Rep. Carbajal Highlights $963,000 in Federal Funding for Upgrades to City of Santa Barbara’s Radio Systems with California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, City Officials and[...]

Last week, Congressman Salud Carbajal and California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis joined Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse, City Administrator Kelly McAdoo, and officials from the City's Fire and Police Departments to discuss how the $963,000 in federal funding Rep. Carbajal secured earlier this yearwill be used to upgrade Santa Barbara's radio communications system.

The city's current system is more than 30 years old. The upgraded system will improve emergency response times and improve reliability during emergencies and natural disasters.

"When the City came to me with this request for funding last year, it was a no-brainer, because this funding has so many positive effects for our community. By upgrading our radio systems, we improve response time and reliability to emergencies, disasters, and instances where Santa Barbara relies on its first responders," said Rep. Carbajal. "This is a reminder that at all levels of government, from our front line first responders to city, state, and federal officials: we are dedicated to making our communities safer, and to giving you the knowledge that we have your safety and well-being in mind every single day."

"This nearly $1 million investment in Santa Barbara's public safety infrastructure is a powerful example of what we can achieve when local, state, and federal governments work together," said Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis. "Thanks to Congressman Carbajal's steadfast advocacy, the Biden-Harris administration's unwavering support, and the dedicated efforts of Mayor Rowse and City Administrator McAdoo, our first responders will now have the tools they need to keep families and communities safe and resilient. Together, we are building a brighter, safer future for Santa Barbara and all of California."

"I really want to thank the federal government and in particular our Congressman Salud Carbajal for bringing this funding to us, so we can upgrade and provide the greatest amount of public safety service available to our citizens here in Santa Barbara," said Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse.

"Santa Barbara is an incredibly beautiful place, but our unique location comes with some significant public safety challenges," said City Administrator Kelly McAdoo. "The ability of our first responders to communicate with each other is critical at any point during the year but particularly during disasters, so this funding will help us begin the replacement of an almost 30-year radio system…and that really is the backbone of our public safety response system. 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 and any tools that can help our Public Safety officials do their job."

Rep. Carbajal has secured millions of dollars for public safety improvements across the Central Coast while utilizing the Community Project Funding program, which allows Members of Congress to request and secure direct funding for projects in their regions.

Earlier this year, Rep. Carbajal secured funding to make public safety upgrades for the Lompoc Police Department and the Grover Beach Police Department, as well as funding to expand capacity at the Ventura County Family Justice Center to help more survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

He has also helped fund repairs to key emergency routes in Santa Barbara County, make seismic upgrades to the Santa Barbara Veterans Memorial Building, and upgrade the public safety communications systems in San Luis Obispo County.

Since the beginning of the Community Project Funding program in Congress in 2021, Rep. Carbajal has delivered more than $50 million to community projects ranging from public safety to housing affordability, park renovations, public health and food security.

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Rep. Salud Carbajal represents California's 24th Congressional District, encompassing Santa Barbara County and portions of San Luis Obispo County and Ventura County. He is a member of the Agriculture and Armed Services Committees, as well as the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he serves as the top Democrat on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.

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