I've said before that the truth hurts, but sometimes it's downright chilling.
Take the report released by the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) about the county's response to the Thomas Fire and Montecito mudslides (see page 7). The county's own report recommended improved evacuation plans, more public outreach via social media and other means, and called for more effective collaboration between local government agencies.
The report is standard after disasters like last year's fires and the early-January debris flows, but this report took a lot of time compared to most. It's been almost a year since the deaths in Montecito wracked the county, and two people who were swept away still haven't been found.
The fact that the county could have been clearer or done more leading up to the Jan. 10, 2018, disaster is a hard pill to swallow. A story in the LA Times earlier this year detailed how the OEM and the county Sheriff's Office put out conflicting messages to the public preceding the catastrophe. Ever since then, the county has ramped up its mobile phone emergency alert system (don't we all love those?) and shares quite a lot more about moisture patterns off the coast.
It's scary to think that just a bit more awareness a year ago might have prevented numerous deaths, but here we are. That was the concern of a Montecito resident who spoke at the Board of Supervisors meeting where the report was presented. According to the resident, the report barely considered preventing loss of life in the future.
It's easy for a big, bureaucratic machine to skate over that concern, especially if it shows an uncomfortable truth. On the other hand, what else can an agency like the OEM do but look at the bigger picture and improve operationally?
Government is complicated. It's not often the horror show so many make it out to be. The long, boring meetings; the grind of improving entrenched institutions; and the complicated legalese it all takes is enough to scare most people off. That's why the real "American Horror Story" as far as I'm concerned is the lack of people engaged with their government. I'm talking about the very basics of keeping abreast of the issues and casting an informed vote.
The population of Santa Barbara County is around 448,000 people according to census numbers from 2017, but only 222,000 of those were registered to vote in 2016. Of those registered, only around 178,000 bothered to vote in the presidential election. But the direct primaries in June saw even more meager numbers. For instance, only around 90,000 county residents voted in the gubernatorial primary.
Why does that matter? Well, a bunch of local positions were decided in that election as well–two county supervisor seats, sheriff, auditor-controller, clerk-recorder-assessor, and district attorney. Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino ran unopposed for re-election, and just more than 7,500 voters in all of the district even bothered to cast a vote in the race.
People complain endlessly about the government, but how much responsibility do they take to do the very basics for directing it with their engagement?
Imagine a Santa Barbara County where everyone cared, stayed informed, and voted.
Is that a scary thought?
The Canary isn't spooked by people getting involved. Send your thoughts to [email protected].
