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Santa Barbara News-Press: October 05, 2022

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Quite a feather in United Way’s cap

Anaheim faces lawsuit over housing State of California files suit against city over alleged violations of laws - A2

Our 167th Year

Santa Barbara County nonprofit raises record-breaking $347,000 at its recent Red Feather Ball - B1

75¢

W E D N E S DAY, O C T O B E R 5 , 2 0 2 2

A true lady with a big heart

SB City Council OKs money for affordable housing trust Council members say trust could address permanent housing for the homeless

Santa Barbara philanthropist Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree leaves legacy of helping the community

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

In an unexpected but farreaching move, the Santa Barbara City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve more than $726,000 in Human Services funds to help those in need, then set aside $250,000 from that money to create an affordable housing trust. The council did so at the urging of Councilmembers Eric Friedman and Meagan Harmon, who said a new affordable housing trust could finally address the need to build permanent housing for the homeless. “It would send a strong message to the philanthropic community that we are taking the housing situation seriously,”

Councilmember Friedman said. In short order, the council tweaked recommendations from staff regarding approving the Human Service funds so that nonprofit agencies could apply for two-year grants instead of just one and must seek a minimum of $25,000 but could apply for more. The council also directed staff to add reducing gun violence and stressing suicide prevention to its list of priorities when considering grant applications. But the most compelling difference was the decision to allocate $250,000 of the $726,150 approved for the affordable housing trust, with direction to staff to return to council with a plan on how to create and implement that trust. Please see TRUST on A4

DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS COURTESY PHOTOS

Westmont College President Gayle D. Beebe talks to Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, who generously donated to the Montecito college and other local institutions. “I will truly miss the joy that accompanied every meeting I had with her,” Mr. Beebe told the News-Press about Lady RidleyTree, who died Monday morning with her daughter Suzette at her side.

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree — a Santa Barbara philanthropist known for her generous, longtime support of local hospitals, the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Westmont College and other community organizations— has died. After struggling with an illness over the past several months, Lady Ridley-Tree, who made a difference in the community and in the lives of countless patients, passed away Monday morning with her daughter Suzette by her side. Her death was announced by the All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Montecito, of which Lady Ridley Tree was a parishioner and considered to be a dear friend. “We all knew Leslie as a person of faith who found both solace and strength for her journey at All Saints-by-the-Sea, her church for many, many years,” the Rev. Hank Mitchel, the church interim rector, said in a statement. “God’s goodness shined through her. We will all miss her caring, loving presence, her welcoming smile and her gentle kindness very

much.” Westmont College President Gayle D. Beebe praised Lady Ridley-Tree in an email to the News-Press. “She’s one of the most remarkable human beings to walk the face of the earth, and I loved being with her,” Mr. Beebe said. “She could be serious, and she could be incredibly joyful and funny, all in the same conversation. Every time we were together, I would come away with a deeper appreciation for driving issues, a richer understanding of life and a greater commitment to efforts that make life so worth living.” Lady Ridley-Tree donated to many local organizations, including Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, which bears her name. “Lady Ridley-Tree was the honorary campaign chair of the effort to elevate the dream of a new cancer center from vision to reality,” Dr. Kurt N. Ransohoff, CEO and chief medical officer of Sansum Clinic, said in a statement. “She often spoke about the importance of offering worldclass cancer care within our own community, and the special comfort and healing that brings. “Her contribution has allowed Please see RIDLEY-TREE on B4

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As U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, listens, Denis Richard McDonough, the U.S. secretary of veteran affairs, discusses the Honoring Our Pact Act outside the V.A. Clinic in Santa Barbara.

V.A. secretary discusses new law benefiting veterans McDonough visits Santa Barbara to talk about health care for veterans exposed to toxins By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Dr. Kurt N. Ransohoff, CEO and chief medical officer of Sansum Clinic, praised Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree for her support of the RidleyTree Cancer Center. “Lady Ridley-Tree was the honorary campaign chair of the effort to elevate the dream of a new cancer center from vision to reality.”

The U.S. secretary of veteran affairs visited the V.A. clinic in Santa Barbara this week to promote a new law that helps veterans who were exposed to toxic hazards. U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, who cosponsored the Honoring Our Promises to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act, joined Secretary Denis Richard McDonough late Monday afternoon in front of the clinic on Calle Real. It was part of a trip that also took the secretary and congressman to the San Luis Obispo Veterans Center. The legislation expands benefits for more than 3.5 million veterans who were potentially

exposed to toxic and hazardous substances in the line of duty. Signed by President Joe Biden in August, the law concedes exposure to burn pits and airborne hazards by creating presumptions for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers. According to Rep. Carbajal’s office, that shifts the burden of proof off veterans. If a veteran served in a particular area, the federal government will presume the veteran was exposed to toxic substances, meaning the veteran could be eligible for health care and other benefits. Secretary McDonough noted that includes veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or across the Central Command during the last 30 years. Please see CARBAJAL on A4

INSIDE

L O T T E RY RESULTS

Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4

Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 3-22-23-31-44 Meganumber: 8

Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 6-0-3-1

Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: N/A Meganumber: N/A

Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 11-16-23-31-38

Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 12-05-09 Time: 1:48.81

Monday’s POWERBALL: 2-16-22-55-63 Meganumber: 22

Sudoku................... B3 Weather................. A4

Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 1-3-5 / Wednesday’s Midday 9-8-1


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