Ty Versus The Association

The Inside Skinny on Ty Versus the Montecito Association

Montecito residents have been
riveted by the newest game in town—this week’s Ty Warner
vs. Montecito Association Grand Slam match, and both sides
have lobbed strong, hostile volleys against each other.

If you talk to Team Ty (Ty Warner’s bevy of consultants and
business managers), Warner has been the object of “abuse of power”
by the 60-year-old Montecito Association. From
association volunteers (whose average age is 60!), you hear they
are the brunt of an unwarranted attack by Warner’s slick PR
team.

Things got exciting with the first slam last week (the Wednesday
before Thanksgiving). The Montecito Journal got a hold of
a letter that Greg Rice, executive VP of
Warner Properties and Warner’s appointed voicebox,
was about to send to the Montecito Association Board of Directors.
The letter blamed the association for
driving Warner away from future development of the Miramar
Hotel project. It confirmed that the locally
treasured-but-waning hotel was on back on the market. With Warner
dropping out, the story flashed around Montecito and Santa Barbara
at the speed of an aced serve. (Indy columnist Barney
Brantingham broke the news on Friday — but the full dish was
reserved for my Montage!)