When will the the broken stairs at Butterfly Beach get fixed? Not only do they look terrible, but they’re so dangerous. Santa Barbara goes crazy if we paint our homes the wrong shade of white, but no one wants to fix a hazardous situation on our beautiful beach? —M.
During a presentation to the Montecito Association’s Land Use Committee, a Biltmore representative said that owner Ty Warner is offering to repair the stairs and shore up the eroded walkway further along the bluff (below). The Santa Barbara County’s Public Works department, however, won’t acknowledge questions about the matter. Perhaps there are fears any deal will be seen as a quid pro quo for easing the way for the Biltmore’s renovations.
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Is this intentional painting or graffiti on the old LaFond Winery tasting room in the Funk Zone, at the corner of Yanonali Street and Gray Avenue? —T.
That is very much intentional: it was for an art show last December called L’Image. The artist’s tag is on the Yanonali side, but I can’t quite decipher it. (@_Meiiioh?) Apparently, “Jones” on Gray Avenue is an homage to another artist. If anyone knows more, please share.
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While hiking between Buena Vista and Romero Canyon, I noticed that some of the power lines are bright green. Is it some kind of anti-fire measure? —G.
The green is due to patina on copper wires, explained a rep for Southern California Edison, and it doesn’t affect performance. The ones that aren’t copper are made of aluminum (and therefore not green).
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I see license plates with “SB AG” followed by two numbers all over town. What’s the story? Are the numbers representative of years? Do they have to do with graduating classes of some school or a different group? —A.
Those are loaner cars from the Santa Barbara Auto Group.
Got a question you’d like investigated? Email sitelinesb@gmail.com or text 917-209-6473.
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Previous Burning Questions:
••• What’s this pole with a flashing blue light?
••• What are these sculptures on the Riviera?
••• What’s the origin story of this fence on Hot Springs Road?
••• What’s the housing development under construction next to the polo fields?
••• Why is part of this West Beach mosaic covered in concrete?
••• What was the Weeping Willow Inn?
••• What does the “S” on certain chimneys stand for?
••• What’s the status of the decommissioning of Rincon Island?
••• What happened to the gas flame on Highway 101?
↓↓↓ What do we know about the proposed apartment complex at 1 Hot Springs Road?
••• What’s the history of this tower on Ortega Ridge?
••• What’s up with these sculptures on a hillside in Summerland?
••• Is there a master plan for the new walking paths in Montecito?
••• Why are the Thousand Steps still wet?
••• What’s happening with Sola Street?
••• Why are trees being cut down above the San Ysidro Ranch?
••• Why is this lot on Milpas Street still vacant?
••• Where else do cruise ships that visit here go?
••• What is this large memorial in Ennisbrook?
••• What’s the large building under construction next to Highway 101?
••• Who bought the former St. Mary’s seminary—and why?
••• What will happen to the SBPD building when the new building is completed?
••• How does the city decide to mark bike lanes?
••• What’s the story with this house on W. Cota Street?
••• What are those little houses on Santa Barbara Street?
••• Is the Music Academy of the West adding pedestrian gates?
••• Why does the Coast Village Road median look so bad?
••• What’s the point of this light pole near the freeway?
••• Why are the city’s parking lots scanning license plates?
••• What’s inside Paseo Nuevo’s State Street tower?
••• What’s the point of these markings on Laguna Street?
••• Why is there a giant red shoe off Highway 101?
••• Are we no longer allowed on the SBHS baseball field?
••• What does “SBTP” on this post mean?
••• What’s up with the “no e-bike” signs on local trails?
••• Why is Franceschi House in a holding pattern?
••• What’s happening with this derelict house in Summerland?
••• Why is there wood on some power lines?
••• Can you explain how sundowner winds work?
••• Why is there a pressure cooker attached to this utility pole?
••• What’s this concrete ramp thing on East Beach?
••• Why does “USA” get written on the street?
••• What are those poles in the ocean near the Ritz-Carlton Bacara?
••• Are people really allowed to set fires in the middle of Montecito?
••• What’s the story with the half-finished lot next to the Montecito Country Mart?
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