SBCAN CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF 'ACTION,' COUNTY STILL MANGLED

Noozhawk dutifully reported that the Santa Barbara County Action Network, or SBCAN for those fluent in local progressive acronyms, recently patted itself on the back for 25 years of existence. One can only imagine the self-congratulatory backslapping and the potent aroma of artisanal kale as they 'honored the work' and 'empowered the future'—presumably a future where single-family homes are replaced by 'affordable' concrete blocks and every business permit requires an act of Congress. It’s a remarkable feat of organizational perseverance, sticking around for two and a half decades without demonstrably improving the lives of anyone outside their own membership.

One can appreciate the commitment to a cause, even when that cause seems to be making Santa Barbara County as unaffordable and bureaucratic as humanly possible. For 25 years, SBCAN has been a consistent voice against… well, against progress, primarily. Against private property rights, against new development, against anything that might actually bring down housing costs or create middle-class jobs. Their 'action' seems to consist mostly of showing up to public meetings to oppose things, then collecting awards for having shown up to oppose things. It's a self-sustaining ecosystem of self-importance.

While they were busy celebrating their quarter-century run of 'advocacy,' one might ask what tangible benefits this has brought to the average Santa Barbara County resident. Perhaps lower taxes? Smoother commutes? Fewer homeless encampments? Affordable housing that isn't funded by endless layers of taxpayer subsidies? Nope, none of the above. Just a lot of well-meaning (we assume) progressive hand-wringing and 'community engagement' that mostly serves to choke off any genuine free-market solutions. It's the kind of "action" that makes you long for a bit more inaction, for a change.

The 'changing of the guard' mentioned by Noozhawk signals more of the same, with new faces ready to pick up the torch of bureaucratic obstruction. Perhaps a new generation will bring fresh ideas, like maybe advocating for actual economic growth instead of just preserving the status quo of stagnation and high prices. One can dream, but realistically, it's probably just another 25 years of 'honoring the work' of making sure Santa Barbara remains a beautiful but perpetually unaffordable slice of progressive paradise.