SUPERVISORS APPOINT ANOTHER 'GUY' TO PLANNING COMMISSION: SURPRISED?

It seems the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, in their infinite wisdom, has once again graced us with an agenda item that's less news and more 'nodding off.' This week, the Supes—the same folks who occasionally remember they're supposed to represent actual taxpayers—approved the appointment of Tony Guy to the Planning Commission. Our sources tell us he's a 'guy,' which, after a deep dive into county records, appears to be the primary qualification for many such plum positions.

Evidently, the Fourth District needed a warm body, and Mr. Guy fit the bill. One can only imagine the rigorous vetting process: 'Can you spell 'planning'? Yes? Excellent! You're in!' This kind of 'leadership' is precisely why our county teeters on the brink of another bureaucratic boondoggle every other Tuesday. The sheer transparency of it all—a simple 'appointment' with no inconvenient details—is almost refreshing in its audacity. It’s almost as if they believe we don’t pay attention to these things. Spoiler alert: we do.

While the Supervisors are busy patting themselves on the back for this thrilling personnel decision, the real news, as always, is what's *not* being said. What exactly does Mr. Guy bring to the table besides a pulse and a district affiliation? Is this a reward for long-standing political fealty, or a strategic placement ahead of some future development project that will undoubtedly benefit someone with particularly deep pockets? The Board's casual approach to these 'appointments' smells less like good governance and more like another brick in the wall of insider dealings and progressive pet projects. This paper will be watching closely to see which 'guy' profits next.