STATE STREET PLANNING GETS MORE SPECIFIC

There was a palpable feeling of consensus developing at the latest meeting of the panel planning the future of State Street.

• A “people-first future of downtown,” reports The Independent.
  
• “The idea of cars returning to State Street is losing gas,” reports Noozhawk.

RESTAURANTS STILL SUPPORT THE PROMENADE

“Opal Restaurant & Bar and our neighbor, Carlitos Café y Cantina, have recently lost our parklets. However, we have begun a process to rebuild,” say the owners. “Maintaining the State Street promenade is the best thing for our city.” [Noozhawk]

EX-MAYOR HAL CONKLIN LIVES ON

“Santa Barbara’s downtown should invoke a sense of place, a sense of history and a sense of celebration.”

The late mayor’s exhortation was cited as the touchstone for the planning process, now nearing its final stages.