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Homeless facility debated Santa Barbara County decides to seek money, but tells the city of Santa Maria this doesn’t mean the permanent housing will be established
Santa Barbara City Council OKs rent control analysis By KAITLYN SCHALLHORN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
After some back-and-forth on the scope of previous actions taken on rent control measures, the Santa Barbara City Council opted to move forward with a rent control economic analysis. Staff had suggested up to $200,000 would be needed for the consultant-contracted study, a figure Mayor Randy Rowse called “merely a down payment.” During its proceedings Tuesday evening, the council also directed staff to submit a proposal regarding the scope of work needed for the study. Mayor Rowse, along with
Councilmembers Mike Jordan and Eric Friedman, voted against the measure. “What we’re talking about today is whether we want to take the first steps toward determining what is right for us in our community, what’s necessary to stabilize our community here in Santa Barbara with Santa Barbara data and with Santa Barbara numbers,” Councilmember Meagan Harmon said. “If we hope to solve the housing crisis in any meaningful way for today’s residents, we cannot ignore regulatory reform either.” But others on the council Please see COUNCIL on A4
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
Supervisor Steve Lavignino said the proposed facility for homeless seniors and transitional youth at a Santa Maria motel should be reviewed by the Santa Maria City Council. He also said seeking money for the facility now doesn’t mean the county has decided in favor of it.
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
There are still off ramps. That’s what Supervisor Steve Lavignino said, explaining that the pursuit of a $17.9 millionplus state grant doesn’t mean the county has made a final decision in favor of a new Santa Maria facility to provide permanent housing for homeless seniors and youths transitioning out of foster care. But he and his fellow supervisors agreed they didn’t want to miss out on getting the Homekey grant, should the board ultimately decide to convert a Motel 6 on Santa Maria’s Main Street into a facility with 75 units. So the board voted 6-0 Tuesday
CITY OF SANTA MARIA
“I have a responsibility along with the (city) council to keep our residents safe,” Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino told the Board of Supervisors, referring to criminal activity at the North Depot Street apartments. She said the county Housing Authority should focus on resolving those issues.
to pursue the grant despite objections from Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, who called during the meeting and pointed out the criminal activity at the North Depot Street apartments, designed for low-income residents such as veterans. They’re operated by the county Housing Authority, which is the same agency that would oversee the proposed, renovated Motel 6 homeless shelter. The board’s 6-0 vote means the county is allocating nearly $3.5 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the HOME American Rescue Plan Consortium funds for the facility at 1007 Main St. That money is the local matching funds required to qualify Santa Barbara County for the $17.9 million-plus Homekey grant, which would go toward the purchase and renovation of the motel. Supervisor Lavignino, whose district includes Santa Maria, said he doesn’t want to establish the facility without the city’s support. He encouraged the Santa Maria City Council to put it on its agenda. “I don’t feel this project would work without the city’s acceptance,” Supervisor Lavignino said. “They (city council members) need to vote on it — thumbs up or thumbs down. “I move that we go forward with the recommended action with the caveat that we have potential off ramps in the future,” Supervisor Lavignino said. “It doesn’t mean the project is approved.” Supervisor Bob Nelson, whose district includes part of Santa Maria, seconded Supervisor Lavignino’s motion. Earlier in the meeting, Mayor Patino said problems at the 80unit Depot Street apartments, officially called The Residences
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Indoor mask mandate extended to March 3 COVID-19 cases decline at Main Jail By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
“I’m not ready to sign off” on the facility for the homeless, Supervisor Bob Nelson said Tuesday. But he added he would support an application for a state grant so the money is there, should the city of Santa Maria and Santa Barbara County decide to go forward and convert a Motel 6.
at Depot Street, should be resolved before another location is considered for a homeless shelter. “The Depot Street apartments have been plagued with criminal activity from the beginning,” Mayor Patino said, noting things have only gotten worse. “There have been shootings in front of the apartments, shooting in the next block, vehicles being broken into, gang activity and one attempted murder. Calls have gone to over a thousand. A veteran said, ‘I don’t feel safe living there.’ “That should give us all cause
for concern,” the mayor said, adding, “I have a responsibility along with the council to keep our residents safe.” Mayor Patino said she was told the Depot Street apartments would have a positive impact. “I feel I have been lied to, and in turn, I had lied to our residents of the neighborhood.” She added that the city of Santa Maria remains committed to finding housing for low-income residents, but asked why the city Please see BOARD on A4
The indoor mask mandate has been extended another month in Santa Barbara County. The county Public Health Department said the extension would last until 5 p.m. March 3. The department explained the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that Santa Barbara County and California have a high community transmission level. That was the CDC’s determination as of Jan. 28. The county’s case rate was 180.37 per 100,000, with a test positivity of 17.4%, as of Jan. 21, according to the health department. “The CDC continues to recommend fully vaccinated individuals wear a face covering in public indoor settings in areas with substantial or high community transmission rates,” the department said in a news release. The full health order is at publichealthsbc.org/healthofficer-orders. You also can learn more about the local response to the pandemic at
publichealthsbc.org/vaccine or call 2-1-1. On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department reported 380 new cases and five deaths. It also said 70.6% of the eligible 5-and-older population is vaccinated. In other COVID-19 developments, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department reported Tuesday that COVID-19 cases are declining at the Main Jail in Santa Barbara. The jail has cleared 10 of the previously reported COVIDpositive inmate cases, with no new cases identified since Friday, according to public information officer Raquel Zick. Ms. Zick said the outbreak has featured 252 cases, which includes 27 active cases, 221 recovered and four inmates who were released. No inmates are hospitalized, and 48 inmates have reported being symptomatic, 203 are asymptomatic, and one declined to comment about the presence or absence of symptoms, Ms. Zick said. email: dmason@newspress.com
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KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS
Signs advising visitors of the local mask mandate are displayed at the Santa Barbara Public Market.
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Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 9-10-22-25-34 Mega: 27
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