Trash, Weeds, and Car-Dwellers – Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara Express Locational Concerns
Tracy Lehr
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A popular boys and girls club location is fighting blight in an area where members must walk to get to the club.
The Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara, that now goes by The Downtown Club, said it happens to be an area where dozens of people are known to live in their cars and RVs.
“This is all about the kids really, and when you have the junior high, the high school, the Boys and Girls Club – we also have Providence School, we also have the church, all within this area that is impacted, it truly has become a safety, a public health and safety issue for us,” said Mark Alvarado.
He said he understands the need for a safe place for people to live in vehicles.
“Why here? Why is it such an impact here where there is such a high volume of kids? We should be able to recognize this and adjust whatever the laws are in order to help folks that need help getting off the streets, but also protect our kids and families,” said Alvarado.
He is concerned about his staff members, too.
Josh Loza, 18, is the club’s computer lab facilitator and takes Quarantina St. to work.
The area is located Councilmember Wendy Santamaria’s district, meaning Loza would ask her to take the lead on fixing the problem.
“I would ask if it could be attended a little more, it doesn’t look like it receives much attention, it seems very overshadowed, which is scary, considering that it is close to the club here the junior high and a public park, it just feels very unsafe, it is just a shady area with the people you see around here sometimes,” said Loza.
Josh Baptista said he understands the concerns, but he happens to be living in a van that needs repairs.
On Monday he got a ticket on Monday for parking during street sweeping.
Baptista is a trained in construction and ended up living in his vehicle following a divorce.
He is in contact with News Beginnings, a local nonprofit that offers counseling and housing assistance.
“I’ve been working with New Beginnings, about a placement and all that sort of stuff, and hopefully I will get taken care of. So they’re going help me, get the bill and get it working right,”said Baptista.
Neighbor and jogger Ines Wystra would like some added trash pickups.
“We don’t feel unsafe, but we feel like there’s a lot of trash that needs to be cleaned up more,” said Wystra.
The Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara has sent letters to city leaders to raise awareness.
Councilmember Santamaria could not be reached to comment, but Mayor Randy Rowse, said by phone, the city is aware of the issue.
When the city held a meeting about the blight along Quarantino and De La Guerra last year it led to the posting of a no dumping sign next to a trash can, but the trash can is often overflowing.
School starts Wednesday.
Club members hope the changes will come to make kids feel more comfortable walking to the Downtown Club after school.
Parents have shared their concerns with the club and some said have trouble parking for their children’s soccer practice and other sports.
The club has worked hard to attract more tweens and teens .
They offer memberships for $60 a year.
Kids can choose two 45 minutes activities plus a study period each day.
Activities include basketball, pottery, culinary arts, and computer classes.
There are also reading, homework and teen rooms.
For more information about The Downtown Club visit https://www.boysandgirlssb.org
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