Candidates agree Santa Barbara runs on art, but split on the price tag.
On Wednesday night, candidates for Santa Barbara mayor and City Council discussed the State Street Master Plan, local artists and how much money should be allocated to fund the arts.
But on one point, the candidates never wavered: Santa Barbara needs its artists.
“I always say that we are our best selves when we come together, and especially when it’s around the arts,” said District 4 candidate Genevieve Taft-Vasquez.
Taft Vasquez joined candidates from Districts 4, 5 and 6 and the mayoral race at a forum at the
Community Arts Workshop to discuss how they would support the arts if elected. About 30 people audience members were in attendance.
The candidates agreed on the value of art but differed on how to pay for it and how best to
support local artists.
Several tied their ideas to the State Street Master Plan. District 6 candidate Gabe Escobedo called it an “infrastructure plan that should be paired with programming and investment [in the arts].”
He suggested turning empty State Street buildings into part-studio, part-living spaces for local
artists.
District 5 candidate James Zurlinden pointed to the workshop itself, a city-owned property leased out in 2018 for about 25 years, as a model. He suggested using city-owned property like it for collaboration with youth choirs and other young artists.
Ian Baucke, also a District 5 candidate, said the city owns more than 400 properties that could
be used creatively, further supporting the arts in Santa Barbara.
The city’s current fiscal year budget includes $2 million for the arts. Candidates in the City
Council and mayoral races were split on whether that is enough.
“I definitely think $2 million is too low for Santa Barbara,” said District 6 candidate Alexander
Stoeber. “Santa Barbara was designed and created by artists, so it’s definitely a part of our
culture.”
Stoeber suggested paying artists more to create and perform locally so they can afford to stay and contribute to the arts.
Councilmember and mayoral candidate Eric Friedman cited the more than 25,000 arts jobs in
Santa Barbara County and $62 million in tax revenue they generate.
“So, $2 million to promote all that is definitely not enough,” Friedman said.
However, mayoral candidate Wendy Sims-Moten said $2 million is the right amount.
“It’s been difficult to balance the budget,” Sims-Moten said. “I’m trusting that the budget process that set $2 million in our budget is where we have to put it right now.”
City Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon, also running for mayor, said the answer isn’t only money.
“It’s not just dollars. It’s support,” Sneddon said. “It’s moving things more quickly through the
permitting process. The Grand on State Street had quite a time trying to get themselves open. We don’t need to make it so hard. We could be saving so much money by making those processes easier.”
The evening ended on a lighter note, with candidates sharing their favorite costume stories.
Stoeber’s story was the most personal. Homeless as a kid, he played Frosty the Snowman in a
school play in the first grade, and tripped on stage.
“That was a formative time in my life. I learned to laugh at myself, and that I don’t need to be
perfect,” Stoeber said.
The price tag may be up for debate, but the value of the arts was not. From the City Council
races to the mayor’s race, candidates agreed that Santa Barbara thrives when its artists do.
Candidates Jason Dominguez, Taft-Vazquez, Devin Wardlow and Monte Wilson are running for office in District 4. In District 5, the candidates are Baucke, Cevin Cathell and Zurlinden. In District 6, Jason Carlton, Escobedo, Anabella Lehne and Stoeber are running for the vacant seat.
In the mayor’s contest, Friedman, Matt Kilrain, Sims-Moten and Sneddon are running to replace Randy Rowse, who decided not to seek a second term. All of the candidates attended the Wednesday night forum, which was held over three hours.
