Winter Letter from the Mayor

As 2011 comes to a close, I want to wish Santa Barbara residents a joyous and safe holiday season. The end of each year gives us all the opportunity to reflect on the past twelve months and focus on future goals, and life at City Hall is no different.

As I reflect on my work in local government, I note how the tone lately on a national level has been filled with political gridlock and standstills. I personally find it very frustrating when good policy is being trumped by partisan politics, and hope we as a nation can move beyond the negative rhetoric and towards positive solutions.

Staying positive in the face of adversity is not easy. I find that in public office, so long as people are willing to listen, treat each other and their elected positions with respect, acknowledge various viewpoints and focus on policy without making it personal, it’s amazing what you can accomplish and find common ground without compromising your core values. This is how I view my role as Mayor of Santa Barbara, especially when there are significant diverse opinions from those on the dais.