Welcome to the Official Site for Helene Schneider for Santa Barbara Mayor

Welcome to my website!

Thank you for your interest in this important campaign for Santa Barbara Mayor.

It’s been a privilege working on your behalf as City Councilmember these last 5 ½ years. On the Santa Barbara City Council, I have been a consistent leader protecting our environment, ensuring public health and safety, protecting neighborhood character, investing in our youth, and reducing homelessness. As a member of the Finance Committee, I presented balanced budgets that prioritized public safety and essential services, such as police neighborhood bike patrols, after-school programs and human services grants.

Today, the City of Santa Barbara faces unprecedented financial challenges resulting from our nation’s economic downturn. While facing significant budget cuts our financial decisions must keep the City aligned with our community’s values. Success requires forging new partnerships among public, private, and non-profit agencies. I’ve taken regional leadership roles on complex issues such as homelessness, mental health, recycling, flood control and youth violence, and will continue these efforts with strength and determination as Mayor.

I will bring a rational, balanced and fair perspective as your next Mayor. I ask for your vote and hope you will join my efforts and campaign.

Sincerely,

Helene Schneider

A VISION FOR SANTA BARBARA’S FUTURE:

A Solid Fiscal Foundation

Implement policies that rebuild and maintain funds in City’s reserve accounts.

Safe Neighborhoods for our Kids and Community

Invest in programs for at-risk youth and enhance community policing by building stronger connections between City Hall and neighborhood groups.

A Clean Environmentally Sustainable City

Strengthen our role as an environmental leader with clean creeks and beaches and pesticide-free parks. Reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Better Business for Santa Barbara

Create incentives for new green technology and start-up companies.

Preserve Neighborhood Character and our Cultural Heritage

Respect Santa Barbara’s small town feel, protect open space, focus on quality building design and promote the arts and local artists through the General Plan update process.

RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

City Budget

•  Led the city’s finance committee in revising budget projections and presenting balanced budgets that protects and prioritizes essential City services in light of the recent economic downturn.

Environmental Leadership

•  Chair of the City Council Sustainability Sub-Committee.

•  Increased recycling at neighborhood schools while saving the District $80,000 in trash fees.

•  Protected open space by consistently voting against the Veronica Meadows project in the Las Positas Valley.

•  Implementing plan to restore Lower Mission Creek, provide flood control protection, increase water quality and protect two endangered species by coordinating with regional and national leaders.

Ensuring Public Health and Safety

•  Returned police bike patrols to the Westside and Eastside neighborhoods.

•  Taken a leadership role countywide to reduce homelessness and get people off the streets.

Fighting Traffic Congestion

•  A leader on the Council Sub-Committee on Commuter Rail

•  Funded enhanced bus transit, resulting in an immediate 8% increase in ridership.

Protecting Neighborhood Character

•  Created strong design standards to stop “McMansionization” through leadership role on the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance Update Steering Committee.