A go at the governor
Farewell to a friend
Columnist Robert Eringer offers critique of Gavin Newsom - A2
Exclusive to the News-Press, Monty Roberts shares his thoughts after attending the queen’s funeral - B1
Our 167th Year
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Lemon Festival returns to Goleta
Poll: Voters support funding police, dealing with violent crime By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE
(The Center Square) – Voters largely support policies allowing police to detain suspects charged with violent crimes, a new poll shows. That’s in contrast to recent policies being enacted in Illinois. Convention of States Action, along with Trafalgar Group, released the poll, which found that the vast majority of surveyed Americans do not support policies that keep law enforcement from detaining those accused of violent crimes. The poll found that 95.6% of those surveyed “say they are less likely to vote for a candidate who supports policies which prevent police from detaining criminals charged with violent crimes, such as kidnapping and armed robbery.” “Crime is the beneath-theiceberg issue for voters in 2022, it’s absolutely clear in these numbers,” said Mark Meckler, president of the Convention of States. “Americans of all political backgrounds have a strong belief in protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty.” Notably, 96.7% of Independent voters agree.
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Goleta’s Lemon Festival made it return Saturday for the first
time since 2019. Now in its 29th year, the festival began in 1949 as a small street fair celebrating the planting of lemon trees around the Stow House.
“It is going great. There are thousands here and we have been having lines all day. There are lots of families enjoying the entertainment,” Mary Lynn
Harms-Romo, festival organizer and director of communications for the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, told the Please see LEMONS on A5
Visitors pose in front of a Goleta Lemon Festival sign.
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By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE
(The Center Square) – California will prohibit minimum parking requirements for new housing development and commercial projects near public transit under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, a measure supporters say will reduce the cost of crucial housing production. Assembly Bill 2097 addresses costly parking requirements that can add thousands of dollars to the cost of critical housing development and increase rent for tenants, supporters say. A garage can cost between $24,000-$34,000 to build per spot on average. Underground parking can cost between $50,000-$60,000 per spot to build, according to the bill’s author Assemblymember Laura Friedman, D-Glendale. “Having the huge amount of cost of doing what’s usually subterranean parking if it’s not necessary, if it’s against our goals, it really does drive up the cost of housing,” Assemblymember Friedman told The Center Square. “I’ve seen developers who are trying to build in places like Fresno and San Bernardino literally walk away from building housing. And if they don’t, they still pass those costs directly on to renters or buyers.” The new law represents a shift
in California housing policy that supporters say previously prioritized cars over people. Other California cities, including San Francisco and San Diego, already have local laws prohibiting minimum parking requirements in certain areas. With the Golden State facing a shortage of millions of homes, advocates hope the law brings more affordable residences near public transit. “Long term, I hope this moves the state in the direction of providing more lower-cost apartments that don’t have parking, maybe that are built in places that would have otherwise been parking, like big surface lots,” Louis Mirante, vice president of public policy at the Bay Area Council, told The Center Square. In a signing message, Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted the bill’s ability to tackle two of the state’s most pressing problems – the housing crisis and climate change. Gov. Newsom said the bill would address “both issues simultaneously” by reducing vehicle reliance and building more homes. “Basically, we’re making it cheaper and easier to build new housing near daily destinations, like jobs and grocery stores and schools,” Gov. Newsom said Thursday. The law contains exceptions. Local agencies could impose Please see GARAGES on A8
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Homes without garages are cheaper, a new California law will mean more of them
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Lemons are sold during the Goleta Lemon Festival at Girsh Park on Saturday.
This comes as controversial city policies on police have gained nationwide attention. The newly passed SAFE-T Act in Illinois all but abolishes cash bail. Critics say this means that some charged with serious crimes like second-degree murder or kidnapping will be freed without a hearing. Supporters of the law, set to take effect at the beginning of next year, point out it does not prohibit detention and that anyone deemed a flight risk can be detained. But critics of the law say proving a flight risk can be a difficult legal burden that won’t always happen, meaning violent criminals will quickly be back on the streets. Pursuing suspected criminals has also become a controversial issue. In Chicago, police are restricted from pursuits for certain traffic violations. A new law in Washington limits police officers from pursuing fleeing suspects. Suspected crimes have to meet a certain threshold, and word has spread quickly with suspects now fleeing police with no consequences. The poll was carried out from Sept. 17-20 querying more than 1,000 likely midterm voters.
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Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 6-12-21-23-36 Mega: 7
Saturday’s DAILY 4: 8-8-5-2
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 5-50-53-58-64 Mega: 22
Saturday’s FANTASY 5: 5-8-15-28-32
Saturday’s DAILY DERBY: 10-08-03 Time: 1:46.32
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 3-9-21-24-29 Meganumber: 14
Saturday’s DAILY 3: 7-6-9 / Midday 3-7-6