Recent Comments

If the city stops dreaming that this is a place for tourists, then it will fail. That thinking is what made Santa Barbara what it was and what it is. I do not see Conde Naste suggesting we all go to Victorville for a vacation. I do not see Travel & Leisure suggesting that we all go to Bakersfield for that incredible experience. Tourism has a huge direct and indirect impact on the city. All the tourists support the restaurants, the hotels, the tours, etc. Your argument about places to shop is interesting. Why did Nordstrom, Macy's, Sears, Borders, Bloomingdale's, etc. all depart? Start thinking bigger picture, and you will see that it has more to do with ecommerce taking over than location. These stores did not just close in Santa Barbara. Retail is a dying business. People are demanding warehouse level of different products and are ok with getting it the next day. Heck, some are even doing what I am doing. Walmart now delivers to Santa Barbara same day. Imagine that . . . I no longer need to drive down to Ventura to purchase what I usually purchase from them. And before you go off on that, there are products that they sell that local stores do not. I will agree, with a slight twist, that cities are not businesses in the sense that they should not generate profits. But they are a business in that they provide services citizens demand, and to support that, they need income. If you want fewer services, then, sure, they can be more of what you want.

I would not bother with any of this until the city decides to take homelessness seriously. People sleeping all over state street this morning. It does not need to be this way.

Why didn't you take a better close-up photo of that Rattlesnake?

The facelift worked for the Funk Zone, and it "could" work here but it's a serious, near $100m gamble. State Street is is in dire need for something "to make it work", and opening the streets obviously isn't the answer. I've seen comparisons to 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, which these plans resemble, but 3rd St is going through the exact same issue as State. Online shopping, homelessness, and not enough places to visit on this section of State on a leisurely afternoon are the issues. The unique mom and pop shops can't afford it and opening a restaurant along that stretch is almost always guaranteed financial suicide. A facelift is a step in the right direction for the filthy, urine smelling sidewalks and greasy asphalt. If this goes through, there's still a LOT of work to do in order to make this the bustling street it once was.

It's true there is no money for this. None. Maybe there are some funds in D.C. Salud could tap into, but this broke little seaside town certainly doesn't have the funds. Lots of money available for a new freeway evidently to bring people here. But what's here for them when they arrive? It's a nice dream at this point. I don't see all the fuss about the plans. The current set up of walking and riding on a street made for cars isn't very appealing. Going back is rarely the way forward. I don't see how cars on the street help, if there is no parking on same street. And if you are dining on the street and a car idles nearby waiting for a light, or a loud motorcycle comes along, how is that pleasant or a reason to return? This should not be a cruise zone. That makes no more sense than letting e-bikes go 25mph or pull wheelies amidst confused pedestrians in an ill defined and liminal zone between two sides of a street which they (walkers) are contemplating crossing at a given time. It's broke and needs fixin'. But so is the city. How to figure this one out. Despite my histrionics and light cynicism, I do sense the street is slowly fixing itself by the uncoordinated efforts of private enterprise, non-profits and educational centers (UCSB, Westmont, Film Festival, Music Academy) who are planting themselves downtown. It's ground up that will likely work here, not top down. I gave up on the top down method a while back due to a lack of leadership, successful policies or planning. Over time, things could reboot, expenses brought under control, tax receipts increasing. So maybe in 10-15 years we see a new street, what it may be. Meanwhile, let's dream and discuss but keep cool heads and be open. Oh, if a local billionaire or two steps up that could speed things up. But I'm not sure they care about the plight of the town. They seem to want less activity, not more. Hope they prove me wrong. I have nothing against smarts and success, but please share it a bit. You can't take it with you but you can leave something wonderful behind. It's what has made Santa Barbara what it is.

laughable ideas with associated costs= ridiculous!

Just put State Street back the way it was before the Pandemic!!! It functioned well. Look at the Santa Monica Promenade, a total failure. People don't need to walk in the middle of the street, we already have sidewalks on either side.

No, no no no no. Ask the locals. we do NOT want more sidewalks and tighter travel lanes. I have not run into ONE local that wants anything like this.

If you haven't already...try Rozzi Pizza. Chef-owner David Rosner is a real NY pizza guy. St. Bibiana is also excellent.

Sam, The history of every worthwhile civic achievement is written by people willing to see what does not yet exist and then do the hard work to make it real. If the world operated from the mindset of “it can’t be done,” we would still be living in caves. Your comment is exactly what holds cities back. It offers no solution, no imagination, and no contribution beyond reflexive cynicism. Of course a plan like this takes funding, phasing, commitment, and creativity. That is true of every meaningful public improvement. But dismissing a bold vision because it is ambitious is not wisdom. It is small thinking. Great cities are not shaped by people whose main contribution is to point at obstacles. They are shaped by people with optimism, courage, and the ability to imagine a better future. And since your comment seems determined to focus on what you think cannot work, let’s take those kinds of points one by one and turn them right side up: * **“It costs too much.”** The best public investments often do. Great promenades, civic spaces, and downtown improvements create value for decades, not just for a budget cycle. * **“It’s unrealistic.”** Vision always looks unrealistic to people who lack imagination. That does not make it unrealistic. It makes it ambitious. * **“Tourists won’t care.”** Tourists come back to places that are memorable, beautiful, walkable, and alive. That is exactly how a strong vision helps fuel the local economy. * **“Downtown is already struggling.”** That is precisely why bold thinking matters. The answer to decline is not more pessimism. It is a better plan. * **“Young people working for low wages won’t benefit.”** Students and young workers earning $20 an hour today are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, leaders, professionals, and yes, sometimes even benevolent billionaires. Great cities invest in environments that inspire them to grow. * **“We should only focus on what is practical right now.”** Practicality without vision produces stagnation. Vision paired with execution is what produces greatness. * **“The City should stop dreaming.”** No. The City should keep dreaming, keep planning, and keep building. That is how economies grow, communities strengthen, and places become iconic. I applaud the supervisors and planners who are willing to put forward a bold vision while absorbing criticism from people who seem unable to see beyond the next complaint. I do not like people who cannot see a better tomorrow. You are a drag on our collective optimism. Please keep your negativity to yourself and stop trying to pull the rest of us down. Be a visionary, or be quite please, because the rest of us are trying to make things better. A.

Who is supposed to pay for this design by committee monster? The empty shop owners? The people who live downtown in subsidized housing? The students making $20 an hour? The tourists buying $40 t-shirts and eating $20 burgers staying at $400 a night motels? The locals who are already taxed and fee'd at some of the highest rate in the nation? A benevolent billionaire? The city employees who graciously agree to work less for more money every year? Who? I will take "things that will never happen in Santa Barbara" for $1000.