December 26, 2025
News Roundup
Sable Offshore Circumvents State Authority
Other recent news: No major problems from recent storms, aside from Santa Barbara Airport runway flooding; exploiting overtime at the County Sheriff's office; La Casa de Maria update; East Beach sewage spill; work starts on Goleta multi-use path; the tree of the month. 10
December 18, 2025
Santa Barbara County Is Facing Big Budget Shortfalls
Other recent news: Santa Barbara starts on the path to rent stabilization; reforming the way that the harbor's boat slips are sold; the Hilton's 73-room expansion gets the go-ahead; indoor volleyball facility in the works; Diablo Canyon nuclear plant can operate through 2030; no more identifying buyers of local real estate. 13
December 12, 2025
December 4, 2025
November 28, 2025
The Argument Against the Paseo Nuevo Deal
Other recent news: The land under the former Nordstrom store is now excluded from the proposal; SBIFF's downtown multiplex got named; Zoe Bikini to close; new fees and requirements possible for Santa Barbara massage therapists; adaptive reuse of an old airport hangar and two Quonset huts; an update from Edhat. 6
November 20, 2025
Delta Is Ending Flights Between Santa Barbara and Atlanta
Other recent news: Birnam Wood's plan to remove the 77 eucalyptus trees along East Valley Road; city council member Kristen Sneddon is running for mayor; an option for fewer affordable-housing units at Paseo Nuevo; more citations issued to e-bike riders; the University of California bought a Hope Ranch house for UCSB's chancellor; Summer Solstice Celebration's 2026 theme. 24
November 13, 2025
The Trump Administration Plans to Reopen the Santa Barbara County Coast to Drilling
Other recent news: The contentious proposal to redevelop Paseo Nuevo; 18-story Builder's Remedy project submitted to Carpinteria; objections to the design of Sears lot at La Cumbre Plaza; Gold’s Gym locations bought by Eos Fitness; the renovation of Dwight Murphy Field. 17
November 6, 2025
The Push for Public Access to Hollister Ranch Beaches
Other recent news: Changes coming to Cacique Street homeless shelter; a long look at California's insurance problem; county supervisors deny Sable Offshore permit transfer; improvements to Franklin Creek trail in Carpinteria; the tree of the month. 1
October 23, 2025
Santa Barbara Has Hired a New State Street Consultant
Other recent news: The number of international visitors is down; addressing the city's budget shortfall; an update on the Electrify America vehicle-charging station; Santa Barbara County looks to phase out all onshore oil operations; Sable Offshore loses in court; first steps toward a new trail linking Buellton, Solvang and Santa Ynez. 20
October 16, 2025
Paseo Nuevo Redevelopment Hits a Roadblock
Other recent news: Update on the apartment complex behind the Mission; SpaceX launches likely to increase; cannabis taxes continue to disappoint; converting downtown commercial buildings to residential got easier; new Santa Barbara Police Department headquarters delayed; rent stabilization ordinance faulted for lack of transparency; Lower Tunnel Trail reopened. 9
Recent Comments
In looking at aerial views of 3218 Campanil Drive - it looks like it is somehow connected to the other new build, 820 Centinela, up… — SB
I agree. What an odd choice for the cover — J
I hope that the owner of 806 divulges all of the history on that flip house to prospective buyers as required by law. — Pythia
The master bed was positioned towards the “‘motor court” to have the best possible view of our teenage boys sneaking out in a 1992 Geo… — Bruce Giffin
While the picture is just a rendering, hopefully that big beautiful box on the roof is a back up generator as I second the motion… — TJ
The Carl Maston house is amazing. Plywood is due for a comeback. — A
When will Caltrans landscape the new Montecito section of the 101 similar to what was installed in Carp? — Greg