Jett Black-Maertz, a candidate for the Board of Trustees Area three of Santa Barbara’s open seat, hopes to create stability within City College.
Originally from Santa Barbara, Black-Maertz traveled throughout her 20’s working in the public sector and doing nonprofit work. She has continued to work at the Transition House Family Shelter, running the volunteer and children programs.
Black-Maertz worked for Habitat for Humanity and the County of Santa Barbara for eight years and is currently working at Civix doing consulting work.
Black-Maertz hopes to help establish a connection with City College and the community if elected. After attending board meetings, she noticed instability between board members. She wants to change this and bring knowledge to the board.
During a campaign, we’re all in competition, but once that’s over we’re all on the same side and need to work together,” Black-Maertz said.
Once there’s stability she will bring attention to the budget and housing issues.
Black-Maertz hopes to discuss student housing without negatively impacting the community around City College. She spoke on what board members will need to discuss.
“How we’d get students housed in housing not substandard, how we’d get nice student housing while not displacing people who are trying to build their lives here,” Black-Maertz said.
As for the Measure P bond, Black-Maertz expressed that she is for it and the board extending the current bond was a smart move. She’s a homeowner with a level of financial stability and explained that it’s her responsibility to give back to the college.
If elected, Black-Maertz wants to do an audit of the physical spaces being used on campus.
“How can City College bring in businesses and community members to turn them into revenue-generating things,” Black-Maertz said.
Black-Maertz hopes board members will take in her ideas and talk to current high school students to not only meet current student needs, but future needs as well.
“I’m not here to push an agenda, I’m not here to have the best ideas in the room. I’m here to say what’s needed and how can I do that,” Black-Maertz said.
She’s aware of the fraudulent bots on campus and acknowledges that community colleges in California have been faced with this problem. Black-Maertz’s idea is to make a plan to reach out to other colleges, see what they’re doing, and make a unified effort to have an overall solution.
Black-Maertz saw City College’s demographics within the community and noticed that recruitment was on point. She wants students to feel supported and welcomed on campus. She added that equity is not a one-and-done thing and needs to be constantly promoted, but changed within the broader community.
“I’ve mentioned changing course offerings for the broader community, but we also need to be in touch with those discrete demographic groups and see what they’re needing,” Black-Maertz said.
Black-Maertz would like to focus on how more in-person students can be generated and what can be done to increase that to help revenue for City College.
If elected she hopes by communicating with staff, students, and the community a level of friendliness, stability, and collaboration will be created.
“I’m here to listen, to learn, and talk to. I’m here to help,” Black-Maertz said.
