Good Evening

Tonight is not intended to be another meeting where we restate all the problems that State Street and the Downtown Core is struggling with.

This is a framework discussion for generating action

The goal of this discussion is to map out where we have both VIABLE solutions to point to, as well as the overwhelming CONSENSUS needed to commit these solutions to action.

To facilitate this discussion, I’ll try to identify where progress has been made most recently, and then we’ll spend the bulk of our time querying the experts on this panel to find out:

1. “where do we go from here?”, and
2. “what needs to be done to go even further?

Now, before I introduce the panel, you might be wondering how AI fits into this.

First, let me thank Thomas Sekula for the tremendous effort and ingenuity he has applied to this ongoing dialogue. Using new AI workflows, we have spent time indexing and mapping the topics and content that we are about to discuss. Thomas will be giving you a taste of what can be done with this data, and will be displaying and looping AI generated statements and images as the discussion progresses.

This is very experimental, so try not to get too distracted with what’s being shown on the screen. Consider it a backdrop to the live discussion.

Introducing the Panel

[1:51]

I am honored to introduce our 6 panelists, each of whom brings a wealth of experience and insight into the revitalization of State Street and our downtown core.

1. First, we have Dennis Allen. Dennis has pioneered environmentally friendly building practices within Santa Barbara. He joins us tonight to promote the principles represented in CEC’s Ecological Framework for Revitalizing Santa Barbara’s City Core
2. Next, please welcome John Campanella. John is a highly esteemed Housing Advocate who’s career has been marked by his dedication to affordable housing and urban development.
3. Peter Lewis joins us as an accomplished real estate developer. Peter is also a member of the State Street Advisory Committee, established by the City Council in July of 2021.
4. Our next panelist is Anthony Grumbine, a Partner at Harrison Design who currently serves as Chair of the City’s Historic Landmarks Commission.
5. Susanne Tejada is a former President of AIASB. Along with Peter, Susanne is another member of the State Street Advisory Committee joining us tonight.