Jerry Roberts
By Jerry Roberts of Newsmakers
Eastside City Council member Alejandra Gutierrez pulled off a nice piece of legislative handiwork this week, brokering a compromise in the conflict over the Ortega Park murals between the city administration and neighborhood advocates.
With a deadline looming for the city to apply for an $8.6 million grant to help underwrite the upgrade and renovation of the troubled park — and Park and Recreation Department officials striking a take-it-or-leave stance against neighbors demanding an up-front plan for preserving the park murals honoring Aztec, Mexican and Chicano cultures — Gutierrez managed to lower the temperature on both sides; now the application will proceed while city officials step up engagement with community members to craft a mural preservation plan.
On Tuesday, Alejandra’s colleagues lavished her with praise for her negotiating skill and work on the matter, with several observing that it is precisely the kind of hyper-local issue that district elections is best-suited to address.
“The city has to work with the community,” Gutierrez told Newsmakers on Wednesday. “I live in that neighborhood.”
Alejandra revealed some of the behind-the-scenes machinations that went into the deal, and also discussed several other controversies in District 1 during our conversation, in which she:
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Acknowledged the heart-breaking frustration and anguish of the families of 17-year old Angel Castillo and 18-year old Omar Montiel-Hernandez that no arrests have been made, or suspects yet named, in their gunshot slayings in early January; Alejandra said she is in touch with SBPD investigators, who recently reached out to the boys’ families, adding that she is certain they are pursuing the case thoroughly and aggressively.
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Expressed confidence that city officials are making proper efforts to communicate with neighbors and community representatives about plans for a proposed upgrade of the Eastside Neighborhood Park, which she said has been afflicted by increased drug-dealing and other criminal behavior she fears has moved from Ortega Park, given the recent spotlight on that public space.
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Disclosed that she and aides have begun interviewing Milpas Street merchants as an early step in trying to form a new Business Improvement District, which she hopes will draw Measure C funds, using the council’s recent approval of $40,000 for businesses on Coast Village Road for a similar purpose.
Gutierrez also described herself as feeling “offended (and) very disrespected” by a comment Mayor Cathy Murillo made in a previous interview with Newsmakers, in describing her approach to seeking a re-election endorsement from Gutierrez: “I haven’t even broached her about it,” the mayor said, “it’s like if you’re asking your wife for a favor you kind of have to wait for the right moment and wait until she’s in a good mood.”
At Tuesday’s council meeting, a number of citizens speaking during public comment sharply criticized Murillo for her words and Cathy finally apologized to Alejandra from the dias. “I know you haven’t asked me yet – but am I going to endorse her?” Alejandra said during our interview, before answering her own question:
“No.”
Watch our conversation with Alejandra Gutierrez via YouTube below or by clicking through this link. The podcast version is here.
I have known the Mayor for approx. 20 years, long before she was in politics.
Knowing her the way I do, I am sure she was making a joke. If you have listened to some of the speeches they mayor makes often she interjects humor into the situation, it is one of the things that has endeared her to many of her constituants. I think this comment is probably being taken out of context. The mayor has been very good to Alejandra and maybe she just doesn’t realize it. The mayor helped to get her elected. Hell I helped get her elected! I canvassed her district and spoke with hundreds maybe thousands of voters and told them about Alejandra’s good works and experience in the community. Hopefully she won’t bite the hands that helped get her elected by only 8 votes.
SBSWEETPEA – Can you please talk to the mayor about the homeless problem…because she seems completely oblivious!!!!!!!
This comment wasn’t that big of a deal for Murrillo. The nail in her coffin is going to be her comments about how the the homeless situation isn’t that bad.
What has she done to deal with the homeless problem plaguing her district? I recall a few weeks back non-profit volunteers had to work tirelessly to get a camp cleared from the East Beach before it polluted the ocean. Where was she then? What’s her plan for the alcoholic bums living at the eastside park she wants to renovate? What’s her plan for the camps by the freeways that have popped up in recent months?
So let me get this straight; we’ve got an EXPLODING homeless problem, fires being set by said homeless on a WEEKLY basis, State St. is dying, people are dying, and large employers are leaving both the city and the state….. and we’re making a substantial deal about a politician throwing some shade at another politician… just wanna make sure I got this accurately.
Am I missing something? Is there something substantive that I’m missing? Something that actually affects the problems we’re having in our community?
It must be me, because this just seems to be the sort of asinine drivel that’s put out there to distract you from the real issues… Like I said, if I’m missing something, let me know, please.
Parva leves capiunt animas.
That camp was in Montecito. Alejandra led the effort to clear the Cacique / Milpas underpasses early in the pandemic. The mayor tried to take credit for that too. Gotta’ keep the people on Milpas believing Cathy cares about them! Alejandra attends the Eastside regional action plan group calls that SB Act set up for dealing with the issue of homelessness. What are YOU doing to address the problems of homelessness in your community?
Being disrespected by Cathy is a badge of honor, unfortunately we’ve all experienced it, being told “people are going to suffer” at her idiotic downtown bike proposals, getting e bikes and greens stripes instead of small business aid and even a peep about the global pandemic. So embarrassing, even a troll like David Pritchett couldn’t handle being in the same state as her.
Very important issue for Santa Barbara! NOT!!!
That comment was super disrespectful to Alejandra, and shows Cathy’s mindset: females who could be competitors are a problem. Cathy is no feminist. She acts like there’s only room for one queen, and it has to be her, and she bullies accordingly. Alejandra is proving very responsive in her district. I liked Dominguez, but lack of responsiveness is what cost him the election. 9134 – your comment is telling. So if Cathy walks for you, you have to do whatever she says? That’s why Oscar is so ineffective as a councilmember, then? He only does what Cathy lets him? Is that how the Democratic Party of SB County operates? So it’s not about the good of the citizens. It’s about advancing your aims, with your hand-picked, loyal chosen ones? Got it.
1615489134 @10:58am – I agree with you. Alejandra is a newby , and isn’t in touch with her district. She’s probably gonna say whatever, in order to move up the ladder…..
Sounds to me like she was kidding. Politicians have to be careful about that, especially when they are taking to someone who doesn’t mind making them look bad. Too bad we can’t just all get along.
Everything Alejandra has done since she was elected has been topnotch and ethical. What more can you ask?
Murillo’s support was self serving with the goal being ousting Dominguez, the sharpest tool in the shed, and with the most high level, diverse and relevant experience and accomplishments.
When a politician covets personal alliances over constituents it’s a problem.
I wonder what happened the planning department’s 2 independent independent reviews and grand jury findings detailing the decades of gross mismanagement, inefficiencies and basic disregard for who pay their salaries. Why hasn’t the mayor not called for oversight? Friends just scratching each other’s backs.
Coming on a year ago when COVID pulled the rug out. Remember how that felt, the uncertainty, what was going to happen?
The Mayor’s first official address to the community was in May. Let that sink in
How is Mayor Murillo moving us forward again? She’s been a trainwreck…honestly how can anyone be happily planning to vote for her? Are you related to her…work for her? It’s crazy… she hasn’t accomplished anything tangible, unless of course you count the sizeable union donations she’s so proud of having already received. Seriously though Lorax…what are you talking about??? How (in any capacity) has she moved us forward????
Mayor Cathy Murrillo – “I want to raise your taxes for a homeless tent city”. Anyone need any more convincing we need someone else?
If Murillo “really cares about and is invested in this community” then what was she doing running for state Assembly last year?
$8.6 million to “upgrade” a park where bums and gangsters hangout? Murals? Give me a break! Santa Barbara’s economic health is in the toilet, and people are really tearing their guts out about a park that is full of vagrants, drug addicts and gang bangers? Bums are lighting fires along the railroad tracks, and we’re worried about this? Take a look at the northbound 101 onramp by the DMV. It’s a mess!
@178, OH, because the Republicans have done such a good job governing our country? Huh? You’re talking about the “good of the citizens”. Not ONE stinking Republican voted for the Corona Virus Relief Bill. NOT. A. SINGLE. ONE. I don’t think that the GOP has the “good of the citizens” in mind, only their wealthy donors, as per always…. ad nauseum, forever and ever.
BigUgly – It’s both sides though… look at our own local mayor… pretty sure she’s only “minded” her large union donations as she certainly hasn’t cared about SB. It’s wildly simplistic of both sides to only be able to see anything and everything through a narrow Right or Left lens. It’s not republicans that are bad… or democrats… it’s the current state of politics and gamesmanship on both sides. It’s identity politics. And it’s ruining our country.
Did anyone else notice that when the Mayor made the “disrepectful” comment that was during an interview with Jerry Roberts and he laughed when the comment was
made so he knew it was in jest. Mountains out of molehills as usual. There are so many “Cathy Haters” out there, they are always looking for something to criticize her about. Any little thing gets blown out of proportion. That is the mentality in out society today get all caught up in the little stuff so you can ignore the bigger issues.
852am – looking for something to criticize her about???? Ignore the bigger issues?????? What has Cathy done????? As far as I can tell, all she has done is fundraiser, organize a summit and IGNORA ALL THE BIG ISSUES!!!!!! Seriously… what has she accomplished????? And her big plan going forward… a permanent tent village by the beach??? Without looking there are tons of criticize her for!!!