Many years ago I had the privilege of serving on the board of the Legal Defense Center of Santa Barbara. It was founded by community activists Katy Peake and Kit Tremaine, to provide legal representation to defendants in cases arising from the Isla Vista riots.
Through the years, the center took on a wide range of cases, protecting those who lacked the resources to protect themselves in the jaws of the legal system. Over time, however, the work of the center moved to a heavy emphasis on homeless issues. Richard Solomon was the first lead attorney for the organization, succeeded, I believe, by Willard Hastings. Will Hastings was certainly the longtime face of the Legal Defense Center for many years, until its ultimate closure.
In the meantime, he was a loyal friend and effective advocate for many homeless people involved in a variety of legal issues. The center brought prominent homeless activist Mitch Snyder to Santa Barbara, and it mounted a forceful battle against the city’s anti-camping and anti-sleeping ordinances.