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I UNDERSTAND YOUR SOLITUDE, I SEE YOUR SHADOW, I'LL STAY WITH YOU

This is the end of this story. Isla Vista got the independence through persistent fighting and we believe new Isla Vista would benefit both residents in Isla Vista and the University. It's my pleasure to stay with in past 20 mins you and tell this story and my experience with you. Hope you like it. -- Nov. 2016, Jiayi.T

NEW ISLA VISTA

NOV 10, 2016

Dear Diary:

I weak up early today and immediately check my phone to see any updates about voting. It has become a morning routine to do so.
I cook a great meal for me today.
“Do you know that the voting result will come out today?” My roommate nudges the bedroom door open with her shoulder and looked at the me. The bedroom lamp makes her face look so brighten.
“Of course I know. I’m a little bit nervous now” I reply. “I really hope they would pass. This this evolution; this decision would totally change the development of Isla Vista in next ten years.”
“I feel nervous, too.” She picks up the voting paper on the floor and stares at it.
“Relax. I’m sure people will support this revolution” I pick up the tray and rise to return it to the kitchen. “I think it will pass” she said. I nod and turn out of the room, closing the door firmly behind me. I could hear the sound of video, as if the sound is in my mind.
By the time I finish washing the dishes from dinner, I feel drowsy and burdened, as if a heavy block is lodged in the back of my head and threatening to drop my head-first into the kitchen floor. I turn to the bedroom and decide to take a nap on the ned after a few minutes of televisions. I sit comfortably, placing a small cushion under my neck. I lower the volume the listening with my eye closed. But I find my self actually interested in what the new caster was saying: "Measure E passes, Isla Vista achieves greater independence” I suddenly become awake. They achieve it! With all our expectations, Isla Vista residents are a step closer to independence with the passage of Measures E. “Isla Vista will have top quality governance when residents will be able to makes decisions for the community,” says the woman in the television, a candidate for the board of director for the community district.

It is really thankful to acknowledge that the dream of independence actually come true, when you are either promising or making promises to be promising. All those annoying problems in Isla Vista such as parking, housing, infrastructure, side roads will all be solved because we have a board who put our beneficiary as priority. I finish my glass of wine and hold it in front of laptop which shows the news regarding the passage of Measure E, smiling with great expectations for the future.
It’s a new day. As sunrise slowly swells against the window of the bedroom, I open my arms and brace everything precariously. The sunshine spreads on my whole bedroom, I see a brand new tomorrow for Isla Vista that will come soon.

## A GLASS OF VICTORY ##

心所向之 必有所应

So here I am, choosing to kick away the ladder so that I may remain at your side.

MEASURE E

Measure E creates both the community service district in Isla Vista and its governance made up of representatives from the district, the County of Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Barbara.

MEASURE F

Measure F means the new financial mechanism in which 8% utility user tax would be used to fund all services and administration in Isla Vista. This income ensures both the services and efficiency of quality provided by IVCSD.

NEW SOLUTIONS FOR ISLA VISTA

Yes on E & F

This It is obvious that there is no independent political voice and sufficient political forces existed in Isla Vista. Isla Vista is like a synonym of problem to be solved. Therefore, something must be done in this crisis. In the process of establishing a new government, some questions should be always reminded: "What kind of community we want to be? What do we want IV present?" Fortunately, campus activities happened recently indicates that there is a group of people try to fight for the right of self-governance in Isla Vista. The activity regarding self-goverance activities in Isla Vista is called “Yes on E&F”. The blueprints of self governance in Isla Vista are classified into Measure E, Measure F and added services. Measure E is the establishment of new governance structure called Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD).It is composed with five elected and two appointed board member. The new board would makes decisions on behalf of their community. IVCSD promises to maintain the partner relationship between the Country, University and Isla Vista in the future development . The passage of Measure E will bring long term solutions to its residents rather than constantly relying on other local agencies. Services about the tenant mediation program, parking program and creation of police program, infrastructure repair including of street light s and sidewalk, etc will be provided. Measure F would have funded the district. It would create an 8 percent utility tax for owners on items such as electricity, gas, water and garbage that would create about $500,000 per year. Added services include area planning, parking district, tenant/landlord mediation, community friendly policing and supplement existing services.

THE NIGHT BEFORE BEING NEW

Nov 07, 2016 Dear Diary:

I lay on the bed in my room, still wearing what I wear to school and try in earnest to sleep. I wish my stereo wasn’t broken, because I always have trouble sleeping without music. Then I keep my eyes open and hum a tune to myself, deciding not to think of anything at all.
I hum song after song in the dark of my closed eyes, fatigue increasing painfully in my sockets. But I couldn’t sleep, I just couldn’t stop thinking about things and I feel helplessly caught in my sheets, like a fish twisting and untwisting in the mesh of a net. Restless, I pull myself out of bed and decide to just buy a coffee, so I walk a couple blocks to a bar and lounge on Cordoba Street. After paying for a pack of Camels and a cup of coffee, I sit at the only empty outdoor table. Busy day. Then I hear some conversations from girls sitting on the table next to me.
“Do you hear about that, there will be a vote tomorrow.”
“Vote?” the other girl snapped, "Vote for what?”
“For Isla Vista, you know.” the girl in red dress smiles and takes a bite of her pizza, "Isla Vista tries to gain independence. It wants a self-governance board and government regulating this small town”
The other girl looks at her with an exciting eyes: “Oh really? That’s sounds really good! These two years after that gun shooting accidents are totally chaos. Think about what kind of days we have here, expensive rent every month for such a nasty living condition, the buses that never come on time. Living here is so enduring for me.”
“I know! All of these problems you just mentioned, housing condition and social infrastructure,” the girl in the red says. “and our ridiculous bad relationship with police definitely needs to be solved.”
“Yes. This vote is so important! I mean, the successful establishment of self-governace here would surely bring a permanent condition for these problems and all the residents here would benefit from this evolution.”
“I totally agree! I just cannot wait to see the changes after voting.” She stops eating: “ Wait, are you going to vote tomorrow? I’ll go with you to support Isla Vista to fight for its independence.”
“Oh wonderful! There would be a voting place near Arbor. See you at 10am…….”

IT'S ME

Through this craft, through my love to writing, I discovered a world outside of the small windowless one I had built for myself. A world of soft spoken beauty

THE URGENCY TO CHANGE

The year of 2014 is a disaster moment in the history of Isla Vista. The frightening shooting incident causes the deaths of seven students and 14 injured students at UCSB. It is no doubt that this attack brought panic and horror to thousands of residents in IV. However, the overcrowding problem is worsened; more and more student are get enrolled by UCSB. This high number of enrollment  brings the number of residents in IV to annex for housing purpose, but it seems like the campus organization leave the number to grow and develop without any guidance or helping hands. 
    The Deltopia in 2014 is a galvanizing moment for IV. The whole street is filled with tear has, broken glass and police in riot gear when Deltopia activities turns out to be an unknown partygoer attcked a UCSB Police Department Officer. In order suppress the civil unrest, law enforcement formed barricade and dispersed the rubber bullet to crows while participants threw bottles, bricks and rocks and moved trash cans into the street. It is irrefutable that the Deltopic part turns out to be a “civil unrest” is because the lack of proper communication between local sheriff and the local community. The establishment of self-governace in Isla Vista becomes a pressing task.

MAY 30, 2014

Dear Diary:

I always make sure that there is an opening in the room — an inch at the door, or maybe even at the window. My grandmother once told me that if one dies during sleep, the soul needs to exit, or it will be forever trapped in the room.
It rains all day today. Walking to home is just a torture through too much water in Isla Vista. By the time I get home, the rain has subsided into a light drizzle. I lay in my bed for a long time, eye closed but awake, imaging tiny raindrops exploding on my forehead. Soon my thoughts begin to sink, slow like a feather falling, dissembling an overdue peace. I can’t stop thinking about shooting accident happened here one week ago and the lost of seven lives. I don’t want to think of the terrifying feeling when heard the sound of gun shooting; it’s like a bomb in this small town. This sound haunts in my mind, not too loud; but once it was heard, it would burrowed in my thoughts. What I could no longer hear with my ears I did with my minds, and this was enough to keep me sleepless until sunrise. I slowly rise my feet and lifted up certain, looking through the window. Rain drops gather like small spiders against the window’s surface. They crawl slowly down the slick surface, touched the sill and disappeared. It’s like every criminals and sorrow would be cleaned throughly by this rain. Tomorrow would be another damp morning.
I turn on the halogen on my desk, and put on my slippers. The lamp spotlight a tiny piece of paper, which is for memorial event for seven young lives lost in that accident. The anguished cries of shed blood and bereft parent filled the stadium.I cried a lot when one dead student’s father spoke the speech. I’m afraid to image the feeling for a father to lose his child at his middle age. I remembered the girl seated next to me. She leaned forward, possibly because she is too upset, or maybe just to get a better view of the center of stadium. She wore a black shirt — a deeply dark black for funeral. I saw her brighten face dimmed, her almond eyes closed with tears and her sorrowful mouth folds small flapped in her cheeks. She never stopped crying. Until today, I still remember how the black plumes of emotional smokes look against the blue sky, and I remember how the blue sky lingered for days and weeks and months as I walked on the street of Isla Vista.
I don’t understand why this would happen in this small town. I feel there must be a new institution here to regulate this small town, or it would repeat the tragedy of other abandoned city.

"IN MY LIFE, THERE WAS A MOMENT, I THOUGHT YOU'D BE MY SON FOREVER."

每个人的生命 就像一条长长的人行道 但愿有一天 我们的人行道会再次相遇

THESE ARE PIECES OF MY YOUTH, THE SMALL SECRETS AND NOT-SO-GOOD EXPECTATIONS THAT DEFINED MY COMING OF AGE

The pedestrians are always forced to shared to road with vehicle and cyclists.

Discontinuous sideroads

The main apartments in Isla Vista, Silverwood, Garden court and other housing area were established over the 20th century. Old heating system, leaking pipes and frequent electrical and water maintenance all disturb the life of local residents.

Dilapidated housing condition

The friction between two parties has improved dramatically over the year and both sides are trying to articulate their perspectives. It is clear that the person who in charge of this community are college students and sometimes, young people are impulsive, further deteriorating the relationship between the local sheriff and the community.

Tension between local community and police

Parking is another nightmare for residents here. Off-street parking is normal due to dense housing that constitute most half of mile.

Parking

The population in 2010 is 23,096 and it is estimated that the current population is over 30,000 on this 1.861 mi^2 of land. The growth of population in Isla Vista is planned but not controlled and is driven by UCSB enrollment. In 1959, UCSB enrollment is 1959 and in 2016, the number of enrollment dramatically increased to 20,350. Therefore, Isla Vista is overcrowded now.

Overcrowded

SEE SOME FACTS

-- Isla Visa, without self-governance, has several severe problems which badly influence the life quality of all its residents.

03/16/2015

Dear Diary:

Six months have been passed… Can you believe that?  I have been stayed at this small town for almost half a year. I could go home in another three months, yes, I could finally go back to modern life. In past six months, I have been grown up a lot and gradually become independent without accompany with families. Yesterday I facetimed with my mom and she asked me do I enjoy my life here, and I said no. I hate this place, this isolated small town.
    Yesterday I was late for lunch with Lynette at Woodstock in IV and she was angry at me. It’s not my fault; it just the chaotic and tricky transportation problem here. I was not supposed to be late, but when I drove to cross Pardall Rd at Embarcadero del Norte, I was waiting for five minutes because the torrential two-way streams of cyclists. It is so crowded in Isla Vista. I feel like the population density over this 1.86 mi^2 land is higher the most parts of US. Is there any agency here could manage this crazy growth of population or at least have some urbanizing plan?
    Recently I try to find a new apartment to live in because the facilities of my current apartment are too old to function properly. The restroom and sink were always cloaked. The sewerage system always needs to be repaired because it is ancient and poorly designed in 1996. Also, the room’s lighting is just a disaster; it’s always dark, cold and moisture in the room and the heating system also doesn’t work very well. The new apartment is good, I mean, compared with this old one. This new one is old as well: built in 1995, in the same age with me. The new one has good lighting and it is very close to bus station. But the only problem is: it is too expensive. Its price is as same as an apartment in Los Angeles… Ridiculous price tag… All these horrible problems, it seems like there is no institution or agency is responsible for regulating development in Isla Vista. Living in this place is so enduring. 
    There is not enough food left at home, I need to go to markets soon, but when I come back, where should I park my car? I don’t think I could find a parking spot after 6 pm. Again, this annoying parking problem…

为何未曾让我得够便要损失你 捱到那一天参透佛理 手已湿灯已灭要等你

A Place needs some changes

MY HEART WAS CLOSED, COLD. I WAS SELF-CONSCIOUS AND CYNICAL.

ISLA VISTA?

Isla Vista, a small town in census-designated place in Santa Barbara in the United Sates. It is very close to UCSB campus. Therefore, the majority of residents are college students. Isla Vista is always represented as a nice place to live in with enjoyable climate and great academic environment. However, for local students who actually live there, Isla Vista “enjoys” an epithet: “student ghetto.”

09/19/2014

Dear Diary:

It’s a bad day for me. This is my first time to meet with Isla Vista, the place I’m going to stay in next four years. But I have already feel so disappointed.
After 14 hours of flight from Beijing to Los Angeles and another 3 hours of airbus, I finally arrive at Goleta, a small city near Isla Vista. It was 8 pm at night, when I tell the taxi driver, a Mexican male over fifty-years-old that I want to go to Isla Vista, he quickly glances at me through the rearview mirror, saying with strong accent “you must be a UCSB student.” I sit at the back of taxi, staring at the car window, trying to see the landscape, but it is my face reflected on the window: tired, confused, but still excited with the upcoming new life. After another 20 minutes of taxi, I finally get to my destination: Isla Vista.
It has been already 9pm when I move all my stuff into my room and I decide to get some food. Stepping out from the room with an empty stomach, I suddenly feel a sense of helplessness and loneliness. There are totally dark outside, only a few streetlights lamping limited space over the whole street stretching under my eye from far east to far west. Maybe I should go to the center of town and probably I could some food over there, I think. Then I start my journey from Fortuna Rd, the most west street of Isla Vista, to the central Cordoba Rd. I had to walk on the driveway, sharing road with vehicles driving at 30mph, because there is no sideways for pedestrian. When I finally stand at the Cordoba Rd, the central of Isla Vista, I disappointedly find that most restaurants are closed because there are still few days for new quarter to begin.
Then I decide to sit by the roadside to enjoy my dinner: a slice of pizza from 711, the only food selling at this time. After taking the first bite with expectations,I spited it out because there is a strange sour taste haunting in my mouth. Once the pizza gone, nothing is actually left, neither this uncomfortable odor nor my expectations on this new place. Looking with tired eyes, it seems like that this city has been abandoned, like Nagasaki, the city with deserted buildings and desperate desolation after the explosion of Fat Man. The central area of Isla Vista defines its soullessness and desolation:  there is no pedestrian on the street and all the stores were closed. The lack of streetlights, public transportation and other city infrastructure further harshened the look of city. It made me think of the coastwise cities in South-America during the 20th century; they are busy and safe by day, but in the night they abandoned and dangerous due to the lack of public lighting. A feeling of desolation and helplessness hit me crippling strength. " Would I spend my four years in a place like this?”, I asked myself in my heart and said no. It is no doubt that Isla Vista, this small, crowded and somehow backward town, established my initial perception of the U.S.

Don't let me down

怀抱期盼 那年今日 HOPE IN ONE DAY

the Road Toward Self-governance in Isla Vista

WE'RE UNDER THE SAME SKY

My dear reader:
Before you scroll down, you'd better grab a bag of chips or a cup of coffee, it's long story about fighting for independence in Isla Vista. From this story, you’d get some sense about what happened in Isla Vista and its strong yearn for self-governance. However, this piece of work is more than a story in Isla Vista. In the process of producing this craft, it is also a way for me to express myself through writing, a world outside of the small windowless one that I had build for myself, a world of soft spoken beauty. “I am young and I am old; I am hard-faced and I am gone; I am true to myself, just like you.” Hope you enjoy it.

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