Our 167th Year
Proposed tax hikes
Grandparent Portrait Show
Small businesses petition against Biden’s latest budget proposal - A3
Exhibit celebrates elders, community diversity and art in schools - B1
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T H U R SDAY, A PR I L 2 0 , 2 023
Vandenberg performs Santa Barbara orders removal missile test of eight parklets NEWS-PRESS EXCLUSIVE
Unarmed ICBM travels from Santa Barbara County to Marshall Islands
City says restaurants failed to comply with ADA rules
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched at 5:11 a.m. Wednesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The missile was equipped with one test re-entry from aboard the Airborne Launch Control System. The test launch was conducted by a joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command airmen and Navy aircrew. Vandenberg said the launch is part of routine activities designed to demonstrate that the U.S. nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable and effective in deterring 21st-century threats. Vandenberg also said the test is intended to reassure America’s allies. The ICBM’s reentry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Vandenberg said test launches such as this one verify the ICBM weapon system’s accuracy and reliability. “Strategic deterrence is the most critical mission in our Air Force and the cornerstone of America’s defense,” said Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, commander, Air Force Global Strike Command. “The foundation of our command and our ability to execute our mission is because of Striker Airmen, and I have full and unwavering confidence in their abilities. “This test launch reinforces what our allies and partners already know — we’re always ready to defend the United States with combat ready nuclear forces anytime, anywhere, on order, to conduct global strike,” Gen. Bussiere said. Vandenberg said the test launch is the result of months of preparation by various government partners. “The Airmen who perform this vital mission are some of the most skillfully trained and educated the Air Force has to offer,” Vandenberg said in a news release.. Airmen from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron
By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The city of Santa Barbara has ordered eight outdoor dining parklets be removed for failing to comply with ADA accessibility requirements. And the city has given restaurants until Monday to make those removals happen. “We just returned from issuing removal notices to noncompliant facilities,” Meghan Salas, the city’s parking programs supervisor, told the NewsPress. “We issued a total of eight removal notices today (April 17) with a removal deadline of April 24.” The eight parklets represent more than a third of the 22 parklets in Santa Barbara found to be noncompliant with ADA requirements during the city’s last round of inspections. City staff had planned to issue another two removal notices on April 17, but didn’t because the restaurants involved had made
Board of Supervisors learn about preliminary $1.48 billion budget By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT AIRMAN 1ST CLASS RYAN QUIJAS / U.S. AIR FORCE
An operational test launch of an Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was conducted Wednesday morning from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
from Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, were aboard the U.S. Navy E-6 aircraft to demonstrate the reliability and effectiveness of the ALCS system, according to Vandenberg. Airmen from the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, were selected for
the task force to support the test launch “We have a unique ability to strike a target anywhere, at any time, should the commander-inchief deem it vital to our national security and the security of our allies,” said Col. Chris Cruise, 377th Test Evaluation Group
commander. “An Airborne Launch Control System test validates that capability, ensures we have redundancy in our weapons systems, and showcases the interoperability with our Navy counterparts.” email: dmason@newspress.com
Santa Barbara Juggling takes over Isla Vista By ANNIKA BAHNSEN
Jugglers from around the country come to Santa Barbara each year for the annual Isla Vista Juggling Festival and to support STESA. This will be the 47th year of the festival.
NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Ever wondered what the life of a professional juggler looks like and maybe get some tips for yourself? Well, now you can. On Friday through Sunday, jugglers from all over the western United States will come together and showcase their talent and skills for all to enjoy at the 47th annual Isla Vista Juggling Festival. This will take place at the Isla Vista Theater, continuing its streak for hosting the longestrunning juggling festival in the country. The festival will have many shows and workshops for the public to learn and participate in. There will also be specialty acts, including some fun unicycle shows and comedic additions to the juggling experience. In addition to the talent being presented, the festival is a fundraiser for Standing Together to End Sexual Assault, which was originally called Please see JUGGLING on A4
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The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors continued to review the preliminary $1.48 billion budget and new proposals Wednesday. Budget workshops began Tuesday, and another workshop is set for Friday. The budget is a 6.2% increase from the 2022-2023 budget, and among the requests is for close to $3 million for the Sheriff’s Office for drug enforcement. During Wednesday’s workshop, Harry E. Hagen, treasurer and tax administrator, told the Board of Supervisors what the treasury finance team had in mind for its budget proposal. The county requested a $150,000 increase to its budget, closing its total operating budget to around $10 million. The budget increase request was made to fund a new position — a veteran’s services supervisor. This job is intended to keep better track of veteran benefit requests as well as make clearer communication between the veterans and the office. The Sheriff’s Office requested $3 million as part of its enforcement on drug issues. The money that has been requested will be used for custody bus replacement, a cannabis compliance and enforcement team, and a fentanyl-focused narcotics enforcement team. Additionally, the department requested a little over $3.75
million in ongoing funding for staffing and hardware upgrades. Additionally, maintenance and capital projects were on the agenda. These were presented by the Public Works Department. Within this presentation, $2.2 million was requested for HVAC energy efficiency projects. Within this project, various replacements of boilers, pumps, and HVAC machines will be done in different government buildings. As proposed, this will all be done over a few month period, yet as the department stated, it would take close to 13 years to pay off. Even with the more serious budget conversations, there were some moments of fun sprinkled throughout the meeting. General Services Director Kirk Lagerquist shared a quote in his presentation: “There are no traffic jams across the extra mile” which came from Roger Staubach, a previous New England Patriots quarterback. Mr. Lagerquist then made a quick joke dissing the Patriots in which the attendees reacted with laughter. The meeting ended with public comments from members of the Santa Barbara community. Most of the voices represented were in support or had slight alterations to the budget requests from the sheriff’s office. These people who spoke have a desire to help with the ongoing drug problem but want to make sure it is done in a fiscally responsible manner. email: abahnsen@newspress.com
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the necessary adjustments to make their parklets accessible to people with disabilities. “Two of the facilities had fixed their violations and are now in compliance and were not issued removal notices,” she said. A certified access specialist performed ADA compliance inspections on the 22 outdoor business facilities on April 7. Of those inspected, 15 remained out of compliance, which means seven of the 22 parklets had corrected their violations. Counting the eight parklets off State Street to be removed, and the two that had fixed their violations, that leaves five parklets that remain noncompliant. “The remaining five facilities are not as far along in the inspection process and will be receiving administrative citations and fines,” Ms. Salas said. The city’s deadline for full ADA compliance was Dec. 1. Please see pARKLETS on A4
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 3-9-11-17-18 Mega: 12
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 5-2-6-5
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 7-9-15-19-25 Mega: 4
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 7-12-27-31-39
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 07-04-12 Time: 1:46.32
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 4-11-21-38-64 Meganumber: 11
Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 3-4-3 / Midday 9-9-8