‘The Independent’ Is the Soul of Santa Barbara

Spanish Language School Owner Says the ‘Indy’ Is a Critical Lifeline to His Business

After living in New York and Wisconsin for my education and in Spain and Costa Rica for work, I decided to come to Santa Barbara to stay. The vibes, the weather, the geographic beauty, all drew me here.

So, during the early ’90s, I found myself in an amazing town that had a variety of political tendencies (none extreme), an incredible environment, generous nonprofit agencies, prestigious educational institutions, and a cultural life that encompassed so much, including opera, film, theater, and festivals.

But I also wanted to really know Santa Barbara, not as a tourist, but as someone who needed to have a clear, historical, familiar picture of my new home. I needed to get in touch, as it were.