String of victories
Floating classroom
SBCC women’s soccer wins seventh straight game - A3
Tall ship Mystic Whaler used as educational tool by Central Coast Ocean Adventures - B1
Our 167th Year
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M O N D A Y , O C T O B E R 1 7, 2 0 2 2
Veterans Stand Down aids vets in Santa Maria
Carp’s Measure T battle ramps up as election approaches By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
With Election Day just three weeks away, both sides of Carpinteria’s controversial Measure T ballot initiative are relying on campaign ads and rallies, letters to the editor and, increasingly, high-profile endorsements to sway voters to their way of thinking. “Vote No on Measure T” organizers, in particular, are focusing on endorsements, telling the News-Press exclusively that County Supervisor Das Williams has now joined their cause. “I don’t always agree with the land use decisions of the City Council, but to overrule them with ballot-box planning is well-known bad mojo,” Supervisor Williams said. “Measure T will lead to unintended consequences that could impact parcels across the city, not just one parking lot. Vote No On T.” He is the second half of the group’s one-two political punch, following Congressman Salud Carbajal’s recent announcement that he, too, opposes passage of Measure T on Nov. 8. “The City Council has proposed land use laws with broad
community input and thorough research, and the council is dedicated to protecting the charm and open spaces currently present in Carpinteria,” the congressman said. “Drastically changing these laws, with consequences we cannot fully foresee, will threaten Carpinteria’s future. That is why I recommend voting No on Measure T.” “Vote Yes on Measure T” spokeswoman Annie Sly said she is “very disappointed” with their decision, and that of the Santa Barbara Democratic Party, which also came out against Measure T. “I don’t know his thinking on this,” she said, referring to Supervisor Williams. “Could be the same as Democratic Committee and Salud Carbajal. “Salud admitted publicly that he should have contacted the YES on T supporters before announcing an endorsement. That would have been the fair thing to do. He did not say it would have changed his mind, just that it might have.” According to Ms. Sly, these endorsements do not address the issue of unwanted development in Carpinteria. “The Democratic Committee, Please see MEASURE T on A2
COURTESY PHOTOS
Veterans came to the Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down on Saturday to collected needed items including clothing, backpacks, blankets and other resources.
By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
This year’s Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down event was held Saturday in Santa Maria, providing a safe place for veterans to get the help they need – healthcare screenings, employment assistance, on-thespot assessments, crisis counseling and more. The free annual event, geared toward homeless and at-risk veterans, was held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Santa Maria Fairpark. The event was limited to the first 500 veterans, legal spouses and dependent children younger than 18. Organizers did not have updated figures Sunday as to how many veterans showed up looking for assistance. In addition to providing much needed clothing, including sweatshirts, sweatpants and long-sleeved shirts, veterans also took advantage of volunteer barbers and stylists for the event. Veterans were able to bring small pets to Stand Down for vaccinations and grooming. The Stand Down Pet Zone also asked for donations for the pets, including 4-foot and 6foot leashes, small dog and cat collars, small bags of dog and cat food, oatmeal pet shampoo and dog and cat beds. Stand Down organizers created an easy link for donors to select much-needed items at Walmart.com and have them delivered
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directly to Stand Down Transportation was provided to veterans courtesy of the Chumash Casino. For more information, visit The Santa
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email: nhartstein@newspress.com
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS FILE
Measure T is intended to prevent the building of a new hotel on this and another Carpinteria parking lot.
Orange County desal plant approved months after Huntington Beach denial By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE
The free annual event is geared toward homeless and at-risk veterans, and was limited this year to the first 500 veterans, legal spouses and dependent children.
(The Center Square) – Less than six months after the denial of a massive desalination project in Huntington Beach, the California Coastal Commission unanimously approved a $140 million desalination project in Orange County on Thursday. The desalination project, which will be located in Dana Point, is expected to produce 5 million gallons of water per day to the South Coast Water District, reducing the area’s “reliance on imported water,” according to a report from the California Coastal Commission. The SCWD provides water to roughly 35,000 residents and 1,000 businesses in Orange County. As the state faces a prolonged drought and the intense impacts of climate change, proponents of the project told commissioners
Thursday that desalination is a key part of bolstering water supply in the future. “Ocean desal is an essential component of the district’s water supply portfolio and the solution for climate change resilient water supply,” SCWD General Manager Rick Shintaku told commissioners. Commission staff recommended approval of the project with special conditions, including mitigations to reduce the impact to marine life, implement hazard plans and study the impact of the project’s water rates on lowincome customers. Kate Hucklebridge, north coast deputy director at the Coastal Commission, acknowledged Thursday that the project is not perfect and “will lead to coastal impacts,” but said impacts have been “avoided, minimized and mitigated to the maximum extent Please see DESAL on A4
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i nsi d e Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A4
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Barbara County Veterans Stand Down website: www.sbcountystanddown.com.
Sudoku................. B3 Sports ................A3-4 Weather................ A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 5-10-16-34-35 Mega: 11
Sunday’s DAILY 4: 3-5-4-8
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 9-22-26-41-44 Mega: 19
Sunday’s FANTASY 5: 2-12-18-21-29
Sunday’s DAILY DERBY: 05-08-10 Time: 1:45.25
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 32-37-40-58-62 Meganumber: 15
Sunday’s DAILY 3: 1-1-2 / Midday 5-5-9