Downtown Darling

INDY IS DOWNTOWN DARLING: Last Thursday, the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization (DO) surprised the staff of The Independent by awarding the paper with one of our city’s most coveted honors: the 2010 Citizen of the Year Award, which the DO presented to Editor-in-Chief Marianne Partridge for our paper’s “efforts to support, promote, and chronicle downtown Santa Barbara.” Particularly, the DO called out The Indy‘s annual Local Heroes issue, our dedication to the various nonprofit organizations of Santa Barbara, and our commitment to supporting the cultural programs of the downtown neighborhood. “It’s very humbling,” said Partridge of the honor. “The Independent is now officially part of this list of previous award-winners who have made Santa Barbara such a special place.”