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Tackling domestic violence Domestic Violence Solutions unveils new posters to help victims get help
NEWS-PRESS EXCLUSIVE
Sheriff’s Office joins effort to prevent beached boats Law enforcement plans to obtain boat capable of towing derelict vessels By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Santa Barbara Boat Task Force wasted no time Monday as members searched for ways to discuss and strategize a plan to address the issue of derelict boats off the coast of Santa Barbara city and county waters — and to put an end to a consistent pattern of boats washing up on city and county beaches. But perhaps the most significant development didn’t occur until the next day. That’s when Lt. Ugo “Butch” Arnoldi of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office alerted fellow task force members that his department will be getting a boat capable of patrolling ocean waters and towing abandoned and
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Ken Oplinger, far right, the interim executive director and director of operations at Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County, discusses the new domestic violence awareness poster as elected officials listen. From left are state Sen. Monique Limón, Supervisor Gregg Hart and Supervisor Das Williams.
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County unveiled new posters Thursday to raise awareness and help survivors. They’re being placed in break rooms and other areas frequented by employees in local government workplaces throughout Santa Barbara County. “They’re in workplace areas in all county buildings and in the city halls in almost of the cities of Santa Barbara County,” Ken Oplinger, the interim executive director and director of operations at DVS, told the News-
Press after a news conference on the steps of the Santa Barbara County administration building in Santa Barbara. Mr. Oplinger said DVS hopes to later extend its reach and place the posters in private workplaces. The poster says, “Everyone deserves a healthy relationship. No one ever deserves to be mistreated. “Abuse is a pattern of behavior that one person uses to gain power and control over another,” the poster says. “These behaviors can include isolation, emotional abuse, monitoring, controlling finances, cyber abuse, or physical and sexual assault.” The poster goes on to cite
statistics. Then it provides the 24/7 information and crisis hotline and website for Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County, as well as the number and website for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. (See the FYI box.) There are both English and Spanish versions of the poster. The posters are going up in the workplace, where survivors are away from their abusers and feel safe and empowered to seek help, Patricia Ritchie, chair of the DVS Advocacy Committee and the DVS board treasurer, told the News-Press. “Domestic violence is not an issue specific to one country
or place,” Mr. Oblinger told reporters as local elected officials listened in front of the county administration building on Anapamu Street. “It knows no gender, no race, no ethnicity, no economic status, no sexual orientation, and it can happen to anyone. “And yet, even though so many people are familiar with domestic violence, it remains one of those things that just aren’t spoken of,” Mr. Oblinger said. He said one of DVS’ goals is to break through the silence “that may cause us to turn a blind eye to domestic violence.” At Thursday’s news conference, state Sen. Monique Limón announced that she will introduce a bill during the 2023 session to establish a framework to place domestic violence awareness posters in workplaces throughout California. Like the posters in Santa Barbara County, they will feature phone numbers and websites where survivors can get help. “I’m thankful to Domestic Violence Solutions because they brought the idea for this bill to me,” Sen. Limón, D-Santa Barbara, said. Sen. Limón said the information on the posters will Please see VIOLENCE on A6
FYI
Domestic Violence Solutions unveils the posters going up in city halls and Santa Barbara County government buildings.
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Commissions to discuss State Street Master Plan By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Historic Landmarks Commission and Planning Commission will hear an update today on the State Street Master Plan and discuss the past, present and future condition of State Street. The joint meeting of the two boards will take place at 10 a.m. at the Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Public Library, 40 E. Anapamu St. The city has begun the State Street Master Plan process, which will result in a long-term visioning document for the next 30 to 50 years to revitalize downtown Santa Barbara from Anacapa to Chapala streets and from Sola Street to the Highway 101 underpass, staff said in its report to the two commissions. It will include an urban design framework and implementation plan that, once completed, can be translated into future capital improvement projects in the corridor. “The State Street Master Plan builds on the momentum of the eight-block State Street closure driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will identify opportunities and constraints to transform the right-of-way into a vital urban place for all to enjoy,” staff said. The State Street Master Plan is in the initial Visioning and Existing Conditions Analysis Phase, which, through an extensive and inclusive community engagement process, will set the foundation and vision for the future urban design framework and corridor improvements. “The purpose of this joint Historic Landmarks Commission and Planning Commission meeting is to leverage the commissioners’ unique perspectives and knowledge to guide the State Street Master Plan process,” staff said. “This joint meeting will provide an
opportunity to discuss the past and present condition of State Street, and vision for the future, within the roles, responsibilities and expertise of the Historic Landmarks Commission and Planning Commission, respectively.” Specific topics of discussion will include: • What is working/not working on the current State Street closure? • What do you like/not like about the current State Street closure? • What are your hopes for the future of the downtown area and Santa Barbara? • What is one thing you would like the future design of State Street to accomplish? The nature and extent of environmental review for the State Street Master Plan will be determined once the project scope has been clearly defined and the design concepts identified. Staff said the feedback received at today’s meeting and during the broader community engagement process will be used to develop the preferred urban design framework and preliminary community design concepts. In conjunction with additional community outreach, staff anticipates returning in late spring 2023 for a second joint Historic Landmarks Commission and Planning Commission meeting for review and consideration of the preliminary design concepts. This input will be used to develop the implementation framework and finalize the design concepts. A third and final joint Historic Landmarks Commission and Planning Commission meeting is anticipated in fall 2023 for review and comment on the complete public draft State Street Master Plan. The overall Master Plan process is expected to conclude in early 2024. email: nhartstein@newspress.com
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i n s i de Classified.............. A5 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A6
Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County operates a 24/7 crisis hotline at 805964-5245. Its website is dvsolutions.org. The 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (72333). The TTY number is 1-800787-3224. The website is thehotline.org.
derelict vessels at risk of washing ashore — even though it will take awhile to actually get the vessel. “The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has submitted a request through the ‘Operation Stonegarden Homeland Security Grant Program’ for the purchase of a Sheriff’s Vessel,” Lt. Arnoldi wrote in an email to the group. “The vessel will be multi-purpose and serve as a patrol boat, underwater/dive rescue, code and ordinance enforcement, and the response to illegal smuggling of drugs and people onto the coastline.” The proposed vessel will be between 35 and 40 feet in length and once received will remain on a trailer so it can be launched either in South County or North Please see BOATS on A6
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Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 5-22-30-34-43 Mega: 26
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