It's a shame about the bowl because they would have great success booking legacy or contemporary latin acts. J Balvin, Tucanes, etc. would do huge there.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the link, Peter, and for clarifying your stance. The language itself is not clear in indicating that you're referring to your org, versus the town. Why would a new organization need a "rebrand"? It seems you're referring to Santa Barbara. But I'll sincerely take your word for it. I agree with you that many people are not aware of some of the successful tech companies we have or had here. I have some deep connections to many of those companies and anecdotally I will share that many high value tech employees who have been here are now departing for better (read: cheaper) lifestyles elsewhere. Even those with substantial equity in some of these companies have seen their relative net worth diminished if they had not already secured property before the 2021 surge (2020 made 2021-2022 look like depression-era pricing). I'm also seeing a lot inter-county movement to Ventura, where prices are also rising substantially. Unfortunately, affordable housing in Santa Barbara seems like a pipe-dream for numerous reasons, most of which are intractable. Regardless, it's great to see an owner-operator in town like you providing jobs here. Generating business, success, and profit locally is what we want, which sounds like a goal we all share.
Hey everyone appreciate the feedback but I think the messaging was lost without the whole context of the article which can be found in the link below.
The "we" means the new organization we are forming called SiliconRiviera.org which is being created to highlight the tech community that's here and bustling. We're not trying to rebrand the city to the world but tell the story of all the amazing things that are happening here that aren't being told to the wider tech community. I agree, the lack of affordable housing is 100% a topic that we're discussing with city hall right now and we actually think that there are innovative solutions to be had if some of the private sectors lean in.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OWwpL1Yn_eaiIJjCJS4IDZ40mg_oq6Zm/view?usp=sharing
Well said!
BW-Spot on.
Peter, my understanding is that you have recently relocated here and now are proclaiming “we [Santa Barbara, presumably] want to be rebranded externally to the rest of the world.” You’d think from that statement our reigning monarch died and crowned you emperor. It’s cool that you’re enthusiastic about our city. I am, too. I think you’re right that many people would want to or enjoy living here. But we don’t need a “global rebrand,” nor do most local residents want an even greater influx of the remote PMC, or other monied newcomers. We’ve got enough. Once upon a time (in my short lifetime) Santa Barbara had a thriving working and middle class. The end is already nigh for the working class and the middle class will soon be wiped out entirely. It is increasingly near impossible to lead a middle class existence here given housing costs. A continued tsunami of monied nomads isn’t what we need or want. Here are some young professionals I know of who’ve recently left town for more affordable options elsewhere: my dentist, our veterinarian, my gastroenterologist, and my urologist. I know multiple doctors who can’t retire or even take a weekend off work (I won’t name the specialty so as not to reveal anyone’s identity) because they cannot hire young replacements to fill their seats because housing is both exceptionally unaffordable but also near impossible to get. Take a gander on Reddit. There is a couple with an income of $350k right now who have applied for dozens of apartments and haven’t been able to land one yet. How about you get the lay of the land and truly understand this place and what goes on here before proclaiming we need a rebrand. I think you also have underestimated the global caché Santa Barbara already possesses as a destination known for its character, geography, and laid-back attitude. When I lived in Europe, I don’t think I met one European who didn’t know where and what Santa Barbara was. Many had been here and damn near every one asked me why the hell I was living in Western Europe when I could be living in SB. The idea that people aren’t aware of Santa Barbara as an ideal destination and need to have their eyes opened to it courtesy a PR campaign and a “rebrand” is silly. Newcomers are arriving every day. Most of us cannot read the article you are quoted in in full and it’s my hope your words were somewhat cherry picked from a statement that in fact reflected a broader understanding of this place. There’s an obvious line between promoting your business or trying to network locally with other tech entrepreneurs, and the hubris that comes along with proclaiming a city you just moved to needs a global rebrand. If you truly love Santa Barbara, and decided you wanted to move here ten years ago, maybe try to remember why you fell in love with it to begin with. Don’t be part of the undoing of something you cherish.
Feel free to write to me about how I'm missing the point of living here? My email is [email protected] I'd love to hear your thoughts Cat of what it means to live here in your perspective.
Someone needs to suggest to Peter Sullivan that perhaps he has moved to the wrong place. He's obviously completely missing the point of living here as have many of our newest denizens.
"Silicon Riviera" Lol good luck with that, what an embarrassment.
Wow, $60million is too much for an empty useless building. They overpaid.
We used to be known as Silicon Beach.
Every July 4th, I think this will be 25 in a row, I get up and play X 4th of July. Something haunting and sad.
That’s awful news! A pizza with artichoke, tomato, basil, and olives from Marty’s is one of my faves. And the building and date palms are so charming (though seriously in need of some roof repair). Feels like every day a piece of old school SB is slipping away. I hope Marty’s will reopen elsewhere.
It sucks that Marty’s Pizza will be closing, at least at its present location. The bridge replacement project requires demo of the Marty’s building, which sits right on top of the creek.
It's on the old wooden house on Miramar beach toward the end after you go around the bend
SB, I highly advise you to buy a ton of white paint and become successful. Clearly, your lack of knowledge regarding supply and demand and the desire for finished products is obscuring what intellect you may possess.
I wouldn't call the Waterman a hotel, not even a motel. It's a hostel and only got built because of that designation. No wonder they are calling for bids rather than putting a price on it.
Cool. Just what we need. More outposts of LA chains so the interlopers can feel at home in their newly adopted (invaded) town.
I've loved Marty's for decades. In the '90's I lived with roomates and we had a wall phone with presets. We re-programed 911 to Marty's phone number.
I like Marty's, too.
Honestly, I don’t see how the CFA design looks much different from the Starbucks nextdoor. The shopping center at the other end of Turnpike (Hollister) surely doesn’t look very “Santa Barbara,” either. Sometimes I think the ARB loses their minds when reviewing design plans. There’s zero continuity to their decisions. No wonder people complain about the local process.
Oh no, going to give Oppi’z across the street a run for their money. ?
At this point, would anyone be surprised if the county used the windfall to subsidize cannabis farming? I did try asking the county—both the assessor's office and supervisor Das Williams, who represents my district—for numbers on exactly how much more property tax revenues have gone up since 2019, but I couldn't even get a response.
I wonder how the County will spend the windfall in property taxes that this inflated market is producing?
(just notes : I previously owned 7732 Kestrel, we got 2.2M in March 2018 and felt lucky to get any offer, things were not selling there, but the tragedy in Montecito brought us the buyer who owned a home there..the profit of 1.2M in recent sale was unjustified, nothing had been redone or updated. Crazy.
Also crazy, 2.6 for N.Patterson, I currently live around the block from this house and look down on its backyard, which is only a pool and original 1978 house no update, wallpaper and all, terrible location in front of a stop sign….what were they thinking?
