Gabe Escobedo has emerged in the past year as one of the most vocal voices and civic advocates in the community.
As chair of the Santa Barbara Planning Commission and Community Formation Commission, Escobedo sits at the heart of two of the city’s most pressing issues: Housing and an oversight review board for the Santa Barbara Police Department.
The Community Formation Commission recently made a presentation to the Santa Barbara City Council about its findings after a year-long review.
“Part of civilian oversight is going out into the community, proactively building relationships, and educating and engaging the community so they know about what is going on day-to-day, they now about the really important work the police department is doing,” Escobedo said.
Escobedo also talks about his personal story, growing up with an incarcerated father, and how he overcame the odds to graduate from college and pursue his dreams.
The Santa Barbara resident explains his short-lived California State Assembly run, and his decision to step away from the running for the seat, to help Democrat candidate Gregg Hart.
Finally, Escobedo talks about housing and ways to increase affordable housing in Santa Barbara.
He said the city is considering vacancy taxes on second homes and hotel bed taxes to pay for new affordable housing.
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