AnonymousBy William Smithers
District elections were mandated in this state to assure that citizens having large populations in certain community areas, but who are a minority over all, have proper representation in local government.
Whether those elected via this method actually vote in the interests of the community at large is a vital question – and should be a matter of evidence.
Take the case of Santa Barbara city council member Jason Dominguez.
Anyone following SB municipal affairs knows that he is extremely reluctant to spend the city’s money. While fiscal responsibility is prudent, and Mr. Dominguez may be praised for looking out for the pocketbooks of his constituents, blind obsession in this regard can pose real risks for the community at large and an excuse for avoiding responsibility to the community at large.
California has determined that medical and recreational use of marijuana is legal in this state, and its legislature enabled communities to regulate its sale and use.
Several applications appeared in SB for facilities providing marijuana use and/or medical purposes. One of these was for a facility on Milpas Street in Dominguez’s District 1.
The council member vigorously fought against granting license for this facility, demanding a stipulated separation zone from schools of 800 feet, 200 feet more than the city’s previous strictest provision – in effect dooming its possible acceptance.
In other words, Santa Barbara’s government, in an effort properly to implement the state’s provisions, sought to license marijuana facilities in several city neighborhoods. But council member Dominguez said, in effect, “Not mine!”
Then-council-member Bendy White properly and accurately complained that Mr. Dominguez was ignoring the city’s overall community responsibility in favor of “Not In My Backyard.”
More recently, the SB city council voted 5-1 to spend several million dollars in an effort to eliminate, or ameliorate, the stink, algaic contamination, environmental damage and wildlife diminution at the Astree Clark Bird Refuge.
Dominguez alone stood in opposition, saying, “No! Wait a year and see if science comes up with a solution that may cost less.”
In other words, citing hoped-for scientific solutions for which no evidence existed, council member Dominguez turned his back on any option described by staff to deal with the current discomfort and environmental concerns of Santa Barbarans not in his district.
In my view, evidence is clear, and is accumulating, that Jason Dominguez is a district-elected politician who will consistently ignore – or oppose – obvious political/social/environmental needs of the community-as-a whole in which he lives.
In conclusion, I believe that no one having this perfervid – and colloquial – obsession should be given the responsibility to represent the entire city of Santa Barbara when considering county-wide measures at SBCAG.
Cathy Murillo, when elected as district representative, never lost sight of both fiscal responsibility and community-wide social awareness. And as mayor she was elected by the community at large and should represent the community at large.
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Murillo is just as you describe. A puppet for Developers. But I would say she is a snake or better yet a pig feeding at the trough of the Developers while she sells out her constituents. —- And Rodger you are being a complete fool and total *SS. If you knew how lawsuits are filed you’d realize that LOCALINSB copied the text of the lawsuit filed against Murillo that is why there are caps. Further, considering that edhat makes it difficult to format comments I like how LOCALINSB highlights certain words it is a good way to grab attention or make a point. Caps are not always yelling…
The argument is sound despite citing the incorrect entity. Who want’s decision makers to through money at a problem with no guarantee of a fix or good money after bad after bad as Caltrans did?
Dominguez has received donations from developers and one of his biggest fans is the California Real Estate Political Action Committee. A man of the people indeed.
Does not sound like you know how Dominguez votes. You could never say he favors Developers over residents. He has been fighting for years for residents over the AUD. You could say Murillo seems to be by far and away pro development, pro gentrification, pro demolition of affordable housing and favorable towards developers that promised Housing affordable to the middle class, but delivered (and plan to deliver) nothing but Housing for the very top income earners. – All while Developers build projects that increase the need for more lower cost Housing! Dominguez gets it right! Murillo ignores facts to vote against the people who elected her!
Furthermore what does SS Stand for? just another anonymous put down good for you enjoy Happy Hour.
Oh and by the way, the Castillo Street underpass is owned and maintained by Caltrans. So “Localinsb” your argument is fail. As for the Bird Refuge, the City has finally stepped up to fix the horrible smell no thanks to Dominguez. Jason was all for a medical pot shop until his hat wearing bff, who owns an adjacent property, got his ear.
I smell the Bird Refuge and Dominguez fans who choose to ignore reality. He votes against new developments because one of his donors is Islay Investments, one of the largest landlords in town. As for the pot shop, he wants to protect his buddy’s interests, but what about the children!!
This Op-Ed by Smithers is nothing more than a political hit piece on Dominguez, justifying his removal from SBCAG after the council voted him into the job a month before. The way that Dominguez was voted off the SBCAG Board reeks! The three council members who voted him out have each given no logical reason for doing so. In fact, “Self Serving Cathy Murillo” and “Silent Randy Rowse” gave no reason at all and “I Need to Learn How Government Works Eric Friedman’s” reason was off the charts: Dominguez can only represent his own district!! There is something rotten in Santa Barbara’s City Council!
Either from malice or ignorance, you have left unmentioned what anyone who observed the relevant council meeting re the Astree Clark Bird Refuge knows was presented by staff.
Several thoroughly-researched options – including doing nothing – were presented to council. An estimate of the environmental consequences – and costs – of each were presented. Staff made clear – what any thoughtful person would understand – that it is impossible to determine with complete accuracy how future developments, most tellingly including climate conditions, would affect the results of these options.
The most thorough option was estimated to cost $6 million. Council chose 5-1 to implement the so-called “Hybrid” option at estimated $2 million.
Council members except Dominguez (and, apparently, persons like you) were not willing to expose Santa Barbarans to the unchecked consequences of area stink, algaic contamination, environmental degradation and wildlife diminution because the exact consequences of remedial action could not be predicted.
It’s clear to me that council majority in that instance had the interests – and health – of the community at heart. Dominguez did not. And, it seems to me, neither do you.
William Smithers
Maybe but she won and she is the mayor get used to it.
The local unions, Dems and CAUSE really have no idea the who Murillo is. She is selling them right down the river and the rest of residents too.
EdHat it’s puppy baiting us when you post an op ed by a reader and it turns out to be Smithers again stumping for Murillo. Funny, I typed that initially as Smothers or my spellcheck on my phone did…Freudian slip. Anyhoo please list author name at the main menu so I know not to select any more of these.
To Smithers: the fact you have to keep stumping for Murillo after she won that tiny plurality to become mayor says a lot about both you and her. Adults would realize they haven’t got anything Iike a popular mayor with a clear majority in office and seek to build coalitions. Tearing down legitimate opposition to a deeply unpopular mayor isn’t helping the cause. You can’t bully people into supporting her. She already tried that, and is still trying it. Really it’s not working.
Stop doubling down. It’s getting embarrassing. Find a way to build bridges instead.
Using the author’s logic, the City of Santa Barbara should recuse itself from votes at SBCAG when the issue to be voted on does not involve the City of Santa Barbara (such as oil and gas development in north county).
He was actually for the Marijuana dispensary in the beginning representing patients who need that medication in the beginning until his new buddy in the 100 Block of North Milpas started to influence him since then I have noticed that he has been gaining alittle weight in the tummy department. Everyone needs to eat now and then some eat better than others…Who does any politician serve? Why themselves of course it’s OK I pretty much expected it. I have horrible arthritis pain and nerve diseases making it very hard to function and walk but at least my City councilman who blocks a place from opening along with his buddies doesn’t have to hear me scream in agony in the middle of the night. As far as the folks in the 100 Block of North Milpas being crime free and law a biding citizens despite not allowing the dispensary to open on their block there have been several 415 Domestics on the block. There was a parent who locked their kid out on the patio over night for punishment in the cold a few months ago, there is a halfway house for violent paroles on that block sometimes there are cars relating to DUI drivers leaving the house nothing else though acouple years ago there were violent registered sex offenders living there. There is a ongoing camper issue in the block where property ends up all over one driveway and the number one offender of parking violations is one of the council mans buddies…But hey Medical Marijuana is on trail here and those who need pain medication with little or no side effects we are the criminals.
Hmmm. I smell a Murillo supporter who IGNORES basic facts to support Murillo and bash Dominguez! Let’s start with why William Smithers is writing this: Murillo knew the City’s laws, helped write the City’s Law’s and then BROKE the City’s laws to remove Dominguez from the SBCAG position. Murillo was just got served with a lawsuit Friday! A QUO WARRANTO – ACTION FOR USURPATION OF AN OFFICE OR FRANCHISE AND to CORRECT THE USURPATION OF A PUBLIC OFFICE OR FRANCHISE was filed in Superior Court. It is: PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, on the relation of James Fenlrner (Relator), vs CATHY MURILLO, Mayor of the City of Santa Barbara. — Dominguez wants the City to spend money WHEN there are guarantees that the money is being spend wisely and there IS evidence to support the expenditure. STAFF stated that there was NO Grantee or even a high probability that all the money spent on the Bird Refuge project would solve the problem. STAFF agreed it won’t get worse this year and may in fact get better. Why not wait and do the work necessary to develop a project with Guarantees rather than guesses? How many times has the City spent Millions on projects like the Castillo St underpass based on guesses and no hard evidence and just have to do the work again and again? Is that what we want to do? — Dominguez knows “that there a are more school aged children living in the Eastside community than in any other part of the city. Many of them attend the two elementary schools which is located just a couple blocks from the dispensary. “I just think it’s a bad location. I want to protect children and the neighbors,” said Jason Dominguez, Santa Barbara City Councilmember. ” – Dominguez ISN’T against dispensaries. He wants a larger buffer from schools and children. – Interesting enough. The Dispensary Owner, his family and the Dispensary DONATED to Murillo on a number of occasions! That does not smell right!
All caps means that you are shouting. Please stop. Dominguez was for the dispensary on the 100 block of N. Milpas, but then his hat wearing buddy got in his ear. It seems that Jason listens to just some of his constituants, the ones that are his friends.
Oh and by the way the Castillo Street underpass is owned and maintained by Caltrans. Conflation makes for weak arguments.
Let’s look at this another way. What are the characteristics and deeds of Dominguez and Murillo and who I would TRUST to represent me and the rest of the City? — Dominguez is: logical, fact based, honest, brilliant, relentless in advocating that decisions be based on fact and that policies serve residents and the City. —-Murillo is: illogical, rejects facts and puts roadblock up to get them, acts irrationally, has a low emotional IQ which is often on display at Council Meetings, and IS actively undermining the rule of law in Santa Barbara with the recent reconsideration and vote that she and Friedman instigated which USED a RESCINDED Council Resolution and they ignored the City’s own meeting Procedures. —— You can TRUST Dominguez! NO ONE one should trust Murillo as far as they could throw her! She IS a disgrace and her real self is finally starting to shine through! She is not fit to hold Office!
72% of voters is not a tiny handful of people. We wanted someone other than Cathy, and she is certainly serving up ample evidence as to why. Telling us we’re wrong is not helping your case. Watching the crap show that is now City Council, with her in charge, is only bolstering our case that she is not a good mayor.
But there was always another way forward here, and I’m encouraging the Cathy Camp to take it now. Given that she is the mayor by the small plurality that she won with, the adult thing to do right now is build coalitions with the factions that didn’t want you, but that you could actually work with. Stop trying to make us all fold into the kumbayah tribe of Cathy.
Instead, reach out and learn where she could stretch to be a better mayor. Envelop your fellow citizens’ concerns that you normally ignore.
72% is not a number to ignore.
72% of voters is not a tiny handful of people. We wanted someone other than Cathy, and she is certainly serving up ample evidence as to why. Telling us we’re wrong is not helping your case. Watching the crap show that is now City Council, with her in charge, is only bolstering our case that she is not a good mayor.
But there was always another way forward here, and I’m encouraging the Cathy Camp to take it now. Given that she is the mayor by the small plurality that she won with, the adult thing to do right now is build coalitions with the factions that didn’t want you, but that you could actually work with. Stop trying to make us all fold into the kumbayah tribe of Cathy.
Instead, reach out and learn where she could stretch to be a better mayor. Envelop your fellow citizens’ concerns that you normally ignore.
72% is not a number to ignore.
72% of voters is not a tiny handful of people. We wanted someone other than Cathy, and she is certainly serving up ample evidence as to why. Telling us we’re wrong is not helping your case. Watching the crap show that is now City Council, with her in charge, is only bolstering our case that she is not a good mayor.
But there was always another way forward here, and I’m encouraging the Cathy Camp to take it now. Given that she is the mayor by the small plurality that she won with, the adult thing to do right now is build coalitions with the factions that didn’t want you, but that you could actually work with. Stop trying to make us all fold into the kumbayah tribe of Cathy.
Instead, reach out and learn where she could stretch to be a better mayor. Envelop your fellow citizens’ concerns that you normally ignore.
72% is not a number to ignore.
I would find it hard to work with a group of people attacking me verbally maybe the 72 percent ought to reach out.
Corrupt Cathy. This says it all.
Real local, you’re getting very emotional and personal here. Please continue with factual arguments and examples of actions, rather than throwing accusations around.
Of course I have. ********************** However, I do take issue, Mr. Smithers, with that sentence. I don’t understand what the “obsession” is. Nor do I understand how the obsession is either perfervid or colloquial. Can you, or anyone, explain these word choices to me? It’s unclear writing; neither word seems to apply; and they’re somewhat oxymoronic concepts. Thanks in advance.
It may be difficult for a tiny handful of folks to accept, but Cathy Murillo is the mayor of Santa Barbara. Calling her names and giving less-than-stellar reviews on Edhat is not going to change that fact. Please open your eyes, and your heart, and support Mayor Murillo. It not only takes a strong mayor to make Santa Barbara successful….it takes a strong community, and that means ALL of us.
Support a conniving lawbreaker who cares more about power than the City? Why would anyone urge people to give up their integrity to support Murillo? She may have lost her integrity, but I won’t lose mine supporting her!
Mr. Smithers gets the Covfefe Award for using the word “perfervid” in op-ed articles twice in one week.
It is clear that Jason Dominguez is clearly preferred over Corrupt Cathy Murillo to hold the position and to represent Santa Barbara. The question now is what are we going to do about it? —- I suggest that we start by telling Corrupt Cathy and the Council how we feel. Email them at: SBCityCouncil@SantaBarbaraCA.gov