‘Why am I’
Housed in history
Local book awarded Book of the Year title - A3
Architectural firm’s new digs date back to Hollister era - B1
Our 166th Year
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M O N DA Y, J U N E 14 , 2 0 21
Rental housing tension
Goleta plans for Fiesta Ranchera
Eviction moratorium to expire soon, changes anticipated
Old Spanish Days, historical society team up for modified version By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Get ready to celebrate. That’s the word from the city of Goleta, where the City Council’s consent calendar includes a proclamation making Thursday the official Fiesta Ranchera Day. The proclamation is part of the virtual council meeting, which starts at 5:30 p.m. The agenda also includes adoption of the city’stwo year budget covering fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23 and the comprehensive capital improvement plan, along with other financial details. You can watch the meeting live on cable Channel 19 or www.cityofgoleta.org/ goletameetings. This week, there’s a lot of attention on Fiesta Ranchera, which was first celebrated in 1968 at Stow House. The traditional Fiesta Ranchera event won’t take place this year, but Old Spanish Days and the Goleta Valley Historical Society are teaming up for a special 2021 Fiesta Ranchera On-theGo to give back to the community. You can find live Fiesta Ranchera entertainment at various locations throughout Goleta Thursday through Saturday, according to a news release. See goletahistory.org for details. And you can read the proclamation at tinyurl. com/2w6usyhm. Please see GOLETA on A3
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
A sign points potential renters of the Coronado apartments in Isla Vista to the leasing office. With UCSB opening campus in the fall, student renters will return.
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
With California’s eviction moratorium set to expire June 30, the low-inventory rental housing market may stir with an influx of terminated leases. Much like the real estate market, rental listings are few and good properties are snatched up by people looking for a new home. (Afterall, the pandemic’s restrictions have emphasized the importance of one’s living space.) “The demand for rental housing is very very high. Usually, we have 40 or 50 vacant properties to rent, and right now we are down to just nine,” Bob Bartlein, president of property management company Bartlein & Company, Inc., told the News-Press. “Once a property becomes available, it goes immediately.” The average rent in Santa Barbara has risen 4% over the past year, according to RentCafe. Countywide, the median rent has risen almost 10%, based on Apartment List data. Nationally, rent has risen 5.4% over the past year. Apartment List tracked a dip in the median rent nationally in 2020, with the biggest decrease in large cities. Santa Barbara County’s median rent continued its trajectory, with data that doesn’t show a global pandemic’s weight. Whereas rates dipped nationally, Santa Barbara County was consistent. Kenneth Trigueiro, CEO and president of People’s Self-Help Housing, has received more calls for emergency housing during the pandemic. PSHH is a nonprofit housing organization and provides affordable housing and support services for lowincome families and individuals. It
Board of Supervisors to discuss agriculture and more Tuesday By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
A “For Rent” sign advertises room availability at the Buena Vista Apartments in Santa Barbara. The average rent in Santa Barbara has risen 4% over the past year, according to RentCafe.
manages 2,000 units across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and has a waiting list of 4,000 applications in Santa Barbara County. Mr. Trigueiro noticed the largest increase in applications from single-
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parent households. In Santa Barbara, those earning the city’s median income of $63,070 must spend 32% of their income to pay the median rent for a studio apartment, according to the city’s 2021 rental
housing survey. The recommended percentage is 30%. The pandemic trimmed back the hours of workers in hospitality, retail and other customer-facing positions. Please see rentals on A3
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors is reviewing issues related to agriculture, the Behavioral Wellness Department, the auditor-controller’s internal audit plan, Lake Cachuma and more. All of that is scheduled for the board’s Tuesday meeting, which will start at 9 a.m. Supervisors are scheduled to consider various agricultural subjects, including recommendations on: • A Certified Farmers Market Inspection Program Agreement. • The Air Monitoring Network. • The Asian Citrus Psyllid Bulk Citrus Regulatory Program. • The California Department of Food and Agriculture Detector Dog Team Program. • The CalCannabis Agreement with the CDFA. The board also will discuss several items related to the Behavioral Wellness Department. Supervisors are scheduled to consider: • An amended memorandum of understanding between Crestwood Behavioral Please see SUPERVISORS on A3
LOTTERY
in si d e Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-4 Obituaries............. A4
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You can find live Fiesta Ranchera entertainment at various locations throughout Goleta Thursday through Saturday.
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 5-10-21-22-36 Mega: 10
Sunday’s DAILY 4: 5-1-9-2
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 4-43-56-63-68 Mega: 13
Sunday’s FANTASY 5: 1-12-29-33-38
Sunday’s DAILY DERBY: 10-07-03 Time: 1:43.12
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 8-25-34-38-41 Meganumber: 10
Sunday’s DAILY 3: 5-1-1 / Midday 2-3-1