Santa Barbara City Councilmember Eric Friedman is in “good spirits” and exhibiting positive signs of recovery after suffering a heart attack while paddleboarding with friends on April 5, according to an update provided by his family on Tuesday evening.
“We are so grateful for all of your well-wishes and support that our family continues to receive from friends, colleagues, and the community,” reads the statement released by Friedman; his wife, Julie; and his mother, Celeste Barber.
According to the statement, Friedman is showing improvement every day and making steady progress while surrounded by friends and family. They thanked community members who have shared kind messages over the past few days, from those who worked with Friedman on city, county, or library boards to neighbors, community groups, and city residents who have gotten to know Friedman as an elected official or at his second job at Trader Joe’s…