Generally speaking I like Nick Welsh’s observations and insights on Santa Barbara. I’m a faithful reader. But, I do have to take exception to his commentary of May 12, “Lamentations for a Latte.” Nick is being unfair, and a person in his position can’t say he doesn’t care about being unfair. To quote: "Maybe I’m being unfair. Maybe I don’t care.” Sorry. Nick has a responsibility to care about every word he puts out in the public domain. If not, he should move along and find another profession — maybe as a barista.
It’s not fair to stand up on the Santa Barbara Independent’s soapbox and make statements that impact those businesses on State Street that need all of our support and the Independent’s support. The last several months have seriously impacted a lot of business owners up and down State Street, and Nick’s comments, based on Peet’s Coffee closing its doors, are insulting to the hundreds of people who work tirelessly to make their establishments successful in spite of incredible obstacles. I can only imagine the anguish Nick experienced when Macy’s closed its doors. He must have been suicidal.
To categorize State Street as “deader than dead, an experiential wasteland devoid of flavor or function” is an exaggeration of incredible proportions. I’m not sure where Nick gets his editorial license, but clearly he is out of sync — probably due to caffeine withdrawals.