Seven people die in another mass shooting
Oscar nominees include box office hits
Five men, two women killed at farms in San Mateo County - A3
‘Avatar’ and ‘Top Gun’ sequels are among movies up for best picture - B1
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W E D N E S DAY, J A N UA RY 2 5 , 2 0 2 2
Unsafe on State Street Residents address Santa Barbara City Council about aggressive homeless people By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Santa Barbara City Council Tuesday got an update on the State Street Master Plan and its focus on turning lower State Street into a future haven for pedestrians to shop and dine — by keeping the downtown portion of the city’s main artery closed to traffic. But council members first had to deal with the reality of today’s State Street. Several public speakers talked about problems they and the city face right now in the form of aggressive homeless people who are violent, threaten, vandalize, panhandle and generally make residents feel unsafe. Judy Frank from East Beach said she and a companion recently took a stroll up State Street and felt increasingly uncomfortable and vulnerable as they left the downtown area and the security that light from the restaurants and bars there provided. Along the way, she said they saw more and more homeless people lying or sitting in store doorways and the area became more and more dark, vacant and run down. “I never want to take this walk again,” she said. Maybe if council members took the same walk they did, she said, they might take more steps to protect the city and its residents. Jonathan Pu’u, owner of Pu’u Muay Thai Santa Barbara, a martial arts studio on State Street, told how he’s been personally threatened no less than five times, once by a man wielding a hatchet. He talked about how a transient set their Dumpster on fire, how he had to clean up human fecal matter, how another transient exposed himself to staff and then urinated in front of his business, how some homeless people are openly dealing drugs on State Street, and how they’ve had to deal with handful of drug overdoses. And Rebecca Brand spoke about how she heard a rock hit the front window of Rudy’s restaurant as she walked by on Christmas Eve and watched it shatter right in front
DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS
Jonathan Pu’u talks to the Santa Barbara City Council about the public safety problems posed by homeless individuals on State Street.
State Street businessman describes being threatened Jonathan Pu’u talks about being besieged by transients By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
From left, Rebecca Brand, Judy Frank, Tracey Singh and Jonathan Pu’u attend the Santa Barbara City Council meeting. All four addressed the council about public safety issues related to homeless individuals.
of her. She also told about how a homeless woman who was there attacked her, grabbed her phone and hurt her in the process. She said she posted what happened on her local social media site, and to date it has received 1,139 comments. “I am a victim,” Ms. Brand said. “This has to stop. They have to be held accountable. It is your duty to keep people safe.” After the public comments,
council members moved through their agenda to get to the main event: the progress report on the State Street Master Plan. Along the way, they approved a new mayor pro tempore: Alejandra Gutierrez, named three council members to the Ordinance Committee: Oscar Gutierrez (new chair), Kristen Sneddon and Mike Jordan, and selected three council members to the Finance Committee: Eric Friedman (chair,
continuing in his role), Meagan Harmon and Alejandra Gutierrez. Then the floor was opened for Tess Harbor, the city’s State Street master planner, to update the council on the progress made so far, and much of it focused on how hard she and others have worked to reach out to all segments of the community and get their comments about how they see the future of Please see COUNCIL on A4
Jonathan Pu’u knows firsthand about crime on State Street. He’s experienced it. A lot of it. As in being besieged by some violent transients he describes as being high on crack cocaine. And one of them was wielding a hatchet. In a social media post earlier this month, Mr. Pu’u describes a series of encounters he had with aggressive homeless men both inside and outside his business at 1107 State St. “I was threatened with a hatchet in our business by a crackhead on State Street,” he said. “Police didn’t come right away until I got him to leave, and he went to neighboring businesses threatening them. They then showed up. Not sure if he got charged or not.
“I had another crackhead come in and threaten/stalk me on State Street in our business and get in my face and refuse to leave. Took two hours for police to come. The guy is still doing this. Saw him yesterday again, too. “Had another crackhead who exposed himself and urinated in front of our business door during operating hours with people inside, exposing himself to people and children. The cops wouldn’t arrest him and he proceeded to sleep in front of our shop for a week on the sidewalk. “Had a guy threatening to throw a brick through my car window behind our business and the police no-showed. “Also a garbage fire in the dumpster behind our business at 3 a.m. Cops and FD came. Don’t know if arrest was made.” Please see PU’U on A4
SB Bucket Brigade heads to Orcutt Volunteers to help homeowners hit by storms
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
At left, the State Street Master Plan does not cover bicyclists, such as this one who is riding past a sign saying only pedestrians are allowed in this lower State Street block on the afternoon of the Santa Barbara Farmers Market. Bicyclists are reportedly covered under interim plans for State Street. At right, Mayor Randy Rowse listens to the public comments about the homeless situation.
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The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade, in partnership with Direct Relief and the Santa Barbara Foundation, will deploy volunteers and heavy equipment to North County this Saturday to help homeowners recover from the recent flooding. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., volunteers will gather in the 1100 block of Parkland Drive in Orcutt to remove debris, replace damaged drywall and insulation, dig out silt from homes, and help restore yards damaged by flooding. “This Saturday is the fifth
anniversary of the Bucket Brigade. What better way to celebrate the spirit of community than to reach out and help our neighbors after the recent flooding?” said Abe Powell, co-founder and CEO of Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade. Activities include digging, sorting trash, moving dirt and garden materials, removing and installing drywall, getting dirty, having fun, making new friends, and being a hero to someone in need. Lunch for volunteers will be provided by the Bucket Brigade with support from Goleta-based Please see BRIGADE on A4
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 7-16-22-31-42 Meganumber: 21
Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 6-6-1-4
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 9-19-21-33-36
Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 10-11-09 Time: 1:48.85
Monday’s POWERBALL: 12-31-47-58-60 Meganumber: 23
Sudoku................... B3 Weather................. A4
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 7-6-9 / Wednesday’s Midday 8-0-8