Good evening.  It’s great to be with you for these awards. Santa Barbara Beautiful has the right to be proud of the role it’s played in creating a city known throughout the world for its beauty.

It’s hard to believe it all began in 1965. Even back then, the founders of Santa Barbara Beautiful envisioned a bright future for our community. I am very proud to stand here tonight to celebrate this successful vision with you.

For many years now, the people living here have known that preserving the beauty and natural wonder of our city is vital not just to the health of its environment…but also to the health of its families, the power of its economy, and the strength of its neighborhoods.

Santa Barbara Beautiful has worked very hard to operate with that same wisdom –
to ensure we have a community that is good for families, business, and the environment:
A place where families can walk, bike, shop, and play together;
A place where people spend less time in traffic, and more time with family and friends;
A place where we restore historic neighborhoods and protect centuries-old farmland;
And a place where we plants trees and build parks, not just parking lots.

With the help of Santa Barbara Beautiful, and tonight’s recipients we are building a Santa Barbara that is not just better off, but better. And this message is being heard across the Central Coast thanks to you. And by your example, we can spread it across California and the rest of America. I congratulate you for your long and distinguished record of success.

Thank you again for being such a tremendous resource and a valued partner in our community.  Working together and looking ahead, I know that the good people of Santa Barbara will continue to lead the way. Thank you -- and keep up the good work!

Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.