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City loses vacation rental appeal Resident wins court battle against SB regulations on short-term rentals By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The city of Santa Barbara lost another court battle against a local resident fighting for the permission of short-term vacation rentals in the coastal zone. On Tuesday, Second Appellate District Judge Steven Perren upheld the Ventura trial court’s decision in February 2019 that Santa Barbara must allow shortterm vacation rentals in the coastal
zone — a practice the city banned in 2015. “The city incorrectly contends that because STVRs are not expressly included in the Local Coast Programs, they are therefore excluded, giving the city the right to regulate them without regard to the Coastal Act,” Judge Perren wrote in his opinion. “... Regulation of STVRs in a coastal zone ‘must be decided by the city and the Coastal Commission.’...The city cannot act unilaterally, particularly when it
not only allowed the operation of STVRs for years but also benefited from the payment of transient occupancy taxes.” The California Coastal Act, which protects the state’s coast and ensures affordable accommodations for visitors, was enacted in 1976, but the court ruled that it still effectively protects the rights of property owners to rent their coastal residences to travelers. The court’s order is the first of its kind in California
overturning local governments’ STVR rules, and it allows the plaintiff to recover his costs on appeal from the city. “I was really happy. I wasn’t shocked, because I knew the facts and the evidence were on our side,” Theodore Kracke, the plaintiff and the owner of Paradise Retreats, told the News-Press. He was the original plaintiff who sued the city in 2015 after it Please see APPEAL on A6 COURTESY PHOTO
A difference of celebration
“Lei Po’o’” is the title of Alyssa H.’s entry in the Headpieces Amateur category.
Empowering flowers
Restaurants commemorate Cinco de Mayo differently, or not at all
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Sandbar, a Mexican restaurant and tequila bar in a buzzing block of Santa Barbara’s lower State Street, planned to pour out hundreds, or maybe even a thousand, margaritas Wednesday in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. The restaurant was decked out in Mexican flags and gave 100 customers mini sombreros. But over on Milpas Street, where there’s a taqueria every two blocks, the scene was quieter. Many restaurants didn’t plan any specials. Cinco de Mayo isn’t like the Fourth of July, although the holidays’ names follow the same format. It’s not an independence day; it’s a celebration of winning a small battle. The holiday honors Mexico’s victory over France in the 1862 Battle of Puebla, when the Mexican army was outnumbered but not overcome by the French. In Mexico, the battle is commemorated with military reenactments or parades, but it’s not celebrated throughout the country. Perhaps that’s why some of Santa Barbara’s Mexican restaurants decided to forego a celebration. Palapa Restaurant, at 4123 State St., usually brings in a mariachi band for Cinco de
Online showcase benefits Dream Foundation program By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS
Please see CINCO DE MAYO on B4
Sandbar planned to pour out hundreds, or maybe even a thousand, margaritas Wednesday in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.
Experts in floral design, interior design, photography and art are judging “Flower Empower Blooms: Floral Arts Showcase,” Dream Foundation’s first floral arts competition that is taking place online at dreamfoundation.org/flower. The deadline to vote is at 11:59 p.m. Saturday. Winners will be announced May 15. Youth, amateur and professional contestants from across the nation are competing in seven categories: Tablespace, Headpiece, Hand-tied Bouquet, Orchid Display, Contemporary, Garden Photography and Master Garden Still Life Painting. The online competition is raising funds for the Dream Foundation’s Flower Empower volunteer-driven program that delivers floral bouquets, freshbaked cookies, fine chocolates and cards to people in need of comfort and cheer in hospices, cancer centers and their homes in the Santa Barbara area. To date, volunteers have assembled and delivered more
than 110,000 bouquets. Since the beginning of 2020, Flower Empower has delivered 25,000 bouquets and orchids to frontline and essential workers. “Flower Empower Blooms is running instead of Dream Foundation’s 11th annual Flower Empower luncheon due to the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 and to keep the community it loves safe,” said Kisa Heyer, chief executive officer. “While we miss being able to gather for our annual luncheon, we felt this was a lovely way to engage with our Flower Empower friends and everyone who loves flowers and art.” Entries will be judged by an online “people’s vote” to decide which will go forward for the star judges to pick final winners for each class in every category. One grand prize winner will be randomly selected from the 21 finalists and will receive a twonight stay, dinner for two, plus two spa treatments at El Encanto Hotel, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara. A people’s vote grand prize Please see DREAMS on A2
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