Mancuso For Santa Barbara

State Street Master Plan-Opinion

The long overdue State Street Master Plan was released with a staff update on April 16, 2026. The release included the Master Plan and appendices requesting comments to be emailed to StateStreetMasterPlan@SantaBarbaraCA.gov by April 28, 2026. I encourage everyone to review the plan and voice your comments either in person at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, where I will be or via email.

There is much to digest and the most important note is that this plan is meant to revitalize downtown and specifically State Street OVER THE NEXT 20-30 YEARS! None of this is meant to happen tomorrow, however much needs to occur ASAP to keep State Street and Santa Barbara vibrant. It is time to get something done and to improve State Street. For this reason, the plan requires serious consideration. Although I am NOT in favor of cars on State Street, there is much to like about this plan. If it is not approved, what next? Will a new consultant be hired? Will the street remain the way it is now? How many more years to receive another plan that will also have divided support? What can we do now and how can we make something happen? 

I commend much of the plan and can specifically relate to much of the comparison to West Palm Beach as I lived there for nine years and lived through that city’s revitalization. West Palm Beach was struggling with crime and vacancy, and after a few attempts at revitalization, it is now growing and thriving. There are a lot of similarities between the cities, especially the mix of residents and tourists. Though the revitalization has not been without disagreement, currently there are new issues in West Palm Beach which once again divide support of their downtown vision. I mention this because no plan will be supported by everyone. 

Of special note, and an issue close to my heart, is that West Palm Beach believes in Community Policing. There are “cops walking the beat” daily. They are highly visible, not arresting people, or moving homeless, but they are friendly, stopping and talking to store owners, saying hi to families walking the street on the way to the waterfront or to enjoy an ice cream. An increased police presence on State Street needs to occur ASAP to provide the safety citizens and visitors want. Police who engage pleasantly and are visible will only improve downtown. We are not looking for arrests or aggressive behavior, just the opposite. Stop and say hi to business owners, talk to the kid who wants to know what it’s like being a police officer, but yes, if needed, make sure the e-bike riders are riding safely, and if there is a disturbance, handle it. If someone is unruly, talk to them. Everyone wants to feel safe.

The plan will be controversial to those who want State Street opened full time in both directions. I do not support that and a substantial survey and petition supports my position. Many are nostalgic for simpler days when you could cruise State Street, but those days are gone. Reading comments on social media show me that those who like to “cruise”, well, they cruise, they don’t park their cars, walk, or visit the shops and restaurants. State Street depends on shopping and the tax revenue it brings the city. Shop and restaurant owners are business owners and must pay substantial rents for the honor of being on State Street. As the owner of two shops, I want, and need, visitors, otherwise, my business is not viable. We do not want empty storefronts, we want a vibrant community that provides diverse goods and services. Covid and online shopping change the world and we can’t go back. Instead, let’s move forward. 

Have you traveled to Europe? Mexico? Other countries that have vibrant downtown corridors and squares? People love them. They walk around, grab a sandwich, a souvenir, sit on a bench and people watch. Music can be heard and more importantly, laughter. I can’t think of a city better positioned to embrace this lifestyle than Santa Barbara. How lucky we are to live here! The beauty is unparalleled. Yes, we have challenges, everywhere does, but let’s be visionary. There is no return to the olden days, that’s not how the world works. We have a unique opportunity to get this right, and while this plan may not be perfect, it feels like we are finally moving in the right direction. We can learn from what did not work in other areas and we can look to places that are successful. Change may be scary for some but it is necessary for survival.

Here’s what I like about the plan: the expanded sidewalks for dining and display. Visually, this will make State Street more inviting and attractive to residents and visitors alike. The retractable bollards will allow for easy access to the street for emergencies and flexibility for special events. The attractiveness of the street will be greatly improved with the cohesive sidewalk and paver plan. 

Here’s what gives me pause: Cars on State Street. 10:00pm is a time when the street is still busy on the weekends and the chance for vehicle accidents and alcohol related incidents are higher. I agree with Sullivan Israel from Strong Towns Santa Barbara and his opinion piece published on April 22, 2026 where he outlines the decrease in vehicle accidents since the closure of State Street. We want people safe and opening it is a safety risk. There is vehicle traffic on adjacent streets which allow for access to parking garages and State Street. 

Is there room for compromise? Recognizing that there will never be a consensus on the right solution, what can we do to move forward? Is there a need for a few hours of early morning access for public services and business deliveries? Perhaps 5:00am-9:00am? The city and business have made the current system work for years now but it may not be ideal. 

If approved, the completion of the plan is many years off and divided into three phases requiring a substantial capital commitment involving various types of funding and grants. There is still work to be done to shore up the funds and allocate to the specific projects. Changes will occur, costs will go up, and that must be recognized and accounted for. For those in a zone not experiencing implementation in the first phase, what can be done to help those blocks? A plan is needed.

What can we do now? Let’s extend the sidewalk design implemented on the 500 block to the 700 block. As the 700-900 block is in the first phase of the plan, there needs to be some cohesion between the 500 block and the 700 block and as the designated Entertainment Zone, the 500 and 600 blocks should be the same. Also, there are food and drink establishments on the 600 block that would benefit with expanded outdoor seating and sidewalk space. The expanded sidewalks on the 500 block have been well received by the business owners and should be expanded. In the event that the project on the 700-900 block does not move forward in phase one, let’s expand to those blocks as well. It will bring a cohesive look to the street and help businesses increase sales. Increased sales along with fast tracked new business permits will help business grow and bring in more tax revenue to the city.

Let’s revitalize State Street.  Let’s widen the sidewalks, add more trees and benches, make more visible bicycle travel lanes and designated pedestrian zones. I’m excited for the possibilities we have. Let’s embrace them. The best days of Santa Barbara are ahead of us and I can’t wait.