Sally Kingston Named Neighborhood Advisory Council Chair

Sally Kingston, former Harding Elementary School principal, was just named the new chair of Santa Barbara’s Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC), still a fledgling entity two years after its inception. Kingston, known for her tireless work ethic and no-nonsense style, will take the helm of an often fractious organization that most loudly reflects the concerns of Eastside neighborhood activists. Though Kingston has strong ties to the city’s Westside, she lives near Oak Park and serves on the NAC as an at-large representative. The NAC — whose members are appointed by the City Council — was created to fill the void left when the council abolished all of its many neighborhood-specific advisory boards in response to budget shortfalls. Kingston now works for Thrive, a Carpinteria-based nonprofit focusing on five low-income neighborhoods throughout the South Coast.