Flack Packet

Well, if you’ve been following the letters to the editor in the *Santa Barbara Independent*, you might have caught the one that landed with a thud last week. The paper’s “Flack Packet” column took aim at a submission titled “Strongly Doubt” — and let’s just say the editors didn’t mince words. According to the *Independent*, the letter’s argument on climate change was described with a phrase that starts with B and ends with S, which is about as Santa Barbara as it gets: we’re polite, but we don’t suffer nonsense when it comes to our coastline and fire seasons.

Here in the 805, we’ve watched the Thomas Fire, the Montecito mudslides, and now king tides lapping at Stearns Wharf. So when someone tries to cast doubt on the science that’s literally reshaping our backyard, it’s not just an academic squabble — it’s personal. The *Independent* did what local papers do best: called it like they see it, with a wink and a nudge. Whether you agree or not, it’s a reminder that our community cares deeply about the truth, and we’re not afraid to say so over coffee at the Handlebar.