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City of Santa Barbara Community Survey 2026
Thank you for participating in our survey on important issues facing the city of Santa Barbara. This survey will take approximately 3–4 minutes to complete, and all responses are completely confidential.
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1.
Generally speaking, do you feel the city of Santa Barbara is headed in the right direction or is it on the wrong track?
(Required.)
Right direction
Wrong track
Unsure
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2.
Compared to other California coastal cities, would you say downtown Santa Barbara is:
(Required.)
Much better
Somewhat better
About the same
Somewhat worse
Much worse
Unsure
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3.
What do you believe is the MOST important issue facing Santa Barbara today?
(Required.)
Homelessness
Cost of housing
Condition of downtown/State Street
Crime and public safety
Traffic and parking
Condition of streets and infrastructure
Facilities for youth sports and recreation
Cost of living
Tourism impacts
Other (please specify)
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4.
How often do you visit downtown Santa Barbara - specifically State Street?
(Required.)
Daily
Several times a week
Several times a month
A few times a year
Rarely
Never
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5.
Would you say downtown Santa Barbara has become:
(Required.)
More vibrant in recent years
Less vibrant in recent years
About the same
Unsure
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6.
Do you support or oppose keeping ten blocks of downtown State Street permanently closed to regular vehicle traffic?
(Required.)
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Unsure
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7.
Which comes closest to your view?
(Required.)
State Street should remain fully closed to cars
State Street should be partially reopened to vehicles
State Street should be fully reopened to vehicles
Unsure
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8.
Please indicate whether each of the following concerns makes you MORE concerned, LESS concerned or has NO IMPACT on your view of the State Street closure:
Since the closure, sales (based on sales tax revenue) have remained flat while other areas (Mesa, Upper State, Coast Village, Waterfront) have seen 30%+ gains.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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9.
Some residents believe the closure has made parts of downtown State Street feel less safe at night.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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10.
Possibly adding $100 million to reconfigure State Street infrastructure and several million in additional annual operating costs.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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11.
Nearly every city that adopted similar street closures has failed, and many later reversed course by reopening the street.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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12.
Some say the closure has improved walkability, outdoor dining, and tourism.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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13.
Young teens on e-bikes have made the closed State Street unsafe to many walking on the street.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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14.
A costly city study says for the closed street to succeed there is a need for 1,000 to 2,000 new apartments or housing units along the corridor.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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15.
There is high retail vacancy on State Street as many businesses have moved to Montecito or gone out of business.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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16.
Homeless activity has gotten worse since the street closed.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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17.
The street was closed as an emergency measure for the pandemic, which ended years ago.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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18.
Ten blocks being closed 100% of the time makes no sense — that has never worked.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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19.
The city says they are modeling the plan on Santa Monica's Promenade, which has failed with blocks seeing 50% vacancies.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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20.
Nearly one-third of merchants have stated they want State Street to reopen as soon as possible.
(Required.)
More concerned
Less concerned
No impact
Unsure
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21.
If State Street were reopened in some form, which option would you MOST support?
(Required.)
Fully reopen to traffic
Limited/local traffic only
Trolleys and delivery vehicles only
Certain hours open to vehicles
Keep fully closed
Close just a few blocks, not ten
Unsure
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22.
What is the MAIN reason for your position on State Street?
(Required.)
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23.
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse?
(Required.)
Very favorable
Somewhat favorable
Somewhat unfavorable
Very unfavorable
Never heard of him
Unsure
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24.
What is your age?
(Required.)
18–34
35–49
50–64
65+
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25.
What is your gender?
(Required.)
Male
Female
Non-binary
Prefer not to say
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26.
Do you live:
(Required.)
In the City of Santa Barbara
Elsewhere in Santa Barbara County
Outside the county
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27.
What best describes your political affiliation:
(Required.)
Democrat
Republican
Independent
Other
Prefer not to say
Current Progress,
0 of 27 answered