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T H U R SDAY, DE C E M BE R 2 2 , 2 02 2
Help sought for Ukraine President Zelensky addresses Congress; Santa Barbara, Goleta nonprofits provide further assistance
Leaders denounce antisemitic fliers Local officials call on the community to reject ‘bigotry in all of its forms’ By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
A wide range of city, county and state officials joined Jewish leaders Wednesday in denouncing fringe hate group group members who blanketed homes on the Mesa with antisemitic fliers over the weekend. In a joint statement, they noted that Santa Barbara is home to a thriving and diverse Jewish population with a strong sense of belonging to the larger community. “Perhaps that is why our area was recently targeted by a small and fringe hate group seeking attention and revenue by distributing virulently antisemitic fliers designed to heighten concern, reaction and financial support from their own supporters. “We won’t address the content of the flyers to avoid amplifying them, but the conduct warrants response — particularly in the context of rising antisemitism nationally and globally.” The troubling trends of antisemitism are mirrored in rising hate and bigotry
FYI PHOTO COURTESY SHELTERBOX USA
Lydia, a Ukrainian resident, stands on her property, which has been hit by Russian missiles. She talked to Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox USA about what her home needs to be bearable for living. “The roof needs repair, snow and rain come through. We brought windows at our own expense, but others still need repair.”
Anyone with information about the fliers with antisemitic comments or in possession of surveillance footage of their distribution in their neighborhood is encouraged to contact Lt. A. Baker, Santa Barbara Police Department Investigative Division, at 805-897-3754 or abaker@sbpd.com.
targeting black, Latino, AAPI, LGBTQ+, Muslim and other often marginalized or minority groups, they said. “Whether fueled by animus, political division, social isolation or ignorance, we reject the diminution of others’ value based on their identity and immutable characteristics that contribute to it. “This disgusting incident intended to spread hate and fear provides an opportunity, as do other recent incidents targeting other groups, to reaffirm our conviction in the value of a diverse and inclusive community that respects and embraces the wide range of experiences, beliefs and backgrounds that define it. “We encourage community members, Jewish and non-Jewish, who would like to respond to this specific incident to join the Jewish community in displaying candles in a window of your home during Hanukkah, which continues until the evening of Dec. 26. You could post an image of a Hanukkah menorah or light candles of your own. “Our community is at its best when we come together to reject bigotry in all of its forms.” The statement is signed by the following Jewish leaders: Dan Meisel, Regional Director; Ashley Myers, Asst. Regional Director; and Mark Goldstein, Regional Board Chair, of the Anti Defamation League, Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties. Rabbi Steve Cohen, Cantor Mark Childs, Rabbi Daniel Brenner, Elizabeth Gaynes, Executive Director; Marcy Wimbish, Co-Board President; Please see FLIERS on A4
City sees better compliance with rules on parklets By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER COURTESY PHOTO
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stood before a joint session of Congress Wednesday and urged lawmakers to approve nearly $50 billion in additional aid during the Russian invasion. “Your money is not charity,” said President Zelensky, thanking Congress for its previous aid packages. “It’s an investment in global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.” At that point, all the lawmakers stood and applauded.
HELPING UKRAINE To assist ShelterBox USA’s efforts for Ukraine, visit shelterboxusa.org/winter. To assist Direct Relief’s efforts, go to directrelief.org.
PHOTO COURTESY SHELTERBOX USA
ShelterBox USA President Kerri Murray stands at a train station at the Polish border with Ukraine. She plans to visit Ukraine in January.
“Russia — Russia could stop its aggression, really if it wanted to,” President Zelensky said. “But you can speed up our victory. I know it.” “The battle continues, and we have to defeat the Kremlin on the battlefield,” he said. President Zelensky emphasized that the salvation of Ukraine is in the world’s best interests. “The battle is not only for the life, freedom and security of Ukrainians or any other nation which Russia attempts to conquer,” he told Congress. “This struggle will define in what world our children and grandchildren will live, and then their children
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and grandchildren. “It will define whether it will be a democracy of Ukrainians and for Americans, for all,” he said. “This battle cannot be frozen or postponed,” President Zelensky said. “It cannot be ignored, hoping that the ocean or something else will provide protection. “From the United States to China, from Europe to Latin America and from Africa to Australia, the world is too interconnected and too interdependent to allow someone to stay inside and at the same time to feel safe when such a battle continues,” he said.
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Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox USA adds a rapid response project to help Ukraine. B1. “Our two nations are allies in the battle, and next year will be a turning point. I know it,” said President Zelensky, who was making his first foreign trip since the start of the war. The Ukrainian president, who met earlier in the day with Please see UKRAINE on A4
email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com
LOTTERY
i n s i de Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A4
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The number of downtown dining parklets out of compliance with Santa Barbara’s new stormwater runoff requirements continues to diminish, with only 15 left to make the needed changes to meet the new rules, city officials said. The first round of inspections showed only 17 out of the 50 outdoor parklets between the 400 and 1300 blocks of State Street had undergone the changes needed to ensure stormwater could flow freely down lower State Street, while 33 were not. A second round of inspections noted 12 parklets remained noncompliant, with four more needed to be inspected. “Following inspection of the remaining four parklets, we now have a total of 15 that were non-complaint as of the last inspection,” Sarah Clark, downtown plaza parking manager, told the News-Press. “Several of these businesses have contacted us and are working to bring their facilities into compliance. “The first round of administrative citations should go out this week,” she said. “I don’t know the exact compliance date
yet. We will schedule the next round of inspections following that compliance date.” The deadline set by the Santa Barbara City Council was Dec. 1. The goal was to allow rainwater to flow uninterrupted down the street instead of being allowed to accumulate and flood storefronts and sidewalks. In most cases, restaurants have complied with the new requirements by cutting drainage channels and using steel diamond plate to bridge the gap. Others have pulled their parklets away from the curb and made them narrow. A few have removed platforms and switched to portable, at-grade designs. Parklets that were in operation as of Sept. 20 are not required to be made portable, so many of the existing facilities are not. Newly constructed parklets must be designed to be portable. Staff has vowed that in the event of a big storm, any parklet that is not portable and blocks the flow of stormwater will be moved to ensure there is no flooding onto the sidewalks, and that the owner will be billed for the expense.
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 1-3-17-23-42 Mega: 14
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 1-0-1-3
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 3-4-33-36-52 Mega: 17
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 6-17-28-29-35
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 07-09-01 Time: 1:46.65
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 12-15-24-34-59 Meganumber: 14
Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 3-3-9 / Midday 3-9-1