Edhat StaffBy edhat staff
The City of Santa Barbara announced Transportation Planning Manager Rob Dayton’s retirement Friday afternoon after he’d been on paid leave since May.
The Independent reported that Dayton had filed a complaint about inquiries made by three members of the Santa Barbara City Council regarding his involvement in Believer’s Edge, an all-male Christian ministry he started. The group came under scrutiny when it was discovered part of their mission was to use their “God-given assignment to influence the culture of Government, Business, Arts, Media, and Education.” Dayton was even found on a 2014 video describing his “calling and destiny” to “influence” local government and had accomplished much to be proud of in its seven years of service.
These reports, along with allegedly providing a secularized version of his “Life Mastery” curriculum to city staff, were part of an inquiry made this spring by three City Councilmembers concerned about Dayton’s involvement with Believer’s Edge and whether it blurred the line between his personal religiosity and his duties as a public official, reported The Independent.
Subsequently, Dayton filed a complaint with the city’s Human Resources department alleging discrimination and being passed over for prior promotions because of his Christianity. Last month, The Independent reported City Council the met in closed session with city attorneys to discuss Dayton’s complaint with sources stating he’s demanding a $500,000 payment to avoid litigation, although that number could not be independently verified.
Dayton, who earns about $190,000 per year, was hailed by the City for being “instrumental in bringing traffic congestion cures, such as roundabouts to our City, as well as tens of millions of dollars in bicycle and pedestrian projects.” The glowing press release praises his 30-year career highlights including the Shoreline Park (Path) Expansion to Ledbetter Beach, Cacique Street Freeway Undercrossing, Las Positas/Cliff Roundabout, and the Las Positas/Modoc Multi-Purpose Pathway.
“More than a transportation planner, Rob has been committed to good organizational health and has helped Public Works and other departments focus on leveraging their strengths for better governance. His leadership was instrumental in establishing the Mission/Vision/Values focus of Public Works, a key element of the department’s success. During the pandemic, Rob helped lead the team that implemented and refined the closure of State Street so that businesses could safely be sustained by operating in the street,” the press release stated.
Dayton’s own thoughts were included in the statement as well: “As I embark on the next chapter of my career, I want to express my deep sense of gratitude to our high-quality City staff and to the people of Santa Barbara who so passionately care about this community. In so many ways this has been a dream job for me, and I am proud of the work we’ve accomplished together (I often think of working for the City of Santa Barbara as paradise management!). It has been my honor to serve this community. Thank you!”
“The City of Santa Barbara likewise thanks Rob and remains grateful for his leadership and accomplishments. He will be missed,” reads the final line of the press release.
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It seems like religion is a great place for people without a brain.
Religious nut. It seems as though religion brings out extremes in people.
Wow. Total fail for us taxpayers. Thanks Rob. And thanks City for throwing away someone else’s (our) money. What a sh-t show…
Goodby Rob, you were always courteous and professional. I support your religious values and wish you and your group well, continuing to reach out to those in need at dark times in their own lives.
I knew there had to be something wrong with the person who is responsible for all these crazy roundabouts that have infected our city. These things are very popular in Britain. They drive on the wrong side of the road. Why would we take a cue from that??
Is there any way to stop his pension before he continues to bleed us taxpayers dry?
Are we going to find out about all his buddies that he gave city contracts to?
Dayton was always professional and pleasant to deal with,. Even when his decisions were not what you hoped for, you left understanding where he was coming from and what resources he also had to honor. I hope he continues with his good outside work, reaching out to those in dark moments of their lives. Very impressed any group meets with newly released prisoners at the very early morning hours, when some of them have no where to turn. It is. their choice to accept this outreach or not. But thank goodness someone is offering it. Thank you Rob, and I appreciated learning about this other dimension in your life because there was never a clue this was your life and mission outside of your working hours.
I am sorry so many who post here were somehow so badly damaged by what they now call “religion”. The reactions are sadly so predictable whenever this topic comes up. May grace flow into your lives someday and the blame ceases.
Agreed. And you can say the same thing about political parties (all of them).
This underscores problems at city hall and how important community involvement and government transparency are.
Why would anyone leave a $190K salary job working under “Paradise Management”? What has been the discussion since last May that has lead to retirement now in September at 55 years young? Does “Paradise Management” refer to the “not transparent” process – rather – a negotiated arrangement for a positive spin and a profitable way out – including paid leave since last May and full pension plus accolades for “accomplishments”? I would say many of the stated “accomplishments” are of arguable benefit considering the actual results, the cost to citizen taxpayers, and the permanence and impact of the alterations. In my view, many of these projects were not fully considered for actual safety, appropriateness, or need, and were strategically manipulated to avoid full community vetting and participation. This is a big part of our problem that we need to fix.
Note that the “Paradise Management” team responsible for this sad situation and other chronic, unfortunate, and avoidable issues included our City Administrator who has resigned and is out as of last Friday, and the “leadership” our current Mayor and City Council. I hope for dramatic changes in approach and attitudes after the election.
A religion is simply a SOCIAL TOOL ! Like a hammer, it’s value depends on its use.
Having said that, for the few – very few – people who don’t preach, but instead, simply life the life of brotherhood and understanding, AS WELL AS PAY THEIR TAXES, its is likely that they are already loved by all.
Pretty easy to look up on google. 34 years of Transportation experience, I assume tons of training along the way, and a degree from USC in urban/regional planning. Literally long ass career working his way up the bottom of his field. I dont know if he is a good person or not…but i know that Edhat people love to rip people down hiding behind anonomous handles.
Religious beliefs make people give money to people like Jim baker.
Apparently he ran out of places to transform in his “paradise management.” We’re left with a bunch of traffic calming devices to navigate around, the ugly and rarely used bike path on Cota Street, and the upcoming one on Sola Street that got rammed through the approval process so they could get the grants signed in time. For all that, we get to pay the bill for his months-long paid vacation while he tried to extort a half-million more, and a decades of a generous retirement package for this guy way younger than typical retirement age. Thanks a lot, rob.
A10:18 p.m.; Any mass grouping will have its share of brainless the the problem is that the nature of religion attracts those without a brain. It will always have a much higher number of non-thinking people in its web. The essence of religion is that we cannot reason faith. It definitely survives by offering the brainless a place where they can simply follow rules with the promise of future salvation/life. So, yes, religion is the refuge of the simple.
People with extreme, weird, or overly auditory proselytizing religious beliefs should be questioned. This guy, the one who killed his own kids, etc. There are several of these fringy evangelical “churches” around town who need to be more accountable. They all seem to be illegitimate and self-serving (perhaps like all religions). Lots of people have lost their minds during this pandemic left at home with a brainwashing tools in their hands for too long.
any “damages” paid to this guy by the taxpayers should be weighed by any “favoritism” he was shown during the hiring process.
those roundabouts are a death trap.
WWJS?: Who Would Jesus Sue?
This guy even did bs things with his own property.
Oh I don’t need parking for my new building. All my renters will be required to ride bikes. HA!!
We just know where organized religion ends up. Or do you think Jesus and Mohammed would be really pleased by the inquisition and the Taliban?