Santa Barbara News-Press: June 10, 2023

‘From Chernobyl With Love’

Graduates celebrate

More than 500 Santa Barbara High School seniors receive diplomas at Peabody Stadium

By LIAM HIBBERT NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Excitement was in the air, as screams and air horns of excitement and pride echoed throughout Peabody Stadium.

This was the scene Thursday night at Santa Barbara High School, which was holding its 148th graduation ceremony.

The stadium was packed with graduates eagerly waiting to receive their diplomas, all 510 of them.

They wore their familiar green cap and gowns to honor the moment as friends and family filled the surrounding bleachers.

The announcements started off with Principal Elise Simmons.

After she had thanked the staff, she urged the students to be excited for their futures.

“My hope for you is to look back momentarily and

Please

MORE nEXT WEEK

Trump indictment made public

By CASEY HARPER

(The Center Square) – Former President Donald Trump’s indictment was made public Friday. The 49-page document appears to lay out nearly 40 federal counts against Mr. Trump for his handling of classified documents and his alleged refusal to hand them over to federal officials until the eventual raid on his Florida estate.

News of the indictment sent shockwaves through the political world and left Republicans taking sides for or against the former president, who is also the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential race.

“As a result of Trump’s retention of classified documents after his presidency and his refusal to return them, hundreds of classified documents were not recovered by the United States government until 2022,” the indictment says, adding that Mr. Trump kept documents from a range of federal groups, including the CIA, FBI, Department of Defense, National Security Agency, and more.

The former president has repeatedly claimed that he had the authority as president to automatically declassify documents, but the indictment says Mr. Trump did not have the right to hold on to those documents, saying they were still classified.

“Trump was not authorized to possess or retain classified documents,” it reads.

By DAVE MASON

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS A San Marcos High School senior listens as Principal Dare Holdren addresses the class of 2023 at Warkentin Stadium.

see SM on A2

Please

NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER “Pomp and Circumstance,” played by the school band, rang through Scott O’Leary Stadium as the seniors of Dos Pueblos High School were walking on the field to begin graduation. On Thursday evening, approximately 500 seniors received their diploma and celebrated their time at Dos Pueblos at KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS Dos Pueblos High School senior Diego Diaz addresses his fellow graduates during the commencement at Scott O’Leary Stadium.

Please see DP on A2

The indictment also makes the point that Mr. Trump kept the documents in insecure areas where staff and others could have accessed them. The indictment further alleges that Mr. Trump twice showed classified documents to others well after he was no longer president.

From the indictment:

In July 2021, at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey (“The Bedminster Club”),

Please see INDICTMENT on A8

‘To the class of 2023, the world is ours’

DP

Continued from Page A1

the annual graduation service.

Although the weather was gloomy at the Goleta school, spirits were bright as the seniors could be seen with infectious smiles as proud friends and families looked on.

The Jazz Choir began the graduation with its own rendition of the National Anthem, followed by a cover of Billy Joel’s “Vienna,” which ended with an eruption of loud cheers from the crowd.

Jacquelin Ramirez Rodriguez then shared opening remarks to the Dos Pueblos community, which she did first in Spanish and then in English. The graduating senior shared her gratitude to the school and teachers as well as her desire to “celebrate everyone’s hard work.”

The microphone was then passed to Principal Bill Woodard.

He reflected on the class of 2023, saying that “even though a pandemic disrupted so much of your high school experience, despite changes in college admission requirements, despite changes in the bell schedule, and despite your own challenges on and off campus, you have become the highest achieving senior class in all of Santa Barbara County.”

Edo Barel, the Associated Student Body president, gave a comedic and light-hearted speech, about why the class of 2023 got the “worst” in comparison to any other class. He cracked jokes about the pandemic and what it took away from the class, but

eventually turned his speech into a beautiful reflection on what to be grateful for.

After a couple more student remarks, the graduates were finally ready to walk across the stage and receive the diplomas that they have all worked hard for.

At the end of the celebration,

the sun was finally peeking out of the clouds as Gracie Fuentes, the senior class president, gave her closing remarks.

“I encourage you, with whatever your passion may be, to pursue it. Whether big or small, and no matter if it is tomorrow or 20 years from now, I believe it is never too

late to do something you love.”

Ms. Fuentes then asked the class to rise, and with cheer and applause, the members of the class of 2023 threw their caps up in the air and officially graduated from Dos Pueblos High School. email: abahnsen@newspress.com

WENDY McCAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . Co-Publisher

ARTHUR VON WIESENBERGER . . . . .Co-Publisher

YOLANDA APODACA . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Operations

DAVE MASON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Managing Editor

HOW TO REACH US . . .

MAIN OFFICE 725 S. Kellogg Ave. Goleta, CA 93117 805-564-5200

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara 93102

NEWSROOM ADVERTISING

Continued from Page A1

in her red cap and gown before a packed Warkentin Stadium on a cloudy Thursday evening and told everyone, “I never thought this day would come.

“But now that it has, I’m sorry because it means leaving behind our friends, teachers and the people who shaped our lives,” she said during her speech before the class of 2023.

Despite that bittersweet aspect, she and the other graduates smiled, and as some graduates walked off the stage after receiving their diplomas from Principal Dare Holdren, they waved to their families and friends in the bleachers. Some raised their fists in victory. Many smiled.

And later in her speech.

Ms. Escamilla grinned and encouraged her classmates to embrace their individuality and

be as confident as someone they knew who wore the same three outfits every week to San Marcos.

The seniors laughed on an evening when they were the stars of the show. Family members and friends screamed graduates’ names from the bleachers, sounded off air horns and carried balloons saying things like, “Congratulations, graduates.”

The ceremony began with the San Marcos High School band playing “Pomp and Circumstance” as the graduates in blue and red caps and gowns walked down the school track and to the folding chairs on the football field. Senior class President Natty Valdovinos led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, and the San Marcos High School Madrigals sang the National Anthem. After that, the graduating seniors from the Madrigals, accompanied by a guitarist, sang the Dixie Chicks’ “Landslide,” a song that’s all about change and growth.

Later, Dawson Kelly, the

graduating senior who served as student body president this past school year, addressed his classmates from the podium.

“As you cross this stage, I ask you to acknowledge that completing this journey was no easy feat,” Mr. Kelly said. “We were challenged with enduring the COVID-19 pandemic while also navigating he ever-changing social and political climate of the modern day, along with facing run-of-of-the-mill challenges and changes.

“Our days were filled with minute distractions while our years were filled with major disruptions,” he said.

“As we fought to maintain our focus and strive for stability, we discovered discomfort is a prerequisite for growth,” Mr. Kelly noted. “In the end, our tribulations became our triumphs. And the only true type of failure was the failure to attempt.

“The people we surrounded

ourselves with filled our lives with perspectives and experiences that were invaluable to who we were,” he said.

Mr. Kelly encouraged his classmates to be their authentic selves.

“Perfection is unattainable, but the pursuit of it is what allows us to be better,” he said. “No problem is too big to tackle or too small to feel.

“To the class of 2023, the world is ours,” he said, ending his speech. “Thank you!”

With that, the seniors cheered.

After the speeches, the graduates walked onto stage, received their diplomas and shook the hand of their principal, Mr. Holdren, then posed for a quick photo with him. For some of the seniors, a handshake wasn’t enough. Some put their arms around their principal. Several didn’t hesitate to hug him.

Many walked off the stage with their diploma and a big smile as

News Hotline 805-564-5277

Email...dmason@newspress.com

Life 805-564-5277

Sports 805-564-5277

News Fax 805-966-6258

Corrections 805-564-5277

Classified 805-564-5247

Classified Fax 805-966-1421

Retail 805-564-5230

Retail Fax 805-966-1421

Voices/editorial pages ..805-564-5277

HOW TO GET US . . .

CIRCULATION ISSUES 805-966-7171

refunds@newspress.com

newsubscriptions@newspress.com

vacationholds@newspress.com

cancellations@newspress.com

Mail delivery of the News-Press is available in most of Santa Barbara County. If you do not receive your paper Monday through Saturday, please call our Circulation Department. The Circulation Department is open Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. to noon.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Mail delivery in Santa Barbara County:

$5.08 per week includes sales tax, daily, and the Weekend edition. Holidays only, $3.85 per week includes sales tax. Single-copy price of 75 cents daily

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Fans of “Toy Story” wear graduation caps with the film’s characters Jessica and Woody during the Dos Pueblos High School commencement.

Family and loved ones of graduating senior David Gasper cheer as his name is announced during the commencement at Scott O’Leary Stadium.

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Above, families and friends scream graduates’ names and applaud them during the commencement at Warkentin Stadium. At right, a senior poses with Principal Dare Holdren after receiving her diploma at San Marcos High School.

A Kennedy rises, Biden falls, Prince Harry unwise, Gavin bawls

“TWITTER CO-FOUNDER

JACK DORSEY ENDORSES

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. IN

2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE”

The list is growing.

The enthusiasm is building.

With only 38% of Democratic voters favoring Joe Biden as their presidential nominee, tripping on a sandbag, as frequent faller Joe did while leaving a stage last week, is nothing compared to how deeply R.F.K. Jr.’s candidacy will trip him up.

Coming out to debate, Joe?

“INSTAGRAM REINSTATES ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.’S ACCOUNT”

Since putting a lid on a presidential candidate is difficult to justify, social media giant Instagram had no choice but to swing in favor of free speech.

“HAVE ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. AND HIS ANTI-VAX CONSPIRACIES FOUND A HOME?”

Corporatized mainstream media (including Vanity Fair) is concerned that Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk and the cryptocurrencycrowd are rallying around a candidate that social media giants once censored because he dared shine a spotlight on the lies of Big Pharma, Dr. Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates.

This comes as mainstream media continue to fixate on R.F.K. Jr.’s conspiracy factualizing, as witnessed by …

“ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. TESTS THE CONSPIRATORIAL APPETITE OF DEMOCRATS”

This is The Washington Post, trying to make a conspiracy issue out of R.F.K. Jr. recounting (during a recent rally) that President Dwight Eisenhower lied to the public after Gary Powers and the U-2 spy plane he piloted was shot down over the Soviet Union.

Huh? That’s no conspiracy theory. It is precisely what happened. Gary Powers was shot down, and Eisenhower lied about it.

Oh, and R.F.K. Jr. said in a speech at Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis, “We are lied to by the government and by the media.”

Any fool knows that. A good example of this is government/ media lying about COVID19, starting with its origin (a Chinese lab, not a wet market) to health hazards posed by the experimental vaccine, about which the candidate added, “It was all confusing because they kept us confused.”

That’s putting it mildly.

“People want the truth,” RFK

ROBERT ERINGER NEWS REVUE

Jr. says. Is that so wrong?

I mean, maybe sheeple don’t want the truth (and too many of them abound), but I do — and you should too.

Truth is, I’ll take R.F.K. Jr. over Big Pharma (and all the so-called “independent scientific studies” they secretly finance) any day of the week.

Another item from this hatchet job: “His entire worldview has become a conspiracy theory.”

This is hysterical poppycock, probably planted by mainstreamBiden Democratic Party apparatchiks — maybe even by Woodward & Bernstein (how sad they’ve become, spokespersons for the establishment narrative — or maybe they always were).

This is what R.F.K. Jr. actually says: “Conspiracies do happen. It’s not that everybody is involved in promoting what they know to be a lie. It is that there are orthodoxies that become institutionalized that have their own gravity that pull people in.”

I have been studying real conspiracies and conspiracy theory (and those who use it for political purposes or profit) for a very long time. R.F.K. Jr.’s approach is reasonable, rational and a refreshing — a very welcome dimension to the body politic and public discourse.

Open your eyes, open your minds and be enlightened about how badly you have been misled and let down by a government that is STILL trying to pull the wool over your eyes by blaming the truth on “conspiracy theorists.”

R.F.K. Jr. is the only presidential candidate willing to speak the truth about what has gone down in this country.

Some media get it, like The Desert Review …

“R.F.K. JR’S CAMPAIGN FOR TRUTH”

“R.F.K. Jr. is now a major contender. It seems the ruling administration has a lot to worry about with R.F.K.’s meteoric rise. For one, his interviews are spreading as fast as his popularity.

Second, Americans remain starved for authenticity and truth after growing ill on a steady diet of fear and propaganda by those in charge — i.e., crooked politicians in bed with Big Pharma, Big Banks and their brethren corporations.”

Amen, brother.

“REPUBLICANS LAUNCH CONTEMPT PROCESS AGAINST FBI DIRECTOR WRAY AFTER VIEWING BIDEN ‘BRIBERY’ DOCUMENT: TOP GOP INVESTIGATOR SAYS FILE INVOLVES ‘SHELL COMPANIES & SHOWS PATTER’ OF ‘MONEY LAUNDERING”

Difficult to say who is worse, Joe Biden (and members of his family) or U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and his Injustice Department.

We are now discovering that Biden family members benefited financially not just from companies (government shells) in Ukraine and China. Add Romania, which allegedly paid our commander-in-thief a million dollars through “a web of 20 companies” while he was vice president for his influence in policy making.

FBI Director Christopher Wray, who attempted to conceal this from Congress and the American people, may be obstructing justice as he strives to remake rules governing who is answerable to whom in Washington, D.C.

Pure and simple, federal agencies are accountable to elected officials on Capitol Hill who provide oversight for we the people. Not the other way round.

The clock is ticking on Joe’s fall from grace. I suspect the only reason he is still in the White House is because no one in permanent D.C. wants disturbing soundwaves erected by Vice President Kamala Harris commanding anything whatsoever from the Oval Office.

JUST IN: “FBI DIRECTOR CHRIS WRAY CAVES TO THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE”

Good sense prevailed, if rare these days.

“PRINCE HARRY BLASTED FOR ‘WASTING COURT TIME’ AS HE FAILS TO SHOW UP AT HIS OWN TRIAL”

What: Prince Harry, who lives in Montecito, is suing Mirror Group Newspapers.

Why: He alleges that reporters hacked his phones and invaded his privacy.

Where: London.

When: He was expected in court last Monday but willfully ignored

the court order. With regard to mandatory court appearances. Harry presumably believes there are two sets of rules: one for commoners, another for royals.

Who: The unamused judge, who does not subscribe to a royal prerogative for missing a court date.

Harry arrived the next day and was …

“CROSS EXAMINED IN U.K. PHONE HACKING CASE”

This was no schmaltzy, sympathetic Oprah Winfrey affair but the exact opposite: Pointed questioning from a legal pro seeking to poke holes in Harry’s “speculative” testimony devoid of evidence that 140 newspaper articles published between 1996 and 2010 were based not on the usual hangers-on/snitches but the wiretapping of his phone.

Harry single-handedly destroyed a 130-year record of British royals not having to endure cross-examination in court.

This broke a cardinal rule as established by Walter Bagehot, who literally wrote “The English Constitution,” published in 1865: The magic of monarchy is its mystique. Or, as Bagehot put it: “Above all things our royalty is to be reverenced, and if you begin to poke about it you cannot reverence it… its mystery is its life. We must not let in daylight upon magic.”

One wonders how Bagehot would regard Prince Harry, who has deliberately brought a copious amount of very bright daylight onto his royal family.

Meantime, same day, other side of the pond ….

“HERITAGE FOUNDATION CITES HARRY’S DRUG USE IN FIGHT FOR IMMIGRATION RECORDS”

Geesh. For someone seeking a private existence, Harry has done a magnificent job at making himself the most public of royals.

The Heritage Foundation seeks release of Harry’s immigration application for residency in the U.S. to uncover whether he lied to routine questions about drug

Plumbing HVAC

Roofing

Insulation

Electrical General Carpentry

ADA Ramps

is looking for qualified and reliable contractors with compassion to join our team and help Santa Barbara County residents stay safe at home. If you are looking to increase your business, AND help our community, please call us!

VISIT: http://www.CommUnifySB.org

CALL: 805-964-8857 ext. #1145

EMAIL: klawrence@CommUnifySB.org

Program Director, Kemba Lawrence SCAN:

CORSER, Janet Elaine

1934 - 2023

Janet “Jan” Elaine Corser, 89, passed away peacefully at home on May 28th, 2023, in Lompoc, California. She was born at her home in Kingston, New Hampshire on April 28th, 1934, to the late G. Austin Kemp and Josephine Rogers.

Jan was a talented and creative woman who loved music, art, and fashion.

She was an accomplished musician for over 70 years, a freelance artist in organ performance, and a renowned church organist having studied under such illustrious teachers as Professor George Faxon, Boston University, Dr. David Smith, Occidental College, and Dr. Ennis Fruhauf, UC Santa Barbara. She was a church organist for over 50 years, holding positions in Washington DC, New Hampshire, Germany, Santa Maria California and Lompoc California. During her tenure as church organist, she hosted numerous professional organ concerts, and performed at many as well. Jan ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ recently she was the organist of the First United Methodist Church of Lompoc until her retirement in 2014. A member of the church wrote, “You have won our hearts not only with your expert organ playing, but with also your faithfulness to serve week after week in the service of Christ.” After retirement she continued to sing in the church choir.

Jan was also a piano teacher, offering lessons to hundreds of students in her home for over 40 years. She was known for not only improving the technical skills of her students but also teaching them the importance of patience and maintaining a positive attitude in all aspects of their lives.

She had a passion for calligraphy, cake decorating, baking, crafting, and sewing, and made beautiful cakes and gifts for her family and friends. Jan enjoyed shopping and ����������������������������

Jan was a generous and compassionate person who cared deeply for others. She supported many charitable causes and organizations with her donations and friendship. Especially devoted to her church and its ministries, she was a faithful servant of Christ who touched many lives with her music and kindness.

Jan married Karl Corser Jr. in 1951, and traveled with him to Germany and various installations in the United States as he served in the US Air Force. They settled in Lompoc in 1967, and raised their four children there. She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, who passed away in 2018. Jan is survived by her four children: Ann Scott (Andy), Robert Corser (Cathy), Judy Chambers (Bob), David Corser (Avona); seven grandchildren: Karl Scott (Megan), Aimee Moyers (Dan), Ellen Abrams (Evan), Nicholas Chambers (Whitney Gurner), Nathan Chambers, Andrea Cardona, Jerel Cardona (Bradley); and seven great-grandchildren: Jacob, Isabella, Violet, Cameron, Tanner, Ava and Ceara.

One of the great joys of Jan’s life was her little French Bulldog, Pumba, whom she loved dearly.

A family graveside service will be held at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery on June 17th, 2023, at 10 a.m. A memorial service will be held on June 17th, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., at ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Price. A reception will immediately follow the service. ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Methodist Church of Lompoc.

The family would like to thank Dr Carl Schlosser, the staff of VNA Health Hospice of Santa Barbara, and the wonderful caregivers from 1Heart Caregiver Services (Sandra, Vicky, Ashley and their manager Karen) for their kindness, care and compassion.

Jan will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, teacher, and musician. She leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and joy.

‘The most magical four years that anybody could have asked for’

SB

Continued from Page A1

cherish the little moments,” said Dr. Simmons. “You don’t want to spend too much time looking back, because you might trip over what’s in front of you.”

Several 2023 class leaders then spoke to their fellow graduates, including Associated Student Body President Ella Maclear, who took a moment to give thanks.

“Thank you to Santa Barbara High for giving us the most

magical four years that anybody could have asked for,” said Ms. Maclear.

As the graduates’ names were called over the screams and shouts of their supporters, row by row they filed across the stage at the end of the field. With each diploma claimed, and each green gown turned to the flash of the camera, a new adventure began.

“To everyone who has been a part of my journey, thank you, and to the graduating class, we did it,” summarized Senior Class

President Jeamy Cruz. The Santa Barbara High School commencement was one of several Thursday. Graduates also received their diplomas at two other schools in the Santa Barbara Unified School District — San Marcos High School and Dos Pueblos School — and three schools in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District: Righetti, Pioneer Valley and Santa Maria.

email: lhibbert@newspress.com

Graduates also received their diplomas at two other schools in the Santa Barbara Unified School District — San Marcos High School and Dos Pueblos School — and three schools in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District: Righetti, Pioneer Valley and Santa Maria.

CARREL, Annette Felder

Annette Felder Carrel has hosted her last event. She passed away peacefully on June 3rd, 2023, in Greenbrae, California, where she has lived since leaving Santa Barbara in 2007. Annette was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Robert Earl Carrel, her sisters Winifred Little, and Mary Lou Springer, and her beloved niece, Marty Springer. She will be remembered fondly as a vibrant mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt by her children, Laura, David (Pat), and Jason (Irina) Carrel, her grandchildren, Olivia, Quentin, Maxim, and Anna Carrel, brother Lou, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

She opened the door to her house on Crocker Row in Santa Barbara to many charity events, group gatherings, and other formal and festive occasions. She further brought amusement to generations of Mission area children and adults by dressing the dog statue, Rover, for all holidays and momentous events, a tradition carried on lovingly by successor residents of the home.

Annette also made her mark as an award-winning sculptor, who under the tutelage of her teacher, Bela Bacsi, made amazing works in the medium of bronze. In addition, she took joy and reverence to the law as a docent for the Santa Barbara Courthouse, educating tourists and schoolkids alike. On many occasions, a parent would walk up to her in the street beaming and proudly boast that Annette had handcuffed their child at the Courthouse.

Annette was born in San Francisco to Louis and Rose Felder on December 11, 1929. She attended St. Dominic’s School followed by a Bachelors in education at the Santa ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Annette’s family asks you to raise a toast to the consummate host.

ALDISERT, Agatha DeLacio

April 22, 1927 - May 15, 2023

Agatha DeLacio Aldisert died peacefully in her sleep after a brief illness on May 15, 2023, at the age of 96 in Santa Barbara, California. Agatha was born on April 22, 1927, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Louis DeLacio and Elsa Ludovici DeLacio. Her parents divorced in 1933. Agatha was raised by her father and, after 1939, her stepmother Jo Ann “Jenny” Bastola DeLacio.

Agatha attended Mount Mercy Academy and then Mount Mercy College (now Carlow College) in Pittsburgh, one of the early crop of Italian-American women in Pittsburgh to go to college. Aspiring to be a doctor, Agatha took a heavy ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� school at the University of Pittsburgh but declined to attend after the dean insisted that she commit to a career without marriage or children. Agatha did pursue an early career in histology, including a research stint at NYU medical school.

In 1952, Agatha married Ruggero John Aldisert, a lawyer and World War II US Marine veteran who later became a prominent judge on the Common Pleas Court in Pittsburgh and then a federal appellate judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, appointed by Lyndon Johnson. Agatha and “Rugi” had three children during the 1950s, Lisa, Robert and Gregory.

In 1987, Agatha and Rugi moved cross country from Pittsburgh to Santa Barbara and lived there for the rest of their lives. Agatha continued as an exemplary mother to her �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� made their Santa Barbara home a magnet for family and friends and for the law clerks who worked for Rugi. Her loving kindness, sharp intelligence and enduring sense of ������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Agatha moved into Covenant Living at the Samarkand in Santa Barbara in 2017. Residents and staff quickly came to know and love Agatha. She has left close friends at the Samarkand community and in Santa Barbara.

Besides her family, Agatha was passionate about cars, books, science, music and history. The 1950 yellow Nash Rambler, the 1969 Pontiac Firebird (with four on the ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� favorite wheels, earning her the nickname “Rodsie” from her young children. A constant reader, she preferred biographies, history, novels and science narratives. She played piano, semi professionally in her youth, and for decades she traveled almost every year to Europe, especially Italy, where she would get to speak her beautiful Italian.

Agatha is survived by her children, grandchildren Jack, Luciana, Audrey, Gianna and Lorenzo, sister Sandra Brophy, and nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. The family wishes to thank the staff at the Samarkand for the extraordinary care and love they gave to Agatha during her years there.

A memorial gathering will be held at a future date to be announced by the family.

maximum level at the point at which water starts spilling over the dam holds 188,030 acre-feet. An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons, equivalent to the amount of water consumed annually by

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Graduating seniors get into the spirit of the occasion at Santa Barbara High School.

A new Santa Barbara High School graduate proudly holds her diploma.

Business/Real Estate

Gold isn’t a safe haven, but it is a hedge against uncertainty

In the world of financial markets, gold has always occupied a special place as a “safe haven” investment and a store of value.

I have never agreed with that description. One must pay a fee to buy and sell gold. There is a fee to store it. And it does not pay a dividend.

For a 36-year period, from 1934 to 1970, gold dropped from a high of $798 per ounce to a low of $284!

Gold then rose to a record high in 1980 of $2,643 per ounce and then over the next 20 years consistently dropped to $452 per ounce.

Since then, this precious metal has risen to a high of $2,307 per ounce and has traded between $1,300 and $2,300 since.

An investment that has the potential to consistently drop in value over a 36-year period does not represent a “safe haven” in any investment portfolio I have seen! At best, gold is a “hedge” against uncertainty.

During the Great Recession (2007-2009), I had a client come into my office and order me to “Sell everything! We are going to hell in a handbasket.

“Put all my portfolio in gold!” he told me. “I’m sure gold is going to $4,000 an ounce real soon!”

I was able to convince him to put only 10% of his portfolio into gold. I explained the history of this metal and how it is a good hedge against uncertainty and that he needed to stay the course with his investment plan. Gratefully he listened, as gold proceeded on a several year downturn.

While most investors prefer long-term positions in gold, there is also a more aggressive niche market for those who engage in short-term trading of this precious metal. This requires a unique understanding of market dynamics, risk management and an ability to capitalize on shortlived price fluctuations.

Short-term gold traders

Nominations sought for Lompoc business awards

LOMPOC — The Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau is holding their annual awards banquet

Aug. 25.

The banquet is dedicated to celebrating the businesses, individuals, and communities that inspire, support and motivate the Lompoc Valley.

The chamber is seeking nominations from the community for awards for the 2023 Lompoc Valley Man and Woman of the Year, Small Business Hero Excellence and New Business.

Deadline for nominations is July 3. The Man/Woman of the Year award will be given to a Lompoc Valley resident who has contributed to the prosperity of Lompoc Valley.

The Small Business award will be awarded to an individual who bears the responsibility of operating a small business. The Small Business Hero Excellence award will be given to someone who has sustained their small business a minimum of 10 years. And the New Business of the Year is awarded to a small business of three years or less.

The ceremony will be held at the Dick DeWees Community and Senior Center, 1120 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc.

To register and nominate awardees, visit www.lompoc.com.

— Kira Logan

The chamber is seeking nominations from the community for awards for the 2023 Lompoc Valley Man and Woman of the Year, Small Business Hero Excellence and New Business.

often rely heavily on technical analysis to make informed decisions. Gold trading revolves around identifying profitable opportunities within a compressed time frame. By pinpointing favorable entry and exit points, a gold trader can optimize significant trading profits. They scrutinize historical price patterns, support and resistance levels, and various indicators such as “moving averages.”

Gold traders also stay attuned to market news and fundamental factors that can influence gold prices. Economic indicators, geopolitical events, monetary policy decisions and even unexpected news can trigger volatility in gold markets. Being aware of these factors, in addition to technical analysis, can help traders anticipate short-term price movements and capitalize on them.

Short-term trading carries inherent risks, and gold is no exception. Volatility, liquidity constraints and sudden market shifts can lead to significant losses if proper risk management is not implemented. Traders must set clear entry and exit points, establish stop-loss orders to limit potential losses, and employ appropriate position sizing techniques to manage risk. Diversification, maintaining a trading journal, and staying abreast of news that can affect the

gold markets are crucial aspects of effective risk management.

The gold market, like any other financial market, can be susceptible to price manipulation. Although regulatory bodies strive to maintain fair and transparent markets, instances of manipulation or insider trading can occur, impacting gold prices and affecting traders’ positions.

Gold is globally traded in U.S. dollars. If you’re trading gold in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, exchange rate fluctuations between your currency and the U.S. dollar can impact the value of your trades.

Currency risk adds an additional layer of volatility and risk to gold trading.

Trading gold using leverage amplifies both potential gains and losses. While leverage can enhance profits, it also increases the risk of substantial losses.

Additionally, margin trading carries the risk of a “margin call,” where you may be required to deposit additional funds to maintain your positions. This could lead to further losses if not managed properly.

It’s important to note that trading gold, like any investment or trading activity, involves risks. Traders should thoroughly research and analyze the market, use risk management techniques and consider their risk tolerance and investment objectives before engaging in gold trading or any other financial trading.

A short-term trader can make money as the price of gold rises, as well as when the price falls. You just need to be right when you decide which direction the precious metal is headed. If you decide to trade gold, stick with your short-term trading plan and remember to stay the course!

Tim Tremblay is president of Tremblay Financial Services in Santa Barbara (www. tremblayfinancial.com).

High demand, limited inventory drives local real estate market

The real estate market in our local communities remained highly active during May 2023, driven by strong demand and limited housing inventory. As usual, our coastal communities continue to be sought-after destinations, attracting buyers with their stunning natural beauty, desirable amenities and high quality of life.

Throughout the month, the real estate market experienced a competitive landscape. The number of available listings remained relatively low, creating a scarcity of properties for sale. This limited inventory presented challenges for buyers, as they faced increased competition and, in some instances, we have seen a return to multiple-offer situations.

Having a knowledgeable and experienced real estate agent who has deep knowledge of the local market is even more crucial for navigating the complexities of buying a home in this environment. In some cases, buyers had to act swiftly and strategically to secure a property. Being prepared with pre-approvals and competitive offers while considering budget and priorities became critical in order to stand out in a market with relatively limited choices.

Sellers, on the other hand, enjoyed favorable conditions in May. Well-priced homes tended to attract significant interest and often received multiple offers.

Sellers had the advantage of selling their properties quickly and, in some cases, even above the asking price. As always, however, to remain competitive it is important for sellers to work closely with an experienced real estate agent such as myself. Although activity levels have increased, we are not in a situation like the summer of 2021 and early 2022 when prices were unchecked.

The luxury real estate segment continues to thrive. Affluent buyers sought exclusive properties that offered breathtaking views, privacy, and high-end amenities. These luxury homes showcased

REAL ESTATE UPDATE

the epitome of coastal living and represented a significant portion of the market activity. Buyers in this segment were willing to invest in properties that offered a blend of luxury, comfort and prestige.

As the summer season approaches, I anticipate the local real estate market to experience sustained interest from buyers looking to settle in the area or invest in second homes. The allure of the coastal lifestyle, with its pleasant climate and proximity to beaches, continues to attract buyers to our coastal communities from both local and out-of-town markets.

In summary, the local real estate market experienced high demand, limited inventory and a competitive landscape in May 2023. Buyers faced challenges due to the scarcity of available listings, although inventory levels are increasing slightly, leading to increased competition and multiple-offer situations. Sellers enjoyed favorable conditions, with well-priced homes attracting significant interest.

The luxury segment of the market remained strong, driven by affluent buyers seeking exclusive properties. Despite any challenges, we continue to be a highly desirable destination offering a blend of natural beauty, amenities, and a vibrant coastal lifestyle.

Cristal Clarke is a real-estate agent at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, which serves Montecito and Santa Barbara.

CRISTAL CLARKE

AIDS/LifeCycle hosts bike ride in support of LGBTQ+ foundations

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN

NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

If you happen to be driving on Highway 101 over the past few days, you might’ve seen a row of 25 storage trucks casually making their way down the Central Coast.

These aren’t any normal trucks, though. These trucks are supporting the over 2,000 cyclists who are making a 545mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles to support the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the HIV-related services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

On Friday, they were making their way through the Santa Barbara area, and the NewsPress caught up with them at Girsh Park in Goleta before they continued their trek to Ventura. They took a break from their 545mile ride there.

After raising more than $11.7 million in support of these foundations, the participants have been on a seven-day journey raising awareness for the AIDS cause.

These participants come from all walks of life. Some are HIVpositive or negative, some are LGBTQ+ or allies. The ages range from 18 to 92, and there is someone from nearly every state represented as well as 14 different countries.

As explained by AIDS/ LifeCycle Marketing Director, Evan Payne, it’s a life-changing ride, not a race, that takes place through some of California’s most beautiful countryside.

AIDS/LifeCycle is co-produced by the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation and is designed to advance their shared interest to reduce new HIV transmissions and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV.

Since 1969, the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond.

Today, the center’s nearly 800 employees provide services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world. The center offers programs, services, and global advocacy over four categories: health, social services and housing, culture and education, leadership and advocacy.

San Francisco AIDS Foundation, another prominent foundation in the cure for AIDS/ HIV, has multiple locations

throughout San Francisco that promotes health, wellness, and social justice for communities most impacted by HIV.

Through sexual health and substance use services, advocacy, and community partnerships, San Francisco AIDS Foundation is hoping to help all people who need representation.

If you would like to learn more about the organizations and find ways to get involved, visit www. aidslifecycle.org.

email: abahnsen@newspress.com

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

Police reveal name of suspect in vehicle pursuit

SANTA BARBARA — A man was arrested on June 6 following a pursuit that stemmed from the 1900 block of De La Vina Street, as reported earlier this week in the News-Press.

On Friday, the man’s name was revealed by Santa Barbara police. The suspect is 43-year-old Santa Barbara resident Cary Glenn Allen.

The pursuit started after Mr. Allen struck a bystander with his vehicle and fled the scene.

The victim is currently receiving medical treatment at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Mr. Allen was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, felony fleeing an officer, and mayhem. His bail was set at $2 million.

Additionally, at the time of the crime, Mr. Allen was also out on probation after a previous domestic violence and spousal battery case.

If convicted of all charges and found in violation of probation, Mr. Allen faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison.

— Annika Bahnsen

Flag Day celebration to take place

SANTA BARBARA — A Flag Day “cruise” celebration will take place on June 14 for all Santa Barbara residents to enjoy.

Attendees are encouraged to decorate their car in red, white, and blue and join the rest of the patriotic cars by driving from Costco at Camino Real Marketplace in Goleta to Islands Restaurant at La Cumbre Plaza Santa Barbara. Participants are asked to meet at Costco at 4 p.m. The patriotic cruise will begin at 5:30.

After the event, guests are invited to celebrate the holiday together for dinner at Islands.

— Annika Bahnsen

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS Above is was among the parked bicycles Friday at Girsh Park in Goleta, where participants in a 545-mile ride took a lunch break during an effort to raise money for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the HIVrelated services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. At right, Participants in the journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles take a break in Goleta.

Newsom proposes gun-control amendment

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – Gun deaths in California are among the lowest in the nation with 9 per 100,000 people – compared to 16 deaths per 100,000 nationally.

That’s why California Gov. Gavin Newsom thinks he has the recipe to save lives nationally.

Gov. Newsom is proposing a 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution, “to enshrine fundamental, broadly supported gun safety measures into law.”

The proposed 28th Amendment would raise the federal minimum age to purchase a firearm from

REVUE

Continued from Page A3

18 to 21; mandate universal background checks; institute a waiting period for all gun purchases; and bar civilian purchase of assault-style weapons. This is sure to enter the national debate on gun control, though the question of gun control is not a new one. It was debated between Anti-federalists and Federalists in 1791 on the right of states to defend themselves against encroachment by the federal government.

In Thursday’s announcement, Gov. Newsom said, “The 28th Amendment will enshrine in the Constitution common sense gun safety measures that Democrats,

use. In his memoir, “Spare,” Harry admitted to using cocaine and magic mushrooms.

So the big questions are these: Did he deny drug use on his visa application? And why is this important?

Because lying on that form constitutes perjury, a criminal offense and grounds for expulsion.

Leading to this question: Will Harry be exiled from exile?

The court has given Homeland Security one week (until this Tuesday, June 13) to decide on its own to release Harry’s immigration records — or the court will rule.

“HARRY & MEGHAN WILL ‘LIVE TO REGRET’ KIDS NOT HAVING RELATIONSHIP WITH ROYALS, GRAYDON CARTER PREDICTS”

Not sure what to make of Graydon Carter, the erudite and supposedly well informed magazine editor who resides in New York City.

About Montecito, he says: “There is nothing, nothing, nothing to do” in what he depicted as “God’s waiting room.”

Typical New Yorker who thinks people must be doing something every minute of the day rather than just being (in fresh air, among thousands of trees). He could probably use a year in a monastery.

Graydon also says, “There can’t be many kids because young families can’t afford it.”

Uh, might someone point out to goofy Graydon that Montecito has two public elementary schools and three private schools chock-a-block with students?

And he believes that Montecito “is a 40-minute drive from L.A.”

It’s actually an hour and 40 minutes, which for him makes it even worse but for us much better because distance from L.A. is what we crave most.

And as if to emphasize that point …

“ROD STEWART HAS QUIT HIS LIFE IN L.A. AFTER GETTING TIRED OF ITS ‘TOXIC’ CULTURE”

It’s back to Blighty for Rod.

And I’m jealous.

Republicans, Independents, and gun owners overwhelmingly support. “

The next step for the governor in this path to add an amendment to the constitution is to secure the support of two-thirds of the states to propose the same amendment, which is considered an uphill battle.

Gov. Newsom said he is gathering coalitions, grassroots gun-control supporters, and civic leaders to have similar resolutions in other states passed to ensure the Article V pathway.

The measure would leave “the 2nd Amendment unchanged and respect America’s gun-owning tradition,” the governor assured.

“CALIFORNIA THREATENS LEGAL ACTION OVER MIGRANT FLIGHTS”

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida dispatched two planeloads of Venezuelan migrants to Sacramento, a sanctuary city.

Gov. Gruesome’s response? This limp-wristed tweet: “You small pathetic man.” (Sob, sob.)

This isn’t a joke.

Pause.

Is that your best shot, Gov.?

Is that how, as president, you’d stand up to Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping?

LOL!

Hopefully, Gav is getting the message: Favor open borders and sanctuary cities, reap what you sow and make yourself a laughingstock.

“CLAUDE PALMERO LEAVES HIS POST AS ADMINISTRATOR OF PRINCE ALBERT !!”

Seven weeks ago, in these pages, I wrote about the corruption of Monaco palace administrator Claude Palmero and his co-conspirator, Thierry Lacoste, Prince Albert’s personal lawyer.

On Tuesday, Mr. Palmero received a handdelivered letter from Prince Albert dismissing him from his duties and demanding his immediate departure from the Palace.

Mr. Palmero, 67, was escorted to his car by the prince’s carabinieri.

Here is the problem: The Prince learned of Mr. Palmero’s corruption directly from me, his intelligence chief, 16 years ago!

So why did Albert wait so long to boot Mr. Palmero’s butt?

Not because Mr. Palmero was corrupt (which in Monaco is sacred) but because Palmero’s emails were hacked and posted on the internet, the extent of his corruption made clear for all to see and, as NiceMatin reported, such exposure was “Disastrous for the image of Monaco.”

I am informed by sources close to the matter that more fallout is expected as Albert strives to distance himself from a huge scandal in which he, himself, is complicit because he knew these crimes were being perpetrated as far back as 2007 and did nothing to stop them.

Robert Eringer is a longtime Montecito author with vast experience in investigative journalism. He welcomes questions or comments at reringer@gmail.com.

DeSantis, Florida Republicans blast ‘weaponization’ of DOJ after latest Trump indictment

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) –Republicans in Florida are speaking out against the latest indictment of former President Donald Trump, who announced on Thursday night that he has to appear in federal court Tuesday in Miami to face charges over his handling of classified documents after he left the White House.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’s considered to be Mr. Trump’s top 2024 GOP presidential primary rival, said, “The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society. We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation. Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary [Clinton] or Hunter [Biden]? The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all.”

After Mr. Trump’s Palm Beach, Florida, Mar-A-Lago residence was raided by the FBI last August, Gov. DeSantis at the time issued a statement, saying, “The raid of MAL is another escalation in the weaponization of federal agencies against the Regime’s political opponents, while people like Hunter Biden get treated with kid gloves. Now the Regime is getting another 87k IRS agents to wield against its adversaries? Banana Republic.”

The indictment comes as a document provided by an FBI whistleblower to the U.S. House Oversight Committee claims President Joe Biden – when he was vice president under former President Barack Obama – took a $5 million bribe from a foreign national to influence public policy. Classified documents also were discovered being improperly stored at President Biden’s home and personal office and former Vice President Mike Pence’s home. Neither has been charged.

Florida senior U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican, tweeted Thursday, “There is no limit to what these people will do to protect their power & destroy those who threaten it, even if it means ripping our country apart & shredding public faith in the institutions that hold our republic together,” referring to the Biden administration.

Several members of the Florida congressional delegation also weighed in.

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz said, “The phony Boxes Hoax indictment,” referring to the DOJ targeting Trump, “is an attempt to distract the American public from the millions of dollars in bribes that the Biden Crime Family received from foreign nationals. This scheme won’t succeed. President Donald Trump will be back in the White House and Joe Biden will be Hunter’s cellmate.”

He also said, “Imagine being naive enough to believe that the Biden Bribe evidence and Trump indictment happening the same day was a coincidence.”

U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who retweeted Rep. Gaetz’s statement, said, “I saw the FBI document. BIDEN is corrupt.” She also tweeted a statement issued by Mr. Trump, saying the indictment announcement was made on the same day the House Oversight Committee “is shown a document by the FBI showing evidence that Biden and his son were each paid $5 million dollars by a foreign national the DOJ indicts Trump. Coincidental? I think not.”

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who also viewed the FBI document, said, “According to the confidential human source... money was moved on purpose through multiple accounts to get to Joe Biden.”

U.S. Rep. Cory Mills said, “On the very same day the FBI turns over the documents (FD-1023) exposing the Biden crime family to Congress, and the extradition of Joran van der Sloot, you see an immediate weaponization to indict and come after Pres

INDICTMENT

Continued from Page

during an audio-recorded meeting with a writer, a publisher, and two members of his staff, none of whom possessed a security clearance, TRUMP showed and described a “plan of attack” that TRUMP said was prepared for him by the Department of Defense and a senior military official. TRUMP told the individuals that the plan was “highly confidential” and “secret.” TRUMP also said, “as president I could have declassified it,” and, “Now I can’t, you know, but this is still a secret.”

In August or September 2021, at The Bedminster Club, TRUMP showed a representative of his political action committee who did not possess a security clearance a classified map related to a military operation and told the representative that he should not be showing it to the representative and that the representative should not get too close.

Trump. In police work they call that a clue!”

After the FBI first raided Mr. Trump’s Florida home last August, Congress then launched an investigation into the FBI.

Over the last few days, FBI Director Chris Wray and the House Oversight Committee have tussled over the agency initially refusing to admit a document exists that was provided to committee members from a whistle blower. It reportedly provides evidence that when Joe Biden was vice president under former President Barack Obama, he and his son allegedly each took $5 million from a foreign national to influence public policy.

After Congress began its investigation into the FBI, Mr. Wray issued a statement last August, saying, “Unfounded attacks on the integrity of the FBI erode respect for the rule of law and are a grave disservice to the men and women who sacrifice so much to protect others.”

Since then, Congress has investigated a range of grievances levied against the agency for allegedly targeting parents at school board meetings, for failing to investigate violence and threats made against prolife organizations and against Supreme Court justices, and now the alleged coverup of bribes and targeting of political opponents.

Many Republicans were quick to blast the indictment, the first time a former president has been indicted by the federal government.

“In over two centuries of our nation’s history, no new president has ever launched the entire machinery of justice on a vendetta to persecute, attack, investigate, indict, [and] jail the former president,” U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, RTexas, wrote on Twitter.

Criticisms focused on the fact that President Joe Biden’s Justice Department was indicting the frontrunner for the opposing political party, an unprecedented move in U.S. politics.

“It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him,” said House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. “Joe Biden kept classified documents for decades.”

Other critics took aim at the fact that President Biden has made similar mistakes with classified documents but has not been indicted. Federal law enforcement officers seized classified documents found in his garage at his Delaware home as well as at a private office used by President Biden. President Biden also admitted he had the documents publicly. The classified documents come from after his time as vice president ended years ago. Notably, a portion of the documents were kept at a Washington, D.C. think tank that has received

substantial funding from Chinese donors.

Former Vice President Mike Pence also had classified documents at his Indiana home, but the DOJ decided not to prosecute him last week. Hillary Clinton was infamously under investigation for alleged classified information in her emails, many of which were deleted, and were kept on a private server. She was never indicted.

“There does seem to be far higher interest in pursuing Trump compared to other people in politics,” billionaire and Twitter owner Elon Musk wrote on Twitter. “Very important that the justice system rebut what appears to be differential enforcement or they will lose public trust.”

Responding to the criticism, special prosecutor Jack Smith said his office followed the law in securing the indictment.

“We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone,”

Mr. Smith said at a Friday news conference after the indictment was unsealed. “That’s what determines the outcome of an investigation. Nothing more and nothing less.”

Other critics said the DOJ as a whole has developed a pattern of politicization.

“Joe Biden has used his Justice Department to go after parents as ‘domestic terrorists,’ to spy on Catholic parishes, to terrorize [and] harass prolife Christians - and tonight to indict his top political opponent, Trump,” U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., wrote on Twitter. “He has trampled the rule of law to benefit himself. He has led the country into profound danger.”

On top of that, more evidence came out this week linking President Biden’s family to an alleged multi-million international “bribery scheme.”

President Biden allegedly received $5 million from Burisma, according to an FBI document.

“On the day members of Congress learn from an FBI document linking then VP Joe Biden to receiving $5 MILLION from Burisma in a pay-for-play scheme, Biden’s DOJ announces another phony indictment of the leading candidate for the GOP Presidential nomination, Biden’s likely opponent, and the former POTUS,” U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., wrote on Twitter.

“This mob-like justice system is turning Lady Justice on its head and is the most significant threat to our democracy,” he added.

Mr. Trump also was indicted

by a New York grand jury for a different state matter involving payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

“The exact same day that the FBI is forced to turn over to Congress absolutely damning and credible allegations regarding Joe Biden’s illegal, egregious, and treasonous corruption, Joe Biden weaponizes his Department of Justice to indict Donald Trump,” Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. wrote on Twitter.

Mr. Trump raised some of these same frustrations as other critics in a series of posts on Truth Social after announcing the indictment. He said he has been ordered to appear before a Federal court in Miami Tuesday.

“This is indeed a DARK DAY for the United States of America,” Mr. Trump announced on Truth Social a change to his legal team Friday after the indictment news broke.

“For purposes of fighting the Greatest Witch Hunt of all time, now moving to the Florida Courts, I will be represented by Todd Blanche, Esq., and a firm to be named later,” Mr. Trump wrote. “I want to thank Jim Trusty and John Rowley for their work, but they were up against a very dishonest, corrupt, evil, and ‘sick’ group of people, the likes of which has not been seen before. We will be announcing additional lawyers in the coming days. When will Joe Biden be Indicted for his many crimes against our Nation? MAGA!”

All Republicans did not stand by Mr. Trump, though.

U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, RUtah, who voted for Mr. Trump’s impeachment after the Jan. 6 riots, backed the indictment, saying Mr. Trump “brought these charges upon himself.”

“By all appearances, the Justice Department and special counsel have exercised due care, affording Mr. Trump the time and opportunity to avoid charges that would not generally have been afforded to others,” Sen. Romney said.

Now, Mr. Trump faces multiple legal battles in the middle of a presidential campaign.

“Like all Americans, Mr. Trump is entitled to the presumption of innocence,” Sen. Romney said. “The government has the burden of proving its charges beyond a reasonable doubt and securing a unanimous verdict by a South Florida jury.”

GRADUATE ADMISSIONS

COURTESY PHOTO

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Life theArts

Author to lead talk with Ukrainian native and librarian Sunday at Santa Barbara Public Library

and some of the amazing things they endured over the years,” Mrs. Cengel told the News-Press.

This Sunday at 2 p.m., Mrs. Cengel will be at the Santa Barbara Public Library in the Faulkner Gallery to do a bookmeet and lead a conversation on the book. She will also be joined by Ukrainian native Oksana Yakushko, a UCSB psychology lecturer, and librarian Molly Wetta during the talk at the library, 40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara.

CALENDAR

“It’s set as a love story, but what I really wanted to do was tell the stories of the people of Ukraine and some of the amazing things they endured over the years,” author Katya Cengel said about her book, “From Chernobyl with Love.”

By LIAM HIBBERT NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

‘From Chernobyl With Love:

Reporting From the Ruins of the Soviet Union” is set in the world of post-Soviet Eastern Europe, namely Ukraine and Latvia.

As a flock of young journalists and writers flocked to the East, author Katya Cengel gets caught up in the excitement, eventually falling in love with a man she met in Chernobyl.

“It’s set as a love story, but what I really wanted to do was tell the stories of the people of Ukraine

“She’s following really closely what’s going on there,” said Mrs. Cengel of co-speaker Mrs. Yakushko, who has family in Ukraine. “The part I can’t add is (because) I’m not Ukrainian, so I’m excited to partner with her.”

Mrs. Cengel also included an update as of June 2022 to the book that discusses the changes in Ukraine since the war, as well as the changes to the plot of the book and its characters.

“When the book came out there wasn’t a ton of interest in Ukraine,” said Mrs. Cengel. “Now a lot more people are interested in that area of the world.”

To find out more about the book or the author, visit katyacengel.com. email: lhibbert@newspress.com

FYI

Katya Cengel, author of “From Chernobyl with Love,” will lead a conversation with Ukrainian native Oksana Yakushko, a UCSB psychology lecturer, and librarian Molly Wetta at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The program is free.

‘From Chernobyl With Love’

‘From Chernobyl With Love’

COURTESY CIRCUS VARGAS

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson, a classically trained opera singer, will perform songs at Circus Vargas, which continues with shows today through June 19 at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara.

The calendar appears Mondays through Saturdays in the “Life & the Arts” section. Items are welcome. Please email them a full week before the event to Managing Editor Dave Mason at dmason@ newspress.com.

TODAY 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Santa Barbara Home & Garden Lifestyle Expo will take place at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call 805-252-5227 or go to www.chargoproductions.com.

10 a.m. to midnight. The third annual Santa Barbara Surf Film Festival takes place at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. General admission tickets cost $26 in advance or $31 on day-of-the-event, both per film. VIP tickets cost $106 in advance and $126 on the day of the event. They include access to a VIP lounge. Tickets include admission to the block party. To purchase, go to lobero.org. For more information, go to santabarbarasurffilmfestival.com.

No question about it: It’s great to read

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Road, has reopened its permanent mineral exhibit of rocks and crystals that is on view in the small hall off the museum’s central courtyard. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. The exhibit, which opened April 22, is included in museum admission. Members are always admitted free. For others, prices vary from $14 to $19. For more information, visit sbnature.org/minerals.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The James Castle exhibit is on display at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is free from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. For more information, see sbma.net.

1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Circus Vargas will present its shows through June 19 at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $19 to $49 for general admission and $49 to $75 for special seating. To purchase, go to circusvargas.com.

2 p.m. Chaucer’s Books will host Miss Angel for its Read With Pride event. There will be a story time reading of “Julian is a Mermaid” as well as other select children’s books at 2 p.m. June 10 at the store, 3321 State St., Santa Barbara. “Julian is a Mermaid” is a picture book written and illustrated by Jessica Love and was the 2019 winner of the Stonewall Book Award. For more information, visit www.chaucersbooks. com.

7 p.m. A concert will feature South of Linden, The Vonettes, Ron Solorzano of Mestizo and The Youngsters at Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria. Cost is $15 for general admission. You can buy two tickets for $25 at https://www.thealcazar. org/calendar/11838-south-of-lindenfirends.

JUNE 11 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Santa Barbara Home & Garden Lifestyle Expo will take place at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call 805-252-5227 or go to www.chargoproductions.com.

12:30, 3:30 and 7 p.m. Circus Vargas will present its shows through June 19 at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $19 to $49 for general admission and $49 to $75 for special seating. To purchase, go to circusvargas.com.

JUNE 12

6:30 p.m. Circus Vargas will present its shows through June 19 at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $19 to $49 for general admission and $49 to $75 for special seating. To purchase, go to circusvargas.com.

JUNE 14

7 p.m. Circus Vargas will present its shows through June 19 at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $19 to $49 for general admission and $49 to $75 for special seating. To purchase, go to circusvargas.com.

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2023

COURTESY PHOTOS

Author Katya Cengel will talk about her book, “From Chernobyl with Love,” Sunday at the Central Library in Santa Barbara.

Father’s Day 2023: Remembering the good

There are many, many wonderful things about being a dad. The fact that we have a special day to celebrate the man who was most likely your greatest male influence is a plus. With all that is going on in the world and with most families, we can sometimes temporarily forget the good parts about fatherhood, so I thought I’d give you some reminders before this year’s holiday, which is on June 18 this year.

• Feeling the love. Perhaps nothing is more heartwarming than having your children curled up in your arms or even just sitting next to you, and all of you allowing yourselves to feel each other’s love. This is not something that everyone does, but I have to say that it is an amazing experience to just soak up the loving vibes from your kids, stepchildren or those you have adopted in some way. That feeling can keep your mood elevated for weeks on end.

• Seeing them grow. As our children mature, even though it may not be as quickly as we would like sometimes, it fills us with a unique type of pride. Knowing that you are responsible for this little person who’s developing into a loving and kind adult, who may do great things for the world, is a very special feeling. No matter how your child is doing in school, and even if there are some behavioral problems, it is never too late to help your child develop into a contributing member of society. All it takes is your time and attention. Also know that no matter how much energy you put into your kids, it will come back to you in positive ways.

• Enjoy the amusement. Nothing cracks me up more than watching kids be kids. Some very little ones show no fear,

Santa Barbara student makes Dean’s List

Alyssa Hernandez, who’s from Santa Barbara, has recently made the Dean’s List at Saint Mary’s College. Saint Mary’s College is in Notre Dame, Indiana. It was founded in 1844, and it is a private college that houses female students with over 60 undergraduate majors.

To earn the academic honor of

the Dean’s List, a student must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.6 on a 4.0 scale. The student must have a minimum of 12 graded credit hours, no incompletes and no grades lower than a C. For more information, visit saintmarys.edu.

— Kira Logan

and you find yourself rescuing them from the tops of tables or looking for them in the forts they built with your new sheets. Others may shyly share with you their artwork or other things they made for you.

When your child hands you a picture that says “Happy Father’s Day,” even if you can’t figure out what’s in the picture, it becomes the most precious gift in the world. The creativity and playfulness of your children will help to keep you young when you get involved with it.

• Knowing you’ve contributed. As your child turns into a functioning adult, and at each step along the way, you need to know that just being a loving father has helped him or her to grow appropriately. You don’t need to be a great parent. You

just need to be a loving one and, of course, to set good boundaries (which kids actually like because it makes them feel safe). Feeling deep inside yourself that you helped raise this person to become someone you respect (and who has self-respect) is empowering for you and your child. Family is more important to many of us than it has ever been before, which is a very good thing. Honor your father and enjoy him; he won’t be around forever.

Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D., is an award-winning psychotherapist and humanitarian. He is also a columnist, the author of eight books and a blogger for PsychologyToday. com with more than 28 million readers. He is available for video consults worldwide. Reach him at barton@bartongoldsmith.com or 818-879-9996. He has lived and practiced in Westlake Village for more than two decades. His column appears Saturdays in the NewsPress.

EMS Agency to participate in safety event

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara County Emergency Medical Services Agency is joining with other local agencies in the Summer Safety and Fun Event on July 1.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ortega Park, 604 E. Ortega St., Santa Barbara.

Other participants include Cottage Health, the Santa Barbara City Fire Department, the Santa Barbara Police Department, California Highway Patrol, American Medical Response, SafeKids’ Santa Barbara County Chapter and Santa Barbara County MOVE.

The event is free and open to children and families of all ages. It will feature low-cost helmets,

resources on car seat harnessing and California car seat laws, supervised swimming, a bike safety obstacle course, and other activities.

According to Safe Kids, there are over 240,000 emergency room visits for children and teenagers related to bicycle injuries annually. Eleven percent of those accidents result in traumatic brain injuries.

In light of these statistics, the Santa Barbara County EMS Agency is committed to supporting injury prevention and ensuring the local community has access to life-saving skills and equipment, according to a news release.

— Kira Logan

Island Packers presents whale watching trips

VENTURA — Island Packers is expanding its non-landing schedule to include Summer Whale Watching through mid September, allowing more to view the extraordinary mammals.

Passengers on the Summer Whale Watching trips, who depart from Ventura Harbor Village, have a great chance at viewing different whale species in the Santa Barbara Channel. The whales migrate to this location to feed on the baitfish and krill.

Summer species that can be seen include: blue whales, fin whales, and humpbacks — as well

as common marine life such as dolphins, seals and sea lions.

Historically, there have been more than 28 identified species of whales and dolphins in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The boat departs at 10 a.m. from Island Packers deck and returns at approximately 4 p.m. It costs $75 for adults, $70 for seniors, and $60 for children ages 3 to 12.

For more information, visit www.islandpackers.com.

— Kira Logan

Shelters seek homes for pets

Local animal shelters and their nonprofit partners are looking for homes for pets.

For more information, go to these websites:

• Animal Services-Lompoc, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home. sbc.

• Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Goleta, asapcats.org. ASAP is kitty corner to Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter in Goleta, bunssb.org.

BUNS is based at Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Companion Animal Placement Assistance, lompoccapa.org and facebook. com/capaoflompoc. CAPA works regularly with Animal ServicesLompoc.

• K-9 Placement & Assistance League, k-9pals.org. K-9 PALS works regularly with Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation, sbcanimalcare. org. (The foundation works regularly with the Santa Maria Animal Center.)

• Santa Barbara County Animal Services in Goleta: countyofsb. org/phd/animal/home.sbc.

• Santa Barbara Humane (with campuses in Goleta and Santa Maria), sbhumane.org.

• Santa Maria Animal Center, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home. sbc. The center is part of Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society/DAWG in Buellton, syvhumane.org.

• Shadow’s Fund (a pet sanctuary in Lompoc), shadowsfund.org.

• Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals in Lompoc: vivashelter. org.

— Dave Mason

CHANDI DEITMER AND TAYLOR JOHNSON / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

Diversions

Thought for Today

“A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.”

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Saturday, June 10, 2023

ARIES — You may find that there is some opposition from other people today, Aries, especially concerning emotions. You may feel threatened in some way. An aggressive attitude could be making you feel inferior or unworthy of certain attention.

Wanting peace, justice, and harmony doesn’t make you wimpy or inferior, as some people may suggest.

TAURUS — You’re terrific at following through with projects, Taurus, but perhaps not so great at starting them. Today is the perfect time for you to prove this theory wrong. There’s a great deal of force out there to help you boost your rocket off the launching pad. Take advantage of this energy and get to work on things you’ve been meaning to start but haven’t gotten around to yet.

GEMINI — Your self-esteem is apt to be quite high today, Gemini, and you may feel an extra bit of fire helping you throughout the day. Take the lead on projects that seem to be going nowhere. If you want the job done right, you may have to do it yourself. Don’t be shy. This is the time to stand up and make use of your talent and skills.

CANCER — There may be a bit of tension and conflict in your world today, Cancer. Be prepared for mild contention that could turn into an all-out war if you aren’t careful. Don’t take things too personally. Think of these disputes as challenges that will only make you stronger when you overcome them.

LEO — There may be tension in your heart today that could be difficult to shake, Leo. You might find it hard to relate to people or that others aren’t hearing you very well. Keep in mind that you may have to translate your thoughts in order to get your message across. Keep an open mind as you deal with others on a one-to-one basis.

VIRGO — Try not to be impatient today, Virgo. This could be one day in which you feel restless, and everything seems to take much longer than you’d like. Try your best to go with the flow. Don’t get so wrapped up in making sure things happen by a certain time. Quality is more important than speed, and a

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

peaceful mind is more efficient and productive than a stressed one.

LIBRA — To fight or not to fight may be the question of the day, Libra. Your sensitive, feminine side is likely to say one thing while your masculine, combative side says another. The key is to not act hastily in any situation. Make sure you proceed from a neutral platform instead of reacting from a point of aggression caused by someone else.

SCORPIO — Be careful that you don’t put your foot in your mouth today, Scorpio. You may have a tendency to jump the gun, so be conscious of how you use your energy. A false start is likely to get you disqualified. Orient yourself to your surroundings before you make any major upheaval.

SAGITTARIUS — This could be a highly productive day for you if you approach it in the right way. You will find that you have an added burst of energy that could help you conquer just about any task you set your mind to, Sagittarius. You may feel more aggressive than usual, so use this to your advantage by delegating tasks and moving forward on projects that you’d like to see done.

CAPRICORN — You may feel a bit anxious today, Capricorn, and it may be hard to settle down. You probably have many irons in the fire right now, and they’re all starting to heat up at once. Unfortunately, other people may not be especially sensitive to your needs, so beware. It might be best to put up some sort of psychic shield to protect yourself from other people’s moods.

AQUARIUS — Your heart should feel quite generous today, Aquarius. You’re most likely feeling the need to keep everyone smiling. Spread your radiant sunshine everywhere - it will be appreciated on a day like this. You can’t go wrong with compliments and positive encouragement.

PISCES — You may feel the urge to get up and go today, Pisces. Follow this instinct and get to work. You’re anxious to get the ball rolling on certain projects. The key for you now is to make sure that the ones that are already started get done before you tackle the others. Don’t let people stand in the way of your progress. Grab hold of the reins if you need to.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Saturday, June 10, 2023

“Simple Saturday” columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking. You’re declarer at today’s 3NT. West leads a spade, East plays the ten and your queen wins. You count six top tricks: two spades, two hearts, a club and a diamond. You can win three more — nine in all — if a minor-suit finesse wins. Which finesse should you try first? One is just as likely to work as the other. The lead is in your hand, so say you finesse in diamonds as a matter of convenience. East takes the king and returns a spade. You take your ace, go to dummy and let the jack of clubs ride. But West wins — unlucky! — and runs his spades.

THREAT

Since West’s spades are a threat, you should force out his possible entry early, before the spades are set up. Lead a heart to dummy at Trick Two and return the jack of clubs. If West wins and leads another spade, you win and finesse in diamonds. That finesse loses, but as you hope, East has no more spades. You will get back in to take your tricks.

Your partner

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill in the grid so every row, every column and every 3-by-3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. that means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

Sudoku puzzles appear on the Diversions page Monday-Saturday and on the crossword solutions page in Sunday’s Life section.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers to previous CODEWORD

How to play Codeword

Codeword is a fun game with simple rules, and a great way to test your knowledge of the English language. Every number in the codeword grid is ‘code’ for a letter of the alphabet. Thus, the number 2 may correspond to the letter L, for instance. All puzzles come with a few letters to start. Your first move should be to enter these letters in the puzzle grid. If the letter S is in the box at the bottom of the page underneath the number 2, your first move should be to find all cells numbered 2 in the grid and enter the letter S. Cross the letter S off the list at the bottom of the grid. Remember that at the end you should have a different letter of the alphabet in each of the numbered boxes 1- 26, and a word in English in each of the horizontal and vertical runs on the codeword grid.

PUZZLE

opens one heart, the next player doubles and you raise to two hearts. Left-hand opponent bids three clubs, and two passes follow. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have only six high-card points, but to bid three hearts is clear. Possession of a good nine-card trump fit suggests that you compete to the three level. Moreover, your partner’s hand is marked short in clubs, so the play should go well.

— Edward Abbey

Dolce & Gabbana dress part of great period in fashion history

J.E. sends me a gorgeous black cotton structured Dolce & Gabbana dress, found in 2003 at a thrift store, with trademark excellent construction.

The waist features “stays” of oldfashioned bone, in the iconic corset waist shape.

J.E. asks, “What is a high style designer dress like this worth?”

Dolce & Gabbana is a premier style line, and the company has been designing and making wonderful clothing for 20-plus years. I have a suspicion that J.E.’s dress is not off the rack because there is a handwritten tab in the lining and the full names of the two designers are spelled out.

Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who met in a Milan Club in 1982, are no strangers to tangles with the press. In 2018, they encountered a scandal. To celebrate their show in China, they posted a feature in 2018 on Instagram of an Asian model eating Italian food with chopsticks, and social media came down hard on them. Pundits have written about the disconnect between what the world thought of D & G couture in the 1990s (disruption and scandal), and what the new woke world of the 2020s thinks of couture and how to express it in visual imagery.

D & G canceled the Chinese fashion show, and detractors demanded that Dolce and Gabbana disclose workplace conditions and become transparent with their labor issues. Accountability? And who then decides?

Throughout the 1990s, any press about a designer fashion brand was good press. The great icons of the disruption days were the bad boys who would dress models in almost anything outré: Galliano, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen and Karl Lagerfeld (the latter celebrated at the MET this month). Mr. Dolce and Mr. Gabbana have lost business from the Instagram posting, yet former press scandals brought them business.

For example, there were tje risqué 1992 line called Gangster Chic, and Madonna’s 1500 corsetbased, sexy costumes, designed for her shows in the 1990s.

As of 2021, Dolce & Gabbana are in the public’s good graces again, having designed a fabulous gown for a make-up entrepreneur of color for the Met Gala. Her gown was a huge hit as an anti-racist statement. We can see that some of the young ones of the English royal family wore Dolce & Gabbana to mourn Queen Elizabeth II’s death. The young Lady Louise Windsor wore the designers’ black dress to the funeral.

The story of Mr. Dolce and Mr. Gabbana is an 1980-90s chain of successes: from their Milanese first show in 1985, called “Donna Verre” (“Real Women”), so named because the pair had no money for models and asked neighborhood women to model. And they begged their families for money to buy fabric.

Then their breakthrough show made them famous — “The Leopard” in 1990, in which they

found their artistic voice. By 1990, with this look, referencing the Italian films of the 1940s and with glomus sexy garments based on films such as “The Leopard,” directed by Luchino Visconti, they began to export garments to U.S. and Japan. And they made $500 million in 1990, less than 10 years after their first show.

Two influences are echoed in J.E.’s dress: one the corset, and two the 1940-50 elegant and formfitting hourglass shape. In the mid-1990s the famous fashion designer Rubenstein called their “slip dress,” named the “Sicilian Dress,” one of the 100 most iconic dresses in history as it referenced 1940-50 Italian cinema stars filmed in their undergarments — slinking in form fitting “slips,” as those worn by Sophia Loren.

D & G are famed for influencing art forms and allowing “other” art forms to influence them. They have been on the forefront of technology to do so — showing their runway in 1993 on the internet only, appearing twice in roles in the movies, designing a video for Duran Duran in the 1990s.

In the 2000s they dressed stars for international tours: Madonna, Missy Elliott, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Kylie Minogue. They were the first to design for plus-size women and the first to show two men kissing in an ad for their men’s collection.

In 2021, they created a ninepiece runway show of a collection only offered as NFTs. Some of the “garments” designed were “Glass Suit,” and “Impossible Tiara.” And the show sold for $5.7million. Thus, with the shape of the dress and the built in corset, J.S. has a piece of art by a high fashion design team that owned the 1990s and early 2000s. The value of the dress at an online seller such as the Real Real is $2,000.

Dr. Elizabeth Stewart’s “Ask the Gold Digger” column appears Saturdays in the News-Press. Written after her father’s COVID-19 diagnosis, Dr. Stewart’s book “My Darlin’ Quarantine: Intimate Connections Created in Chaos” is a humorous collection of five “what-if” short stories that end in personal triumphs over presentday constrictions. It’s available at Chaucer’s in Santa Barbara.

NYT CROSSWORD SOLUTION

COURTESY PHOTOS

At top, this dress was designed by fashion icons Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. Above, the dress’ waist features “stays” of old-fashioned bone, in the iconic corset waist shape.

Let’s change conservative election strategies

America is in a state of decline, if not chaos, following disappointing results in three straight elections and too many years of organized turmoil in our streets, schools, government institutions and elsewhere. Reversing this requires fundamental changes in conservatives’ political and philanthropic strategies.

Change at the margins is not enough — not with inflation at 50-year highs; rampant crime in our streets; military preparedness and our children’s education compromised at the altar of wokeness; social

experimentation occurring in our schools without parental knowledge; protection of our southern border having collapsed; government and large corporations coordinating censorship of certain viewpoints; and weaponization of the Department of Justice and FBI.

Against this backdrop, it is stunning that Republicans were unable to win a majority in the U.S. Senate and only able to win a slim majority in the U.S. House in last year’s midterms. This must serve as a wake-up call to conservative donors that we need to do things

differently going forward. Fortunately, a growing number of conservative donors now realize this and are asking the appropriate questions: “Where did Republicans fall short in the midterms;” “Are there more effective strategies than those we now use;” and “Are there more effective consultants and organizations than those we currently fund?”

Republicans fell short in last year’s midterms because Democrats had four distinct advantages.

First, the effectiveness of Democrats’ absentee-ballot,

ballot-harvesting, and early-voting programs.

Second, the tone-deaf messages of Republican candidates and information operations about the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Third, young voters continuing to vote overwhelmingly Democratic.

Fourth, suburban women not voting Republican in the same numbers as they did in 2016. Democrats gained these advantages through 24-month integrated strategies between elections while conservatives pursued disparate, often ineffective tactics and then back loaded our spending to the 90-day run-up to elections. Democrats

fully fund and work continuously on the mechanics of elections – absentee-ballot, early-voting, vote-by-mail and ballot-harvesting programs – to tilt elections in their favor. Conservatives must compete more effectively on election mechanics going forward.

Through their control of the levers of power in education, the media and entertainment, Democrats also work continuously on the “long game” by developing the narratives they believe will transform America’s culture and shape election outcomes.

George Soros and others like

Please see MARCUS on C4

Failed trade policy bene ts China

The U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party recently held an important hearing on how to counter the economic threat from China.

From both an economic and national security standpoint, China represents the most dangerous threat to the United States. Although China has its own internal economic and political problems, it is a growing and expanding economic and military power.

A major reason for China’s rise is a direct result of failed United States trade policy. Decades of free trade agreements have resulted in the loss of manufacturing, which has made the United States dependent upon foreign nations, especially China.

In 2001, China was granted

permanent normal trade relations or most favored nation status. Advocates for China’s most favored nation status argued that it would be beneficial not only for the United States, but also for China and the world economy. It was also argued that it would help “democratize” China.

Further, China promised to comply with the rules of global trade. The result was the opposite. China did not “democratize” nor is it playing by the rules. Whether it is through their economic subsidies of industry, intellectual property theft, devaluing their currency, among other actions, China is not adhering to the rules of fair trade.

As a consequence, the United States is not only running a massive trade deficit, but a large part of that deficit is with China.

“Since the United States granted

China permanent normal trade relations, our trade deficit has totaled more than $6 trillion, and has averaged $350 billion per year over the past decade,” stated Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

“In 2022, the $382.9 billion trade deficit with China accounted for 32 percent of the $1.19 trillion total U.S. trade deficit,” noted Andrew Heritage of the Coalition for a Prosperous America.

The massive trade deficit with China has also led to a loss of close to 4 million jobs, many of which were in manufacturing.

Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, who served as U.S. trade representative in President Donald J. Trump’s administration, argues that as a result of these free trade agreements, including granting most favored nation status to China, “America’s trade deficits surged as its industrial base fell into a state of near ruin.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Bonnie Donovan

What are o cials doing about the border?

Did you know Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to charge the Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with criminal kidnapping?

This is because Gov. DeSantis sent illegal border crossers to Sacramento on private jets. Gov. Newsom, aren’t we a sanctuary state? You even said, we are open, send them here.

Since when is criminal kidnapping of interest with all the human trafficking in our state?

These illegals from Florida signed the paperwork and understood what they signed up for. They were even on video partying and celebrating that they got to go to California.

In the national response to the border crisis, what are our elected officials doing to protect us, our country, our state, county or city? What about our schools, housing, health care and budgets?

California is the largest sanctuary state. And it has the highest taxes, the highest housing costs, and the largest homeless population. Wonder why!

Then they all voted for the electric vehicle mandate, and now we find there is a shortfall of money to repair our roads due to a lack of gasoline tax. Gov. Newsom raised the registration fees on our vehicles to try to make up for it.

When will they ever think it all the way through before they put their demands on us?

CITY BUDGET HEARINGS

On to the Santa Barbara City council and the wrap-up of budget hearings:

After many meetings in which each department came forward with its proposed budgets with requested cuts of 5%, any council member could ask questions of each department with whys, whats, etc. Wednesday night, Finance Director Keith DeMartini presented his report with all the changes and requests made by the council in previous meetings.

Since the council requested these changes, you would have thought it would be a wellpaced meeting. But no, it went for three and a half hours with questions.

If you don’t want to cut afterschool programs, parks and recreation, and the library, then how about you look and see if you have paid the whole $800,000 to MIG on State Street Promenade yet, and if not, cancel the balance of their contract now.

Remember the $3-plus million you have spent on the promenade so far and now you are looking for cuts across the board in all city departments?

Cut SBACT and CITY NET until they put a stop to the importing of homeless people to Santa Barbara.

How about, since you are promoting so much road dieting (removal of vehicle lanes) and promoting bicycles, you could cut the car allowance

John Hendrickson The author is with the Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation

Wendy McCaw

Arthur von Wiesenberger Co-Publisher Co-Publisher

GUEST OPINION

bribery and millions of dollars they have accepted from the Chinese and Ukraine countries, to name a few and President Joe Biden’s tossing confidential documents hither and yon and Hillary Clinton bleach washing her computer and not one word of accusation of wrongdoing. That is because they are part of the Left, out to change this country to a communist nation and because they are part of the destruction by the left.

But when Donald J. Trump has confidential documents in his home at Mar A Lago, every breath taken is put under a magnifying glass. Mr. Trump has been indicted for having these documents in his possession and anyone supporting Mr. Trump is brought to the attention of the Department of Justice and the FBI, and their reputation gets flushed down the toilet.

The Left will do anything — and I mean anything — to prevent him becoming a candidate for president in 2024: from demanding his financial records to accusing him of keeping secret documents secured in his home.

Is this the country you want?

Indicting Trump was a political move

Thursday was a dark day in America. For the first time in our history, a former U.S. president was indicted. It was purely a political move carried out by a one-sided Department of Justice.

Handcuff cops and let criminals roam free?

Santa Barbara County supervisors will begin their annual budget hearings this Friday, but don’t expect much in the way of meaningful oversight because, for the most part, they are just along for the $1.5 billion ride.

Nonetheless, the public should be very concerned that Supervisors Das Williams, Joan Hartmann and Laura Capps are planning to restrict the ability of the sheriff and the district attorney to do the job they were elected to do — namely arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating criminals.

This has to do with the refusal of these supervisors to adequately fund the construction of a new jail with the capacity to replace the dilapidated 60-year-old Main Jail in Santa Barbara — all of which constitutes a de facto jailbreak. Guided by incredibly naive wishful thinking, these supervisors plan to divert more and more mentally ill inmates, along with other felons and all persons who have committed misdemeanors, to what is called alternative sentencing.

What is missing from this discussion is a meaningful analysis of these so-called alternatives from a budget perspective.

For instance, the county department that treats mental health along with drug and alcohol problems (these can be markers for much criminal activity.) is called Behavioral Wellness.

It employs 462 employees at a cost of $175 million per year. The department treats some 7,391 individuals of all ages for specialty mental health services, and 2,219 individuals receive substance use disorder services.

The sheriff’s department, on the other hand, has a budget of $200 million per year and a staff of 768 employees. This budget includes patrol services (318 employees) serving 44% of the county’s population. (The sheriff deputies patrol the unincorporated areas of the county along with several “contract” cities that don’t have their own police force.)

The sheriff also oversees the jail, which serves all law enforcement agencies in the county. The jail employs 350 staff members.

And the sheriff provides

Take pride in America

security staff for all court hearing rooms (41 employees) and performs coroner services for all suspicious deaths countywide.

Finally, the department also mans the public safety dispatch call center, which receives upward of 55,000 calls per year — including some 6,000 mental health crisis calls.

We know exactly what the deliverables are for the sheriff’s budget. For the behavior wellness department, not so much.

The sheriff’s office patrols, makes arrests and incarcerates criminals. Lots and lots of criminals.

Unfortunately, however, the state of California has made the job of law enforcement officers extremely difficult because the vast bulk of criminal activity in California has been downgraded from felonies to misdemeanors.

What that means in practical terms is that most of the criminal activity in our communities no longer carries the threat of incarceration. The supervisors will make things worse by reducing the capacity of the jail so that even fewer inmates can be held, including the aforementioned felons.

The mental health services department is for the most part dealing with the same clientele year after year with virtually nothing to show for it.

But don’t take my word for it. Just a few weeks ago, the News-Press featured a frontpage story titled “Mental health experts discuss issues impacting the Santa Barbara community” having to do with local experts gathering to discuss issues and solutions surrounding our community’s mental health situation.

The president and CEO of Pacifica Graduate Institute, Leonie Matson, said it best: “Our expert alumni and faculty do not attempt to fix anybody, but rather invite every human being to be more curious about their experience and self. We do not embrace any savior complex.”

No attempt to fix anybody? That is one of the substantive “alternatives” to incarcerating people who have been convicted of a crime? Thanks, but no thanks.

Not only was it used to distract from the Biden $5 million bribery bombshell with Ukraine, but it was election interference at the highest level.

As a patriotic American, I am livid. There is such a double standard today.

If you are a Democrat or on the left, you can get away with anything. If you are a Republican or more conservative, you are guilty of everything.

Mr. Trump was charged because of papers he had at Margo Logo. But President Biden had papers in Chinatown, in his garage and at his houses, but nothing was done. What we see happening today

in America is very dangerous. What has happened to our justice system, the rule of law and why is the government allowed to target one man who wants to run for president? And why is the FBI, the DOJ, CIA and the media allowed to interfere with our elections? If we do not get some honest, new and pro-American leaders in the next election, our republic is gone.

Diana Thorn Carpinteria

The Left’s double standard

Watching the news on June 8, where am I? What is happening to our great (what was once a great country) scares me beyond belief. With all the corruption we have been shoveled from the non-truth TV stations just hit a new low. What we have been inundated with the Biden family and the

You do know, President Biden has had these confidential documents in his many locations for many years and was never accused of any wrongdoing. Think about what you are reading.

Your vote can make or break this country, and I sure don’t want any part of this corruption.

In all my 96 years of living with politics, never has the country seen such a shocking move of deceit. You are witnessing the abuse of power.

Anita Dwyer Lompoc

Biden is corrupt

President Biden is going to go down as the most corrupt president of all times. He weaponizes the DOJ-FBI-CIA. President Biden needs to go to prison.

The mainstream press protects this corrupt administration. He goes after rivals like a dictator.

Breaking conventional principles, any kind of longheld beliefs can be difficult. When the gay movement began pushing hard for legal marriage, there was a lot of resistance. But because of their strong convictions, rights and persistence in making their case to enjoy and share the same privileges as heterosexual couples, marriage for same-sex couples became law. And despite my own reservations, I firmly believe it was the right thing to do. That hubbub has settled down, and America for the most part has come to accept gay marriages. It’s now part of our cultural fabric. I grew up being homophobic. Back in the day as kids to tease each other and slam a friend over something, we’d say, “You’re so gay.” We never gave that biased statement much thought then. It wasn’t difficult to know who was gay even when the individual didn’t want to come out. Most of those boys and girls didn’t draw any unnecessary attention to themselves. They didn’t want to.

In retrospect, I feel bad for those who had to live their lives in the darkness hiding their true individuality. Even famous actors like Rock Hudson lived a lie and was thought to be every woman’s dream; tall, dark and handsome. Turned out he was every man’s dream.

Fast forward to the new U.S.A. Same-sex marriage opened the door for gay America to step through with pride. They could hold their head high and meld with their neighbors and friends openly about who they were and for the most part, no one cared. It was an arduous battle and is still in transition but has made positive strides.

Then something switched.

I’m not sure who, what or why some in the gay faction didn’t think being accepted wasn’t enough. Some felt they needed to elevate their existence a dozen notches by starting a get “in your face” movement.

I’ve made mention of this before, but my third-grade teacher said something I never forgot and is a commonly used cliché. She said give someone an inch and they’ll take a yard. Such is the case with the now identified LGBQT and whatever additions to this moniker there are because I can’t keep up.

Whatever sexual preference you choose is, of course, your own decision. No one cares.

Spying on you: warrantless surveillances

The U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court recently identified that there were 728,000 “warrantless surveillances,” aka “invasions,” in the U.S. in 2021.

What are “warrantless surveillances?”

To “surveil” means to closely observe or watch the activities of a person or group. In 2021, the internet and other sources of electronics could be used to “surveil” persons or groups.

“Warrantless” means without a warrant issued by a court of law. The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution are labeled the Bill of Rights, meaning they provide citizens with certain rights that shall not be violated by the U.S. government.

For example, the Fourth Amendment provides:

— “The right of people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but for probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place

to be searched, and the persons or things being searched.”

Under the Fourth Amendment, “warrantless surveillances” by the federal government are an “unreasonable search” as they represent “invasions” of a the security of persons, houses, papers and effects, and can involve electronic “seizures” of “papers” and “effects,” such as financial or other records. Acts by Congress and the executive branch must comply with the Constitution: period.

Who committed the 728,000 “warrantless surveillances?”

The FBI.

Since the FBI can obtain secret “warrants” through their use of the FISA system, why did the agency commit some 728,000 “warrantless surveillances?”

Who knows? The Durham report eliminated any doubts that the current leaders of the FBI were involved in using the Steele Dossier to influence the 2020 elections, and together with the Mueller fiasco, demonstrate the political motivations of the top brass of the FBI in assisting the Clinton campaign. However, commentators continued to say that the other FBI agents were

not involved. Since none of these commentators know close to all the 12,000 “other” agents, what do the numbers show?

For just the top 10 employees to have committed 728,000 warrantless surveillances, would have required each one to have committed 72,800 of them, or 309 everyday of the estimated 235 work days — 365-104 weekends, 11 holidays, 15 vacation days — of the year!

Obviously, this would be impossible. Suppose “only” another thousand agents were involved, then the average number of violations per agent would be 728, or three for every work day all year long. To bring the number down to just one per work day would require 3,000 agents.

What were they searching for?

Who knows? Since the FBI will never discuss its motives, here are a few of their themes that have been exposed during congressional hearings:

— At the request of the FBI, the Bank of America (and other banks?) spied on their customers to supply who traveled to D.C. around Jan. 6, 2021.

— Surveillances were conducted of parents, who at school board meetings objected to policies favored by the Biden

Whatever you do in your private life, is private.

Then how come the movement has expanded from the bedroom to the classroom to indoctrinate children, to pollute innocent minds?

Children are being exposed to explicit sexual material that embarrasses even the parents.

How is this blatant sexualizing of children suddenly found permissible?

And why? What was and is the ultimate game here? When about 7% of the population is allowed to impose its sexual dogma on our children, something has gone haywire. And it’s not about whether you’re gay or not and simply want to educate children in that regard, it’s about showing kids how to have sexual interaction with a same-sex individual. That’s where the dispute goes south.

To make matters worse, this sexual crusade is being done under the darkness of school boards and teachers. What gave them the right to hide something of such significant importance from the parents who bore and raised these children? Who gave school boards and teachers the power and audacity to claim they know better what’s good for the children when it comes to their sexuality? Where do they get off with such arrogance? They’re just ordinary people elected to a policy-making

Andy Caldwell is the COLAB executive director and host of “The Andy Caldwell Show,”

the News-Press radio station.

Andy Caldwell

Kevin O’Connor Santa Barbara

Henry Schulte The author lives in Solvang

Brent E. Zepke

The author lives in Santa Barbara.

CARTOON BY ROSS MAYFIELD

WHITE HOUSE PHOTO

Donald Trump

Disney works to destroy the values that built its company

In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Lawrence v. Texas, found Texas’ anti-sodomy law unconstitutional. This is a free country, the court proclaimed, and individuals can engage in whatever private consensual sexual activity that they wish.

But freedom is not the value that LGBTQ activists seek. They will not rest until their values and lifestyle are imposed and accepted by every American.

Which gets to the heart of the current dispute between Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Co. Florida passed into law, in 2022, the Parental Rights in Education Act that bars instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3, and 4-12 unless there is conflict with other state standards in reproductive health education.

This law quickly was labeled by LGBTQ advocates the “Don’t Say Gay” law. But the law prohibits instruction of any sort in these

categories, under the assumption that conveying this sensitive material to young children is the responsibility of parents and not public school bureaucrats.

A Biblical point of view on these matters is also off the table in public schools, but Christians are not screaming about it.

Christians see education differently. It’s not about indulging developing, rudimentary instincts in children, but rather conveying to children the knowledge and skills to become responsible adults.

enjoys in Florida, and now Disney has sued.

The author is with the Center for Urban Renewal and Education

Disney then-CEO Bob Chapek wrote to Disney employees pledging opposition to the law, saying, “It is clear that this is not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to basic human rights.” Is it a “basic human right” to indoctrinate 6-year-olds in public school about sexual orientation and gender, even if their parents oppose such instruction?

more than two-thirds of American adults were married, compared to less half today.

And it was an America where the Bible was read aloud in public schools. It was not until 1963 that the Supreme Court ruled this unconstitutional. Does Disney’s current CEO see banning the Bible, and Christian values in general, from our public schools as a “challenge to basic human rights”?

It also must be noted that no state in the U.S. enjoys more education freedom than Florida. As a result of legislation signed into law by Gov. DeSantis, every family can apply for a voucher, estimated to be worth $8,700, to send their child to any private school they want.

So those who want to indoctrinate little children with sexual indulgences they see as truth are free to do so.

Socialism vs. nature

As Gov. DeSantis has pointed out, the LGBTQ community interest is in indoctrination, not education. And it is never too young to be indoctrinated.

Disney, which operates Walt Disney World in Orlando, opposes the Parental Rights in Education law.

The governor, in return, has removed the special tax and regulatory treatment that Disney

The Disney company was built on entertainment for children. The panorama of the firm’s history appears on its website.

Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pinocchio, “Fantasia,” etc., and Disney’s entry into television in 1954 with the “Disneyland” series and in 1955 with “The Mickey Mouse Club,” which, according to the history, was “one of television’s most popular children’s series.” It was an America then, where

The concept of the Disney theme parks — first Disneyland in California and then Walt Disney World in Florida — emerged from Walt Disney’s inspiration that “there should be a park where parents and children could go and have a good time together.”

Disney brings in some $4 billion income annually for their stockholders, but now is on a campaign, which unfortunately mirrors much of what is happening in general in the country, to destroy the truths and traditional family values that built the wealth it now enjoys.

But, as noted at the outset, the priority of those who call Ron DeSantis fascist is not seeking freedom, but indoctrination of their agenda.

Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.” To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators. com.

Copyright 2023 by Creators.com.

Debt ceiling agreement is a win for realism

Biden, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and their staffs. Emphasis should be placed on staffs, who bear the brunt of the complex, detailed give-and-take that is essential for an agreement that is realistic and workable.

The agreement suspends the current debt ceiling of $31.4 trillion until Jan. 1, 2025. This puts off any serious future crisis until after the 2024 elections, an important consideration in particular for President Biden, up for re-election next year and now consistently relatively low in popularity measured by opinion polls.

Both sides agreed to retrieve, or “claw back” in the current vernacular, approximately $27 billion that has been appropriated to combat the COVID-19 public health challenge but remains unspent. This has been an irritant for Republicans for some time.

One great strength of our American political system is the capacity to compromise, conciliate and work things out when the issues involved are truly serious. That strength is reconfirmed, dramatically, in the just-concluded agreement between Congress and the White House to remove the debt ceiling of the nation for two years.

This permits paying commitments already made.

On May 31 and June 1, the House of Representatives and then the Senate passed the deal negotiated between President Joe

Another Republican win was to include work requirements for people receiving food stamps and other federal economic assistance. Such requirements for ablebodied recipients of aid was part of a similar, comprehensive budget and debt deal negotiated during the Clinton administration in the 1990s.

Enormous sums spent for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are sealed in law and therefore nondiscretionary. However, a true cash flow crisis, meaning the government literally could not pay bills, would theoretically put these extremely popular — and therefore politically very powerful — programs at risk, at least over the short term.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s most recent statement on government funds indicated June 5 as the fail-safe date, after

which the federal government would have difficulty in paying bills. The agreement was reached just in time. As indicated above, staff members deserve credit for the long hours and disciplined discussion that resulted in this successful agreement. However, especially in politics, the boss gets the credit. We should keep both groups in mind. The biggest winner here is Speaker Kevin McCarthy. R-Bakersfield. The Republicans recaptured the House of Representatives in 2022, but by the barest of majorities. An anticipated Republican “Red Wave” in the congressional elections failed to materialize. A nearly equal balance of representation between the two parties in the House of Representatives almost guarantees that partisanship will be intense, and makes bipartisanship more difficult. Additionally, Speaker McCarthy had to suffer through numerous votes, and make many concessions to the right wing, over a grueling four days before House Republicans finally elected him their speaker in January. Unavoidably therefore, while victorious eventually, he assumed the gavel of the speakership appearing to be beleaguered and perhaps compromised. In the intense rough world of Washington politics, cynics sneered his tenure might be weak and brief. Given this background, Speaker McCarthy gains considerable standing, and no doubt influence, that should be of great help in coming political and policy conflicts within Congress. By inference, he clearly has picked effective staff members. He has also managed to overcome the rigid and radical

far right of his party.

President Biden also benefits politically, at least over the short term. However, he faces multiple electoral difficulties, including the disastrous mishandling of Afghanistan withdrawal.

Arthur I. Cyr is author of “After the Cold War - American Foreign Policy, Europe and Asia” (NYU Press and Palgrave/Macmillan). He is also the director of the Clausen Center at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisc., and a Clausen Distinguished Professor. He welcomes questions and comments at acyr@ carthage.edu.

The case against Donald Trump

Writing an op-ed piece is always an interesting endeavor, but generally it should not make at least half the people who read it, want to punch you in the face. I am afraid this attempt to delineate my thoughts about Donald Trump is probably going to make some readers very upset.

Why that is the case is a question for someone more informed about human psychology and the dynamics of cults.

We have always had demagogic leaders in our history. Some who come to mind are Huey Long, William Jennings Bryan, George Wallace and, yes, Joe Biden. They all share some common traits, such as exploiting economic crises, proposing overly simplistic solutions to complicated longstanding problems and finally taking advantage of social divisions to drive a deeper wedge between classes and races. Almost invariably their inflammatory rhetoric leads to violence and radicalization.

Donald Trump’s behavior since his 2020 defeat makes him a worthy successor to the long line of incendiary, rabble-rousing political leaders who have forced their way into our living rooms by having the loudest voice of any of their contemporaries.

Mr. Trump is willing to blow up everything in his way to get back to the White House. Whether it’s slandering the reputation of the very effective governor of Florida or abandoning the plight

of hundreds of people now in jail because he urged them to disrupt the presidential electoral process, the only imperative for Mr. Trump is to pursue his ambitions no matter what harm it may cause.

I am told, however, to overlook Mr. Trump’s many personality flaws and the egregious lies and belligerence that he directs to anyone who won’t genuflect or bow to his every command. I am also told to ignore his many faults because of all the good things he did for the country when he was president. Even if I was to concede that Donald Trump was an effective president, the disadvantages of supporting his candidacy outweigh any advantages that might accrue from ignoring his many foibles.

The Trump supporters are always telling me that Mr. Trump is a natural born leader, who is the only one who can take America back from the abyss. For those people who remember his popular NBC show the “Apprentice,” Mr. Trump’s magic power was announcing you were fired when not performing up to his expectations.

However, the Trump presidency was not known for how many inept people he fired but for the voluminous number he hired. It would take the rest of this column to list them here, so let’s just take a look at the people he put in charge of his COVID task force.

His most obvious blunder is Anthony Fauci, but if that was the only one, it might allow for some forbearance. Mr. Trump was not content to give just him a leading

‘Greed of the fossil fuel industry” is “destroying our planet,” says Sen. Bernie Sanders. Young people agree. Their solution? Socialism.

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, says socialism creates “an environment that provides for all people, not just the privileged few.”

“Nonsense,” says Tom Palmer of the Atlas Network in my new video.

Mr. Palmer, unlike Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and most of us, spent lots of time in socialist countries. He once smuggled books into the Soviet Union.

What he’s seen convinces him that environmentalmovement socialists are wrong about what’s “green.”

“We tried socialism,” says Mr. Palmer. “We ran the experiment. It was a catastrophe. Worst environmental record on the planet.”

In China, when socialist leaders noticed that sparrows ate valuable grain, they encouraged people to kill sparrows.

“Billions of birds were killed,” says Mr. Palmer. Government officials shot birds. People without guns banged pans and blew horns, scaring sparrows into staying aloft for longer than they could tolerate.

“These poor exhausted birds fell from the skies,” says Mr. Palmer. “It was insanity.”

I pointed out that, watching video of people killing sparrows, it looked like they were happy to do it.

“If you failed to show enthusiasm for the socialist goals of the party,” Mr. Palmer responds, “you were going to be in trouble.”

The Communist Party’s campaign succeeded. They killed nearly every sparrow.

But “all it takes is two minutes of thinking to figure, ‘Wait. Who’s going to eat all the bugs?’” says Mr. Palmer. Without sparrows, insects multiplied. Bugs destroyed more crops than the sparrows had.

“People starved as a consequence,” says Mr. Palmer. “People confuse socialism with ... a ‘nice government’ or

see

Your opinions are valuable contributions to these pages. We welcome a variety of views. Letters must be exclusive to the News-Press. In most cases, first priority for immediate publication goes to those submitted by 6 p.m. Tuesdays. We encourage brevity, and shorter letters have a better chance of being printed immediately.

We edit all submissions for length, clarity and professional standards.

We do not print submissions that lack a civil tone, allege illegal wrongdoing or involve consumer complaints. We also may decide not to print letters or op-eds for other reasons.

Limit your letters to one every 30 days. All letters must include the writer’s address and telephone number for verification. We cannot acknowledge unpublished letters.

We prefer e-mailed submissions.

If you send attachments, please send word documents. We can’t guarantee that we can open a PDF.

Send letters to voices@ newspress.com. Writers also may fax letters to 805-966-6258.

Mail letters to P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara 93102.

The News-Press reserves the right to publish or republish submissions in any form or medium. Direct questions to Managing Editor Dave Mason at 805-5645277 or dmason@newspress.com.

John Stossel Please

Star Parker

Arthur I, Cyr

COURTESY PHOTOS

President Joe Biden

Speaker Kevin McCarthy

Lou Segal

The author lives in Santa Barbara

Continued from Page

for the city government?

We all know property taxes are high in Santa Barbara due to high property values. Yet Did You Know? has been shown that multiple properties don’t have to pay it at all, or as little as $47 per year for a multi-million-dollar property. We have written before about how all of the Santa Barbara Housing Authority properties are on this list.

DYK was given a published book from a local nonprofit, the Hudson Parker Foundation, which is getting the same deal. It has multiple properties in the city and county. That means more lost tax revenue.

Then you wonder why there isn’t enough money in the city budget to properly take care of our infrastructure. So the citizens voted to tax themselves (Measure C) with an additional 1% sales tax to help get everything taken care of. (There is also a 0.5% sales tax from the county.)

Last month during a city council meeting, Council Member Kristen Sneddon suggested using more Measure C money on the State Street Promenade, and this has to stop. Then, during the budget cries for our libraries, there was again the suggestion to use Measure C money.

Yes, we believe our main library needs to be open seven days a week. Maybe the previous council shouldn’t have spent $3-plus million to date on the promenade.

(Mayor Randy Rowse wasn’t part of that vote) Did You Know? learned the $3-pls million for the promenade came from Measure C fund.

Local citizen Jarrett Gorin, chairman of the oversight committee for Measure C, spoke during public comment for himself Wednesday night and said the following.

He held the Accountability

Continued from Page C1

Report on Measure C in his hands.

“In November 2017, Santa Barbara voters approved Measure C, which established a onecent sales tax increase,” Mr. Gorin said. “The city of Santa Barbara uses the proceeds of the tax, currently estimated at $23.8 million per year, to fund critical infrastructure. Measure C requires an Annual Accountability Report showing how revenues from the prior year were used. Because Measure C revenues are not legally restricted, it is important that the community sees that the city is meeting its commitment to use Measure C to address critical infrastructure needs.”

We made it a full five years before individuals on the Santa Barbara City Council proposed raiding Measure C to cover shortfalls in the General Fund

— exactly what voters were concerned about.

I guess that’s pretty good. But it doesn’t make it OK to start now.

Councilmember Sneddon said at a previous hearing that Measure C is for community needs such as recreation and libraries. That’s halfway correct.

“If ADA upgrades are required at a library, or the elevator needs to be replaced, that’s what Measure C is for. It isn’t for paying librarians’ salaries. That’s what the General Fund is for.

“If we want to build new recreational facilities or upgrades like the Ortega Park renovation, that’s what Measure C is for. If we want to pay staff to mow the grass at Ortega Park, that’s what the General Fund is for.

“I feel really strongly that diverting Measure C funds to cover General Fund expenditures

— exactly what everyone was afraid would happen — is a betrayal of the public trust.

“I respectfully request that the council does not pursue that.”

There was a lot of public comment in support of the library and the airport, but also from the city employee union, which said they were underpaid and overworked. One claimed the golf course is in worse shape since it went to a private contractor.

We disagree! Ask the golfers, who say it’s never been in better shape. Union members also complained that they aren’t happy with their 4% raise and want 15%.

Reserves are to be left alone so we are protected when needed, yet they voted to use $680,000 Wednesday night. Did the previous mayor and city council put us in this predicament by spending more than $3 million on State Street Promenade to date? Or is it the $500,000 payout to the previous transportation manager? Or are they the lawsuits brought by employees?

With all that, Did You Know? found a 3-bedroom 2-bath condo advertised for student rental on San Andres Street for $8,295 per month. And we thought the Marc was expensive.

As we have written before, as long as our elected officials don’t put a cap on the number of out-ofcounty students at Santa Barbara City College, this will never end, and we will continue to lose housing for our workforce.

Editor’s note: News-Press staff writer Neil Hartstein, who writes about the city of Santa Barbara regularly, covered Wednesday’s budget hearings in a story that appeared in Thursday’s NewsPress. You can still find the story at newspress.com.

Bonnie Donovan writes the “Did You Know?” column in conjunction with a bipartisan group of local citizens. It appears Saturdays in the Voices section.

There is more work ahead of us

him have spent staggering sums over the past 20 years validating their belief about the impact of narratives and funded a “liberal ecosystem” for this purpose. The results speak for themselves.

Conservatives must compete more effectively in the long game.

To this end, a small group of conservative donors funded the development of a “conservative ecosystem” to push back against the liberal ecosystem.

STOSSEL

Continued from Page C3

a ‘government that’s sweet’ or ‘made up of my friends.’” Socialism means central planning. That ends badly.

“What AOC wants to do is basically give the Pentagon, or similar agencies, control over the entire society. She thinks that’s going to turn out well,” says Mr. Palmer. “It’s a joke.”

China’s central planners keep making mistakes.

Many Chinese lakes and rivers are bright green. Fertilizer runoff created algae blooms that kill all fish. A Lancet study says Chinese air pollution kills a million people per year. Wherever socialism is tried, it creates nasty pollution.

In the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin wanted cotton for his army.

Conservatives must also compete more effectively for the hearts and minds of the “magic middle” — swing voters who decide elections. Reaching and persuading swing voters requires different messengers, messages, and message amplification than those conservatives currently employ.

In the context of charter schools, for example, the most influential messengers are the parents and children who have lost out in school lotteries because of Democratic policies limiting the number of charter

His central planners decided it should be grown near the Aral Sea. They drained so much water that the sea, once the fourth biggest inland lake in the world, shrank to less than half its size.

“Soviet planners caused catastrophic environmental costs to the whole population,” says Mr. Palmer.

I push back. “That was then. Now the rules would be different. Now the rule would be: ‘green.’”

“All the time we hear socialists say, ‘Next time, we’ll get it right.’ How many ‘next times’ do you get?” asks Mr. Palmer.

Yet American media still sometimes say socialists protect the environment. A New York Times op-ed claims “Lenin’s eco warriors” created “the world’s largest system of most protected nature reserves.”

“These are not nature preserves,” Mr. Palmer responds.

schools. This strategy borrows a page from progressives’ playbook about actual victims of bad government policy telling their stories. Most effective are the stories told by these children and their parents that tug at the heartstrings of the target audiences. Broader message amplification requires reaching the magic middle where they live, and they do not live on conservative talk radio or television. The conservative ecosystem was developed for this purpose. There is more work ahead

“They use it as a dumping ground for heavy metals, for radioactive waste — in what sense is it a nature preserve?”

Capitalists destroy nature, too. Free societies do need government rules to protect the environment.

But free markets with property rights often protect nature better than bureaucrats can.

Private farmers, explains Mr. Palmer, are “concerned about the ability of the farm to grow food next year, year after year, (even) after that farmer is gone. Why? Because the farm has a capital value. That’s the ‘capital’ in capitalism. They want to maximize that.”

Capitalism also protects the environment because it creates wealth. When people aren’t worried about starving or freezing, they get interested in protecting nature. That’s why

of us than I have shared here. My hope is that this will start a broader conversation about the fundamental changes that must be made to preserve our freedoms and ensure prosperity for future generations. We owe this to our children and grandchildren.

Bernie Marcus is the retired cofounder of The Home Depot. This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire. It was made available to the NewsPress by The Center Square, a nonprofit dedicated to journalism.

capitalist countries have cleaner air.

Also, capitalists can afford to pay for wild animal preserves.

“When no one has property rights and people are poor, tigers and elephants are considered a burden ... They kill them,” says Mr. Palmer. “When you’re wealthier ... you care about the environment.”

Socialists say they care, but the real world shows: to protect the environment, capitalism works better.

Every Tuesday at JohnStossel.com, Mr. Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom. He is the author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.”

Copyright 2022 BY JFS Productions Inc.

The loss of manufacturing has impacted the middle-class

HENDRICKSON

Continued from Page C1

Further, Ambassador Lighthizer stated that this is benefiting China’s rise as an emerging “market leader for strategic goods like nuclear power plants, commercial ships, lithium ion batteries, critical minerals, steel, aluminum, high speed railway cars and equipment.”

In addition, these crucial industries help grow and strengthen China’s military strength.

“Chinese control of these industries feeds into the growing modernization of Chinese military, which now leads the world across crucial military capabilities including air defense systems, cruise and ballistic missiles, and naval shipbuilding,” wrote Ambassador Lighthizer.

The outsourcing of manufacturing has led to

numerous other problems for the United States. The loss of manufacturing has impacted the middle-class, destroyed communities, especially in the Midwest, and helped fuel cultural problems such as addictions to alcohol and opioids. This has also led to a decline in marriages and falling birth rates, while increasing greater dependency upon government welfare programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic also demonstrated that the United States has become too dependent on foreign nations for necessities. Whether this is pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, or other necessities, Americans are starting to realize that growing dependency upon foreign nations is not in the national interest. It is also assumed that outsourcing has only impacted low skilled consumer products such as toys or clothing, but this is only part of the story. Ambassador Lighthizer noted that the “United States once was a net global

exporter of advanced technology products,” but “today we run an annual $244 billion advanced technology product trade deficit with the world.”

This is also impacting our national defense. As an example, China is outpacing the United States in building naval destroyers. Ambassador Lighthizer noted that the United States “struggles to build more than two Navy destroyers a year,” while China “is on tract to build at least five destroyers this year.” This is just one example of the growing weakness within the nation’s national defense manufacturing base.

More policymakers are becoming aware of the need to not only encourage greater manufacturing in the United States, but also enact policies that protect American sovereignty and place the interests of workers first. Ambassador Lighthizer argues that a tariff policy is

role, he also gave people like Dr. Deborah Birx, his COVID response coordinator, and his surgeon general, Jerome Adams, leading roles too. Incredibly, Ms. Birx has admitted in a book she wrote that she, Dr. Fauci and Mr. Adams deliberately undermined President Trump by pushing for mask mandates, school closures, a ban of indoor dining and widespread lockdowns of businesses and social gatherings/recreational activities.

So did President Trump fire these people for insubordination? No, he kept them in their positions for his entire term. Even today, Mr. Trump still boasts of his extraordinary efforts to deliver us the mRNA vaccines, despite their documented side effects and inability to stop transmission. Does he feel bad that many people lost their jobs because they refused to take

them. Who knows?

My purpose for writing this piece is not to recount all of Mr. Trump’s failures and successes during his presidency. Most people are well aware of them. I am urging his followers to re-examine their motives for blindly supporting him, since the nomination of Donald Trump will most likely lead to the same outcome we experienced in the last presidential election.

To say if I can’t have President Trump, then I will not support any other Republican is the type of cult-like mind control I urge you to reject. The country needs a change in direction, preferably not led by the two leading candidates who will be octogenarians in the next term. Hence, as a Republican and conservative who has voted for every Republican who ran for president in the last 45 years, I will not be voting for Donald Trump to be the nominee of my party.

It’s OK because we can fix you

SCHULTE

needed to combat the growing threat posed by China.

This is echoed by Sen. Hawley, who recently introduced the Raising Tariffs on Imports from China Act, which calls for a 25 percent tariff to be applied on all goods imported from China.

Sen. Hawley has also proposed legislation to terminate China’s most favored nation status.

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., who chairs the Select Committee on the CCP, stated that the United States must “stop fueling our own destruction.”

The good news is that a growing number of policymakers are realizing that the free trade ideology is not in the national interest.

John Hendrickson is the policy director for Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation. This commentary was provided to the News-Press by The Center Square, a nonprofit dedicated to journalism.

office who are suddenly given superpowers because they sit in chairs above the families and glare down at them. They challenge a mom to speak up because they also have the superpower of the government to shut her up and label the woman a terrorist.

A mom gets up early every day, makes her children breakfast, packs a lunch, gets them to the school with the understanding her kids are being taught math, writing and reading. Then she rushes off to work herself — completely unaware that her child is being taught how to engage in various sexual positions with someone of the same sex or being told her boy is a girl or vice versa.

This is no longer a movement about gay rights. It has morphed into something entirely different. A child being told if he or she doesn’t feel like being a girl or boy, they can change their gender is way wrong. As the saying goes, not in a million years would I have ever thought that anyone under 18, much less 6, could have their body mutilated, by a real doctor. All based upon a stranger’s opinion who told them it’s OK because we can fix you. Up until then all they worried about was getting cooties.

The gay movement took a super left turn and has destroyed everything it took lifetimes to achieve. Just when society had become more accepting, gay activists, or whatever faction of the gay movement it is, decided the inch was OK, but they we’re going for the yard.

With the support of weak, gutless woke corporations, social media, mainstream media and all the leftist activists’ groups, 7% (less than 1% transgender) of the population, is dominating

Continued from Page C2 ZEPKE

nearly 100% of our attention. This drive to impose their sexual preference upon society has tried to use beer, retail, schools, food chains and even Disney to advance their agenda, but it’s backfiring.

Up to this point, the silent majority remained asleep but has woken up with a vengeance. It caught many by surprise how powerful they can be. You can try and indoctrinate a society all you want, but when (losing) money enters the picture, that’s when corporations got a reality check.

Before this transitioning craze began, places like Palm Springs and Key West have long been known as gay enclaves. In Palm Springs, the gays are nearly single-handily responsible for revitalizing the city. With two incomes, and mostly good incomes, homes were bought and remodeled, gentrifying neighborhoods and raising property values. Downtown came back alive.

Bruce Bawer, who has written many books on the subject, has said, “For my part, I wish Pride would go away. We’ve won equality. Why should gays continue to be singled out, even for the purpose of being celebrated? And for what are we being celebrated, anyway? I don’t expect to be applauded for being left-handed. Being gay is an attribute, not an accomplishment. “Then there’s this: Pride Month isn’t just about gays anymore… It’s about the whole ‘LGBTQI+’ crowd — a ‘community’ most gays never asked to join and whose guiding ideology makes most of us scratch our heads in confusion.” I can’t add anymore to that. Why keep poking the bear? Take pride just being an American.

Henry Schulte welcomes questions or comments at hschulteopinions@gmail.com.

Why were these surveillances committed?

information collected used?

Continued from Page C2

administration, after the FBI offered to help the school boards.

• There were surveillances of people who were active in a Catholic church. Despite Attorney General Merrick Garland’s denial under oath, the Richmond office of the FBI established a policy, adopted nationally, of putting spies in Catholic churches.

• There were surveillances of anybody associated with allegations against Hunter, Joe or any other Biden.

• There were surveillances of anyone associated with Donald Trump

What did FBI Director Christopher Wray say? He said that these “warrantless surveillances” were reduced by 94% in 2022, which, of course, means that there were 43,680 committed in 2022.

What did Director Wray not say? He didn’t talk about why the FBI did not use the FISA process. He didn’t discuss why these surveillances were reduced but not eliminated. Why were these surveillances committed? Who were the victims? How was the

Director Wray didn’t discuss which individuals authorized and committed the surveillances and whether they were disciplined or rewarded.

Since the FBI will not answer these questions from the first year of the presidency of Joseph Biden, 2021 — concerning surveillances that were not “discovered” until this month — what can we do to prevent our reading in 2026 about the invasions impacting the 2024 elections?

“We the people, of the United States” (preamble to the U.S. Constitution) can change the leadership of the FBI by first eliminating their power base by voting against the incumbents in 2024.

Brent E. Zepke is an attorney, arbitrator and author who lives in Santa Barbara. His website is OneheartTwoLivescom. wordpress.com. Formerly, he taught law and business at six universities and numerous professional conferences. He is the author of six books: “One Heart-Two Lives,” “Legal Guide to Human Resources,” “Business Statistics,” “Labor Law,” “Products and the Consumer” and “Law for Non-Lawyers.”

‘Next time, we’ll get it right.’