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State decides to give SB County almost $10 million
Upcoming films vary from ‘Batman’ reboot to ‘Marry Me’- B1
Money comes in two awards for addressing homelessness - A4
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Hart joins Assembly race
Supreme Court blocks vaccine mandate Justices vote 6-3 against requirement for private sector businesses but upholds separate mandate for healthcare workers
By DAN MCCALEB and CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE
(The Center Square) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday blocked the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate on private sector businesses, though it allowed a separate mandate to stand for certain health care workers. The private sector ruling came on a 6-3 vote, with the court’s three liberal justices all siding with the Biden administration’s argument that the mandates are legal, and its majority conservative wing saying only Congress has the authority to give the Occupational Safety and Health Administration the power
to implement such a widespread federal mandate. “The question before us is not how to respond to the pandemic, but who holds the power to do so. The answer is clear: Under the law as it stands today, that power rests with the States and Congress, not OSHA,” justices wrote in the majority opinion. OSHA implemented the private sector mandate, which was set to affect 84 million workers across the country. If the Supreme Court upheld the mandate, businesses with 100 or more employees would have been required to check the vaccine status of all of their workers. Those who were not fully vaccinated would have faced weekly COVID-19 tests. Companies who violated the
mandate faced stiff fines. In December, the U.S. Senate voted to rescind President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate, with two Democrats joining all Republicans in the vote. The U.S. House has not taken a vote on the matter. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who led 27 states in their lawsuit against the Biden administration, celebrated the ruling. “Americans have lost too much to this disease already — all of us want this pandemic to end — but it is critical that we do not lose our Constitution, too,” Mr. Yost said. “Today’s ruling protects our individual rights and states’ rights to pursue the solutions that work best for their citizens.” The court heard oral
Board of Supervisors member seeks new 37th District seat
arguments Jan. 7 from administration attorneys and lawyers representing states and individuals challenging the constitutional authority of the president to issue such mandates. “Today’s ruling represents a monumental victory for all Americans, and a reminder that the Biden administration and the federal government cannot rule by executive fiat,” said Patrick Hughes, president and co-founder of the Liberty Justice Center. “The Supreme Court saw this mandate for what it really is: an attempt to bypass Congress and the will of the American people.” Liberty Justice Center and the New Orleans-based Pelican Please see MANDATES on A2
Hotel Indigo sells for over $19 million
ANNELISE HANSHAW/NEWS-PRESS
Gregg Hart speaks during a press conference about the safeparking program. He said he wants to reduce homelessness, if elected to the California Assembly.
By ANNELISE HANSHAW
Real estate company says now is a good time for sellers and buyers of hotels
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
When Gregg Hart saw the new census open up a seat on the California State Assembly in his district, he was intrigued — enough that he’d leave his spot on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Hart, running in the 37th Assembly District race as a Democrat, told the NewsPress the decision to run has been one of the hardest he’s made. “I’ve been working through the decision-making process because I really enjoy working for the community as a supervisor,” he said Thursday, getting sentimental about the “great individuals” he works with in the role. Sitting prominently behind lacquered desks, the supervisors have defended county health officials from brazen comments and watched Fourth District Supervisor Bob Nelson get emotional while he turned the chair position over to Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann. Mr. Hart said he loves that
45-year-old dies in SB County Main Jail
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS
The new owner of Hotel Indigo plans to continue to operate it as an independent or branded hotel.
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Hotel Indigo, a boutique hotel on the Santa Barbara beachfront, recently sold for more than $19 million. The Funk Zone hotel was brought on the market in late 2021 by Austin Herlihy and Chris Parker of Radius Commercial Real Estate. The hotel, which is at 121 State St., was listed at $19,350,000. The business has 41 rooms, so its sale price works out to almost $472,000 per key.
According to Radius Commercial Real Estate, the listing generated 11 offers and closed in only 45 days, about half the time of the standard 90-day closing period for hotels. The buyer is an investor who plans to continue to operate Hotel Indigo as an independent or branded hotel. The franchise agreement of the partnership that owned the hotel Indigo was coming upon its expiration date, and the partnership decided that it was a good time to sell. The managing partners of
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By ANNELISE HANSHAW
the partnership are Laurie and Mark Recordon. The hotel was originally purchased by the partnership in 2010 out of foreclosure and was previously a youth hostel. “I think as we continue to experience a resurgence in South Coast tourism following a rough 18-plus months due to the pandemic, we’re going to see more and more activity and interest in local hotel assets,” Mr. Parker, broker for Radius Commercial Real Estate, said in a news release. One of the special features of
Hotel Indigo is its beachfront location. “I think it is safe to say it increases the value. If you are a tourist, being close to the beach, the pier and the Funk Zone, makes it a much more attractive location.,” Mr. Parker told the News-Press Thursday. Mr. Herlihy, executive vice president of Radius Commercial Real Estate, also talked with the News-Press about the hotel’s unique location. “The Funk Zone is a coastal Please see INDIGO on A2
role. He was particularly proud when the county helped environmentalists purchase San Marcos Preserve in the foothills of Santa Barbara. His zeal for nature led to the creation of Measure B during his time on Santa Barbara City Council — a 2% bed tax that is dedicated to the Creeks Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Program. He continues to keep climate change in mind as he crafts policy, and sustainability is part of his platform. His other priorities include: increasing educational opportunities, reducing homelessness and preparing for emergencies. “All the issues that I’m working very hard to address in Santa Barbara County have a parallel in Sacramento,” Mr. Hart said. Supervisor Hart’s political career began almost 40 years ago, when he was a student at UCSB. He met Jack O’Connell, an educator turned assemblyman, and later served as his legislative assistant. “He was a tremendous mentor, still is,” Mr. Hart said. “He was Please see HART on A2
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
A 45-year-old man died early Wednesday morning at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail shortly after deputies deemed the inmate a danger to himself. Jonathan Paul Thomas was booked at approximately 1:32 a.m. and was declared dead 31 minutes later at the Santa Barbara jail. Mr. Thomas was locked in a single-occupant safety cell after deputies heard him make troubling comments. The deputies removed his clothing, placed him face down on the
floor and removed his handcuffs before exiting, according to a news release from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Soon after, deputies noted that Mr. Thomas was not moving. They began lifesaving measures and called for backup. Wellpath (a for-profit jail medical care company), the County Fire Department and American Medical Response tried to save Mr. Thomas’s life but were unsuccessful. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Mr. Thomas’s death, and a cause Please see JAIL on A2
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 10-33-35-39-47 Meganumber: 22
Thursday’s DAILY 4: 7-7-0-4
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 2-3-19-52-58 Meganumber: 16
Thursday’s FANTASY 5:13-24-30-33-38
Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 01-07-11 Time: 1:40.73
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 12-21-22-30-33 Meganumber: 24
Sudoku................... B3 Weather................. A8
Thursday’s DAILY 3: 1-5-2 / Wednesday’s Midday 1-4-2