Union organizer Wendy Santamaria formally announced her plans to unseat incumbent Alejandra Gutierrez on the Santa Barbara City Council, in a community event Saturday afternoon at Ortega Park.
Santamaria said her goal is to preserve families, communities and stop mass renovictions.
“We have a very, very strong possibility and chance of flipping this seat this November and finally having the progressive majority we need on the Santa Barbara City Council to finally have rent stabilization, to finally have tenant protections, to finally have our and families and our communities get the investment they deserve,” Santamaria said.
Santamaria spoke boldly and confidently, her voice booming from the stage, with a large “Wendy Santamaria For Santa Barbara City Council” sign behind her, held up by her mother and sister.
Her family made the food for the event, which included birria, chicken, rice, potato salad, lemonade and horchata.
Santamaria said she wants to work with the community make sure working families have access to safe, affordable homes and well-funded libraries.
“This is our opportunity,” Santamaria said. “It is our opportunity to make sure we have one of our community members, a fellow tenant, and someone willing to fight for each and every one of you.”
About 75 people attended the event, including Goleta City Councilman James Kyriaco and Santa Barbara City Councilman Oscar Gutierrez. Incumbent Alejandra Gutierrez held her announcement in January, a private fundraising event at Validation Ale in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone.
Also in the contest for District 1 on the Santa Barbara City Council is Jett Black-Maertz, a housing and homelessness advocate.
The contest is shaping up as a battled between those who support rent control and those who don’t. Santamaria said she supports rent stabilization, a cap of two percent per year that property owners could increase the rent.
She also supports stronger tenant protections, and more affordable housing. Incumbent Gutierrez does not support rent control. Black-Maertz said she does support a rent cap for the amount property owners can increase rent every year, but has not yet stated a percentage.
Santamaria said volunteers began canvassing in the community in March.
“The only way that we win, the only way we actually make some progress in our community is by talking one-on-one,” Santamaria said. “It’s the lived experiences that need to guide what our policy and what our city looks like.”
To watch an hour-long interview with Santamaria on the Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina podcast, click here or on the link below.
To watch an hour-long interview with Black-Maertz on the Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina podcast, click here.
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