Mesa Festival 2016 Brings Community Businesses, Residents, and Leaders Together.

The Santa Barbara Mesa Neighborhood paused for a celebration Sunday. Residents in the area have been active in quality of life issues, including public safety and community beautification.

The event features many booths and displays in a business parking lot off Cliff Drive.

Those attending were able to talk to area leaders about issues including speed limits locally and neighborhood watch programs.

At the same time they were able to talk to an author about Mesa history, learn about fitness programs in the area, taste food from local restaurants and find out more about their neighbors. One of the displays included a portion of the rare collection from honored boxing historian David Martinez, including many items about the late World Champion Muhammad Ali.

Representatives of the Mesa Harmony Garden also talked about their land near Holy Cross Church where fruits and vegetables are grown. Residents maintain the land and harvest seasonally.

There were also supporters of a lower speed limit in an area where a 40 mile per hour section of Cliff Drive has become controversial.

The Mesa has become a very active sector of Santa Barbara in recent years with it’s own newspaper and outspoken residents appearing at city council meetings over regional issues including new housing for Santa Barbara City College. Community organizer Alice San Andres-Calleja is the publisher of the small area paper.