Is Santa Barbara, California Ruined Forever?

This wonderful city is starting to look like the rest of California. And that's not a good thing.

Santa Barbara is the typical California most people envision who aren't from here. It's beautiful, expensive, and has nice weather and celebrities. It's also cool and trendy I suppose.

I guess you could call this place all of those things. And that’s why I’m here on day 5 of the big ole California adventure. It had been 15 years since I had last been to Santa Barbara. And I wanted you to see it too.

A lot of my trip so far has been about the weird and the tragic. But not here. This is a happy place. For the most part. As we’ll see, sadly, it's not as nice as it once was. California has a way of infecting itself on everything. And that’s just sad, dammit.

#california #moving

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[Tonymanero]

Can we agree that Nick has a way with words? His videos and narration are outstanding.

[juanitook]

As a resident of San Bernardino, where Los Angeles has been shipping busloads of homeless for years, my heart really breaks for the poor folks on rodeo drive by the sea who continue to vote for the same idiots to manage the problem.

[anthonyburke]

This episode saddened me, I’ve not been to Santa Barbara in years, it was a fond memory, I remembered the bookshops, coffee shops the surplus stores, the beach, countryside, eating out. I’ve steered clear of California for years and now the memory is sullied.

[WordsPhotos]

As a resident I recognized just about every one of the streets you drove on. Very accurate interpretation of the city. Although I have to say it's no Rodeo Drive. Most businesses close the doors because they thought the rich and famous will cater, but they don't. The rich does not spend in Santa Barbara. Groundhog Day feeling was so accurate and you hardly can tell when winter comes and how quickly it leaves. I think 30 years ago the population was actually 66k and now around 96k. Many homes are inherited by the baby boomers and they are house poor. They just finished the asphalt in many streets and we already see potholes. The city managers are amazingly incompetent in every decision. City workers are even worse than the managers. Vendors such as plumbers and electricians treat everyone as if they are millionairs. You have to do lots of fixings yourself otherwise you have to dishout a lot of money for labor. Thanks god for Amazon, we can barely find a place to buy underwear in this city. just hundreds of coffee shops, everybody seems to dream of becoming a coffee roasting company owner someday.

[robertivers]

I'm from Santa Barbara and I can tell you it's not the same happy place I remember. When the Thomas Fire and floods came things changed. After the Lockdowns during COVID Santa Barbara really changed became a depressing place to visit. You can feel that no one is happy and the homeless population increased just making it worse. City Leaders and the Governor are responsible for the neglect of the people, homeless and the Environment. I feel that the State of California is on the brink of Collapse do to our Governor just disgusting!

[NickWilliams-tqlo]

As a 78 year old 3rd generation Californian, I moved my family out of the state over 40 years ago to northeast Iowa...and haven't regretted it a bit!

[piehnoharmony]

It's the California weather and beaches that attracts them. If California was as cold as Alaska there wouldn't be that much people living out in the streets

[jeffadrian]

Back in the mid-70s my retired parents lived in Thousand Oaks. In the early 80s they moved to Montecito to a place overlooking the nature reserve. Absolutely beautiful. Then, in the late 80s they moved to a small cottage in Goleta, near the university. On my visits to Santa Barbara I remember the small town charm of State Street with its many local shops selling artist-made goods. While it is still very beautiful, with ideal weather, it is a shame that the town's early flavor and style, kinda funky in some ways, has become a thing of the past. I'm glad my parents, long gone, got to experience Santa Barbara in their final years. I have many fine memories from my visits! Thanks for taking me back down memory lane Nick.

[rumacostello]

I lived in Santa Barbara from 1968-1990, so grew up there. My first apartment was a furnished apartment on Islay St. for $155/month. Of course, my salary at a corporate insurance company was only $600/month. But yes, I remember growing up there when it was just a small town, with a Thrifty Drug, Woolworths, Pep Boys on the Main Street along with just a couple of the "fancy" shops. I do cherish that time in my life!

[miguelgonzalez]

As someone who lived in Santa Barbara for 5 years (2014-2019) I can attest to the validity of everything Nick has put forth in this video. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I literally watched the downtown "State Street" area deteriorate right before my eyes, during the years we lived there and my daughter was in HS at Santa Barbara HS. I was always flabbergasted when I'd hear locals just making excuse after excuse as to why the homeless needed to be coddled, and drug abusers needed the same. While I've heard that the city has made some changes and is allowing a few tech companies to use some of the buildings and office space that used to be retail, because all the nice stores have abandoned Santa Barbara, its also a big circle of stupidity, because those workers have fewer and fewer places to shop, eat, or party after work. Basically, I believe that Santa Barbara is the perfect example of what happens when a community founded by hardworking ranchers is taken over by the generations that lost touch with the mindset required to maintain wealth, and is more concerned with being "liked" than surviving.

[pandemonium]

Hi Nick. I moved to Santa Barbara in 1983 and moved away in 2017. Raised my family there. In your video, you drove past my street where I owned my house near Shoreline Park. I was very fortunate. I retired at 57 and we took our profits from selling our house to do so. No regrets in leaving. I had my fill. I did all the things Scott mentioned. My wife and I now live in North Carolina in Hendersonville. It is quite beautiful here as well. I couldn't take the politics and cost of living any longer. I can tell you were there around Halloween as you showed my neighbor's house and their decorations. Scott is the perfect person to talk about the town. He is well known there. You seemed well informed about the plusses and minuses as well. Kudos to you.

[vickiebarker]

Omg to see that interview with the addict totally touched my heart and soul. Oldest daughter got killed on her bike 4years ago and she was getting like that beautiful woman. God bless ❤❤😢

[FourHuskyHomestead]

I lived in San Diego in the early 80’s. And I made trips up the coast. It was gorgeous! Why on earth would those in power let California become a dump. Makes me sick ! Vc

[mikefiftynine]

We lived in SoCal for 25+ years. Got out due to the high cost, crime, etc. Bought a home on the Midwest for $170k - five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a sauna, two car plus a car port garage, huge yard, tons of space. Never looked backed.

[TalonID]

In 1975 my Dad took me by to visit Pershing Park (near SB Harbor). There were about 7 homeless people hanging out. I didn't understand how people would be living in the park. My Dad went on to explain that the residents of SB were "liberal" with their outlook on life. He said that they allow it... My Dad said "Son, this will spread throughout California and there will be homeless everywhere in the future". He advised that it wouldn't end with SB. Oh how I wish my Dad wasn't right.

[davel]

Santa Barbara looks like the way many people envision California to be. Nice, sunny, spanish architecture, etc.

[ScottWalters]

Thanks Nick for having me on …love your channel!

[newhorizonsintuitiveguidance]

Los Angeles - Use to be city of angels. Now city of homeless. Wow! Unbelievably shocking what you show! Great job on the videos.

[michaelcarlyon]

I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, still here and have seen a lot of changes…I miss how it was up to the ‘80’s

[RobtJude]

I watched a documentary on Santa Barbara - Over 70% of the people that live there are RENTERS. A high percentage are Section 8's. A community needs home ownership. When people own their own home they have skin in the game. They keep their properties in good shape. They are concerned with who gets elected, they support and start local business, are concerned with the school system and on and on. Home ownership is the key to their recovery.