••• “The U.S. Space Force, which falls under the Department of the Air Force, released a request for information to solicit interest from U.S. rocket manufacturers regarding developing heavy or super-heavy vertical space launch vehicle capabilities at Vandenberg. The proposal identified the potential site as Space Launch Complex-14, located near the southernmost point for Vandenberg [….] The request for information is the first of many steps before any super-heavy rocket launches would occur from the Santa Barbara County installation. That includes preparing an environmental impact analysis and other reports for the new facility, with future public meetings as part of the process.” But will the U.S. Space Force even attend the public meetings? —Noozhawk
••• “Santa Barbara City Councilman Eric Friedman is running for mayor,” reports the Santa Barbara News-Press, and the Independent says that “former S.B. Unified school boardmember Wendy Sims-Moten […] has indicated a strong interest in running as well.”
••• A look at the three people likely to run for the Fifth District seat (Santa Maria, Guadalupe, etc.) on the County Board of Supervisors. —Noozhawk
••• “With protracted deliberations about a rent stabilization proposal poised to loom out into the near and distant future, there’s growing concern at City Hall that some landlords—fearing their sky is about to fall—will raise rents now while they feel they still can. Accordingly, next Tuesday, January 13, the Santa Barbara City Council will tackle a proposed emergency measure to freeze rents at the levels they were at last October. Likewise for evictions for anything other than just cause. The fine print is still being drafted.” —Independent
••• Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi bought an estate in Montecito. —North Hillcrest
••• Santa Barbara is losing its direct flight to Atlanta, but frequency is increasing to other destinations, including San Francisco, San Diego (on Southwest starting April 4), Portland, and Salt Lake City. —Edhat
••• Architect Robert Ooley has a new-ish book, A Guide to Santa Barbara: Architecture and Points of Interest. —Noozhawk
••• “It’s been eight months since the Goleta Valley Library temporarily closed its main location for renovations, yet the building shows no signs of construction. Matt Fore, General Services director with the City of Goleta, said construction could start in the coming months. […] ‘Obviously, no construction is happening yet because council has not approved the contract,’ he said.” —Noozhawk
••• The new listing agents for 120 Montecito Ranch Lane, which has been on the market since 2019, have created an AI-heavy video of the property that features knights, dragons, and themselves. Hey, whatever works. Given the property’s high-’80s aesthetics, however, avatars of Nancy Reagan and Betsy Bloomingdale might’ve made more sense. —Wall Street Journal
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“A heavy/super-heavy launch capability at VSFB offers a strategic advantage to the USSF, enabling the deployment of larger, more capable military satellites and facilitating rapid response missions during national security emergencies. Adding heavy/super-heavy launch capabilities at VSFB enhances resilience, diversifies the government’s portfolio, and accelerates satellite constellation reconstitution due to increased lift capacity,” according to the solicitation
WOW! This obviously has been the plan, all along- confusing Salud Carbajal- someone needs to tell him we see thru his comical “hatred” of Elon Musk- he knows, as we know- the future lies in space and big BOOMS get us there! GO ELON GO!
Ellen is COMING HOME! TDS be damned!
Re the Goleta Library. Why does this happen so often. There’s such a hurry to close things to the public (or cut down trees) for projects that are nowhere near ready to start
The same thing is happening at Dwight Murphy baseball field. Kids lost the entire summer and it’s been eight months there too. Nothing has happened at the baseball field except putting up a fence to close it off. I don’t understand why construction can’t be staged to reduce downtime and public resources are allowed to sit idle for so long. Not sure who benefits from this approach but it’s not the public. Why not wait to close stuff until it’s ready to go?
Now imagine when they take that same approach for the State St. pedestrian promenade.
Re: rent freeze. City council should consult with the city attorney and brush up on state law before wasting city staff time on a measure that violates state law. Will they also freeze insurance rates? No. Will the freeze utility rates? No. Will they freeze property taxes? No. Will they freeze the rates plumbers/electricians charge to make repairs? No.
I do love how the Zillow listing says “A globally recognized private estate bordering the highly prestigious city of Montecito,” Did I miss an election on Cityhood?
And on Google Maps, what is the deal with property due north? 2907 Vista Oceano. Giant Gararge? Pavillion. Maybe a wedding and events venue?
Horses.
The property immediately to the north is the Pacifica Graduate Institute, now on the market for $17.9 million .
2709 Vista del Oceano is immediately to the north of Nesbitt, and above that is the Pacifica Graduate Institute property that’s on the market.
That’s Pat Nesbitt’s estate – it’s been on the market for several years.
Alaska is adding SBA to SAN not SWA I believe.
From SBA’s Instagram post (likely source of Edhat’s article): “San Diego service is returning with two carriers: Alaska starting on April 22, and Southwest starting August 4.”
Good to know!