Not For Sale
The U.S. Forest Service abandoned plans earlier this week to sell off more than 400 acres of Los Padres National Forest, including 104 acres in Santa Barbara County’s New Cuyama Valley.
Year: 2006
Riding High
Arguably the biggest bike race in the history of North America pedaled into town last Friday afternoon, concluding stage five of the eight-stage race with a photo finish along Cabrillo Boulevard. The First Annual Amgen Tour of California began in San Francisco on Sunday, February 19 and concluded some 600 miles later in Redondo Beach last Sunday.
On the Trail Again
The crowd of supporters was sparse last Thursday as incumbent Santa Barbara Sheriff Jim Anderson officially announced he would defend his title in the upcoming election. Bogged down in recent months by Sheriff’s Council controversy and hamstrung by severe state budget cuts, Anderson, 50, nevertheless declared his first three years in office a success.
If You Build It
In response to pressure from state housing officials concerned that Santa Barbara County accommodate its fair share of the state’s burgeoning population, the county Planning Commission unanimously approved a new housing policy to rezone 62 acres-yet to be determined-for the construction of 1,235 new housing units. Even though the North County has only half of Santa Barbara’s population, its leaders agreed to take on two-thirds of the new housing. The Planning Commission’s action comes more than two years after the state’s initial deadline.
Zone Defense
Sounding a battle cry against re-zoning, county emergency services planner Joe Guzzardi formally announced his entry in the race for 2nd District Supervisor. With his family at his side, Guzzardi vowed to fight the state’s housing mandate, drawing applause from supporters-who gathered last Saturday somewhat conspicuously on MTD-owned land currently under consideration to be rezoned from agricultural property to residential property.
Upper State Lofts in Limbo
Berkus’s Uptown Project Deemed Too Much of a Good Thing
The Santa Barbara City Council sent a tough message late Tuesday to developers with plans on the drawing board for upper State Street: The rules of the game are changing dramatically, and City Hall intends to craft a new vision of what sort of development will be allowed there. After six hours of intense deliberations, the council voted 6-1 to reject architect Barry Berkus’s controversial State Street Lofts proposal, a three-story mix of commercial space and 55 one-bedroom condominiums slated for a spot now occupied by the deteriorating Plaza Inn and adjoining office building at the congested intersection of State and La Cumbre streets. In so doing, six of the councilmembers-only Roger Horton dissented-rejected the recommendation of their own planning staff, and snubbed a 6-1 vote in favor of the project by the city Planning Commission last December.
Runaway Train
Members: Nate Latta (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Jeff Borgeson (lead guitar and background vocals), Ed DeFour (percussion), Craig Allen (bass).
Top 10 KJEE Songs of the Week
1. Gorillaz, “Dare” 2. She Wants Revenge, “Tear You Apart” 3. Nine Inch Nails, “Everyday Is Exactly the Same”
Bulgarians of the Week
Le Mystre Des Voix
bulgaresRekindling the medieval sounds of the Bulgarian hilltops, Le Mystre des Voix Bulgares pushes the female voice to bizarrely beautiful limits through daring chords, irregular rhythms, and Byzantine harmonies to create a strong, piercing audio tour de force. Formed 50 years ago, the 22-member, all-female choir makes its Santa Barbara debut on Monday, March 6 at UCSB’s Campbell Hall.
earthly delights:
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden begins its spring classes March 3, offering an array of six-week courses and one-day workshops.
