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No pet hungry
Wineries lament cannabis grows in Santa Ynez Valley
Public-private partnership serves low-income pet owners
Volunteers scoop dog food into bags for a C.A.R.E.4Paws pet supply distribution. The organization is partnered with Santa Barbara County Animal Services to expand its pet resource centers into Santa Barbara and Lompoc shelters.
By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
As the concentration of cannabis cultivation in the Santa Ynez Valley continues to grow, winery managers and vineyard owners are voicing concerns over the impact cannabis operations could have on business. Santa Rosa Road, which stretches from Buellton to Lompoc, was once an area primarily monopolized by vineyards and wineries. But in recent years, the vast agricultural region has become a hot spot for the cannabis industry. Cannabis operations in the
region range in size from about two acres to approximately 86 acres, according to Jeff Wilson, the assistant director of the county’s Planning and Development Department. And despite existing operations, interest in this region remains high for cannabis cultivators. Earlier this month, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the county’s Planning Commission paved the way for Central Coast Agriculture to move forward with a 29-acre project on Santa Rosa Road near Buellton after shooting down an appeal from the Santa Please see CANNABIS on A4
Economic development plan headed to council By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
COURTESY PHOTOS
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Santa Barbara County Animal Services and C.A.R.E.4Paws, alongside five additional pet-centric nonprofits, are expanding their services to low-income pet owners this Wednesday by opening pet resource centers at the county animal shelters in Lompoc and Santa Barbara. Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborn will cut the ceremonial ribbon at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Lompoc’s shelter, at 1501 W Central Ave., opening the new resource center. Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte will perform the Santa Barbara shelter’s ceremony at 1 p.m. Wednesday at 5473 Overpass Road. “We’re really trying to push that we don’t want someone to have to choose between paying bills and feeding their animals or turning their animals in, and so the more locations and areas that we can offer, the better. They can get help for their animals, and they don’t have to turn an animal into the shelters,” Jessica Ortega-Wiebe, Animal Services’ responsible pet ownership program coordinator, told the News-Press. Caring for a pet is expensive, potentially pricing out many members of the community, but Animal Services and its private partnerships provide services ensure that low-income individuals can still receive the love of a furry companion. The pet resource centers are one way pet owners can ensure their animals’ needs are met. The centers are stocked with community donations of dog and cat food and other supplies, and staff can also help sign up for low-cost veterinary care. C.A.R.E.4Paws independently hosts 10 pet resource centers throughout the community, but its partnership with Animal Services amplifies the accessibility of these resources. The organization launched its first center in a county shelter in January 2020, located in the Santa Maria shelter. The center has been self-sustaining and
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A pet owner holds a bag of food given by C.A.R.E.4Paws. The nonprofit distributed 100x its normal volume of dog food during the pandemic.
busy, said Ms. Ortega-Wiebe. Occasionally Animal Services will post on social media that stock is getting low, and community members will quickly replenish supply. The Companion Animal Placement Assistance has sponsored a pet food bank at the shelter in Lompoc since 1997 and was consulted before the new pet resource center partnership launched in its place. CAPA was happy to join in. The following nonprofits have also joined
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email: gmccormick@newspress.com
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the partnership: the Animal Care Foundation of Santa Barbara County, ASAP Cats, K-9 PALS and Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter. “These Pet Resource Centers are a perfect example of how we can provide greater service to the community through partnership,” Angela Yates, director of Santa Barbara County Animal Services, said in a news release. “Alone, none of our organizations could provide all the support Please see PETS on A4
A three-year economic development plan is headed to the desks of Santa Barbara’s City Council members on Tuesday. As COVID-19 restrictions ease, city staff said it was important to establish a midterm economic development plan with strategies and objectives to support businesses and the city’s commercial districts, revitalize downtown and strengthen the local economy. The plan lays the foundation for a full Economic Development Program, which the city hopes will support social equity and environmental protection while enhancing Santa Barbara. Three strategies drive the plan: supporting local businesses and commercial districts citywide; cultivating a business-friendly city government; and strengthening downtown as the regional hub of retail, entertainment, art and culture, higher education and business. To support local business and commercial districts, the plan suggests to organize business assistance training opportunities, provide promotional support, develop business retention and more. To cultivate a businessfriendly government, the plan aims to communicate and address business and land development processes, along with addressing the need for citywide marketing and an electronic newsletter. Down the line, the city hopes to facilitate downtown housing development and support cowork/creative office and higher education uses. “The adoption of this economic development plan sets Santa Barbara on a strategic path to strengthen the city’s economy and enhance downtown vibrancy,” the plan reads. “This plan establishes a foundation to support businesses, revitalize downtown and enhance the city’s quality of life.” The City Council will also consider a request from Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon and Mayor Pro Tempore Oscar Gutierrez for a presentation from Healing Justice and local black organizations on the benefits of a black/African-American Cultural Resource Center during a regularly scheduled meeting.
The request points out that the council has voiced general support of a center like this, and “has affirmed equity as a core value by declaring racism a public health crisis in summer of 2020.” “Santa Barbara City Council understands the historical significance of investing in this space as a way of honoring the first black resident of Santa Barbara, Jerry Forney, an enslaved man who later claimed his freedom,” the request reads. “City Council believes that this black history is Santa Barbara history and deserving of public acknowledgement and support, best accomplished by establishing a black-centered and led community resource center.” There will also be a public hearing held at Tuesday’s meeting to review the public draft of the city’s 2020 Enhanced Urban Water Management Plan. The 2020 plan confirmed a 2020 target water use of 117 gallons per capita per day, which the city has met. A hearing will also be held for the 2021 Water Shortage Contingency Plan, which responds to water shortages caused by drought conditions and/or catastrophic water supply emergency. The staff report details that a Drought Risk Assessment found that Santa Barbara would still have supplies available at the end of a five-year drought that starts in 2021. “...the city has more than enough water supply to meet demands in normal hydrologic periods,” the staff report says. “During the recent extended drought, city customers achieved 40% conservation in 2016, which was year five of the multiple-year drought. Therefore, the city is confident customers can reduce water demand up to 20% in year five of future multi-year droughts.” The council will adjourn Tuesday’s meeting in honor of former Santa Barbara Mayor Hal Conklin, who died Friday at age 75 after battling brain cancer. Mayor Cathy Murillo requested the flag at City Hall be lowered to halfstaff today for him as well. The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, and can be viewed on City TV Channel 18 or streamed live at www.santabarbaraca.gov/cap.
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 26-38-39-41-44 Mega: 7
Sunday’s DAILY 4: 4-2-5-4
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 6-9-17-18-48 Mega: 8
Sunday’s FANTASY 5: 9-13-17-18-33
Sunday’s DAILY DERBY: 08-11-07 Time: 1:40.78
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 3-19-27-37-40 Meganumber: 8
Sunday’s DAILY 3: 6-7-7 / Midday 8-8-2