From Frosty the Snowman to The Grand on State Street, Santa Barbara candidates talk the arts at forum

Candidates agree Santa Barbara runs on art, but split on the price tag. On Wednesday night, candidates for Santa Barbara mayor and City Council discussed the State Street Master Plan, local artists and how much money should be allocated to fund the arts.But on one point, the candidates never wavered: Santa Barbara needs its artists. I always say that we are our best selves when we come together, and especially when it s aroundthe arts, said District 4 candidate Genevieve Taft-Vasquez.Taft Vasquez joined candidates from Districts 4, 5 and 6 and the mayoral race at a forum at theCommunity Arts Workshop to discuss how they would support the arts if elected. About 30 people audience members were in attendance.The candidates agreed on the value of art but differed on how to pay for it and how best tosupport local artists.Several tied their ideas to the State Street Master Plan. District 6 candidate Gabe Escobedo calledit an “infrastructure plan that should be paired with programming and