The recent Voice “Santa Barbara and the Cost of Being Rich Together” expresses a deep frustration shared by many about the growing inequality in Santa Barbara. But the writer, Dean Stewart, refers to One805LIVE! — a “Summerland fête for local charity” — as a case in point. In so doing it badly misses the mark and diminishes an organization that exists precisely to help bridge that divide.
As many know, One805 was founded in the wake of the 2018 Montecito mudslides, when our First Responders — firefighters, law enforcement. and emergency medical teams — risked their lives in a massive coordinated effort to save others. But One805 is most certainly not only about Montecito. Since then, it has grown into a countywide lifeline for those men and women, ensuring they have both the equipment and mental health support they need to serve us all. Our mission is simple: to support every first responder in Santa Barbara County, from Carpinteria to Cuyama, Solvang to Santa Maria. These first responders protect everyone — rich or poor, homeowner or renter, local or visitor. When you dial 9-1-1, the person who shows up doesn’t care about your zip code.
The article laments that essential workers can no longer afford to live in Santa Barbara — a sad truth we also recognize. But One805 can’t fix that. We neither write housing policy nor control real estate values. What we can do — and what we do every single day — is ensure that when anyone in our community needs help, the first responder who arrives is one of the best equipped and best supported in the country.