11 minute read
On the Record
Let It Flow Nicholas Schou is an award-winning investigative journalist and author of several books, including Orange Sunshine and Kill the Messenger, his writing has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, The Atlantic, and other fine publications. If you have tips or stories about Montecito, please email him at newseditor@montecitojournal.net. T he Montecito Sanitary District (MSD) was formed in 1947 with the sole purpose of collecting, treating and disposing of the community’s wastewater, but it didn’t actually come online as a completed sewage system and treatment facility until the early 1960s. Today, the MSD serves approximately 3,100 customers in Montecito, with only a scattered number of parcels still using their own septic systems. With a total of 76 miles of sewer lines, the system pumps approximately 550,000 gallons of waste per day, all of which ends up at the MSD’s treatment center at the end of a private road just south of the 101 Freeway.
Earlier this week, I took a tour of the facility, along with Woody Barrett, one of MSD’s governing board of directors, and Alex Alonzo, the plant’s operations manager. Guiding the tour was Marc Ciarlo, a Grade 5 Operator, the highest level attainable in the state of California, and Daniel Jacquez, the chief plant operator. My visit began where everything that is flushed down the drain in Montecito ultimately ends up, at MSD’s inflow pump station.
After descending two steep staircases – the pipe brings sewage into the facility a full two stories underground – we enter a small, slightly foul-smelling concrete chamber and gather over a steel grate. Several feet below us is a swift-moving river of raw sewage that has just arrived. Before the water is pumped upstairs into the treatment area, it must first pass through a channel grinder, a pair of motor-driven rotary cylinders with teeth that rip apart any trash or debris entering the facility.
Because Montecito only has a few restaurants and hotels feeding into the pipes – Coast Village Road, being
Raw sewage entering the Montecito Sanitary District, two stories underground
part of Santa Barbara, isn’t part of the system – MSD doesn’t get the same variety of waste that most cities need to treat. That said, because of Montecito’s semi-rural nature, there are always unwanted travelers in the pipes. A rake propped up in the corner is used to pluck out stubborn pieces of non-organic material.
“Large pieces of debris impact the performance of the pumps,” Ciarlo tells me. “Sometimes we get flushable wipes,” which gum up the works, he adds. “Don’t flush those.” Unsurprisingly, MSD’s treatment facility operates on a diurnal schedule. During the night, when most people are asleep, the flow into the plant trickles to a stop. But by mid-morning, the flow begins its inexorable rise to a steady peak volume that lasts throughout the day and evening. There are instruments to measure the rise in flow, Ciarlo says. “If it’s an inch above the target set point, it sends a message for the motor to speed up.”
ON THE RECORD Page 454
HOLLISTER LAND AND CATTLE COMPANY (HLCC) DUCK CLUB
MEMBERSHIP FOR SALE L ocated in Gustine California. 2850 acres of the finest duck hunting in California. HLCC keeps 1/3 of its property in reserve, providing a sanctuary for the migrating ducks. In turn, we maintain a 4.5 duck average harvest every time a hunter goes into the field.
In early 2000, the Federal Government gave HLCC a "Scenic Easement" on the property. These funds have been invested in a commercial property. The funds from this investment provide 80% of the operations of the club.
The sale of this membership will include a 1/4 interest in a cabin which has one bedroom with a bath, a bunk room with a bath, kitchen, and living room with satellite television. The cabin can sleep 7. All members of the cabin reside in Santa Barbara.
HLCC ia a corporation with 85 outstanding shares.
You purchase one of these shares for $150,000.
Contact: Steve Crosslsnd 2102 Forge Rd. Santa Barbara 93108 (c) 805 689-3309 (h) 805 969-6721
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“Casa Bella Monte” MONTECTIO | 3BD/2BA/1HBA | $2,250,000 Fred Bradley 805.689.8612
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Beach Inspired Home MONTECITO | 4BD/3BA | $1,795,000 Ted Quackenbush 805.637.1782
Montecito Ocean View Parcel MONTECITO | $1,300,000 Daniela Johnson 805.453.4555
Elegance and Space MONTECITO | 3BD/3BA | $1,298,000 Kathleen St James 805.705.0898
LETTERS (Continued from page 8) all the issues and conflicts that arise in a diverse community and at the same time get things done that impact the District positively.
Please visit’s Steve’s Website, https://stevebennettforassembly. com/ to learn more about him or find him on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/Bennettforassembly/. Julia Springer Former MUS Board of Trustees, Trustee
Former 30-year Montecito Resident
Jason Dominguez for Assembly
Please consider casting your vote for Jason Dominguez for Assembly. He is an independent voice and supports the community interests, not special interests. Dominguez has a track record on the City Council of Santa Barbara. He fought to keep over-development from taking place. He banned smoking on State Street and in parks and beaches. He kept the water flowing during the worst drought in history. Finally, as finance chair, he returned a multi-million-dollar budget surplus. Dominguez will hold the line on taxes, hold people accountable, and lead with integrity. Dominguez had a fullfledged career before turning to politics. He is a Stanford and Berkeley educated teacher turned attorney who worked as a local prosecutor than a war crimes prosecutor in Africa and Europe. For more information, please check out his website at jasondominguez.org.
Lucy Hayden Santa Barbara
Who Knew?
Like most, I was a neophyte when it came to local politics. While I had a
bit of experience at the national level, I was clueless concerning how the “Machine” worked locally. Well, I’m here to report that the Machine is alive and well in Santa Barbara County.
Allow me to explain: In District 1, our Supervisor filed his Campaign Contribution Statement on January 23, for the period January 1 – January 18. Remember, being a party endorsed incumbent matters. Why you might ask? Because with incumbent power comes the right to influence salaries and pensions for many of our hard working County employees, including: our Deputies, DA Investigators and Firefighters. Folks whose work I truly admire!
Anyway, in 18 short days our Supervisor raised nearly $54k in contributions – approximately 43% coming from unions. SEIU Local 620 and our Deputy Sheriff’s Association each gave $10k and last year our Fire Fighters gave $25k. Understand, both of these agencies endorsed the incumbent before Capps officially entered the race – now that’s what I call a “Machine.”
Concerning elections themselves, SB is wrongly different. Unlike S.F. ($500), Ventura ($750) and L.A. ($1,500), our banana republic (where influence knows no bounds) has no such individual limitations. This is just fine for the incumbent but not for his fair-minded, honesty-first, challenger.
And, how about the obvious need for an Ethics Commission. We continue to live through a Cannabis-controlled era where accusations and suspicions abound. Believe you me, the need to preserve and foster the public trust is needed here more than anywhere on the planet – campaign financing, government ethics and lobbying all need reform. Capps, of course, sees the need for change. Our incumbent, who seems more focused on the 90 or so Cannabis growers and not the 450,000 other county residents, well…
In the end, please don’t believe that our local races are all that fair. Our candidates can speak about national issues (e.g. Citizens United) but when it comes to the cash they grab it – whether it’s from unions, special interests, corporations or individuals and if they don’t dark money Political Action Committees begin to spring-up to replenish the swamp. It’s already happening!
When much of your funding comes from unions and special interests, you can afford Christmas cards, New Year’s cards, frequent direct mail, digital ads, and heavy TV. I’m only sorry my birthday isn’t before March as I’m half expecting voter-gifts. I really do love election years! All this funding means your challenger becomes hugely outgunned, the quintessential underdog. We have come to expect this at the National level but when our Supervisor races become million-dollar affairs, something is seriously wrong!
But hey, this is America and if we don’t make a change in March and November we can all expect more of the same. Whether you’re in a union or not vote your conscience and know the “Machine” is real. Go Capps! Jeff Giordano SB County Resident
Laura for Leadership
In the midst of the political and cultural angst that permeates our times, Laura Capps represents the best that is in all of us.
Outraged by the transactional nature of politics she has witnessed in the first district, she was moved to take on Das Williams for 1st Supervisor. Laura listens intently, because she cares deeply. She has the mind of a researcher who digs deep to find answers and seeks collaboration with experts to develop solutions to difficult issues.
We need smart. Here are two perfect examples.
First, for years Laura has been a core member of a team of 150 community leaders around the country who look to each other to better understand how to deal with a variety of issues including: homelessness, climate change, affordable housing, poverty, education. We need her leadership, informed by this experienced perspective.
Second, when faced with seemingly intractable problems in her position on the School Board, Laura looks beyond the obvious, finding solutions in other districts that are having success, then taking those learnings, and applying them here.
Laura is resourceful, visionary, inspiring, and dedicated to our community.
She will not stop at “no” to the many obstacles that our bureaucracy can throw at her/us.
I am for Laura Capps. Bobby Shand Montecito
No Thanks
I could never vote for Andy Caldwell. It’s that on his radio show he doesn’t take all comers. All the phone callers are scripted. When Socialism is the topic, Venezuela is to be the example of Socialism, not any of the top producing Socialist countries. In discussing the Plains All-American oil spill Caldwell mentions an idea of giving oil companies a pass on killing dolphins. His identity is crowned with a bloody “Judeo-Christian” war against anything East of the Jordan River where no country is to have sovereignty against foreign intrusion. No thanks to Andy. Get serious. Matt McLaughlin Santa Barbara
Renters’ Burden
It may seem harmless to vote for Proposition 13 until you realize this property tax on apartment buildings will be passed onto renters. If passed it will be a burden on low income earners. Please vote No on Prop 13, a regressive tax. Peter Hunt Former Montecito resident
Lost and Found
This photo was found on Alisos Drive. If you recognize these individuals, please email letters@ montecitojournal.net so it can be returned to its owners.
A wonderful neighbor and Montecito Association member brought this photo in to our office. He found it on his property up on Alisos Drive. We hope you can help us connect with its rightful owner. Kind regards, Sharon Byrne Montecito Association
Santa Barbara’s Dirty Little Secret
Discrimination being practiced, right in front of everyone and all the tourists that comes to Santa Barbara, every Sunday for the last 50 years, at the Arts and Crafts Show on Cabrillo Boulevard, where a handful of photographers and artists, with the city’s blessing, prevent the craftspeople from setting up around the pier on Sundays.
Everyone knows that the area around the pier is where most of the tourists that come to Santa Barbara congregate, what with the parking, restaurants, skate park, bike rentals and the “Funk Zone.”
Even though there are many
