Ian Baucke grew up in Santa Barbara and wants to make a life here and raise a family. He works for State Senator Pro Tempore Monique Limon and is known around town as an advocate for bicycle transportation, as a member of Strong Towns SB.
His next step: At 27 years old, he would like to serve on the Santa Barbara City Council.
Baucke appears on the latest episode of the podcast Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina to talk about his campaign in District 5. He is looking to replace Eric Friedman, who is termed out, and is running for mayor.
The podcast was produced by TV Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara News-Press.
“The city that I grew up in is in many ways slipping away,” Baucke said. “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for working families. You know, seniors, new students who just graduated, local kids who are trying to find their first job. It’s becoming increasingly difficult, especially post-COVID, even more so, and I want to address those things through policy at the City Council.”
In the podcast, Baucke offers his views on rent stabilization, State Street, the city budget, housing, La Cumbre Plaza, and more.
He said rent stabilization should be part of a larger package of affordability in Santa Barbara.
“Rent stabilization is focused on the here and now and the pain that families are feeling and how we can help them, you know, stay afloat,” Baucke said.
He said more housing development is also needed.
“In the long term, to solve this problem, we have to build more housing,” Baucke said. “And we have to focus, particularly at the city level, on building true 100% affordable workforce housing, and on city property is one strategy that I’m really focused on if I’m elected.”
Baucke said he grew up walking on State Street with his friends.
“You know, that was the thing to do with my friends,” Baucke said. “We’d meet up at Paseo Nuevo and we’d walk down and chat all the way down to the wharf most of the time. We’d stop at different stores, like Rocket Fizz.”
Baucke is not a supporter of re-opening State Street to vehicles full-time.
“I don’t think cars need to come back to State Street as like a general all-day private traffic sort of thing,” Baucke said. “There are uses for cars like you even see right now with the Farmers Market with service deliveries, emergency vehicle access, of course, I think all of that’s very appropriate.”
He said the city could embrace certain days when cars are allowed for a car show or for cruising. He suggested bollards to allow flexibility with cars.
Baucke, whose father John Baucke is on the Santa Barbara Planning Commission, also answered questions about his age and experience level.
“Age is in many ways just a number,” Baucke said. “It is about experience. And, you know, I think I have the advantage of putting in many years of work in the city of Santa Barbara, dealing with city of Santa Barbara issues.”
Baucke also serves as chair of the Santa Barbara Transportation and Circulation Committee.
“I was born here, I was raised here, I came back here, I chose very intentionally to pursue a career in public service for this community because this is where my family is,” Baucke said. “This is where I want my future family.”
Watch the full podcast to hear Baucke and Molina talk for nearly an hour.
Santa Barbara Talks is a podcast owned by journalist Joshua Molina. He is the editor of the Santa Barbara News-Press and worked as a reporter and editor at Noozhawk and the San Jose Mercury News. He also teaches journalism at Santa Barbara City College. Watch Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina on YouTube for hundreds of podcast interviews and commentary.
