Our 166th Year
Peabody Stadium’s dedication
Realizing her lifelong dream
Ceremony to celebrate Santa Barbara High School facility’s renovation - A3
Spirit of Fiesta talks to the News-Press about her love of Old Spanish Days - B1
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F R I DAY, J U N E 25 , 2 0 21
Fair is back
CDC extends moratorium on nation’s evictions
Santa Barbara Fair & Expo presents ‘Santa Barbara Rides Again’
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention extended the national eviction moratorium through the end of July but warned it would be the last extension. The state’s moratorium covers a larger population but is set to expire Wednesday, though national news outlets are expecting an extension. Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed an expansion of the state’s COVID-19 rent assistance program, paying 100% of pastdue rent instead of 80%, in his budget. The expansion did not make it into the budget enacted by lawmakers, but some media outlets are expecting the increase in a trailer bill. The state still has much of its rent assistance funds available, as renters struggle to navigate the application process or make a deal with landlords. As of May 31, just $32 million of the state’s $490 million in rental assistance requests had been paid, according to a California Department Housing and Community Development
NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing a recall election to be held later this year, the California secretary of state confirmed this week.
Newsom recall on ballot Secretary of state verifies signatures
report. So those relying on state assistance may run out of time before accessing those funds. Nearly 17% of respondents in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey answered that they were “very likely” to be evicted in the next two months. The survey was conducted May 26-June 7. The Santa Barbara County rental market has been low in inventory throughout the pandemic, with fewer residents moving around. Properties available get snatched quickly. Countywide, the median rent has risen almost 10% over the past year, according to Apartment List data. Nationwide, rent has increased 5.4%. Courts are fearing a strong influx of evictions. On Tuesday, Los Angeles County extended its eviction moratorium through the end of September, with its Board of Supervisors anxious to assist before a “tidal wave” of evictions hit the court. email: ahanshaw@newspress. com
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The California secretary of state has confirmed that petitioners garnered enough signatures to launch a recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Californians can expect recall ballots in September or October, according to national reports. During a mandatory 30day withdrawal period, just 43 people withdrew their signatures. The recall campaign retained nearly 1.72 million signatures of an estimated 1.5 million needed. The state Department of Finance has 30 days to estimate the cost of the election. A department spokesperson estimated the price tag at $215 million, according to CNN. The lieutenant governor will set the date of the election — the second recall election in state history. Santa Barbara County party chairs have different views on why the recall election is happening. “The recall is extremely partisan with Republicans supporting the recall and Democrats opposed to the recall,” Darcél Elliott, chair of the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party, told the News-Press. “Republicans know that they are not able to win the governorship in California in a normal election, so they are leading a recall to try to take control.” Bobbi McGinnis, chair of the Santa Barbara County Republican Party, sees the state lockdowns and Gov. Newsom’s infamous meal Please see RECALL on A2
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Happy shrieks and screams could be heard at the Earl Warren Showgrounds on Wednesday, as thousands gathered to enjoy the opening night of the Santa Barbara Fair & Expo’s “Santa Barbara Rides Again” carnival.
By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
After a 15-month hiatus, the familiar shrieks, carnival treats and rides are back at the Earl Warren Showgrounds for the Santa Barbara Fair & Expo’s “Santa Barbara Rides Again” carnival. The showgrounds looked and felt like pre-pandemic life on Wednesday, as thousands gathered for the fair’s opening night to enjoy a variety of rides, games, live music and food. The towering Ferris wheel,
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RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS
Cold Spring School District in Montecito did not pass its L2020 bond measure in November. The district now faces allegations of campaign violations.
Panel investigates Cold Spring School bond campaigns NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Ben Sprague, the CEO of the Earl Warren Showgrounds board, told the News-Press that he expects a record turnout at this year’s fair.
The Cold Spring School District faces further scrutiny as the California Fair Political Practices Commission looks at its handling of the Montecito district’s proposed bond measure L2020 — which was narrowly defeated in November. Don Miller, a neighbor of Cold Spring School and L2020 opponent, sent screenshots of potential FPPC violations to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which forwarded them to the FPPC mid-May. Mr. Miller believes the Yes on Cold Spring School Measure L2020 campaign, which is separate from the district, was unfair. “I thought it was a pretty unfair process. It was only a small group of us fighting the
bond to raise the issue of the neighbors,” he told the NewsPress. “They had unlimited resources.” In a second complaint, he is wary of the district’s resources being used for the promotion of L2020, which is prohibited. The FPPC is looking into Mr. Miller’s claims, but the investigation itself doesn’t imply wrongdoing. In late March, Jennifer Miller (no familial relation to Don Miller), a trustee at the Cold Spring School District, filed an FPPC complaint against L2020’s opponents. The groups operated by two names: Taxpayers for Responsible School Spending and Our Students Deserve Better Committee. Her complaint alleges that the groups spent more money Please see CAMPAIGNS on A2
L O T T E RY RESULTS
INSIDE Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A8
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toward pre-pandemic life. It’s open today from 11 a.m. to midnight, and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Ben Sprague, the CEO of the Earl Warren Showgrounds board, told the News-Press that hosting the county’s first large event after the pandemic is a big responsibility. Yet he’s excited to be back hearing the shrieks from people on rides and seeing everyone’s smiling faces. “It’s really neat to be the first to be able to have (this event),” Mr. Sprague told the News-Press. “We Please see FAIR on A4
By ANNELISE HANSHAW
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carousel and traditional carnival games are back in action on the grounds. And so are the smiles. The crowd was largely unmasked Wednesday night as fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear face coverings at outdoor events with fewer than 10,000 in attendance, though unvaccinated folks are still required to wear a mask in crowded settings according to state guidelines. The fair marks the first largescale outdoor event held in the county as the region inches
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 4-9-38-40-41 Meganumber: 25
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 7-0-6-2
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 1-26-48-51-59 Meganumber: 1
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 16-18-27-28-33
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 02-08-07 Time: 1:42.20
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 13-20-40-51-63 Meganumber: 1
Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 9-0-3 / Wednesday’s Midday 4-3-6