This is what community looks like. At least, what’s left of a community. This community represents 10 countries, including Jamaica, Mexico, Sweden, Ecuador, Italy, and the Philippines. This community of young and old, of natives and immigrants, of city workers, artists, Lyft drivers, entrepreneurs, engineers, and seniors share the same address. This community signifies what I envisioned Santa Barbara to be: a thriving, culturally diverse, international community, living in harmony.
The people in the picture are just one quarter of the residents who still live at 215 Bath Street . The forever smiling woman, in the blue fisherman’s hat is Merlinda Goddard who managed the property for 22 years. She raised her children there. Her kindness, care, and generosity of spirit brought the residents of Bath Street together. When escrow closed on the apartment building last month, Merlinda, who innocently signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement with Koto Property Management, was given 30 days to vacate the premises.
In January of this year, UCSB hosted a panel discussion on Urban Place Making that explored the question, “What kind of living environment makes us happy?”