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T H U R SDAY, M AY 19, 2 02 2
Search and rescue in Ukraine
House passes baby formula measures
Santa Barbara County Fire Department captain talks about task force, which recently returned from embattled nation
Carbajal talks to News-Press about infant formula, gas prices By KAITLYN SCHALLHORN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
As depleted infant formula shelves and surging gas prices cause apprehension among consumers, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal remains confident the federal government is on track to alleviate the pressure. The congressman expressed that confidence during a NewsPress interview, prior to the House voting Wednesday in favor of two infant formula measures with a bipartisan majority. Rep. Carbajal voted for both bills. They now head to the Senate. Families across the nation have scrambled to find the needed nutrients for children — often turning to social media and offering to pay exorbitant shipping fees or other costs. Yet, not every family, especially those who utilize programs like WIC, can afford to do so. California has a relatively low out-of-stock rate of infant formula compared to other states — but the impact of the shortage, exacerbated by the temporary closing of a major factory in Michigan, is still deeply felt. One of the two measures passed by the House would authorize $28 million for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to purchase formula from Chile, Ireland, Mexico and the Netherlands. “I’ve heard many of the concerns, and they’re extremely valid,” Rep. Carbajal told the News-Press this week, maintaining his commitment to addressing financial concerns felt by constituents. “We’re taking swift action in Congress,
NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal
and I believe the White House is doing the same, to make sure formula is available on the shelves and that it’s safe formula for families to be able to get to feed their babies.” The other measure, which passed Wednesday in the House, would loosen restrictions on what types of formula are covered by the WIC program. It’s called the Access to Baby Formula Act. “The good news: We have been able to move swiftly to address this challenge,” Rep. Carbajal said. “Certainly, this was a real scare and wake-up call again, which is all part of what we learned through this pandemic. We can never take our supply chain limitations and challenges lightly. We need to address and have operational plans in place so that if any critical product Please see FORMULA on A6
COURTESY PHOTOS
Denys Monastyrsky, the interior minister of Ukraine, left, shakes hands with Sam Stein of the Light Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, a team of volunteer firefighters who went to Ukraine to help local firefighters.
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
A team of 11 volunteer firefighters — the Light Urban Search and Rescue Task Force — recently returned from spending three weeks in Ukraine, training Ukrainian firefighters in search-and-rescue operations.
The mission was sponsored by Goleta-based Direct Relief and Joint Project Guardian. “They are much better prepared now and have received 150 hours of combat training and search and rescue, as well as (they’re now) working to implement standards procedures as we do in the United States,” Isaac Siegel, chief operating officer for Joint Project Guardian
and a captain at Santa Barbara County Fire Department, told the News-Press. The recent mission to Ukraine was entirely composed of volunteer firefighters and was not funded by the city or county of Santa Barbara. Joint Project Guardian is a nonprofit composed of volunteer firefighters. Please see UKRAINE on A6
Coalition for Neighborhood Schools interviews Christy Lozano Candidate for county superintendent of schools stresses transparency By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Christy Lozano — who is challenging incumbent Dr. Susan Salcido for Santa Barbara County superintendent of schools and
TUNE IN To watch Alice Post’s entire interview with Christy Lozano, a candidate for Santa Barbara County superintendent of schools, go to www. facebook.com/727922259/ videos/298783385652112. The interview will air on Channel 17 at the following times: 2 p.m. today, 5 a.m. Sunday, 11 p.m. Monday and 11 a.m. Tuesday.
stresses she’s determined to make schools more transparent — was interviewed this week at TV Santa Barbara. Alice Post of the Coalition for Neighborhood Schools conducted the interview. The interview was an episode of “The Santa Barbara Forum,” which is produced by Michael Nicholson. The interview can be watched on Facebook and airs today on Channel 17, with repeats on other days. (See the “Tune In” box.) Ms. Lozano has been a physical education teacher and coach and has taught K-12 in the Santa Barbara Unified School District for 18 years. She is also a U.S. Air Force veteran and has been deployed overseas. “I have been working in the Santa Barbara Unified School District for 18 years, and during Please see LOZANO on A5
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By KAITLYN SCHALLHORN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Santa Barbara Planning Commission approved a revised plan for a proposed Milpas Street apartment complex, which included six additional units, earlier this month. The apartment proposal, located at 701 N. Milpas St. at the corner of Ortega Street, will include 16 units designated as moderate-income affordable units. The revised plan, approved by the commission on May 12, increased the number of units from 76 to 82 and changed the architecture from contemporary to Spanish-Mediterranean style. The revision also increased the height from 45 feet to 48 feet with some portions measuring 52 feet. The commercial space was cut to 1,365 square feet while residential amenities grew to include a business center with two conference rooms and a vastly expanded fitness area. “Ultimately, we thought that space would be more valuable as amenities to the tenants in this building than as a marginally performing retail space,” Jarrett Gorin, a principal at Vanguard Planning, told the commission, noting the project as a whole would still benefit the
community. At its meeting, the Planning Commission approved the height exception for the project as well as a front setback modification for parking and a parking modification to allow less than the required number of spaces. The project is slated to include 110 parking spaces. The cutback of retail space or street-facing community involvement caused consternation among some on the commission, but the revised proposal was still approved in a 7-0 vote. “From my perspective, the constraints of this site, the goals of this project, the intent to provide as much housing as possible has been met,” Commissioner Roxana Bonderson said. “We are on the right path here. It is a much better project than we’ve seen before.” Commissioner John M. Baucke said he found the architecture to still be “average at best.” Because of the change to Milpas Street it will bring, Mr. Baucke said the project should be held to a higher standard. The Architectural Board of Review will consider the project for design approval. email: kschallhorn@newspress.com
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KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS
“It’s important that parents are able to see what is being taught to their children,” said Christy Lozano, a candidate for Santa Barbara County superintendent of schools, during an interview conducted by the Coalition for Neighborhood Schools.
Planning Commission OKs Milpas apartment proposal
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