One theory suggests that the nicer a city is to the homeless, the more they attract -- and Santa Barbara has a downright unwelcoming reputation.
"For 20 years now, cities in Southern California have debated how nice -- or how unfriendly -- they should be to the homeless." Cities with warm winter weather -- like Santa Barbara -- often see homeless populations swell during the winter. "...Santa Barbara also has passed some tough laws over the years to keep the homeless from becoming too visible, especially in such areas as the city's spectacular beachfront or the lucrative upscale shopping areas along State Street... 'If you were to pick one city in the country to be a model of how not to deal with its homeless, Santa Barbara would be it," said Mitch Snyder, a national homeless advocate."
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: 'Snowbird' Homeless a Santa Barbara Quandary

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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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