As a balloon artist working here in Santa Barbara, I would like to share my perspective on the proposed balloon ban and why there may be a more thoughtful path forward.
Through my business, Balloon Story Santa Barbara, I create custom balloon installations and artistic designs for weddings, baby and bridal showers, graduations, corporate events, and other meaningful celebrations.
Much of my work takes place indoors, in homes and event venues, where each installation is thoughtfully designed, securely installed, and responsibly managed from beginning to end. The latex balloons I use are eco-friendly, made from natural, renewable resources, and designed to biodegrade. At the conclusion of every event, I carefully remove all materials, set aside what can be reused, and properly dispose of the rest. Environmental responsibility is an essential part of my work.
For many families, balloons are a meaningful way to celebrate life’s milestones and special moments. Each Thanksgiving, I create a custom installation for a special young woman in our community whose birthday falls on that day. She lives with cerebral palsy and communicates through her eyes and facial expressions. She has a wonderful, loving family, and what might seem like an impossible situation from the outside is, in reality, her home, a place filled with love, gratitude, laughter, and a deep appreciation for life.
Each year, I leave her birthday feeling that I am the one who received the gift, a deeper sense of gratitude, perspective, and appreciation for life and for the simple power of celebrating it.
Her favorite thing in the world is balloons.
Each year, we surround her room and her hospital bed with color, shapes, movement, and playful designs. When she sees them, her whole face lights up. In moments like these, the balloons become more than decoration; they become joy, celebration, and connection when it matters most.
In healthcare settings, safety and sensitivity are always a priority. Hospitals such as Cottage may use Mylar balloons in certain areas where latex sensitivities are a concern, allowing patients and families to continue experiencing moments of encouragement and joy in a safe and appropriate way.
Like many Santa Barbara residents, I care deeply about protecting our environment. Responsible local professionals are already part of the solution through thoughtful design, reuse, proper handling, and direct accountability.
A blanket ban will not address the root issue. It would remove responsible local professionals from the equation while doing little to change behavior and potentially shifting purchases to unregulated online sources with lower standards and less accountability.
Education offers a more balanced and effective path forward. Encouraging responsible use, proper handling, and disposal including reuse and recycling where available, helps protect our environment while supporting local artists and small businesses that are committed to being part of the solution.
Santa Barbara is a community that values both environmental stewardship and the arts. I respectfully encourage our city leaders to consider a path forward that protects our natural environment while also supporting responsible local professionals who contribute to the creativity, care, and spirit of this community.
This is our home. We live here, work here, raise our families here, and are deeply invested in preserving both the natural beauty and the creative character that make Santa Barbara so special.
