Santa Barbara City Attorney Ariel Calonne Supports Local Journalism

I support local journalism because the Constitution demands a free press to protect our democracy. That sounds very big and conceptual, so let me break it down to what I understand and why I care.

My career inside local government has taken me to four great cities — Palo Alto, Boulder, Ventura, and Santa Barbara. The common thread between these diverse cities is an enlightened populace that actively participates in their city government. In other words, cities work and communities thrive when the people control local government, never the other way around. “Of the people, by the people, for the people” means we are accountable to ourselves, as Santa Barbarans and Americans, for building a great community.

I’ve often quipped, both seriously and in jest, that if you want to make sure we screw up something at City Hall, leave us alone to do it ourselves. Why? It’s not a lack of experience, skill, or energy. Lincoln’s prepositions — of, by and for — teach us that government simply cannot run on autopilot; it will rise or fall to the level demanded by the community it serves.