Newsmakers TV: Journo All-Stars Probe Santa Barbara's Ceaseless Soap Opera
Margaux Lovely, Josh Molina and Ryan P. Cruz join the genial host to break down Renovictions, E-Bikes, Offshore Pipeline, Hot Springs Trail, Immigration & More...
Elections have consequences, and the upshot of last fall’s victory of rent control crusader Wendy Santamaria over landlord-friendly incumbent Alejandra Gutierrez for a Santa Barbara City Council seat emerged in stark relief this week.
Having flipped the balance of power in the unending conflict between tenants and property owners to a 4-3 majority in favor of the former, Santamaria led the charge on Tuesday to re-open the bitter battle over “renovictions,” proposing to expand the rights of renters, while imposing more onerous demands on landlords.
Josh Molina and Ryan P. Cruz reprise their City Hall reporting on the issue on this week’s edition of Newsmakers TV, and also break down the new move to impose some measure of control over the hordes of E-bike riders whose indifferent antics require geezer pedestrians to cheat death every time they dare stroll on State Street.
We name no names.
Margaux Lovely also joins the genial host to make sense of the multiple political and legal complexities of the Board of Supervisors’ recent 2-to-2 vote over an oil pipeline, which either did or did not, authorize Sable Offshore Corp.’s bid to proceed with reopening the line which ruptured and caused the 2015 Refugio oil spill.
Margaux also provides a report on that big community town hall, convened by state Senator Monique Limon and Assembly member Gregg Hart, to update residents on the availability and cost of fire insurance; amid California’s era of epic wildfire, Josh explains the latest effort to protect residents near the Hot Springs Trail, at a time when tour buses — aagghhh!! - have begun depositing out-of-towners on Riven Rock Road, enabling ever larger crowds to visit the Instagram-ready, if artificial, pools.
Ryan also updates the latest community efforts to protect and defend migrants, as fear, dread and menace seep into the atmosphere of daily life, thanks to Donald Trump’s authoritarian project, which civil society finally is beginning to oppose.
Plus: the intriguing mystery of how those Riven Rock tour buses turn around; some early punditry about the 2026 election; and spirited sparring over the propriety in this day and age of using “wildfire” as a cheap political metaphor.
All this and more, right here, right now, on Newsmakers TV.
Check out Episode 483 via YouTube below, or by clicking through this link. The podcast is on Soundcloud here and also available on Spotify, Apple and other platforms. TVSB, Channel 17, airs the show every weeknight at 8 p.m. and at 9 a.m. on weekends. KCSB, 91.9 FM, broadcasts the program at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
Image: Logo for soap opera, “Santa Barbara” (Wikipedia).
Yes, Jerry, I agree with your closing remarks on the Democrats' lack of decorum throughout the State of the Union Address. Although you and I rarely agree on a number of issues these days, "civil" is one word we do share in common. The lack of is destroying governance at all levels, and percolating into the citizenry. Afterwards, I listened to the CNN commentary post-speech. Instead of focus on Trump, much of the CNN critique was levied on the Dems' behavior and disrespect toward the guests seated in the gallery -- and deservedly so. The Dems had the ability to "take the high road" and stand for the child, the widow, and a 94 year old mother, and they blew it. And why so many former Dems exited the party over recent years, myself included. Happy International Women's Day! Here's how I celebrated yesterday at Direct Relief: I listened to an inspiring woman from Malawi, Africa, speak to women's issues. Professor Mauakowa Malata, Vice Chancellor of Malawi University of Science and Technology. Look her up!