DeSantis expected to make it official tonight
Path to peace in the Middle East
Florida governor likely will announce today he’s running for Republican presidential nomination - A4
UCSB student Tessa Veksler sees progress during trip to United Arab Emirates - B1
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Firearm discovered in carry-on at Santa Barbara Airport By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
COURTESY TSA
The Transportation Security Administration reported that this firearm was discovered Tuesday morning in carry-on luggage at the Santa Barbara Airport.
Brad Paisley raises his voice for Unity Shoppe Proceeds from Santa Barbara Bowl concert go to local nonprofit By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Grammy-winning country artist Brad Paisley made a tour stop in Santa Barbara on Sunday to benefit Unity Shoppe. Mr. Paisley’s concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl raised money for the Santa Barbara nonprofit. Unity Shoppe is dedicated to providing free essential services to residents impacted by temporary conditions of poverty, natural disaster or a health crisis. The organization provides residents with groceries, clothing and other essentials, as well as job training. Mr. Paisley and his family have been heavily involved in the organization, volunteering their time and donating money to help Unity Shoppe since learning about it. Mr. Paisley, who is also a parttime Santa Barbara resident, has also opened a nonprofit grocery store in his hometown of Nashville, which was inspired by Unity Shoppe. Angela Miller-Bevan, executive director of Unity Shoppe, told the NewsPress that although the final fundraising amount from Sunday’s concert is not going to be released to the public, Unity Shoppe is thankful for the support. The donations will go directly back to the organization and help with resources that may be needed. The organization has experienced a 50% increase in client numbers over last year, and this fundraiser is a direct help to these new clients. For more information on Unity Shoppe, visit www. unityshoppe.org. email: abahnsen@newspress. com
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TSA Public Affairs. “What I do know is that firearms have never been allowed in the cabin of the aircraft, so why someone would bring one in 2023 is unexplainable,” Ms. Dankers told the News-Press. “The first rule of firearm safety is to know where your firearm is at all times.” This is the first firearm discovered in carry-on luggage at SBA so far this year. In 2022, TSA officers discovered two firearms at the security checkpoint. “Because the discovery of even
one firearm in carry-on luggage is one too many, I am asking firearm owners who choose to travel with a gun on a commercial aircraft to take a few minutes to review the policies and procedures for traveling with a firearm,” said Anita Minaei, the TSA federal security director at SBA. TSA will review the circumstances of the firearm incident and impose a civil penalty against the passenger. TSA evaluates each incident on a case-by-case basis. email: abahnsen@newspress.com
Cracking down on parklets Santa Barbara City Council enforces ADA requirements, denies appeals of decision to remove them By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Santa Barbara City Council took a hard line Tuesday on enforcing ADA accessibility requirements, voting to deny appeals filed by the owners of six outdoor parklets who received notices to take them down for noncompliance. Despite voicing empathy for some of the owners’ particular circumstances, council members said they had no choice but to enforce federal law requiring such facilities to provide accessibility for people with disabilities. “As the council, we have demanded that staff get out there” to make sure the parklets are ADA-accessible, Mayor Randy Rowse said. “The lion’s share” of the parklets are in compliance, he said, and there was no room for any exceptions. “It’s up to us to enforce the law of the land,” he said. The parklet owners filing an appeal were Taza Mediterranean Street Kitchen, 413 State St.; Ca’Dario Restaurant, 37 E. Victoria St.; Courthouse Tavern 129 E. Anapamu St.; Trattoria Vittoria, 30 E. Victoria St.; Foxtail Kitchen and Bar, 14 E. Cota St.; and Folded Hills Wintery, 1294 Coast Village Road, Montecito. Council members addressed one appeal at a time, with Mayor Rowse noting that they had been instructed by City Attorney Sarah Knecht to vote only to deny or uphold each appeal, without the option of allowing a parklet to continue operating if it followed certain conditions. Staff said the noncompliant parklets had been inspected multiple times, and that multiple notices of violations had been delivered in person, posted or sent by certified mail, until the final notice of removal was issued April 17. When staff checked in early May, three of the parklets had corrected their violations: Ca’Dario, Foxtail and Trattoria Vittoria. Taza and Courthouse Tavern were still in noncompliance. And Folded Hills had removed its parklet due to construction on the Olive Mill Road roundtable. Taza co-owner Hitesh Ambalal said his parents and newborn were in the hospital while the restaurant was going through the inspection and enforcement
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A Transportation Security Administration officer at the Santa Barbara Airport discovered a male traveler bringing a loaded firearm onto an aircraft Tuesday morning. The firearm was discovered during a regular X-ray screening of carryon luggage at the airport’s security checkpoint. The firearm was found when a TSA officer spotted the image of a handgun on the X-ray screen.
TSA notified officers with the Santa Barbara Airport Police, who responded to the security checkpoint and removed the firearm. The passenger, who was traveling to Phoenix, was escorted out of the security checkpoint by law enforcement. TSA didn’t release the passenger’s name. The firearm was a loaded 9 mm Beretta 92FS that was accompanied by a magazine loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition. “I cannot speak to the motives of the traveler,” said Lorie Dankers of
One dead in crash on Highway 101
Editor’s note: Liam Hibbert, a New York University student, joins the News-Press this week as an intern reporter. By LIAM HIBBERT NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS
Ca’Dario is among the restaurants whose appeal of a decision to remove their parklets was denied Tuesday by the Santa Barbara City Council. The council is removing the parklets for failure to comply with federal requirements for accessibility for people with disabilities. The council voted 7-0 to reject Ca ’Dario’s appeal.
process, and he “kind of shut down,” allowing “a series of bad managers” to handle things while he was absent. “Up until last month I didn’t even know about it,” he said. Two managers have since been fired, he said, and the restaurant has corrected the violations, a small gap between the concrete and the parklet and a table that was not ADA-compliant. “The table was an oversight,” he said. “I didn’t even realize it was not in compliance.” Despite this, he admitted, “There was no excuse for it. I wish that there was. But none of it was done in bad faith.” Councilmember Mike Jordan said he appreciated Mr. Ambalal telling his personal story “and laying down on your sword. It has not gone unappreciated. “But I cannot find a way through this but to not deny the appeal. Multiple chances were given over a long, long, long time for a process that should not even need noticing. It’s the law.” Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez, however, said he could not vote to shut down Taza’s parklet.
“I’ve spoken to businesses on the 400 block, and I know how difficult it is. It is my district. I know it has not been treated the same as the other blocks and other streets. Obviously there were errors made, and it has been made clear he is rectifying it. I will uphold the appeal.” The council voted 6 to his 1 no vote to deny the appeal. Simon Clark, representing Ca’Dario, insisted the restaurant was not properly noticed, but that the business nevertheless reduced the lip on its ramp to make it ADA-compliant. He complained the restaurant was not given a picture of “what a good table” looked like and so purchased one that was not ADAcompliant. “But we did it in good faith.” Such tables are supposed to be at least 30 inches wide and 19 inches deep. “I apologize and regret it, but we did assiduously try to correct it. We did our best and ask your indulgence for keeping our parklet,” Mr. Clark told the council. Councilmember Kristen Sneddon said there was no
A man died early Tuesday morning after the car he was riding in flipped as he entered northbound Highway 101 at Fairview Avenue in Goleta. The 55-year-old passenger died after the blue 1999 Ford Ranger came to rest on its roof after spinning out at around 5:15 a.m. The driver, Pedro Contreras, 64, suffered minor injuries and was transported for caution after the California Highway Patrol, Santa Barbara County Fire Department and American Medical Response ambulance responded to the scene. Drugs and alcohol are not suspected to have played a role. The crash is still under investigation by CHP, which did not release the passenger’s name.
excuse for the “lack of oversight compared to the benefit given to operate in city space. That comes with additional responsibilities. I have no confidence going forward that anything will be remediated.” Mayor Rowse noted that Ca’Dario’s is one of his favorite places to eat. “But these are black-and-white situations to me.” The council vote? 7-0 to deny the appeal. No one spoke on behalf of Courthouse Tavern. Staff noted that the restaurant purchased a new table, but it was taller than the maximum height of 34 inches “so it still is not in compliance. With no discussion, the council voted 7-0 to deny the appeal. Owner Vittoria Comin urged the council to uphold Trattoria Vittoria’s appeal, saying its parklet provided a “huge public benefit” by allowing people to eat outside, including their patrons with disabilities. She admitted “a failing on our part” but noted that when she took over as general manager, her grandfather was in the middle of
(The Center Square) — Nine Republican governors met with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Monday to discuss a joint border security plan. They did so after they, along with 15 of their colleagues, last week pledged to support Texas’ border security mission,
Please see PARKLETS on A4
Please see ABBOTT on A4
email: lhibbert@newspress. com
GOP governors meet with Abbott By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR
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L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 2-3-31-42-45 Meganumber: 19
Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 2-7-3-9
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 17-18-21-34-38
Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 08-03-01 Time: 1:43.31
Monday’s POWERBALL: 9-38-48-52-68 Meganumber: 25
Sudoku................... B3 Weather................. A4
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 6-3-4 / Wednesday’s Midday 5-8-2