Santa Barbara’s Eastside-Milpas neighborhood won second place in a revitalization contest hosted by Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA), a national organization formed in 1975 to foster increased community cohesion. Leading the charge on behalf of the Eastside was Sharon Byrne and the Milpas Community Association (MCA), which impressed the NUSA judges with their efforts to revive the Milpas Christmas Parade and couple it with a car show. While often in the news for butting heads with the Casa Esperanza homeless shelter, MCA has also lobbied City Hall for more cops, led numerous neighborhood cleanup campaigns, and agitated on behalf of improved pedestrian safety along Milpas Street. This year’s showing marks the first time any Santa Barbara neighborhood association has sought NUSA recognition, let alone achieved it.
