Santa Barbara News-Press: May 18, 2023

Debt ceiling talks ongoing

Biden, McCarthy continue negotiations despite differences on work requirements - A3

nEWs-PRE ss EXCLU siVE

Accused Ojai fentanyl dealer to stand trial

Christopher Elizalde, 26, was arrested after reportedly overdosing in Carpinteria

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A judge has ordered an accused Ojai drug dealer to stand trial on multiple felony drug charges, including the possession for sale of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, following his arrest last month after reportedly overdosing in his car in Carpinteria, prosecutors said.

Christopher Elizalde, 26, was arrested on April 22 and was arraigned on a felony complaint on April 27, when he pleaded not guilty, Senior Deputy District Attorney

Anthony S. Davis told the News-Press.

“We had a preliminary hearing in his case on May 11, at which time he was held to answer on the charged offenses,” the prosecutor said. “His arraignment on the Information is scheduled for Wednesday, May 24.”

Defendants are initially arraigned on charges contained in a complaint filed by prosecutors. After a preliminary hearing, that complaint is referred to as the Information. Sometimes it is amended in the interim.

The nine-count Information filed against Mr. Elizalde charges him with possession for sale of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, heroin and

methamphetamine, all felonies.

In addition, it charges him with possession for sale of M30 fentanyl pills, Xanax and Clonazepam, and possession for sale and the sale of ketamine, again, all felonies.

A misdemeanor count charges him with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ketamine is an anesthetic used on people and animals. It is generally abused as an hallucinogenic, and comes in either liquid or powder form.

M30 fentanyl pills are counterfeit oxycodone, which sells under the brand name OxyContin.

Please see DRUGS on A4

Responding to disasters

Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox USA provides shelters and related needs to nations in trouble

s tate s t.

Chick-fil-A to close for renovations

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

For six to eight weeks, the Chick-fil-A on upper State Street will be closed for necessary renovations to the restaurant.

Starting on Monday until late July, the Santa Barbara location will undergo construction on the parking lot to create a better traffic flow.

This location has recently been under heat due to the backup the drive-through causes on the street.

In June 2022, the Santa Barbara City Council voted to plan a new traffic management plan for the fast food restaurant rather than declare it a public nuisance.

This plan consisted of designating a traffic attendant, reconfiguring lanes and parking, as well as increasing staff during peak hours, at the location, which is at 3707 State St.

At this time, the restaurant additionally proposed a permit request for a second location,

which would replace the IHOP on Calle Real. There has been no update since the request was originally filed.

Now, a year later, the restaurant has deemed it crucial to create some changes in order to maintain a good relationship with the city and the residents.

Travis Collins, the owner of the Santa Barbara location, told the News-Press Wednesday that the renovation plans are to improve the entry and exit from the restaurant, which includes changes to expand the drive-thru lanes.

Mr. Collins said he hopes the new renovations will make a positive impact on the traffic.

He said “our guests and team members’ experience is the priority” and that Chick-filA hopes “to honor our ongoing commitment to be a good neighbor and help vehicle flow.

“We look forward to serving guests soon with these enhancements.”

email: abahnsen@newspress.com

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The “forgotten crises.”

This is what the president of ShelterBox USA, Kerri Murray, shared with the News-Press regarding disaster situations and violent conflicts around the world. “What we do at Shelterbox is ‘quiet work’, but makes a loud impact.”

ShelterBox USA is a nonprofit located in Santa Barbara. The organization focuses on aiding nations where a natural disaster has occurred — cyclones, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. — or where violent conflict has taken over the community.

ShelterBox has its hands in many places around the globe, helping wherever it deems fit. Currently, the nonprofit is helping in Yemen, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Pakistan, to name a few countries.

In Ukraine, ShelterBox has helped many displaced

Please see SHELTERBOX on A4

FYi

For more about ShelterBox and its fundraising events, visit www.shelterboxusa.org.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE PHOTO

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said it seized these drugs from an Ojai man who reportedly overdosed in Carpinteria.

Chick-fil-A is temporarily closed at 3707 State St. in Santa Barbara while improvements are made for the drive-through traffic.

PHOTOS COURTESY SHELTERBOX USA

Pakistan is among the nations helped by ShelterBox USA, a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit that responds to disasters around the world. ShelterBox USA’s aid is distributed in Ethiopia.

Prowling suspect arrested outside Prince Harry and Meghan’s home

MONTECITO – A Lake Elsinore man was arrested earlier Monday for allegedly prowling outside the Montecito estate of Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.

Deputies responded at 2:11 a.m. to the royal couple’s property on the 700 block of Rockbridge Road for a report of a subject detained at a service entrance, Raquel Zick, sheriff’s public information officer, told the News-Press.

The subject, later identified as 29-year-old Kevin Garcia Valdovinos of Lake Elsinore, was placed under citizen’s arrest by security at the estate, she said.

Deputies arrested him on suspicion of stalking (misdemeanor) without incident.

He was booked at the Main Jail in Santa Barbara, where he was later released on $2,500 bail.

Follow-up investigation by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office detectives determined the case to be a violation of 647(h) PC – Prowling (misdemeanor) and not a stalking violation. The investigation is ongoing.

— Neil Hartstein

Detectives release officer’s name

SANTA MARIA — Santa Barbara County sheriff’s detectives are releasing the name of the Santa Maria Police Department officer who was involved in the shootings that occurred March 25 at Melody Market.

The SMPD officer is Antonio Peña, a three-year veteran of the agency.

Sheriff’s detectives are also sharing surveillance videos from exterior cameras at Melody Market. The videos contain violence that may be disturbing to viewers. The videos show the incident from two different angles and begins just before 8 p.m., when two vehicles, with four occupants in each vehicle, arrived separately at Melody Market.

One of the occupants of the vehicles was 19-year-old Manuel Reyes Rios of Santa Maria. Moments later, Officer Peña arrived in his personal vehicle with his family. A fourth vehicle, with a woman and her two children also arrived at the market.

While Officer Peña and the woman were inside the store, the two groups from the other vehicles engaged in a physical altercation in the parking lot. Officer Peña had returned to his vehicle at the same time that Mr. Rios reportedly brandished a firearm and shot at the other group, striking one of them. Mr. Rios paused in his alleged shooting, running past Officer Peña, who had drawn his firearm and police badge.

Officer Peña verbally identified himself as an officer and ordered Mr. Rios to stop shooting and surrender. Mr. Rios reportedly did not comply with Officer Peña’s command, raising his firearm and shooting again at the other group and toward an occupied restaurant. This resulted in injury to one of the patrons from flying debris caused by Mr. Rios’ shooting.

In that moment, Officer Peña fired at Mr. Rios until he dropped to the ground. Officer Peña called emergency services on his cell phone, ushered the uninvolved bystanders into the market and sheltered them inside until deputies arrived.

Mr. Rios was pronounced dead at the scene with a ghost gun in his possession. The remainder of the subjects who were involved in the altercation, including the person shot by Rios, fled the scene prior to deputies’ arrival. The video ends when Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies arrive on scene. This video is posted on the Sheriff’s Office YouTube channel.

This investigation remains ongoing. Detectives encourage anyone with additional information to contact the Criminal Investigations Division by calling 805-681-4150.

If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can provide information by calling our tip line at 805-681-4171 or SBSheriff. org.

— Neil Hartstein

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

Traffic fatality victim identified

VENTURA – The man killed Monday in a fiery collision on northbound Highway 101 has been identified as Jose A. Zarete, 50, of Ventura, the CHP said Wednesday.

The accident, which occurred at approximately 9:25 a.m., involved a five-vehicle, fatal traffic crash that occurred on Highway 101 south of San Miguelito, which left vehicles blocking lanes.

The crash resulted in the death of one motorist and minor injuries to three other motorists.

US-101 at this location was shut down intermittently for several hours for on-scene investigation by CHP Ventura Area personnel.

Passerby related one vehicle was fully engulfed, with a party trapped within the vehicle, the CHP said. Multiple personnel from the CHP Ventura Area, along with personnel from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, and Ventura County Fire Department responded to the crash.

Upon their arrival, one driver was pronounced deceased on scene in a 2002 Toyota Tacoma, while two parties were transported to Ventura County Medical Center by American Medical Response for minor injuries.

Preliminary investigation indicates Cody G. Zornes, 32, of Lancaster was driving a 2012 F550, on Highway101 northbound, south of San Miguelito, in the No. 1 lane, approaching a 2002 Toyota Tacoma, a 2012 Tesla Model-3, a 2019 Honda HR-V, and a 2007

Honda Accord. For reasons still under investigation, the Ford F-550 approached traffic at a speed greater than 65 mph and the front of the F-550 collided with the rear of the Toyota Tacoma, causing the Toyota to collide with the rear of the Tesla, and the Tesla to collide with the Honda HR-V, and the Honda HR-V, to collide with the Honda Accord. The initial rearend crash of the Ford F-550 into the Toyota caused the Tacoma to burst into flames, the CHP said. Following the crash, all involved vehicles came to rest in the lanes, right shoulder, and dirt embankment. Alcohol and drugs were not a factor in this crash. This incident is still under investigation by the CHP. Anyone who witnessed or has any information regarding the accident is asked to contact the CHP Ventura Office at 805-6622640.

– Neil Hartstein

Police: Lock your vehicles

SANTA BARBARA – The Santa Barbara Police Department would like to remind drivers about vehicle security and prevention of car theft.

One simple yet effective way to protect your vehicle is by locking it. Always remember to lock your car doors, even if you’re making a quick stop, police advised. Thieves often target unlocked vehicles because they provide easy opportunities. Do not keep a spare set of keys, important vehicle paperwork or

valuables inside your vehicle, police said. While officers were conducting vehicle theft investigations, it was revealed that many of the stolen cars had been unlocked with a spare set of keys in the glovebox.

Police ask everyone to encourage their friends, families and neighbors to lock their cars.

“Together, we can build a strong network of watchful eyes that deter criminals and keep the Santa Barbara community safe,” police said. “By taking a few extra seconds to lock your vehicle and encouraging others to do the same, you contribute to a resilient community against car theft.”

If you notice any suspicious subjects or suspicious activity around parked vehicles, report it immediately to the police: Call 9-1-1.

– Neil Hartstein

WENDY

ARTHUR VON WIESENBERGER . . . . .Co-Publisher

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While officers were conducting vehicle theft investigations, it was revealed that many of the stolen cars had been unlocked with a spare set of keys in the glovebox.

Pushing through the crowd

Debt ceiling talks ongoing

By BRETT ROWLAND THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) –President Joe Biden and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy both struck an optimistic tone Wednesday on debt limit negotiations despite differences on requiring people who participate in some federal assistance programs to find work.

“We had a productive meeting yesterday with all four leaders in the Congress. It was civil and respectful and everyone came to the meeting, I think, in good faith,” President Biden said.

“I’m confident that we’ll get the agreement on the budget, that America will not default.

And every leader in the room understands the consequences if we fail to pay our bills and it would be catastrophic for the American economy and the American people if we didn’t pay our bills.”

President Biden continued:

Attorney General Rob Bonta backs CFPB in case before Supreme Court

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH

THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) -

“As George Mason put it in Philadelphia in 1787, ‘the purse & the sword ought never to get into the same hands,’” so stated in the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in the case of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America.

The decision by the appeals court clarified “These foundational precepts of the American system of government animate the Plaintiffs’ claims in this action. They also compel our decision today.”

The ruling annulled in part a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau”s (CFPB) Fair Debt Collection Rule that prohibits “an unfair and abusive act or practice,” related to the collection of payday and other loans. The case challenged the validity of CFPB’s 2017 Payday Lending Rule.

“The CFPB is the cornerstone of federal consumer financial protections and an important partner to state attorneys general,” said California Attorney General Bonta. Mr. Bonta as part of a 24 attorneys general coalition filed an amicus brief on behalf of CFPB on the case which is now before the Supreme Court.

Mr. Bonta noted, “The stakes for consumers, for the states, and

for regulation of financial markets are enormous: if allowed to stand, the Fifth Circuit’s decision threatens to upend over a decade of enforcement and regulatory work by the CFPB. That would wreak havoc for consumers across the country.”

The appeals court rejected two other arguments brought by the Community Financial Services Association of America, but CFPB’s funding structure did not hold up in the Fifth Circuit.

“But one arrow has found its target: Congress’s decision to abdicate its appropriations power under the Constitution, i.e., to cede its power of the purse to the Bureau, violates the Constitution’s structural separation of powers. We thus reverse the judgment of the district court, render judgment in favor of the Plaintiffs, and vacate the Bureau’s 2017 Payday Lending Rule.” the court said.

The amicus brief filed by the attorneys general, argue that the CFPB’s independent funding structure does not violate the appropriations clause, but even if it did, the court should not invalidate the CFPB’s past and ongoing enforcement actions as a consequence of the violation. To do so would conflict with past precedent set by the court and could create chaos.

The appeals court decision threatens regulatory and enforcement actions protecting consumers which govern all aspects of consumer financial

Newsom announces Yuba River restoration with salmon funds

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square)California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday, a project that will reopen waterways to Salmon and other fish on the Yuba River. It’s the latest in a slate of salmon projects undertaken with state funds.

California set aside $100 million for salmon-related projects last year. The Yuba River access restoration will utilize $30 million from this fund.

The agreement among the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Yuba Water Agency and the federal NOAA Fisheries agency gives a blueprint for modifications to the Yuba River near the Daguerre Point Dam, in a plan to reopen access to miles of cold-water habitat to native fish including the Chinook salmon.

“California is taking action to restore vital habitats and return fish to their historic home – turning the page on outdated water infrastructure that has blocked passage for these fish for over a century,” the governor said. The project includes the building of a “fishway” - a channel that begins at the base of the Daguerre Point Dam and loops around to end at a point just above the dam, allowing salmon and other native species to access 10 miles of spawning habitat.

The funding will cover the cost for building a diversion at the dam that would protect the fish from the intake and create an irrigation

supply south of the lower Yuba River, as well as fund a program to return Chinook salmon to the North Yuba River by 2025.

For the first time in a century salmon would have 24 miles of unobstructed access from the intersection on the Feather and Yuba rivers to the Englebright Dam 12 miles north of Daguerre Point Dam.

The Newsom administration has prioritized salmon runs and salmon habitat and has spent millions of dollars to invigorate the species and restore fishfriendly environments. They have supported projects that restore salmon to the McCloud River, North Fork Battle Creek and Clear Creek. Gov. Newsom has invested $84 million to modernize hatcheries and support the logistics of increasing the survivability and migration of hatchery-raised juveniles. Investments in salmon well-being also plays into a $36 million investment announced in April, a $22.5 million statewide project announced in March and approximately $51.83 million in grants to help restore fish and wildlife habitats.

And despite the energy challenges of the state, Newsom has demonstrated his commitment by embarking on the removal of 3 hydroelectric dams on the Klamath river in Siskiyou County, Northern California, the first of which, the Copco No. 2 dam, is planned for this summer with the Copco No. 1 and Iron Gate dams to follow next year.

markets, the brief contends.

“For over a decade, the CFPB has served as a valued regulatory and enforcement partner to the States, which have historically served at the forefront of efforts to protect consumers against fraudulent and abusive practices.,” the amicus brief stated. “If that remedy is not overturned, the States and their residents will be deprived not only of the protections provided by the specific payday-lending regulation at issue in this case, but also of the CFPB’s role more broadly as a federal regulator and enforcer of consumer- protection laws in the financial domain.”

The payday lending industry challenged the regulation

through the Community Financial Services Association of America.

The regulation required certain disclosures to consumers before payday lenders could attempt to make direct withdrawals from borrowers’ accounts and prohibited repeated withdrawal attempts after two consecutive rejections for insufficient funds.

The amicus brief was filed by attorneys general for New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

“To be clear, this negotiation is about the outlines of what the budget will look like, not about whether or not we are going to in fact pay our debts. The leaders all agree we will not default. Every leader has said that.”

President Biden said he and Rep. McCarthy narrowed the negotiating group. That group met last night and is set to meet again Wednesday. The president said he would be in “constant contact” with his team while attending the Group of Seven leaders’ summit this week in Hiroshima, Japan. The G7 countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The summit is held yearly for the leaders of the member states to discuss global issues.

Rep. McCarthy, R-Calif., said that while he’s glad President Biden has agreed to negotiate, time is running short.

“It’s not a revenue problem, it’s a spending problem,” Rep. McCarthy, R-Calif., said at a news conference Wednesday.

“The difficult part here is the timeline,” he said. “This is the worst way to govern.”

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen previously said

lawmakers must raise the debt ceiling by June 1 or risk a default on U.S. debt obligations. When exactly the U.S. will run out of money remains uncertain. On Tuesday, Ms. Yellen said, “it is impossible to predict with certainty the exact date when Treasury will be unable to pay all of the government’s bills.” The debt ceiling is the maximum amount of debt the U.S. Department of the Treasury can issue.

During his news conference, President Biden said he would not accept anything of consequence on work requirements for government insurance programs such as Medicaid, which provides health coverage to low-income people.

“I’m not going to accept any work requirements that’s going to impact on the medical health needs of people,” President Biden said. “I’m not going to accept any work requirements that go much beyond what is already [there]. I voted years ago for the work requirements that already exist. It’s possible there could be a few others, but not anything of any consequence.”

The proposed work requirements would apply to able-bodied adults without dependents.

House Republicans passed a bill to reduce spending by $4.8 trillion and increase the debt limit by about $1.5 trillion, or until March 31, 2024, whichever comes first. The Republican bill would strip energy and environmental tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act and formally block President Biden’s student loan cancellation. It also would put work requirements in place for some federal social programs, such as requiring Medicaid recipients to work 80 hours per month.

The Limit, Save, Grow Act would return total discretionary spending to the fiscal year 2022 level in fiscal year 2024 and cap annual growth at 1% for 10 years, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the measure would reduce budget deficits “by about $4.8 trillion over the 2023–2033 period.”

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

Kayakers attempt to navigate their way through a flock of pelicans off Santa Barbara Harbor on Sunday.

ShelterBox providing aid to people in several parts of the world

Continued from Page A1

refugees during the war over the past year. Specifically, it is running five programs in Ukraine and is hoping to establish more.

The nonprofit has provided aid including mattresses, hygiene kits, home report kits called “shelter kits” and money.

ShelterBox has helped more than 50,000 people so far, specifically focusing on helping Ukrainians survive a long and very cold winter with stoves, sleeping bags, and warm clothes.

In Cameroon, a country Ms. Murray has spent a lot of time researching and involving herself in, there are over 75,000 refugees who currently reside in Minawao, a camp located 40 miles east of the Nigerian border.

A militant organization in Nigeria, called Boko Haram, has currently caused havoc and destruction throughout the county, causing thousands of families to be displaced or killed.

ShelterBox’s role in Cameroon is to aid these refugees with proper shelter. Ms. Murray explained that these are longterm displaced people, where they could spend around 17 years in the refugee camp. The organization provides basic human needs to the people upon arrival, and continues to help where possible.

Ms. Murray shared a story about a woman in one of these camps.

“Esther was a young teenage girl when her family was killed by Boko Haram in her village.

In order to save herself, she fled and ended up at the refugee camp. She has been at the camp for over nine years, where she is now married and is the camp’s resident seamstress. Without the help of the camp and the aid from ShelterBox, her outcome could have been very different.”

ShelterBox USA is also monitoring different situations happening in the world. They have a “decision to deploy criteria,’’ which they take into account every time a situation arises.

An example of this is Myanmar.

In Myanmar this past week, there has been a destructive cyclone. This is the strongest storm to ever hit the region and has caused a trail of devastation.

The organization has been monitoring the situation and will be determining whether it needs to do an assessment of the area.

“Accurate reports of the situation is really challenging,” said Ms. Murray. “More time is needed to determine the action plan.”

She explained a lot of this is due to communication between the area and the organization. “Oftentimes we have the urgency to act but not enough information to act.”

Over the next few days, ShelterBox USA will continue to watch what is happening and then decide how they will move forward.

As mentioned previously, Shelterbox USA is located in Santa Barbara, specifically near Montecito. The headquarters moved here from Sarasota, Fla. in 2015 and have found what it

considers a true home in the community.

“This community is no stranger to experiencing disaster and displacement,” said Ms. Murray.

“Santa Barbara has embraced ShelterBox and has been very generous.”

ShelterBox relies on private charitable support, and the work is made possible by donations. Ms. Murray explained Santa Barbara has stepped up and helped Shelterbox with their objectives.

Ms. Murray also shared a call to action for the people at home.

ShelterBox is currently gearing up for a record year of support to various nations and needs the resources to do so. She asked simply for charitable donations, as they are crucial to their work, but also will take any help they can get.

“Everyone has something to contribute whether that is your time, talent, resources, or even just sharing our information on

Southwest staredown

social media,” she explained.

ShelterBox is also hosting multiple fundraising opportunities this summer.

First, on July 1, ShelterBox is hosting “Stock the Box”, a charity event where people are encouraged to donate to meet their monetary goals.

Second, the organization is hosting its first trek in Yosemite this summer. This event will raise critical funding and awareness for ShelterBox USA. Ms. Murray said it is a fun and unique way to get involved in ShelterBox. email: abahnsen@newspress.com

Alleged drug dealer being held on $260,000 bail

DRUGS

Continued from Page A1

Real oxycodone are typically blue pills that come stamped with the “M” on one side and the milligrams on the other (10, 20, 30, etc.).

Counterfeit oxycodone looks the same but always with “30” imprinted on the back. They are created using some other base, usually acetaminophen (Tylenol), and pressed with fentanyl. Most are manufactured in large labs in Mexico by the cartels, using ingredients from China, and then sent in bulk to the United States.

Xanax is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines that have a depressant effect (downers) on the brain and nervous system. Benzos include prescription drugs such as

Valium, Klonopin, Xanax and Ativan.

In this case, Mr. Elizalde is charged with possession for sale of alprazolam, which sells under the brand name Xanax. It is an antianxiety drug.

Clonazepam, which sells under the brand name Klonopin, is an anti-seizure medication.

On April 22, at approximately 3:15 p.m., deputies responded to the 5900 block of Birch Street in Carpinteria for a report of a subject who was unresponsive in a vehicle. When they arrived, they found a man, later identified as Mr. Elizalde, unresponsive with drug paraphernalia in his lap. Also in the vehicle, deputies found a large quantity of dangerous drugs including suspected fentanyl, M30 pills, cocaine and ketamine.

Sheriff’s deputies worked with detectives

from the Special Investigations Bureau to author search and arrest warrants for Mr. Elizalde and his Ojai residence. Later that evening, at approximately 8:30 p.m., detectives served a search warrant at his home in the 1200 block of Gregory Street in Ojai where they reported recovering additional fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone M30 pills and cocaine.

As a result of this thorough investigation, approximately 2.9 ounces of ketamine, 1.82 pounds of fentanyl, 1.16 pounds of cocaine, 4.6 ounces of heroin, 4.7 ounces of methamphetamine, 616 oxycodone M30 pills, and 50 benzodiazepine pills were taken off the streets, according to the sheriff’s office.

Mr. Elizalde is being held in Santa Barbara County Jail on $260,000 bail.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

Two Southwest airline jets exchange spots at the terminal on the tarmac of Santa Barbara Airport on Wednesday.

COURTESY SHELTERBOX USA

ShelterBox USA provides aid to locations such as Turkey and Syria, where a 7.8 earthquake struck on Feb. 6.

Life theArts

CALENDAR

Going from ‘Oklahoma!’ to ‘Chicago’

‘Schmigadoon’ is both a spoof of musicals and homage to Broadway

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

If you love musicals, watch “Schmigadoon!”

The musical comedy series, executive-produced by Lorne Michaels of “Saturday Night Live” fame, is a respectful spoof of musicals. In fact, in some ways, it’s more of an homage than a spoof, and a big part of fun is seeing how elements are inspired by everything from “Oklahoma!” to “The Music Man,” “Sound of Music,” “Hair,” “Annie” (or “Oliver!”), “Sweeney Todd” and “Chicago.”

And it’s great to hear the series’ completely original music, written by co-creator and executive producer Cinco Paul and performed by stars of Broadway (or off-Broadway), TV and movies — including Kristen Chenoweth, Jane Krakowski, Alan Cumming, Arian DeBose and Dove Cameron. Martin Short plays an iconic kind of character who knows what’s really going on. The first two seasons of episodes are now streaming on Apple TV+. “Schmigadoon!” stars former

more open minded toward those who are different. After some adventures and misadventures, they leave Schmigadoon at the end of the first season. Now a happier couple, they get married, and that marks the start of the second season, during which married bliss is replaced by the day-to-day stress of their jobs and problems at home. They figure out the solution is to return to Schmigadoon, but this time, they don’t find the innocent town, but the much darker Schmicago, where the tone is inspired by the darker musicals of the 1960s and 1970s.

Instead of “Oklahoma!” and “Music Man,” this land is inspired by the likes of “Chicago,” “Hair,” “Annie”/”Oliver!” (pick your favorite musical about orphans) and “Sweeney Todd.”

TUNE IN

All episodes of both seasons of “Schmigadoon!” are streaming on Apple TV+.

Josh and Melissa figure out they can’t escape Schmicago until they help these characters, who are different versions of the folks they knew in Schmigadoon, find their happy ending. That’s anything but easy, and setting the tone is the blunt voice of the narrator, played brilliantly by Tituss Burgess.

“SNL” actress Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key (who hosted an “SNL” episode) as lovers Melissa and Josh. Melissa is an OB-GYN, and Josh is a surgeon. They meet at their workplace — a hospital. They fall in love but deal with the stress of the real world and go to a couples retreat, where their hike in the rain leads to an unexpected sunny spot — Schmigadoon, a town straight out of the old musicals of the 1930s and 1940s.

They find, to Melissa’s delight and Josh’s irritation, that these people in their classic costumes will burst out in song at any time in a normal conversation. They come to realize that this isn’t some tourist attraction, but a world in which if you can’t express your feelings through dialogue, you sing from your heart. When in doubt, you dance. That’s the longtime law of musicals.

Schmigadoon restores Melissa’s and Josh’s idealism, but it’s not a perfect world, and they help the town to get past its bigotry and be

Both seasons are well-crafted, but frankly, the first season is more fun to watch. There are some fun love triangles, and everything is as bright as Technicolor and as sweet as an MGM musical. Let’s put on a show!

The villain is Mildred Layton (Ms. Chenoweth), who is afraid of anyone who’s different, and it’s up to Josh and Melissa to teach the town some lessons in tolerance, which is something Rodgers and Hammerstein did brilliantly in their musicals, most notably in “South Pacific.”

And Mr. Paul’s songs show influences from past musicals, but stand very much as original selections. That’s the magic of “Schmigadoon!,” in which homages merge to create an entirely original story.

Ms. Strong and Mr. Key are good singers, by the way, but the best singing is by, as you’d expect, Ms. Chenoweth, Mr. Cumming, Ms. DeBose and Ms. Krakowski, who gets her better role in the second

COURTESY PHOTO Zoo Brew, the Santa Barbara Zoo’s annual fundraiser that caters to beer and animal lovers alike, will take place June 3. The zoo is at 500 Ninos Drive, Santa Barbara.

The calendar appears Mondays through Saturdays in the “Life & the Arts” section. Items are welcome. Please email them a full week before the event to Managing Editor Dave Mason at dmason@ newspress.com.

TODAY 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Road, has reopened its permanent mineral exhibit of rocks and crystals that is on view in the small hall off the museum’s central courtyard. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. The exhibit, which opened April 22, is included in museum admission. Members are always admitted free. For others, prices vary from $14 to $19. For more information, visit sbnature.org/minerals.

Noon to 5 p.m. “Clarence Mattei: Portrait of a Community” is on view now through May at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, which is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 E. De la Guerra St. Admission is free. Hours are currently from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, visit www.sbhistorical.org.

Appointment on weekdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays. “Holly Hungett: Natural Interpretations” is on view through May 20 at the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara’s gallery, 229 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. For more information, call the foundation at 805-965-6307 or go to www.afsb.org.

3 to 5 p.m. A recruitment reception for volunteer docents will take place at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St. The year-long training course begins each September. For more information or to attend, visit www.sbma.net/docent or contact education@sbma.net.

MAY 19

7 p.m. ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! will present Las Cafeteras in a free concert at Isla Vista Elementary School, 6875 El Colegio Road, Isla Vista. The band is known for its mix of AfroMexican rhythms, electronic beats and music varying from Americana to soul, Son Jarocho, rock and hip hop.

7:30 to 8:45 p.m.: The Allan Hancock College Jazz Band will perform at the Fine Arts Complex at the Santa Maria campus at 800 S.College Drive.

MAY 20 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The 37th annual California Strawberry Festival will be held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura. General admission is $15. For active military and their dependents with IDs and seniors 62 years and older, admission is $10, and for ages 5 to 12, admission is $8. Children 4 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www. castrawberryfestival.org or upon entry to the festival.

7 p.m. ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! will present Las Cafeteras in a free concert at Guadalupe City Hall, 918 Obispo St., Guadalupe. The band is known for its mix of Afro-Mexican rhythms, electronic beats and music varying from Americana to soul, Son Jarocho, rock and hip hop.

MAY 21 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The 37th annual California Strawberry Festival will be held from at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura. General admission is $15. For active military and their dependents with IDs and seniors 62 years and older, admission is $10, and for ages 5 to 12, admission is $8. Children 4 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.castrawberryfestival. org or upon entry to the festival.

2 p.m. Free concerts take place at 2 p.m. Sundays through July 9 at Hitching Post Wines’ tasting room, 420 State Route 246, Buellton. For more information, visit hpwines.com.

7 p.m. ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara!

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023

At top, Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) and Melissa (Cecily Strong) deal with the unexpected in the fi rst season. Above, Miss Codwell (Kristen Chenoweth) oversees an orphanage in the second season.

Mildred Layton (Kristen Chenoweth) prefers that her town doesn’t change in the fi rst season of “Schmigadoon!,” streaming on Apple TV+.

Castlebrite apricots

The first fresh crops of local apricots are in and can now be purchased at the weekly Saturday Santa Barbara, Sunday Goleta, Tuesday Santa Barbara, Wednesday Solvang and Thursday Carpinteria farmers’ markets from several local growers.

This year’s crop is exceptional, delivering the apricots’ signature sweet flesh and slightly tangy skin. Loaded with vitamin A and C, as well as a good source of calcium, iron, and dietary fiber, they are a great addition to your weekly diet. Perfect for eating on the go, adding to a fruit salad, incorporating into baked goods, or when used to make preserves, sauces or a nice apricot salsa as seen in this week’s Fix, at right. I served my apricot salsa over pulled pork.

Prices average about $4 per pound, with discounts on larger purchases.

Lemon balm

This perennial herb, available from Earthtrine Farm at the Saturday and Tuesday Santa Barbara farmers’ markets, delivers a wonderful tart and sweet flavor, with notes of lemon and mint throughout.

A member of the mint family, lemon balm can be enjoyed raw, dried or in cooked preparations. Incorporate this balm fresh into green salads or dessert preparations for an added refreshing flavor, or more commonly use it as a natural tea. I find lemon balm pairs very well with fish and poultry dishes, and it has a nice presence when blended into a fruit smoothie. Certified organic is available. Price averages $3 per bunch.

Baby zucchini

The first tender baby summer squash is just starting to emerge

zucchini this week. About a half-inch thick and 5-6 inches in length, it has a subtly sweet presence and mild flavor. It’s ideal for eating both raw and cooked. When cooking zucchini of this size, I either usually grill it outside or roast it in the oven.

The major benefits for selecting zucchini in its more petite stage is that it has much smaller softer seeds within and a higher moisture content than more mature fruit.

You can enjoy sliced zucchini raw in a salad or cooked on pizza. It is also excellent when sauteed or steamed.

You can find baby zucchini at all weekly Santa Barbara certified farmers’ markets from several local farmers. Price averages $4 per pound.

Sam Edelman is general manager of the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association and host of “Farm to Table,” which airs live 9 a.m. Thursdays on KZSB AM 1290. Sam Edelman photos.

Quire of Voyces to perform spring concerts

SANTA BARBARA — Quire of Voyces will stress sacred love during its spring concerts, set for 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at St. Anthony’s Chapel, 2300 Garden St., Santa Barbara. The “Sacred Heart” concerts will feature popular choral works by Durufle, Willan, Sviridov, Rheinberger, Esenvalds, McGlade, Stopford and Daniel Brinsmead. The programs will also feature the

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

will present Las Cafeteras in a free concert at The Marjorie Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High School, 721 E, Cota St., Santa Barbara. The band is known for its mix of Afro-Mexican rhythms, electronic beats and music varying from Americana to soul, Son Jarocho, rock and

premiere of two works composed by the a capella choir’s composerin-residence, Steve Dombek.

The choir, which is affiliated with the Santa Barbara City College Music Department, will also perform an Icelandic hymn, entitled “Heyr, himna smidur,” in the Icelandic language. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors and students. Tickets can be

hip hop.

MAY 22 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. The Allan Hancock College Symphonic Band will perform at the Fine Arts Complex at the Santa Maria campus, 800 S. College Drive.

JUNE 3 4 to 7 p.m Zoo Brew, the Santa Barbara Zoo’s annual fundraiser that caters to beer and animal lovers alike,

purchased until noon Friday at Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St., Santa Barbara. You can also buy tickets at the Garvin Theater box office on SBCC’s West Campus (805-965-5935). Tickets will also be available at the door. For more information, see quireofvoyces.org.

— Dave Mason

will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. with a VIP hour from 3 to 4 p.m. The zoo is at 500 Ninos Drive, Santa Barbara. General admission tickets are $75 per person and include unlimited beer tastings and one Zoo Brew 2023 commemorative tasting cup, and VIP tickets are $110. All proceeds benefit the animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo. For more information, call 805-9625339.

— Dave Mason

FARMERS MARKET

Sam Edelman

Fix of the Week

Sweet summer stone fruit is just starting to make an appearance at all weekly Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Markets.

We kicked off the first week of May with a great assortment of exceptional cherries, which will increase exponentially in availability over the coming weeks. The next crop that followed close behind were those deliciously sweet aromatic apricots, which were available in decent quantities at this past Saturday’s farmers market.

Praised for their tangy thin skin, super-sweet flesh and amazing aroma, fresh apricots are now ready for pick-up at most of your local farmers markets.

Apricots can be utilized in several ways, in addition to simply enjoying them fresh as they come.

Because of the relatively short seasonal window, it is quite common for local farmers market patrons to be seen loading up on

MUSICAL

Continued from Page B1

season as Bobby Flanagan, a clever attorney.

The second season goes from being dark, in the tone of musicals like “Chicago” and “Sweeney Todd” (with Mr. Cumming holding a cleaver as butcher Dooley Flint), to just downright groovy, in the spirit of “Hair.” The city’s villain is the powerful businessman Octavius Kratt (played with subtle sinister nuances by Patrick Page), who owns a nightclub with a “Cabaret”-like vibe. There’s danger in the city. But ultimately, there’s a happy ending. That’s another law of musicals. email: dmason@newspress.com

fresh apricots by the box load, to then be brought back to their kitchens and transformed into preserves, sauces, salsas, syrups or stored in freezer bags to be enjoyed throughout the year. The balance of the apricots’ sweet flesh and tangy skin truly delivers an exceptional flavor to prepared apricots products, and store extremely well throughout the year. Because fresh apricots are typically not the best travelers, you should be a little more openminded when it comes to your selection process, as flavor almost always surpasses physical appearance.

As apricots start to ripen, there is typically about a threeday window as they turn from a yellowish color and firm texture to deep orange in color with their juicy soft flesh. Once this level of peak maturity and flavor has been reached, any soft touch to the fruit’s skin can cause slight visible bruising, although the flavor will remain as tasty as ever. When selecting your fruit, look first for this deep orange color, as those

tend to have the strongest aroma, sweetest flavor and highest juice content.

Apricots are a very versatile fruit, perfect to enjoy with any meal of the day, and they make for a great afternoon snack. They’re great when sliced into your breakfast cereal (hot and cold), sliced into a fruit salad, used for baking a great apricot crisp, cobbler,or pie, and perfect for making fresh home-made preserves.

They are also great when lightly grilled. Simply cut apricots in half and place them on soaked skewers. Brush apricots with honey and grill for about 3 minutes until tender. They come out with a great sweet and smoky flavor.

They can then be enjoyed as a great side, or used to make a grilled apricot salsa as seen below. Enjoy the salsa with fresh chips, to top your freshly grilled meats or fish (notably pork and halibut), or to roll inside of your homemade tacos.

FRESH APRICOT SALSA

One-pound fresh ripe apricots, pits removed, diced. 1 small red onion, diced. 1 tablespoon of a hot pepper (jalapeño or Serrano) stem and seeds removed, finely diced. 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice.

One-quarter cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped. One-half firm avocado, diced. Garlic (or regular) salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste. Combine all ingredients, toss to evenly coat, and set aside in the refrigerator.

SAM EDELMAN PHOTO

APPLE TV+ PHOTO

Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) finds a groovy life, at least for a while, in the second season.

SUDOKU

Thought for Today

“Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.” — Alexander the Great

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Thursday, May 18, 2023

ARIES — Until now, you may have been too stubborn about doing what you want without trying to address the question of your financial means, Aries. Even if it seems too materialistic, It’s urgent that you take care of this question. Push ahead and try to raise your standard of living, because you have something to learn in this domain.

TAURUS — You could be a situation in which you have to make a decision about a relationship, Taurus. Perhaps old demons have come back to haunt you about your freedom, and now you have doubts. Don’t listen to the doubts, because if you do, you may regress ten paces in your emotional life.

GEMINI — You aren’t the biggest advocate for working under constraints, Gemini, so today is going to be good for you. You will accept them, and gracefully. Do you understand the meaning of such a day? It would be wonderful if you learned how to hold onto the paradox you discover.

CANCER — Abandon the myth that you don’t have any gifts or means at your disposal, Cancer. The proof is that you have your body. Are you taking care of yourself? Do you exercise? Do you take care of minor health issues? All of these questions are related.

LEO — Leo, if you’re waiting for someone to fulfill all of your needs, you may have to wait a very long time. The paradox of love is that it arrives on your doorstep in its most profound form when you need it least. So take whatever steps you must in order to fulfill yourself.

VIRGO — If you have children, their difficulties may remind you of your own, Virgo. Or their education brings back memories of your own. Have you held onto any issues from that period that still bother you today? This would be a good time to ask yourself that question. The answer could benefit your loved ones dramatically.

LIBRA — Don’t spend beyond your means today, Libra! If you happen to be in a crowd of enthusiastic shoppers, it could be disastrous for your wallet. You could yield to the prevailing spending mood all too easily! On the other hand, perhaps you owe yourself a treat. If you feel this is the case, at least limit yourself a bit.

SCORPIO — Minor tensions will arise today, Scorpio. Someone close to you, perhaps your partner or a parental figure - seems to be trying to convince you to adopt a certain behavior you aren’t willing to follow. Will you negotiate gently or forcefully? The second seems more likely. Knowing that, do your best to control it.

SAGITTARIUS — The mood will be a bit oppressive today, Sagittarius. After meeting the challenges presented by the past several days, you’re likely to want a little peace and quiet! But you can expect to be sought out and asked to assume your duties. You may feel like forgetting the whole thing and running away.

CAPRICORN — This isn’t a day for subtle, sensitive people like you, Capricorn. In fact, the winner will probably be the one who shouts the loudest and bangs on the table. The air of aggression will have an effect on you. You could be somewhat upset and more vulnerable than usual. It would be wise for you to stay away from all the commotion.

AQUARIUS — Some differences of opinion concerning your love life may come up today, Aquarius. You could find your beloved taking more liberties than you allow yourself. Instead of resenting it, follow your partner’s lead. This could be a chance to realize that you need more novelty in the emotional realm.

PISCES — This day may not be one of your favorites, Pisces. You may be all too aware of the constraints of your chief occupation. You’re likely to hanker for appropriate rewards for your labors. This is a good day to define new personal and professional goals.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Thursday,May18,2023

Acoupleatmyclubhasbeenwed for59years.Askedtoexplaintheir marriage’ssuccess,thehusbandsaid thatwhentheystarted,theydecided hewouldmakethemajordecisions, shewouldmaketheminorones.

“Andwe’veneverhadamajor decision.”

Declarersatasuitcontractfacea majordecision:whentodrawtrumps, ifatall.Attoday’ssixspades, Easttooktheaceofdiamondsand returnedadiamond.Southwon,drew trumpswiththeace,kingandten, andthrewhisclubloserontheking ofdiamonds.Henextledaheartto hiskingandbacktodummy’sjack. East’squeenwon.

BESTPLAY

Southmighthavesavedhimself somegrief(thoughnotasthecards lay)byrunninghistrumpsbefore tryingthehearts.Buthisbestplayis tocashonlytheA-Koftrumps,then taketheK-Aofhearts.

WhenEast-Westfollow,South throwshislastheartonthekingof diamondsandruffsahearthigh.He candrawthemissingtrumpwiththe tenandpitchhisclubloseronagood heart.

Youhold: 1043

opensonediamond,yourespond oneheartandhebidstwoclubs.

CODEWORD PUZZLE

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill in the grid so every row, every column and every 3-by-3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. that means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

Sudoku puzzles appear on the Diversions page Monday through Saturday.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers to previous CODEWORD

How to play Codeword

Codeword is a fun game with simple rules, and a great way to test your knowledge of the English language. Everynumber in the codeword grid is ‘code’ for a letter of the alphabet. Thus, the number 2 may correspond to the letter L, for instance. All puzzles come with a few letters to start. Your first move should be to enter these letters in the puzzle grid. If the letter S is in the box at the bottom of the page underneath the number 2, your first move should be to find all cells numbered 2 in the grid and enter the letter S. Cross the letter S off the list at the bottom of the grid. Remember that at the end you should have a different letter of the alphabet in each of the numbered boxes 1- 26, and a word in English in each of the horizontal and vertical runs on the codeword grid.

PUZZLE

Whatdoyousay?

ANSWER: Atwo-diamond preferencewouldbetimid:Youhave threeusefulcards,partnermayhave asmanyas18pointsandgameis possible.Bidthreediamondsifa jump-preferenceinopener’sminor wouldinvitegame,notforce.Ifit wouldbeforcing,underbidwithtwo diamondsorrisk2NTdespiteyour weakspades.

Southdealer

Health officials want permanent pandemic flexibility as overdoses climb

By ANTHONY HENNEN THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Researchers say they recently discovered a grim consequence of the pandemic: overdose death rates climbed dramatically.

The United States saw overdose fatalities increase 50%, with 107,000 people dying in 2021. The biggest spikes happened among American Indian and Native Americans and black Americans. Among adolescents, overdoses more than doubled.

Federal regulatory changes during the pandemic, however, granted more flexibility that some health professionals and advocates want to keep in place permanently.

“There are three main things that have changed a great deal at the federal level: allowance for telehealth, provider regulation with the (Drug Enforcement Administration) and removal of the X-Waiver, and the ability for (opioid treatment programs) to allow takehome doses,” Zoe Barnard, senior adviser of Manatt Health, said during an event hosted by the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts that explored how opioid addiction treatment has been affected by the pandemic.

The X-Waiver refers to a DEA requirement that allows providers to prescribe buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid use disorder.

Granting doctors the ability to permit take-home doses for a number of different anti-opioid drugs changed during the pandemic.

Telehealth expansion, for example, allowed them to prescribe medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) after a phone or video call. Promising results followed that change.

“The incorporation of telehealth technology with MOUD is associated with patients being happier, staying in treatment, reducing health care costs, increasing usage of medication, and increasing engagement with patients,” Ms. Barnard said.

One study found that telehealth can

reduce the risk of drug overdoses, as The Center Square previously reported. A six-month rule extension announced in early May will also preserve a COVID-era rule that allows doctors to prescribe controlled medications without an in-person evaluation.

Other rule changes during the public health emergency pleased patients.

Methadone patients could also take home medication, rather than needing to take it on-site – a change which Ms. Barnard argued did not increase harmful outcomes and gave those with an opioid use disorder “the flexibility to better meet the demands of work and family.”

“Patients, especially those living in rural communities or long distances from an (opioid treatment program), vastly preferred take-home doses and it really eliminated access barriers,” Ms. Barnard said.

Federal officials, too, said preserving some temporary reforms that relaxed regulations offered immense opportunities.

“In his State of the Union address, the president made it very clear that he wanted to reduce the barriers to treatment, especially those that were regulatory,” said Beth Connolly, assistant director of the Office of Public Health in the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

“In terms of harm reduction, we’re looking at increasing access to lowbarrier treatment.”

Ms. Connolly also noted the importance of increasing the use of fentanyl test strips – which government entities and non-profit groups can pay for with federal money – and expanding access to the anti-overdose drug naloxone.

The greatest jolt that expanded access during the pandemic, one physician said, may have come from telehealth growth.

“Telehealth was a complete game changer for the people working in the safety net,” said Andrew Herring, founder and director of the addiction treatment provider California Bridge

and chief of addiction medicine in the Alameda Health System. “We just need common-sense enabling of providers to use telehealth to reach people efficiently.”

The Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts has given grants to Mr. Herring and dozens of other groups to reduce overdoses and expand medication access. Four grants were made in Pennsylvania – to the University of Pittsburgh, Thomas Jefferson University, Temple University, and the Allegheny Health Network.

Though the federal public health emergency has expired, Pennsylvania’s state government will still have some services in place for COVID-19, along with opioid use disorder.

“Pennsylvanians should know that despite the end of the PHE, the Shapiro Administration remains committed to their health and safety,” Mark O’Neill, press secretary for the Department of Health, said. “The pandemic has highlighted areas of concern as it relates to behavioral health, substance use, and specialty care access in rural Pennsylvania and other underserved communities.”

COVID-19 vaccines are still available, as are treatments, he noted, and pointed out funding for public health initiatives.

“Governor Shapiro’s 2023-2024 budget provides, among other things, for dedicated funding for mental health services for Pennsylvanians, including for the 988 emergency hotline and $200,000 for farmer mental health supports,” Mr. O’Neill said. “To combat these issues and more, the department will continue to collaborate with other state agencies and partners across the health care spectrum to fill in any gaps that may arise.” Drug recovery hubs have also received grants in recent months from the Shapiro administration, and the commonwealth’s opioid settlement fund has also provided funds for addiction treatment statewide.

Georgia Freedom Caucus asks state treasurer to join opposition to Biden’s new mortgage policy

By GLENN MINNIS THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – Members of the Georgia Freedom Caucus are urging state Treasurer Steve McCoy to join other Republican state financial officers in formally opposing the Biden administration’s new policy making homeowners with good credit pay more on their mortgages while reducing costs for those with poor credit.

In a letter to Mr. McCoy from Georgia state Rep. Charlice Byrd and Sen. Colton Moore, chairman and vice-chairman of the Georgia Freedom Caucus, respectively, the lawmakers say the new policy will punish Georgians who have been financially responsible by paying their bills on time.

“This policy is unfair to the hundreds of thousands of Georgians who have diligently managed their finances in anticipation of buying homes, only to be required to pay a ‘good credit’ penalty to subsidize riskier borrowers,” Rep. Byrd and Sen. Moore wrote.

“It is a significant imposition on Georgians at a time when inflation, rising interest rates, and uncertain economic prospects due to federal mismanagement of the economy have already slowed the sales of homes in Georgia over the past year. Furthermore, this FHFA policy was done without a formal rulemaking process that should have given state financial officers like you an opportunity to explain to the agencies the harm this policy will cause.”

Nearly three dozen treasurers from other states already have gone on the record opposing the policy, as have state-based Freedom Caucuses from across the country.

“To penalize achievement is not the American way,” Illinois state Rep. Chris Miller told The Center Square. “In building good credit for themselves, people are doing the right thing. We live in a free market society and this would definitely not be anything that follows those tenements. It’s important to take a stand for those who are doing the right thing.”

As a member of the Illinois Freedom Caucus, Mr. Miller recently joined 11 other state legislators in sending a letter to the Biden administration calling on the White House to rescind the new rule making home loans more expensive for those with the best credit. Addressed to Federal Housing

Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Sandra L. Thompson, the letter is a follow-up to one sent to Thompson earlier this month by 34 state financial officers.

The rules work by increasing Loan-Level Price Adjustment fees for mortgage borrowers with higher credit scores and decrease those same fees for individuals with lower scores. The loan-level price adjustment is a fee attached after bankers access the risk associated with a deal, with the change potentially costing the would-be borrowers with better scores more.

Mr. Miller said he suspects that may not be the only motivation supporters of the legislation share.

“For Democrats, I would suspect part of it also has to do with being able to have another government handout and trying to find votes for themselves,” he said. “It’s not because they care about anyone, or are concerned about anyone other than themselves. Democrats are motivated by staying in power and anything that drives that narrative is something they’re ready to act on.”

While supporters of the proposal contend fee policies are often updated and in the end those with worse credit will still pay more than those with better credit, the Freedom Caucus letter outlines “this shortsighted and counterproductive policy demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of the necessity of accurately tailoring housing finance products to credit risk and establishes a perverse incentive that punishes hardworking Americans for their fiscal prudence.”

Rep. Byrd and Sen. Moore now want Georgia’s treasurer to join the opposition.

“We ask again that you join your colleagues in leading the effort for our citizens against this policy and we will enthusiastically support and promote your efforts to do so,” they wrote Mr. McCoy.

In further criticizing the plan, opponents point to the way pushing home loans to Americans with poor credit histories was a key factor in the financial crisis that rocked the country back in 2008.

“The fact that a proposal flaunting credit risk is being openly pushed by FHFA just a decade-and-a-half after the housing-led 2008 financial crisis is staggering,” the Freedom Caucus letter added.

For additional information, please email legals@newspress.com or call (805) 564-5247.

are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (844) 477-7869 or visit this Internet Web site WWW.STOXPOSTING.COM, using the file number assigned to this case 105272-CA. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: Effective January 1, 2021, you may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant