Remain careful during pandemic
Regarding the catastrophe of this pandemic: The anger, insecurity and fear of the unknown is bringing out the baser behavior in man. The difficulties of no income generates a fight-or-flight response in us which can help us survive.
Conversely, a misfire could cause us to respond to the perception of threat inappropriately in violence and reckless behaviors. Witness the gun-toting mob protests and refusals to mask and maintain social distance.
The pressures to resume business could open the floodgates of illness at a time when quarantine has almost tamed this wild beast of a disease. Who will be well enough to go to work to generate commerce if we drop our current management strategies?
We have to accept that our way of life, commerce and social interaction is forever changed. We need a clear eye to view what needs to be done as we cautiously proceed in jumpstarting commerce so we can grow out of this dilemma and not plunge the world back into the Dark Ages.
We have the intellect to proceed. We need to engage that intellect and not succumb to mere instinct.
Colleen Campbell Murr
Santa Maria
Bad time for trash fee hike
The trash collectors have provided good service to Santa Barbara residents for many years. Although they continue to provide good service, I’m writing the Santa Barbara City Council to protest the amount of the fee increase as well as the basis for calculation of the rate increase.
Please consider the following:
- The nation is in the midst of an economic crisis in which many businesses are folding and many households face reduced income. Many are stressed to find funds to buy food, make house payments, or rent.
- The fact that the trash collection is a city service must not insulate collection providers from the economic stress suffered by the citizens. The providers should share in the burden of reduced revenue. They should not receive automatic revenue increase while many of the citizens of Santa Barbara are suffering a full or partial loss of revenue.
- Rationalizing an inflation-adjusted price increase based on a Consumer Price Index derived prior to the COVID-19 shock to the nation’s economic well-being is unreasonable.
- Although the cited “Resource Recovery Project” is a worthy goal, the present time is NOT an appropriate time to fund such a project. The long-term benefits do not justify the expenditures in the current economic downturn.
The proposed rate increase appears to be following a plan endorsed at a prior time when the economy was good. The situation is now quite different.
Hopefully our city officials will recognize this change and appropriately modify the plan to reflect the current conditions. Government officials have a responsibility to modify plans and expenses to reflect the present situation.
City Council members, please vote to delay the proposed rate increase until a later time when the economy is in a healthier state.
Vincent Mrstik.
Santa Barbara
Keep State Street as promenade
We write to urge Santa Barbara to make permanent the current temporary closure of State Street downtown.
It is unlikely that traditional retail will ever flourish again along State Street, so to revitalize the downtown it will be necessary to do things differently. Creating a walk-able dining and entertainment experience along State Street will draw crowds of locals and tourists and provide an environment conducive to restaurants, wine bars. brew houses and other leisure activities. With parking access from Chapala and Anacapa Streets, there is no need for vehicle traffic on State Street.
Santa Barbara has the climate and location to create a destination experience that will become known worldwide. Take this bold action now and begin building a high-quality leisure and entertainment experience that will bring new energy and opportunity to Santa Barbara.
George and Ann Wolverton
Santa Barbara
