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Posted on September 5 at 9:12 a.m.

The exact place where this girl was killed was the site of a now forgotten plan to build a pedestrian/bicycle overpass similar to the one on West Ortega street in Santa Barbara. This overpass was discussed as part of the Camino Real project, but it was never funded.

Currently there are plans -as part of Measure 'A' on the November ballot- to build an overcrossing at this spot that will also accommodate vehicles, similar to the one at Micheltorena Street.

It is extremely sad when tragedies like this one take place. We need to make our corner of the world safer for children.

On Body Identified as Missing Goleta Girl

Posted on July 24 at 6:17 p.m.

Dear Mr. Rutian,

Long before there was "smart growth" and "new urbanism" there were compact towns with mixed-use, corner grocery stores and people walking to meet daily needs. Santa Barbara was one of those towns and, to a certain extent, it still is.

The neighborhoods built before 1929 (Constance Avenue to Salinas Street) would be considered today as "smart growth". In the 1930's and after WWII new zoning regulations were enacted to accommodate automobiles.

San Roque, the Mesa and, of course, Goleta were a result of those newer zoning requirements. There is nothing wrong with these areas except that they generate a lot of traffic, and you cannot really live there without a car.

Perhaps Santa Barbara should go back to the old ways, and change its zoning rules accordingly. But reducing the allowable height of buildings is not the way.

After the earthquake (1925) the town was rebuilt in a new and wonderful style, but those older buildings were not under 40'.

Thank you for writing.

On Why Old Lefty Tree-Huggers Are Slow to Embrace the New Sustainability