••• Newsweek reported that all Rite Aid stores will close, but the chain has not confirmed it, instead announcing store closings in waves (Fast Company). So far, the Santa Barbara/Goleta locations have been spared. A sign on the door of the S. Milpas store, however, warns that “Rite Aid will no longer honor Rite Aid gift cards or accept returns or exchanges beginning June 5.”
••• “In a statement, Sable Offshore Corporation reports the restart of its Santa Ynez Unit. It says six of the more than 100 wells on the three offshore platforms are now pumping oil. On the 10th anniversary of the massive Santa Barbara County oil spill on the Gaviota Coast, the oil company which now owns the pipeline which ruptured in 2015 has announced that it’s been repaired, and operations are resuming.” —KCLU
••• This year’s Summer Solstice Celebration is June 20-22, and the theme is “wild world.” The parade workshop opened last weekend at the Community Arts Workshop. “Artists will begin making their floats and artistic visions [….] This is an opportunity to meet the artists and you can participate, make a float, or join an ensemble.” —Edhat
••• The Independent‘s cover story is a profile of entrepreneur/artist/philanthropist Lynda Weinman, who has done a lot for our community. But why was Roger Durling allowed to write it? Weinman is a co-chair of the board Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and as such, SBIFF executive director Durling reports to her. Disclosure midway through the piece is hardly enough to ameliorate the staggering conflict of interest.
••• “Arroyo Hondo Creek and its resident wildlife are now fully protected, in perpetuity, under the watchful eye of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County. On Monday, the nonprofit conservation group announced its successful acquisition of Steelhead Lookout, an 80-acre property named after the same endangered species that may now find refuge within its boundaries. Located in the heart of Arroyo Hondo Canyon, the property features steep, chaparral-covered hillsides, as well as two riparian corridors with oak woodlands surrounded by either the Arroyo Hondo Preserve or Los Padres National Forest [….] The Land Trust said its stewardship and programs staff will begin developing conservation and management plans for the new acreage, including potential trail extensions from the existing Upper Outlaw Trail.” —Independent
••• The East Beach “beach club”—a service renting chairs, selling snacks, and so on—is back, and now it’s called The Barbara. “The prices and packages vary, but they start at $15 per person for two hours.” —Noozhawk
················
Sign up for the Siteline email newsletter and you’ll never miss a post.
Referring to your post questioning the Independent articulate on Lynda Weinman. Why is it a conflict to have her friend Rodger Durling write it? She is not running for political office.
Writing an article about a friend is a common everyday occurrence and I am sure your publication has may examples. And by the your comment made me read the article which I thought was great
I
In journalism, if you can’t be objective, no matter the subject, you should be upfront about it, and the article in question was not. The relationship between Durling and Weinman should have been mentioned in the display type (headline, etc.) and the lede. And while it’s true that I do have occasion to mention people with whom I’m friends, and/or their businesses, they’re not profile-length cover stories in an outlet that purports to be playing by the longstanding rules of traditional journalism. Context definitely matters: Siteline is a subjective blog, through and through.
Agree 100%. It’s so simple and disarming to say, if you’re the author, ‘this person is my friend’ or ‘I work for this person’. And then reader keeps reading anyway, puts the article in a slightly different category/genre, enjoys and likely believers most of what is written. There is no downside to disclosure, no penalty for honesty. And in the end the reader doesn’t feel deceived afterward, doesn’t recast what he/read with a suspicious spin, nor care that the people involved know each other! It would still be an article of a bored billionaire (as someone mentioned) looking to find herself, but most people can relate to that, LOL. I wish her well in her art endeavor. Many people find meaning in art, a sub-category of ‘beauty’ which is Divine.
It’s a conflict of interest because Roger reports to Lynda at SBIFF, and depends on her for his paycheck. That’s not real journalism, it’s soft power fundraising, pay-to-play, false advertising and fake PR. By doing this, it protects his position, boosts her image as a “talented artist” worthy of museum placement, and shuts out true artists without insider access or financial privilege. This article damaged his credibility even more as a cultural leader and hers as a credible artist. This kind of closed-loop favoritism is exactly what’s wrong with Santa Barbara’s arts scene, and damages public trust for local news. Roger thinks he’s famous because he shakes hands with celebs and exploits this opportunity by being a “tastemaker” when he’s really catering to these bored and irrelevant aging billionaires and trust funders. Roger needs a clearer view on who he really is. And this woman needs to really sell her art along the crafty shoreline on Sundays.
‘Delighted to hear of the continuing work and success by the Land Trust for SB Co. A fantastic organization and effort.