Third District Supervisor Doreen Farr commented about the chaos and “great harm” that occurred over the weekend at Deltopia in opening remarks of the county’s budget workshop on Monday morning. There has been no shortage of national media coverage about the destruction and violence that plagued the Isla Vista streets on Saturday night, leaving a handful of police officers with injuries and dozens of civilians arrested.
“I think that first and foremost in my mind, and in all of our minds, are the public safety personnel who were injured trying to protect life and property, and any other innocent bystanders,” she said. Farr, whose district represents the unincorporated area of Isla Vista, said she has received some information from the Sheriff’s Office and has been following the news, but explained she’s waiting for a full report from the Sheriff’s Office in the next day or so.
“Deltopia and unsponsored events like it need to end,” she said, explaining that the swarm of 15,000 people drawn to the area by social media “has no place in our county and certainty not in Isla Vista” because it invites chaos and unlawful behavior.
Additionally, Farr said the cost to the taxpayers is exorbitant, adding that in past years the majority of citations have gone to people from outside of the area “who come into the community to cause trouble” with “blatant disregard” and no respect for residents and public infrastructure.
Farr said she will continue to work with stakeholders to determine how to deal with “difficult” and “unsponsored” events. “What’s changed now is that people coming from the outside … who think they are going to come party and have fun,” Farr said. She added that UCSB student leaders have stated that a change is needed, and that she plans to work with them and other stakeholders to create new ordinances or strengthen ones already in place.