Younger generations are showing up in the voting booths less and less. In Santa Barbara, local politics are often bogged down by marathon city council meetings and debates over hot-button issues like the future of cars on State Street. If we want younger generations to get involved in politics, we need to know that the issues we care about are being discussed.

This is ‘Behind the Desk’, a very special ‘Santa Barbara Independent’ podcast that takes a different look at the coming Santa Barbara City elections and how it affects the residents of Santa Barbara.

Ryan Cruz is a reporter at the ‘Santa Barbara Independent’ who covers everything from politics to sports to immigration. His most recent cover story, “Written Off,” details his personal experience going into the Santa Barbara County Jail to lead a men’s creative writing group. He wi ...