In the face of litigation, Santa Barbara City Council still opts to keep State Street closed to cars

Different day, same street. The Santa Barbara City Council on Tuesday voted to keep State Street as it is now—closed to vehicular traffic from the 500 to 1100 blocks. Instead, the issue of whether to open or close those blocks of State Street is likely to go before voters next year. The city has not yet determined a date for a public vote, but it is likely to happen in June. State Street property owner Jim Knell funded an effort to gather signatures to place the matter on a ballot next year for a public vote. The 8,700 signatures collected are currently being verified by the city. Only 5,480 signatures of city voters are required to place the matter on a ballot. The council could have also voted to work with Knell and others to re-open State Street in some form immediately before a public vote. There s no solution here, councilman Mike Jordan said Tuesday night. All the solutions suck. The vote was 5-1-1, with councilmembers Jordan, Oscar Gutierrez, Meagan Har