Santa Barbara Talks: Business Leaders Talk Community Benefit Improvement District

Peter Lewis, Francois DeJohn and Trevor Large join Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina to talk about the proposed Community Benefit Improvement District. The proposed CBID would enhance safety and cleanliness on State Street. The purpose of the proposed Community Benefit Improvement District (CBID) is to ensure the future economic vitality of downtown. This initiative aims to assess property owners within the proposed district to independently fund and direct special benefits to address cleanliness, safety, beautification, maintenance, identity, and placemaking, beyond what the City currently provides. The Downtown Organization of Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, and the CBID Steering Committee are putting forward this important initiative. Formation of the CBID would provide property owners and business community members in the district with a unified voice to advocate for the district, collectively liaise with the City, and independently manage the use of funds to their benefit. Assessments on real property within the proposed district will fund enhanced benefits to attract new customers, businesses, residents, and appeal to visitors throughout downtown. Please watch this podcast on YouTube and visit www.santabarbaratalks.com to consider a contribution. SBT is Santa Barbara's No. 1 podcast where journalist Josh Molina interviews people on the topics of media, education, housing, politics, business and culture. Molina is a journalist and college instructor.