you luck during the council meeting. Maybe you guys can bring up a few more issues? Like what to do about the middle class being squeezed out of the south coast. What do do about all the working class people who have to commute an hour from Ventura County or Lompoc to do the dirty work and provide services to the enviro-hypocrites in the South Coast?

Dude, you are so bitter I think you have no clue what is going on. You write stupid s@$% about mowing down Goleta and Santa Barbara, those snobby rich people this and that....... I didn't buy your house and make you commute from Ventura, you did. There are lots of people that struggle to live here and want to keep it nice for that reason and the future. Part of the reason they maybe rich in your view is that they have kept the area nice so there is equity in their properties. Your point is what you b#$% about matters when we all have to live with this crap(amendments). All you do is complain about your geographic location and you place in the class structure?? LOL.

This is about what the people of Goleta, who have finally formed a city to gain some autonomy getting what they want from ELECTED officials. Not purchased officials by the Bacara and misc development interests. You are completely missing the point with your rant. The Goleta general plan was put in place by people that were elected by people who live here. Certain interests are trying to change things that have already been agreed upon locally and at State level (Coastal Commission). By the way Bacara, good luck changing that one.

So you can beat your dead horse on arrogant rich Santa Barbara/Goleta people, envirohypocrytes...all you want. Sure there are a bunch and perhaps the area is losing it soul a little to change. But, there are many of us who have grown up here still and want to keep it nice. We vote in this constituency. Do you? You are barking up the wrong tree. You should send your letter to the Bacara. Or maybe get a better job so you don't have to commute to this crappy place.

I encourage everyone to go to this meeting and stand up for what they think is right. I am sure the truth will come out if the council at all pays attention to public comment, or hopefully not just goes on what a few special interests have requested.

I actually live in Goleta (District 3), not Ventura. I just happen not to fall into the groupthink environmentalist clique that's so popular here. The reason I mentioned Ventura is that unlike most of the people that live in the South Coast, I feel sorry for the working class who gets squeezed out of the real estate market here. Which doesn't have to do with the area being "nice" by the way, but the lack of balance between housing and jobs.

Also, you bring up the issue of evil developers. Again, the only reason these developers have any kind of power is that rich snobs, much like the ones currently living in the South Coast, want to move into this town. I mean, if these wealthy didn't want to live in Naples or Bacara or whatever, the evil developers I keep seeing referenced would just disappear. Essentially, the rich enable these developers, so I'd have just as much of a beef with them.

Anyway, I do agree with you. This is your house, it's a democracy, and if that's what the people want, then I fully believe that's what the people should have. I'm just pointing out the blatant hypocrisy and arrogance of South Coasters, who spend a lot more time bickering about whether or not to include more rich snobs into this exclusive little club, rather than issues like affordable housing and building a commuter rail system to Ventura County.

Ok but everyone can't have everything. You work hard to get what you want and that is what you wind up with. Comprendo? Work harder, go back to school get a better job. Blatant arrogance and hypocracy are everywhere if you look for it. You are sort of lumping people together and I think that is a bozo no no.

My beef/concern is that what has been agreed on by local elected officals and the state coastal commission for permission to build the POS Bacara in the first place will be thrown out the window in spite of everyone saying no. If Willie Chamberlin wouldn't have been slid in on a miscount, the place would probably not be there in the capacity it is now or at all. Now it gets ever more amusing with this recent round of BS. "oh lets change the general plan so we can build time shares and totally shut down the beach at our exclusive health spa" located 300 yards from an oil refinery!!?!?!!!! Can you tell what side I am on?

So quit crying about what you don't have, and do something about what you do have. Public access to a bitchen little beach. This is supposed to be a democracy, not a corruption model. How much public comment was already held? Have things changed THAT much in a year or two that the plan needs to be revised to this degree? Someone needs to stop and smell the coffee. If this does go thru, I can only hope that those responsible are eventually held accountable.

Oh and I said nothing about evil satanic developers.

Hey, one thing I completely agree with you about is beach access. I'm originally from San Francisco (sidenote: a city just as liberal as SB but with some actual common sense when it comes to development), and the concept of private beaches didn't even cross my mind there. I might be wrong, but as far as I can tell, all the area of San Francisco and the peninsula I visited was public (starting with Baker Beach, down to Ocean Beach, Fort Funston, Thornton Beach, all of Pacifica, Rockaway, down to Montara which is as far as I went).

This is a stark comparison to SB, where we have private beaches in Hope Ranch, and difficult to access or private/gated beaches along Montecito and Carpinteria. I think this is absolutely disgusting. Honestly, I wouldn't shed a tear if the entire Bacara resort burned down or something. It would have the effect of both restoring access to the beach, and getting at least a few rich snobs out of the South Coast, both of which I fully support.

Oh, and while you didn't mention developers, most of your buddies do. In the article on the Independent about the Goleta General Plan, the author writes "..it is disturbing to see outside developers apparently driving what should be a community process." It's not developers that drive this process, it's demand by rich snobs, much like the ones already living in the South Coast, that drive the community.

And the anti-big box just perplexes me. Personally, I think it's a direct attack on the poor. But the fact that many Goletians use it just elevates their hypocrasy to a whole new level. I mean, honestly tell me, would you rather not have that Costco in Camino Real? Can't you admit that the center is actually beneficial? The only arguments presented against them in a recent article in the Independent was that big box retailers would compete unfairly with local businesses and that traffic would get out of control.

My response to that is that most of the local businesses cater to the rich snobs. I mean, lets say a Wal-Mart was built here. What local businesses would it's clothes department compete with? The Blue Bee? Purrmission? Dressed in Montecito? I mean, seriously, get a grip people. Besides the handful of thrift shops on Hollister, there aren't too many places catering to the poor. How about actually giving the poor an option? And as for the traffic, maybe you guys should actually take the 12X (I do) instead of driving your SUVs (sure see a lot of these in SB) around town.

But oh well. I guess you guys can keep bickering about Bacara while ignoring the bigger issues. This study from 2006 ranked Santa Barbara as the most overpriced city in the nation:

http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/25/real_est...

Perhaps the bubble will eventually burst and all the homeowners will be screwed over. I guess time will tell. I'm not particularly optimistic about the future.

I do not believe City Council ever intended to "listen" to the voice of Goleta residents. In other words, they made their decision in advance, but wanted to create the illusion of including opposing viewpoints to project the public face of equity. However, they had NO plans of EVER taking them into consideration in the final plan. Let's hope I am wrong.

Now that I don't agree on. I think most of you guys are a pretty irrational bunch, but the representatives of the area should support what the people believe. But this article doesn't really provide a convincing argument about that point either. For example, 60 people opposed "changes that reduce environmental protections". According to my calculations, this means that 0.002% of Goleta residents explicitly said that they are opposed. This figure doesn't even include residents of Isla Vista, Noleta, and Santa Barbara, who I believe should have some say on some of the issues (like big box retailers).