Redistricting map approved
Isla Vista during counterculture era
Santa Barbara City Council OKs boundaries for districts that elect council members - A3
USCB photo exhibit looks at community during the 1970s - B1
Our 166th Year
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Prices rise 8.5% — highest in 40 years By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER
DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS
Santa Barbara City Council member Kristen Sneddon and Mayor Randy Rowse participate in discussions during the early moments of Tuesday’s meeting. Later in the meeting, the council heard a presentation about homelessness in Santa Barbara.
Tackling homelessness Santa Barbara City Council hears report
By KAITLYN SCHALLHORN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
About 822 people in Santa Barbara are experiencing homelessness in 2022, according to point-in-time data provided to the city council Tuesday. And that number, which may in actuality be much higher, is about 41% of the countywide homeless population (about 1,962 people), according to figures provided by Elizabeth Stotts, the community development programs specialist for Santa Barbara. From cleaning up encampments to law enforcement tasked with reunifying unhoused individuals with family members, the Santa Barbara City Council heard Tuesday a bevy of ways the city
handles those who experience homelessness. Additionally, Ms. Stotts gave an update on the Rose Garden Inn project, which served 63 people from July 5, 2021, to Jan. 31. Of the people served, 12 individuals were placed into permanent or other safe housing, and 33 obtained necessary documentation for housing such as identification or social security cards, Ms. Stotts said. Thirteen people were connected to mental health and substance abuse treatments. However, 20 people were asked to leave the program for not following the rules, and 27 returned to the streets at the program’s end, partially due to COVID-19 outbreaks causing
closures at shelters, Ms. Stotts said. Still, the program, which ended up costing about $2.31 million, was considered to be a success, especially given its short period. Ms. Stotts noted individuals taken from encampments are particularly adverse to congregate housing and document readiness can be a lengthy process. The Santa Barbara Police Department has added a coresponse officer, who is trained to help people in crisis and partnered with a licensed mental health professional. That team has responded to about 600 calls of people in crisis, including many who are experiencing homelessness and dealing with a mental health or substance abuse
issue, officials said. Additionally, the department works to reunify unhoused individuals with family members. This was done successfully 63 times last year, according to a report. An encampment response team, under the Environmental Services Division of the Sustainability and Resilience Department, assesses reported non-urgent encampments or reports of individuals in need of assistance. Officials said at least a 72-hour notice is posted at a campsite prior to the cleanup, with priority leaning toward areas that pose an urgent public safety and health risk. Otherwise, the team Please see HOMELESS on A3
RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTOS
At left, the City Council heard an update about the Rose Garden Inn project, which housed 63 people from July 5, 2021, to Jan. 31. At right, a homeless camp stands last year outside Santa Barbara City Hall.
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(The Center Square) — Newly released federal inflation data show that prices continue to rise at the fastest rate in four decades, continuing the trend of soaring inflation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Consumer Price Index, a key indicator of inflation, which showed prices rose an additional 1.2% in March, part of an 8.5% spike in the past 12 months. “Increases in the indexes for gasoline, shelter and food were the largest contributors to the seasonally adjusted all items increase,” BLS said. “The gasoline index rose 18.3% in March and accounted for over half of the all items monthly increase; other energy component indexes also increased. The food index rose 1%, and the food at home index rose 1.5%.” Energy prices have been the biggest contributor. Americans have seen gas prices rise significantly over the past year. According to the American Automobile Association, the average national gas price is $4.10, up from $2.86 the same time last year.
In California, the price has remained well above the national average. On Monday, AAA reported the state’s average was $5.75 a gallon, and Santa Barbara County’s average was a cent higher: $5.85 a gallon (which is the same as Los Angeles County). Ventura County’s average was slightly higher: $5.87 gallon. San Luis Obispo County saw an average of $5.94 a gallon. “The all items index continued to accelerate, rising 8.5% for the 12 months ending March, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending December 1981,” the BLS said. “The all items less food and energy index rose 6.5%, the largest 12-month change since the period ending August 1982. The energy index rose 32% over the last year, and the food index increased 8.8%, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending May 1981.” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki preempted the report Monday, saying officials expected inflation to be “extraordinarily elevated” but blamed it on “Putin’s price hike.” The Biden administration has consistently blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, but critics Please see INFLATION on A4
Sheriff discusses budget priorities Brown cites tackling opioid crisis, funding human trafficking detective By KAITLYN SCHALLHORN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The opioid crisis remains the most difficult challenge that Santa Barbara County law enforcement faces, Sheriff Bill Brown told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. Sheriff Brown presented his department’s budget needs during the board’s marathon series of budget workshops this week. Like other departments, Sheriff Brown said law enforcement has had to deal with staff shortages (particularly in the patrol and custody areas) and challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. COURTESY PHOTO Additionally, public safety has Sheriff Bill Brown dealt with the proliferation of illicit drugs; Sheriff Brown said In its recommended $181.9 the surge was nationwide, not million budget presented just in Santa Barbara. Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office Just last year, Santa Barbara said it would like to add staffing County had 133 drug overdose to its co-response team to deaths — the highest amount increase coverage, particularly yet, the sheriff said. in the North and South “This is the single most County areas. This additional dangerous and difficult staffing would allow for challenge that we have in our additional follow-ups and client community that is resulting engagement. in an extraordinary number The addition of the seven fullof unnecessary deaths in our community,” Sheriff Brown said, time equivalents would cost about $1.3 million in ongoing pointing to a new collaborative effort between law enforcement, funding. Additionally, the office business leaders, local requested five FTEs for its government and others meant narcotics enforcement team to cut down on deaths. “I really believe this is a moment we Please see SUPERVISORS on A3 need to seize as a community.”
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 2-7-10-33-37 Meganumber: 11
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 2-5-6-8
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 3-13-20-27-35
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 12-04-11 Time: 1:43.67
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 5-7-24-31-34 Meganumber: 4
Sudoku................... B3 Weather................. A4
Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 8-8-0 / Wednesday’s Midday 5-7-7