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COMING UP IN SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS WEEKEND
Gospel choir entertains students
Newsom pauses homelessness funding over lackluster local plans By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS
The Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa performs Thursday morning before more than 1,100 fourth- through sixth-graders at The Granada. The students, who were from Santa Barbara Unified and Goleta Union school districts, clearly enjoyed the UCSB Arts & Lectures program. For more about the concert, see the “Life & the Arts” section in Saturday’s debut edition of Santa Barbara News-Press Weekend.
ELECTION 2022
Political newcomer seeks Carpinteria City Council seat Candidate Patrick O’Connor opposes Measure T, favors thoughtful development Editor’s note: This is one of the articles on local candidates in advance of Tuesday’s general election. By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS
Passersby stroll past local businesses on Linden Avenue in Carpinteria. City council candidate Patrick O’Connor said thriving downtown districts depend on a mix of retail and residential spaces.
Measure T would prevent a boutique hotel from being built on Parking Lot 3 in downtown Carpinteria. But candidate Patrick O’Connor said, “Managing the General Plan’s land use and zoning ordinances by exception through a ballot initiative is a slippery slope.”
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Patrick O’Connor may be 61, but in the world of Carpinteria politics, he’s the new kid on the block. And he’s starting off with a bold challenge by taking on two Carpinteria City Council members with 16 years apiece in the race to represent District 5. Mr. O’Connor is undaunted by the challenge. In an interview with the News-Press, Mr. O’Connor said he was motivated to toss his hat into the ring by the frustration voiced by small business owners and residents about the city’s development process, and their “fear” of dealing with city staff who he claims have been given way too much authority. “Thoughtful development of residential, commercial and public properties is critical to preserve the fabric of Carpinteria,” he said. “In my short time as a resident and homeowner in Carpinteria, and while petitioning in our district neighborhoods to be on the ballot, I heard a unanimous frustration with the city’s residential, commercial and public development processes.” He said the small business
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Gov. Gavin Newsom
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of HHAP funding, potential recipients must now create a Homelessness Action Plan showing how they’ll reduce the number of individuals experiencing homelessness locally and identify all funding sources available. The plans were also required to include “outcomedriven results” with metrics to track progress, according to the governor’s office. Gov. Newsom told the Los Angeles Times Wednesday that he is rejecting every local homelessness action plan in the state to demand more aggressive action. His office acknowledged Thursday that some plans submitted by local leaders demonstrate “aggressive action to combat homelessness,” but “others are less ambitious.” Some plans even indicated double-digit increases in homelessness over the next four years, according to the governor’s office. Thus far, the state has paid out about $1.5 billion in HHAP funds to local jurisdictions to address homelessness. The funding is part of $15.3 billion in state spending earmarked in recent state budgets to address homelessness in the Golden State. The governor plans to convene local jurisdictions for a meeting in mid-November to discuss strategies to address homelessness statewide.
ELECTION 2022
Patrick O’Connor
Clarke seeks re-election to Solvang City Council
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owners and resident property owners he’s talked to use the term “afraid” to describe their relationship with city staff. “Responsible citizens are literally afraid of adverse consequences while engaging in code and zoning matters,” he said. “In parallel, I’ve heard councilmembers describe their relationship with city staff by saying, ‘we operate separately.’ The council delegates far too much authority to the staff, who subjectively interpret and enforce regulations without a sense of urgency for residents’ property owners’ or small business owners’ interests.” Please see O’CONNOR on A2
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Robert Clarke
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Proud of his city’s accomplishments during his tenure, Robert Clarke is running for re-election to the Solvang City Council District 4 seat against Elizabeth Orona. Mr. Clarke will have served on the council for four years in December and is the longestserving city council member. The News-Press asked Mr. Clarke what he has accomplished Please see CLARKE on A2
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i nsi d e Classified.............. A6 Life..................... A7-8 Obituaries........... A10
(The Center Square) – Gov. Gavin Newsom is putting $1 billion in taxpayer-funded grants to address homelessness on hold until cities can pitch more ambitious plans to move individuals off the streets, his office said Thursday. The governor said he plans to convene local leaders later this month to review the state’s approach to homelessness. Until then, the state will pause the third round of Homelessness Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grants. The latest round of grants offers a share of $1 billion to every county, continuum of care and the 13 largest cities of the state so long as they submit a plan that would reduce the number of unsheltered individuals and increase permanent housing options. According to the governor’s office, the current plans, as submitted, would only reduce homelessness by 2% statewide over four years. “As a state, we are failing to meet the urgency of this moment,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement on Thursday. “Collectively, these plans set a goal to reduce street homelessness 2% statewide by 2024. At this pace, it would take decades to significantly curb homelessness in California – this approach is simply unacceptable.” “Everyone has to do better – cities, counties, and the state included,” he added. “We are all in this together.” The announcement comes less than a week before the Nov. 8 election, in which Gov. Newsom is heavily favored to win re-election. In the only debate between him and Republican State Sen. Brian Dahle, Gov. Newsom noted new accountability requirements for local governments receiving state funds to address homelessness, telling KQED debate moderators “we’re not going to hand out any money any longer if local governments can’t produce real results.” To receive the third round
Sudoku................. A9 Weather.............. A10
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 7-9-14-39-43 Mega: 1
Thursday’s DAILY 4: 9-7-7-3
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 5-9-15-16-17 Mega: 25
Thursday’s FANTASY 5: 1-9-20-29-30
Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 05-02-09 Time: 1:47.92
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 2-11-22-35-60 Meganumber: 23
Thursday’s DAILY 3: 5-5-0 / Midday 9-1-6