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Opinion By Barney Brantingham | Thu Dec 28, 2006 | 12:21pm

Feds File Charges Against the News-Press

The National Labor Relations Board today filed a complaint against the Santa Barbara News-Press alleging labor law violations stemming from newsroom unionization efforts and set a February 26 hearing in Santa Barbara. Charges include the firing of veteran reporter and union leader Melinda Burns, illegal gag orders, threatened suspensions, and cancellation of union activist Starshine Roshell‘s column, the NLRB announced. In this afternoon update, the News-Press‘ lawyer David Millstein gives a comment.

Opinion By Barney Brantingham | Tue Dec 26, 2006 | 11:49am

Barney’s Holiday Leftovers

Barney gives some wishes for 2007, plus gives the lowdown on Ulysses S Jasz’ performance at the James Joyce on Saturday and gives ample space to allowing the California Academy Foundation to respond to claims that they stole the CAF acronym.

Opinion By Matt Kettmann | Thu Dec 21, 2006 | 6:19pm

ACLU Versus Wendy McCaw

Oops. Now Wendy McCaw’s done it. She pissed off the ACLU, so they gave her a little dose of her own litigious medicine. The gist of their letter? Stop threatening small businesses, you big bully!

Opinion By Barney Brantingham | Thu Dec 21, 2006 | 4:57pm

Barney’s Weekend Picks

Our man on the street Barney may not remember which holiday is coming around the corner, but he’s the go-to guy for good yuletide eats, choice movie screenings and hot winter reads.

Opinion By Barney Brantingham | Wed Dec 20, 2006 | 7:44pm

Jerry Roberts Lambasts McCaw’s AJR Lawsuit

Wendy McCaw, owner of the Santa Barbara News-Press, used her lawsuit against an American Journalism Review writer to “publicly attack and defame” former editor Jerry Roberts, his attorney contends.

Opinion By Barney Brantingham | Wed Dec 20, 2006 | 12:52pm

Barney’s On the Beat

Pro-Growth City: If there’s any doubt that Santa Barbara is a pro-development, go-go pro-growth town, check the 5-2 vote to okay the Veronica Meadows home project. (Or, drive along lower Chapala Street.) The City Council, after twice turning up its collective nose at Mark Lee’s 52-home project on Las Positas Road, liked it a lot last week. Even though Lee is now promising two “affordable” units, critics term it “oversized homes for people with oversized incomes,” in the words of The Independent’s Nick Welsh.

Opinion By Matt Kettmann | Tue Dec 19, 2006 | 4:55pm

Details of McCaw’s AJR Suit

The Indy obtained a copy of the lawsuit against Susan Paterno, the reporter for the American Journalism Review who wrote the most thorough, touching article yet on the News-Press meltdown. How many more before someone
files an anti-SLAPP suit?

Opinion By Barney Brantingham | Tue Dec 19, 2006 | 8:41am

Bully Pulpit

Barney’s take on the latest round of bullying by News-Press owner Wendy McCaw, why Woody’s jazz smokes, and how Empty Bowls are getting filled.

Opinion By Matt Kettmann | Mon Dec 18, 2006 | 10:38am

McCaw Warpath Leads to Small Business

It appears that News-Press employees, City Hall, The Indy, Vanity Fair, the American Journalism Review, the Teamsters, public access laws, and former boyfriends are no longer the only ones being targeted by Wendy McCaw on her legal brief-lined warpath. Now Santa Barbara’s small business owners are under attack: McCaw’s hired bulldog/superstar lawyer Barry Cappello is now sending intimidating letters to stores who post anti-Wendy signs in their windows.

Opinion By Barney Brantingham | Fri Dec 15, 2006 | 5:02pm

Barney’s Weekend Picks

Christmas approaches. For the handful of you who have spare time, here is what Santa Barbara has to offer this weekend.

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