THE BEGINNINGS

This is how it all began on October 4, with an aggressive little sign at the intersection of Garden and Guiterrez Streets.

On spotting that political semaphore at the busy intersection, messages were sent to the SB Mayor and City Council members: ifalcone@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us, rhorton@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us, dsecord @ci.santa-barbara.ca.us, daswilliams@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us, bbarnwell@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us, hschneider@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us and MBlum@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.

There were prompt replies from Mayor Blum, Council members Brian Barnwell and Dr. Secord. Dr Dan — how he, truly responsive to the public, will be missed from the Council, even probably by those who disagree with him! — immediately offered to remove the sign, adding when warned about the busy intersection, "I'm a politician. Think I'm not agile?"

Parenthetically (to signage): one might have thought that with the increased salaries that went into effect on July 1, augmenting the full health benefits plus other benefits, including travel expenses and pensions, making Council work, equivalent to more than the full-time, "living wage," presently sought for some workers, at about $15/hour + benefits, there would be increased response to the public.

If so, the proverbial "one" would be wrong, according to several observers. Those who were responsive, remain responsive. Tops on that list are Mayor Blum and Council member Secord, followed, not too closely, by Council member Barnwell; trailing, responding, I am told, apparently according to their own personal interests, are Council members Williams, Schneider, Horton, and Falcone. ...Hearsay, hearsay, hearsay, but definitely heard said — and so noted.

The sign came down. Ms. Falcone maintained her campaign workers took it down; not unlike a toadstool in the woods, a second sprouted several days later in the same place; it also came down.

But from that perhaps humble sign and the days it took to get it off the public property, a make-signs-legal! cause was born: Out of fairness to all, to have a level playing field (as much as possible within our $-rules electoral system) for everyone — the election ordinances must be respected.

The rules are clear: private campaign signs belong on private property.

And the response? The candidates have moved their signs. There is now a small team of watchers, reporting.

Join us: If you see a sign, write to the address established for this cause: signs05@cox.net - if you're sending a digital picture, please use as subject line, Illegal sign (location). Comments here are welcomed; anonymous ones, though, will be removed.

Thanks! Let's help keep our elections fair!

Betsy R. Cramer