Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina

01/03/2025

https://youtu.be/QGVK-ExdU8c?si=vq7lTq1ht4ac8s4K

He's only 24, but already Sullivan Israel is one of Santa Barbara's most influential people. He founded the local Strong Towns SB and has been an advocate fo...

11/12/2024

I rarely get to Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisor hearings, but this week was a blast. Here are some of my photos from a long day at the office. One thing about me, I love journalism, and I love public meetings, and all the on-the-surface interplay, as well as the not-so-obvious emotions in the room. Someone once told me that it is boring to "shoot meetings." I disagree. Meetings are full of a life and it's a photojournalist's challenge to capture all of it. My photos aren't meant to make people look good, or bad, just real moments that highlight the important work these government officials, staffers, and members of the public take part in everyday. It's not quite as fun as watching "Wicked," but, for me, it's close. These photos are from the debate around the Rosewood Miramar Hotel. Check out my story in Noozhawk.com and see more of my content at santabarbaratalks.com
1. Steve Lavagnino
2. Laura Capps
3. Rick Caruso
4. Steve Lavagnino, Joan Hartmann
5. Steve Lavagnino, Joan Hartmann
6. Board members
7. Jordan Sisson
8. Gina Fischer, Steve Lavagnino
9. Bob Nelson
10. Lisa Plowman
11. Das Williams
12. Rachel Van Mullem
13. Cliff Ghersen, Hillary Hauser
14. Jacquelyne Alexander
15. Bryce Ross, Katie Manguin

10/12/2024

Finally getting a chance to post some of my photos from Friday night's Downtown Association Holiday Tree lighting ceremony. It was so much fun. The Downtown Association does a great job.

04/12/2024

Some of my photos from Tuesday night's City Council meeting. Check out my story in Noozhawk.com

27/11/2024

https://youtu.be/x1KVBrtGNJs?si=f_23_v08ku6HCdVa

Das Williams joins Josh Molina to talk about the early part of his life and career in the latest episode of Santa Barbara Talks. Williams explains how his ea...

25/11/2024

Guess who is home for a week....

25/11/2024

Downtown Organization installed the Annual Christmas Tree downtown today. The tree comes all the way from Oregon. It was quite the fun process to observe. They will light the tree at a special event on Dec. 6. Check out my story in Noozhawk later today.

23/11/2024

Big crash snarls traffic on Highway in both directions this morning. Check out Noozhawk.com for my story. Benson Guron photos.

19/11/2024

Big event today for the city of Santa Barbara with its Santa Barbara Police Department Groundbreaking ceremony. Many law enforcement individuals, high-level administrators and elected officials from throughout the county in attendance. The city has tried to build a new police station for decades, but funding challenges hurt the project. Now, the passage of Measure C paved the way for this new $96 million building. Check out my story in Noozhawk tomorrow.
1. Meagan Harmon
2. Bob Nelson
3. Meagan Harmon and Ethan Bertrand
4. Police Chief Kelly Gordon
5. Kelly Gordon and Cam Sanchez
6. Marylinda Arroyo
7. Kelly McAdoo and Meagan Harmon
8. Randy Rowse
9. Kelly Gordon
10. Kelly McAdoo
11. Cam Sanchez and Chris Bell
12. Kelly Gordon
13. Kelly Gordon
14. Shoveling Dirt
15. Kelly Gordon and Paul Casey
16. The Honor Guard
17. Meagan Harmon
18. John Palminteri and Ryan P. Cruz
19. Cam Sanchez
20. Chris Bell

13/11/2024

Some of my photos from the Santa Barbara City Council meeting today and my coverage of the police station headquarters.
1. Police Chief Kelly Gordon
2. Kristen Sneddon
3. Alejandra Gutierrez
4. Randy Rowse
5. Eric Friedman
6. Keith DeMartini
7. Kelly Gordon
8. Council meeting.

11/11/2024

Megan had a blast today at the Kids Draw Architecture reception. She participated in the Architecural Foundation of Santa Barbara event earlier this year where they sketched the Santa Barbara Mission. The Foundation creates a calendar every year with the kids' work. Cass Ensberg does an amazing job putting on the event. It was a special day for Megan, and we ran into some friends.

07/11/2024

I was super-proud of all my students who rocked election night with their stellar reporting. For 15 years I have had the pleasure of teaching students journalism. There is no better professional reward than to see them shine. These photos are just some of them. They are always my stars on election night.

07/11/2024

More election night photos!
1. Gregg Hart
2. Jonathan Abboud
3. Darcel Elliot
4. Stanley Tzankov
5. Alejandra Gutierrez
6. Teddy Cabugos
7. Benjamin Peterson and Gabe Escobedo
8. Gabe Escobedo
9. Wendy Santamaria
10. Alejandra Gutierrez and The Legend

06/11/2024

Some election night photos! More to come. What a night!
1. Anika Brodnansky and Cebelli Pfeifer
2. Wendy Santamaria
3. Kristen Sneddon and Jett Black-Maertz
4. Oscar Gutierrez
5. Channels Editors and J101 students
6. Wendy Santamaria and supporters
7. James Kyriaco
8. Channels staffers and editor
9. Randy Rowse and Mike Jordan
10. Stuart Kasdin and Salud Carbajal

03/11/2024

Busy early part of the day covering politicsal events around town. Check out my political notebook column in Noozhawk.com on Sunday for more coverage and visit SantaBarbaraTalks.com or YouTube for my podcasts.
1. Emily Zacarias
2. Luz Reyes-Martin
3. Wendy Santamaria
4. Jonathan Abboud
5. Stanley Tzankov
6. Sign
7. Oscar Gutierrez
8. Gabe Escobedo
9. Laura Capps
10. Sign
11. MJ
12. Literature
13. Michal Lynch
14. Wendy Santamaria
15. Jonathan Abboud

24/10/2024

Fabulous Friday-Sunday last week for homecoming weekend. Got to hang out with Jacob and experience a bit if his life at UC Berkeley. This guy is amazing. We're happy for him. And can't wait for Thanksgiving. For those who are interested, Jacob is on the UC Berkeley mock trial team, Debate team, works in the Student Advocates office, lives in a single in campus housing, and has a part-time job working for an attorney. He's also taking a full load of classes and has all As. He has a good group of friends and I could not be happier and thrilled with his success and attitude in life. Anyone who knows me knows I invested a ton of time when he was young and it all mattered and matters. My work is never done, but it feels good that he's doing pretty good on his own. We had a great time this weekend and Megan might be ready for college herself with all this support of her brother.

23/10/2024

Here are some of my photos from my story on the new downtown housing project by housing provider Peter Lewis. The rents range from $2,700 to $6,500 and it is 65 percent leased after a month. Those interviewed for the story include developer Lewis, tenants, councilmember Meagan Harmon, Downtown Association Leader Robin Elander. Read the full story at Noozhawk.com and check out more of my content ar santabarbaratalks.com

19/10/2024

What a chaotic Montecito Planning Commission meeting on Friday. Here are some of my photos. Long story short, a move by Caruso's attorneys led to the recusal of a Planning Commissioner, forcing an abrupt halt to the meeting and no vote on the Montecito Rosewood Miramar Resort Hotel housing and retail project. Check out my story in Noozhawk.com and see more of my content at SantaBarbaraTalks.com.
1. Rick Caruso
2. Lisa Plowman
3. Justin Caruso
4. Ron Pulice
5. Lisa Plowman
6. Aaron Briner
7. Aaron Briner
8. Rick Caruso
9. Sandy Stahl
10. Bryce Ross