My recent legal battle with the City of Santa Barbara has made headlines about the the Flightline Restaurant.

Flightline, as some may recall, was to be an aviation-themed restaurant on Santa Barbara Airport property at 521 Firestone Road. Since the focus of this commentary is on the future, I’ll provide only a brief overview.

First, the city airport administration strongly supported the concept, but the city’s backing reduced drastically to the point that it refused to observe the law or the rules of fair play. The results were irreconcilable conflicts and a lengthy and expensive legal battle.

The city airport administration’s actions showed its disregard for a local business, as well as the opportunity for the city to receive beneficial tax revenue.

The restaurant would have transformed the site into a wonderful, entertaining museum serving delicious food in an engaging atmosphere that would honor not only aviation innovation but brave, talented pilots.

Unfortunately, that dream is over. Given the circumstances, I accepted a settlement and moved on to my next adventure.

One issue often discussed locally, perhaps more than most other issues when it comes to our city, is the current “state” of State Street downtown.

Most would agree that State Street is a historic and majestic corridor, home to more fantastic restaurants, shops and other commercial venues than I can list.

For those working in the hospitality industry or the visitor-serving sector, having a vibrant and dynamic commercial “vibe” up and down State Street — from Cabrillo Boulevard at the waterfront to Mission Street and beyond — should remain a vital goal.

The current economic condition of our downtown isn’t acceptable for many, myself included.

In fact, the many empty storefronts reflect an apparent lack of support, commitment and effort on the part of past city leaders to revitalize what was once a regal and vibrant commercial corridor.

Except for a few bright spots, what we have now is an economically distressed commercial zone. State Street’s once-bright light is now at its dimmest. How tragic.

Despite the heartbreak and frustration of witnessing such a wonderful idea as Flightline fail to take flight, as well as the absence of political leadership at the time, who knows, perhaps things could have been different.

Even so, I am ready to collaborate with our city’s leaders and the administration to restore Santa Barbara’s soaring spirit of free enterprise.

Santa Barbara enjoys considerable comparative advantages over nearly every other city of our size in the United States.

Visitors from all over the world have been drawn to our natural beauty and surroundings. Our closeness to Los Angeles and the North County wine region, as well as our incredible coastline, beaches, parks, museums, hiking trails and weather are unrivaled.

So why don’t we realize our full potential? Why are we seeing stores go out of business and “for lease” signs go up as often as signs for yard sales?

The answer: past leadership failures.

It really isn’t more complicated than that. And I say this not to indict anyone more than I’m indicting myself.

This is what I do; this is what I love to do. And yet I have not succeeded these past few years in fulfilling my full dream of improving our city one successful business and restaurant at a time.

The vitality of State Street is indeed a priority of the utmost urgency. And it must be restored through a new commitment by the current governing administration and locals coming together.

I include myself in this, as well as those interested in investing in exciting new establishments that serve our wonderful community.

Additionally, and important, we need the energetic support and engagement from the city, the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Santa Barbara.

It is time to establish and empower an “iron triangle” that includes the city, our nonprofit partners in the advocacy sector, downtown property owners, merchants and business owners.

I know what you’re thinking: Who has the time?

Our society today is more complex. So many issues pull us and local governments in a thousand different directions — from the cost of living to keeping our families safe and healthy, managing the competing challenges of work, kids and paying attention to civic affairs.

Even dealing with implacable issues — like addiction and other habits that lead to dysfunctional lives, crime, you name it — can drain substantial resources.

All these real-life realities are constantly pushing and pulling at us. Expecting the economic vitality of our downtown is only one issue among many.

But a thriving downtown retail and commercial area, one that meets the high standards of the people of Santa Barbara, will help transform the overall quality of life.

The economic multipliers would be tremendous and beget other great and tremendous things, each of which would beget still more.

This is the power of success, and it is how success breeds more success. And the more successful we are as a city and civic community, the better and hopefully more purpose driven our lives and institutions can and will be.

I want to thank the good people of Santa Barbara for all the support they’ve given me while I’ve been out there doing my part to make Santa Barbara a special place.

I harbor no ill will against anyone because of the litigation or the events leading up to it. Instead, I am ready and willing to work with anyone and everyone to help stop the negative trends we all see on State Street.

That’s my promise and my commitment.

Happy New Year to all my friends and customers.