(letters to the Santa Ynez Valley Journal are the opinion of the writers and not necessarily the opinion of the Publisher. Although we welcome the opinions of all, it is the SYV Journal’s policy not to publish personal attacks, and reserves the right to edit for length and content).
Dear Ms. Hall,
It is with enormous gratitude and goodwill that I write this letter. I am moved to write about your "On the Ranch editorial, in this months journal. Your doing a magnificent job writing about the issues that are front and center in this heavenly valley. I am a very concerned citizen when it comes to ever increasing loss of open space in this county and this latest plan to put sports fields off Santa Rosa Road is something that is lacking in foresight and profound in impact. I stand beside you in challenging this with The SB Planning dept. I will continue to respond with you
Thank you
Tina Rile
Buellton
There was Not a Problem, Until the Casino
With the constant barrage of letters, both pro and con, concerning the Chumash Casino, I wish we could all understand one thing and keep it in mind. It’s not, and never has been, a race problem with the Chumash Indians! People who are long time residents know that there was never a problem between the Chumash and other residents of the valley, until they decided to open a gambling establishment. It is well documented that drugs and crime follow gambling. That is what the furor is all about!
Another thing that we need to get clear: The Chumash were not given “crummy” land. They were given valuable acreage right beside the main highway through the valley, which also has a river running through it. It is in one of the most beautiful places in America with an excellent climate. Due to the diligence of valley residents over the years, their land has wildly increased in value. Over the years, this land could have been planted in vineyards or farmed. Stores could have been built along the highway which would have been adjacent to the town of Santa Ynez. They did lease out their land to others with cattle, but otherwise chose not to make use of this valuable land and it sat empty.
The Chumash were given free education within walking distance and later free houses. They were certainly treated decently by local residents. Some got jobs others collected welfare. But there was never animosity.
We need to have a clear understanding about why there is so much bad feeling. We’re glad that the Chumash have found a way to make lots of money, but we hate the way that they are doing it. Their gifts to the community are nice but do they compensate for our life styles being impacted, and the increased traffic on our small roads. Of special concern is San Marcos pass where everyday cars drive like bats out of h--- and pass over the double line in their rush to get back to LA. Are we wrong to be upset over the crime, traffic, panhandling, and drug activity? Apparently most residents all over America that are dealing with Indian Casinos say “NO!” They are suffering too. Anonymous Author
Letter to the Editor
How lovely was it to have hundreds of Greyhounds and their owners in Solvang last weekend? These gentle giants were all rescued from the race tracks. Not only were these dogs perfectly behaved but the owners were very considerate and picked up after their dogs.
In contrast, we had the bicycle races the previous week in Solvang. This was a great convenience to many people. The cyclists who frequently race in this town are mostly rude and arrogant. They don’t seem to think that traffic laws apply to them. They even ride at night without lights.
Since most people do not want to put up with car streets being closed off, once a year to accommodate the Amgen bike race and the fact that our city members only listen to a select few in this town, I believe our only recourse is to boycott the sponsors. Perhaps they will think twice before doing this again.
I have already contacted Union Bank, California and told them that I will move my account to another bank because they co-sponsored the race at great inconvenience to their customers. I also question to legality of closing the post office the day of the race plus not delivering our mail that day.
Hazel
Chumash Expansion Continues
I think somebody struck a nerve. All of a sudden there is a flurry of articles in virtually every paper but the Journal protesting the validity of the claims by some Valley groups that the Valley Chumash (as differentiated from the Coastal Chumash) have asked the Governor to amend their compacts and increase by 5000 the number of slot machines and extend the new compact by ten years. Repeatedly, members of the tribe have denied this claim, often in rude and abusive language. Full page ads have appeared calling community members’ liars. This is so absurd considering this information came from the tribe’s own chairman Vincent Armenta from the Tribes Meeting Minutes.
Do the Chumash actually think we’re that stupid? And why does Andy Caldwell now “almost hate” white people? If that isn’t blatant racism, I don’t know what is! It is time to stop the nasty talk, denying the truth. It is going to forever destroy the fabric of the Valley if it continues much longer.
To the Chumash I ask, is that what you want? Perhaps this is your plan, so that the majority of the Valley residents who can will move somewhere else so you can buy up their land and eventually control the majority of the Valley. No one will be able to stop you then from owning your “ancestral lands”.
In my opinion, your anger is seriously misplaced. It was not any of the people now living in the Valley who displaced you from where your ancestors used to live. It was, in fact, the Spaniards and then the Mexicans who gave grants of land where your ancestors used to live. Frankly, this is the history of the world- people moving to new places for a variety of reasons, marrying, killing or forcing the locals out. It is absurd to think that you can redo history.
It would make as much sense for me as an Irish descendent to go back to Ireland and demand that my “ancestral lands”, if there were any, be returned to me. The Irish were hated and severely abused when they arrived on these shores but, as a whole, we buckled down, worked hard, and got over it. It is only the victim mentality that keeps people from realizing their full potential.
And yes, the “government” has done terrible things to people. It is not just the tribes that have had bad things happen, my own family has been the victim of “government” abuse at least twice (remember the stories about Santa Rosa Island?) and is, right at this very minute, fighting in court over abuse by public agencies.
Legislators need to stop trying to undo history, enabling the victim mentality and get on with the job they were given to do- making life as safe and healthy as possible for the population they serve. Actually, I think most of them have forgotten the serve concept as well but that’s another topic. Please, let’s stop all the garbage, act like adult human beings who care about one another and quit trying to destroy this Valley. It is in your hands now- please don’t abuse the privilege.
Nancy Crawford-Hall
Lawlessness in Santa Barbara County
I am an American woman, a widow. I’m not a privileged minority and I’m not a privileged megamillionaire. I own the historic Union Hotel in Los Alamos and am at the culmination of a 4 year land war, which I never had a chance of winning. It has not been a level playing field.
I repeatedly refused to sell to developers, so someone bought my mortgage, refused to take payments and told me, "We don’t want your money. We want that property. Turn it over to us or we will make your life hell." They committed perjury against me in a 12 minute ex-parte hearing. I raised my hand repeatedly to speak, but I was ignored. Finally I stood up and said, "Your Honor, they are lying." The Judge shushed me and turned my property/residence over to them. What has happened to due process? Why was I threatened with guns and told that a Judge’s order gave permission for them to do so. Why was I told "Call this person. This is who you are going to sell your property to."
They came in on a Friday, said they’d return on Monday and that I had to leave. They said that I could take nothing with me, not my purse, my checkbook, my furniture or any of my belongings. I could take nothing, not even my dead husband’s wedding ring, on my hand. Home invasion appears to be legal now, as is violation of constitutional law, denial of due process and illegal seizure.
What is this powerful cancer that has taken over, that ignores national law? Each time I’ve stood in public forum to inform citizens, someone notches up the harrassment on me. They threatened to burn down these historic buildings. They kick fences down, they shatter lampposts, they break garden statuary, they come to cause damage, they steal, they badmouth me, and they make threatening phone calls. For 4 years they’ve put obstacles in my path. Finally, havng me in checkmate, and losing my properties, they call to gloat, "Now will you sell, knowing the historic buildings will be plowed down?"
A reporter wanted the story, but an influential person pointed their finger and told the reporter if they refused to suppress the story they would lose their job.
What is the stranglehold on this County? Why do people turn their heads when they see a fellow citizen being purposefully destroyed? Are they afraid? Are they thinking, thank God it’s not me? Why are citizens, who want to participate and try to bring forth truthful information blackballed and called militants? We have attended meetings, listened attentively, only to see the newspaper story next day isn’t even close to what we witnessed. Why this manipulation of the masses?
I have spoken to 100’s of victims and been shocked at their stories. Citizens, please wake up before it is too late. Any citizen or victim who has been threatened, intimidated, has experienced undue influence, or for having signed a petition, witnessed unequal application of the law, lender fraud, extortion, or corruption, tell your neighbor. And please contact us as soon as possible. Please write a short, concise statement and email to me as quickly as possible at unionhotel2003@aol.com or Box 817 Los Alamos, Ca 93440. We must speak now.
Citizens have an obligation to defend our Constitution against all enemies, even if they are from within. We, the citizens, are the only ones who can stop this cancer from taking over. I will be sure your documents are handed over only to the proper authorities that are seeking this information to help us. To our neighbors, who choose to look the other way, look to Nazi Germany to see what happens next. My name is Christine Mary Williams. They are trying to take everything I have. All that is left is a piece of paper, the Constitution, which says they can not have done what they did to me, not in this Country.
Chris
Dear Mr. Harris,
I moved here in 1994 and have enjoyed reading your letter to the editor of the local papers and most recently your article “A World without America”. Keep up the great work!
Sincerely,
Beverly Smith
Tied Dogs Law
As a pet doctor over many years I have long campaigned against the practice of leaving a dog tied to a dog house or other such place all day long. It is a form of inhumane treatment which can produce many undesirable mental responses from an otherwise normal pet, including aggressive behavior.
So I was very happy to see that SYV now has an ordinance against this cruel practice. One compromise which I would like to suggest for cases where the ordinance might produce problems for the owner is this. I would frequently suggest to my clients that they could attach the dog's leash to a metal ring on an overhead wire secured between two poles. Place the poles as far apart as possible, perhaps at opposite ends of the yard. Thus the dog can run back and forth happily all day without negative effects on its personality. Have used this technique successfully many times over the past years and found the dogs easily adapted to it.
Bud Stuart DVM
Santa Barbara
From a Future Visitor
I am not a resident of Santa Ynez, but had to write about something I just read. A copy of the publication “The Santa Ynez Valley Journal” just happened to fall into my hands and before I knew it, had read the whole publication from beginning to end. Normally I would look through the papers and skip through article after article until something caught my attention. While attempting to do the same thing with this publication, I found myself stopping frequently to read an article here and there and finally, giving up, started from the front page and read each and every article.
This publication was very effective in transporting me from my place of residence to your place of residence just through print Let me explain. Imagine my astonishment when I read the article concerning the Chumash Casino and the surrounding communities and the pros and cons presented before the board concerning a major change that could be made there. I found myself feeling as if I was a part of the community at large and listening very carefully to all the information being presented. Then as I went on further into the paper, I was again “transported” to a scene of an early morning getaway to see birds of many feathers flocking together. What a sight that must be and why hadn’t I heard of Lake Cachuma before? Next I was off on a plane ride with one of your community members and the picture presented in print had me flying that plane and looking out of the window seeing everything that was being described. A mental picture of Santa Ynez is now etched in my mind and I know for a fact that it is a place that I must visit one day.
The publication offers information about the local police beat activities, the 4-H club, local events calendar and then my very favorite, the lists of all the favorite eateries in the area. I enjoy cozy family restaurants and I now know where I’ll be headed when I come for my visit with my family. What a wonderful source of information for any visitor to have while enjoying the communities in the area. Sometimes we don’t necessarily want to read about what’s going on everywhere else, we want to know what happened next door and what is available to families in terms of protection, businesses and entertainment for all ages.
Hat’s off to the staff at The Santa Ynez Valley Journal, can’t wait to read the next publication. For those owners of local businesses who have not yet advertised in this publication, doing so would help many future visitors or new members to your community become quickly informed and involved.
~A Future Visitor~
Wake Up Residents!
Wake up residents of the Santa Ynez Valley! We are being robbed and most of us do nothing about it. We feebly complaint to each other, but the robbers go right on with their work. The problem is that they are good people with lots of energy, but they are bent on managing our future lifestyles for us.
It doesn’t matter to them that we live here because we love the peacefulness and natural beauty. Or that we love the small town feeling here with good, kind people. In this turbulent world, we have a safe haven.
These perpetually planning people have dreams of glory, riches and “success.” They conjure up elaborate schemes to draw thousands or millions of people and their vehicles to this small valley which has just one main road, Hwy 246, leading into Solvang and passing thru our valley from east to west.
Now they’re planning 16 soccer fields! What are these people smoking? One or two fields maybe but sixteen?? We need to be very clear that the beautiful scenery and quietness that we have left is due to cattle, horse ranches, vineyards, apple orchards and row crops. This is AGRICULTURE folks. This is also, by the way, what feeds us. If we don’t protect it, it can’t protect us.
All this activity is done under the guise of good business and it doesn’t matter how it impacts the rest of the population. They figure that we’ll complain for a while and then give up saying, “Well, you can’t stop progress.” Is this progress or regress into the areas from which many of us fled? Progress is to make things better for the majority of residents, not just the shopkeepers and hotel owners. If you think public protest doesn’t work, please remember how it stopped big wineries from slaughtering thousands of our oak trees.
We can understand why Solvang formed a visitors bureau and wanted to bring people here to experience their Danish village but we have reached the point where the tail is wagging the dog! When do the residents say we have reached our saturation point? No more huge events! Solvang visitors, bicycle events added to Casino traffic are impacting us all and beginning to destroy the lifestyle that most of the taxpayers treasure! When does the tourist money earned become more valuable than our homes? When you have your millions, where will you move to? Some other place that will eventually be ruined by over populated because the residents, are afraid to speak up and call a halt?
Sincerely,
Jason March, Solvang
Response to Look Right Drive Left
Hey Bill ! Great article. Good to hear about your Irish travels. I'm hoping to get there someday, hopefully at the end of our mission to Spain. We want to visit Patty's sister in Preston, England and take in Ireland and Scotland also. My relatives are from Scotland and Ireland. I remember talking to you at the 5th LL reunion; but I haven't been back since.
Thanks for sharing, Bruce Muir
To Bill O’Brian
I enjoyed the article and photos very much. I missed the reunion as you did because of a trip I took with my wife to Spain, Morocco and Portugal, My wife's ancestry is from Spain and Portugal, but because of a rather common last name (paternal) of Lopez, we did not try to track it down. We were surprised that in the case of her maternal name (Resto) which is Portuguese, there were no Resto's listed in the Lisbon phone book. However, we had a great trip-and the weather was perfect. Your pictures look like you encountered good weather as well. Perhaps I'll see you at the 50th reunion if another trip doesn't interfere.
Randy
WE CAN DO BETTER
Efforts by the Santa Ynez Youth Sports Foundation to place a Sports Complex (up to 16, four sport, lighted playing fields) on prime agricultural land near the Santa Ynez River, culminated in a County Planning Commission hearing on April 7. The hearing on the “pre-project proposal” concluded with the overwhelming opinion that such a complex simply did not belong at the proposed location. The reasons were many are abundantly clear to anyone who would choose to review the hearing record.
The way the Sports Complex application was processed raises issues on two levels. First, how credible are the existing plans and procedures? Secondly, what is the appropriate role of elected and appointed representatives in attempting to achieve desirable community goals, while preserving the established values and rights of those affected by what is proposed?
The SYV has been involved in a long, sometimes controversial process to establish plans that identify values and intentions for land use for the future. One goal has always been to preserve the agricultural nature and ambiance of the valley, because it supports not only the agricultural industry, but also the visitor serving business that provide employment for many residents. Many residents have moved here because this is the kind of environment in which they choose to build homes, raise families and invest their lives.
If a worthy project is achieved it should be a win for the whole community. Apparently, in this case, some community leader felt that the goal was so important that any means necessary to achieve it were OK. Instead of a win/win situation we end up lose/lose. The residents along the Santa Rosa Road should not be considered winners, since they put in a lot of time and effort away from their primary activities just to keep doing what they thought plans and regulations entitled them to do in the first place. At the same time, there had to be a loss of respect and trust in “the system” because it became quite clear that the protections that were supposed to be there were quite fragile.
There appear to be many interests that would like to see conversion of the Santa Rosa Road corridor to some use beneficial to them, disregarding the impact on those who live there. This was only a door opener. What other “worthy” trusts will follow? (Like, the city needs this space to meet the needs of its citizens, or “its for the old people”, or “its for moderate price housing”, or “its for a park”) It is hard not to be skeptical, after witnessing what has happened. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PROCESS?
There was only one reason that this site was chosen. Someone was found who was willing to convert his farmland to a non-profit farming use, in order to obtain higher sale price that would be justified otherwise. Others had been approaches in the past and refused to sell. All living in this rich corridor (Santa Ynez River between highways 101 and 1 to the west.) treasure it. What happens anywhere along the corridor affects all in it. Past presidents and advisors to the Sports Foundation know that also, because they have sought, without success, to buy into this space before.
The applicant apparently chose a strategy that was blatantly political, pitting the many sports enthusiasts against the few farmers (who also are sports enthusiast). But what politician can resist the theme “its for the kids” and “kids versus crops” as a slogan. Framing the argument thus is unfair to all concerned and unworthy of any that would consider them selves to be community leaders. One goal of leadership should be to foster cooperation and common efforts, not division and enmity.
Next, it was clear that the plans use was inconsistent with the present use in the area, and that there would be significant impacts to sensitive habitats. AN application for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) was begun, since although the process to obtain a CUP would take some effort, and likely require environmental impact studies and an Environmental Impact Resort (EIR), the final decision would likely be made by a Board of Supervisors vote. This vote could choose to mitigate it or ignore planning and zoning restrictions, and impact issues, “for the grater good”.
But this was not enough. When the project first appeared as a potential project before the Board of Supervisors, the elected member from the affected district (who should represent all his constituents) put his hand on the scale, by pressing for waivers of the expected $15,000 processing fee. This was a message, loud and clear, to all who would subsequently be involved in the process, (whether county employees or affected neighbors who might be in the way) of desired and expected outcome was to be. Is it possible that a group expecting to spend more than six million dollars cannot afford the application fee? Certainly not! Those who were supposed to “get the message”, got it.
This distortion and abuse of the process appeared again at the planning commission hearing. The planning commission member from the affected district, recently appointed by his Supervisor, insisted on speaking out of turn, ahead of input from the members of the Architecture Review Board. Architectural input should be useful to planning commissioners to help from their opinions. In this case, the representative commissioner insisted on speaking first. The sum of his impassioned presentation (he was a former Sports Foundation member, which apparently didn’t interfere with his belief that he could see things objectively), was that the application had high hurdles to clear, but well that the final step would be that all-important vote by the board of supervisors. Given what happened in the first step of the process, is there any doubt as to what was expected for the last step?
Apparently, and fortunately, the other commissioners were not swayed by this commissioner’s passion. If the project (actually, this was a pre-proposal” hearing), had been allowed to proceed, the residents in the affected corridor would have been plagued by the next steps in the process, Strangers would have to be admitted to their property to “do studies” and gather date for expensive reports that would most likely be filed and ignored. The final decision would be politically based anyway. WHAT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED?
A competitive sports analogy be applicable. Teams that want to improve teams from their losses, by studying what they did well and where they had short-comes. It seems that a little candid introspection here is in order. If failure has been constant for the last fifteen years, maybe a different approach is in order. Is such a large complex in one place really the best plan? Instead of surprising or attempting to steamroller the neighbors, perhaps a more open process to try and achieve neighbor support would help. Why the “fixation” on farmland for an obviously urban activity? Just because the purchase price up front is less, does not mean it is cheaper for the community at large, especially if future costs and losses are considered.
The SYV cannot afford to misuse its processes and leaders, as was done here, without risk of damage to the very institutions upon which it depends. Those in the Santa Rosa Road corridor would really like to see that the Santa Ynez River be observed as the corridor could survive the urban rule and values of the city or Buellton, for example? That thrust will no doubt come. If it does, it is hoped that the process is fairer than the one so recently witnessed.
Arvid
Re: Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic Party nomination? The “Queen of Corruption”, the one who ran Bill Clinton scandal machine! How ridiculous.
In 1992, When Bill Clinton was running for the presidency, he told the American public that we would get “Two for the price of one” back then, we weren’t thinking about criminals, but that’s what we got. Today, nothing has changed. Hillary in her own right as well as her partnership with Bill is among the most corrupt politicians in our nation’s history.
And because the possibility of a Hillary Clinton presidency is so real and the scope of the Clintons’ joint corruption so vast, I want to re-acquaint the people with the sordid legacy of the Bill Clinton “Co-President”.
The following are some of the facts surrounding the Bill and Hillary Clinton 1992-2000 “Co-Presidency”. (As complied by the LIBRARY PROGRESSIVE REVIEW
The first president to be sued for sexual harassment, accused of rape, to be held in contempt of court, first president to be impeached for personal misconduct in the oval office.
Hillary: the first, first lady to come under investigation specifically, Hillary devised a scheme to sole taxpayer trade missions to COMMUNIST CHINA in exchange for campaign contributions of millions of dollars. She presided over the theft of the private FBI files of former REAGAN and BUSH STAFF. She led the campaign to slander women sexually and other abused by President Bill Clinton, and he ahs lied time and time again to investigators, to her colleagues, to the press and to the American people!
Furthermore- As a candidate for the U.S. Senate, Senator Clinton and her campaign team conspired to violate federal campaign finance law by failing to report the true cost of a $2 million HOLLYWOOD campaign fundraising event in August 2000.
Our nation has paid a terrible price for the Clinton’s lowing of the ethical and moral standards of the Presidency. For example: Congress today is a cesspool of corrupt standards set by Bill Clinton. He contributed directly to Washington culture that believes the law is for other people to follow… not the politically powerful.
In addition to that, if that wasn’t enough, the following convictions and guilty pleas by the first family, friends and their associates (47). Most number of cabinet officers to come under crime investigation (60. The number of congressional witnesses who pleaded the Fifth Amendment, fled the country to avoid testifying or This is why we do not need another Clinton “CO-PRESIDENT”. History will repeat itself, leopards do not change spots! The same habitual corruption will continue because that’s the way Hillary Rodham Clinton does business. As enumerated earlier, Hillary pocketed $2 million and tried to cover it up, before she won the election for senator.
Chris Matthews, MSNBC: Said the quote “Are we so stupid that we elect this president twice?” Of course, he was referring to BUSH and not to CLINTON, which would be more appropriate.
Now then, I ask you, are we going to elect the “Co-President” again? The answer to all good law abiding citizens is a big fat NO! We must learn from the past, and not make the same mistake again and elect a candidate with a fresh team, an outsider, if you will, to start with a clean slate.
Hillary can not control her husband of thirty years, how can we giver her the awesome responsibility of managing the world affairs. The source of this information is Judicial Watch 501 School STNW Washington DC 20024.
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