Since Laura Capps became the Santa Barbara County Supervisor who represents the district which includes Isla Vista, two more young men have died in cliff falls from private properties.
On Wednesday afternoon, Capps had a Zoom call with the parents of some of the 14 fatal cliff fall victims.
The names of parents of four other victims, along with photos of private properties are in a letter sent to property owners on Monday .
Capps talked about the efforts to gather property owners and managers to work on solutions that will prevent another death.
The most recent cliff fall victims include J ake Parker , of San Diego, who fell during a daytime alumni party on April 20, 2024, and Benny Schurmer, of Ojai, who fell on September 2, 2023.
The letter urges property owners to raise the height of their fencing along the eroding cliff.
“Every time something happens in addition to the families who lost someone, these folks have to relive the tragedy in their lives,” said Supervisor Capps. “[A]nd it is a parent’s worst nightmare, I can’t even fathom it, as a mom myself, so I appreciate, deeply, their advocacy, because they really helped inform our 8 point plan and it is their strength that helps kind of direct where we are going.”
-Laura Capps, Santa Barbara County Supervisor