more articles like this

Sense of Community
updated: Sep 24, 2012, 8:01 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

What are some of the aspects that contribute to the sense of community in Santa Barbara, other than Edhat? Having lived here most of my life, I'm unaware if other cities in the USA have this good spirt of community. Or is our sense of community not that strong?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 323522	2012-09-24 08:19 AM
Shared community history
COMMENT 323528	2012-09-24 08:41 AM
The spirit of this community is great if you have spare change or a quarter.
COMMENT 323531	2012-09-24 08:49 AM
A sense of comes from a sense of public safety that allows anyone to go about town at any time of day or night to explore its many offerings. That sense of personal safety has been eroded after too many years of misguided past city council politics welcoming vagrants to set up shop on our downtown streets. Losing the sense of downtown has badly affected a community sense of belonging. Downtown now belongs to transients and vagrants and no longer to those of us actually living here and paying property taxes for that privilege. We now have to shop elsewhere to feel safe and unaccosted.
COMMENT 323533	2012-09-24 08:51 AM
If you want a sense of community you need to get out there and volunteer, it will help. Day of Caring, clean up the beaches, neighborhood clean up, etc. Those types of things help combat the feeling that our city is being taken over by homeless and tourists.
COMMENT 323537P	2012-09-24 09:02 AM
Not that strong, in answer to your question. Every town, city has a rah, rah, rah about itself (I've lived elsewhere and traveled to many). Santa Barbara's seems to revolve around its name and tourist presentation. Dig deeper and you'll find that very few, for the size of the city, participate in civic issues and causes and needs. As the city has become more of a homeless (and tourist, transient) destination, it has become more "theirs" and less "ours".
COMMENT 323545	2012-09-24 09:21 AM
537P - Agreed. I'm a 40-year resident and your comments ring true to me.
COMMENT 323546P	2012-09-24 09:22 AM
My experience is that Santa Barbara has a wonderful sense of community thanks to the many organizations that seem to cater to just about every interest. I have seen none of the organizations affected by the homeless or tourists in any way, shape or form. The only factor affecting that sense of community is participation. EdHat is a part of the community, because many take part in discussions about a wide variety of subjects of local interest. The fact that I am participating is completely unaffected by how many tourists or homeless there are in Santa Barbara.
COMMENT 323557	2012-09-24 09:47 AM
The YMCA has a wonderful sense of community! You're warmly welcome there. They are very helpful to you if you're in financial assistance. Sometimes at the playgrounds there is a nice sense of welcome. Tho some parents are snobbish, there are parks that have friendly mothers! I am a mother and try to be friendly with other moms and their children. To me, Santa Barbara seems more friendly, than Los Angeles, where I was born and raised. Maybe because we're a smaller city, it works here. Dunno. I've always had luck with friendliness.
COMMENT 323565P	2012-09-24 10:00 AM
546P - agree about edhat, but the question specifically excluded Edhat. A lot of those participating in the many organizations do not live in Santa Barbara, but in other cities or the county or out of the area entirely. Similarly for the funding of the organizations here: they're supported not least because of the presence of the unusual amount of money in the area, notably Montecito and Hope Ranch, outside of the city limits. Sadly, Santa Barbara's sense of community has been declining for the last 10 or 15 years. State Street is a good example; La Cumbre mall another. The first is populated by out of area stores and tourists and other transients and homeless; the latter, hardly at all. (I am a long time resident.)
COMMENT 323566	2012-09-24 10:04 AM
When I moved here, I heard it's an easy place to like, but a hard place to belong. It does feel that way. When my kids were in school, there was some connection to other parents, but it feels like it's really clique-y here. Join the progressive dems, or the book clubs, or be on a board of some organization, and then you find tiny niches of belonging. "Locals" here have a kind of snooty factor that's offputting, as though they can draw a boundary around the city and keep you out. Many communities are more inclusive than that.
COMMENT 323568	2012-09-24 10:09 AM
Santa Barbara had the visionary sense in the 1970s to make downtown be friendly to walking around rather than to driving around. A town where people are walking around is naturally one that feels friendlier because you really are likely to see your friends and meet new ones in the course of everyday activities.
COMMENT 323577	2012-09-24 10:16 AM
I never understand when locals get upset about tourists. Don't we all go on vacations? How would you feel if you thought that you were unwelcomed by people who live in those places. I'm happy to share my community and its beauty with people from other places/cultures who agree how beautiful and fun Santa Barbara is.
COMMENT 323595P	2012-09-24 10:57 AM
Fascinating responses, thank you Edhat readers. Though there are many factions in the city, as noted, there does seem to be an overriding sense of community and pride in our community. It seems we know we're blessed to live here.
COMMENT 323608P	2012-09-24 11:38 AM
323565P - I added the Edhat comment to make a point about other people not affecting my participation. As for most members of organizations being from out of town - I must not have encountered those, despite having participated in many locally. I cannot imagine what you are talking about. SB is one of the better places to live, and those who understand that, appreciate it. And I will not let anyone affect my appreciation of the area - tourist or homeless or otherwise.
COMMENT 323613P	2012-09-24 11:50 AM
Because of its weather and geography, the ocean and the mountains, and because people in the past have cared a lot to preserve aspects of it, El Pueblo Viejo, and to give the land for the Natural History Museum, the Botanic Garden (both in the County) and Chase Palm Park and the Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, it IS one of the better places to live. I agree on that, but you asked about the sense of community and what contributes to it. Those geographic aspects contribute, as, of course, do people. You mentioned the "good spirit of community": I believe it is going, going,... and not at all that strong.
COMMENT 323617	2012-09-24 01:03 PM
1 The different schedules of hikers on trails. From early risers to evening hikers carrying headlamps. 2 Hula hoopers, roller skaters, and drummers along Cabrillo; skateboarders just about anywhere. To me they represent the spirit of southern California. 3 People running the steps at SBCC. 4 I like the tourists-- always trying to make a positive experience, even in June gloom. I can still find parking for my bike or car near the beach. I go around the surreys full of laughing people. 5 Trader Joe's parking lots--at least we bring our own bags, haha. 6 Dance tribe, an alcohol-free and drug-free weekly dance 7 Year-round farmers' market. 8 Traffic! Sometimes is sucks but other times it's just to be expected. Enjoy the scenery. 9 Independent's week calendar. So much going on here! 10 The high restaurant to resident ratio. Eating out and seeing friends by chance. 11 Big families outside. 12 The drinking fountain on Mountain Drive.
COMMENT 323618	2012-09-24 01:06 PM
I have mixed feelings about this, but kind of agree with the sentiment of 537. Being in the minority "middle class" with young children, we feel blessed to have some opportunities for exposure to the arts and science here locally through our fabulous museums. However, I do think our demographic is overlooked. It saddens me that with only a few major exceptions, the wealthy here do not donate to our local schools. Of all places, it seems this community should have the resources to have wonderful public schools. Parents are struggling to afford housing. property taxes, etc., and then provide services to our community like quality health care. Sometimes it seems like the homeless get a lot more compassion and both private and government funding.
TAZ	2012-09-24 02:54 PM
Interesting that the (SBCC) Adult Ed program hasn't yet been mentioned in comments. When we came 19 years ago, we were blown away with the offerings. What we most liked about the rich and varied program was how people could take classes based on their interest, and meet people who were interested in similar things. It was great as newcomers to quickly feel part of the community. Adult Ed provided a fabric that connected people of different ethnic, age and financial strata around shared interests and talents. It seemed a melting pot that broke barriers, promoting inclusion. There were classes in communication, anger, and forgiveness and such too, which has helped people here get along. I fear Adult Ed is on its way out too... (including that it is not being mentioned here, whereas it would have been up front in previous times, in polls was listed as the best place to meet people). I wonder how that loss will affect our community over time. Hopefully something else sweet will happen...but that was pretty wonderful, seemed like a model for other communities.
COMMENT 323643P	2012-09-24 03:08 PM
Summer Soltice, Fiesta, and other parades - even if one doesn't appreciate them - they do provide a sense of community in Santa Barbara. Other cities of this size don't seem to have the parades. Also the community services which we have seem unusually good - such as a fine Visiting Nurses Association, Hospice, and many more.
COMMENT 323658	2012-09-24 03:57 PM
The Bowl. Music always brings people of like mind together, no matter what your music tastes. Saw many of my friends at the Bonnie Raitt concert, and I'll bet it's the same for any kind of concert there. Yay! I'd also add the volunteer community(s). There are so many opportunities to volunteer in this town, it's hard to pick which one. Whatever your cause or concerns there is somewhere to apply your talents. And I second the Adult Ed, if the brilliant 'administrators' don't screw it up.
GREG	2012-09-24 04:08 PM
Was it an L.A. Times article years ago that mentioned it must be something in the water, how Santa Barbarans contribute generously in volunteer hours and funds to non-profits?
COMMENT 323663P	2012-09-24 04:09 PM
Don's pride adds to the sense of community. Go Dons.
COMMENT 323664P	2012-09-24 04:12 PM
Good point about the County Bowl. What other city this size has such a treasured outdoor venue? There's a special sense of community that we often take for granted.
COMMENT 323667P	2012-09-24 04:17 PM
Wondering how many other other communities have such an active engagement in an Edhat type online community.
COMMENT 323720	2012-09-24 05:26 PM
This may not quite qualify as "community," but I like the fact that Santa Barbara is still so small town in one very telling way: You can't say something about anyone, without it eventually getting back to them. "Six Degrees of Separation" is more like two or three degrees in SB. Once, I was standing in line at Montecito Vons, listening to two women (complete strangers to me) talk about one of my best friends (and not in a good way). Another time, a friend called me to tell me a woman was at Gold's Gym, exercising and talking about her new affair with my soon to be ex. My third favorite example also took place at Vons (La Cumbre, this time). I overheard a man and a woman discussing a Tour de France winner's marriage/therapy. I realized I was listening to this bike racer's therapist "share" a confidential session. Don't say anything about anyone in SB or Goleta or Carp (in public) that you don't want relayed back to that person!
COMMENT 323757	2012-09-24 07:27 PM
I agree with 658! What treasures we have in this town!
COMMENT 323800P	2012-09-24 11:08 PM
LOL 720! I have found that after living in SB my entire life that everyone in this area are all connected in one way or another. This is not a good town to have an affair in, or do anything else that you may not want widely known, because once you start talking to people you realize that they are someone who knows someone who knows you! It is a strange feeling to realize that you are the one, or a loved one are the one they are talking about. Not only is it a cliquey town it is very expensive place to live. Best to pay your bills on time and try to maintain a low profile, or be the subject of two or more, people's conversations in the checkout lanes at your local Von's!
COMMENT 323803P	2012-09-24 11:53 PM
720 - thanks for your posting. Funny, it is true this is a small town, with anonymity eventually being hard to conceal. Your examples are vivid, good.
COMMENT 323825P	2012-09-25 07:31 AM
The SBCC adult ed classes with their long-time instructors and students provide a sense of community that reaches beyond the classroom. The art classes are my special love, and the local art associations offer volunteer opportunities.
ARCHIE	2012-09-25 08:36 AM
Common courtesy. Participation in the 1000 non-profits. The happiness of living in a place beautiful everywhere, and even though at times galling, the control of growth and design. Cultural opportunities. A benign for the most part weather. An overriding practice of non-status public display. People who feel lucky to live here.
FLICKA	2012-09-25 10:10 AM
I get SO tired of complaints about tourists. Santa Barbara has been a tourist destination since the1800s, fueling our economy. The Potter Hotel on Cabrillo had about 800 rooms; the Miramar, Arlington and Potter had guests who stayed for the winter. My father was one of the "homeless alcoholics" on lower State in the late 1940s and 50s. it's nothing new. I don't go downtown often, live in Carp, but never had a problem.
LILAC	2012-09-25 07:26 PM
If you have a dog, the off-least parks at Tuckers Grove and Tabano Hollow are great places to connect. My dog and I have been going there for 12 years or more and have made wonderful, lasting friendships. We take care of each others' dogs and of each other.
ZEBRA STRIPES	2012-09-25 10:58 PM
First, I say to anyone complaining about a lack of Sense of Community, to take a deep look to identify what you find lacking and organize with others to fill that void. 1) Adult Ed (soon to be Center for Lifelong Learning) is still fabulous and will find a way to survive and/or create opportunities for spin-off classes. 2) Many organizations for enriching our children exist, if you are not finding them, expand your search or organize to create more choices. 3) Art, music, theater, museums are alive here. 4) Farmers Markets, CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) are vibrant & producing literally year-round. 5) We now have a CSF (Community Supported Fisheries) here, check out "CommunitySeafood.com" 6) Participate in a beach or trail clean-up day, you will breathe community spirit, along with a share of dust & such... 7) Let your dog enjoy community spirit at several dog-friendly parks & beaches. 8) Ask wildfire victims & survivors about sense of community. 9) Are you a cancer survivor, or lost a loved one to cancer? There is strong community support here (not to mention amazing medical expertise). 10) How about Visiting Nurses, Hospice, Jodi House, and many other critical care centers? 11) Did I mention our amazing sports communities? ESL communities? Gardening enthusiasts? Historical organizations? Enjoy what we have & create what we are missing!

58% of comments on this page were made by Edhat Community Members.

*** 3 comments were deleted from this thread by the Edhat Board Nanny for violating Edhat Comments Board policy. Click Here to see them.

Comments on this thread are only open to Community Members.

# # # #