Isla Vista: A Citizen's History was first published
as a 64-page booklet in 1990.
Thanks to Rosemary Holmes, Gordon Harsaghy, Dr. Dave Bearman
and several advertisers for their help in getting it into
print, although they are not to be held responsible for its
contents.
The Web site version is slightly modified from the original
booklet. Webmaster: Genesis A. Lodise
About the Author
Carmen Lodise came to Isla Vista in 1972 to be the research assistant to
cultural anthropologist Leslie A. White who was teaching at UCSB and writing
his last book. Before then, he studied and taught economics at Western
Michigan University, North Dakota State University, and the University of
Houston. In 1975, he was the economic consultant on the Impacts of Growth
Study for the City of Santa Barbara.
Lodise was elected to the Isla Vista Community Council in November 1972 and
was involved with preparing the first Isla Vista cityhood plan. In 1976 he
was elected to the Isla Vista Park Board, serving while the District
purchased its first bundle of parklands. He later worked for the Isla Vista
Community Council during the second and third cityhood campaigns. During
1987-89, he published a weekly community newspaper, the Isla Vista Free
Press.
In the 1970s and '80s, he held several community organizing jobs, including
those with with the Isla Vista Community Council, the Center for Community
Education, and the Community Action Commission. In 1980, he was the
Democratic candidate for Congress from Santa Barbara/Ventura.
In 1990-91, Lodise wrote a weekly column in the Santa Barbara News-Press
entitled "Isla Vista Observer."
Lodise left Isla Vista in 1992 to become the Finance Editor of The Mexico
City News, Mexico's 50-year-old English-language daily newspaper, during the
NAFTA transition. He returned to Santa Barbara in 1999 and is currently the
Manager of Planning & Development at the Community Action Commission.
Lodise is now 62 and looking forward to retirement in Mexico or Guatemala.
2/21/90 * 4/26/02
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