Barrett Reed, a Santa Barbara businessman and Planning Commission member, is running for the City Council.
Reed told Noozhawk on Sunday that he is seeking the council’s District 4 seat and that his top campaign priorities are revitalizing downtown, eradicating Santa Barbara’s homeless problem and protecting neighborhoods from overdevelopment.
“Our city has been celebrated around the world,” he said. “It is a very special place, and today it needs some serious attention.
“Santa Barbara is not what it once was nor is it what it should be. For many, including me, it’s hard to come to terms with what we have allowed to happen.”
Reed, 36, grew up in Santa Barbara is co-founder of Miramar Group, an investment company focused on renovating and revitalizing declining buildings on the Central Coast. His projects include Waterline in the Funk Zone and Kim’s Service Department and Los Arcos downtown.
The City Council appointed Reed to the Planning Commission in 2019. He also serves on the board of Downtown Santa Barbara.
His entry into the race instantly energizes this year’s City Council election on Nov. 2. He will take on first-term incumbent Kristen Sneddon, who won handily in a competitive field four years ago. Sneddon also grew up in Santa Barbara and is a fellow Santa Barbara High School alumnus, and is popular with San Roque homeowners.
Reed, however, brings deep business experience to the race. He has strong connections to the business and development community, and is likely to raise a significant amount of money in his quest. Financial fundraising reports will not be available until July.
In describing his platform, Reed said he will be a forward-thinking, proactive — not reactive — leader.
“I want to protect our very special family neighborhoods from overdevelopment, crime and failing infrastructure,” he said. “While downtown may be the most obvious challenge, more is being ignored.
“Downtown is what we see, but other fundamental issues need to be addressed. I will fight to preserve single-family neighborhoods from state demands for more housing and maintain our city’s local control.”
Reed noted the spate of consultant reports that have made dozens of recommendations on how to improve downtown and address homelessness, yet the problems remain.
“It’s time we implement programs instead of filing them, track progress, and measure our results instead of ignoring them,” he said. “As a recent state audit of our homeless actions concluded, we need more than studies and reports. We need action.”
On homelessness, Reed was direct.
“We have to help the truly homeless, get them into housing and off the streets,” he said. “And we need to remove the lawless element and move them out of town. The dangerous encampments that pose a fire and safety threat to our neighborhoods must be removed.”
He also said the city needs to do more to embrace the business community.
“I will create incentives, not disincentives, for downtown revitalization,” Reed said. “We have great minds and amazing talent, yet we lack vision and a drive to succeed. I look forward to sharing my vision and energy with this city I love.”
Reed is a married father of a 1-year-old, and he and his wife have another child on the way.
“I want my children and all children in our city to inherit the same great city as I got to grow up in,” he said.
Reed on Sunday also released a video highlighting his campaign objectives.
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Barrett Reed will talk with Noozhawk’s Joshua Molina in an exclusive Santa Barbara Talks podcast interview on Monday.
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.