2024 Voters Guide
Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce is proud to present our 2024 Voters Guide.
Part of the Chamber’s charter and mission is to connect business with the government in meaningful ways. Our annual Voters Guide is not meant to tell you who or what to vote for. That is up to you. Our job is to identify the candidates and measures that are most aligned with our pro-business mission, as it relates to the quality of life in our communities.
The Chamber sent questionnaires to candidates running for Districts 3 and 4 and Mayor in the City of Goleta, Districts 2, 3, and 4 in Carpinteria, and Districts 1, 2, and 3 in Santa Barbara. Below you will find the answers provided by each candidate.
CLICK HERE to view or download the Voter's Guide including candidate endorsements and positions on ballot measures.
The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce also sponsors the South Coast Business Action Fund, a group of business leaders who work together for pro-business political action. We also endorse business-friendly candidates and raise money to help elect Chamber supported candidates, and recruit business leaders to run for office. Visit BAF.SBSCChamber.com to learn more or to donate today.
Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber 2024 Santa Barbara Voters Guide
Santa Barbara City Council Candidate Questionnaire Responses
Question 1: Candidate Priorities
Please list your personal top priorities for the City of Santa Barbara and provide your plan for seeing these priorities realized.
Housing Affordability: More than 60% of Eastside residents are renters, and rising rents are pricing working people out of our community. Many are falling into homelessness, living in their cars or even on the streets. Our community needs bold action to address the housing crisis. That means using all the tools in the City’s toolbox, including investing in building affordable housing, streamlining the housing approval process, and stabilizing rents for working families.
Economic Vitality: We need to modernize and simplify practices to cut red tape at City Hall. I believe in building a culture of customer service, and having a yearly work plan to evaluate outdated regulations to streamline processes for small businesses.
Climate resilience and flood control: Year after year we see scenes of flooding on the lower Eastside. We need a representative that will be a strong advocate for the Eastside and actually meet these challenges head on. We need to invest in improvements to Sycamore creek and the bridges that cross it, as well as update our stormwater drainage infrastructure.
I was elected to serve in District 1 in 2019. When I first ran, I had a vision to be a voice for my district and the city at large – this meant putting partisan politics aside and getting work done to strengthen the voice of my community, provide access, rebuild public trust between community members and public safety, enhance safety and enjoyment of public spaces, address affordable housing and tenant protections, and improve access and education for city youth by creating successful youth programs, trade education and addressing youth violence through readaptation of community policing and positive dialogue.
I am proud of the work I have begun and am eager to continue to strengthen and improve on that work. During my first term, I worked diligently to address several key issues:
Community Engagement
I have been committed to staying true to my community, particularly focused on enhancing access to Latino Eastside constituents which is the largest electoral body in District 1, but who felt largely disconnected from City Hall. To address this, I have worked to create open dialogue by doing outreach to Spanish speaking families, offering bilingual services to address and enhance inclusivity, and community building. I have successfully built relationships within our community by creating a culture of trust and unity by prioritizing community needs over political agendas.
The issues that affect my district and the city are nonpartisan, affect us all, and therefore need holistic approaches when tackling these issues. I will continue to work diligently to keep our community engaged and thriving.
Housing Crisis: Housing Affordability, Rental Protection and Rent Control
We are facing a critical housing affordability crisis. I was born in the city of Santa Barbara and like many, I can’t afford to purchase a house in the city where I was born, grew up in, and serve. Like many Santa Barbarans, I am also a renter and understand the challenges we face as renters. Contrary to what some may think, I do not own any property.
I have sat on several committees, attended countless meetings to address the critical housing crisis that affects our working families. To address this, I have voted and supported tenant protections against unjust evictions, renovictions, and protections toward right of first refusal after a unit has been renovated by owners. However, I, along with other colleagues on the City Council, do not support the proposed 2 % rent cap my opponent intends to initiate.
The proposed 2% rent cap is not sustainable. It will create hardships for housing providers, especially mom and pop (many of whom have been good operators) who already face high mortgage rates, rising property taxes, increasing (or cancellations of) fire, flood, and home insurance. Many are also facing and fearing increased water and sewer hikes which are just around the corner. Maintaining their rentals will become insolvent and unsustainable forcing many to sell or disinvest in the rental market which will have negative impacts in our community. This will create a vacuum for corporations to swoop in and purchase real estate, which can drastically change the fabric of our community.
We already have rent control in the State of California by way of SB 1482, at 5 percent plus inflation.
Rent Control is not the solution to the housing crisis – it is one ideological band aid that has been adopted by cities to try to offer solutions to a much more multifaceted and complex issue. The cities of San Francisco, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Venice, Beach, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood have all enacted rent control, yet not one city named has made housing more affordable or has solved housing affordability by establishing rent control. If this was the case, I would have voted for a process that is proven to work. Rent control is not the answer.
In fact, the market restrictions caused by rent control have had the opposite effect making more renters compete for limited rental units. Housing providers opt for renting to safer “candidates” who have steady income, good credit scores, and are considered to be less of a “liability”. Essentially, those who secure a rent controlled apartment, will have no incentive to move (even if their wages increase) and free up that unit for lower wage earners who are in true need. These practices will create a greater shift between access and equity, essentially redlining people of color, especially single mothers of color.
The unintended consequences of rent control will be harder on working class families who may not have the high credit scores and income levels discerning housing providers look for. Essentially, this will leave many Latino renters out of the rental markets since many are used to more relaxed rental agreements.
Moreover, the rental registry that is being proposed will disrupt the market further by forcing Latino housing providers to pay fees they can’t afford in addition to already increased mandatory fire and flood insurance fees. Additionally, a rental registry will be expensive to run and will create more bureaucracy. For example, Santa Monica’s rental board who runs the registry has a $4 million budget.
To address our housing crisis we need to come together and create community and effective dialogue around this issue. Vilifying housing providers is not a starting point. Housing providers need to be at the table as much as renters, along with the city and nonprofits. I will promote that everyone sit at the table to create sustainable solutions, rather than opting for the easy fix. Our city is not Beverly Hills or Santa Monica or Oxnard. We need to create a solution that is created by and for us.
Outdoor Dining and State Street
I have been thoroughly engaged in discussions about the future of outdoor dining on State Street. To address our critical fiscal standing, I pushed for decisions on outdoor dining fees and emphasized the need for leadership in making difficult decisions regarding the street’s closure.
More work needs to be done, but I continue to focus on viable solutions to make the area appealing, vibrant and economically solvent for our local businesses who rely on a healthy flow of patrons, both local and tourists. I continue to advocate and make decisions to create a thriving downtown element – one that will provide residents and tourists alike with a plethora of delightful experiences downtown. Getting the right balance will help small business owners regain trust in our local economy.
No response provided.No response provided.
- Road repairs, public bathrooms, other maintenance
- Follow up on issues and ensure the community is aware of the process for submitting requests.
- Ensure Council is consistently considering needs of all businesses
- Maintain open lines of communication to provide appropriate representation of the Mesa district
- Restoring/adding amenities at local parks:
- Addition of yellow light and crosswalk for safer access to Honda Valley Park
- Restoration of foot washing station at Arroyo Burro Beach
- General upkeep of play equipment
- Ensuring amenities purchased and maintained with community funds are fully accessible
For the past five years, it’s been a privilege to represent and serve you as your Councilmember for District 2. My approach has been and will continue to be actively engaged with the community, listening to your concerns and using common sense to navigate situations with competing interests and tensions.
Protecting the Quality and Vibrancy of Our Neighborhoods
*I’ll continue to work on regulating short-term rentals to preserve neighborhood character.
*I’ll continue to promote and implement bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements.
Keeping Us Safe Through Proactive Fire Prevention
*I’ll continue to lead the immediate response to emergencies like the Loma Fire – homeless camp clean ups, housing homeless residents.
*I’ll continue development of wildfire preparedness and prevention programs in areas like the Coastal High Hazard Areas and across the city.
Promoting Proactive and Compassionate Solutions to Homelessness
*I’ll continue efforts to develop housing solutions for homeless individuals and others in need.
*I’ll continue the use of critical resources like the Daytime Navigation Center to permanently lift individuals out of homelessness while reducing community impacts.
Revitalizing the Downtown Core
*I’ll continue to work on the redevelopment of Paseo Nuevo for beneficial housing to revitalize the downtown corridor.
*I’ll work closely with local businesses to address their needs and improve business friendly city processes. Protecting Parks, Beaches and Open Spaces *I’ll continue to provide resources for improving park maintenance and beach access, protection of our open spaces.
Housing
Support the funding of the city’s Housing Trust Fund, increase the affordable inclusionary housing cap, streamline the building process, restrict short term vacation rentals.
Economic development
Support local business groups like the South Coast Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Organization of Santa Barbara, Downtown Food and Beverage Committee, Montecito Business Improvement District, the Downtown District Improvement District, VenTech Forums and the UCSB Economic Forecast Project. Work to streamline the permit process.
Youth engagement
Continue to work with the school district to open their school campuses city wide to allow the youth to have access to open play areas, as we did with Harding school on the westside. Encourage the school district to send their students to intern for the different city departments for community service and part time paid work. Fund more after school programs through our city’s park and recreation program.
Improvement to the Westside business district. Roads, sidewalks, ligh/ng and cross walks. Basic infrastructure has been neglected for more than a decade. Working with other council members is the key to geEng ac/on items up for a vote. Crea/ng a plan for our ci/es youth that were leF behind post Covid Shut downs. Working with many of Santa Barbara’s non-profits in conjunc/on with the private sector to create a voca/onal training program that will lead our most affected youth into well paying job and careers in the plumbing, carpentry, electrical and auto industries.
Question 2: Santa Barbara Business Climate
How would you describe the current business climate in the City of Santa Barbara, as well as the City’s current relationship with local businesses? Is there anything you would like to see change in this regard?
I believe in many ways, our City is not doing enough to make it possible for local businesses to grow and thrive. There is far too much red tape in City Hall that businesses have to navigate, and we need to make improvements to prioritize customer service. As a Councilmember, it will be my job to act as a liaison between City Hall and local businesses that are navigating the process. I will make myself available to help constituents with concerns, whether it’s building permits or facility rentals. Unfortunately, I hear from residents and businesses on the Eastside regularly that they sought out our current Councilmember for help, and she never returned their calls. Our local businesses, and all of the Eastside’s residents need a Councilmember who will be present and answer their requests for help.
Our local businesses are a critical component of the City. I believe that in the City of Santa Barbara, our current business climate needs improvement and needs to focus on being more business friendly. Currently, the climate is still somewhat divided. In terms of our current relationships with local businesses, I would like to see more outreach and support from our city. Since COVID, our businesses, and especially small businesses, have struggled to recover. I would like to see wide scale cooperation amongst businesses to come together and create plans, with assistance from the city, to uplift one another and drive traffic to our business corridors. I would also like to see committees formed that consist of business from various locations and sizes. In these committees, I want to see the city make an effort to create outreach and schedule meetings between business owners and city staff. This will allow concerns about safety, cleanliness, and infrastructure to be heard. Not only will their voices be amplified, but this will also ensure that the community is heard and is part of the solution necessary to make improvements.
I was and am an unwavering supporter of the BID in the downtown area. I played a big role in getting property owners on board with the BID program. I was successful due to the relationship building I have done for years in the community. I was able to gain the trust of the property owners to give the city another opportunity to work for the betterment of the community.
No response provided.
The City of Santa Barbara works to build and maintain healthy relationships with local businesses. Increased consistency of updates through resources such as the Business News page on the city’s website are needed. The most recent article posted there today (8/26/24) is dated July 20, 2023. The most recent Quarterly Business News in Brief posted there is dated ‘Spring, 2023’.
Working closely with local businesses to address their needs and improve business friendly city processes is essential to maintaining and improving the benefits the entire community enjoys- business stability, healthy employment, a stable tax base, and all that goes with a successful local government- infrastructure, public safety, parks and beaches, social programs for those at risk.
I’ll continue to work at engaging with the local business community and leveraging past experiences to improve processes and opportunities. My goal is to make local government work better for the entire community.
Santa Barbara’s business climate is dynamic, with a mix of challenges and opportunities shaped by its unique economic landscape. The city boasts a strong tourism sector, thriving small businesses, and a growing focus on sustainability and innovation. However, high operating costs, especially rent and wages, present significant challenges.
The City collaborates closely with local businesses, offering support programs, especially post-pandemic, to foster growth and resilience. Yet, there’s room for improvement. Streamlining permitting processes, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and increasing support for affordable commercial spaces are key areas for enhancement. Further investment in infrastructure like transportation, parking, and digital connectivity would also help create a more robust, business-friendly environment.
Overall, while the business climate is positive, targeted policy adjustments and infrastructure improvements can further strengthen Santa Barbara’s local economy.
I would like to see a compromise on State Street and get it opened up during regular business hours. I believe the city needs to reduce the “red tape” to allow new businesses a streamlined method to opening their business.
Question 3: Economic Development
Compare your priorities for economic development within the City of Santa Barbara to the City’s current economic development priorities?
I support the 3 foundational strategies in the City’s economic development plan. Where I would differ is in where we should emphasize our efforts. More can be done to promote the Milpas corridor and the small businesses there, in addition to the City’s attention to State Street. When I hear from small business owners how long and complicated it is for them to get all the proper approvals to start a new venture, I can feel their frustration. That’s why we need to have a work plan to identify and cut outdated regulations to improve customer service.
The city has needed to improve economic development for a long time now. To address this, a few years ago the council had made it a priority to invest in our economic development especially after COVID. The direction was to hire an economic development director, but that did not go so well. To address this ongoing need, the council voted to create a partnership with the SB chamber to help with the city’s economic development. The Chamber is already doing the work that has been highlighted in the Economic Development Plan for the city (support local business, cultivate a business-friendly city government and enhance the downtown (arts and culture, educational event, entertainment and to strengthen businesses).
No response provided.
Encouragement and support of new businesses is a top priority of mine. I am a founding volunteer organizer of the Santa Barbara chapter of 1 Million Cups – a national program that provides an entirely cost-free platform for new business owners to connect with their community. The program has been running here since January 2019. Nearly 50% of new businesses fail within 5 years of starting. Reducing this failure rate by any amount puts the entire community in a better economic position for the future.
The two considerations that rise to the top for me are the City’s historical role in economic development and a lack of structural and immediate concern.
Historically, the City has looked to private interests to support economic stability, during long periods of time where Santa Barbara had the regional, state, and international draw as a top destination of choice. We are clearly not in the same position and struggling to even maintain our traditional position as a top destination of choice for tourism and businesses. and lack of investment, new housing, and infrastructure has put us in the position of playing catch up.
My priorities are to maintain the look and feel of Santa Barbara as a top choice for residents, visitors and businesses, while offering timely support that provides for certainty in processes, flexibility in pathways, and results for the community.
My economic development priorities for Santa Barbara focus on fostering a balanced, inclusive, and sustainable economy. While the City emphasizes tourism, small business support, and sustainability, I believe more can be done to align these goals with our diverse community’s needs.
I prioritize increasing support for local small businesses, particularly those owned by underrepresented groups, through targeted programs that provide resources, training, and access to capital. This ensures inclusive and equitable economic growth.
Addressing the affordability crisis is also crucial. I support policies that encourage developing affordable housing and commercial spaces, helping businesses thrive without high costs.
Additionally, I emphasize diversifying our economy beyond tourism by investing in sectors like technology, green energy, and creative industries. This would create high-quality jobs and enhance economic resilience.
While my priorities align with the City’s current strategies, I advocate for a stronger focus on inclusivity, affordability, and diversification to build a more robust economy.
No response provided.
Question 4: Housing
What do you believe is the state of housing in the City of Santa Barbara? What are your priorities regarding housing in the City of Santa Barbara?
The state of housing in Santa Barbara is a crisis, and it’s gotten exponentially worse in the last several years. Year after year we see significant rent increases, which are destabilizing our community by pricing out working families that keep our local economy running. We need to get the cost of housing under control, and that is why I support a comprehensive approach to solving the problem. This includes utilizing different tools, including investing in the affordable housing trust fund to build quality affordable housing, streamlining our development processes, and stronger tenant protections for renters.
We are facing a critical housing affordability crisis. To address this we need to create a streamlined process to obtain permits to build housing. The permitting process we have in place now is broken and it makes the cost of building projects more expensive and disincentivizes developers from building. We need to come up with creative ideas to help fund housing projects that houses and helps the missing middle. I have presented a proposal to the city staff and council to help build more housing that will help the missing middle. My proposal consists of a loan program to residents within the City Of Santa Barbara for the construction and/or remodel of residential property for the purpose of creating affordable housing. However, due to the political climate around this topic I have not garnered the support to push my proposal to the council for a full review and vote. One of my highest priorities is to rebuild trust and community with everyone that is involved in building housing (private, public, nonprofits, construction companies, financial institutions, realtors etc.) We need everyone at the table to build housing. There is no more room for politics. We have to work together and bring tangible solutions that address this core issue once and for all.
No response provided.
Santa Barbara, like the entire coast of California, is a high housing cost city. It is important for Council members to remain educated on the current state of housing and to provide resource information that could be helpful to those challenged wi th the cost of living here. While providing adequate housing is fundamental in every community, it is tremendously important that communities do not rush into development decisions that could have negative effects on the community in the future. Thoughtful consideration coupled with responsible action is necessary.
Housing continues to be an issue both in the City and regionally. Santa Barbare is a built-out City that treasures its look and feel, often to its detriment, leading to a shortage of employees, stagnating economic vibrancy, substandard housing, an over reliance on tourism, and sometimes efforts that make the situation worse.
I’ll continue to support the development of new housing in locations that benefit the city, in the type of housing provided, and balancing the impacts as best that can be accomplished to local expectations.
Santa Barbara faces a severe housing crisis, with high demand, limited supply, and rising costs making it difficult for residents, including middle-class families, young professionals, and essential workers, to find stable housing. My housing priorities focus on increasing affordable housing, protecting renters’ rights, and ensuring sustainable development.
To expand affordable housing, I support partnerships with nonprofits, using city-owned land, and leveraging state and federal funds, along with inclusionary housing policies for new developments. Protecting renters is also crucial, which is why I advocate for policies like Just Cause Eviction, Reneviction protection, and Renters’ Right to Legal Counsel.
I believe in restricting short-term rentals and favoring long-term housing to maintain neighborhood character. Additionally, I support smart growth principles for sustainable development and encourage exploring innovative housing solutions like ADUs and co-housing. Addressing these priorities is vital for the social and economic vitality of our city.
Taking away incen/ves from developers is not good for the future growth of our city. a No on 33 would help to aVract more builders to our community. I am against rent control and caps in Santa Barbara. Minnesota had a hard cap of 2% and the following year, new construc/on was down 80%. We need new housing and reasonable rents. Finding ways to incen/vize developers and landlords through possible tax credits may be the key?
Question 5: Energy and Reliability
What do you believe is the state of energy and electricity reliability in the City of Santa Barbara?
What are your priorities regarding energy and electricity reliability in the City of Santa Barbara?
As an Eastside resident who experiences the frequent power outages, I feel a sense of urgency in taking the necessary steps to increase grid reliability. With the increasing strain on the grid caused by climate change, we need to do what we can locally to increase grid reliability. I support the City’s Santa Barbara Clean Energy Community Choice Aggregation program’s work to continue shifting our electricity purchases and investing in additional generation projects. SBCCA should also be making the investments in programs that we know are working regionally, to put additional money in the pockets of local businesses and individuals for them to purchase and install battery storage and solar to improve our grid reliability.
Currently the city is taking steps to Current State of Reliability The city is moving towards improving its energy reliability and resilience. Currently, Southern CA Edison is establishing the Downtown Santa Barbara Reliability Project to improve electricity efficiency in the downtown area. This project addresses underground re-cabling, installation of new vaults and switches, and other upgrades. It is important to note that we have old infrastructure that needs upgrading.
We are also focusing on transitioning to cleaner energy. Currently, we aim to be a 100 percent renewable energy community by 2030. Improving our outdated and aging grid is also imperative to avoid outages. To address this, it’s imperative we invest in backup systems and improve our microgrids. Given the fact that we are in high fire and flood zones, we must also concentrate on vegetation management practices. We must also enhance our community access and education to the public so that there is more buy-in in our energy reliability plans now and for the future.
No response provided.
The City of Santa Barbara provides reliable electricity and is consistently working on improving energy efficiency. I will support the city’s efforts through collaboration with key partners, remaining aware and informed, communicating, and educating Mesa residents and businesses, and leading by example in energy conservatism.
Better than recently and getting better. You literally cannot drive downtown due to SCE infrastructure improvements going on around you. I support much greater self-reliance at the local and regional level by incentivizing and requiring solar, participating in end of line regional generation and storage facilities, and researching passive generation and distribution from wind and wave energy.
Energy and electricity reliability in Santa Barbara is critical, especially with increasing grid demands from population growth, climate change, and the shift to sustainable energy. While generally reliable, recent wildfires, power outages, and public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) have exposed vulnerabilities in our infrastructure.
My priorities include strengthening infrastructure resilience, expanding renewable energy, and enhancing energy efficiency. I support undergrounding power lines in high-risk areas, investing in microgrids, and collaborating with utilities to ensure a robust grid. Expanding reliance on renewable sources like solar, wind, and battery storage aligns with our sustainability goals and reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
Promoting energy efficiency through building codes, retrofits, and smart technologies is also vital. Additionally, I advocate for community preparedness, including energy conservation education and backup power solutions, and prioritize collaboration with energy providers for proactive infrastructure upgrades and transparent communication.
Addressing these priorities will create a resilient, sustainable energy system for Santa Barbara’s future.
Santa Barbara is stuck in a monopoly with SCE. U/lizing our natural resources of natural gas and the opportunity of solar panels (American made when possible) is crucial in our future plans. It’s not a “one way only” problem.
Question 6: Childcare
What do you believe is the state of childcare in the City of Santa Barbara? What are your priorities regarding childcare in the City of Santa Barbara?
We have a massive gap between how many childcare providers we need and how many we have. This also means childcare is not affordable for many families, and we know working-class women are the ones who have to pick up that burden, choosing between working and caring for children. One thing the City can do is support economic opportunities for small childcare providers – this would help folks who are already providing childcare to their own kids or relatives learn how to become licensed, care for others too and start a small business. I would also like to work with developers to create proposals that would include childcare facilities in their projects.
There is a serious need for childcare in Santa Barbara, and usually it goes hand and hand with housing. Not only is there a need for childcare, there is also a serious need for high quality childcare. Childcare centers and Family Day care homes have extensive wait lists. Since the school district opened TK, it created a challenge and disadvantage in recruiting four-year-old children. This caused a shortage in funding for a lot of non-profit child care organizations. It’s critical we monitor this challenge and make sure needs are continued to be met. My priorities are to work together with more state and federal programs, combined with private companies who share the same values in regards to high quality of childcare., 22nd century world class service and embracing the family nucleus in order to see positive changes visualizing high numbers in higher education, strong work force and emotional intelligence. The priority is to embrace and transform our need for childcare in order for families and childcare to have a fighting chance here in our lovely city.
No response provided.
Employers should be encouraged to provide necessary resources, such as childcare benefits, to employees. Doing so ensures a diverse workforce that will better meet the needs of both customers and communities. Communities should continuously evaluate locally available childcare resources and take action to encourage and sustain affordable options as needed.
We all know, I think, that California parents pay among the highest costs for childcare- in the top five worst for nanny care, babysitting and infant care, in some cases second only to rent costs. It negatively lays out the future for education and opportunities for the child, costs businesses untold expense, and horribly affects women in the workplace.
I’ve been and will continue to be supportive of incentivizing childcare and pre-school opportunities tied to new development, pressing for opportunities from surplus government land, and supporting aggressive taxpayer credits for families and businesses.
Childcare in Santa Barbara is a pressing issue, particularly regarding affordability, accessibility, and quality. Many families struggle to find reliable, affordable options, hindering their ability to work and support the local economy. The city’s high cost of living worsens these challenges.
My priorities include expanding access, improving affordability, and ensuring high-quality care. I support increasing childcare options by developing new centers, utilizing community spaces, and extending facility hours. To address affordability, I advocate for financial assistance, including sliding scale fees, subsidies, and tax credits, as well as increased funding for programs like Head Start. Ensuring high-quality care involves supporting professional development for caregivers and maintaining high safety and education standards.
Additionally, I believe in fostering partnerships between the City, local businesses, and educational institutions to address childcare needs and support parents. By tackling these issues, we can create a more supportive environment for families in Santa Barbara.
Childcare has always been in issue in Santa Barbara. I believe some of our larger companies should take the lead and provide what their employee’s need. Maybe working with our local schools to extend their on campus child care programs and add an educa/onal element to it may be the solu/on. As the kids go through the training program, much like the engineering program at DP, these kids would graduate with a cer/ficate in early childhood care; Add an Entrepreneurial series and maybe we can achieve new facility’s?
Question 7: Workforce Development
What opportunities do you see for the City of Santa Barbara to collaborate with local industries on workforce development?
We need to be in the business of promoting good-paying jobs that local residents can be trained for and obtain. I believe unions are the best vehicle we have to achieve that, and am especially interested in partnering with apprenticeship programs. As I mentioned above, childcare is an opportunity the City should look creatively at to support our workforce. I also believe it is a great initiative for the Chamber to be working with employers on a housing consortium. Let’s explore how our City can best partner with the Chamber to house our local workforce in safe, affordable and habitable homes. If we can stop and even reverse the tide of people being priced out of town, and they can live closer to where they work, we can preserve our existing workforce.
I believe the city has an important role in collaborating with local industries on workforce development. The partnership with the SB Chamber is going to be key to the success for workforce development in the city. The city could collaborate with local businesses and our local colleges to develop targeted training programs aligned with today’s in-demand skills and industries, create apprenticeship and internship opportunities and offer career focused counseling and job placement services.
No response provided.
Santa Barbara does well in collaboration with local industries on workforce development through resources such as Santa Barbara City College. It is fundamental for council members to regularly interact with workforce development program providers throughout the community to remain aware of needs and opportunities.
I’m hopeful the City becomes more of a partner than non-player in this regard, not just a beneficiary of the efforts of others. It’s a challenging marriage of nimble vs static, investing toward the future vs the here and now, but I’m committed to continuing to push toward that future.
The City of Santa Barbara has significant opportunities to collaborate with local industries on workforce development by aligning educational programs with industry needs. Partnering with local businesses, educational institutions, and trade organizations can create tailored training programs that equip residents with skills in high-demand sectors such as technology, healthcare, hospitality, and sustainable practices.
Additionally, fostering internships, apprenticeships, and job placement programs can provide hands-on experience and a direct pipeline to employment. The city can also collaborate with industries to support continuous learning and upskilling initiatives, ensuring the workforce remains competitive as technology and market demands evolve.
Supporting small businesses and startups through mentorship and funding opportunities is another avenue for collaboration, driving innovation and economic growth. By aligning workforce development with industry needs, the City of Santa Barbara can help create a more dynamic, skilled, and adaptable workforce, benefiting both local businesses and residents.
I’ve stated a few examples above on how collabora/on between our local schools, government and the private sector. We can work together to create new opportuni/es in our City.
Question 8: State Street/Downtown
What is your vision for State Street and downtown Santa Barbara? What do you believe is the City of Santa Barbara’s role in seeing that vision realized?
The discussion about what to do with State Street has gotten off track; cars or no cars, who will want to go to State if there are no businesses to go to? My main focus will be on supporting our local businesses and providing them with the resources needed to thrive in our city. As a Councilmember it will be my job to listen to the community, and learn about their different perspectives and needs. This means our local restaurants, retail, local families, seniors, and transportation advocates. But my other job as a Councilmember will be to make decisions, and I am committed to putting in the time and attention this endeavor calls for. Unfortunately, our current City Councilmember had a chance to be a part of the solution, but failed to show up for the State Street Advisory Committee meetings, leading to her removal by her colleagues. The future of State street is too important to have the Eastside missing from that conversation, and I can assure my presence in those conversations as the next City Councilmember in District 1.
I want to see State Street thriving like when I was child/teen in Santa Barbara. To bring State Street back to life, we need to partially reopen it. I intend on proposing a plan that will introduce a shuttle or other form of transportation that services State Street from top to bottom, and increase accessibility.
No response provided.
State Street and downtown are important economic engines for the entire community and the amount of attention given them sufficiently reflects that relevance. Council needs to continue to involve the community in related conversations. It is important, though, for Council to not allow the State Street/downtown focus to result in oversight of needs of businesses and residents in other areas of our city.
Clearly downtown workers, retail, and parking dynamics have changed. Comparisons to other cities is often not an apples-to-apples examination, as Santa Barbara has historically had a much longer retail corridor, lots of downtown workers, and the resulting supportive and complimentary offerings.
I personally see a transition to a downtown that shares more of a retail, destination and experiential, arts & culture, and residential personality, with much more of a pedestrian component, rather than a vehicle-oriented retail and office personality only.
The City needs to provide the pathway for the transition, one that nimbly provides for top down leadership in the City organization, certainty for those taking the risk, offers flexibility and a “getting to yes” environment, while continuing to appropriately maintaining the City’s historical place. Contrary to the contradictions one could see in that view, there are successful examples of those tensions and considerations existing together.
My vision for State Street and downtown Santa Barbara is to create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly area that blends the city’s historic charm with modern amenities. I envision a lively, accessible space where residents and visitors can enjoy a mix of local shops, dining, arts, and entertainment, alongside green spaces and cultural attractions. Prioritizing walkability, bike lanes, and public transportation will make the area more sustainable and reduce traffic congestion.
The City of Santa Barbara’s role in realizing this vision includes investing in infrastructure improvements, supporting local businesses, and fostering community engagement in the planning process. This involves updating zoning and land use policies to encourage diverse business types, ensuring affordable housing is available to support a vibrant workforce, and preserving the unique architectural character of the area. By actively collaborating with stakeholders and investing in thoughtful urban planning, the city can create a downtown that reflects the community’s values and aspirations.
I worked in the bar district for over 15 years. I’ve seen the best of State Street and now I’m seeing the worse. A compromise is what is really needed. example: tradi/onally , State would have the fiesta’s parade on State. That was the Best “Black Friday” you could ask for. 200K people on State for an average of 6 hours spending their money, while wai/ng for the parade to reach them. At 5pm, the bar/restaurant district would close down and the “crawl” would begin safely. At 1:30am, the streets would open back up and the taxi’s would be allowed in the zone to get the patrons home safely! We can do par/al closing, like farmers market days, and special events. Allow the street to be open during regular business hours and improve parking on the side street like Cota or Ortega streets. Try angled parking for more and easier access for locals who are just picking something up or allow more access for the seniors who don’t want to walk 3 flights of stairs from the parking structure for their purchase. Many Locals don’t frequent State Street like they used to. Racing bikes, vulgar homeless and cleanliness are some of the reasons stated. Let’s support our local authori/es to handle these simple problems for a beVer down town experience.
Question 9: Sales Tax
Do you support the proposed sales tax on the November ballot? Why or why not?
While I am naturally skeptical of sales taxes because they are regressive, I support placing Measure I on the ballot to give as many Santa Barbara residents as possible an opportunity to weigh in. If Measure I passes, I want to ensure we utilize those funds to address our most pressing needs: affordable housing, public safety, climate resiliency, and preserving community services such as our libraries.
I did not support the sales tax initiative and voted NO in Finance and at council at large. This new sales tax is a regressive tax that will ultimately affect working families more so than higher income earning families. Less income is earned in my district, which means working class families and students will have to pay more taxes from their earnings versus those of middle to high incomes – this will create further income disparity already felt in our community. I was the sole person to vote NO on this tax and warn that it will go to pay pensions and salaries rather than addressing the housing crisis issue.
I continue to stand firm on holding myself and my colleagues to account when it comes to making fiscally responsible decisions. Moreover, timing in these times of inflation seems unfair and ill thought out. Families need to see relief, not more burden.
No response provided.
I do not support the proposed sales tax increase. Santa Barbara currently holds a relatively high sales tax rate. Couple that with higher labor and commercial lease costs in recent years, which are also transferred to consumers, and we see how it becomes easier for people to choose to shop online versus locally. We need to consider other options before resorting to sales tax increases that have a greater negative effect on small businesses and low to middle-income consumers, many of whom are still recovering from the effects of COVID shutdowns and restrictions.
Yes- Revenues are not keeping up with expenses that are associated with a full service City- one that has an airport, a coastline and open spaces/parks, its own fire and police departments, water and wastewater plants. We function and provide services far above most cities our size. Salaries and wages to provide these services consume most of our budget, and real time and carrying costs for pension programs are set by state legislation.
A sales tax spreads the tax over the greatest numbers of people, while providing for about 40% of it to be generated by visitors and generates the best return possible for a single tax.
The full amount generated by Measure I will remain in the City, unlike almost all of the CA sales tax or CA property tax.
It will be used for core City services that are adversely affected by the revenue-expense imbalance.
Yes, I support the proposed sales tax on the November ballot. This tax is crucial for generating much-needed revenue to fund essential public services and infrastructure projects that directly benefit our community. With the rising costs of maintaining and improving our roads, public safety, and social services, this tax will provide a sustainable source of income to ensure these vital services continue without compromising quality.
Moreover, the sales tax allows the city to spread the cost of these improvements across all who use and benefit from them, including tourists and visitors, rather than placing the entire burden on local residents through higher property taxes. By supporting this tax, we are investing in the long-term health and prosperity of our city, ensuring that Santa Barbara remains a vibrant, safe, and well-maintained place to live, work, and visit.
I do not support sales tax increase. New Taxes affect the people at the boVom more than anyone. We are bringing in more tax dollars than ever but fiscal mismanagement has put us in this deficit of almost 9 million dollars. You can not run a business or a household in this manner and it needs to stop. Our city’s most in need can’t afford an addi/onal tax projected to be $700 per year per household of 4. We spend more on homeless issues but we now have more homeless. We con/nue to priori/ze the wrong items which endangers public safety. We need to look at 20 years of bad policy and eliminate wasteful, ineffec/ve or duplicate programs that are not having the success once promised.
Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber 2024 Goleta Voters Guide
Goleta City Council Candidate Questionnaire Responses
Question 1: Candidate Priorities
Please list your personal top priorities for the City of Goleta and provide your plan for seeing these priorities realized.
To fund public works fully and address the backlog of infrastructure projects. Restoration of
essential city services to fully function in serving the public, enact citywide parking reform and
enforcement, address issues with county housing on city borders, address housing that is not
reflective of the surrounding neighborhood, address fire station/public safety, establish term limits
for mayor and council positions
My top priorities for the City of Goleta are: 1) Housing Affordability & Homelessness Prevention 2)
Infrastructure & Safe Streets and 3) Climate Change & Disaster/Emergency Preparedness. My plan
for seeing these priorities realized will be through the budget process, review of Housing element
programs, policy implementation, and ongoing collaborations with regional stakeholders.
Some of my top priorities include reducing airport noise over residential neighborhoods,
managing the implementation of our housing element, creating our childcare program, restoring the
Ellwood Mesa, and ending homelessness in Goleta. Many of these are addressed below. As such, let
me focus on another area, Public Works: 1. We will be developing a benefit/cost metric for the
Capital Improvement Pan (CIP) to ensure that those projects with the greatest public benefits get
selected. 2. We will be winnowing our list of CIP projects, distinguishing between those that are low
priority and likely never pursued, from those that are important. 3.Regarding pavement, historically.
our budgets both relied on fees, rather than general fund revenues and did not display the
expenditure level sufficient to hit our Pavement Condition Index target. As such, the budget has
underinvested. Creating a new 5-year plan can serve as a roadmap for addressing our road
maintenance needs.
No Response Provided.
The City of Goleta has a huge unfunded obligation. Finance Director Rioux described the
budget as structurally solid, but he noted the review did not include the $19.7MM + failing crib wall
on Cathedral Oaks, nor the $65MM in backlogged road maintenance, nor the 5 year capital
improvement program that is underfunded by $140MM. The only suggestion from the city council is
higher fees, taxes or borrowing. I would pursue eliminating grants that have been taken but
unfunded to eliminate ballooning fiscal obligations. Goleta has 11 grant funded CIP jobs that are on
hold for lack of adequate funding. Staff time is freed up by eliminating the soft costs of needless
grants. I would stop the north and south portion of the San Jose bike path. It has mushroomed from
$20MM in grants and $2MM from the city to $30MM from the city. It is a boutique project we
cannot afford.
Economy and Fiscal Responsibility: I’m convinced that increasing access to housing opportunities
affordable to Goleta residents is key. Doing so will sustain and grow our local workforce, and
generate future jobs. A thriving economy, funds vital public health and community services.
Stewarded Growth: I am committed to protecting and preserving the character of Goleta’s
neighborhoods and environment by carefully managing growth and its impacts. I’ll stand up to
minimize impacts of state-mandated housing developments both in Goleta and on our borders,
while working to maximize projects’ affordable units.
Health & Safety: I’m dedicated to ensuring public safety, especially including safe air, water, traffic,
and threats to the environment, such as climate change, pollution and other threats such as fires
and flooding.
All of these challenges must be addressed on a regional basis, and I’ll capitalize on the relationships
and trust I’ve developed with local leaders and organizations.
Question 2: Goleta Business Climate
How would you describe the current business climate in Goleta? How would you describe the City’s current relationship with local businesses? Is there anything you would like to see change regarding Goleta’s business community? If so, how would you work toward that goal?
I will be honest that a huge mistake was made by the council in the Old Town Interim
striping project. It should not have been implemented while the freeway and roundabouts were
under construction. No adequate metrics could even be obtained until the other projects were
completed. The Chamber missed representing the interests of many of the Hispanic and small
business owners in Old Town when they needed the support the most. The attendance and rallying
of bicycle community and Chamber support in attendance of the vote with shirts hurt Old Town
Business owners trust in both Council and the Chamber. Significant work will be needed to repair
that relationship and restore confidence in both entities as well as other long time businesses like
Larry’s auto parts. It’s not about female owned businesses, or businesses of color, it’s about ALL
BUSINESS and policies that put any added support to a certain group create division and conflict with
guiding principles of equity. This may be unpopular, but I believe it’s truthful, and I’m more than
willing to discuss the subject as if it mentionable, it’s manageable.
I think generally the business climate in the City of Goleta is good, although some
pandemic related impacts likely linger. Goleta’s local businesses are part of what we all love about
living here. I think we can always improve our communication with local businesses and the rest of
the community. Better cooperative planning could have prevented some of the traffic issues
Hollister Avenue recently experienced, with the County and CalTrans all working on public works
projects at the same time as the city led to inconvenience to many residences and businesses.
Our goal is to develop a business climate that supports our local businesses. There should
be clear and reasonable explanations for our zoning and permit requirements. Requirement can’t be
rationally justified, should be removed. In addition, especially in a time where on-line commerce
poses such a threat to local businesses, we need to ensure that our city’s regulatory environment is
as transparent and easy to navigate as possible. We recently lowered our permitting fees for
businesses. I also would support the removal of duplicative and overlapping jurisdictions among
regulatory agencies. Finally, we need to be open and receptive to ideas on how can we work
together on policies that make sense and benefit the city.
No Response Provided.
The city gives great lip service to the business community but other than banners on light
poles they deliver little. Developers find the city planning department to be slow and difficult to
work with. The Housing Element was a panicked knee jerk at the 11th hour to avoid builder’s
remedy. The council has underfunded roads for ten years. Bad roads are bad for business. In Old
Town the re-striping is a disaster. The businesses I talked to say sales have fallen. The plan made ten
buildings with parking lots inaccessible coming from the west or to turn left when leaving. Forced to
go the opposite ways three streets ban U-turns making it difficult to travel the area.
Our local business climate is good but it’s vital that we constantly work to capitalize on our
opportunities, while facing many challenges – competition from online vendors, high rental costs,
high housing costs inhibiting recruiting new workers, high costs of building materials, and many
more. I’ll continue focusing on increased affordable childcare. I’ll work for more housing that is
affordable, not only by partnering with housing organizations and seeking grants.
I will also continue to press UCSB to live up to its settlement with Goleta and the County. Under the
settlement, UCSB will finally build on- campus dorm rooms for 3,500 beds and housing for the
approximately 1,500 faculty and staff they added under the 2010 Long Range Development Plan
(LRDP).
Question 3: Economic Development
Compare your priorities for economic development within the City of Goleta to the City’s current economic development priorities?
Having been in the Hospitality business for over 26 years I would like to see the culinary
level rise a bit in Goleta. Margins are tight but Old Town would benefit with something to drive
traffic. That will be far off due to Project Connect going on. Goleta has missed a significant economic
benefit to both business, community, energy resilience/security, and tax revenues. I find it absolutely
unacceptable that 3CE is building large scale solar projectsin the desert on fragile ecosystems.
There’s plenty of rooftop in this area that needs to be incentivized with battery. This should’ve been
done long ago, when NEM 1 or NEM 2 were available. The subsidies for vehicles and bikes should’ve
gone here first. Model of letting normal people benefit just isnt alligned with your values. When
Rincon goes down what do we do? Microgrid but you didn’t invest early in your community, created
fixed costs and savings, business revenue from installers, tax from sales, everyone who missed that
opportunity should not be fit to serve the public. Desert wouldn’t suffer either. 3CE is a public
institution accountable to the public, has barred the public from the ability to put an item in the
agenda, and is holding profits that belong to the public. I believe that the Chamber has a
responsibility to hold 3CE our CCA accountable for not providing significant opportunities for rooftop
solar projects and battery storage which has left the local areas from Rincon to Gaviota vulnerable to
power instability and resilience for our entire local grid. Stop building projects on fragile habitat,
Partner with your residents so they can reap the benefits of security and fixed cost. Create Micro
Grids serving hospitals and essential stotage. The chamber needs to change the relationship with
3CE.
The City of Goleta’s priorities for economic development are laid out in a Strategic Plan for
2023-2028. I believe these priorities should be reviewed annually and adjusted as needed so that it
remains a responsive living document.
One approach is to add more housing in areas where it makes sense and reenforces a sense
of community. After completion of the new Train Station (hopefully with expanded commuter
opportunities), we can create a specific plan for the area to adjust the zoning to enable new housing
and manage the development. Similarly, we should create a specific plan by the Ekwill-Fowler
streets, part of Project Connect, to add new housing to leverage these road improvements.
Another way to help our businesses is to attract visitors, both those coming just to shop and eat in
restaurants, and who overnight. We can help develop and support new attractions and public
events so we can we get those visiting from out of town to visit Goleta or just stay an additional
night after a business trip? Another possibility is if we can attract more students to Old Town.
No Response Provided.
Better streets. Lower fees. Demand the planning process be streamlined.
I believe my priorities square with our City’s current economic development priorities. As I
stated earlier, working to provide more housing affordable to our current and future workforce, and
working on affordable childcare are ways we already are seeking to promote economic
development.
But we can and are doing more. We need to continue identifying and amending city’s processes that
sometimes may inhibit economic development. A recent success is revising the zoning code. It not
only aligned our zoning code with our General Plan. It also increased clarity, consistency and
predictability to our development processes for both developers and the public. We’re dedicated to
continuing to seek ways to streamline permitting, reduce fees where possible, and simplify or
eliminate unnecessary regulations.
Question 4: Housing
What do you believe is the state of housing in the City of Goleta? What are your priorities regarding housing in the City of Goleta?
I think the large slate of projects of housing in Noleta and Western Goleta were not
collectively examined and a good start will be taking a more expanded look at the projects. Mixed
use commercial retail is the mechanism that best serves the needs of the community to spread out
its housing making it more livable with less commute, locally owned bodegas, lower traffic impacts,
allow up more opportunities to address workforce, low, and very low income to thrive and survive.
We can look at monetizing our collective output.
Employers continue to report that high housing costs are a barrier to hiring. Although the
city hit the overall RHNA (Regional Housing Need Assessment) targets in its previous cycle, it did not
meet the estimated need for low-income units and homelessness has seen an uptick. My priority is
to take a balanced approach by focusing on this unmet need and the implementation of the Housing
element programs to promote housing affordability for working families while also ensuring that
impacts to our local infrastructure are mitigated.
We have rezoned sites sufficient to add over new 1,800 units, as well as having additional
infill sites for housing that HCD did not include. Our goals are to work with developers to provide the
maximum number of units affordable to our local workforce. As we incorporate these new units, we
will ensure consistency with the General Plan, including controlling excessive traffic congestion in
the neighborhoods. We also will be evaluating an enhanced local preference ordinance, which will
do two things: first enable those already living in the area priority to receive affordable units, and
second, a preference to those working nearby the new housing. In this way, there is greater
potential for public safety-related personnel such as. police, fire, and emergency responders, as well
as health personnel to receive affordable housing. Moreover, living close to one’s work increases
the potential that alternative transportation will be used.
No Response Provided.
Costs are too high for many. That said, supply vs demand will always be an inflationary
factor. Sadly, Gov. Newsom seems to think people have a right to live wherever they choose and
communities are obligate to provide housing. ADU’s are being pushed onto single family
neighborhoods. If the goal is to create economically affordable ADU units and any builder density
bonus units should be under some form of rent control. NOT NEW OR EXISTING rental
developments! Homeowners may choose to build and spread out the return or not. We cannot build
our way out of higher prices. New units cost the city. None generate the property tax to cover the
needed public services. I support the Chamber’s Roadmap to Recovery. We need more mixed. Also
rezone commercial property to residential as the market demands.
As in many communities nationwide, our housing situation is sub-optimal. There’s not enough, and
the purchase and rental prices are too high. And, the state-mandated rezoning falls short, seem
likely to produce little affordable housing relative to market rate housing.
Goleta’s role to ameliorate the situation lies in multiple actions. First, it’s to negotiate with
developers to increase the number of affordable units per project. Second, it’s to work with nonprofits such as People’s Self-Help Housing and the Santa Barbara County Housing Authority to find
funding to help produce more units that are affordable. Third, we must continue to press the
University to fulfill its settlements with Goleta and SB County to build units planned for students,
faculty and staff already here, currently driving up housing costs in Goleta. And we must strive to
ensure that new housing is not incompatible with Goleta’s character and dedication to
environmental standards.
Question 5: Energy and Reliability
What do you believe is the state of energy and electricity reliability in the City of Goleta? What are your priorities regarding energy and electricity reliability in the City of Goleta?
The situation is poor, but with Sand batteries, Sodium Ion storage, and other solid state
opportunities, it is possible a better outcome may be achieved. At minimum a decentralized solution
would be in the best interest of public safety and energy resilience and microgrids to overcome
Larger long term power challenges.
I believe Goleta is heading in the right direction and will support ongoing efforts to improve
energy efficiency and reliability. I support ongoing efforts to improve grid reliability with green
energy, battery storage, and other efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to ensure that the
grid is reliable for workplaces and residents. We need to ensure that property owners have
incentives to invest in electrical upgrades if we are going to encourage the use of battery storage,
electric vehicles, and electric appliances. Many residential and commercial properties are over 60
years old, and many have outdated wiring and/or panels.
There are several areas of improvement we can focus on. First, when SCE indicates that
they will test their equipment with a shutdown. If they opt to cancel those tests, they need to notify
the public ahead of time. It has to be very frustrating for businesses that close down, and for
families that must go to a hotel to find out, only that no shutdown occurred. Second, for businesses
that require a reliable energy for their manufacturing and research, we need more battery storage.
The city has a work item in our planning department to identify good locations for new battery
storage. When completed, this mapping will facilitate the process of adding more battery capacity
and ultimately enhance the reliability of the grid.
No Response Provided.
I believe they are good. If under the Reach Program demands soar for charging electric
vehicles, So-Cal Edison is obligated to bring in new lines. Electrical service is largely reliable and
when down fairly rapidly restored. We do not have the national grid to support a world of all electric
cars and homes. A single source of power is a mistake. A reliable electric supply includes fossil fuels.
The GridStore battery facility is a bonus for emergency needs.
We currently have a sufficient and mostly reliable supply of electricity. Like every community, fires
and other potential natural disasters pose a threat. And just over the horizon, energy hungry
enterprises, such as artificial intelligence and bitcoin mining, may strain our grid. That is why we
have several initiatives to promote solar energy at residences, businesses, and City Hall, the latter
being 100% serviced by solar panels.
We also are promoting battery storage, such as the recent facility the city approved in West Goleta.
It provides back up for peak periods. And batteries can be recharged during off-peak lower rates.
We are committed to facilitating a reliable and affordable supply of energy, now and for the future,
in the most ecological and safe manner possible.
Question 6: Childcare
What do you believe is the state of childcare in the City of Goleta? What are your priorities regarding childcare in the City of Goleta?
Personally, none. Being a product of the Orfalea Child care center and other after school programs I
have first hand knowledge of the struggles a single parent has. Having ran a title 1 national grant
program at Santa Barbara Junior High I know what those kids need and how best to reach them.
During my ages 10 – 20 I gave back as a youth Umpire for Dos Pueblos Little League and I believe that
creating kids opportunities for mentorship and engagement in service of the youth of this
community is key. I started a volunteer youth umpire program at GVSLL with a friend and had great
success. In general, taking care of the youth is always number 1 on my list. Including more young
adult participation in politics and governance. We are too old, out of touch at times, and less in the
loop about different approaches. Internships for high school kids in both governance, facilities, and
public works. I do want to highlight that there are some that are so rabid in the pursuit of their
causes, willing to accept the infringement on the civil liberties of others. It is wrong no matter how
noble you may believe it to be.
Affordable childcare remains an ongoing challenge for city residents and workers. I would
support efforts included in the city’s Strategic Plan to improve childcare access and affordability for
Goleta residents and city employees.
Adequate and affordable child care can be an economic driver for Goleta. There is a
massive need for more childcare facilities for children age 0-2 and the city will be in a position to add
capacity. When the state’s expands public education for children age 4 (or 3 ½ if special needs), it
will have two impacts. First, some 20% of the childcare spaces now being used will no longer be
used. Because 9 in 10 children aged 3-5 already have childcare, there’s an opportunity to expand
coverage for children aged 0-2 yrs, where only 1 in 8 is being served. Second, the public provision of
TK will lure away current childcare teachers, so preschools may experience a major loss in
personnel. How can the city help offset that?
Another economic development strategy is in developing new childcare facilities. We provided new
funding for WEV to support this initiative.
No Response Provided.
This is a major expense for families. The reality is not everyone can afford to live here.
Responsibility for child care falls on the parents planning and preparation. I support any business
that wants to integrate child care into their facility. It would be an attractive bonus and a means for
retaining employees.
Goleta identified the urgent need for affordable, accessible & high-quality childcare to support
working families and our business community over half a decade ago.
Since then, the city has taken aggressive steps to remove obstacles to childcare by changing zoning
requirements, incentivizing inclusion of childcare in new developments, and allocating funding that’s
already resulted in four new family childcare centers opening in Goleta, helping more than 30 local
children and their families.
Looking forward, the city will allocate $250,000 this year towards further expanding access to
childcare in Goleta. Goleta also prioritized inclusion of a new daycare center in the city’s approval of
the future medical office building at Santa Felicia & Storke Avenue. There are also plans to include a
center at the workforce housing development planned for the Yardi site on Fairview Avenue.
Question 7: Workforce Development
What opportunities do you see for the City of Goleta to collaborate with local industries on workforce development?
Yardi will be a big one that is coming up. First responders need to be incorporated into that
hopefully. Having law enforcement as stakeholders in your community is key. Teachers and virtually
every level of the economy needs to be reflected. Renting alone is not enough. Everyone must be
provided opportunities for ownership in the communities. More importantly, Yardi has an amazing
opportunity to help with achieving these goals. The algorithms, front, and back proptech
architecture could be a great tool to optimizing our opportunities to their full potential.
I would like to hear from the local industries about their priorities and needs and explore
how the city can cooperate in workforce development through internships or other programs. SBCC
does an excellent job with career technical training which the city could help publicize.
Part of our economic development strategy is to improve access to economic opportunity by increasing the availability of more livable-wage jobs. Businesses also have a need for new employees – the question is how to ensure that the city can help as a facilitator, supporting job fairs
and coupling UCSB and SBCC students with employers. We are committed to helping with developing more childcare teachers and staff to support our childcare goals. We have been working with DignityMoves to enable more employers to take advantage of a tax credit for hiring of homeless people.
No Response Provided.
Streamlining bureaucracy is a good and necessary option. Maintaining infrastructure is
essential.
I believe that in answering questions above, I have already identified the key ways Goleta can
collaborate on workforce development. We are receptive to any and all ideas to work on the two
key drivers for workforce development: increasing the supply of housing that’s affordable and
increasing the supply of childcare that’s affordable.
In addition, I believe we need to keep close touch with the University and rapidly expanding high
tech industries to understand and anticipate their evolving expansion plans and related workforce
needs.
Question 8: Old Town Goleta
What is your vision for Old Town Goleta? What do you believe is the City of Goleta’s role in seeing that vision realized?
I think we are learning a lesson currently. I am going to say that Old Town needs a reinvention after recent events. To the groups who have actively left behind the small businesses of Old Town, you need to take a look in the mirror. That can never happen again. There was too much rush. It was poor timing. If we want to achieve the vibrant model we want to envision as a place of belonging. We have to zoom out beyond just Hollister Ave. Old Town and the historic components must be preserved. Expanding up the corridors towards Carson St. Keep Old Town front facing and work out towards the proposed Yardi housing. That would honor the old, and move forward to the new. Without losing our soul. We have to stop getting focused in on accommodating all modes of travel on one street
Old Town Goleta is truly the heart of the city. I support a vision of Old Town that is informed by the residents and small businesses there. The City has invested in important infrastructure to reduce flooding in the area, add sidewalks for local residents, and to provide public
parking for visitors. With the current public works activity in the area, I think the current focus should be supporting local residents and businesses during construction and to seek ongoing community feedback.
We have started through critical projects such as ending flooding on the eastern end, renovating the Community Center, building Jonny D. Wallis Park, and adding sidewalks. We are currently implementing significant new public works projects in Old Town, including the lane restriping project. It aimed to: (1) provide greater safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers, by adding bike lanes and making street crossings easier. (2) maintain circulation and avoid excessive congestion. We will be monitoring traffic conditions and make adjustments, as needed, and (3) help, not hurt
businesses, both by increasing available parking and by increasing customers by building on Old Town’s unique historical and cultural identity and walkability to help the small, local businesses. We can also fund new events to attract visitors to the area to these businesses. But we will need to monitor the implementation and adjust as needed to ensure that the project is accomplishing its goals.
No Response Provided.
Time will tell but at this juncture the city has seemed to destroy the Old Town market. Their goal was to force out the 30% of vehicles they called through traffic” but this overburdens surrounding freeway exchanges. It also presumes that none of that 30$% will ever shop in Old Town.
Drive them away and they may never come back. The reality is that the sales tax return from Old Town has been one of the best. Some people’s claims that Hollister is dangerous are not supported by traffic studies, accident rates, or mortalities. The stores provide exactly what the community needs. Merchants fear that fixing up buildings will bring higher rents. In other words, the folks in Old Town were pretty happy.
Our vision and role are to make changes that are necessary to keep Old Town residents and business safe and thriving, but without changing Old Town’s essential character and without fostering socalled gentrification. It’s tricky, but we believe we are on a good path, starting with completing a project some years ago that ended flooding in eastern Old Town. We’ve also made great progress in making the Community Center ADA and earthquake safety compliant. And we have built Jonny D. Wallis Park, improved Armitos Park, established a Community Garden, and provided Pickleball courts, all successfully enhancing leisure activities for all. When completed, the current Project Connect, coupled with time restricted parking and securing 2 lots for public parking just off Hollister should relieve chronic parking shortages. And the addition of dedicated bike lanes should draw more bike riders to shop and dine in Old Town.
Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber 2024 Carpinteria Voters Guide
Carpinteria City Council Candidate Questionnaire Responses
Question 1: Candidate Priorities
Please list your personal top priorities for the City of Carpinteria and provide your plan for seeing these priorities realized.
1) Preservation of the Character of Carpinteria: One of my top priorities is to ensure that
Carpinteria retains its unique charm and character. Our town is known for its small-town feel,
natural beauty, and close-knit community, which are increasingly at risk from outside pressures,
including overdevelopment and the pervasive presence of the cannabis industry. While cannabis
has been touted as a financial boon, the reality is that Carpinteria has seen little fiscal benefit,
and the costs—both literal and in terms of community impact—far outweigh any gains. Our
schools are surrounded by cannabis operations, and the daily odor is a constant reminder of this
issue. I am committed to working with residents and local businesses to ensure that any
industry, including cannabis, aligns with the values and needs of our community.
2) Accessibility of Local Government: I believe that every resident of Carpinteria should feel heard,
understood, and involved in the decisions that affect our community. Unfortunately, many
residents have expressed frustration with the current city council’s lack of accessibility and
transparency. I’ve heard from numerous residents in my district who have never met or spoken
with their council representative. This disconnect is unacceptable. If elected, I will prioritize
making our local government more accessible by holding regular town hall meetings, actively
engaging with residents, and ensuring that all council decisions are communicated clearly and
proactively. I want to create an environment where residents feel empowered to voice their
concerns and know that their input will be taken seriously.
3) Public Safety: The safety of our community, especially our children, is of paramount importance
to me. The recent decision by the city council to remove the school resource officer has left our
schools vulnerable, and many parents are unaware of the potential risks this decision poses.
Every time a tragic incident occurs in a school, the community is left in shock, often saying, “I
can’t believe this happened here.” We cannot afford to be reactive when it comes to the safety
of our children. I intend to prioritize reinstating school resource officers to ensure that our
schools are safe environments where students can learn and thrive.
The City of Carpinteria is moving into a lean budget due to stagnant revenue and rising expenditures.
To address this, I support the upcoming TOT measure, B2024, which aims to increase the hotel bed
tax from 12% to 15%, generating local revenue for community benefit. As we plan for the future it is
important that the council make fiscally conservative decisions. Additionally, with California’s recent
housing laws taking local control away, Carpinteria must accommodate unprecedented growth while
preserving open space. We are required to build 901 housing units, with 46% designated for very low
or low-income households over the next seven years. To achieve this, it is important that the city
create a housing committee to develop innovative strategies to balance the need for housing with
open space.
No Response Provided.
No Response Provided.
Question 2: Carpinteria Business Climate
How would you describe the current business climate in the City of Carpinteria, as well as the City’s current relationship with local businesses? Is there anything you would like to see change in this regard?
Carpinteria has a surprisingly robust business community. From large corporations that are based in
the area to many of the thriving small businesses on Linden Avenue, we are proud of the success
that we have had here in Carpinteria. But that success did not come by accident. We have carefully
curated our small business community, supported our local businesses by keeping big box stores in
one area, and continue to encourage new business and entrepreneurship. The relationship that
Carpinteria’s residents have with most of the existing companies in the area is very positive.
As a City Council member, I will make it a priority to thoroughly understand the details of every new
business proposal, while also ensuring that our existing local small businesses receive the support
they need as they recover from the impacts of COVID. I believe it’s essential for the city’s residents
to have clear and transparent information about the costs and benefits of these proposals so they
can communicate their thoughts to me…and I can represent them effectively. Unfortunately, this
level of transparency has often been lacking in many of the city’s past decisions, leaving residents in
the dark.
Finally, I want to ensure that we streamline the permitting process to ensure the success of every
new business venture and create opportunities for growth in our community. We have a special set
of local businesses here in Carpinteria, and we need to ensure that they not just survive but thrive.
I believe there is significant room for improvement to support the Carpinteria’s business climate.
When Carpinteria had its own Chamber there seemed to have been more targeted outreach and
collaboration between the City, Chamber and local businesses. I would like to see increased
communication and collaboration between all parties. I would also recommend streamlining the
cities permitting process and purchasing a database system that would provide real time updates.
No Response Provided.
No Response Provided.
Question 3: Economic Development
Compare your priorities for economic development within the City of Carpinteria to the City’s current economic development priorities?
The priority will always be to keep Carpinteria’s small beach town charm. That said, the city is
currently operating in a financial deficit. Smart residential and commercial growth needs to be
balanced with the priority of keeping Carpinteria’s culture and appeal. We should understand the
details of every proposal and whether it’s a net positive or negative benefit to the city.
As council member, I will ensure that we have proactive community outreach, and work towards
consensus buy-in from folks who will be supporting new businesses.
Carpinteria has an opportunity to build smart, not big and put our locals first. I believe that we can
be an example for the rest of Santa Barbara County about how a local economy can flourish.
Although the city currently lacks a formal economic development strategy, my priorities can still help
shape future efforts. For example, collaborating with local nonprofits or industry professionals to
establish job training programs could compliment potential youth engagement initiatives.
Additionally, focusing on infrastructure improvements and expanding alternative transportation
options, such as our bike trails would lay a strong foundation for future economic development.
No Response Provided.
No Response Provided.
Question 4: Housing
What do you believe is the state of housing in the City of Carpinteria? What are your priorities regarding housing in the City of Carpinteria?
There needs to be more affordable housing in the county. Housing affordability affects every aspect
of life and hinders our local businesses’ ability to hire top-quality employees.
I recently assisted a local elementary school teacher, who is a single-mom, in finding a rental
property here in Carpinteria within her budget. It was a significant challenge. With letters and
creative ideas to improve the property, we managed to convince the landlord to reduce the monthly
rental cost, but this took a team of moms to make that happen. This is simply untenable. Single
moms provide vital assets to our community. Our city is unaffordable for them, as is commuting
from far distances where housing is more affordable.
We need to get creative about finding solutions that address these needs, including housing,
transportation, and infrastructure.
To address housing needs in Carpinteria, we can explore partnerships like Dignity Moves to tackle
homelessness and work with local employers to develop additional workforce housing options.
No Response Provided.
No Response Provided.
Question 5: Energy and Reliability
What do you believe is the state of energy and electricity reliability in the City of Carpinteria? What are your priorities regarding energy and electricity reliability in the City of Carpinteria?
Overall, electricity in Carpinteria seems to be reliable, and I haven’t encountered any significant
issues personally. However, with California’s upcoming mandate for electric vehicles, I have
concerns about whether our local infrastructure is fully prepared to support this transition. We
currently have limited access to superchargers, and many residents live in townhouses or homes
without convenient charging options, which could present challenges.
Given Carpinteria’s ample sunshine, I believe we have a tremendous opportunity to enhance our
energy reliability by streamlining the permitting process for solar installations and exploring the
potential of microgrids. By making it easier for residents and businesses to install solar panels, we
can reduce our dependency on the grid and better manage the increased demand from electric
vehicles. Additionally, investing in microgridding could help distribute energy more efficiently and
provide backup power during outages, further increasing our resilience.
As a City Council member, I will prioritize these initiatives to ensure that Carpinteria’s energy
infrastructure is not only reliable but also sustainable and capable of meeting future demands. My
goal is to help our community take full advantage of renewable energy resources and build a more
self-sufficient and resilient energy system.
Deferred infrastructure, particularly our roads, need significant repair given its ongoing deferred
maintenance. It is important that the city maintain the roads moving forward
No Response Provided.
No Response Provided.
Question 6: Childcare
What do you believe is the state of childcare in the City of Carpinteria? What are your priorities regarding childcare in the City of Carpinteria?
Childcare is expensive and there is simply not enough of it. Many residents must commute either
north or south for work and 101 traffic has only gotten worse, forcing parents to spend more and
more time away from their kids. This increases the amount of time per day that parents require
childcare. I’ve personally experienced this with a daily commute to UCSB and being a primarily single
parent at home with my spouse being active duty.
Fortunately, we have some solid before- and after-school childcare programs at the schools and
clubs in town. I intend to ensure that these programs are supported, and even expanded, for our
residents.
Childcare costs are extremely high, requiring many families to choose between working or remain at
home with a single income. In Carpinteria we have a limited number of child care facilities and even
fewer scholarship opportunities. Advocating for more affordable child care and encouraging and
exploring workforce child care is important to the community of Carpinteria
No Response Provided.
No Response Provided.
Question 7: Workforce Development
What opportunities do you see for the City of Carpinteria to collaborate with local industries on workforce development?
Carpinteria has significant opportunities to collaborate with local industries such as manufacturing, technology, medical, and agriculture to strengthen workforce development. One key area for growth is in creating certification programs for non-degree fields, particularly in the tech sector,
where there is a high demand for skilled workers. Currently, Carpinteria lacks a dedicated tech school, but by partnering with local industries, we could establish such programs, leveraging their expertise and aligning training with real-world needs.
There are also state grants available that support these types of educational partnerships, which could provide the necessary funding to make this happen. Our city needs more proactive leadership that collaborates at the state and county levels to actively seek out these resources to support our local businesses and workers.
By pursuing these ideas, we can help our residents gain the skills they need to succeed in today’s job market while supporting our local businesses. I will focus on driving these initiatives forward to ensure that Carpinteria continues to be a hub for innovation and skilled talent.
Carpinteria has great opportunities to partner with local industries on workforce development. Expanding our single workforce housing program could greatly benefit the community, including creating a positive impact by allowing teachers and other essential workers to live in the same community where they work. This would enhance both the quality of life and the sense of
community
No Response Provided.
No Response Provided.