SUPERVISORS THROW QUARTER-MILLION AT 'YOUTH-LED' FUN, PROBABLY FOR ART PROJECTS

Santa Barbara County Supervisors, ever eager to appear 'with it,' have opened the public purse for a cool quarter-million, ostensibly for a 'Youth-Led Youth Fund.' The Independent, bless their earnest hearts, reported this as a grand victory for the 'Youth Impact SBC Coalition' and 'Future Leaders of America.' Because what better way to teach future leaders than to show them how easy it is to get a handout from the County for vague 'youth-led' initiatives?

One can easily imagine these 'youth-led' efforts involving, perhaps, interpretive dance about climate change, or maybe a series of workshops on the oppressive nature of capitalism, all while the streets remain unswept and the homelessness crisis grows. The real kicker? This funding surge comes from cannabis tax dollars, which these 'youth' and their grown-up handlers want redirected from dreaded 'enforcement' (heaven forbid we enforce laws!) to 'investment.' Investment, of course, being bureaucrats' favorite euphemism for throwing money at feel-good projects run by their pals.

While law enforcement agencies are stretched thin, dealing with issues far more serious than which Instagram filter to use, our County Supervisors are busy enabling performative activism with taxpayer cash. It seems the only 'impact' this coalition truly desires is making sure our hard-earned money fuels their progressive pet projects, while the real 'future leaders' — those looking for actual work and self-reliance — are left to wonder why adults treat their money like Monopoly cash. Another day, another quarter-million flushed down the drain of progressive virtue signaling.