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F R I DAY, J U N E 18 , 2 0 21
NEWS-PRESS SPECIAL REPORT
500 block seeks more police presence
Owners discuss impacts of homelessness on State Street businesses
the homeless population. In the 500 block of State Street, restaurants and bars are back with full capacity indoors and out, just like before the pandemic. And the new parklets lining both sides of the street allow for additional capacity the businesses didn’t have before, resulting in more foot traffic of more people who are seemingly anxious to return to socializing in public places — after 15 months without that ability. Meanwhile, a few businesses in the block reported seeing an increase in homeless individuals
By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
A few business owners on lower State Street are sounding the alarm for more police presence in the area, citing disturbances from
asking restaurant customers for money or food. Kelly Brown, owner of the Natural Cafe in the 500 block, told the News-Press that at his restaurant, the problem has gotten worse than panhandling. Last Friday, he said, one of his cooks required medical treatment after a homeless individual came in through the back door and attempted to steal beer out of the restaurant’s coolers. Mr. Brown said that when the cook tried to halt the individual, the cook was struck in the face and the suspect fled.
For Mr. Brown, “it has reached a tipping point.” “Nobody I know over 40 (years old) with kids and family or beyond goes downtown,” he said. “It’s dirty, it’s lawless, it’s a bad scene.” The restaurant owner said he’s dealt with numerous incidents of the sort over the years — homeless individuals locking themselves in the bathroom to do drugs or take a towel shower, loitering on the patio to finish uneaten food, panhandling and attempting to steal items from the properties. Mr. Brown said since the reopening has begun post-
pandemic, he believes the issue has only been exacerbated. He said he wanted to make an important distinction that “it’s not against the law to be homeless, but it’s against the law to be lawless.” “Our problems are with the lawless homeless: the alcoholic, (the) drug addict, mentally ill (individuals) … I’m talking about the criminally homeless,” he said. Safety issues worry the owner, as he said he makes sure all of his managers leave at the end of the day together. He’s nervous for his college-aged employees walking through the parking lot at 10 p.m.
Fighting summer hunger
And Mr. Brown worries about his daughter, who manages the State Street location. He said she was backed into a corner by a homeless individual sitting on their patio in the morning. “There’s a lawlessness downtown that has to be changed,” he said. “The city’s highest priority is to make the city safe, and it’s not safe downtown. It’s not safe for visitors, it’s not safe for employees, it’s not safe for employers. It’s not safe and that’s unacceptable.” Interim Police Chief Bernard Please see SAFETY on A4
Cal/OSHA says vaccinated workers can ditch masks
No Kid Hungry amplifies organizations’ food program with a side of fun To see streaming video GO TO
newspress.com
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Kids and parents grabbed meals in the Franklin Elementary School parking lot Thursday as Radio Bronco DJ Lupita Rodriguez hosted giveaways and played the station’s live broadcast. Kids stepped up to a wheel, spinning it for a chance at Radio Bronco merchandise and coupons to McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams. The event was one of three summer meal concerts Thursday, and additional distributions will be held throughout the summer. The series is an annual tradition for school districts and other local organizations. National nonprofit No Kid Hungry supports the program. Montecito movie star Jeff Bridges is a spokesperson for No Kid Hungry and an advocate for pairing free meals with fun tunes. The music is a reminder to the kids that they matter, Laura Capps, Santa Barbara Unified school board member and an organizer for the program, told the News-Press. Please see HUNGER on A4
COURTESY PHOTO
RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Dianna Barron, 7, watches as a prize wheel spins and wins an ice cream coupon. She and her brother Adrian, 9, attended the summer meal concert at Franklin Elementary School Thursday.
Kristen Miller, the president and CEO of the South Coast Chamber of Commerce, said she is hopeful employers will embrace the ability to work in a more normal environment.
yet all social distancing guidelines are dissolved for all employees. The new Cal/OSHA says fully guidelines also require vaccinated people are no employers to provide face longer required to wear masks to unvaccinated masks in the workplace. individuals and ensure the That’s the result of Cal/ coverings are worn properly. OSHA’s newly revised With the new rules in place, guidelines, which says fully employees can also self-attest vaccinated individuals can go their vaccination status to maskless inside and outside employers without having the workplace. to provide physical proof of Cal/OSHA approved the vaccination. revision Thursday, After the board’s just a few days after approval, Gov. Gavin See latest the state revised its Newsom signed an COVID-19 executive order almost masking guidelines. Cal/OSHA’s numbers immediately, putting board adopted the new guidelines into A2 new revisions to its effect. Emergency Safety The new revisions Order, aligning with the come after Cal/OSHA’s board state’s new guidance on faced weeks of scrutiny masking. leading up to the reopening Unvaccinated individuals of California’s economy. will still be required to wear Previously, the board of masks indoors, according Please see CAL/OSHA on A2 to the new Cal/OSHA order, By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
At left, a cook brings the food out to parents who have pulled up in their cars to collect the meals. At right, Laura Capps, Santa Barbara Unified school board member, helped bring No Kid Hungry to the local initiative.
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