Edhat StaffBy edhat staff
The Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization is leaving her position after 15 months.
Carrie Kelly began the economic development position in December of 2018 following the Thomas Fire and 1/9 Debris Flow that shook the local economy.
“I am thrilled to join the staff and board of Downtown Santa Barbara and help reimagine downtown,” said Kelly upon taking the position. “Santa Barbara has such a unique downtown and I am anxious to jump in and work with stakeholders to tackle big issues.”
Amidst the coronavirus pandemic that has left the majority of downtown businesses shuttered, Kelly submitted her resignation.
In her departure letter, Kelly said, “it is a time for great change and challenge in the business community in the United States and downtown Santa Barbara. I believe the pieces are in place for our Downtown to flourish after this period,” reports KEYT News.
She will be taking an economic development position in Arizona.
Downtown Santa Barbara is an organization that advocates for the merchants and property owners of the downtown district in Santa Barbara, that includes over 1,400 members. It also manages the Downtown Santa Barbara Business Improvement District, providing services to make the downtown area cleaner and safer.
Carrie Kelly did a great job and advocated for positions that represent the majority of not just business owners’ views, but citizens. I witnessed her at multiple city council and other committee meetings. It’s a shame she’s leaving; I wish her the best. The bigger shame is that our city leaders refuse to listen to voices of reason like hers and continue to waste our tax dollars while allowing downtown to fester with homelessness, attentions focused instead on pathetic and arbitrary rules like a ban on neon (Institution Ale). Nevermind how we even begin to plan to rise from the ashes of the current end-of-life-as-we-know-it situation we face. It’s all so sad.