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aims to increase Response to Donald Bill dog owners’ access Trump’s Indictment to homeowners insurance NEWS-PRESS EXCLUSIVE
Protesters take to the streets of Goleta to show their support of former President
By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
If you are a pet owner looking for homeowners insurance, you know that sometimes your breed of dog might deny you access to coverage. Many residents have had to choose between keeping their dogs or owning a home, something that Assemblyman Gregg Hart is trying to eliminate. The existing law allows insurance companies to regulate insurance coverage to specific people and, in this case, allows for the insurers to cancel or deny coverage if the owner has a “dangerous” dog breed. Typically, these breeds are bigger and more stereotypically aggressive, such as pitbulls, great danes, german shepherds and others. The bill that Assemblyman Hart is trying to implement would prohibit an “insurer from refusing to issue, canceling, refusing to renew, or increasing
the premium for a policy of residential property insurance on the sole basis that the applicant or insured owns or harbors a dog that is a specific breed or mixture of breeds.” There is an exception to the bill that states that the insurer can still refuse coverage “if the dog is known to be or has been declared potentially dangerous or vicious.” This determination would be decided by the Santa Barbara Animal Shelter. In an exclusive interview, Assemblyman Hart told the News-Press that his motivation for this bill is that he recognized a “disconnect between perspective and data” when it came to the discrimination of dog breeds. Additionally, Assemblyman Hart asserted that “the idea that we discriminate isn’t fair. This bill would protect dog owners and the dogs as well.” If this bill becomes law, it Please see INSURANCE on A4
CALEB BEEGHLY / NEWS-PRESS
Supporters of former President Donald Trump took to the streets in Goleta on Wednesday in response to Mr. Trump’s indictment on business fraud charges in New York.
By CALEB BEEGHLY NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Last Tuesday, in the midst of constant honking — both in support and protest of the event — supporters of former President Donald Trump peacefully gathered on the corner of Hollister Avenue and Storke Road in Goleta on Wednesday in order to show their solidarity with former President Trump. Equipped with flags and signs, the demonstration of support (and protest) came in response to Mr.
Trump’s indictment. Just like any political gathering, there will be people there for different reasons and goals. The event organizers, Charles and Linda (who preferred to not give their last names) explained their reasons for gathering, which represent the two main reasons for most of the other supporters. Generally, the Trump supporters were there, simply, to show their support, although with different reasonings. To some, the indictment is seen as a political move where the
current political power, i.e. the Biden administration, is attacking a political candidate in order to silence him. Charles likened the indictment to a ‘witch hunt’ due to Mr. Trump being impeached twice and then acquitted twice. To them the indictment seems like a false accusation. For others (although many supporters might hold a version of both views), the indictment of Mr. Trump is seen as an attack on the morals and values that Mr. Trump holds, such as the First Amendment and liberty.
In regards to the First Amendment, one Trump supporter, Mark Vampola, said “We have a right to be here, and they have a right to their middle fingers.” To some, the perceived immediate dismissal of what the Trump supporters are trying to convey and refusal to listen to the Trump supporters (although this can go both ways) can seem like ‘the Left’ is trying to silence them. Mr. Vampola continued, “We need to be a fair two-party country with open dialogue, and that no longer Please see TRUMP on A3
Planning Commission to consider proposed new hotel By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Planning Commission today will review a proposal to build a nearly 175,000-squarefoot hotel and subterranean parking garage on 4.53 acres at the southwest corner of Garden and Yanonali streets. The Planning Commission will meet at 1 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 735 Anacapa St. The project consists of the merger of six lots, removal of all existing structures, and construction of a new 174,812-square-foot (net) hotel containing 250 rooms (130 extended stay rooms; 120 lifestyle rooms) and an 85,298square-foot subterranean parking garage, located at 101 Garden St.
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Guest amenities at the proposed Garden Street Hotel would include a library, bar, lounge, 208-square-foot market, media salon, meeting rooms, living room, breakfast area, outdoor seating areas with spa, courtyard with pool and spa, fitness room, and a 7,500-squarefoot roof deck. The project includes 267 vehicle parking spaces (234 subterranean and 33 at-grade), 46 bicycle parking spaces (26 subterranean and 20 at-grade), and eight bicycle rental parking spaces for guests. The discretionary applications under the jurisdiction of the Planning Commission at this hearing are: • A Parking Modification to allow less than the required number of parking spaces; • A Development Plan to allow the
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email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com
EMS contract not renewed by Board of Supervisors By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The county of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors has made the decision not to extend the county’s current ambulance contract and directed staff to explore a non-exclusive multiprovider permit model. The board’s decision was based on their desire to improve the already existing EMS system through reinvestment in the community by providing more ambulances for 911 response, dedicated inter-facility transport ambulances, community paramedicine and community and financial oversight at no additional cost to the community. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department has been providing service for community needs for almost 100 years and ambulance transport for nearly 50 years. Seventy-five percent of the 911 calls it receives in the county are for medical emergencies. The department currently provides paramedic
ambulance transport services for UCSB, Vandenberg Village (Lompoc Valley), New Cuyama and the Highway 166 corridor. With the new system, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department plans to seamlessly provide services to an already existing EMS program. American Medical Response has been providing EMS transport services to Santa Barbara County communities for several decades. The County Fire Department plans to continue partnering with AMR to provide services. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department has been providing Advanced Life Support services to the community since 1974. The department has over 90 practicing paramedics. Firefighter paramedics are staffed at all sixteen fire stations and all fire department ambulances. The new system is expected to take effect in March 2024. email: kzehnder@newspress.com
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construction of 153,000 square feet (net) of nonresidential development; • A Coastal Development Permit to allow the proposed development in the Appealable and Non-Appealable Jurisdictions of the city’s Coastal Zone; • Determination that the project is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section. The proposed hotel, owned by the Wright Family H Limited Partnership, has a zoning designation of Hotel and Related Commerce/ Cabrillo Plaza Specific Plan/Coastal Overlay. The application was filed on Nov. 23, 2021 by Carolyn Groves, Dudek.
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Assemblyman Gregg Hart
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