Isla Vista Move Out 2025 ended with MarBorg hauling away tons of furniture, mattresses, and garbage left on the street. Where else in Santa Barbara County do entire apartment buildings empty out every year for cleaning, painting, and repairs? Nowhere.
According the 2nd District Supervisor’s office, the annual renovation fails to address “basic health and safety needs of the properties,” hence the use of settlement money from UCSB to create an annual “Pilot Inspection Program” requiring owners to register their properties, notice tenants, and facilitate entry by county inspectors. The ordinance requires owners act as government agents for Santa Barbara County’s Planning and Development Department.
At a public meeting with representatives of Supervisor Laura Capps (she was ill and could not attend) outgoing Associated Student Senator Paolo Brinderson expressed concern that tenants be informed of the likelihood of their property being inspected and that they know their rights. Brinderson is correct — tenants must be informed that they are not required to allow a government inspector to explore their private spaces. A town hall held during finals week with a smattering of students does not inform tenants of their right to refuse entry to government agents…