Letters to the Editor

21 – 28 May 2020 MONTECITO JOURNAL10 “Biologically speaking, if something bites you it’s more likely to be female.” – Desmond Morris O ver the past 10 weeks, Santa Barbara, along with the rest of the world, has been paralyzed with fear over the scourge of COVID-19. People remain frozen in fear of venturing outside, of touching a foreign or unknown object, and in fear of coming within six feet of another person. As the medical community grapples with the disease and understanding those most at risk, our economy crumbles.

Like many Santa Barbarans, my wife and I volunteer to help those most vulnerable and most at risk who live with food and/or shelter insecurity, many of whom need family services and domestic abuse prevention help. This is the time of year when my weekend is generally spent hosting and auctioneering fundraisers, trying to help community organizations raise much-needed funds. But COVID-19 has canceled all such get-togethers. It now looks as though fundraisers this fall will be canceled as well, leaving organizations scrambling to meet their budgets. These non profits work tirelessly to ensure that no family is without services and support, but are we forgetting them during this COVID-19 crisis?

There is little chance of a swift and sudden recovery given the structural damage to our economy as our reaction to COVID-19 continues to crush local businesses. The time to act is now.

The shelter-in-place order was intended “to flatten the curve” so that our healthcare system would not be overwhelmed. The media predicted rationed medical supplies, shortages of personnel and insufficient hospital beds, but the story turned out differently: Santa Barbara’s nimble and flexible healthcare professionals reacted quickly and repositioned resources where needed. No one was denied treatment. Cottage quickly set aside portions of its hospital and prepared for a rush of COVID-19 patients. Cal Poly’s 900-bed Alternative Care Site was constructed in record time.

Fortunately, as of today, there are only 10 patients recovering in the ICU. Was this an overreaction? Absolutely not. We faced a virus we didn’t understand so we prepared for the worst. Meanwhile, these past two months provided critical data to identify who was at risk for fatality and how to protect them.

Months ago, we discovered that anyone could become infected and anyone could be killed by the virus. We now know the first is true but we also know that the disease largely preys on a specific at-risk group: the elderly and those with certain medical conditions. With precious few exceptions, the young and healthy remain asymptomatic or suffer simple flu symptoms. A 40-year-old with underlying medical conditions should not be lulled into thinking this is a disease of the aged or infirm, as this virus preys mercilessly on the at-risk group and we must continue to protect them.

We now have tens of thousands of Santa Barbara County residents out of work and relying on government support. Each day, more and more businesses are closing their doors and leaving countless employees searching for work. There is little chance of a swift and sudden recovery given the structural damage to our economy as our reaction to COVID-19 continues to crush local businesses. Most importantly, it has created enormous pressure on countless families in our community who are already at risk, not for COVID-19, but for myriad other socio-economic issues.

The time to act is now.

Life is not without its risks: we make the decision to venture onto roads and highways knowing that 38,000 people will die annually in horrific accidents. We must focus on the data that identifies who is at risk and who is not. We must have the courage to venture out and protect our economy and our society. With courage, we can protect those at risk of COVID-19 fatality while not forgetting those vulnerable residents dependent on our charity and outreach. We can take measures to ensure employees and customers feel safe. I pray that our governor and local officials will take immediate steps to allow businesses to return, while sheltering and protecting the at-risk group. •MJ Ready for the Rush Community Voices

by Andrew Firestone

Andrew Firestone was born and raised in Santa Barbara County, and is the Founder and Principal of StonePark Capital. Andrew supports dozens of local non-profit groups supporting children and family services If you have something you think Montecito should know about, or wish to respond to something you read in the Journal, we want to hear from you. Please send all such correspondence to: Montecito Journal, Letters to the Editor, 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite H, Montecito, CA. 93108. You can also FAX such mail to: (805) 969-6654, or E-mail to letters@montecitojournal.net

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Tribute to a Community Treasure, John Venable I t’s extremely rare to find a person that gives so much of themselves unselfishly to their community as John Venable.

John was always “there” and “ready” for whatever task that lay ahead.

He was the first to volunteer to help organize and videograph our first Village 4th Parade (1996 & on).

Beautification Day saw John picking up trash for his community.

Decorating the Community Christmas (Hathaway Memorial) Tree was a favorite task.

He was a Civic superstar having been on the Board of the Montecito Association.

A passion in nature and hiking, John became long term Trails Foundation President.

John and I served on the Montecito Fire Protection District where he played a key roll in a variety of Director functions.

Last year John was rightfully nominated to be the Montecito Village 4th Grand Marshall.

Normally, the Grand Marshall has his “own” parade vehicle.

John asked to be with me on my Fire Engine, I was humbled and honored!

Thank you for your grace and wisdom.

Our entire community will miss you!

Dana Newquist Reject the Roundabout

My sons are fourth-generation Montecito Union alumnae. It goes without saying how much we regard our community.

Some time ago the County of Santa Barbara sent quite an elaborate mailer at tax-payer expense to our home. I never learned the scope of their target, but it should have reached every resident in our county.

With an elaborate layout and lots of color these are the points they hope to convince us of: • Create a welcoming pedestrian feel and ease-of-use • Promote bicycle accessibility for kids to experts • Use drought-tolerant landscaping and visual improvements • Maintain a semi-rural feel for a freeway frontage road • Educate drivers to slow to 25 mph around roundabout (current speed is 35 mph)

My maternal great-grandparents settled in my neighborhood prior to 1900. I am quite familiar with the intersection. Beach-goers and other pedestrians will not feel welcome. (How many pedestrians do you see using the Hot Springs roundabout?)

How will children and/or experts feel safe riding in vehicle lanes?

How will landscaping be handled when the current visuals are unacceptable?

How would a huge roundabout “maintain a semi-rural feel”?

Stop signs are in place. The current speed is 0.

I’m asking you and the other commissioners to unanimously reject this. It doesn’t belong in our community.

Sincerely,

Pamela Boehr Different Strokes

Mr. McGinity’s comments about Ashleigh Brilliant are, in the former’s own words, “somewhat off track.” To find fault with Brilliant that he did not give any support for his thesis that there is no God is not countered by McGinity’s evidence that there is one. The jury is still out on that one. Mr. McGinity’s guess that Brilliant is unhappy seems to presume that to be happy one must have kids or grandkids. This is a narrow perception of the great world beyond Montecito, where there are many fulfilled people who have elected not to have children. Finally, that Brilliant should convert to Christianity in order to have a rewarding life is absurd. (Christopher John Venable RIP

Hitchens was by all appearances a fulfilled man.) First, why Christianity, and not some other religion? Second, not all Christians are joyful and fulfilled people. Finally can one who does not believe in God simply “convert” to Christianity and adopt those beliefs that McGinity thinks make Christians a happy people. I am pleased that Mr. McGinity’s religion and offspring have given him a fulfilled life, but as Sylvester Stone wrote: “different strokes for different folks.”

Steven Gilbar Montecito

SBWCN Love

All of us are thinking about keeping each other safe during this pandemic. The wildlife among us need helping hands now as always. We are fortunate to have the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network on Fairview Avenue in Goleta. A local place to take injured or sick wildlife is so important. Several friends have discovered injured animals and have been grateful to have a local place to provide loving care for our fellow creatures. I have visited their facilities on many occasions and know first-hand of their wonderful work.

As we care for each other, we need to be aware of the wildlife around us, and care for them as well. I am so proud of the SBWCN and the continuing work that they do.

Tipper Gore Montecito

Remembering John

My dear friend, John Venable, once street neighbor, fellow wine lover, and Montecito ally, has passed into the other room. We shared wine, dine, and lots of good time. He was hero to me. I am a better man for having known him. Our Bistro get togethers will not be the same without him. He has left his mark on many places in Montecito: The Fire Board, The Montecito Association, The Polo Club and others. His heart was big, and his love for Montecito was HUGE. He, as I do, always felt it outrageously cool to live in village where we can voice opinions and help the community first hand. May his legacy live on in good memory and may we carry on his traditions of service. He will be missed.

Michael Edwards Montecito

Do As I Say…

On 5/12/20 while driving on Micheltorena Street northbound, I saw an incident that really disturbs me. Five police cyclists riding their bikes, not single file, but quintuple on the road, even protruding on coming traffic driving towards them, if that wasn’t bad enough, they ran a stop light, and stop sign.

The police are always lecturing us about road safety. Maybe the Chief should lecture her subordinates before they hit the road. By the way, I have a witness.

Thomas Carlisle

Stay Calm

The current pandemic brings back memories of 9/11 when I watched the Twin Towers crumble into dust.

My office was then on the 64th floor of 30 Rock and had a clear view of the Hudson River. Someone was in my office shortly after those collapses and said to me, “Look at that!” Six helicopter gunships were moving up and down the river and over the West Side for about an hour.

The following weekend we went to our home in Connecticut. My wife and I were in the yard on that Saturday afternoon with our children when we heard loud noises and looked up. Fighter bombers began swooping low in circles.

The first incident was precautionary. The second was to convey confidence.

Pearl Harbor was the seminal tragedy for my parents. My mother had been to Hawaii and lost friends whom she had first met when they were midshipmen and then my father began 34 years in the Navy.

I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis. At a Connecticut boarding school, we were taking drills to go into the basements of our dorms because of fears of a nuclear war. My father was then sleeping for ten days on a cot adjoining McNamara’s office at the Pentagon. I also remember where I was standing in a hallway at that boarding school when learning that JFK had been assassinated. Much later was 9/11.

This virus may be the seminal tragedy for the current generation.

The commonality is to stay calm.

Bill Loomis

Safety First

There are many reasons to oppose a roundabout at the San Ysidro intersection. Safety is by far the biggest. Empirical evidence shows roundabouts are safer and more efficient for motorized vehicles, not pedestrians and bicyclists. While they can reduce accidents for pedestrians at certain types of intersections they do not improve safety when replacing an all-way controlled stop intersection like San Ysidro. I have continuously expressed in meetings critical reasons that this roundabout cannot be put at San Ysidro. Reasons that are supported substantially from studies that show the safety issues with a roundabout at this corner would be significant and unavoidable. During the January 9, 2020 MBAR meeting again expressed those issues in detail bringing up important points on how this intersection is consistently used by the large number of elderly residents, children going to and from school, people walking their dogs to the beach, beach goers, families with wagons and large strollers with young children in tow. As well as the handful of visually impaired residents, myself included. I brought up the data that shows drivers only yield 5% of the time at most for pedestrians who step into the crosswalk and up to 24% if the pedestrian appears blind because they either are using a seeing eye dog or cane. That is unacceptable to expect any pedestrian let alone anyone who is visually impaired, elderly and especially children to ever take such a risk. A risk they will have to take three separate times just to cross the intersection in one direction. I also shared information on unconventional shaped roundabout design. According to the FHA oval and unconventional shaped roundabouts cause driver speed to increase on straight sections and increase chance of loss of control. This puts the drivers focus on

LETTERS Page 294

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