I watch most of your videos you’re very brave to go in some of those areas. It’s sad to see what’s become of these most beautiful state, I wonder if people but two and two together that most are Democrat run states and that they don’t care about the people at all!!
When it comes to Santa Barbara, one thing most residents are never short of is--socioeconomic guilt. They are forever bending over backwards to be as woke as they can be, because they don't want anyone confusing them with those bad, mean, old Capitalist pigs...and then they go back to sipping their espresso in their $20 million dollar, ocean view mansion.
On those Black Lives Matter signs... how many actual Black "Lives" did you see Nick? Pure unadulterated virtue signalling. Like the rich whites are telling the other rich whites, "You are too white and priveleged." The hypocrisy is beyond comprehension in California. And THAT is just one of the many reasons I've decided, after thirty years (in Crockett), that Im packing my stuff in a pod and shipping my dog and pony show outta here. Love your videos Nick.
It's the California weather and beaches that attracts them. If California was as cold as Alaska there wouldn't be that much people living out in the streets
It's the benefits handed out, free drugs and the homeless do not have to follow the law. Why pay $10m for a mansion near the beach, when you can live on it for free.
As a resident of San Bernardino, where Los Angeles has been shipping busloads of homeless for years, my heart really breaks for the poor folks on rodeo drive by the sea who continue to vote for the same idiots to manage the problem.
@@NewHaven203 I think Newsom lost 60% of the vote in San Bernardino County. But, the wealthy along the coast love him and keep him employed. It's as though Californians are funding a Lamborghini and a host of well-paid crew members who think it best to bust the sparkplugs with a hammer. It's a very pricey demonstration of opportunity cost/loss.
This episode saddened me, I’ve not been to Santa Barbara in years, it was a fond memory, I remembered the bookshops, coffee shops the surplus stores, the beach, countryside, eating out. I’ve steered clear of California for years and now the memory is sullied.
I was born and raised there and still go back to visit family and it’s recovered from a lot and thriving . It was just really depressing during COVID. Buuuut you either need a lot of money to live there or to have been fathered in. My aunt is a retired teacher there and my uncle was a police investigator and helped head the golden state killer case and MJ case . They aren’t rich but they bought their homes there I think in the 70’s or early 80’s. My aunt has a studio on her property that she rents to nurses and it helps. She told me that they have made taxes so high and prices are so high that they have a lot of older people but it’s hard for young people to move there. Anyway it’s still beautiful.
Look, things change over time, no place, person, or culture is static, and considering how the world has changed throughout the years, Santa barbara is still a wonderful and beautiful place. It honestly hasn’t changed much. The vibe is the same, the people it attracts are mostly the same, the cost of living has always been more expensive here and hasnt shot up much more than it always has been in relation to the national averages. Its just easy to look back at the past with our rose tinted glasses and think everything was better without taking the time to think about how the whole world has changed.
According to Nick Johnson we are all going to hell , and we'd be better off there. I like your assessment better than his Patrick. I feel it's a lot more accurate.
As a resident I recognized just about every one of the streets you drove on. Very accurate interpretation of the city. Although I have to say it's no Rodeo Drive. Most businesses close the doors because they thought the rich and famous will cater, but they don't. The rich does not spend in Santa Barbara. Groundhog Day feeling was so accurate and you hardly can tell when winter comes and how quickly it leaves. I think 30 years ago the population was actually 66k and now around 96k. Many homes are inherited by the baby boomers and they are house poor. They just finished the asphalt in many streets and we already see potholes. The city managers are amazingly incompetent in every decision. City workers are even worse than the managers. Vendors such as plumbers and electricians treat everyone as if they are millionairs. You have to do lots of fixings yourself otherwise you have to dishout a lot of money for labor. Thanks god for Amazon, we can barely find a place to buy underwear in this city. just hundreds of coffee shops, everybody seems to dream of becoming a coffee roasting company owner someday.
You are right, the boomers who inherited the housing stock over the years prefer to rent out the old houses to the working poor rather than sell them and pay huge capital gains taxes. The truly rich celebs and royalty that call SB home, prefer to shop elsewhere such as in Los Angeles or NYC.
As someone who lived in Santa Barbara for 5 years (2014-2019) I can attest to the validity of everything Nick has put forth in this video. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I literally watched the downtown "State Street" area deteriorate right before my eyes, during the years we lived there and my daughter was in HS at Santa Barbara HS. I was always flabbergasted when I'd hear locals just making excuse after excuse as to why the homeless needed to be coddled, and drug abusers needed the same. While I've heard that the city has made some changes and is allowing a few tech companies to use some of the buildings and office space that used to be retail, because all the nice stores have abandoned Santa Barbara, its also a big circle of stupidity, because those workers have fewer and fewer places to shop, eat, or party after work. Basically, I believe that Santa Barbara is the perfect example of what happens when a community founded by hardworking ranchers is taken over by the generations that lost touch with the mindset required to maintain wealth, and is more concerned with being "liked" than surviving.
As I was watching the SB realtor talk about affordability there in town, I was reminded that something you pointed out early on is pretty much the economic rule there. You can't live AND work in Santa Barbara and be able to afford a home there. Jobs in that area just do NOT pay enough. Even tech jobs are at rates that are 30 to 40% lower than Silicon Valley or the Los Angeles area, but the cost of living is most definitely the same as if it were a big city.
In 1975 my Dad took me by to visit Pershing Park (near SB Harbor). There were about 7 homeless people hanging out. I didn't understand how people would be living in the park. My Dad went on to explain that the residents of SB were "liberal" with their outlook on life. He said that they allow it... My Dad said "Son, this will spread throughout California and there will be homeless everywhere in the future". He advised that it wouldn't end with SB. Oh how I wish my Dad wasn't right.
Liberals and conservatives are the same. Homelessness is just part of the scenery here in the United States and especially here in sunny Southern California.
@@TalonID the mentally ill ones. You know the ones that have or had a “conservative” family. There’s plenty of “conservatives and liberals” homelessness. You know there was a conservative president back in the 80s and a conservative governor (CA) back in the 60s that closed all the mental state hospitals. 🏥 Those mentally ill ones had a “conservative” family and the mental ill ones became liberal. Democrats and Republicans are the same. There’s homelessness in Alabama, Texas, Tennessee Kentucky etc. My neighbors who are seniors citizens and Republicans (doesn’t bother me) their two adult children and adult grandchildren are all mentally ill and the problem with mom dad they enabling their own mentally ill family. I don’t want to bore you or prove you right or wrong. Democrats and Republicans are the same. Homelessness is just part of the scenery. Do you bail out Wall Street? Or do you bail out Main Street?
I'm from Santa Barbara and I can tell you it's not the same happy place I remember. When the Thomas Fire and floods came things changed. After the Lockdowns during COVID Santa Barbara really changed became a depressing place to visit. You can feel that no one is happy and the homeless population increased just making it worse. City Leaders and the Governor are responsible for the neglect of the people, homeless and the Environment. I feel that the State of California is on the brink of Collapse do to our Governor just disgusting!
I am Nikola Ilić. I dont speak english very vell, but: My dream is the vidite America, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, LA. I am not happy for this informacion... I love America... California... I hope, I visite Santa Barbara very jet.... Best weshess!!!
Amen! He's good with trying to saying it's both liberal and right wing, but the worst are the libs! They talk about global warming and affordable (free) everything! But, all those people working for them aren't driving eco friendly cars back and forth to work. Provided by their employers. They probably have camera's in every room and garden. So, Even if Maria wanted to bring home some biscuits and caviar or Javier wanted a rose for his grandma, they'd be fired! Oprah should be ashamed of herself! I love her, but still.
Omg to see that interview with the addict totally touched my heart and soul. Oldest daughter got killed on her bike 4years ago and she was getting like that beautiful woman. God bless ❤❤😢
Back in the mid-70s my retired parents lived in Thousand Oaks. In the early 80s they moved to Montecito to a place overlooking the nature reserve. Absolutely beautiful. Then, in the late 80s they moved to a small cottage in Goleta, near the university. On my visits to Santa Barbara I remember the small town charm of State Street with its many local shops selling artist-made goods. While it is still very beautiful, with ideal weather, it is a shame that the town's early flavor and style, kinda funky in some ways, has become a thing of the past. I'm glad my parents, long gone, got to experience Santa Barbara in their final years. I have many fine memories from my visits! Thanks for taking me back down memory lane Nick.
I remember going to SB in 1990 and during the next 15 years....all that "small town" luster has worn off and is a thing of the past, sadly...it's still beautiful but not the same and even more $$$ than before...ah, memories
I don't remember it that way, I remember it had all the big shops and a cool Borders book store and a cool street magazine store, but I wasn't the kind to buy anything in Santa Barbara, the problem is that who would buy something on State Street except for a very rich tourist? Now it seems that the corporate shops are gone and so are some of the smaller shops, but to be honest I never took count, I just dont remember it as this mecca for a starving artists to sell stuff, I think that's a myth, it was always focused on upper scale ritzy shops for rich people and tourists.
@@VenturaIT It's the rich who love to invest in the poor as long as it raises their income or social cache, the arbitrary expenditure on those of a lower economic strata is a fixtures of the interaction between rich and poor and part of the attempt by the rich to justify and encourage their obvious advantage over the poor. This crap has been going on for millenia and you don't see it? How odd.
Santa Barbara used to be very old California money, and RR set it off as the western WH in 1980. An oak themed bachelor pad I looked at in 1977 was one bedroom, two bath overlooking the ocean, 85 grand, In less than four years it sold for 365,000. The University graduated several friends of mine. The hippie era left a legacy of folk art and small bus. This shouldn't happen. I moved back to Canada in 78 instead of buying.
Hi Nick. I moved to Santa Barbara in 1983 and moved away in 2017. Raised my family there. In your video, you drove past my street where I owned my house near Shoreline Park. I was very fortunate. I retired at 57 and we took our profits from selling our house to do so. No regrets in leaving. I had my fill. I did all the things Scott mentioned. My wife and I now live in North Carolina in Hendersonville. It is quite beautiful here as well. I couldn't take the politics and cost of living any longer. I can tell you were there around Halloween as you showed my neighbor's house and their decorations. Scott is the perfect person to talk about the town. He is well known there. You seemed well informed about the plusses and minuses as well. Kudos to you.
@@questioneverything594 Being a California boy, the weather and climate took some getting used to. Not in a bad way though. I had never experienced humidity like I experience here. Life is a journey. We had a lot of wind here a couple of days ago. A huge tree at a neighbor's house fell down. Fortunately, no damage to the home. Several neighbors and I got together with chainsaws and rakes, and we helped out. THAT is what I was looking for and what is missing in California and why I am so happy to be here in Hendersonville.
Yeah I'm moving to South Australia my family share Southern California since 1840 on my dad's side and my mother their family were Spanish they came here in 1790 so I totally get it it's just awful everything I ever knew and loved has been overrun and the people the Lost leading the Lost if my dad and my grandfather were alive to see this what it has become it's a bloody disgrace I'm 61 and my son's 38 he lives in San Francisco he likes it he's fortunate he's got a good wife and he's a stable guy he made his own money my father trying to talk me the same so I guess we're okay I just don't get all this other stuff that most of the people under 40 they don't have any manners and everything's all backwards the cost is through the roof so to work your butt off just a remain in this Insanity just doesn't make any sense there's no more farming commercial fishing has just been ruined all the closures avocado business done so South Australia I go it's wide-open down there I'm going to go live there for a month first yeah so I totally get it all the best
@@jjboyd01 Yeah, Cedar Rapids doesn't and it has bad roads but it does have w food Co-op that isn't half bad. I just remember the roads were terrible in CR and I got caught into a tornado floods in Waterloo that was insane. Been to original Hooters in Clearwater.
I watched a documentary on Santa Barbara - Over 70% of the people that live there are RENTERS. A high percentage are Section 8's. A community needs home ownership. When people own their own home they have skin in the game. They keep their properties in good shape. They are concerned with who gets elected, they support and start local business, are concerned with the school system and on and on. Home ownership is the key to their recovery.
If you plan to move to Santa Barbara be very very careful if you plan to live in an apartment. Far too many of the section 8 tenants are criminals. It’s illegal to not rent to criminals And the criminals have section 8 vouchers
We lived in SoCal for 25+ years. Got out due to the high cost, crime, etc. Bought a home on the Midwest for $170k - five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a sauna, two car plus a car port garage, huge yard, tons of space. Never looked backed.
Mikefiftynine I live in the Midwest how many years ago did you buy a 5 bedroom house for $170k I guarantee you 💯 percent that you can't touch one now for anywhere near that maybe in the early 2000s or 90s But sure not now My brother sold a two bedroom with 2 bathrooms on a lake for $225 k and that was 5 years ago
Add San Diego to a city that encourages homeless by choice people Treatment and housing is available but few take it up and if they do they don't last long. They can't stop using. Utah buys them a Subway and a bus ticket to San Diego. What a difference an election makes. More money spent on Ukraine than our needy.
We have plenty of areas where you see spanish/italian architecture besides SB without SB pricetag. Ventura, ca, Rancho santa margarita (OC), SD, Camarillo, SD county (oceanside)
SB city ordinance/regulations have to have spanish style architecture to make the area look nice. If all of CA had this rule/regulation; then many other parts would probably look prettier!
I lived in Santa Barbara from 1968-1990, so grew up there. My first apartment was a furnished apartment on Islay St. for $155/month. Of course, my salary at a corporate insurance company was only $600/month. But yes, I remember growing up there when it was just a small town, with a Thrifty Drug, Woolworths, Pep Boys on the Main Street along with just a couple of the "fancy" shops. I do cherish that time in my life!
Rent now $3,000/ mo: one bedroom. I'm a certified aircraft mechanic with 20 years experience who only could make $4,000 a month. You had it better, shipped manufacturing away, then used housing to retire on. Really screwed the kids ehh? For some reason that generation had a weird obsession with that. I'm sorry for your traumas and your parents beating you, but at least they didn't bankrupt your future
My husband and I used to live at 123 West Islay St for two years in the late '80's we moved to Samarkand area at Clinton Terrace near Las Positas until the late '90's. Homes were still affordable then.
I lived in San Diego in the early 80’s. And I made trips up the coast. It was gorgeous! Why on earth would those in power let California become a dump. Makes me sick ! Vc
It’s even happened to San Diego. Heartbreaking. I grew up there and am often still in San Diego because of family. Different people in charge, these days.
Because those in power are using CA as a test in preparation for having the country look this way. This same issue however is also occurring in Philly (just look up the Kensington Ave. videos here on YT), areas of Cincinnati, metro Detroit, Chicago of course and other big cities. Just remember as that evil German said "You'll own nothing and by happy". I want to ask him: if we don't own anything, then who will own it?
@@bravobravoh1344 Weather permits, but now they cater to them, including stuff for drugs, and the homeless are just all oh my my, oh hell yes, honey put on that party dress. Because it is time to partay callie style all you homeless people.
I miss how it was in the 60s and 70s (I'm getting a little old). It used to be my favorite city in California. Now it's getting rather tarnished. What a disgrace!
Over a decade ago I took a job in Santa Barbara. It took me 4 months searching in 2 counties to find a place I could afford to live with my 2 pugs. I searched from Ventura to Lompoc. Rents were insane, not pet friendly, and ended up 50 miles north in Los Alamos. You could do a segment on Los Alamos, CA - a small Foodie town, celebrity owned wine tasting, old hotel & saloon, antiques, & historic atmosphere.
Born and raised in Santa Barbara, have raised my 4 kids in Santa Barbara since I had my first 16yrs ago and never could imagine ever wanting to live anywhere else, raise my children anywhere else until now. I don’t think any local could have ever imagine our little city would or could ever go down the drain like it has but it sure has and it doesn’t look like it’s gonna stop going down anytime soon with the way things are going. Crime is out of control. SB has always kept any local crime off the radar as much as possible, keeping as much as possible out of the news. While it still does it’s impossible for people to deny how bad it’s gotten because everyone sees it. The police are a sick joke. Anyone who doesn’t agree just needs to go to the police department to file a police report. Good luck, they are only open 3 days a week for a few hours each of those three days. It took 4months for a police officer investigating the report i filed with concrete evidence of a crime and who committed it to finally call to say they don’t think a crime was committed and I should call the sheriffs department because I live in Montecito even though the crime was downtown SB. Even trying to report a damn murder, yes I said a murder, not a single call back from anyone at the police department. It’s mind blowing disgusting and unbelievable even while experiencing the madness. SB has always had a large homeless population but it was never the insane problem it is today causing countless fires, defecating on playgrounds, leaving needles all over the places, piles of garbage, human waste on sidewalks, the beach, benches. Downtown smells like human urine and is far from anywhere any tourist or local wants to go for shopping or a night on the town. Most stores are shut down, Nordstrom shut down, Macy’s while shitty is even gone, they even are taking about doing low income housing where the only mall downtown is, WTF?! I can go on and on and on but I won’t. Im done here, sadly.
You're starting to talk sense, I like it. Move to Texas or Florida but please never vote, same with your many kids who might be brainwashed. You'll like it.
I've always said "Santa Barbara is what the rest of the world imagines California is like" and apparently I'm not alone. SB is the ONLY place I would ever want to live in California, but I don't even entertain the idea as I will never have that kind of money.
@@nightowl6811 How about peaceful ⁉️ With a handful of homeless. I'm surprised they're allowed there. Oh that's right CA is a sanctuary state. They must panhandle from the very rich to afford food.
Oh my gosh, have you been to Santa Cruz? Yes, they do have a homeless problem, but I grew up loving it and always will. I love to visit whenever I can.
I've only been to California once in 1987. I was told by a friend how things had changed a lot over there around five years ago. I was staying in LA for several months and Santa Barbara was like a breath of fresh air after living in LA. Visiting there was the highlight of my trip. I could see it was a playground for the wealthy back then but still had a laid back charm. Pity it has become so unaffordable.
Just came back from Santa Barbara this weekend and can say the homeless crisis is very apparent in a relative small town compared to other CA cities. Such a shame, the homeless problem seems to be everywhere nowadays. That's the real pandemic.
It is NOT a homeless problem. It is a DRUG problem and to a lesser extent a lack of mental care. But the top, #1, main and unquetionable problem is/are illicit drugs.
Just sold my house for an astronomical amount and moved to another picturesque town. Lived here for 35 years and raised my kids here. Love it and call it home but it has changed. People with tech money from the big cities have moved in basically changing the atmosphere .Lots of homelessness and very poor city and county leadership! Make no mistake. Homelessness has exploded across the US and it includes SB. Cost of living is not sustainable for young people and many working and middle class families. I was just lucky to have moved here when it was still possible to build a life and own a house. Most people in SB are not rich. They just happen to have lived here before it exploded and the world discovered this town.
I felt bad for the homeless girl at 10:50. It made me curious what was actually wrong with her. Kinda odd how the US has sent/wasted trillions to places like Iraq, Afghanistan, recently Ukraine, etc...While closing down all the mental health centers saying they don't have the money.
I grew up in Santa Barbara during the cool funky years. Primarily the 70’s and 80’s. As kids we’d jump on our bikes (with banana seats not electric motors) in the early morning and wouldn’t be home til the sun was going down. We spent our time at the beach, building forts in the hills, eating Italian sandwiches at family owned delis, sneak into movies, play hide and seek in Picidilly square and as teenagers sneak on the roofs downtown and get drunk. My family had to move north to Lompoc (an hour north and culturally a million miles away) in the late nineties. As a young family with three children it was hard to stay afloat. It took two full time incomes for our cheaper rent (thanks to a landlord that knew me my entire life). My youngest child was diagnosed with cancer and there wasn’t any way we could continue to afford to live there on reduced work hours. The middle class is primarily the Hispanic community that have lived in the areas for several generations. They have held on to homes/properties that have stayed in families for 80+ yrs. There are also larger homes that have been reconstructed into tiny studios that have people stuffed into them. When I return to Santa Barbara nowadays it’s like visiting a foreign city. I get anxiety from all the ultra ritzy cars driving around way too fast. I know I’ll never be able to afford living there again but I’ll forever hope I’ll get a windfall and be able to return. Thanks for doing this episode. Oh, and before I forget, Santa Barbara has always been synonymous with the homeless. The difference is is that back in the 80s there were funky homeless characters that fit right in with the whole funky SB vibe. Some might remember Jonesy who was rumored to be a wealthy guy who gave up on convential living when his wife died, r here was the guy that would serenade the downtown crowds with opera like ballads and the guy who lived with his bike that wa# like an tv. There was a cat, a dog and a bird that traveled with him. They didn’t need to be tied up. They all had a spot and were content. Our homeless were authentic. They didn’t purposely act in any way to be a particular role. They just were. Back when Reagan closed all the doors at live in facilities for the mentally I’ll patients had to go somewhere. SB with its great weather and laid back mentality became the homeless Mecca. I remember Times or Newsweek magazine did a story about the famous Fig Tree being the homeless capital in the world during the mid eighties. I agree that sb does cater a bit to the homeless but, how else are all the rich white housewives going to deal with their guilty conscious of being rich white housewives. They need the homeless so they can “give back” to those less fortunate.
That is a truthful and honest account of homelessness in Santa Barbara from someone who knows. I never lived in SB but I'm only an hour away and spent much time there surfing.
I remember the guy with the dog the cat and bird 🐦 I loved eating at Joe's Cafe . Going to movies at the Arlington Theater, riding our bikes to the beach and swimming at the PLUNG Near the harbor ⚓ The old Spanish days celebrations. There used to be an old man that had an old candy and popcorn 🍿 truck right as you enter the drive up Sterns Warf .
@@hummingbirdredhand6729 i was just thinking about the popcorn guy.i loved his popcorn.he used to put gobs of butter on it.last time i was there i was struck by how much more crowded it was.i couldnt afford to live there now
Just curious, where are the "housewives" in SB? Most of the wealthy residences there are either vacation homes, AirBnBs, or the homes of government employees. Sounds like you're jealous that other women can find a man to provide for them, but yours had to rely on you for supplemental income
Lived in the Santa Barbara area for 13 years, 1980-1993. Graduated UCSB in 82, got a good job in the local area and still could never afford to buy anything. We used to jokingly call ourselves "prisoners in paradise". Yes the place has a lot going for it, but the cost of living is outrageous.
I’m in Orange County and what blows my mind is the sheer amount of hospitals being erected absolutely everywhere. They sure are preparing for an awful lotta folks to be very ill...
Yea... We've been hearing about the magnitude of illness for years. Everyone's fat and sick and aging. Think veganism is a thing by accident? It's gonna be ugly.
Parents both born and raised there. Both sets of grandparents built their houses there back in like the 30s. They are still in my family. My parents moved to Idaho 2 years ago and say they'll never come back. My mom used to ride her horse over Las positas overpass to the showgrounds. I still live in the county. I hate what SB has turned into.
I left Santa Barbara in 1995. My first job was at Sears and I had an opportunity to work for the city. I chose to move to Colorado Springs which was a huge mistake! I lived there for 14 years then it’s on to Oregon and now it’s Seattle. I rarely saw any homeless on State St. in Santa Barbara. My mom still lives there but of course non of her kids can afford it. Watching this video brought back a lot of nostalgia.
I left SB in 2014. Moved to Central Oregon - out by the Badlands Wilderness, I needed space ! Even Bend has become crazy now with the meth zombies in the past couple years.
@@saythankyou111 California tax laws actually treat the people that stay well. The max your property taxes can go up is 2% a year it’s not based on current home value it’s based on your original purchase price
At the time of this incident I had been a police officer for thirteen years. One morning while on patrol, my partner told me he and his wife had an intervention with his best friends wife. He lived in a condominium in Thousand Oaks, California. His friends wife was a stay home mom, and she baby sat for them. Turned out his friends wife cleaned out their life savings and she had been stealing from him to pay for meth. During the intervention, she apparently turned into the exorcist. The drug problem has touched us all. It could be right next door and you are just to busy to see it. Thank or curse "your" elected politician.
I had the good fortune to live in SB for 4 years between 81' and 85' and it was quite affordable back then. My wife and I paid $325 for a nice 1 bd rm apt. Great memories. I certainly couldn't afford to live there now but I still love to visit and most of my favorite restaurants are in SB. Great narration !
If you're still traveling through California, please visit San Luis Obispo county and the Eastern counties of Sac like El Dorado and Placer. El Dorado Hills is one of the best places in California and has been going through a lot of changes just in these past 22 years
Watching your videos really reassures me that I did the right thing leaving California. Santa Barbara is one of the best cities in the state if not THE best. I lived there in 2018 and again in 2021 and it had changed a lot even in that short amount of time. It's hard to articulate how it had changed....it still looked the same, and I would say, blocking off State Street actually was an improvement. But it doesn't feel the same. One of my old friends said SB just didn't feel as WARM anymore. Watching this video I think helps me describe the feeling more....even in 2018 it still had some culture, some of the small town, hippie artsy vibe. All that is gone now. It's become a superficial caricature of itself. All there is to do there now is buy expensive shit, there's no sense of community, nothing fun left. If SB isn't even worth visiting anymore then no California city is.
I watched a new story awhile back from Santa Barbara, a homeless guy said that Santa Barbara is the best climate to be homeless in, he tried everywhere else to crash but when he got to Santa Barbara he could finally get some sleep even in the Summer !
Lived here for 28 years. Santa Barbara has sold its soul to tourists. We always had our “summer tourists.” Then afterwards, we locals got our city back. We love our local traditions. Not any more!! There is no down time from tourists. It’s become a touristy town and I hate that. It’s not our city anymore.
I have traveled all across the country and have seen most places in the USA. The most beautiful place to be is definitely Santa Barbara. The clean, fresh ocean air and laid back people in this town make it my happy place. I have not been there since 2013 but most definitely this is where I would live if I could afford to. It's my #1 choice for the most beautiful place in the United States. Thank you for posting this video!
I live in SB. I loved your roast of the town. I loved all the footage! If anyone wanted to know what it’s like here, I would easily share this and say you summed it up perfectly!
@@jessesuthers9588 I like it very much! It’s very pretty. I like being a smallish city, but, with LA only an hour and half away, I never feel excluded from big events. ….. I was born and grew up in the Northern American Riviera (my term), the City of Port Angeles. It, too, is a small town nestled between the mountains and the sea. Sometimes I miss having four distinct seasons, and my money would stretch A LOT farther almost anywhere else. But, I’ve been here on and off since 1994. It really is “home” now. It would take a lot to make me want to move. Where do you live? And how do you like it?
This was a wonderful presentation. I lived in Santa Barbara from 1988 to 1994. When I was there I lived in a modest home in Montecito till my partners death in 1993. Back then he told me to tell people I lived in Santa Barbara because no-one knew where Montecito was. Now everyone knows that town. Homeless did exist when I was there. My favorite place to eat was EJ's Cafe on State St., now closed, and I did pass a buck or two to them. Personally I had a great career there and I would still be there, but I met the love of my life in late 94 and moved to the Bay Area. Santa Barbara is a lovely town. I miss it.
My brother and I did some work in Santa Barbara about 10-12 years ago doing some HVAC work on 3 locations. The place is nice then but it was the people we came across while doing our work that turn me off, we were treat like the kitchen help on a plantation of the old south. I refused to do anymore work in Santa Barbara after that.
Worked for a contractor back in 1989 and we had to work on a home in Santa Barbara for three weeks. Then the homeless were everywhere. We had to eat most meals out and there wasn't a single place that didn't have homeless at the entrance. They wandered into our workplace and begged for money. This is not a new thing.
California is a Democrat stronghold. Newsom is a reflection of what the majority of voters want which will reflect ALL regions of the state. The attitudes from blue and regressive voters are actually the bigger problem here. Hippies turned into leftienuts.
I was born and raised in Santa Barbara in 1961. A small town and wonderful place to grow up roaming the beaches and mountains with all the neighborhood kids. Lived in S.B. until I was 29 and realized that I could no longer afford to live here and have a stable economic life. When I came back to visit in 2005 I was shocked at the whole vibe. Not the town I grew up in. The attitudes and regulations on what you can and can't do. I now live in a similar town in the Baja. Have a beautiful home, good friends and money in my pocket at the end of the month!
I feel like I got a personal tour of beautiful Santa Barbara. Went to school there in the late ‘70s for a year. Beautiful sunsets. No homeless back then that I recall. Great video. Thank you!
I was part of a fire engine strike team that was sent to LA County for a wildfire above Malibu. During that time a fire broke out in Santa Barbara and we were reassigned to that incident. Our team was assigned to structure protection, in the foothills, above Santa Barbara. Luckily the fire was contained in two days, with no structure involvement. The whole Southern California coastal area from Pismo Beach down to Orange County is all just dry chaparral. Most of the year it is just a conflagration waiting to happen. The houses there are very nice, but they are going to burn just as nicely.
I didn't realize how much I've missed old Santa Barbara until I saw this. Spent half of my life there and everything is spot on. Still visit occasionally, but it's a pale shadow of its former self on every level. Breaks my heart.
This reminds me so much of Santa Cruz. Same issues with astronomical housing prices now, funky shops bring priced out and students also struggling to find housing.
I couldn't believe how State Street degraded the last time I was there. It was blocked off, and people were living on the street. Half of the stores were shuttered. People were shooting up in the bathroom. I lived there in the 90's and it was a dream.
Hi Sherry! I was there 89-2000! Yes, it was SO good. I'm sure we were in the same room together 100x. Now I'm in n Costa Rica because nowhere left in the US is as happy free and relaxed. Happy new year!
I grew up in Santa Barbara but I left there in 1988. The cost of living even back then was devouring my entire income. And in 88 there was homeless people everywhere. Today I live in the Ozark mountains. I own a nice smaller home on 2 acres. I never could have accomplished this in that town. I visit every now and then. Lots of memories.
Growing up in the far, cold Northeast, place names in Cali like "Santa Barbara", "San Diego", "San Jose", "San Bernadino", any place starting w/ the word "San" always seemed so glamorous. Now, I hear many of those places are just, well, crap.
Awe.. I love living here.. I think one thing that is crazy unique about SB is regular people like me, ( flight attendant) are adults sharing homes … so I know lots of people that make a decent living that are full grown adults living with roommates-
Santa Barbara was my first destination after getting my drivers license in 2005. It was everything I imagined it would be - beautiful and practically perfect. I spent a lot of time there throughout my early 20’s. I remember chatting with shop owners about how hardly anyone locked their doors. It was dreamy. I recently had a friend from PA coming to visit CA for the first time. I took him to SB in 2021 and it was quite the bummer. State Street reeked of urine. I’m not saying the place is awful, but it definitely does not have the sweet, quaint feeling it had to me 15ish years ago. I am sure the changes are even more apparent for those who experienced SB before the 2000’s.
Thanks, Nick. Really great episode. Your channel is great. And, your guest today was amazing. I live in Santa Barbara. I only stay in California because I live here in SB.
State Street in Santa Barbara has to be one of the most beautiful streets in the USA. Or at least it used to be. I was last there about 5 years ago and it was still holding up back then. I'm from Arizona and Santa Barbara was always one of my favourite places to visit. Never stayed there though as the hotels are too expensive. Always stay in Carpinteria. Ventura is another favourite place.
I lived in SB throughout the 80s when it was still the cool beach town, but it was always known as a place for the newly wed or nearly dead because of the high cost of living, lack of good paying jobs, etc. The area near the ocean is the mesa and was more of a middle class neighborhood with tract houses. The really wealthy parts are the Riviera in the hills and Montecito. My first apartment was right below the Mesa 2 blocks from the Harbor and considered ghetto back then. My how things have changed.
Back in 72 my GF, BF and myself were hitching thru SB. Got dropped off at a grocery store where we met some locals who had an apt. at the beach. Got invited over for a little soirée and wound up staying there for two weeks eating high off the hog. Steaks, lobster etc. Great place!
I lived in Santa Barbara as a student in the 80s, and you had a homeless problem back then. Housing wasn't a big issue. I lived in the housing projects for a semester, and it was nice. The downtown streets were closed for traffic annually for a massive party. The drinking got out of hand, so that was discontinued. SB is just so beautiful, I really loved the time I spent there. unfortunately, the economy took a big dump in the late 80s and so after I graduated I returned to filthy LA. I haven't been back in a decade, and would like to return soon. Great video.
This looks like the quintessential picture of what people expect Southern California to look like. It looks absolutely beautiful! I’d love to see it someday. Thank you for showing us!
It's the most beautiful small beach city in perhaps the world, but it may have too many detractors now, but it's stil awesome... best place is the Shoreline Cafe and state street and the pier...
@@zakariazherrera9465 I'm entitled to my opinion right? It's beach to mountain scenery is unmatched and I've traveled the world. What's your opinion on the most beautiful city?
I just want to comment on when he compared house prices in Santa Barbara to New York City. No matter how much you spend in NYC, you're still in NYC. I know it has ritzy neighborhoods, but nothing in New York compares to the palm tree lined streets, coast line, and beautiful landscapes of a place like Santa Barbara. And this isn't coming from a stuck up Californian. I'm originally from the east coast. I love a lot of things about California, I just hope they can figure out how to deal with their mounting problems.
Thank you so much Nick for doing this video! I've been thinking of where I want to move to and Santa Barbara is at the top of my list! And the first video on youtube at the top is yours! LOL I really appreciate it immensely because you answer a lot of the questions and more. You made an excellent video for anyone who wants to know more about Santa Barbara past, present and potential future! Your guest was very helpful to. Exceptional job! I give you the best video of the year award!😊👏
🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴 Thank you so much for sharing this video with us. I was born and raised in Santa Barbara. But I just couldn’t afford it. So I moved a couple hours up north to Paso Robles and made my dreams come true. I am now retiring after having 2 full service restaurants for 32&1/2 years. I’ve been so Blessed by being able to sell my last restaurant with Liquor License,Business and Building. I miss Santa Barbara But Santa Barbara MISSES ME MORE 😊❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️ Thank you again for walking us through S. B. Blessings, Carlos ✝️🙏❤️😊❗️
I too lived in Santa Barbara for awhile in the 70s. Moved to Atascadero around 83. Made my way to Oregon in 90. Perhaps our paths crossed in the past. I remember Joe's in SB for the best steaks.
Moved out of Santa Barbara to Ventura 1.5 years ago due to how impossible it was to find a house after mine was sold. I wish I could make my way back this coming year, but I refuse to spend thousands in rent for a tiny house ran by a slumlord and is falling apart(most homes in SB). So sad.. its really changed just over the past 2-3 years.
As Ventura county resident for 25 years , I kinda had the feeling things were gonna hit the fan sooner or later, Glad I got out on time from Cali, never looked back.
California is a beautiful state to live. The weather along the coast is so awesome. If you go 5 hours to mountains you get to the snow. The homeless are ruining California cities and towns.
My niece lived there for over 10 years. Said the homeless would walk up from the beach every night and break into cars. After the third break in, she'd had enough and moved away. She loved the beach but could see the handwriting on the wall.
It's not just the homeless. It's the liberal politicians the populace keeps voting for. The state's residents have nothing to complain about except themselves for voting the way they do.
I grew up in SB in the ‘70’s. Graduated from UCSB. Had a fantastic apartment near the courthouse for $400. Came out this summer for a week, and barely recognized the place. SO DENSE. My sister went to St. Vincent’s boarding school. We had racing sailboats, but they weren’t millionaires’ boats, we were teachers and middle class. I’ll love it there always, but it’s not my hometown anymore. Miss the original Joe’s Cafe, the old time Fiesta and Solstice festivals.
Ikr ! Went to UCSB & lived in IV 78-‘80. Loved Joe’s! Fiesta!. Cold Springs Tavern up the hill….. and the little locals’ beaches, Hendry’s , Haskell’s. SB was such a fun, unique culture mix then. Nothing in California will ever compare. I’m grateful I got to experience it. Sold the old family duplex in Hidden Valley in 2019. Never to go back😢
The weather is nice but it’s such a hard lifestyle in ca . The sacrifices such as working overtime, multiple jobs, and commuting hours to affordable communities make enjoying the beauty of the ocean and mountains impossible due to lack of time or pure exhaustion.
THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I LEFT AMERICA......I LIVED IN LAEKSPUR, CALIFORNIA BEAUTIFUL....NOW I LIVE IN MONTENEGRO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND INEXPENSIVE COUNTRY TO EUROPE
20 years ago SB use to be a place where a middle class family can afford to live there. Not any more. It's a place where only rich people can afford to live there. Everything you mentioned in this video is so true. Very true. I know, I live in Oxnard just 25min south from there.
I was raised in Santa Barbara from the late 1950's to when my wife and I had to buy a home outside of SB up north in the Santa Ynez Valley in 1985, because of the home prices. In regards to the homeless situation, believe it or not, there used to be four street lights on HWY 101 at State St., Chapala St., Anacapa St., and Santa Barbara St. and besides stopping HWY101 traffic it led to hitchhiking and panhandling directed at the stopped cars. What was created was probably the first small homeless encampment under the famous huge Fig Tree right off the highway. When the homeless population grew another encampment was created in the bamboo grove along Cabrillo Blvd. on East Beach. That is until the Fess Parker Hotel Resort development cleared that whole area out and the homeless were scattered everywhere. The point is that homelessness has been in Santa Barbara a very long time mainly because of the weather and the accommodating nature of the City. After watching your video it seems, as you pointed out, Santa Barbara is becoming more like Los Angeles.
I remember everything you talked about , the 101 had stopped lights , we called it Bambo Jungle or Hobo Jungle 😂 the area where the Fess Parker resort is now . I remember all the hippies hitching rides on the 101 , everyone was going up to San Francisco, BIG Sur ,all points north .
My girlfriend and I would park uptown of state st.and walk to beach.... pushing the traffic light to cross hwy 101 and stopping traffic. It was always good for our egos to hear the whistles and cute calls from the male drivers.
Lived there from '87 to 21'. I owned a boat and slip in harbor, was dive medic, graduated city college, worked for Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society, was local scuba instructor, local emt trained, co-owned The Green Room in Summerland in 2010. I love SB! Thanks I've been in Bama for 1.5yrs taking care of family. Left SB to shift here. I was all over that place daily on my bike(that I pedaled! 🙂
I've had long-term friends from the Santa Barbara area and they believe it's pretty corrupt internally. That explains the road quality. And all the renovation for shopping that will go on rented. Telltale sign of empty storefronts which is likely to happen. California is in trouble. The next 10 to 20 years is going to be devastating to California. 🧐💫
@@rocktheboatpaul I’m sure Hollywood and Silicon valley have absolutely everything to do with that. But for the vast majority of people and the state it’s becoming unlivable.
@@justsomeguy1671 Goodbye Elon, we aren't going to miss you. 4th Largest economy in the world, do you not understand what that means? Facts are facts. Sorry you don't like them. Not sorry.
My 1st visit to SB was in 1977, and I was so impressed (living at that time in German). I came back in the 80s and 2000. Things changed like everywhere, but much better living than everywhere else. I hope, to be back soon.
I work in that area quite a bit. The only downside besides the expense. Is that the residents have few places to go on vacation that would be an improvement.
fascinating intelligent summary of State consumerism, so badass, so down to earth, you deserve every penny you make, you're a real journalist.....awesome!
I see a lot of brazilian people, making daily videos about the cost of living in tha USA compared to Brazil and why they left the country and etc and they always invite people to move there because of the job opportunites and higher wages. They show the price of things like cars, clothes and groceries and where they live and what kind of car they have and make us feel like stupid by living here but i as i keep watching your videos i see that the reality it not that different from our reality. The working class are also suffering with inflation and the craziest thing is the many brazilian people are leaving the country hoping that they will arrive in usa and be millionaries overnight. It´s insane
A lot of that is due to the conversion rate and the fact that Brazil has a big import tax... for Americans everything is 1/2 price in Brazil or cheaper.
Thanks for the update 😅😅i get more information from you guys posting videos then you get a lot of times on News i just like to keep informed thanks ❤❤❤
I had the pleasure of working, and traveling around, California last year. Nice weather. Every beach I visited was nothing more than a litter box with a good view. Human waste. Carmel was the only place where I didn't see people urinating and defecating on the beach.
Went to UCSB, dropped out for a few years to have a job and pay my own rent, before returning to UCSB to finish my degree. Spent 8 years in Santa Barbara. 5 as a student and 3 as a factory worker. It was interesting seeing both sides right at the cusp of the start of what you called "the crisis." One thing you neglected to mention is Santa Barbara's famous Sansum medical clinic, way up there with the likes of Mayo clinic.
Please do one about bakersfield ca .I know you did the oil Dale area but there are many worse parts and I think it's worth stopping by. love your videos
I drove across the country in early Part of 2021 and stayed overnight in Bakersfield. There was a lot of activity of people walking around and lot of noise at night and felt there was crime at the vagabond hotel where I stayed. I don’t think I got a good impression of this town on my way Thru on my way home to Seattle.
@@teresarohlin1859 that vagabond inn is always sketchy. We took a trip out to leo carrillo state beach and on the way home as we exit off the fwy on panama lane right next to the vagabond the cops were running down the road with guns drawn chasing some guy down the street.apperently he killed 2 people in broad daylight .lots of drugs and transient citizens in town . I've only lived here going 1 and a half years and am making plans on selling my home the first chance I get
@@teresarohlin1859 I stopped at the Walmart in Bakersfield, and my impression was that the people were a little more broke there(based on their clothing), compared to most California cities. They did have beautiful outside structures though(freeways, etc.).
Here's the entire California Road trip playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLq-_cmf3H6yoGM0mmbTCTmMa9zMFvvDeG.html
I watch most of your videos you’re very brave to go in some of those areas. It’s sad to see what’s become of these most beautiful state, I wonder if people but two and two together that most are Democrat run states and that they don’t care about the people at all!!
@NickJohnson1 Would be great if you could come to Humboldt County Ca and show the world the lost coast and the history behind it 🥰
@@pamelaflores1126 e
When it comes to Santa Barbara, one thing most residents are never short of is--socioeconomic guilt. They are forever bending over backwards to be as woke as they can be, because they don't want anyone confusing them with those bad, mean, old Capitalist pigs...and then they go back to sipping their espresso in their $20 million dollar, ocean view mansion.
On those Black Lives Matter signs... how many actual Black "Lives" did you see Nick? Pure unadulterated virtue signalling. Like the rich whites are telling the other rich whites, "You are too white and priveleged." The hypocrisy is beyond comprehension in California. And THAT is just one of the many reasons I've decided, after thirty years (in Crockett), that Im packing my stuff in a pod and shipping my dog and pony show outta here. Love your videos Nick.
It's the California weather and beaches that attracts them. If California was as cold as Alaska there wouldn't be that much people living out in the streets
I live in Florida and we don't have the "homeless" problem that California has despite our great weather and beaches
@@zero1fifty8 that's because Florida is hot as shit 8 months out of the year.
@@zero1fifty8 I’m so jello that y’all got an amazing governor like DeSavage! 💪🏻
@@zero1fifty8humidity, random rain storms, and hurricanes aren’t a thing…
It's the benefits handed out, free drugs and the homeless do not have to follow the law. Why pay $10m for a mansion near the beach, when you can live on it for free.
As a resident of San Bernardino, where Los Angeles has been shipping busloads of homeless for years, my heart really breaks for the poor folks on rodeo drive by the sea who continue to vote for the same idiots to manage the problem.
Nick is also from San Bernardino and yes California’s politics as a whole are terrible
This has been going on for at least 10 years when I heard about Newsome sending the homeless from Northern California. The motels paid for a week...
The street where luxury meets poverty!
You're right, that area is about as red as it gets, Huntington Beach is another good example!
not really it's hard to feel bad for people who vote for the same shit over and over again
@@NewHaven203 I think Newsom lost 60% of the vote in San Bernardino County. But, the wealthy along the coast love him and keep him employed. It's as though Californians are funding a Lamborghini and a host of well-paid crew members who think it best to bust the sparkplugs with a hammer. It's a very pricey demonstration of opportunity cost/loss.
This episode saddened me, I’ve not been to Santa Barbara in years, it was a fond memory, I remembered the bookshops, coffee shops the surplus stores, the beach, countryside, eating out. I’ve steered clear of California for years and now the memory is sullied.
I was born and raised there and still go back to visit family and it’s recovered from a lot and thriving . It was just really depressing during COVID. Buuuut you either need a lot of money to live there or to have been fathered in. My aunt is a retired teacher there and my uncle was a police investigator and helped head the golden state killer case and MJ case . They aren’t rich but they bought their homes there I think in the 70’s or early 80’s. My aunt has a studio on her property that she rents to nurses and it helps. She told me that they have made taxes so high and prices are so high that they have a lot of older people but it’s hard for young people to move there. Anyway it’s still beautiful.
Look, things change over time, no place, person, or culture is static, and considering how the world has changed throughout the years, Santa barbara is still a wonderful and beautiful place. It honestly hasn’t changed much. The vibe is the same, the people it attracts are mostly the same, the cost of living has always been more expensive here and hasnt shot up much more than it always has been in relation to the national averages. Its just easy to look back at the past with our rose tinted glasses and think everything was better without taking the time to think about how the whole world has changed.
According to Nick Johnson we are all going to hell , and we'd be better off there. I like your assessment better than his Patrick. I feel it's a lot more accurate.
As a resident I recognized just about every one of the streets you drove on. Very accurate interpretation of the city. Although I have to say it's no Rodeo Drive. Most businesses close the doors because they thought the rich and famous will cater, but they don't. The rich does not spend in Santa Barbara. Groundhog Day feeling was so accurate and you hardly can tell when winter comes and how quickly it leaves. I think 30 years ago the population was actually 66k and now around 96k. Many homes are inherited by the baby boomers and they are house poor. They just finished the asphalt in many streets and we already see potholes. The city managers are amazingly incompetent in every decision. City workers are even worse than the managers. Vendors such as plumbers and electricians treat everyone as if they are millionairs. You have to do lots of fixings yourself otherwise you have to dishout a lot of money for labor. Thanks god for Amazon, we can barely find a place to buy underwear in this city. just hundreds of coffee shops, everybody seems to dream of becoming a coffee roasting company owner someday.
You are right, the boomers who inherited the housing stock over the years prefer to rent out the old houses to the working poor rather than sell them and pay huge capital gains taxes. The truly rich celebs and royalty that call SB home, prefer to shop elsewhere such as in Los Angeles or NYC.
Ever since Opie,Ellen,Travolta arrived.. there went the neighborhood...it's actually disgusting now
@@nomorebsforme I loathe them.
Keep electing those democrats 😁
@@camarocarl7130 Me too.
As someone who lived in Santa Barbara for 5 years (2014-2019) I can attest to the validity of everything Nick has put forth in this video. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I literally watched the downtown "State Street" area deteriorate right before my eyes, during the years we lived there and my daughter was in HS at Santa Barbara HS. I was always flabbergasted when I'd hear locals just making excuse after excuse as to why the homeless needed to be coddled, and drug abusers needed the same. While I've heard that the city has made some changes and is allowing a few tech companies to use some of the buildings and office space that used to be retail, because all the nice stores have abandoned Santa Barbara, its also a big circle of stupidity, because those workers have fewer and fewer places to shop, eat, or party after work. Basically, I believe that Santa Barbara is the perfect example of what happens when a community founded by hardworking ranchers is taken over by the generations that lost touch with the mindset required to maintain wealth, and is more concerned with being "liked" than surviving.
As I was watching the SB realtor talk about affordability there in town, I was reminded that something you pointed out early on is pretty much the economic rule there. You can't live AND work in Santa Barbara and be able to afford a home there. Jobs in that area just do NOT pay enough. Even tech jobs are at rates that are 30 to 40% lower than Silicon Valley or the Los Angeles area, but the cost of living is most definitely the same as if it were a big city.
Liberalism is cancer
Amen! I've known SB since the 60s
1975 through 1986 then off to Santa Maria 1986 through 2003.
Been in North Idaho ever since.
things turned to crap while you were there. maybe its you
In 1975 my Dad took me by to visit Pershing Park (near SB Harbor). There were about 7 homeless people hanging out. I didn't understand how people would be living in the park. My Dad went on to explain that the residents of SB were "liberal" with their outlook on life. He said that they allow it... My Dad said "Son, this will spread throughout California and there will be homeless everywhere in the future". He advised that it wouldn't end with SB. Oh how I wish my Dad wasn't right.
Liberals and conservatives are the same.
Homelessness is just part of the scenery here in the United States and especially here in sunny Southern California.
@@stage51manager How many Conservatives find themselves homeless? I know of not a single one...
@@TalonID the mentally ill ones. You know the ones that have or had a “conservative” family.
There’s plenty of “conservatives and liberals” homelessness.
You know there was a conservative president back in the 80s and a conservative governor (CA) back in the 60s that closed all the mental state hospitals. 🏥
Those mentally ill ones had a “conservative” family and the mental ill ones became liberal.
Democrats and Republicans are the same.
There’s homelessness in Alabama, Texas, Tennessee Kentucky etc.
My neighbors who are seniors citizens and Republicans (doesn’t bother me) their two adult children and adult grandchildren are all mentally ill and the problem with mom dad they enabling their own mentally ill family.
I don’t want to bore you or prove you right or wrong.
Democrats and Republicans are the same.
Homelessness is just part of the scenery.
Do you bail out Wall Street? Or do you bail out Main Street?
It’s me, Son. Been a while…
I'm from Santa Barbara and I can tell you it's not the same happy place I remember. When the Thomas Fire and floods came things changed. After the Lockdowns during COVID Santa Barbara really changed became a depressing place to visit. You can feel that no one is happy and the homeless population increased just making it worse. City Leaders and the Governor are responsible for the neglect of the people, homeless and the Environment. I feel that the State of California is on the brink of Collapse do to our Governor just disgusting!
i think you have it backwards. youre not the happy person you once were.
@@payasoinfeliz ah, did I touch a nerve typical libtard Troll
Exactly
The homeless have no F'n business there when they never lived there to begin with
I am Nikola Ilić.
I dont speak english very vell, but:
My dream is the vidite America, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, LA.
I am not happy for this informacion...
I love America... California...
I hope, I visite Santa Barbara very jet.... Best weshess!!!
@@nikolailic6031 go visit
Can we agree that Nick has a way with words? His videos and narration are outstanding.
It's to show the American People that were not as a rich county leading the free world.
I find it to be funny at times as well.
Amen!
He's good with trying to saying it's both liberal and right wing, but the worst are the libs! They talk about global warming and affordable (free) everything! But, all those people working for them aren't driving eco friendly cars back and forth to work. Provided by their employers. They probably have camera's in every room and garden. So, Even if Maria wanted to bring home some biscuits and caviar or Javier wanted a rose for his grandma, they'd be fired!
Oprah should be ashamed of herself!
I love her, but still.
I love the snark tone!
These are documentary quality. They had emmys, golden globes etc for youtube (million dollar idea!) these should/would be nominated.
Omg to see that interview with the addict totally touched my heart and soul. Oldest daughter got killed on her bike 4years ago and she was getting like that beautiful woman. God bless ❤❤😢
Back in the mid-70s my retired parents lived in Thousand Oaks. In the early 80s they moved to Montecito to a place overlooking the nature reserve. Absolutely beautiful. Then, in the late 80s they moved to a small cottage in Goleta, near the university. On my visits to Santa Barbara I remember the small town charm of State Street with its many local shops selling artist-made goods. While it is still very beautiful, with ideal weather, it is a shame that the town's early flavor and style, kinda funky in some ways, has become a thing of the past. I'm glad my parents, long gone, got to experience Santa Barbara in their final years. I have many fine memories from my visits! Thanks for taking me back down memory lane Nick.
Ok Jeff!
I remember going to SB in 1990 and during the next 15 years....all that "small town" luster has worn off and is a thing of the past, sadly...it's still beautiful but not the same and even more $$$ than before...ah, memories
I don't remember it that way, I remember it had all the big shops and a cool Borders book store and a cool street magazine store, but I wasn't the kind to buy anything in Santa Barbara, the problem is that who would buy something on State Street except for a very rich tourist? Now it seems that the corporate shops are gone and so are some of the smaller shops, but to be honest I never took count, I just dont remember it as this mecca for a starving artists to sell stuff, I think that's a myth, it was always focused on upper scale ritzy shops for rich people and tourists.
@@VenturaIT It's the rich who love to invest in the poor as long as it raises their income or social cache, the arbitrary expenditure on those of a lower economic strata is a fixtures of the interaction between rich and poor and part of the attempt by the rich to justify and encourage their obvious advantage over the poor. This crap has been going on for millenia and you don't see it? How odd.
Santa Barbara used to be very old California money, and RR set it off as the western WH in 1980. An oak themed bachelor pad I looked at in 1977 was one bedroom, two bath overlooking the ocean, 85 grand, In less than four years it sold for 365,000. The University graduated several friends of mine. The hippie era left a legacy of folk art and small bus. This shouldn't happen. I moved back to Canada in 78 instead of buying.
Hi Nick. I moved to Santa Barbara in 1983 and moved away in 2017. Raised my family there. In your video, you drove past my street where I owned my house near Shoreline Park. I was very fortunate. I retired at 57 and we took our profits from selling our house to do so. No regrets in leaving. I had my fill. I did all the things Scott mentioned. My wife and I now live in North Carolina in Hendersonville. It is quite beautiful here as well. I couldn't take the politics and cost of living any longer. I can tell you were there around Halloween as you showed my neighbor's house and their decorations. Scott is the perfect person to talk about the town. He is well known there. You seemed well informed about the plusses and minuses as well. Kudos to you.
Ahhh I grew up in fletcher!
How is Hendersonville?
@@questioneverything594 Being a California boy, the weather and climate took some getting used to. Not in a bad way though. I had never experienced humidity like I experience here. Life is a journey. We had a lot of wind here a couple of days ago. A huge tree at a neighbor's house fell down. Fortunately, no damage to the home. Several neighbors and I got together with chainsaws and rakes, and we helped out. THAT is what I was looking for and what is missing in California and why I am so happy to be here in Hendersonville.
@@pandemonium274 Nice. Sounds like a great move. Much continued success to you sir.
So, you missed out on your home doubling in price since 2017. In some circles, that's called a mistake.
As a 78 year old 3rd generation Californian, I moved my family out of the state over 40 years ago to northeast Iowa...and haven't regretted it a bit!
Yeah I'm moving to South Australia my family share Southern California since 1840 on my dad's side and my mother their family were Spanish they came here in 1790 so I totally get it it's just awful everything I ever knew and loved has been overrun and the people the Lost leading the Lost if my dad and my grandfather were alive to see this what it has become it's a bloody disgrace I'm 61 and my son's 38 he lives in San Francisco he likes it he's fortunate he's got a good wife and he's a stable guy he made his own money my father trying to talk me the same so I guess we're okay I just don't get all this other stuff that most of the people under 40 they don't have any manners and everything's all backwards the cost is through the roof so to work your butt off just a remain in this Insanity just doesn't make any sense there's no more farming commercial fishing has just been ruined all the closures avocado business done so South Australia I go it's wide-open down there I'm going to go live there for a month first yeah so I totally get it all the best
lol iowa sucks. you moved to cedar rapids . place sucks. and you can't get it up anymore.
@@fortis6258 been to the hooters in Davenport. Cedar Rapids has no Hooters.
@@jjboyd01 Yeah, Cedar Rapids doesn't and it has bad roads but it does have w food Co-op that isn't half bad. I just remember the roads were terrible in CR and I got caught into a tornado floods in Waterloo that was insane. Been to original Hooters in Clearwater.
So nice 😮😮😮🎉😂
I watched a documentary on Santa Barbara - Over 70% of the people that live there are RENTERS. A high percentage are Section 8's. A community needs home ownership. When people own their own home they have skin in the game. They keep their properties in good shape. They are concerned with who gets elected, they support and start local business, are concerned with the school system and on and on. Home ownership is the key to their recovery.
If you plan to move to Santa Barbara be very very careful if you plan to live in an apartment. Far too many of the section 8 tenants are criminals. It’s illegal to not rent to criminals And the criminals have section 8 vouchers
💯
You're full of it. Just because I rent doesn't mean i don't take care of my unit, your notions of skin and game are bogus
This isn’t near true. There is hardly any rentals in Santa Barbara. And owning is for super wealthy only.
We lived in SoCal for 25+ years. Got out due to the high cost, crime, etc. Bought a home on the Midwest for $170k - five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a sauna, two car plus a car port garage, huge yard, tons of space. Never looked backed.
Congrats ! What state ?
@@RatherBeCancelledThanHandled Wisconsin.
@@mikefiftynine cool beans ; thanks for sharing 👍
Mikefiftynine
I live in the Midwest how many years ago did you buy a 5 bedroom house for $170k
I guarantee you 💯 percent that you can't touch one now for anywhere near that
maybe in the early 2000s or 90s
But sure not now
My brother sold a two bedroom with 2 bathrooms on a lake for $225 k and that was 5 years ago
@@marycooper8385 we bought it in 2001. Now it would fetch maybe 350k. If the same house was on a lake here it would be 500-600k today.
Paradise.....still loving Santa Barbara. Close to Los Olivos Vineyards too!
As a Ventura county resident for 18 years, I've always told my kids "If you ever become homeless for any reason, go to Santa Barabara."
Add San Diego to a city that encourages homeless by choice people Treatment and housing is available but few take it up and if they do they don't last long. They can't stop using. Utah buys them a Subway and a bus ticket to San Diego. What a difference an election makes. More money spent on Ukraine than our needy.
🥫
Was a VC resident for over 20 years, until just over a year ago. Was finally able to escape and have not looked back.
Interesting parental advice. I’ve never given a thought to my kids becoming homeless. Of course, they were not raised in California.
Man tell them instead NOT to become homeless for any reason.
Santa Barbara looks like the way many people envision California to be. Nice, sunny, spanish architecture, etc.
It actually is very nice. I live about 45 minutes from SB, but drive down often. It's the weather that keeps most of us here.
Yes, but you would think SB is basically Baltimore's east side from comments here.
We have plenty of areas where you see spanish/italian architecture besides SB without SB pricetag. Ventura, ca, Rancho santa margarita (OC), SD, Camarillo, SD county (oceanside)
SB city ordinance/regulations have to have spanish style architecture to make the area look nice. If all of CA had this rule/regulation; then many other parts would probably look prettier!
@@IVY12023 lol, you from Santa Maria or Lompoc.
I lived in Santa Barbara from 1968-1990, so grew up there. My first apartment was a furnished apartment on Islay St. for $155/month. Of course, my salary at a corporate insurance company was only $600/month. But yes, I remember growing up there when it was just a small town, with a Thrifty Drug, Woolworths, Pep Boys on the Main Street along with just a couple of the "fancy" shops. I do cherish that time in my life!
Rent now $3,000/ mo: one bedroom. I'm a certified aircraft mechanic with 20 years experience who only could make $4,000 a month. You had it better, shipped manufacturing away, then used housing to retire on. Really screwed the kids ehh? For some reason that generation had a weird obsession with that. I'm sorry for your traumas and your parents beating you, but at least they didn't bankrupt your future
My husband and I used to live at 123 West Islay St for two years in the late '80's we moved to Samarkand area at Clinton Terrace near Las Positas until the late '90's. Homes were still affordable then.
It's very good that you still have pleasurable memories all these years later-!!!😉.
I lived in San Diego in the early 80’s. And I made trips up the coast. It was gorgeous! Why on earth would those in power let California become a dump. Makes me sick ! Vc
It’s even happened to San Diego. Heartbreaking. I grew up there and am often still in San Diego because of family. Different people in charge, these days.
Because those in power are using CA as a test in preparation for having the country look this way. This same issue however is also occurring in Philly (just look up the Kensington Ave. videos here on YT), areas of Cincinnati, metro Detroit, Chicago of course and other big cities.
Just remember as that evil German said "You'll own nothing and by happy". I want to ask him: if we don't own anything, then who will own it?
I worked in San Diego back in 1995 and there were quite a few homeless around back then.
I'm currently in San Diego and it breaks my heart that the homeless crisis is getting way out of hand, now the homeless are attacking people now 😞
@@bravobravoh1344 Weather permits, but now they cater to them, including stuff for drugs, and the homeless are just all oh my my, oh hell yes, honey put on that party dress. Because it is time to partay callie style all you homeless people.
I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, still here and have seen a lot of changes…I miss how it was up to the ‘80’s
I miss the way CA was in the 80s
As well..
Remember
WELCOME TO CA, now GO HOME?
Now..CA? Stay out of our state!!
You'll RAISE OUR PRICES
I miss how it was in the 60s and 70s (I'm getting a little old). It used to be my favorite city in California. Now it's getting rather tarnished. What a disgrace!
Over a decade ago I took a job in Santa Barbara. It took me 4 months searching in 2 counties to find a place I could afford to live with my 2 pugs. I searched from Ventura to Lompoc. Rents were insane, not pet friendly, and ended up 50 miles north in Los Alamos. You could do a segment on Los Alamos, CA - a small Foodie town, celebrity owned wine tasting, old hotel & saloon, antiques, & historic atmosphere.
Houses still cost close to a million in Los Alamos. You’re not getting a bargain.
A 100-mile round trip in bumper to bumper traffic every work day. Starts to wear a driver out over the years-!!!😳.
Los Alamos is also full of tramps, bums, drug addicts, etc.
Born and raised in Santa Barbara, have raised my 4 kids in Santa Barbara since I had my first 16yrs ago and never could imagine ever wanting to live anywhere else, raise my children anywhere else until now. I don’t think any local could have ever imagine our little city would or could ever go down the drain like it has but it sure has and it doesn’t look like it’s gonna stop going down anytime soon with the way things are going. Crime is out of control. SB has always kept any local crime off the radar as much as possible, keeping as much as possible out of the news. While it still does it’s impossible for people to deny how bad it’s gotten because everyone sees it. The police are a sick joke. Anyone who doesn’t agree just needs to go to the police department to file a police report. Good luck, they are only open 3 days a week for a few hours each of those three days. It took 4months for a police officer investigating the report i filed with concrete evidence of a crime and who committed it to finally call to say they don’t think a crime was committed and I should call the sheriffs department because I live in Montecito even though the crime was downtown SB. Even trying to report a damn murder, yes I said a murder, not a single call back from anyone at the police department. It’s mind blowing disgusting and unbelievable even while experiencing the madness. SB has always had a large homeless population but it was never the insane problem it is today causing countless fires, defecating on playgrounds, leaving needles all over the places, piles of garbage, human waste on sidewalks, the beach, benches. Downtown smells like human urine and is far from anywhere any tourist or local wants to go for shopping or a night on the town. Most stores are shut down, Nordstrom shut down, Macy’s while shitty is even gone, they even are taking about doing low income housing where the only mall downtown is, WTF?! I can go on and on and on but I won’t. Im done here, sadly.
Bye Bye
Democrats ruin everything they touch
@@darrylnelson05
Yeah, say goodbye to your tax base and you may as well say goodbye to your freebies
@@didierduplantier8359 Tell me about my "freebies".
You're starting to talk sense, I like it.
Move to Texas or Florida but please never vote, same with your many kids who might be brainwashed. You'll like it.
I've always said "Santa Barbara is what the rest of the world imagines California is like" and apparently I'm not alone. SB is the ONLY place I would ever want to live in California, but I don't even entertain the idea as I will never have that kind of money.
Nah it's boring trust me. I've been in Los Angeles 50 yrs and visited Santa Barbara, it's ugly boring ghetto now
@@nightowl6811 How about peaceful ⁉️ With a handful of homeless. I'm surprised they're allowed there. Oh that's right CA is a sanctuary state. They must panhandle from the very rich to afford food.
Oh my gosh, have you been to Santa Cruz? Yes, they do have a homeless problem, but I grew up loving it and always will. I love to visit whenever I can.
I wish I had money to even own a condo here. I could work all my life and still won’t have enough money
I used to go through Bishop to ski Mammoth. Nice place. I hope it too hasn't gotten californicated.
I've only been to California once in 1987. I was told by a friend how things had changed a lot over there around five years ago. I was staying in LA for several months and Santa Barbara was like a breath of fresh air after living in LA. Visiting there was the highlight of my trip. I could see it was a playground for the wealthy back then but still had a laid back charm. Pity it has become so unaffordable.
Just came back from Santa Barbara this weekend and can say the homeless crisis is very apparent in a relative small town compared to other CA cities. Such a shame, the homeless problem seems to be everywhere nowadays. That's the real pandemic.
there will always be homeless people however not everywhere bends over backwards to them like the west coast does
Seriously, if I were homeless I would definitely choose Santa Barbara where the weather is great and even the trash is probably luxury.
Not so much in the snow states but you are very very right💛
It is not a PROBLEM it is a LAW that is on the BOOKS that you cannot sleep on sidewalks etc.
THE problem is selective non-enforcement of the law.
It is NOT a homeless problem.
It is a DRUG problem and to a lesser extent a
lack of mental care.
But the top, #1, main and unquetionable problem is/are illicit drugs.
Even in the 1960’s and 1970’s most of Santa Barbara was expensive. But, yes, starting in the 1980’s, prices have been astronomical
Los Angeles - Use to be city of angels. Now city of homeless. Wow! Unbelievably shocking what you show! Great job on the videos.
Just sold my house for an astronomical amount and moved to another picturesque town. Lived here for 35 years and raised my kids here. Love it and call it home but it has changed. People with tech money from the big cities have moved in basically changing the atmosphere .Lots of homelessness and very poor city and county leadership! Make no mistake. Homelessness has exploded across the US and it includes SB. Cost of living is not sustainable for young people and many working and middle class families. I was just lucky to have moved here when it was still possible to build a life and own a house. Most people in SB are not rich. They just happen to have lived here before it exploded and the world discovered this town.
@Dakota Pelosi just got over 80% of the vote in this last election. If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.
They both retired in Florida, did they not?
What happened in my family, moved here, cheaper than LA and now it's way more expensive
I felt bad for the homeless girl at 10:50. It made me curious what was actually wrong with her. Kinda odd how the US has sent/wasted trillions to places like Iraq, Afghanistan, recently Ukraine, etc...While closing down all the mental health centers saying they don't have the money.
I doubt the homeless would give up that beachfront tent for a locked mental institution.
@@jeretso No way genius, people wouldn't be ok with being locked up for no reason? Enlighten us some more please /s
Agreed when are these countries going to give the US money for a change!
Giving money to Americans wouldn’t make them rich. Giving money to ukro nazis and mic will get politicians rich. Both the slimy dems and pos rinos.
There’s no money in homeless people. Lots of money in fake wars
I love your sarcastic tone😆 also really enjoy your videos. 😊😊
I grew up in Santa Barbara during the cool funky years. Primarily the 70’s and 80’s. As kids we’d jump on our bikes (with banana seats not electric motors) in the early morning and wouldn’t be home til the sun was going down. We spent our time at the beach, building forts in the hills, eating Italian sandwiches at family owned delis, sneak into movies, play hide and seek in Picidilly square and as teenagers sneak on the roofs downtown and get drunk.
My family had to move north to Lompoc (an hour north and culturally a million miles away) in the late nineties. As a young family with three children it was hard to stay afloat. It took two full time incomes for our cheaper rent (thanks to a landlord that knew me my entire life). My youngest child was diagnosed with cancer and there wasn’t any way we could continue to afford to live there on reduced work hours.
The middle class is primarily the Hispanic community that have lived in the areas for several generations. They have held on to homes/properties that have stayed in families for 80+ yrs. There are also larger homes that have been reconstructed into tiny studios that have people stuffed into them. When I return to Santa Barbara nowadays it’s like visiting a foreign city. I get anxiety from all the ultra ritzy cars driving around way too fast. I know I’ll never be able to afford living there again but I’ll forever hope I’ll get a windfall and be able to return. Thanks for doing this episode.
Oh, and before I forget, Santa Barbara has always been synonymous with the homeless. The difference is is that back in the 80s there were funky homeless characters that fit right in with the whole funky SB vibe. Some might remember Jonesy who was rumored to be a wealthy guy who gave up on convential living when his wife died, r here was the guy that would serenade the downtown crowds with opera like ballads and the guy who lived with his bike that wa# like an tv. There was a cat, a dog and a bird that traveled with him. They didn’t need to be tied up. They all had a spot and were content. Our homeless were authentic. They didn’t purposely act in any way to be a particular role. They just were. Back when Reagan closed all the doors at live in facilities for the mentally I’ll patients had to go somewhere. SB with its great weather and laid back mentality became the homeless Mecca. I remember Times or Newsweek magazine did a story about the famous Fig Tree being the homeless capital in the world during the mid eighties.
I agree that sb does cater a bit to the homeless but, how else are all the rich white housewives going to deal with their guilty conscious of being rich white housewives. They need the homeless so they can “give back” to those less fortunate.
That is a truthful and honest account of homelessness in Santa Barbara from someone who knows. I never lived in SB but I'm only an hour away and spent much time there surfing.
Next time vote republican.
I remember the guy with the dog the cat and bird 🐦
I loved eating at Joe's Cafe .
Going to movies at the Arlington Theater, riding our bikes to the beach and swimming at the PLUNG Near the harbor ⚓
The old Spanish days celebrations.
There used to be an old man that had an old candy and popcorn 🍿 truck right as you enter the drive up Sterns Warf .
@@hummingbirdredhand6729 i was just thinking about the popcorn guy.i loved his popcorn.he used to put gobs of butter on it.last time i was there i was struck by how much more crowded it was.i couldnt afford to live there now
Just curious, where are the "housewives" in SB? Most of the wealthy residences there are either vacation homes, AirBnBs, or the homes of government employees. Sounds like you're jealous that other women can find a man to provide for them, but yours had to rely on you for supplemental income
Lived in the Santa Barbara area for 13 years, 1980-1993. Graduated UCSB in 82, got a good job in the local area and still could never afford to buy anything. We used to jokingly call ourselves "prisoners in paradise". Yes the place has a lot going for it, but the cost of living is outrageous.
how much I need to spend on one meal in a restaurant in UCSB?
@@andyusfca you'll be lucky to get lunch for any less than $15. but even a casual Mexican sit-down spot will push $17+ for a standard lunch plate.
When SAKS Fifth Ave and Nordstrom left downtown, it was over for me.
I’m in Orange County and what blows my mind is the sheer amount of hospitals being erected absolutely everywhere. They sure are preparing for an awful lotta folks to be very ill...
It’s because of all the old people.. they expect the need for more hospitals. Sure doesn’t seem they’re expecting young families
It's a high profit business in the U.S..
Yea... We've been hearing about the magnitude of illness for years. Everyone's fat and sick and aging. Think veganism is a thing by accident? It's gonna be ugly.
Get ya boosta!!!
They need centers to reimburse you for your 10th booster shot duh
Parents both born and raised there. Both sets of grandparents built their houses there back in like the 30s. They are still in my family. My parents moved to Idaho 2 years ago and say they'll never come back. My mom used to ride her horse over Las positas overpass to the showgrounds. I still live in the county. I hate what SB has turned into.
sad
I'm in Santa Cruz, same here guys...it used to be beautiful...now downtown and beaches are just drugged out homeless
Thanks Nick for having me on …love your channel!
Scott!!! You rock. Let's hang out next time! Keep up the great work on your channel!
I left Santa Barbara in 1995. My first job was at Sears and I had an opportunity to work for the city. I chose to move to Colorado Springs which was a huge mistake! I lived there for 14 years then it’s on to Oregon and now it’s Seattle. I rarely saw any homeless on State St. in Santa Barbara. My mom still lives there but of course non of her kids can afford it. Watching this video brought back a lot of nostalgia.
Seattle is an epic mistake
@@maplenook yes. I hate it here!
I left SB in 2014. Moved to Central Oregon - out by the Badlands Wilderness, I needed space !
Even Bend has become crazy now with the meth zombies in the past couple years.
@@HonestDogAL I lived on the Oregon coast for 7 years before moving to Seattle. I really miss it!
@@saythankyou111 California tax laws actually treat the people that stay well. The max your property taxes can go up is 2% a year it’s not based on current home value it’s based on your original purchase price
At the time of this incident I had been a police officer for thirteen years. One morning while on patrol, my partner told me he and his wife had an intervention with his best friends wife. He lived in a condominium in Thousand Oaks, California. His friends wife was a stay home mom, and she baby sat for them. Turned out his friends wife cleaned out their life savings and she had been stealing from him to pay for meth. During the intervention, she apparently turned into the exorcist.
The drug problem has touched us all. It could be right next door and you are just to busy to see it.
Thank or curse "your" elected politician.
I had the good fortune to live in SB for 4 years between 81' and 85' and it was quite affordable back then. My wife and I paid $325 for a nice 1 bd rm apt. Great memories. I certainly couldn't afford to live there now but I still love to visit and most of my favorite restaurants are in SB. Great narration !
If you're still traveling through California, please visit San Luis Obispo county and the Eastern counties of Sac like El Dorado and Placer. El Dorado Hills is one of the best places in California and has been going through a lot of changes just in these past 22 years
I've heard that
I live in El Dorado Hills and it's crazy expensive. Not Santa Barbara expensive, but the Bay money has moved here to live a better life.
El Dorado hills is one of the most expensive, exclusive neighborhoods around Sacramento.
@@jasonpatterson2143 We like EL.Hills, clean/safe but super-hot in the summer though, we moved to S. Lake Tahoe!! < 3
Watching your videos really reassures me that I did the right thing leaving California. Santa Barbara is one of the best cities in the state if not THE best. I lived there in 2018 and again in 2021 and it had changed a lot even in that short amount of time. It's hard to articulate how it had changed....it still looked the same, and I would say, blocking off State Street actually was an improvement. But it doesn't feel the same. One of my old friends said SB just didn't feel as WARM anymore. Watching this video I think helps me describe the feeling more....even in 2018 it still had some culture, some of the small town, hippie artsy vibe. All that is gone now. It's become a superficial caricature of itself. All there is to do there now is buy expensive shit, there's no sense of community, nothing fun left. If SB isn't even worth visiting anymore then no California city is.
Our town on the opposite coast (NC) is just like that - losing the community feel. People must be different because the town looks the same.
@@sunnygirl9691 I seriously hope you're not talking about Asheville.
Santa Barbara native of twenty-two years, born and raised. Still here, in fact. Your points on the struggling middle class are spot on.
I think most locals have already left by the look of the crowd at the last 4th of july... everyone is gone out of state.
I watched a new story awhile back from Santa Barbara, a homeless guy said that Santa Barbara is the best climate to be homeless in, he tried everywhere else to crash but when he got to Santa Barbara he could finally get some sleep even in the Summer !
Lived here for 28 years. Santa Barbara has sold its soul to tourists. We always had our “summer tourists.” Then afterwards, we locals got our city back. We love our local traditions. Not any more!! There is no down time from tourists. It’s become a touristy town and I hate that. It’s not our city anymore.
I have traveled all across the country and have seen most places in the USA. The most beautiful place to be is definitely Santa Barbara. The clean, fresh ocean air and laid back people in this town make it my happy place. I have not been there since 2013 but most definitely this is where I would live if I could afford to. It's my #1 choice for the most beautiful place in the United States. Thank you for posting this video!
from norway : I have traveled "all over the world" and SB is the best place ever.
I got to work at some beautiful homes and areas in Santa Barbara and Montecito in the late 60's and early 70's. The houses there are unique.
I live in SB. I loved your roast of the town. I loved all the footage! If anyone wanted to know what it’s like here, I would easily share this and say you summed it up perfectly!
Good. Was it a roast tho?
@@NickJohnson oh! Haha. I took it as a bit of one. Not undeserved. Maybe I took it that way because I got defensive? 😆🤷🏻♀️
@@auroraborealis13579 those that have lived in SB understand.
It's hard not to make fun of it...
The Beauuuuuutiful Bubble of CA.
How do u like living there it looks very nice still
@@jessesuthers9588 I like it very much! It’s very pretty. I like being a smallish city, but, with LA only an hour and half away, I never feel excluded from big events. ….. I was born and grew up in the Northern American Riviera (my term), the City of Port Angeles. It, too, is a small town nestled between the mountains and the sea. Sometimes I miss having four distinct seasons, and my money would stretch A LOT farther almost anywhere else. But, I’ve been here on and off since 1994. It really is “home” now. It would take a lot to make me want to move.
Where do you live? And how do you like it?
Always a great job by Nick The Realtor. Love his ambition, drive
and Nick's hunger. Great reports all.
This was a wonderful presentation. I lived in Santa Barbara from 1988 to 1994. When I was there I lived in a modest home in Montecito till my partners death in 1993. Back then he told me to tell people I lived in Santa Barbara because no-one knew where Montecito was. Now everyone knows that town. Homeless did exist when I was there. My favorite place to eat was EJ's Cafe on State St., now closed, and I did pass a buck or two to them. Personally I had a great career there and I would still be there, but I met the love of my life in late 94 and moved to the Bay Area. Santa Barbara is a lovely town. I miss it.
My brother and I did some work in Santa Barbara about 10-12 years ago doing some HVAC work on 3 locations. The place is nice then but it was the people we came across while doing our work that turn me off, we were treat like the kitchen help on a plantation of the old south. I refused to do anymore work in Santa Barbara after that.
Not only the homeless, the border is open.
Worked for a contractor back in 1989 and we had to work on a home in Santa Barbara for three weeks. Then the homeless were everywhere. We had to eat most meals out and there wasn't a single place that didn't have homeless at the entrance. They wandered into our workplace and begged for money. This is not a new thing.
So extremely sad and frustrating. I only hope Carpinteria does not become affected. That’s the only wholesome and safe area left in SoCal!
Agreed! Spent a week working there in August and loved it! Carpinteria has a different vibe, it’s so nice. Coming back next week 🙌🏻
They deserve to live there. Just because you pay taxes doesn't give anyone more of a right.
@@David-bg9od hehehe good one
California is a Democrat stronghold. Newsom is a reflection of what the majority of voters want which will reflect ALL regions of the state. The attitudes from blue and regressive voters are actually the bigger problem here. Hippies turned into leftienuts.
With Gavin as Governor it’s only a matter of time. I’m not even a Republican but I see it for what it is.
I was born and raised in Santa Barbara in 1961. A small town and wonderful place to grow up roaming the beaches and mountains with all the neighborhood kids. Lived in S.B. until I was 29 and realized that I could no longer afford to live here and have a stable economic life. When I came back to visit in 2005 I was shocked at the whole vibe. Not the town I grew up in. The attitudes and regulations on what you can and can't do. I now live in a similar town in the Baja. Have a beautiful home, good friends and money in my pocket at the end of the month!
Ant suggestions for Baja towns?
I feel like I got a personal tour of beautiful Santa Barbara. Went to school there in the late ‘70s for a year. Beautiful sunsets. No homeless back then that I recall. Great video. Thank you!
Glad you're gone, stay gone. Try the Louisiana or Alabama dummy
I was part of a fire engine strike team that was sent to LA County for a wildfire above Malibu. During that time a fire broke out in Santa Barbara and we were reassigned to that incident. Our team was assigned to structure protection, in the foothills, above Santa Barbara. Luckily the fire was contained in two days, with no structure involvement. The whole Southern California coastal area from Pismo Beach down to Orange County is all just dry chaparral. Most of the year it is just a conflagration waiting to happen. The houses there are very nice, but they are going to burn just as nicely.
I didn't realize how much I've missed old Santa Barbara until I saw this. Spent half of my life there and everything is spot on. Still visit occasionally, but it's a pale shadow of its former self on every level. Breaks my heart.
in what ways is it a pale shadow?
This reminds me so much of Santa Cruz. Same issues with astronomical housing prices now, funky shops bring priced out and students also struggling to find housing.
I couldn't believe how State Street degraded the last time I was there. It was blocked off, and people were living on the street. Half of the stores were shuttered. People were shooting up in the bathroom. I lived there in the 90's and it was a dream.
Hi Sherry! I was there 89-2000! Yes, it was SO good. I'm sure we were in the same room together 100x. Now I'm in n Costa Rica because nowhere left in the US is as happy free and relaxed.
Happy new year!
I really like your show,I really appreciate your work.
Thank you Nick
I grew up in Santa Barbara but I left there in 1988. The cost of living even back then was devouring my entire income. And in 88 there was homeless people everywhere.
Today I live in the Ozark mountains. I own a nice smaller home on 2 acres. I never could have accomplished this in that town.
I visit every now and then. Lots of memories.
Yep, SB has always had MORE homeless than everywhere else, until recently.
Growing up in the far, cold Northeast, place names in Cali like "Santa Barbara", "San Diego", "San Jose", "San Bernadino", any place starting w/ the word "San" always seemed so glamorous. Now, I hear many of those places are just, well, crap.
Enabling is not the same as helping. This realtor gets it.
Awe.. I love living here.. I think one thing that is crazy unique about SB is regular people like me, ( flight attendant) are adults sharing homes … so I know lots of people that make a decent living that are full grown adults living with roommates-
Santa Barbara was my first destination after getting my drivers license in 2005. It was everything I imagined it would be - beautiful and practically perfect. I spent a lot of time there throughout my early 20’s. I remember chatting with shop owners about how hardly anyone locked their doors. It was dreamy. I recently had a friend from PA coming to visit CA for the first time. I took him to SB in 2021 and it was quite the bummer. State Street reeked of urine. I’m not saying the place is awful, but it definitely does not have the sweet, quaint feeling it had to me 15ish years ago. I am sure the changes are even more apparent for those who experienced SB before the 2000’s.
I spent 3 weeks in Santa Barbara for work in 1996 and it was the most beautiful place I’d ever seen at the time.
Thanks, Nick. Really great episode. Your channel is great. And, your guest today was amazing. I live in Santa Barbara. I only stay in California because I live here in SB.
State Street in Santa Barbara has to be one of the most beautiful streets in the USA. Or at least it used to be. I was last there about 5 years ago and it was still holding up back then. I'm from Arizona and Santa Barbara was always one of my favourite places to visit. Never stayed there though as the hotels are too expensive. Always stay in Carpinteria. Ventura is another favourite place.
I lived in SB throughout the 80s when it was still the cool beach town, but it was always known as a place for the newly wed or nearly dead because of the high cost of living, lack of good paying jobs, etc. The area near the ocean is the mesa and was more of a middle class neighborhood with tract houses. The really wealthy parts are the Riviera in the hills and Montecito. My first apartment was right below the Mesa 2 blocks from the Harbor and considered ghetto back then. My how things have changed.
Back in 72 my GF, BF and myself were hitching thru SB. Got dropped off at a grocery store where we met some locals who had an apt. at the beach. Got invited over for a little soirée and wound up staying there for two weeks eating high off the hog. Steaks, lobster etc. Great place!
It always amazes me to see the old fashioned electricity poles. Here in Germany it is underground.
I lived in Santa Barbara as a student in the 80s, and you had a homeless problem back then. Housing wasn't a big issue. I lived in the housing projects for a semester, and it was nice. The downtown streets were closed for traffic annually for a massive party. The drinking got out of hand, so that was discontinued. SB is just so beautiful, I really loved the time I spent there. unfortunately, the economy took a big dump in the late 80s and so after I graduated I returned to filthy LA. I haven't been back in a decade, and would like to return soon. Great video.
I remember armies of homeless on the grass near the beach where Nick was talking to the homeless lady near the end of the vid. This was 40 years ago.
This looks like the quintessential picture of what people expect Southern California to look like. It looks absolutely beautiful! I’d love to see it someday. Thank you for showing us!
It's the most beautiful small beach city in perhaps the world, but it may have too many detractors now, but it's stil awesome... best place is the Shoreline Cafe and state street and the pier...
@@VenturaIT sb the most beutiful city in the world? 🖕🖕🖕😂💩💩
@@zakariazherrera9465 I'm entitled to my opinion right? It's beach to mountain scenery is unmatched and I've traveled the world. What's your opinion on the most beautiful city?
@@VenturaIT sb is borerd city expensive to live no very god Jobs Ford yuo is the Mos beutiful the beach stinks fihs 💩💩💩
I just want to comment on when he compared house prices in Santa Barbara to New York City. No matter how much you spend in NYC, you're still in NYC. I know it has ritzy neighborhoods, but nothing in New York compares to the palm tree lined streets, coast line, and beautiful landscapes of a place like Santa Barbara. And this isn't coming from a stuck up Californian. I'm originally from the east coast. I love a lot of things about California, I just hope they can figure out how to deal with their mounting problems.
Thank you so much Nick for doing this video! I've been thinking of where I want to move to and Santa Barbara is at the top of my list! And the first video on youtube at the top is yours! LOL I really appreciate it immensely because you answer a lot of the questions and more. You made an excellent video for anyone who wants to know more about Santa Barbara past, present and potential future! Your guest was very helpful to. Exceptional job! I give you the best video of the year award!😊👏
Good luck moving to this hell hole. Lived there for 32 yrs 1979 to 2010
🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴
Thank you so much for sharing this video with us. I was born and raised in Santa Barbara. But I just couldn’t afford it. So I moved a couple hours up north to Paso Robles and made my dreams come true. I am now retiring after having 2 full service restaurants for 32&1/2 years. I’ve been so Blessed by being able to sell my last restaurant with Liquor License,Business and Building. I miss Santa Barbara But Santa Barbara MISSES ME MORE 😊❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️
Thank you again for walking us through S. B.
Blessings, Carlos ✝️🙏❤️😊❗️
I too lived in Santa Barbara for awhile in the 70s. Moved to Atascadero around 83. Made my way to Oregon in 90. Perhaps our paths crossed in the past. I remember Joe's in SB for the best steaks.
@@zonker2u808 I went to La Cumbre Junior high. Then graduated from SBHS in 1980
Enjoy your retirement.
Moved out of Santa Barbara to Ventura 1.5 years ago due to how impossible it was to find a house after mine was sold. I wish I could make my way back this coming year, but I refuse to spend thousands in rent for a tiny house ran by a slumlord and is falling apart(most homes in SB). So sad.. its really changed just over the past 2-3 years.
As Ventura county resident for 25 years , I kinda had the feeling things were gonna hit the fan sooner or later, Glad I got out on time from Cali, never looked back.
California is a beautiful state to live. The weather along the coast is so awesome. If you go 5 hours to mountains you get to the snow. The homeless are ruining California cities and towns.
My niece lived there for over 10 years. Said the homeless would walk up from the beach every night and break into cars. After the third break in, she'd had enough and moved away. She loved the beach but could see the handwriting on the wall.
It's not just the homeless. It's the liberal politicians the populace keeps voting for. The state's residents have nothing to complain about except themselves for voting the way they do.
@richardheilman6280 there are many of us here that keep voting and praying for change.
Leftienuts are ruining Cali along with too much diversity.
From the mountains to the sea, we can do it all in one day!
I grew up in SB in the ‘70’s. Graduated from UCSB. Had a fantastic apartment near the courthouse for $400. Came out this summer for a week, and barely recognized the place. SO DENSE. My sister went to St. Vincent’s boarding school. We had racing sailboats, but they weren’t millionaires’ boats, we were teachers and middle class. I’ll love it there always, but it’s not my hometown anymore. Miss the original Joe’s Cafe, the old time Fiesta and Solstice festivals.
Ikr ! Went to UCSB & lived in IV 78-‘80. Loved Joe’s! Fiesta!. Cold Springs Tavern up the hill….. and the little locals’ beaches, Hendry’s , Haskell’s. SB was such a fun, unique culture mix then. Nothing in California will ever compare.
I’m grateful I got to experience it. Sold the old family duplex in Hidden Valley in 2019. Never to go back😢
The weather is nice but it’s such a hard lifestyle in ca . The sacrifices such as working overtime, multiple jobs, and commuting hours to affordable communities make enjoying the beauty of the ocean and mountains impossible due to lack of time or pure exhaustion.
“We build this city, we built this city and now it sucks.” Nick
" We built America.We built America and now it's Trumpia."
OG Nick Johnson fans will know
That's some old school shit right there haha.
@@jacobtennyson9213 Trump made America better....
@@pandemicofvaxxedholes .. For for COVID-19 Zombies running amok at Capitol Hill.
THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I LEFT AMERICA......I LIVED IN LAEKSPUR, CALIFORNIA BEAUTIFUL....NOW I LIVE IN MONTENEGRO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND INEXPENSIVE COUNTRY TO EUROPE
20 years ago SB use to be a place where a middle class family can afford to live there. Not any more. It's a place where only rich people can afford to live there. Everything you mentioned in this video is so true. Very true. I know, I live in Oxnard just 25min south from there.
I was raised in Santa Barbara from the late 1950's to when my wife and I had to buy a home outside of SB up north in the Santa Ynez Valley in 1985, because of the home prices. In regards to the homeless situation, believe it or not, there used to be four street lights on HWY 101 at State St., Chapala St., Anacapa St., and Santa Barbara St. and besides stopping HWY101 traffic it led to hitchhiking and panhandling directed at the stopped cars. What was created was probably the first small homeless encampment under the famous huge Fig Tree right off the highway. When the homeless population grew another encampment was created in the bamboo grove along Cabrillo Blvd. on East Beach. That is until the Fess Parker Hotel Resort development cleared that whole area out and the homeless were scattered everywhere. The point is that homelessness has been in Santa Barbara a very long time mainly because of the weather and the accommodating nature of the City. After watching your video it seems, as you pointed out, Santa Barbara is becoming more like Los Angeles.
I remember everything you talked about , the 101 had stopped lights , we called it Bambo Jungle or Hobo Jungle 😂 the area where the Fess Parker resort is now .
I remember all the hippies hitching rides on the 101 , everyone was going up to San Francisco, BIG Sur ,all points north .
Yep SB has always had more homeless than most other places in California except for recently...
My girlfriend and I would park uptown of state st.and walk to beach.... pushing the traffic light to cross hwy 101 and stopping traffic.
It was always good for our egos to hear the whistles and cute calls from the male drivers.
Lived there from '87 to 21'. I owned a boat and slip in harbor, was dive medic, graduated city college, worked for Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society, was local scuba instructor, local emt trained, co-owned The Green Room in Summerland in 2010. I love SB! Thanks I've been in Bama for 1.5yrs taking care of family. Left SB to shift here. I was all over that place daily on my bike(that I pedaled! 🙂
I've had long-term friends from the Santa Barbara area and they believe it's pretty corrupt internally. That explains the road quality. And all the renovation for shopping that will go on rented. Telltale sign of empty storefronts which is likely to happen. California is in trouble. The next 10 to 20 years is going to be devastating to California. 🧐💫
Nah, it will continue to thrive. As things get bad you think money will flow to Ohio or California?
CA is the worlds 4th largest economy and only getting stronger but you do you.
@@rocktheboatpaul I’m sure Hollywood and Silicon valley have absolutely everything to do with that. But for the vast majority of people and the state it’s becoming unlivable.
@@rocktheboatpaul didn't Elon musk just leave?
Aren't many businesses leaving Cali?
Lol do you two have your head in the sand or what.
@@justsomeguy1671 Goodbye Elon, we aren't going to miss you. 4th Largest economy in the world, do you not understand what that means? Facts are facts. Sorry you don't like them. Not sorry.
I think I'm going to grab my tent and move to California
Tent prices have skyrocketed over 400% buy it elsewhere and move in after
Hahaha 😆I'm in Menifee California & it's gorgeous!!!
Get random pieces of wood and grab several Blue tarps at Harbor Freight n made a customized “unhoused” home.
You and everyone else.
Hahaha 🤣
My 1st visit to SB was in 1977, and I was so impressed (living at that time in German). I came back in the 80s and 2000. Things changed like everywhere, but much better living than everywhere else. I hope, to be back soon.
I work in that area quite a bit. The only downside besides the expense. Is that the residents have few places to go on vacation that would be an improvement.
I rarely leave, and live /work /play between the Mesa and Milpas 98% of my days
I need to get out of California soon....
fascinating intelligent summary of State consumerism, so badass, so down to earth, you deserve every penny you make, you're a real journalist.....awesome!
I am living here, and I am lucky to know the town/surroundings well and all kinds of secret quiet places :)
I see a lot of brazilian people, making daily videos about the cost of living in tha USA compared to Brazil and why they left the country and etc and they always invite people to move there because of the job opportunites and higher wages. They show the price of things like cars, clothes and groceries and where they live and what kind of car they have and make us feel like stupid by living here but i as i keep watching your videos i see that the reality it not that different from our reality. The working class are also suffering with inflation and the craziest thing is the many brazilian people are leaving the country hoping that they will arrive in usa and be millionaries overnight. It´s insane
Put your trips on UA-cam Bro' get paid to travel..👏😎💪👍
I worry for you after the elections. I hope your country doesn't go the way of so many others.
A lot of that is due to the conversion rate and the fact that Brazil has a big import tax... for Americans everything is 1/2 price in Brazil or cheaper.
Thanks for the update 😅😅i get more information from you guys posting videos then you get a lot of times on News i just like to keep informed thanks ❤❤❤
I had the pleasure of working, and traveling around, California last year. Nice weather. Every beach I visited was nothing more than a litter box with a good view. Human waste. Carmel was the only place where I didn't see people urinating and defecating on the beach.
Went to UCSB, dropped out for a few years to have a job and pay my own rent, before returning to UCSB to finish my degree. Spent 8 years in Santa Barbara. 5 as a student and 3 as a factory worker. It was interesting seeing both sides right at the cusp of the start of what you called "the crisis." One thing you neglected to mention is Santa Barbara's famous Sansum medical clinic, way up there with the likes of Mayo clinic.
Unfortunately I spend much too much time there but I agree, it's the best place for medical services in the area.
You still want to go to a university hospital like UCLA for some of the best care.
You will never attain what you subconsciously resent.
Love SB. Would love to see you cover Goleta and Isla Vista. Edit: Nevermind. Well done sir 👍
Please do one about bakersfield ca .I know you did the oil Dale area but there are many worse parts and I think it's worth stopping by. love your videos
I will eventually Steve!
I drove across the country in early
Part of 2021 and stayed overnight in Bakersfield. There was a lot of activity of people walking around and lot of noise at night and felt there was crime at the vagabond hotel where I stayed. I don’t think I got a good impression of this town on my way
Thru on my way home to Seattle.
@@teresarohlin1859 that vagabond inn is always sketchy. We took a trip out to leo carrillo state beach and on the way home as we exit off the fwy on panama lane right next to the vagabond the cops were running down the road with guns drawn chasing some guy down the street.apperently he killed 2 people in broad daylight .lots of drugs and transient citizens in town . I've only lived here going 1 and a half years and am making plans on selling my home the first chance I get
Worse than oildale, how? I thought that was the worst of the worst for Bakersfield? At least in 2005/2006
@@teresarohlin1859 I stopped at the Walmart in Bakersfield, and my impression was that the people were a little more broke there(based on their clothing), compared to most California cities. They did have beautiful outside structures though(freeways, etc.).