Santa Barbara City staff is planning to recommend the Cota Street Commuter Lot as their preferred site for the new police station, and the decision for approval would then be in the hands of the Santa Barbara City Council. The Downtown Saturday Santa Barbara Farmers' Market  has been held in this location for over 35 years.

  While we respect the City's need for a new police station, we want to be recognized for the role that the farmers market plays in this community. It is the backbone of our food hub, providing a place for local farmers to meet directly with the community that they serve. This interaction creates a strong bond in the community, sustaining our local farmers while providing the freshest and highest quality produce at a local level. The Cota St Lot is large enough to welcome new farmers, has adequate shade, a layout that's easy for customers to traverse and parking for existing farmers and customers. It's our home and we have made it a place that is renowned to be one of the most diverse and lively farmers markets in the country. Let's protect it by asking the Santa Barbara City Council to grant the SBCFMA long term stability in its current location.