Nick Welsh, Author at The Santa Barbara Independent

By Nick Welsh | Thu Nov 30, 2006 | 3:00pm

Bittersweet Victory

St. Francis Housing Project Approved Amid Council Charges of Arrogance

Victory has rarely left so bitter an aftertaste as it did for Cottage Health System at last week’s City Council meeting. Though the Santa Barbara City Council overwhelmingly approved Cottage’s long-simmering plans to build 115 workforce condos-81 at substantially below-market rates-on the site of the former St. Francis Hospital, Councilmember Brian Barnwell castigated Cottage administrators for what he described as their high-handed and unilateral approach.

By Nick Welsh | Thu Nov 30, 2006 | 3:00pm

Levy Declares Bankruptcy

Time-Share Construction Inches Forward

For years now, the leading lights of Santa Barbara’s civic community have wondered just how long Bill Levy, Santa Barbara’s iconic wheeler-dealer developer, could remain aloft financially. Last Friday, they found out, as Levy’s carefully crafted house of cards came crashing down.

Angry Poodle By Nick Welsh | Wed Nov 29, 2006 | 2:26pm

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

ENDZ OF ODD: Drat! I was hoping we’d at least get a moat out of the deal-one preferably stocked with piranhas, too. But it turns out the illegal fence the News-Press erected in front of its Anacapa Street parking lot will probably be coming down soon.

Angry Poodle By Nick Welsh | Wed Nov 22, 2006 | 12:00pm

Hot Dogs, Burnt Buns

SEEING SUN SPOTS: Timing, as they say, is everything. In this regard, Santa Barbara City Councilmember Brian Barnwell is probably more than a few days late, not to mention a couple million bucks short. Even so, his idea makes a ton of sense, and I’m hoping the powers behind the throne at Cottage Hospital ultimately decide to embrace it rather than hunker down and fight it, as they have so far.

Uncategorized By Nick Welsh | Thu Nov 16, 2006 | 12:00pm

Son of Measure D?

Every City for Itself in Congestion Relief

With the carcass of Measure D-the countywide congestion relief measure-still smoldering in the ashes of last week’s crushing election defeat, some South Coast politicos are actively trying to figure out some substitute funding scheme to finance road repair and alternative transit projects.

Angry Poodle By Nick Welsh | Thu Nov 16, 2006 | 12:00pm

Sleep with the Dogs, Wake with the Sleaze

HEADS U WIN, TAILS I LOSE: The down-and-dirty showdown taking place at the bottom of State Street gives special urgency to that age-old philosophical dilemma-would you rather be eaten alive by a lion or a tiger?

Uncategorized By Nick Welsh | Thu Nov 09, 2006 | 12:00pm

Dancing Around A Two-Step Flip

Condo Conversion Given the Boot

Bill Mahan may speak softly, but he wields a big red pencil. Just ask developer Bob Hart, who until last Thursday had dreams of converting the four two-bedroom rentals on top of an office building he owns in the 3400 block of State Street into condominiums. That’s when Mahan-an eight-year veteran of the Santa Barbara City Planning Commission and an architect by profession-went to work. Pulling out his fabled red pencil, Mahan did some quick and dirty calculations that turned Hart’s dreams, then before the commission on appeal, into a nightmare.

Angry Poodle By Nick Welsh | Thu Nov 09, 2006 | 12:00pm

No One Here but Us Dogs

JUBILATING AND TRIBULATING: It’s all over but the wailing and gnashing of teeth. I, for one, will miss it. Not the cacophony of dueling TV commercials per se or the din of direct mailers, but the sense of companionship that election season always brings. Now when the telephone rings, I know it will be just another solicitor hawking yet another line of credit cards, or perhaps time-share opportunities anywhere but lower State Street.

By Nick Welsh | Wed Nov 01, 2006 | 3:56pm

Hometown Races

Dueling Pseudo-Slates Vie for Control

So irresistible is Carpinteria’s small-town charm that it infects even preelection mudslinging. Just recently, allegations have been leveled at Carpinteria Mayor Brad Stein-now seeking reelection-accusing him of abusing his mayoral influence on behalf of special interests.

Uncategorized By Nick Welsh | Wed Nov 01, 2006 | 3:39pm

Stopping the Bleeding

S.B. Council Looks for Quick Fixes to Housing

At Tuesday’s Santa Barbara City Council meeting, Councilmember Brian Barnwell (shown dressed up as pirate Jack Sparrow) and fellow Councilmember Das Williams-looking slightly gangster in a fedora-shared a Halloween laugh on the dais as Barnwell brandished his sword.

Author: Nick Welsh