We are concerned and caring.

◾️ Crime is picking up in West Beach. You can go to www.communitycrimemap.com to set your preferences and see what is taking place around you.

◾️ Please read the Neighborhood Watch section below.  If you can, implement common sense ways to protect your property and therefore, preserve our neighborhood. 

1. Keep doors and gates locked, especially if you own a bike.  

2. Do NOT leave anything in your car that is visible to someone passing by (including bags of food trash/trash).  Lock all valuables in your trunk.  

3. Leave porch lights on at night and consider installing motion lights. 

4. Install a personal security device (such as Ring or Nest) that can provide photo documentation to SBPD if needed.

5. Post signs such as 24/7 Camera Surveillance, No Illegal Dumping, etc. on property.

6. Add a key to a water spigot if accessible to the public.

7. Cover outdoor electrical outlets if accessible to the public.

◾️ There has also been an uptick in the unsheltered population AND encampments activity in West Beach. Please report what you see often through the SBPD online form.  It takes a few seconds and it can be anonymous. Please click https://formstack.io/8317F to report. Also consider the SB South Coast Chamber of Commerce, reporting any observations or interactions by clicking on https://goletachamber.com/homelessness/.  The powers-at-be need to know to help steer the homeless community to safety, and hopefully, get them the proper help they need. Santa Barbara has many organizations and resources that want to know about the activity in our neighborhood.

◾️ A group of hotel and inn owners, also concerned, have hired private security for parts of West Beach. Please email wearewestbeach@gmail.com if you would like to join the discussion with observations, experiences and/or ideas.

◾️ Learn about our city government.  We are in District #2 and our councilman is Mike Jordan at MJordan@santabarbaraca.gov.   The mayor and three of six councilmembers are up for re-election in November 2021. Don’t forget to make sure you are registered to vote in Santa Barbara County.  Click https://covr.sos.ca.gov  to register.

◾️SBACT and Citynet.org are two of the many organization helping our homeless community. Please reach out to them if you wish to get involved.

◾️ Many of the unsheltered community are veterans. The following link has information about current programs designed to reach our vets. Learn more today. https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/lib/collections/research_by_subject/veterans_resources.asp