City Hall looking Northwest towards the "Street of Spain. "
It was inevitable that they would pivot to something casual. I wonder if they’ve considered renaming to… “Little Alex’s”
I read the Ordinance Committee report and proposed Ordinance changes and it shouldn't impact existing slip owners, the revision is only to stop people who got their slip from the waitlist from flipping it immediately.
Armenian Community of Santa Barbara fountain in front of City Hall
Wish they could just call it Corazon Montecito and have the same delicious menu. Los Agaves seems to do well with that model.
The 2 houses near SBCC will likely continue to be short term rentals. STRs & student housing (for a community college!) are ruining the Marine Terrace neighborhood, but they are the safest way for investors, due to the "tenant friendly" rules being handed down. They actually hurt traditional tenants. More money to be made and less hassle, in the long run. On the positive side, both of these houses look much better than they used to.
Nope, but thanks for breaking the seal.
Glad to hear Alma is becoming more casual. Hopefully the menu will be more akin to their successful Corazon sisters.
I love the bow-tie throw blankets, did they learn how to do that working on a super yacht, below deck??
$17 dollars for a bagel? Not even the eddy is that crazy 😆
McCormick house Arrellaga and Santa Barbara Street
”Rent stabilization” (i.e., rent control) is a great way to ensure reduced construction of rental units, and to ensure demand will outpace supply. It also creates a disincentive for owners to improve their properties. Want to create a “crisis” in housing or any other non-monopolized economic activity? Just get government involved in setting prices.
Santa Barbara’s annual budget for 2025, is approximately $577 million. With annual personnel costs (including elected officials) of $124+MILLION spent on salaries & benefits. $124+MILLION only reflects the City of Santa Barbara’s annual payroll.
Santa Barbara County’s annual payroll (including benefits & pensions) is close to 1 BILLION per year! This is unsustainable.
Prior to 2004, City Council Members received a modest monthly stipend reflecting the part-time, public service nature of their roles—a model that echoed the historical American tradition of citizen-legislators serving without lavish remuneration.
The pre-2004 stipend system supported effective governance for decades. Proving that modest compensation fosters dedicated public servants without creating career incentivized politicians.
I propose we go back to the basics & return PART-TIME Elected Council Member Compensation to a monthly stipend emphasizing public service over lifelong political careers. If we continue down this road we will be taxed to death for the pensions of PART-TIME Elected City Council Members. The same City Council Members who are working very hard to revoke our constitutional property rights. While we are busy working to pay their salaries, life long benefits, health insurance, and pensions.
I personally, do not have a pension. Yet, I work and pay taxes, that pay for PART-TIME Elected City Council Members pensions’. This is unjust enrichment.
What are the changes for boat slip owners? I am in Marina #3. Paid $19K for a 28’ slip permit in 2016. Now they are “selling” for $65K - $80K. How would the proposed changes affect my ability to sell it?
Yep, that puts it on my permanent "No Fly" list. Oh, how I love parts of the world where everything-- food, tax, tip, service, is included in the bill. It's bad enough that we have to deal with the out of control tipping scene here in the U.S., but it's just insanity when a business starts adding on other non-included charges as well.
Price transparently!
Nailed it! And let's not forget that 5% cost of living charge they stuff into the bill.
We looked at the property and it needs a lot of work. There was mold and water leaks, no beach access and all kinds of issues making it a problem property for someone budget minded. Great views however and a beautiful neighborhood. Do some homework and you will find the original house built on the site and the modern upgrades are now all very dated. A 10 million dollar fixer for sure.
Max, You are correct. Santa Barbara is on track to become a trifecta of second homes (via new build apartments). AirBnBs and Section 8 housing.
Slip owners do pay property tax, there is a possessory interest tax of 1% of the assessed value of the slip that is based on your right to occupy the slip, which is separate from the slip rental fee. There was a 2016 grand jury report that discusses it in detail!
True!
To describe where it is, out in Goleta...then explain the whole 7 mile long strip...or not.
Boat owners don’t own the slips, they have permits to use the slips which are public land. They pay permit fees, not property tax
This is a great change. It’s absurd to have a black market for privately selling the use of public land
I would like to see all the taxes they collect and what they pay out and to who, its basic mathematics every person should know what they can and cannot afford, it just baffles me how a city cannot run off its budget.
Is the city banning boat owners from owning the slips? No more cash transactions, then no more property taxes collected if they are worthless
You can't say that because the Santa Barbara Airport actually is in the City of Santa Barbara - there's a 7-mile long strip of City land primarily under the Pacific Ocean that connects the City to the airport.
We rented 1102 Del Mar when it was an Airbnb a couple years ago. It felt small and needs a lot of work!
