Some forums can only be seen by registered members. I have lived in S. B since '65 and it is still a very safe city. There are gangs here, I suppose it is almost inevitable when you have two or more separated latino neighborhoods but for the most part they do it the old fashioned way with knives and bats and usually leave citizens out of it.
This recent stabbing has really woken some folks up to a reality they did not want to believe existed and that is good, in the past anytime anybody said gangs are a problem some latino activists would insist that gangs did not exist in S.
I do occasionally find myself dealing with some gangbanger moron who is trying to intimidate but if you are walking with another person you would never see it as the local gangbangers are Mostly Middleschool Midgets and will not say anything to a citizen unless you are alone and they have four buddies backing them up.
Santa Barbara is safe!! I'm a single woman who has have lived in Santa Barbara County since Santa Barbara is a very safe community compared to most cities of it's size. Gangs are only after each other and generally leave the people with better things to do alone. Keys left in an open car means free car so I would avoid that too. The areas downtown around Haley, Milpas, and lower State Streets are where the prostitutes and drug dealers hang out. I've never been afraid to drive those areas but at night I wouldn't consider stopping for anything.
Since Santa Barbara is a tourist town the smaller crimes are downplayed in the news to keep the tourist bureau happy but the big or unusual things like this recent downtown stabbing gets plenty of press. The gang activity does seem to be escalating like many areas of California now, however.
