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Letters
Although you might not believe it, we actually want to hear from you. So if you have something you think we should know about or you see something we've said that you think is cretinous (or perspicacious, to be fair), then let us know. There's no limit on words or subject matter, so go ahead and let it rip to: Santa Barbara Sentinel, Letters to the Editor, 133 East De La Guerra Street, No. 182, Santa Barbara, California 93101. You can also leap into the 21st century and email us at letters@santabarbarasentinel.com.
Funk Zone Folly
H
ey guys, great zone coverage but you read the wrong sign for my museums. The Santa Barbara Surfing Museum and MVSEVM are open every Sunday at noon, plus I give tours all the time. Just call 805.962.9048, and don’t forget the F-word: FREE (20 years worth). Jim Mahoney Santa Barbara (Editor’s Note: Thanks for reaching out and correcting the record, Jim, we were admittedly speaking in rough terms in the photo caption you read. Regardless, you provide a very cool little experience down on Helena and I personally encourage everybody to go down and have a look. And hey, there are plenty of places to explore nearby for a quick bite or drink if the doors aren’t open right at noon every Sunday. – MSM)
An Open Letter to Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider The 99 Cent Store, which occupies the old PepBoys building has, because of pricing, attracted many customers who are old and on fixed incomes. Often time there is insufficient parking and the alternative is across Haley Street in the City’s lot. The City recognizes this parking issue because of a fairly new City sign admonishing drivers to move on and not stack up waiting to enter the 99 Cent Store’s parking lot. This current arrangement of parking also requires those carrying bags, many of whom are frail seniors, to utilize either intersection as there is no mid-block sidewalk leading to the City lot across Haley. The alternative is to attempt to make a now illegal jaywalk in mid-block. While on the north side of Haley one day, I watched a little frail lady of some inestimably great age coming out of the 99 Cent store parking lot, look longingly
across the street, attempt to struggle her purchase across to the City lot and then evidently think better of it, perhaps in accordance with current CVC code barring jaywalking. She then dutifully went to the crosswalk at State Street, waited with heavy bags at the intersection for the next light to change, crossed and was moving east on Haley. I finally tired of merely watching her struggle and took her bags and helped her to her car. We had a nice chat on the way and I found that she had been a piano teacher, now retired with severe osteoporosis of the spine. She wants to be independent, can be so, but it is unnecessary for her to lug groceries that distance when a mid block crosswalk seems to be an easy alternative. We have mid-block signals on every downtown block along State for tourists, but we really need one across Haley as noted above for our own seniors who live here on small fixed incomes. Why would a midblock crosswalk be a problem for the City? Dr. Edo McGowan Montecito (Editor’s Note: Great to hear from you as always, Dr. McGowan, your proposal sounds reasonable – especially given the clientele that purportedly shops at the 99 Cent Store – but I wonder about traffic and safety issues on Haley. Perhaps Mayor Schneider or one of the City’s many urban planners will respond? Or perhaps not… Thanks again, Dr. McGowan, hope all is well. – MSM)
My heart soars and I get a knot in my gut every time I see or read about the Leaders of the Mission Band of the Chumash Indians saying how it makes them feel good when they have these tribal meetings and how they make a good effect on all the tribes across the United
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Daniel Rafael Mendoza de Cordero Santa Barbara (Editor’s Note: Thanks for the letter, Daniel. Unfortunately, I cannot say that I am particularly well versed in the political and socio-economic leanings of various factions of the Chumash Indians. (Perhaps I should bone up, though, these are important issues and I mean no disrespect by what I am about to write.) I can say, however, that I occasionally enjoy an evening at Chumash Casino Resort, and find it to be a welcome respite from coastal life. Perhaps your ancestors went occasionally from the Valley down to the shores of the Channel and vice-versa. If you think of it that way, then perhaps everything should be shared among the various Chumash constituencies – but I am definitely over-simplifying that and there may well be sound and ethical reasons to separate economic and other interests. Thanks again for writing, Daniel, please do keep picking us up. – MSM)
Last of the Chumash
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States. “When you see government officials making changes for the better for all Native Americans, that’s the part that hits you the most,” they say, “to see tribes progress is really what makes it worth it.” The reason my heart soars and that knot surfaces is because nothing is being done to help the Coastal Band of Chumash Indians. They live in poverty. Are they not Chumash? Are they not your people? The houses you want to build for your people, is the Coastal Band included? $16 million has been donated to others and not a penny has reached them. Every time a burial ground is found anywhere on our coast, you come and do your ceremonial rituals and say these are our people, then leave and forget about us. Do you speak with fork-tongue? Those millions you donate, are they so you can get what you want in the future? When will you come to the aid of your people – the Coast Band?
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