As a longtime local, I care about everyone in SB and the importance of each perspective.
The division I am seeing and hearing in our community is not healthy or good. This has been caused by the exclusion of many community voices and is not the “Santa Barbara Way”.
Considering our city’s financial situation and depleted reserves, implementation of a costly Rent Stabilization Ordinance and introduction of major changes to our historic downtown (known as the State Street Master Plan) should be better understood and then decided on by a formal vote of the community.
Right now, there is more than one group which feels that its concerns have not been heard and that its only option is to demand a costly referendum and/or to file a lawsuit against the city.
There are others whose voices have been heard and who are working to block the democratic process that mandates a referendum — a vote by the entire community for decisions on important matters.
City leadership should be fully aware when a vote of the people is needed for big-cost decisions and to avoid frustration and division.
More than ever, at this complex, difficult time, our community needs to be working together in earnest with compassion, understanding, and willingness to compromise for peace and balance. The Golden Rule should be our guiding principle.
I ask for each of us to step back and consider our own role in these local developments and how we can do better to help each other and to restore the Santa Barbara Way we typically know.