Isla Vista residents are a step closer to independence with the passage of Measures E, however measure F failed to get enough votes to pass.
“Isla Vista will have top quality governance when residents will be able to make decisions for the community,” said Ethan Bertrand, a candidate for the board of directors for the community district.
Measure F got 2,612 to 1,570, or 60 to 40 percent, however failed to get the two-thirds majority necessary. Measure E is at 3625 to 517, or 86 to 14 percent at according to unofficial results on Nov. 10 with all precincts reporting.
Measure E creates both the community service district in Isla Vista and its governance made up of representatives from the district, the County of Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Barbara. Measure F would have funded the district. It would create an 8 percent utility tax for owners on items such as electricity, gas, water and garbage that would create about $500,000 per year.
Measures E and F have been in the works since December 2014 when Assemblyman Das Williams introduced
Assembly Bill 3, proposing the creation of the Isla Vista district.
“A community service district will provide a larger area for Isla Vistans to put in their say,” said Lanny Ebenstein, a UC Santa Barbara economics professor, in a phone interview. He’s lived in Isla Vista since 1961, and seen the problems living in an unincorporated area.
“It would give municipal powers to residents of IV,” he said
Opponents to the measures are Isla Vista landlords, including Chuck Eckert, the treasurer of the Isla Vistans Against Higher Taxes. He believes that UC Santa Barbara’s place on the board doesn’t seem fair, nor does the measure’s tax exemptions to those living in the district.
“It proposes a waste of money,” wrote Eckert in an e-mail. “Its proponents admit that half of the money it would raise would go down the tubes in bureaucracy.”
Supporters of the measures gathered with the Democrats for a community dinner at The Mill restaurant downtown.
“I don’t know what the numbers are but I am very supportive of the measures,” said Salud Carbajal, congress representative of 24th District, when no precincts had reported.
Funds from Measure F are planned to be used toward graffiti abatement, repairing roads, sidewalks and lights and a tenant mediation program among other events.
“Residents are finally given the chance to make their own decisions,” said Bertrand “This measure has spanned generations.”
Update: Nov. 10, 2016
This version of the article has been updated with updated results of the Measure F election. As of now, Measure F failed to get enough votes to pass, however Measure E did pass.
