Pearl Chase was a woman ahead of her time, one who managed to turn adversity into triumph, to shape a city in extraordinary ways. Ever-pragmatic, her influence extended to every aspect of life in Santa Barbara, with her simple approach:
“Many new things in this fast-moving age make it difficult to keep pace with an ever-changing world. Let us communicate, cooperate and coordinate our efforts for good freely.”— Pearl Chase
All week long on the Santa Babara View, Cheri Rae will profile the life, times and accomplishments of Pearl Chase, who, according to Walker A. Tompkins, “did more for her adopted home town of Santa Barbara than any other individual.”
Thank you SB View and Cheri Rae for reminding us that it takes a concerned citizen, not the Planning Staff or Board or committee to continue insisting on the inconvenient, sometimes expensive, usually common-sense, occasionally-not-green unique landscape and skyscape that makes Santa Barbara the destination capital and wonderful community in which to live. A ‘small town’ feel is not equal to NIMBYism, nor does it lack convenience or equate to unaffordability…but it does make ‘home’ that much more to feel proud of, and to take refuge in. The lasting effects of Pearl Chase’s stubborn determination to improve Santa Barbara and to keep the views of mountain and ocean available to us all continues to this day…otherwise, we would be on our way to becoming Long Beach.
You haven’t been downtown lately…
As the City Council considers what to do with the staff recommendations for the General Plan, asking “what would Pearl Chase do” is appropriate. Now is not the time to abandon what has worked for the economy and reputation of the City. Pearl Chase saw and took the opportunity to make a difference in how the City planned and protected itself from the forces which look for short term gain to benefit the few advocating construction of more density via larger buildings.
Fine series, but I think the question WWPCD? is unanswerable. The Santa Barbara of then is long gone. Then was an affluence of some like Chase and a large mass of middle-lower middle class. There were some interractions. There were not the the extreme differences of now, but even then the connections between the classes were largely limited to working relationships. Now those so hugely affluent are locked off in Montecito and Hope Ranch and there are considerably fewer connections with those of us in the slums than there was. Having lived in Montecito for years (before it became so hideously wealthy) and now living in downtown SB, I am struck by how the local world has changed. My family knew Pearl Chase; neither they, nor, I think, she, would appreciate much of present day Santa Barbara.
The question is what to do about the General Plan. The city staff has been dragged kicking and bitching into supporting an historic element, of protecting the Spanish-styled downtown, but what is still at risk are the neighborhoods that surround. It’s been said and said too often that the General Plan has been in the process for the last 5 years and it is time to get it done.
Well, no, not if it is not right, not if there has not been serious consultation with the neighborhoods, serious examination of the infra structure needs if they’re densified, as some now want.
It’s like the cook who has been making a meal but somehow or other he’s not up to the task and the result is inedible. The sane thing to do would be to throw it out and start fresh — or if some is okay, redo the rest. Not force the diners, US!, to eat the inedible.
Yes, thank you for this great series. The history of Santa Barbara has been totally lost by our youth, the local press and elected officials. The last ten years have been soo very “un Santa Barbara like” probably because we lost our history. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for this