Isla Vista Rising

A new era is emerging in Isla Vista. Largely as a result of the leadership of Das Williams, Assembly Bill 3 created the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD). Though the utility users tax necessary to fund the new district sufficiently did not receive two-thirds of the vote on November’s ballot, the overwhelming approval of the district itself is a milestone in the seaside community’s history. Those elected to the new IVCSD board are Ethan Bertrand, Natalie Jordan, Jay Freeman, Spencer Brandt, and Father Jon Hedges. Also crucial in establishing the IVCSD is Duncan Mellichamp, who chaired the UC Santa Barbara Foundation study recommending the service district’s creation through the State Legislature.

The Isla Vista Recreation and Park District (IVRPD) remains the seaside community’s oldest and most integral elected civic body. At its most recent meeting, the IVRPD voted to place a special tax on a special May, mail-in election that will, at long last, provide a stable and secure long-term source of capital and infrastructure funding on about $250,000 for Isla Vista’s parks. Long-time Boardmember Pegeen Soutar played a crucial role in the development of this proposal, in which she was supported by fellow boardmembers Jacob Lebell, Paola Dela Cruz, Carlos Lopez, and Daniel Torres.

A further important development in Isla Vista is the fund-raising campaign for the Isla Vista Community Center, which will be located at the top of the loop on Embarcadero Del Mar, at the site of the original Bank of America. The Isla Vista Community Development Corporation, under the leadership of Cameron Schunk, is spearheading an initial $500,000 fund-raising campaign in the first six months of 2017 to augment funds already secured from the County of Santa Barbara.