‘Welcome to Isla Vista’ Episode 6: The Cliff’s Edge

Property owners are cutting back parts of houses on Del Playa as the cliff erodes. Meanwhile, Santa Barbara County’s rental inspection program is underway. And folks talk about what could make I.V. a better place to live.

By Christina McDermott February 12, 2026

14 min read

‘Welcome to Isla Vista’ Episode 6: The Cliff’s Edge — A timber sea wall built in 1992 an attempt to protect this part of the bluffs. In 1998 the California Coastal Commission ruled that the sea wall was not in compliance with coastal regulation, and said it causes increased erosion to bluffs farther down the coast. | Credit: Alisha Genetin

' Welcome to Isla Vista ' is a six-part podcast series. Listen to new episodes here or anywhere you get your podcasts.

I’m Christina McDermott, and this is Welcome to Isla Vista: Episode Six.

We’re just a little east of where we started this series, near the bluffs with Lisa Stratton.