Sharon Byrne Pulls Nomination Papers

We don't need nutty right wing council members let alone these newer "activists" feigning false causes. We need serious people on the council. I just don't get these Milpas Street "activists." It isn't as if the community hasn't maintained Milpas's historical and charming pavement as it has always wanted.

The city, at great expense, has utilized its' pool of funds to underground utilities and install artisan Cornstalk Lamposts. And wasn't the Eastside Library recently overhauled. How many city/Looking Good organized neighborhood cleanups have I heard about over the years. The Milpas round-a-bout was a great improvement, I hear. 101 Traffic congestion is supposedly being relieved with the long-term, expensive and dusty widening project that Milpas Street merchants were crying for. And there is a new $2.5 million (?) Cacique underpass restoration reconnecting the Lower Eastside neighborhood to the ocean. How much of the city's resources do these nuttier than Michelle Bachman types want?

And if they have a beef with anyone it is the downtown business organizations and their desire to move 'undersireables' out of their mediocre downtown business/bar and nightclub district. Business people can be nice when they want to sell you something but they often advocate from narrow and the nuttier side of self-centered. Business advocates do not make necessarily make for good representatives (Grant House excluded.)

Typos! Grammatical errors! Why doesn't the Independent believe in editors/copyeditors? Never mind being so biased in it reporting. So, so bush league!

DonMcD: "We don't need nutty right wing council members let alone these newer "activists" feigning false causes."

So what you're saying is we need nutty left wing activists feigning their false causes in charge?
False causes, espoused by either side, are, well, false causes, but you're blinded w/ hatred so you unfortunately will never see that :) henry

As one who lives in the lower east, I agree with most of what DonMcDermott wrote about what's been done and being done --- and it has been long overdue (as, I think, is the freeway underpass at Cacique which I think was scheduled for 2010.) We with families and kids who would like to bike to the beach look forward to that rather than driving, the round-about and present freeway underpass being so dangerous.

Once all the freeway construction is completed, then we can see what the needs are. As it is, the mess, construction, narrowing of the roundabout and underpass to two lanes, contributes to the general air of disarray. Then, maybe, the homeless/transient situation can be worked with a little better.

I lost interest in Byrne after the recent Looking Good, Santa Barbara, when she took credit for that years-long ongoing effort. I am glad there is a community association for the Milpas merchants --- and am especially glad there have been increased police patrols, appreciating that some of this increased city attention is because of the Milpas Association beating the drums. But was that done by her --- or was it done by the Milpas Association instructing its employee --- and if she files for Council will she stay as ED, thereby effectively making the MCA in appearance, at least, a political association, since its vice-president, Aldana, is also a council hopeful?

@_large, believe me, I agree w/ you & don't think she's City Council material either. She'd be good @ a Chamber of Commerce type of gig, but that's it.
But hey, it is politics & anybody can throw their hat in the ring, granted they want to be dragged through the mud & such. That's what makes it a beautiful process :) henry

jfklbj:

I don't think you would actually like Grant House's...

"presence on the council [to] go the way of his sewing machine business"

...in that his sewing machine business provided great service and value to the community for over 30 years.

jfklbj: Grant House is termed out in two years, but, of course, he can pull an Iya and try to run for mayor against Helene Schneider ... or wait two years and run again, again as Iya.