$963,000 in Federal Funding Secured for Critical Radio Communications Upgrades

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$963,000 in Federal Funding Secured for Critical Radio Communications Upgrades

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On Thursday, August 29, Congressman Salud Carbajal highlighted $963,000 in federal funding secured for the City's Public Safety Radio Infrastructure Project. City Administrator Kelly McAdoo, Mayor Randy Rowse, Congressmen Carbajal, and California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis spoke about how these improvements will enhance emergency response capabilities and system reliability, significantly boosting community safety and preparedness during critical incidents.

"This is a momentous day for us. As mayor and my fellow councilmembers, our job is the day-to-day quality of life for our citizens, and that starts, first and foremost, with our public safety officials," Mayor Rowse stated.

Congressman Salud Carbajal said, "It was a no-brainer because this funding has so many positive effects for our community. By upgrading our radio systems, we will improve responsive time and reliability to emergencies, disasters, and instances where Santa Barbara relies on its First Responders."

The Public Safety Radio Infrastructure Project, which has a total project cost of 12 million dollars, aims to repair and replace aging infrastructure, including radio towers and backup power supplies, essential for maintaining effective communication during natural disasters and daily emergencies. The funding will modernize the City's radio communications system, which is over 30 years old and in need of a major overhaul. With parts unsupported for 15 years, the upgrade will reduce communication failures due to weather and enhance the City's emergency response capabilities. Each of the 11 radio sites across the City will be upgraded to operate autonomously, improving overall reliability.