Santa Barbara News-Press: July 01, 2023

City addresses issues over street vendors

By NEIL HARTSTEIN

NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

In response to growing concerns regarding public safety and the well-being of local businesses, the city of Santa Barbara is implementing a series of proactive measures to address fire code violations, health and safety concerns, and improve working conditions for sidewalk vendors.

“The city of Santa Barbara is committed to ensuring the health and safety of the community and overseeing and enforcing ordinances that facilitate that overarching goal,” Kacey Drescher, the city’s communications specialist, said. “The city recognizes the importance of maintaining a safe and thriving community for all of its residents and visitors.”

A three-hour community meeting to update the public about street vendors and listen to people’s concerns about sidewalk vending and safety was held Monday at Casa Azteca, 1433 State St.

Hosted by the Greater Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the city invited all stakeholders to attend and participate in the discussions that will shape the future of public safety and local business operations.

“Attendance was robust, standing room only,” Ms. Drescher said.

Representatives from the city of Santa Barbara and County Public Health Environmental Services Division were on hand to share information about how to become a licensed and permitted vendor in Santa Barbara, and to share the guidelines that need to be adhered to when vendors are operating.

In addition, the city’s Sidewalk Vending Program Information Guide (available in English and Spanish) was distributed at the meeting.

Barbara Andersen, assistant to the city administrator, told the audience how the city is responding to unlawful activity.

Top concerns voiced by those attendance centered around vendors operating with open flames, propane tanks and a cooking operation with fire near grease. In most of these cases, a fire extinguisher has not been present.

According to Assistant City Attorney Denny Wei, two criminal cases for fire code violations have been filed, “which is the strongest enforcement tool that we have,” Ms. Drescher said.

City Administrator Rebecca Bjork initiated a Sidewalk Vending Task Force in

Please see VENDORS on A10

Officials: don’t drink and drive

Message is stressed on

Goleta road

where drunk driving accidents have happened

Supreme Court strikes down Biden’s student loan cancellation Ruling keeps estimated $430 billion in debt principal with borrowers

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER

SQUARE

(The Center Square)

– Canceling hundreds of billions of dollars in student loan debt cannot be done by President Joe Biden and his administration, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday. In a 6-3 opinion, the court said President Biden’s administration did not have the authority to unilaterally cancel student loan debt, blocking the president’s plan to cancel $10,000 per borrower.

Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented in the case known as Biden v. Nebraska.

Thursday

By LIAM HIBBERT NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Santa Barbara County and Goleta officials met Thursday afternoon along Cathedral Oaks Road to urge the public to be safe this Fourth of July and avoid drunk and drugged driving at all cost.

The meeting’s slogan “Drunk and drugged driving is 100% preventable” underscored the mission of the discussion. The county leaders met on Cathedral Oaks — an unfortunately common road for drunk accidents — to explain the dangers of drunk or drugged driving, as well as the various ways the mistake can be avoided.

“As much as we love our country and love celebrating the Fourth of July, it’s sadly the most deadly time to be on the roads,” said County Supervisor Laura Capps during a news conference. “Be smart. Don’t drink and drive.”

Every 96 seconds someone is in-

“The issue presented in this case is whether the Secretary has authority under the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 (HEROES Act) to depart from the existing provisions of the Education Act and establish a student loan forgiveness program that will cancel about $430 billion in debt principal and affect nearly all borrowers,” the court said.

The court ruled that the previous legislation allowed for tweaks to student loan forgiveness but did not allow for the sweeping forgiveness President Biden tried to enact.

“The authority to ‘modify’ statutes and regulations allows the Secretary to make modest adjustments and additions to existing provisions, not transform them,” said the majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts.

The court also ruled that the state of Missouri, a lead challenger in the case, would suffer injury from the plan and therefore had standing to challenge the forgiveness

Please see LOANS on A10

COURTESY PHOTO President Joe Biden

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch discusses DUIs as Victoria Placencia of Mothers Against Drunk Driving listens during a news conference

on Cathedral Oaks Road in Goleta.

Several drunk driving accidents have happened on Cathedral Oaks Road, where a news conference took place at the intersection with Kellogg Avenue.

(The Center Square) - In a decision by the United States Supreme Court on a case brought by the Students for Fair Admissions against Harvard College on its admission practice of considering race in the application of students, the court ruled that race-based selections, better known as affirmative action, was unconstitutional.

Students for Fair Admissions is a nonprofit organization whose stated purpose is “to defend human and civil rights secured by law, including the right of individuals to equal protection under the law.” SFFA filed separate lawsuits against Harvard and UNC, arguing that their race-based admissions programs violate,

respectively, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

By 6-3, the Supreme court agreed.

In response to the decision, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a released statement “Today’s Supreme Court decisions have far-reaching implications for diversity and equal opportunity in higher education. I am deeply disappointed about the potential impact on ongoing efforts to create inclusive learning environments.”

“Many universities have for too long wrongly concluded that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned, but the color of their skin. This Nation’s constitutional history does not tolerate that choice,” the court said in its decision.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom commented, “While the path to equal opportunity has now been narrowed for millions of students, no court case will ever shatter the California Dream. Our campus doors remain open for all who want to work hard — and our commitment to diversity, equity, and equal opportunity has never been stronger.”

But California too has rejected racebased methods for college selections.

In 2020, Proposition 16 gave voters the opportunity to reverse a 24-year ban on affirmative action in California, but the population voted to reject the use of race, sex, color, ethnicity or nationality in selection processes for public education and employment, choosing instead to uphold the California Civil Rights Initiative. That did not deter Gov. Newsom from

Bill to streamline prosecution of human trafficking passes committee

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - A bill to protect human trafficking victims and make it easier to prosecute the perpetrators of the crime in California, got the unanimous support of the Assembly Public Safety Committee in a bipartisan 7-0 vote.

Senate Bill 236 Human Trafficking; Vertical Prosecution Program, would require the office of Emergency Services to provide funding to County District Attorneys to develop or maintain vertical prosecution teams for the prosecution of human trafficking crimes.

Vertical Prosecution eases the strain on victims by assigning one prosecutor to stay with the trafficking case from start to finish, This allows the victim to develop and maintain a relationship with a single prosecutor throughout the process, rather than having to interact with several prosecutors on each separate criminal charge arising through the action.

Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) who introduced the bill noted, “This bill will help bring justice to human trafficking victims and prevent further exploitation of innocent people by putting perpetrators behind bars.”

By having one district attorney responsible for prosecuting the case throughout all jurisdictions and charges, the prosecution process is streamlined and more effective.

Several counties in California employ vertical prosecution units, which have proven to be the most effective method in handling human trafficking. Prosecution of human trafficking cases present unique challenges. Prosecutors attempting to secure convictions face budgetary

constraints and victims traumatized by the experience having to relive their ordeals by bringing charges. Still, this strategy of handling human trafficking cases has proven to be most successful, especially when paired with victim advocacy, resulting in an increase in convictions.

“Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery,” said Sen. Jones. “The evil people who buy and sell humans for their own benefit must be convicted to prevent further trauma for all victims.”

Human trafficking does not just enslave the vulnerable, it involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to recruit, harbor, transport, provide, or obtain a person for the purposes of labor or sexual exploitation. Across America, anywhere from 14,000 to 17,000 victims are annually trafficked.

“In spite of California’s attention on human trafficking, a relatively small number of offenders have been sentenced to state prison for this offense,” Sen. Jones stated in a letter to Senator María Elena Durazo Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee 5 requesting a onetime appropriation of $2.6 million to establish a grant program that funds or maintain vertical prosecution programs.

“This funding will help ensure that more traffickers are convicted of human trafficking rather than having charges reduced to other crimes, like traditional pimping and pandering. Several district attorney offices, including San Diego County, Contra Costa County, San Joaquin County, Ventura County, and Napa County, already employ this methodology for the prosecution of specific types of cases,” Sen. Jones stated.

The bill will next be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

calling the assenting magistrates “rightwing activists” in robes.

“The Supreme Court’s conservative majority has yet again upended longstanding precedent, changing the law just because they now have the votes to do so, without any care for the costs to society and students around the country,” he said. “Right-wing activists — including those donning robes — are trying to take us back to the era of book bans and segregated campuses.”

“California has long recognized the value of diversity in institutions of higher learning. While the ruling narrows the scope of permissible consideration of race in admissions, it does not diminish our resolve to pursue policies and practices that ensure equal access and opportunities for all students,” Mr. Bonta stated.

COURTESY PHOTO

Fiscally conservative group highlights southwestern lawmakers in early endorsements

By CAMERON ARCAND THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - The fiscally conservative activist group Americans for Prosperity Action made its initial endorsements in the 2024 election cycle Friday, which includes three southwestern congressmen. Representatives Juan Ciscomani of Arizona and Young Kim of California were two of the five selected by AFP Action. In addition, former New Mexico Congresswoman Yvette Herrell won its support in her bid to win back the seat that she lost in 2022.

“A key takeaway from the last 3 election cycles is that if we want better policies, we need better candidates that will lead our country forward,” AFP Action’s Director, Nathan Nascimento, said.

“AFP Action is supporting these candidates because they are strong advocates for policies that will improve the lives of all Americans. We will bring the full

Representatives Juan Ciscomani of Arizona and Young Kim of California were two of the five selected by AFP Action.

Another law enforcement surge announced by Newsom as fentanyl continues to pour across the border

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - Encouraged by the results of a 6-week multi-task force operation in May, that concluded with the seizure of enough fentanyl to kill the residents of San Francisco three times over, Gov. Gavin Newsom revealed plans to double up on the proven method.

“Today, I’m authorizing a 100% increase in personnel to bolster the impact of this proven operation, as well as authorizing targeted surges to crack down on crime in the city. Working alongside our local, state and federal partners, we’re committed to cleaning up San Francisco’s streets,” Gov. Newsom announced.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will get a boost in operational support with the doubling of the number of officers deployed. The additional officers are expected to

come from the assignment of more than 100 graduates of the CHP Academy this week. CHP’s Golden Gate Division will also supply additional active-duty officers.

CHP will work with local law enforcement agencies with targeted, surprise, countercrime strikes in key hotspots throughout San Francisco. The joint operations focuses on illicit drugs and weapons and criminal activity with the ultimate goal of disrupting drug gangs and reducing the amount of fentanyl that is released onto the streets.

Along with CHP, California National Guard will increase its numbers in San Francisco to provide support. CalGuard will identify ways to further increase staffing in San Francisco in support of the Northern California HighIntensity Drug Trafficking Areas program.

“To be successful in the long term we need to sustain and expand this work at the local, state, and federal levels. I want to thank Governor Newsom for sending more support

to our City and for his continued commitment to the safety of San Francisco,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said.

Fentanyl and fentanyl precursors continue to pour across the southwest border. In just two months, from March 13 to May 10, 2023 law enforcement leaders seized about 4,721 pounds of fentanyl, and 1,700 pounds of fentanyl precursors within the Southern and Central Districts of California in a federal law enforcement surge called “Operation Blue Lotus.” Two hundred arrests of alleged smugglers, traffickers and dealers were made.

Operation Blue Lotus seized a quantity of precursors that was enough to produce 200 million fentanyl pills, intercepted 116 packages containing about 163 pounds of fentanyl hidden in a car and confiscated fentanyl that also tested positive for xylazine.

Gov. Newsom’s joint public safety operation reveals, at least in part, the amount of drugs that evaded interception at the border.

force of our grassroots network and data capabilities to ensure they win in 2024,” he continued.

Two other representatives, Zach Nunn of Iowa and John James of Michigan, also made the list.

For Arizona’s Rep. Ciscomani, the endorsement comes as the group has wielded influence in the state’s political sphere, including their support of tax reform during the Ducey administration and their decision to devote resources to Karrin Taylor Robson during the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2022.

Grassroots efforts could impact races like Rep. Ciscomani’s, as he narrowly defeated Democrat Kirsten Engel by 1.5%, according to Decision Desk HQ.

“Last year, AFP Action put the full force of its grassroots behind Juan Ciscomani. The results are clear. Ciscomani won in Arizona’s sixth district by two points,” AFP senior advisor Stephen Shadegg said in a statement. “As a freshman Congressman he’s already making waves and showing the kind of leadership that Arizonans expect from their elected members. He’s opposing runaway spending and promoting policy that will unleash prosperity and empower every American.” According to a press release, the organization says they played a role in 457 races in 2022, and said they reach people using tactics such as canvassing, phone banking and mail campaigns in competitive areas.

. . . . . .jdaniels@newspres.com ...classad@newspress.com

. .

HOW TO GET US

Gov. Gavin Newsom called the Supreme Court’s conservative justices “rightwing activists” who “are trying to take us back to the era of book bans and segregated campuses.”

Newsom, Bonta react to Supreme Court decision to end race-based admissions

Reparations proposal submitted to Legislature outlining claims back to 1850

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - The Final Report of the The California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans was released yesterday. It is the result of Assembly Bill 3121 which called for the formation of the group to study the impact slavery had on California’s African Americans and make recommendations for reparations. It took the Task Force two years to research and compile the history, methods and strategies outlined in the report.

The full report explains the methods and formulas developed to calculate monetary payments to eligible African Americans who are descendants of a chattel enslaved person, or descendants of a free Black person living in the United States prior to the end of the 19th Century.

“This final report decisively establishes that now is the time for California to acknowledge the state’s role in perpetuating these harms, and ensure that through a comprehensive approach to reparations, we commit ourselves to the healing and restoration of our African American residents,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said.

Highlights of the report include:

• For Health Harms: $13,619. per claimant. “This would be the estimated value of health harm to each year of life an African American individual has spent in California, to which an eligible descendant would be entitled.”

• For Mass Incarceration and Over Policing of African Americans: $2,352 per claimant for each year of residency in California during the period 1971-2020 . “African American residents in California who were incarcerated for the possession or distribution of substances now legal, such as cannabis, should additionally be able to seek particular compensation for their period of incarceration.”

• For Housing Discrimination: $121,295.

which is approximately the gap in California, in 2020, between African American and white homeownership. This figure represents” the cumulative effect of all sources of discrimination, individual level (home owners, real estate agents), corporate (banks and local zoning boards) as well as state and federal level (redlining)”

• For Redlining: $3,378 for each year between 1933 and 1977 spent as a resident of the State of California.

Other areas of discrimination, the Task Force noted, were not as easily quantifiable; some were given a formula for calculation, and some needed further study.

The report asserted that the War on Drugs caused “not only a massively disproportionate incarceration of African Americans, but also unemployment and housing displacement in many economically depressed African American communities,” and that the State of California was complicit in “its unwillingness to address occupational discrimination, as documented by its ban on affirmative action in public education and employment.”

Yesterday’s Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action, no doubt, impacts the legality of this particular claim.

Four specific recommendations for reparations were outlined by the report: (1) the

California to deploy new technologies for anticipated intense wildfire season

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square)California is gearing up for the 2023 fire season with a host of new tools to combat what is forecasted to be a fire season with dangers potentially as severe as the one experienced in 2017 where over 1.5 million acres burned in 9,270 wildfires.

appointment of an agency to process claims, (2) verification of residency for cumulative reparations compensation, (3) compensation for all five calculable areas of harm for all members of the eligible class and (4) that any reparations program include the payment of cash or its equivalent to members of the eligible class, and that the Legislature make a “down payment” with an immediate disbursement of a meaningful amount of funds to each member of the eligible class.

The harms specified in the report, and the period of time such harms were perpetrated included:

• Health Harms from 1850-present

• Housing Discrimination from 1933-1977 or 1850-present

• Mass Incarceration & Over-policing from 1971-present

• Unjust Property Takings from 1850present

• Devaluation of African American Businesses: 1850-present

“For California to be a leader in the movement for true reparatory justice for African Americans, we must start with accountability. Our nation has for too long overlooked the atrocities visited upon African Americans or consigned them to vestiges of the past,” Mr. Bonta stated.

U.S. Supreme Court again vacates judgment against Oregon bakers

By LOGAN WASHBURN THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – For the second time, the U.S. Supreme Court has vacated a lower court decision against a Christian couple in Oregon who were punished for not making a cake for a same-sex wedding.

In an orders list release

Friday, the nation’s highest court vacated the decision against Aaron and Melissa Klein in their ongoing litigation with the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries.

The court sent the case back to the Court of Appeals of Oregon for reconsideration in light of its same-day ruling in 303 Createive LLC v. Elenis. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Colorado cannot force Lorie Smith, a Christian graphic artist, to design websites that celebrate same-sex marriage, which she was opposed to doing on religious grounds, despite the state’s protective anti-discrimination law.

“It’s a win when the Supreme

Court vacates a bad lower court decision like it did for Aaron and Melissa today, but the case is not over,” said Kelly Shackelford, president of the First Liberty Institute, which is representing the Kleins, in a news release.

The Kleins, owners of Gresham, Oregon-based bakery Sweet Cakes by Melissa, declined to create a wedding cake in 2013 celebrating same-sex marriage, resulting in a gag order and $135,000 fine by the Oregeon Bureau of Labor & Industries, forcing the Christian couple to close their bakery.

In 2016, they appealed the ruling with the Oregon Court of Appeals, with that court upholding the order in 2018. This prompted the Kleins’ first appeal to the Supreme Court that same year.

In January 2019, the Supreme Court vacated the 2018 ruling against the Kleins and sent the case back down to the state appeals court due to the thennewly issued Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission decision.

In that case, the Supreme Court

Arizona Republicans demand meeting with Gov. Katie Hobbs over ‘abuse of power’

By JAMIE JOSEPH

THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - Following Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ executive order to outlaw “extradition requests” from states seeking to prosecute individuals who seek abortion procedures, state Republicans are pushing back.

In a letter to the governor on June 26, Committee on Director Nominations Chairman Jake Hoffman called Gov. Hobbs’ executive action “a blatant disregard for constitutional separation of powers.”

Mr. Hoffman also called off Tuesday’s committee hearing “with support of the Republican Majority serving on the committee, to determine Gov. Hobbs’ future intentions to further act beyond her authority,” according to a Senate press release.

Instead, Mr. Hoffman and other Republican lawmakers requested an immediate meeting with Gov. Hobbs to discuss “future legally questionable overreach her office intends to issue.”

Gov. Hobbs’ executive order, signed June 23, instructs state agencies to refrain from participating in any inquiries related to supporting or accessing lawful reproductive healthcare within Arizona. Moreover, Arizona will reject extradition appeals from other states aiming to prosecute individuals involved in the provision, assistance, pursuit, or receipt of lawful abortion services in the state.

The move comes just after the one year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade on

June 23, which put the legality of abortions to each state legislature to decide on instead.

“All Arizonans deserve equitable access to health services that affirm their individual rights and reproductive freedom, respect their privacy, and support their sexual and reproductive health,” according to the executive order.

Mr. Hoffman called the order a “reckless abuse of power.”

“The Senate Committee on Director Nominations was created to honestly, accurately and thoroughly vet directors appointed by the Governor to critical state agencies so that only highly qualified, non- partisan individuals seeking only to serve the best interests of our citizens within the confines of these roles are confirmed,” Mr. Hoffman’s statement read. “Their duty is to follow statute as prescribed by the Legislature. We are now forced to redirect our attention, from confirming directors and creating good policy for the people of Arizona, to examining the fallout of Hobbs’ unconstitutional maneuver, as well as the likelihood of future overreaches of her authority.”

Gov. Hobbs said she made a “promise to Arizonans” that she “would do everything in my power to protect reproductive freedom.”

“I will not allow extreme and out of touch politicians to get in the way of the fundamental right Arizonans have to make decisions about their own bodies and futures,” Gov. Hobbs said in a statement June 23.

“I will continue to fight to expand access to safe and legal abortion in any way that I can.”

ruled 7-2 that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission demonstrated an unconstitutional anti-religious animus toward Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop when it punished him for refusing to make a cake for a same-sex wedding.

In January 2022, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals of Oregon maintained that the Kleins unlawfully discriminated against the lesbian couple involved in their refusal to make a same-sex wedding cake back in 2013.

However, that court panel

also decided to reverse the order requiring the couple to pay $135,000 in damages and remanded the case for further proceedings.

Last September, First Liberty filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, asking the justices to review another decision against the Kleins by the Oregon Court of Appeals.

“The Kleins have been fighting for the First Amendment for over a decade and we will stand with them no matter how long it takes,” Ms. Shackelford said.

California is deploying new tools – including AI, satellites, cameras, drones, and real-time intelligence alongside its largest standing army of firefighters and a fleet of aerial firefighting unmatched in number anywhere else on the planet.

Well above average rainfall brought by a string of winter storms, and unseasonal rain that lasted into spring allowed for California’s wildflowers to carpet the hills in the South. It has also resulted in significant growth of grasses and shrubs for an extended period of time. The increased vegetation will dry out in the coming months as the long days of summer begin.

Temperatures are expected to rise by the end of June, and an El Nino system is anticipated with a 90% chance it will form by July. El Nino brings thunderstorms with lightning activity. All this points to the perfect alignment of circumstances for a destructive wildfire season.

Gov. Gavin Newsom joined state fire officials in Grass Valley to talk about the preparations that are taking place and the tools available to, and developed by California for seasons such as the one expected.

“In just five years, California’s wildfire response has seen a tech revolution. We’re enlisting cutting-edge technology in our efforts to fight wildfires, exploring how innovations like artificial intelligence can help us identify threats quicker and deploy resources smarter. And with the world’s largest aerial firefighting force and more firefighters on the ground than ever before, we’re keeping more Californians safer from wildfire,” Gov. Newsom announced.

CAL FIRE has secured 24 additional firefighting aircraft (19 helicopters and 5 airplanes for a contractual period of 90120 days), added 1,350 new positions to its expanded fire crews and air attack operations, and expanded its night flight helicopter fleet from 12 to 16. The additional fixed-wing aircraft include 3 large air tankers specifically designed to carry up to 4,000 gallons of retardant while the FireHawk night-capable helicopters are faster with greater water capacity. Technology will also be employed to give firefighting crews the edge and near realtime information they need to be most effective.

CAL FIRE is partnering with Lockheed Martin to explore the potential of incorporating Department of Defense-grade technology focusing on dronebased software, AI-enabled tools, analytics, and capabilities to provide analysis of ground and atmospheric conditions. The collaboration is developing uninterrupted communications capabilities to fire personnel on the ground, essential during response activities. The California National Guard will use drones for rapid aerial mapping and assessment of wildfires and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), can make a detailed 3-D map of the current topography and vegetation for every high fire risk region of California.

The state is collaborating with the Environmental Defense Fund to bring low-earth orbit satellite technology online and advance knowledge of satellitebased detection of fires. California anticipates providing user input and feedback during system development.

Through a pilot program, the state has already developed and funded FIRIS (Fire Integrated Real-time Intelligence System). Aircraft mounted with infrared cameras provide real-time intelligence data and analysis. It will be utilized statewide during this year’s fire season.

The full report explains the methods and formulas developed to calculate monetary payments to eligible African Americans who are descendants of a chattel enslaved person, or descendants of a free Black person living in the United States prior to the end of the 19th Century.

Feds: National debt will be nearly twice as large as U.S. economy in 30 years

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – The national debt will be nearly twice as large as the U.S. economy in 30 years, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office projects.

That figure assumes no new major spending projects from Congress in that time, which is unlikely, meaning that debt levels could actually rise much more quickly. Conversely, Congress could slow that trend by cutting spending.

“By the end of 2023, federal debt held by the public equals 98 percent of GDP,” the report said. “Debt then rises in relation to GDP: It surpasses its historical high in 2029, when it reaches 107 percent of GDP, and climbs to 181 percent of GDP by 2053.”

CBO found that deficits are poised to soar as well.

“In CBO’s projections, the deficit equals 5.8 percent of gross

domestic product (GDP) in 2023, declines to 5.0 percent by 2027, and then grows in every year, reaching 10.0 percent of GDP in 2053,” the report said. “Over the past century, that level has been exceeded only during World War II and the coronavirus pandemic.”

Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, responded to the CBO projections, saying “there is still a tremendous amount of work needed to put our fiscal situation on sound footing.”

Ms. MacGuineas said the fast growth of Medicare, Social Security and interest on the debt are particularly problematic.

As The Center Square previously reported, the interest payments on the national debt are projected to exceed the cost of U.S. spending on national defense within a decade.

“Though the Fiscal Responsibility Act was an important step forward, it can

The

only be the start of our efforts to get the debt under control,” Ms. MacGuineas said. “The FRA didn’t address health care, Social Security, or tax revenue. There is no way to put our debt on a sustainable course without looking at these three parts of the budget.” Policymakers need to stop demagoguing Social Security and Medicare and start leveling with the American people about the

serious challenges these programs face.

Ms. MacGuineas said that within a decade, the trust funds for Medicare, Social Security and highways “will face insolvency.” “If allowed to occur for Social Security, that will mean a 26 percent across-the-board benefit cut for all seniors, regardless of how much they depend on the program,” she said.

The CBO report said the higher

debt levels will have serious economic consequences.

“Such high and rising debt would slow economic growth, push up interest payments to foreign holders of U.S. debt, and pose significant risks to the fiscal and economic outlook; it could also cause lawmakers to feel more constrained in their policy choices,” the report said.

confidence in the U.S. dollar as the dominant international reserve currency.” “There would be an elevated risk of a fiscal crisis – that is, a situation in which investors lose confidence in the U.S. government’s ability to service and repay its debt, causing interest rates to increase abruptly, inflation to spiral upward, or other disruptions to occur,” the report said.

Supreme Court sides with Colorado-based Christian website designer in First Amendment case

By JOE MUELLER

THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the state of Colorado cannot force a graphic designer to make websites with messages that go against her religious beliefs, citing the First Amendment.

In 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, Lorie Smith, a Christian graphic designer based in Colorado, asked for an exemption to the state’s public-accommodation law that bars discriminatory sales. Ms. Smith wishes to create wedding

websites only for straight couples, arguing the law compels her speech against her traditional religious beliefs on marriage in violation of the First Amendment.

“The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands. Because Colorado seeks to deny that promise, the judgment [of the lower court] is Reversed,” said Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority opinion in the 6-3 case.

County of Santa Barbara BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Wildfire Amendments to the Seismic Safety and Safety Element of the Comprehensive Plan July 11, 2023

Hearing begins at 9:00 A.M. County Administration Building Board Hearing Room, 4th Floor 105 E. Anapamu Street Santa Barbara

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on July 11, 2023, the Board of Supervisors will conduct a public hearing and consider adopting a Comprehensive Plan amendment, Case No, 22GPA-00000-00005, amending the wildfire hazard information and policies in the Seismic Safety and Safety Element (Safety Element) of the County Comprehensive Plan, including incorporating the 2022 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan by reference into the Safety Element pursuant to Government Code 65302.6.

For current methods of public participation for the meeting of July 11, 2023, please see page two (2) of the posted Agenda. The posted agenda will be available on Thursday prior to the above referenced meeting for a more specific time for this item. However, the order of the agenda may be rearranged or the item may be continued.

Please see the posted agenda and staff reports available on the Thursday prior to the meeting at http://santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx under the hearing date or contact the Clerk of the Board at (805) 568-2240 for alternative options. For additional information, please contact Whitney Wilkinson at wwilkinson@countyofsb.org.

If you challenge the project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in correspondence to the Clerk of the Board prior to the public hearing. G.C. Section 65009, 6066, and 6062a.

Attendance and participation by the public is invited and encouraged. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this hearing, please contact the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by 4:00 p.m. on Friday before the Board meeting at (805) 568-2240.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for the minority, stated the ruling exempts a business from following state law.

“Today, the Court, for the first time in its history, grants a business open to the public a constitutional right to refuse to serve members of a protected class,” Justice Sotomayor wrote. “Specifically, the Court holds that the First Amendment exempts a website design company from a state law that prohibits the company from denying wedding websites to same-sex couples if the company chooses to sell those websites to the public. The Court also holds that the company has a right to post a notice that says, ‘no [wedding websites] will be sold if they will be used for gay marriages.’”

Justice Gorsuch’s opinion for the majority showed chasm between the justices.

“It is difficult to read the dissent and conclude we are looking at the same case,” Justice Gorsuch wrote. “… But none of this answers the question we face today: Can a State force someone who provides her own expressive services to abandon her conscience and speak its preferred message instead?”

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal advocacy group representing Ms. Smith, said the ruling reaffirmed the government can’t force Americans to say things they don’t believe in.

“Disagreement isn’t

In 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, Lorie Smith, a Christian graphic designer based in Colorado, asked for an exemption to the state’s public-accommodation law that bars discriminatory sales. Ms. Smith wishes to create wedding websites only for straight couples, arguing the law compels her speech against her traditional religious beliefs on marriage in violation of the First Amendment.

discrimination, and the government can’t mislabel speech as discrimination to censor it,” ADF President and CEO Kristen Waggoner said in a statement. “Lorie works with everyone, including clients who identify as LGBT. As the court highlighted, her decisions to create speech always turn on what message is requested, never on who requests it.”

The ADF also represented Colorado cake designer Jack Phillips, in a similar case that made its way to the Supreme Court that was narrowly ruled.

The Supreme Court agreed to take up the case in February 2022 and heard arguments last December.

Elected officials and advocacy groups from across the country responded to the court’s ruling.

“Sadly, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in favor of discrimination and against student loan relief today,”

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who is the first gay man elected as a governor, said in a statement. “These misguided rulings come one day after the Supreme Court overturned decades of precedent and potentially stifled future educational opportunities. We are committed to building a Colorado for all where the powerful few do not control the freedoms of all Coloradans.”

Gov. Polis’s office added that the state’s anti-discrimination law “continues to be constitutional and this ruling does not change that.”

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser argued the decision “threatens to destabilize our public marketplace and encourage all kinds of businesses—not just those serving weddings—to claim a First Amendment free speech right to refuse service to certain customers.”

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who’s lesbian, called the

decision “deeply disappointing and yet another example of the Supreme Court’s callous disregard for the wellbeing of the very communities that need protecting. The courts have long recognized that laws safeguarding customers from discrimination don’t infringe on the right to free speech.”

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a free speech legal advocacy group, touted the court’s decision as “a resounding victory for freedom of expression and freedom of conscience.”

“To cast the decision as a ‘loss’ for LGBTQ rights is a mistake that both misreads the facts and ignores the vital importance of freedom of conscience for all Americans,” FIRE added. “As the Court makes clear, nothing in today’s decision allows businesses like restaurants or movie theaters to refuse service to customers on the basis of protected class status.”

Feds: Natural gas production in Permian Basin region reaches new record

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – Gross natural gas withdrawals from the Permian Basin in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico set an annual record high last year, reaching 21 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), according to a new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Annual gross natural gas production in the Permian region has steadily increased over the past decade with growth last year increasing 14% above the 2021 average.

The Permian Basin is the second-largest natural gas-producing basin in the U.S., after the Appalachia Basin in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. However, Texas produces more natural gas than any other state in the U.S., accounting for 24% of total U.S. natural gas production, according to EIA data.

If Texas were its own country, it would be the world’s third largest producer of natural gas and fourth largest producer of oil. In the first half of 2022, the U.S. became the world’s largest liquid natural gas exporter, led by Texas, according to EIA data.

As Texas leads the U.S. in energy production, natural gas companies in the Permian Basin produce some of the cleanest natural gas in the world, according to data from the World Bank, EIA, Environmental Protection Agency and Rystad Energy.

The greater Permian Basin, which includes the Midland, Delaware and Marfa basins, covers more than 86,000 square miles – roughly 10 times the size of New Jersey. Roughly 250 miles wide and 300 miles long, it has more than 7,000 fields.

In the Appalachia Basin, “well-drilling

activity is focused on natural gas, making production less directly responsive to crude oil prices,” the EIA explains. By contrast, in the Permian, natural gas comes from oil wells, referred to as associateddissolved natural gas, which “occurs in crude oil reservoirs either as free gas (associated) or as gas in solution with crude oil (dissolved gas).”

Crude oil prices declined in 2020 resulting from several factors due to coronavirusrelated lockdowns. The price per barrel and rig count dropped to record low levels but by 2022, rig counts were up to 335 in the Permian. As rig count grew, natural gas production increased. Production will further increase with expanded pipeline infrastructure already being built in Texas. Another 4.2 Bcf/d of new pipeline capacity is planned to come online by the end of next year to bring more product to liquefied natural gas terminals on the U.S. Gulf Coast through four projects in Texas, including the Whistler Pipeline Capacity Expansion, Permian Highway Pipeline, Gulf Coast Express Pipeline and Matterhorn Express Pipeline.

“Natural gas developed by responsible Texas operators is clean, abundant and safe,”

Ed Longanecker, president of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO), told The Center Square.

“Further investment in energy infrastructure and regulatory certainty via comprehensive permitting reform are essential to support of continued growth in domestic production and energy security for our country and allies abroad.”

Mr. Longanecker also said Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas legislature prioritized legislation designed to increase dispatchable

energy sources during the regular legislative session this year. Unlike the federal government, the Texas governor and legislature advanced new laws to help, not stifle, expanding natural gas production for power generation, expanding transmission to energy-producing areas, and providing economic development incentives to expand and invest in energy projects in Texas.

According to the EIA’s latest Drilling Productivity Report, 2023 “is shaping up to be a record-breaking [production] year as well,” Mr. Longanecker said.

“As a leading energy provider, Texas has also promoted further investments in infrastructure and related projects that support natural gas development,” he said, which will “allow Texas to deliver on what they’ve always done: Being a global leader in natural gas production, driving further economic prosperity across Texas and energy security across the nation.”

The Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the industry, also praised the governor and legislature for prioritizing funding to enhance its permitting, compliance and enforcement efforts. The commission’s new $481 million budget over the next two fiscal years will enable it to hire up to 50 new pipeline safety professionals to enhance inspections of thousands of more miles of pipelines in Texas.

“The energy industry is vital to Texas’ economic prosperity and the Legislature’s funding allows the RRC to continue its work in permitting, compliance and enforcement,” it said. “The RRC consistently meets or exceeds important annual performance goals set by the Legislature that is tied to the agency’s funding.”

U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Business/Real Estate

California’s coastal rental costs highest in the U.S.

By SETH SANDRONSKY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - According to the 2023 Out of Reach Report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the SF Bay Area and adjacent coastal region are the least affordable for renters nationwide. Metro areas comprising Santa Clara and Monterey counties and the Santa Cruz and San Francisco metros are the top four.

In Santa Cruz-Watsonville, the Housing Wage (HW) is $63.31 to rent a twobedroom apartment. In the SF Bay Area, renters require a $61.31 HW for a twobedroom apartment. Meanwhile, the HW in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is

$56.56 to rent a two-bedroom apartment.

The rental affordability issue is stark statewide. “In California, the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $2,197,” according to the report’s authors. “In order to afford this level of rent and utilities in California—without paying more than 30% of income on housing — a household must earn $7,323 monthly or $87,877 annually. Assuming a 40-hour workweek, 52 weeks per year, this level of income

translates into an hourly wage of $42.25.”

The Golden State’s minimum wage is $15.50 an hour, with increases set annually. By this math, a two-bedroom apartment renting for $2,197 monthly would require the annual income of about three minimum-wage workers laboring 40-hours a week, over 52 weeks.

In the Golden State, market imbalances rule. The demand for rental housing far exceeds the supply, a burden that falls on

AG coalition asks EV manufacturers to continue installing AM radios

By JON STYF

THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Sixteen states attorneys have asked members of two manufacturers groups to continue to include AM radios in new electric vehicles.

In a letter led by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and signed by 15 other attorneys general, Ms. Moody asked the Electric Drive Transportation Association and the Zero Emission Transportation Association to continue including AM radios despite reported interference caused by electrical equipment, which hasn’t prevented some manufacturers from continuing AM radio production.

“These decisions suggest that the real problem is not signal interference but a failure of certain automobile manufacturers to appreciate the importance of AM radio,” Ms. Moody wrote.

Ms. Moody’s letter pointed out the importance of AM radio transmissions during public safety emergencies such as hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, earthquakes

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s letter pointed out the importance of AM radio transmissions during public safety emergencies such as hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, earthquakes and other times when federal, state and local officials use AM radio to deliver emergency warnings.

and other times when federal, state and local officials use AM radio to deliver emergency warnings.

“The decision to eliminate AM radios is even more problematic in light of the Biden Administration’s goal of ‘having 50% of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030,’“

Ms. Moody wrote. “While we oppose the Biden Administration’s efforts, they underscore that removing AM radios from electric cars threatens the entire AM radio industry.”

The letter was signed by the attorneys general from Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, South Carolina,

South Dakota, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia. “This is absurd, to say the least,” West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said. “The public warning system relies on AM stations to warn people of an impending emergency—as we all know, when nearly everything else quits working, you can rely on AM radio to function when it’s needed the most.”

The group also noted that AM radio has free local news, weather, political and sports broadcasts available to those in rural areas where broadband and cellular access is limited and unreliable.

low-wage workers particularly.

“Across California,” according to the annual NLIHC report, “there is a shortage of rental homes affordable and available to extremely low income households, whose incomes are at or below the poverty guideline or 30% of their area median income. Many of these households are severely cost burdened, spending more than half of their income on housing. Severely cost burdened poor

households are more likely than other renters to sacrifice other necessities like healthy food and healthcare to pay the rent, and to experience unstable housing situations like evictions.”

While the minimum wage in the Golden State of $15.50 an hour is double the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, rental housing affordability is a national problem.

“In no state,” the annual NLIHC report continues, “metropolitan area, or county in the U.S. can a worker earning the federal or prevailing state or local minimum wage afford a modest twobedroom rental home at fair market rent by working a standard 40-hour work week.”

Expansion of negotiation, reducing supply chain barriers in Senate bill

By VICTOR SKINNER

CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

THE

(The Center Square) –

Expanding negotiating powers and eliminating supply chain barriers for medical goods are in a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate.

The measure spawned from lessons learned during the pandemic, say sponsoring Sens. Tom Carper, D-Del., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act to expand engagement with allies to combat shortages of medical products and supplies by strengthening supply chain resiliency and safeguarding against future health crises.

“The pandemic caused major disruptions across nearly all supply chains, and these challenges disproportionately impacted our health care supply chain – from medical devices to life-saving medicines to personal protective equipment,” Sen. Tillis said. “Now is the time to address the longstanding shortcomings in our supply chains that were highlighted over the pandemic, repair the

damage done, and ensure America is adequately prepared for future national security and public health threats.”

According to John Murphy, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s vice president for international policy, the legislation would “direct the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate trade agreements with trusted allies to eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers that weaken the U.S. medical goods manufacturing base and that of our allies.

The legislation is backed by a variety of healthcare and business industry leaders, including the Chamber, Premier, Inc., Siemens Healthineers, Trade Alliance for Health, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the National Foreign Trade Council.

A 2023 Supply Chain Resiliency Guide produced by Premier this week shows the health care supply chain continues to struggle more than three years after the onset of the pandemic.

The report, gleaned from surveys of hundreds of U.S. healthcare leaders, found “more

than 75% of healthcare and supply chain leaders expect supply chain challenges to worsen or remain the same over the next few years.

“Respondents cite increased labor costs (46%) and labor availability (39%), inflation (45%), and ongoing supply disruptions, backorders and product shortages (39%) as top concerns,” the Charlotte-based health care company reports. “A more sustainable, resilient, and secure healthcare supply chain requires greater diversification, including investment in domestic manufacturing coupled with strategic trade relationships to encourage nearshoring,” Premier CEO Michael Alkire said.

“The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act is an essential piece of legislation that would permit the establishment of trusted trade partners to diversify sourcing for medical devices and pharmaceuticals and enable timely access to the vital supplies providers need to care for patients during a public health crisis or national security threat.”

A two-bedroom apartment renting for $2,197 monthly would require the annual income of about three minimum-wage workers laboring 40-hours a week, over 52 weeks.

“We don’t want this to be the DUI corridor,” Supervisor Laura Capps told reporters during a news conference Thursday at the corner of Cathedral Oaks Road and Kellogg Avenue.

DRIVING

Continued from Page A1

jured in a drunk driving incident in the United States. From 2021 to 2022, DUIs in Santa Barbara County increased 17%. Statistics like this arguably make the use of rideshare, public transportation or designated drivers an easy decision.

“Plans made under the influence are bad plans,” said District Attorney John Savrnoch. “Make a plan before you start celebrating. What are you going to do? Who are you going to call? Do you have an app?”

Mr. Savrnoch made it clear that drunk driving on the Fourth of July is as serious as ever, “If you drive un-

Free!

to

der the influence, I can assure you the response from my office will be swift, and it will be severe.”

The meeting was along Cathedral Oaks Road because there have been several drunk driving accidents on the long and windy road.

“We don’t want this to be the DUI corridor,” said Ms. Capps, who represents the 2nd District on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. “We cannot have accident after accident, where young people and people of all ages crash under the influence.”

The meeting also featured a number of personal stories. Supervisors Capps shared her own story of receiving “the call” when her parents — Walter and Lois Capps — were nearly killed by a drunk driver, “My parents were those

4th of July Concert

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2023 5:00 PM

Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens, 1100 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara

statistics.”

Supervisor Capps also shared the story of a Goleta local who lives near Cathedral Oaks Road and rushed in to save young drunk drivers in a fatal accident. The local hero was in attendance at the meeting, a father of five who jumped into action when he heard the crash late one night.

The meeting aimed to educate and remind the public the very real danger that driving under the influence presents to both the driver and anybody unlucky enough to cross their path. Said Supervisor Capps, “If this helps prevent one DUI accident or fatality, we’ve done our job here.”

email: lhibbert@newspress.com

Arrive early to claim your spot on the grass; Bring your picnic, blanket, and low beach chairs for this annual concert featuring Vandenberg Space Force Base Honor guard, The Prime Time Band, and Polynesian dancers from Hula Anyone. Enjoy pop tunes, family favorites and patriotic classics!

Sunscreen and hats are recommended.

From left are a local hero who saved young drunk drivers in a crash, Undersheriff Craig Bonner, Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte, 2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps, District Attorney John Savrnoch and Victoria Placencia of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

‘We don’t want this

be the DUI corridor’

Lawmakers: U.S. helped China research weather balloons before balloon spying incident

By J.J. BRANNOCK THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) –Lawmakers are raising the alarm that ongoing U.S. and Chinese research partnerships are developing technology that could be used against the U.S.

Members of the Select Committee on the CCP sent a letter to Secretary Antony Blinken this week asking the Biden administration to sever the “Agreement Between the United States and the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation in Science and Technology.”

In the letter, committee representatives cited reports that research partnerships between the U.S. and China organized under the Science and Technology Agreement have developed technology that could later be used against Americans.

One of the reported partnerships is between the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and China’s Meteorological Administration. Under the STA’s authority, the groups worked to launch technologically advanced weather balloons to study the atmosphere in 2018.

“As you know, a few years later, the PRC used similar balloon technology to surveil U.S. military sites on U.S. territory,” representatives wrote in the letter.

Chairman of the Select Committee Mike Gallagher, RWis., sent the letter to Mr. Blinken. Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and eight other members of Congress also signed the letter.

Other reports explained the collaboration between the U.S. and China regarding sensitive agricultural technologies, some of which included “clear dualuse applications, such as […] techniques for analyzing satellite

and drone imagery for irrigation management.”

In late December 2022, CCP

Chairman Xi Jinping called on the PRC to boost self-reliance in agriculture technology, which committee representatives linked to the more than a dozen active agricultural research projects between the two countries.

“It should come as no surprise that the PRC will exploit civilian research partnerships for military purposes to the greatest extent possible,” the letter said. “The PRC openly acknowledges its practice of military-civil fusion.”

The Science and Technology Agreement is set to expire on Aug. 27 if it is not renewed by the Biden administration.

Senators urge Secretary of State, Homeland Security to give Israel visa waiver status

By CARLY MORAN

THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – Dozens

of U.S. Senators on June 21, urged the U.S. Secretary of State and Department of Homeland Security to include Israel in the Visa Waiver Program for visits to the U.S. under 90 days.

The letter argues that it would be convenient for both travelers and U.S. customs, considering 450,000 Israeli citizens travel to the U.S. per year. She also says it would increase business between the countries.

“The relationship between the U.S. and the State of Israel is critical to the long-term security of our country, and serves as an example of what an alliance for freedom can look like,” Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., said.

“Allowing Israelis to travel to America without a visa boosts economic opportunities for our country and shows our trusted relationship with Israel as a key ally.”

The deadline for applying to the Visa Waiver Program is Sept. 30, with the Israeli government still having to fulfill multiple requirements before being

The deadline for applying to the Visa Waiver Program is Sept. 30, with the Israeli government still having to fulfill multiple requirements before being eligible.

eligible. The visa refusal rate has fallen below 3%, and data sharing has been facilitated, satisfying two requirements. However, other technical processes still remain.

Israel would not be the first country to be eligible for this exception, with forty other countries within the Visa Waiver Program.

FTC Chair accused of misleading Congress on questions of bias, ethics

By J.J. BRANNOCK THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Two House Committees announced plans to investigate Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, for potentially misleading Congress after a recently published memo shows she allegedly ignored advice and chose to sit in on a review of a Meta merger despite a potential

ACADEMIC

COORDINATOR

bias.

The Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairs, Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., sent a letter to Ms. Khan this week announcing that they are conducting oversight on her adherence to federal ethics guidance.

In an April hearing Ms. Khan

Please see FTC CHAIR on A10

R.E.General ..................40 Condos ..........................50 P.U.D .............................60

..........................70

SharedEquity ................80 Ballard ..........................90

Buellton .........................100

Gaviota .........................115

Goleta ...........................120

HopeRanch ...................130

Lompoc ..........................140

LosAlamos ....................150

LosOlivos .....................160

Montecito ......................170

SantaMaria ...................180

MoreMesa ....................190

RanchoEmbarcadero ......195

SantaYnez ....................200

Solvang .........................210 Summerland ...................220

....230

PROCUREMENT BUSINESS ANALYST

Members of the Select Committee on the CCP sent a letter to Secretary Antony Blinken this week asking the Biden administration to sever the

“Agreement Between the United States and the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation in Science and Technology.”

HOA Homefront

Is Your Association Governance Balanced?

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL

The ancient Chinese concept of yin and yang deals with opposite and inseparable forces. Common interest developments (“homeowner associations”) have their own “yin and yang” issues, in which four basic and inseparable priorities must be balanced to produce a successful and harmonious community. These four interests are the association’s corporate, real estate, financial, and community priorities. Each are critically important areas of emphasis for a healthy community. Neglecting or over-emphasizing any of these priorities can result in major association problems and even community conflict.

The “Corporate:” HOAs are a legal entity and are governed by legal documents such as covenants and bylaws. Boards must obey laws and the governing documents and observe the corporate process.

The “Property:” HOAs are real estate developments, and their boards must act to preserve, protect, and maintain the common area and the community’s architectural continuity. Buildings, streets, and other common elements must be repaired and maintained.

The “Fiscal:” HOAs collect money from the owners and then spend it to benefit the association community. Money must be collected diligently and be spent wisely. Budgets, bids, and bills are part of the “bottom line” in the association’s financial world.

The “Community:” HOAs are made up of people who chose to live in a way that trades some independence for the benefit of cooperatively sharing some control with one’s neighbors. The community interest attends to the fact that the members are not just stockholders or investors but neighbors, and boards promote the peacefulness of the community.

The real estate interest can often conflict with the finances, as a board tries to keep the property in good repair but also keep the budget under control. It can be tempting to delay preventative maintenance, reduce landscaping, or cut back on janitorial services, in order to try to avoid increasing assessments and “hold the line” on expenses. The financial responsibilities demand that the board is careful to spend reasonably, but if taken too far can result in member unhappiness as the property deteriorates in appearance.

The corporate interest often can conflict with the association’s community interest. The legalities are important, but too often boards, managers, and lawyers address only part of most decisions, asking “Can the board do this?” but neglecting the related important question - “Should the board do this?”

Community interest might influence a board to take extra effort to inform the community in advance of a significant project, even though the board may have the legal power to pursue the project without member vote or input. Community interests are advanced by member communication (websites, newsletters) and may cause a board to occasionally issue a warning before citing members regarding violations, or to plan and fund community social events to promote neighborly interaction.

The cause of serious HOA struggles can often be traced to an imbalance between these four facets of association operation, if any of these priorities has been overemphasized or neglected.

Excellent association governance results from balancing these four critical but often competing priorities:

Making sure the association obeys the law and its governing documents, Ensuring the community is wellmaintained and presentable, Diligently collecting and carefully spending assessment funds; Making sure the community is a pleasant place to live, with residents feeling they are considered and valued by their association.

Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Partner of Richardson Ober DeNichilo LLP, a law firm known for community association advice. Submit questions to Kelly@ rodllp.com. Past columns at www. HOAHomefront.com. All rights reserved

Design Recipes:

Closet organization tips

By Cathy Hobbs

Medium budget

Many retail stores offer various ready-made, off-the-shelf organization and cabinet options. If possible, meet with an in-house professional so that you can take advantage of their design and measuring services. Ready to splurge?

If budget isn’t an overwhelming concern, built-ins are the way to go. Built-ins allow you to truly go custom. The process often involves a custom millworker or cabinetmaker creating “shop” drawings and then building cabinetry to order.

area.

Regardless of your budget, aim to create a closet organization plan that will serve your needs for various seasons and as you grow and build your wardrobe.

If you haven’t done so already, it might be time to swap out the seasonal wardrobe. Why not reorganize the closet in the meantime?

Where to begin

Before purchasing, plan. Planning is the first place one should begin when it comes to organization. The philosophy of “everything should have a place and be in place” is a good rule to be your guide.

Design Recipes Shortcut: Purge Take inventory Decide

Before getting started on your closet organization journey, toss what you don’t need. If you haven’t worn something in over a year, it’s time for it to hit the donation or trash pile. Then, take inventory of what you want to keep, retaining those items that are your must-haves. Finish by deciding where you want categories of items to go. The items you use or wear often should be front and center and easily accessible.

What to buy

Depending on your budget there are a host of options to create organization and order.

Modest budget

If you are on a modest budget, consider just adding shelving and bars for clothing, as cabinets and drawers are more intricate and costly.

Bermuda Beach clobbers the holy wow button

In my backyard planter I have it combined with Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo petunia, Diamond Snow euphorbia, Superbells Double Vintage Coral calibrachoa, which will also be new in 2024, and Graceful Grasses Queen Tut papyrus that is making its debt this year. My yard, which is somewhat sun-challenged, often yields photographs that show flowers at their richest color points. The photos will show sunny flowers facing the camera and a deep shady background. I suppose I am lucky to have this natural studio-like combination.

Last week I went to the Young’s Plant Farm 2023 Annual Garden Tour in Auburn, Alabama. This is one of the premier trials in the country. Their raised bed garden trials have great soil composition and drip irrigation. It is, however, in a definitive full sun. By the end of the day, we are heat fatigued and drinking cold refreshments even though it is early June.

I was wondering if I would see Bermuda Beach looking pristine as it always has been at my house. The answer was a resounding yes, even as it tumbled over the edge of the raised bed almost touching the gravel walkway. It was a most shockingly wonderful rich coral/orange color. There is one other aspect I haven’t told you about yet and that is the size of the flowers. They are huge, reaching up to three inches. I measured them against a lot of other of my petunias and they were the clear winners at The Garden Guy’s house. Sometimes large isn’t ideal on some annuals, but with Supertunia Bermuda Beach, there is no floppiness or droop.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and short-term rental/vacation home designer with offices in New York City and The Hudson Valley. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com. ©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Norman Winter

This is the time of the year that families head back to the beach for a well-deserved vacation and The Garden Guy is certainly ready. That being said, let this be a segue to one of my favorites, Bermuda Beach, as one of the most loved Supertunia varieties has just clobbered the Holy Wow button!

I’ve been growing the new and improved Bermuda Beach as part of a trial program and simply can’t take my eyes off of it. I see one planter outside my sunroom window as I write this. The color has always been rare and with a pastel touch to me. Now the color literally pops with a new vibrance and saturation.

If Supertunia Bermuda Beach was rare in color before, it is now indescribable. We really need Pantone to tell us what we are looking at. I have two mixed hanging baskets at the end of my long driveway and you can spot them a mile away because of Bermuda Beach petunias

After seeing an image of a Bermuda Skies hanging basket on the Garrison Farm & Garden Facebook page, I reached out to Carrie Garrison Owner and General Manager. This is a Proven Winners Destination Garden Center in Cornelia, Georgia. Bermuda Skies is a Recipe of the Year featuring Supertunia Bermuda Beach, Laguna Sky Blue lobelia and Superbells Yellow Chiffon calibrachoa.

Carrie Garrison said they grew their own baskets and that any improvements to Bermuda Beach would be improving on an already spectacular cultivar in the Proven Winners lineup. The photo shared shows they indeed know about growing baskets, there is just something special to The Garden Guy about those petunia blossoms in the photo.

While it is fun for horticultural writers like me to have fun with green industry speculations, I can tell you that whenever you see the new Supertunia

Custom built-ins and shelves helps to allow for a place for both long and short hang items.

Bermuda Beach petunia, get it, you will love it. It will reach about 12-inches tall with a spread up to 24-inches. Put it in your mixed containers and it will be the darling of your recipe.

Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy. ©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

with Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo petunia

Garrison Farm & Garden in Cornelia GA grew this basket with Bermuda Skies a Recipe of the Year with Supertunia Bermuda Beach petunia, Superbells Lemon Chiffon calibrachoa and Laguna Sky Blue lobelia.

Photos courtesy Norman Winter/TNS

Bermuda Beach Supertunia petunia tumbles over the edge of the bed at Young’s Plant Farm.

A large closet is converted into a closet and dressing

Photos courtesy Handout

Santa Barbara County Sales

This is a partial list of all recorded residential sales in Santa Barbara County from June 12 thru June 16, 2023. While these recordings are public record, the News-Press receives this information from an outside source. This list does not represent all sales that occurred over this time period. Consult your REALTOR for further information regarding home sales in your area of interest.

Loan repayment to resume 60 days after ruling

program, which was a key legal question in this case. Missouri was one of six states that sued.

In the dissent, written by Justice Kagan, the justices argued that during COVID-19 both Republican and Democratic administrations used the HEROES Act to delay student loan repayment, signaling a universal understanding of the legislation’s broad power.

“The plaintiffs in this case are six States that have no personal stake in the Secretary’s loan forgiveness plan,” the dissent said. “They are classic ideological plaintiffs: They think the plan a very bad idea, but they are no worse off because the Secretary differs.

In giving those States a forum –in adjudicating their complaint – the Court forgets its proper role. The Court acts as

vendoR s

Continued from Page A1

though it is an arbiter of political and policy disputes, rather than of cases and controversies.”

Federal student loan repayments had been put on hold.

The Department of Education said last year that repayment would resume 60 days after this court ruling.

As The Center Square previously reported, President Biden announced last year that his administration would cancel $10,000 in federal student loan debt for those making less than $125,000 per year. For those who have received Pell Grants, the debt forgiveness could total $20,000. The administration also said debtors would be allowed to cap repayment of their loans at 5% of their income.

President Biden said in the original announcement that his plan and the delayed repayments were “to give working and

middle-class families breathing room…”

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office estimated that President Biden’s debt plan would cost taxpayers about $400 billion. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget released an analysis last year predicting it would take only a few years for debt levels to return to the pre-cancellation levels.

President Biden’s student loan announcement has been a highly political fight since it was announced.

House Republicans voted in May to overturn President Biden’s student loan forgiveness under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to undo federal rules. The Senate then voted in June, with the support of a few Democrats, to also overturn the plan. Although the plan had little chance of becoming law since

safety and handling violations,” Ms. Drescher said. “Large outdoor restaurant-style vendors have been identified as a primary concern.

the president would have had to sign the legislation, it showed the student loan forgiveness was far from a highly popular plan. In fact, several Senate Democrats turned against it as criticisms piled up that it is unfair to those who worked to pay off their loans or who never took them out in the first place.

“President Biden’s student loan transfer scheme shifts hundreds of billions of dollars of payments from student loan borrowers onto the backs of the American people,” Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., who led the House effort, told The Center Square earlier this year. “I am proud to lead the fight against President Biden’s reckless, unilateral, and unauthorized action that would unfairly penalize those who worked hard to pay off their loans or who never took them out in the first place.”

FTC chair asked to produce information by July 12

FTC CHAIR

Continued from Page A7

testified in, the Energy and Commerce subcommittee questioned the FTC’s work to protect American consumers from deceptive or unfair business practices.

When asked by Rep. Rodgers if there were any instances she had not followed the Designated Agency Ethics Official of the FTC, Ms. Khan initially responded with “no” before expanding on her answer and saying, “I have consulted with the DAEO and have taken actions that are consistent with the legal statements the DAEO has made.”

This week’s letter from the committees then mention a memorandum written by the DAEO’s Lorielle Pankey concerning a petition filed by Meta, parent company of Facebook, requesting Ms. Khan be recused from the FTC’s review of Meta’s proposed merger with Within Unlimited.

any executive team to manage responsibly […] the most obvious immediate step to address Facebook’s current power is to prohibit mergers between Facebook, other potentially competitive social networks, or other new and promising products and services.”

Ms. Khan signed the letter and spoke out in interviews voicing the same sentiment.

“Several of Chair Khan’s statements […] create an appearance of bias sufficient for the FTC’s [DAEO] to recommend Chair Khan recuse from participating as an adjudicator in Meta/Within,” Ms. Pankey wrote.

Despite this suggestion, Ms. Khan declined to recuse herself, which was approved by the FTC’s Democratic majority.

The Energy and Commerce and Judiciary Committee chairs wrote that Ms. Khan had misled Congress by not mentioning the previously unpublished memo from the DAEO.

early May 2023. This task force includes representation from across city departments and focuses primarily on education and outreach to facilitate permitted and lawful sidewalk vending. Prior to 2019, most sidewalk vending was prohibited in the city of Santa Barbara, but this changed because of State law, (Senate Bill 946) the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act.

As part of this task force, an Enforcement Team is addressing the more egregious and dangerous vendors who have been operating without a business license, proper health certifications, and seller’s permits. This team includes the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Santa Barbara City Fire Department and Santa Barbara Police Department (to ensure the safety of the team).

“County Public Health is enforcing food

RUSSELL, Jeffrey Burton Ph.D.

08/01/1934 to 04/12/2023

“Simply put, large open flames, propane tanks and grease create a dangerous situation that could escalate at a moment’s notice, requiring first responders to step in, resulting in severe injury or a fatality. The lack of adequate food handling, including hand washing stations, is another area of concern that compromises public health and safety.

“Working with the City Attorney’s Office, City Fire is enforcing violations of the Fire Code for mobile food operations using open flames in a public right-of-way,” Ms. Drescher said. “The criminal investigations relating to the fire code violations are being led by the Fire Department. Two investigations have been initiated to date, and subsequently the City Attorney’s Office has filed (the) two cases. This is the strongest enforcement tool that we have available to us to protect public health and safety.”

In light of these efforts, the city is

Jeffrey Russell was an internationally renowned historian of medieval European history and Christian theology. He wrote several books on medieval history, culture, �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Concluding that he had spent too much of his mid-career focusing on the dark side, he preferred his earlier work and then two later books, Inventing the Flat Earth: Columbus and Modern Historians (1991) and A History of Heaven: The Singing Silence (1997). Many of his books have been translated into several languages, both European and Asian. During his long career he was a Harvard junior fellow, a Fullbright fellow, a Guggenheim scholar, which took him and his family to England, and the head of the ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ was his more than twenty years at the University of California Santa Barbara, where ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Born in Fresno, California in 1934, into a family whose roots in California date back to the mid-1800s, he grew up in Berkeley and attended the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a B.A. followed by an M.A. also from Berkeley. He received his Ph.D. from Emory University in Atlanta in 1960.

�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

A devoted family man, he read to, played with, prayed with, and travelled extensively in this country and abroad with his wife and children. His children remember with joy his excitement at sharing with them his awe of the natural creation. His children will always remember his strong legs, his stride, his well-worn hiking boots, his khaki shorts, his grey-green backpack–and the bald spot on his head turning browner by the minute under the sun, as we followed him up switchbacks in the Eastern Sierra. We remember our father’s enormous enthusiasm (or intense disgust, depending on the subject) for an amazingly wide range of human works of art, architecture, literature, and science.

Almost every Saturday, after chores, about which he was furiously adamant, the family piled into the station wagon to visit nearby mountains and deserts. Summers were for long trips in the U.S. and Canada, and for magical weeks in the California redwoods with grandparents. Sundays were for mass, reading, play, and friendship.

A top-notch scholar, Jeffrey was never boastful about his achievements. He also had a broad streak of childlikeness; e.g. he was an avid fan of classic Disney animated characters Mickey Mouse and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He vastly enjoyed his children and grandchildren; he loved babies, all babies. He had a whimsical sense of humor, spontaneously composing hilarious lyrics to familiar tunes, and was known to fall out of chairs laughing uproariously at his offspring’s silly jokes. He could imitate with near perfection virtually any foreign accent with accompanying mannerisms, and did so often, with appreciation and verve.

His intense love of nature was inseparable from his love of God, and vice versa. He was �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� of redwood forest rather than log it. Almost as much as he loved history and theology, he loved learning about the natural sciences, and was an amateur astronomer, seeing ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� broad musical tastes including American folk music and the Beatles, his love of Mozart was supreme. He asked for Mozart to be played for him as he was dying. Nearly as sacred to him were Gregorian chant, Palestrina, and J.S. Bach. In modern literature, he valued Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Flannery O’Connor, among others. He spoke and wrote in eight languages. For this serious scholar of medieval Latin, a fun project was his collaboration with Madeline L’Engle on a Latin translation of A Wrinkle in Time (1991).

������������������������������������������������������������������������������

McCarthyism group at UC Berkeley in the 1950s, he and Diana marched for civil rights in the 1960s, opposed the immorality of the Vietnam War in the 1970s, opposed abortion from the 1970s on, worked to stop nuclear proliferation and war in the 1980s, and worked for freedom of speech on campus in the 2000s.

He was a revered and beloved mentor to his graduate students, who appreciated his personal and academic support, as well as the hospitality and humour offered to them by him and by his wife Diana. To paraphrase a letter written by one of his former students, “Those were heady days, those seminars at the Russell house. Dr. Russell was always after truth; historical truth, but most of all Truth with a capital T.” He was exciting to talk to, because he believed the ability of human reason, assisted by grace, to seek truth where it could be found.

A convert to Catholic Christianity, his faith sustained him to the end. His was a long and full life, well lived. He is mourned deeply by his family and will be sorely missed by all who knew, loved, and respected him.

After Diana’s death, Jeffrey married Pamela Russell, with whom he travelled all over this country and the world. Also surviving him are his children, Jennifer (Mike), Mark (Sherry), William (Ky), and Penelope; four grandchildren, Emily, David, Anna, and Trillium; and godchildren Xoco and Sarah.

His memorial mass will be celebrated at the Santa Barbara Mission on July 7, 2023, at 11 a.m.

encouraging both its residents and visitors to only support licensed and permitted vendors, Ms. Drescher said. “By doing so, they not only contribute to the welfare of the community, but also extend their support to local businesses and local families who rely on their patronage.

“Our local businesses are the backbone of Santa Barbara, and the city will continue to partner with them in creating a pathway for compliant and safe operations.”

What happens next?

“The city/county coordinated Enforcement Team will continue to work to address these concerns,” Ms. Drescher said.

At the same time, she said, “The City Task Force continues to work with smaller, local vendors to educate them on how to become licensed, permitted and compliant.”

More information on the City of Santa Barbara Sidewalk Vending Program is available at https://santabarbaraca.gov/ business/business-licenses/sidewalk-vending. email: nhartstein@newspress.com

MCLAIN, Carter

October 11, 1946 - May 9, 2023

Carter was born October 11, 1946, to Austin and Virginia McLain in Pasadena, California. He moved to Santa Barbara is 1953, and attended Crane Country Day School, Laguna Blanca School, Santa Barbara High School and graduated from San Diego State College. He taught high school English for a few years before he went on to his true passion: woodwork and cabinet making, which he learned during his teen years making surfboards. He also made great guitars.

Carter opened his cabinet shop in Santa Paula in the early 1990s. Many homes in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties were graced with his fabulous cabinets and furniture. He was a master craftsman and loved his work. We have lost a colorful character in Carter. He was kind, talented and irreverent. He �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

He was a voracious reader and immensely entertaining. Carter was always fun! He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Keith. He is survived by his children Carter Russell, Austin, and Virginia, his sister Corinne Hedrick, four nephews and his former wife Jonell McLain.

A celebration of Carter’s life will be held on Saturday, July 8, at 4:00. Please contact Jonell at 805-216-7173 for directions.

HUNTER, John Berton

09/06/1929 – 06/17/2023

John Berton Hunter of Santa Ynez passed away at home with his family by his side on June 17, 2023. John was lovingly cared for in his recent decline by oldest son Timothy.

John, the middle of 3 sons, was born on September 6, 1929, in Santa Barbara to Russell C. Hunter and Ruth H.Hunter. John attended high schools in Santa Barbara, Atascadero, and Carpinteria. John enlisted in the armed services, starting with the US Navy, then the US Air ������������������������������������������������������ with the 38th Regiment 2nd Division in the Anti-Tank and Mines Platoon. John was sergeant and troop leader and earned several commendations, including Purple Heart. ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Beach. Not long after, John and Anne were married, and had 3 children. John began his career with Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department in 1954, and worked in Santa ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� substation, and a jail commander. He was a sergeant for many years.

John was a hard worker and often had a side job doing anything from moving furniture, ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Starting in 1964, John participated with Campo de los Mozos, providing the trails and security detail for the Rancheros Vistadores. He had many lifelong friends.

After retirement, John and Anne purchased a cabin at Pine Mountain Club above Mount Frasier and spent many happy times enjoying life in the mountains. John ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Department. John was an avid outdoors-man and joined friends and family members in ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Cachuma Lake or a cold mountain stream. He spent many hours taming the yard and growing fresh fruit and vegetables.

John had a lovely singing voice and sang with several choral groups in the valley through the years. His granddaughters remember him washing dishes after dinner and singing his old cowboy songs. John played golf for years with fellow retired deputies.

John remained active for decades in several different roles including director of the ������������������������������������������

John was predeceased by his parents, brother Rusty, his wife Anne, and numerous other family members and friends. He is sadly missed by his brother David, his children Timothy, Douglas and Rosalie, his grandchildren Brandon, Noel, Aaron, Adrianne and 6 great-grandchildren and by all who knew him.

In the memorandum, Ms. Pankey recommended that Ms. Khan “elect to recuse from participating in Meta/Within as adjudicator to avoid an appearance of partiality.”

Before being appointed to the FTC, Ms. Khan “wrote extensively” regarding Facebook, criticizing its substantial power.

One example listed in the memo was a 2017 letter to Acting FTC Chair Maureen Ohlhausen, which said “recent events reveal that Facebook has become too big and complex for

“The recent disclosure of the DAEO’s memorandum suggests that your response to Chair Rodgers during the recent subcommittee hearing omitted an important recommendation by the DAEO,” the letter said.

The committee requested all documents and communications relating to the DAEO’s recommendation, Ms. Khan’s ethics analysis, and her testimony at the April subcommittee hearing be presented to the committees for examination.

Ms. Khan was asked to produce the information by July 12.

‘Our local businesses are the backbone of Santa Barbara, and the city will continue to partner with them’

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

Life theArts

CALENDAR

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

Throughout today: The Santa Barbara County Animal Services and Ventura County Animal Services have teamed up to organize a free pet adoption event across all five of their South Coast shelter. The one-day adoption event is part of a larger goal by the organization to make pet ownership more equitable.

This fee-waived pet adoption event applies to all animals over one year of age. There will be no adoption fee for these animals, but there may be a nominal license fee depending on the city in which the adopter resides, in order to help ensure that each adopted pet receives the appropriate licensing, vaccinations, and identification, in compliance with local regulations. All interested parties must participate in the full adoption process to ensure the best possible matches are made. All animals leave the shelter spayed or neutered, vaccinated, flea-treated and microchipped. For more information, visit www. sbcanimalservices.org.

The Santa Barbara County locations of the event are:

— 5473 Overpass Road. Goleta.

— 548 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria. —1501 W. Central Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily: The Sistine Chapel Art Exhibition runs through Sept. 4 at the Santa Barbara Mission, 2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara. Tickets start at $25 for adults, $18 for children, and $22 for seniors, military and students. Each ticket also includes admission to the mission museum. To purchase, go to santabarbaramission.org/sistine-chapel-omsb or stop at the museum’s gift shop.

Father Joe Schwab is hosting personal tours that delve into the theological and philosophical perspectives of Michelangelo’s art. Groups of 10 or more can contact Donna Reeves for a private tour at development@sboldmission.org.

On a positive note

Jason Mraz to bring his energy to Santa Barbara Bowl

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Whether he’s roller skating or dancing in a music video or singing on stage, Jason Mraz loves to express his energy in a song.

His positive energy comes through in his music and even in the name of his recent, eighth studio album: “Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride.”

And the name of his debut album?

“Waiting for My Rocket to Come.”

“It was both my optimism, of waiting for my ship to come in, plus being a bit cheeky, whether it’s a pun or a double entendre,” the San Diego singer told the News-Press Friday via a Zoom call.

Mr. Mraz will share his energy with a local audience when he and his Superband performs July 21 at the Santa Barbara Bowl. The concert, which also features special guest Celisse, starts at 7 p.m.

He was born in a suburb of Richmond, Va., and grew up in a home with a piano.

He credits the local public school music curriculum for inspiring him to pursue music. He recalled

the thrill of getting to perform a solo during a school holiday program. He was 7 years old, and he loved being on stage in front of an audience.

“From that moment on, I had no other plan in life,” Mr. Mraz said. “I was going to interface with music and create music and be an entertainer.” He went to college, a couple times but didn’t finish. He felt an energetic pull to be performing as a musician.

The first time in college, he completed a couple semesters at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. But he found he liked playing the guitar in the park and entertaining people.

“That seemed more like an instant and more rewarding path than auditioning for a role,” Mr. Mraz said.

The energy in his music and upbeat style seems to reflect influences by people like Donna Summer. When told that, Mr. Mraz immediately agreed.

He said he likes to steer his music in

a positive direction.

“If ever I’m feeling low, I’ll go sit at the piano or guitar and will start playing something that matches my emotions,” he said. “I’m transformed very quickly into a more energized state, because music has that transformative power.”

His songs vary from “Pancake and Butter,” which he described as a “slow, quiet jam for lovers,” to “Feel Good Too,” and he talked about the message in the latter.

“The message is seeing someone else who’s living a fully expressed, maybe even radical life, who wears whatever they want to wear, who travels wherever they want,” Mr Mraz said.

He emphasizes positivity at his concerts.

“I want to have a set list that’s full of optimism and full of these good vibes, rather than songs of despair or songs of suffering because I think there’s enough of that in the world,” Mr. Mraz said. “I think people come to shows to escape their own suffering or to try to glean new wisdom or energy off the music.”

email: dmason@newspress.com

FYI

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Road, has reopened its recurring summer exhibit, “Butterflies Alive!” Featuring a variety of butterflies, this experience allows guests to walk through a garden while nearly 1,000 butterflies flutter freely around them. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. The exhibit, which runs through Sept. 4, is included in museum admission. Members are always admitted free. For others, prices vary from $14 to $19. For more information, visit sbnature.org/butterfliesalive.

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.

JULY 4

11:30 a.m. The city of Lompoc is planning a Fourth of July Family Fun Day at Ryon Memorial Park. Admission is free to the event at the park, located off West Ocean Avenue and South O Street. The Fourth celebration will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a patriotic bike parade from the Lompoc Veterans Memorial Building to Ryon Park. For more information, call Lompoc Parks and Recreation at 805-875-8100. Noon. A full afternoon of music and other activities will precede a night of fireworks during the Fourth of July celebration in Santa Barbara. Music will start at noon at the West Beach bandstand with DJ Joseph Souza, followed by Peer Pressure at 1 p.m., The Free Radicals at 2, Rock Shop Review at 3, Golf Sucks at 4, Drifting Dimension at 5, Time Travelers Bridget & Sophiaa from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Then it’s a 10-minute performance by La Boheme Dancers, followed by The Roosters at 7 and Spencer the Gardener at 7:50. The 20-minute fireworks show will start at 9 p.m.

There will be live music and more at Stearns Wharf as well. The Brasscals will perform at noon, followed by free face painting at 2 p.m. and the band Area 51 at 4 p.m. In addition to the music and fireworks, a street fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. along the Cabrillo Boulevard sidewalk at West Beach.For more information, go to santabarbara.ca.gov/july4. 4 p.m. North Avenue Baptist Church in Lompoc is having a celebration on the Fourth of July with a variety of free family-friendly games and a fireworks display. The event starts at 4 p.m. at 1523 W. North Ave, where there will be carnival games, cornhole, pony rides and more. The “Safe and Sane” fireworks show will start at 8 p.m. Throughout the celebration there will be food from food trucks for purchase, such as chicken and waffles and BBQ. All are welcome to join, for more information visit nabclompoc. org.

JULY 5

The city of Santa Barbara will partner with Santa Barbara Channelkeeper to host cleanups at nearby beaches to prevent litter from the Fourth of July celebration from getting into the Pacific.

To volunteer for the cleanup, go to signupgenius.com/go/10c0944aeab2fa5ffc07july#.

— Dave Mason

SHERVIN LAINEZ PHOTOS

Jason Mraz knew music was his destiny since he was a 7-year–old singing a solo at school.

“If I’m ever I’m feeling low, I’ll go sit at the piano or guitar and will start playing something that matches my emotions,”Jason Mraz said. “I’m transformed very quickly into a more energized state, because music has that transformative power.”

Jason Mraz and His Superband will perform July 21 at the Santa Barbara Bowl. The concert, which also features special guest Celisse, starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $46.50 to $156.50 at sbbowl.com.

JOE DIPIETRO / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

Dealing with those summertime blues

By DR. BARTON GOLDSMITH NEWS-PRESS COLUMNIST

Txhe weather is warm, graduations xare over, and you’ve been to at least a couple of weddings, yet you are feeling blue. There is apparently no obvious reason.

There has been no tragedy or trauma. But while you can see that the world is going on around you, and you know it would be good to join in, for some reason you just can’t lift yourself out of the grayness that envelops you.

This is classic summertime depression.

At this time of year, late July and August, depression from mild to severe is all too common. In fact, suicide rates during the summer months are higher than during the holiday season.

Depression strikes millions of people every year, but most people don’t do anything to get themselves out of it, because they feel their low mood will eventually go away on its own. In some cases, it definitely can, but not in every case. Depression can also affect your physical

health, because taking care of yourself is difficult when you are depressed. You may have trouble making health care decisions, following your doctor’s directions, and dealing with physical illness. Being in a good mental place really does impact your physical health.

Even people in good physical health can have a hard time navigating daily life in the grips of depression. You may want to stay in bed and pull the covers up over your head until the feeling goes away. The problem with that is that much of the time, it will make things only worse.

Symptoms of depression vary, and there are some unusual ones that people don’t generally associate with this uncomfortable condition. For example, anxiety can be a depressive symptom, as can irritability, oversleeping and weight gain. The most common symptoms are hopelessness, helplessness, crying, feeling tired, feeling worthless, feeling guilty, and a loss of interest in normal activities, including relationships. Depression also tends to be worse during the day. If these symptoms are present every day for at least two weeks, you

should get yourself checked out by a medical professional or a therapist.

There are a number of things you can do to alleviate depression, and coming to grips with the fact that you are depressed is a big first step.

Doing simple things that are good for you can help you begin to take control of your mood and get your life back. These include watching your diet, exercising, and talking about your feelings, as well as avoiding things that can worsen your mood, like drinking alcohol or using recreational drugs.

Depression is more easily treated today than ever before. With psychotherapy, improved medications, and common-sense interventions, many, many people have been helped. You, or someone you care for, can be one of them.

Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D. is an award-winning psychotherapist and humanitarian. He is also a columnist, the author of 8 books, and a blogger for PsychologyToday.com with nearly 35 million readers.

He is available for video consults world-wide, reach him at Barton@BartonGoldsmith.com

Artist’s work to be displayed at Silo 118

SANTA BARBARA — A solo installation by Santa Barbara artist Colleen M. Kelly will be on display at Silo 118, 118 Gray St., from July 7 through July 22.

Entitled “The Dichotomy of Laundry,” the exhibit focuses on recent political issues, notably including the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.

An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on July 7 from 5-7 p.m. The opening will include a poetry recital by Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Melinda Palacio. Ms. Kelly’s work includes a piece created by burning Gampi paper with a lit stick of incense.

Hospital nominated for contest

SANTA MARIA — Marian Regional Medical Center is among the contestants for the “20 Most Beautiful Hospitals.”

The Santa Maria hospital is the public to cast votes for it in the Soliant contest. Voting has begun and will last July 27 at soliant.com/most-beautiful-hospitalcontest/vote.

The program recognizes hospitals for their commitment to developing and improving their campuses, facilities and staff.

In 2019, Marian Regional Medical Center ranked 18th on Soliant’s Top 20 list of Most Beautiful Hospitals in the Country.

“It’s an honor to be nominated again for Soliant’s

“Top 20 Most Beautiful Hospitals in the Nation,” and we hope our community will cast their votes for Marian,” said Sue Andersen, Marian’s president and CEO. “While we are proud of our exterior, we are equally proud of the dedicated staff, physicians, and volunteers inside our walls that allow us to be acknowledged nationally for our programs, services, and the quality care we provide.”

The winner of this year’s contest, along with the top 20 hospitals, will be announced on Aug. 2. Soliant will donate $5,000 to the winning hospital’s foundation.

— Dave Mason

Read the Voices section Saturdays in the News-Press.

“I obsessively burned dashes and dots to spell out ‘SOS’ in Morse Code, a repetitive and meditative process,” said Ms. Kelly. “I hung this delicate, translucent paper over wire hangers (symbolic of illegal abortions) in order to reference ‘women’s work.’”

The exhibit will also feature laundry lines hung with paper clothing and linens strung throughout the gallery.

Ojai artist Tom Pazderka called the installation “subtle yet moving, fearless yet reserved, provocative yet ambiguous.”

The gallery’s hours are Thursday through Saturday from 12-5 p.m. The exhibit may also be viewed by appointment.

— Matt Smolensky

DAVE MASON /NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO

Montecito author T.C. Boyle’s latest book is “Blue Skies.”

Museum to host author T.C. Boyle

SANTA BARBARA — In what has become a highly anticipated annual event, Montecito author T.C. Boyle will return July 20 to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Mary Craig Auditorium, to read from his latest novel, “Blue Skies.”

The reading and conversation is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be followed by a book signing.

“Blue Skies” is described by fellow author Annie Proulx as “Brilliantly imaginative … in

a terrifying way.” The novel combines high-octane plotting with mordant wit and social commentary, and has been described as “an eco-thriller with teeth” that captures the absurdity and ‘inexpressible sadness at the heart of everything.”

Tickets for the event are $5 for SBMA members and $10 for nonmembers. The tickets can be purchased at tickets.sbma.net.

— Matt Smolensky

Firefighters plan July 4th breakfast

MONTECITO — The Montecito

Firefighters’ Fourth of July

Pancake Breakfast is set for 7 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Fire Station 91, 595 San Ysidro Road, Montecito.

Tickets for the Montecito Fire Department cost $10 at the door. Kids 12 and younger get in free.

— Dave Mason

KZSB AM 1290: The News-Press radio station

Diversions

horoscope • puzzles

Thought for Today

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — Les Brown

HOROSCOPE

By Horoscope.com

Saturday, July 1, 2023

ARIES Today you could learn a lot from other people who are similar to you, Aries. They have the ability to get involved easily and go straight to the heart of any problem. The world is in constant flux. You have to question yourself if you want to attain your objectives. Try to be open-minded, adapt to the situation, and act before it’s too late.

TAURUS — The stars will compel you to clarify your position within the collective, Taurus. You have a lot of power when you’re part of a group, but you’re sometimes clumsy about communication. You can’t always succeed. The planets’ positions will have a beneficial impact, and you will tend to put your life under the microscope.

GEMINI — You’ve always wanted to change the world, and you’d like to share your dreams with your friends, Gemini. But today you don’t have enough enthusiasm to fulfill these dreams. You will question your personal strategies. You shouldn’t try to convince others all the time. Your friends appreciate you just the way you are.

CANCER — You have the tendency to plan everything, Cancer. You need to feel in charge of things. Today you should try to listen to others around you. Let yourself go for a while, even though you aren’t used to it. Furthermore, you need to develop your personality. You can do this by opening up to others.

LEO — You’re attracted to eccentric individuals with very strong personalities. But realize that behind this attraction lies a very strong need for freedom, Leo. In your life, freedom is more fantasy than reality. The time has come for you to do some soul searching. Try not to hide from the realities of your life.

VIRGO — Today will destabilize you, Virgo. You’re trying to rebuild your life on new foundations. Perhaps should you try to change your point of view. Also, you need to preserve your perception, because it will allow you to adapt to all situations. You need to be fully

Monday, November16, 2015

Daily Bridge Club

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

alert and prepared at all times. Try not to become discouraged. LIBRA — You have a tendency to get very involved in your projects, Libra. Today the stars will compel you to clarify your situation. It’s already clear that you aren’t afraid to work long hours to ensure that your projects end in success. But your entourage will probably have difficulties keeping up with you. You’re too full of energy.

SCORPIO — Today the stars advise you to get back into the swing of things, Scorpio. You will forget your past frame of mind and be able to prepare for a new adventure. Your vitality will be as strong as it has ever been. You will probably meet someone who has a beneficial influence in the days to come.

SAGITTARIUS —There’s a certain quality in your personal relationships that motivates you in life, Sagittarius. This is one of the reasons why your emotions play an important role in the scheme of things. You’re guided by your emotions. Today you will be in the best disposition to meet a lot of people who will give new impetus to your life.

CAPRICORNIO — This period is full of difficulties and you will tend to question yourself, especially today. You will start thinking about your personality. Your ego risks bruising, and you will have the greatest difficulty turning your intention into real action. Your sensitivity prevents you from materializing your ideas.

AQUARIUS — It would be fair to say that you love being recognized, Aquarius. Today will enable you to show off your leadership skills. You will organize the day. You will accept your responsibilities and your smarts will help you welcome the day’s challenges. But stay humble and keep your actions simple, especially after intense emotions.

PISCES — You have a dynamic personality, Pisces. With today’s celestial energy, you should try to avoid expending your energy on pointless conversations. Try to be a little more pragmatic. Consider any possible compromises very carefully. If you stand strong, you will reach your objectives much more quickly.

DAILY BRIDGE

‘Play Bridge With Me’

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency Saturday, July

Since 1981 I’ve written a monthly column for the ACBL’s magazine.

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 Saturday’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

“Simple Saturday” columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking. When a preacher told his congregation that there were more than 700 types of sins, he was besieged with requests for a list. Presumably, people wanted to know what they had been missing.

at your left, opens one club. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

Many have been “over-my-shoulder” style. You listen in on my thoughts during a deal.

Ninety of the best of these appear in “Play Bridge With Me,” my 23rd book, just published. The deals are intermediate level; the focus is on logical thinking.

There are many types of bridge errors: abuse of conventions, failure to count and faulty hand evaluation, to name only three. Maybe the most common error is neglecting to plan the play. Against today’s 3NT, West leads the queen of spades. Declarer wins with the ace and has 10 top tricks: two spades, four hearts and four diamonds. All he must do is take them.

At today’s four spades, I win the first heart in dummy and lead a diamond. I can’t risk losing an early trump finesse; I need a quick pitch for my heart loser. East wins the second diamond and returns a heart, and I win to discard dummy’s last heart on my high diamond. When I finesse in trumps, East wins and exits with a trump.

KING OF SPADES

PASSED HAND

Declarer must take the A-K of diamonds next, then the A-K of hearts and the Q-J of diamonds. He can reach his hand with the king of spades to take the Q-J of hearts.

left, opens one heart. Your partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has opening values or more with support for all the unbid suits. (He might have a strong hand with a suit he plans to bid.) Since you have 10 good points, game is possible. Jump to two spades to invite. Do not bid notrump. You would bid one spade if you had no points at all.

dealer

ANSWER: This case is close. In theory, your 11 points are enough for a jump to two spades, inviting game, but your king of hearts, trapped in front of the opening bidder, may be worthless. Many experts would jump anyway. I would reluctantly downgrade the hand and settle for a response of one spade. East dealer N-S vulnerable

This is an easy contract to make, but if declarer plunges ahead without planning if he takes the A-K of hearts first — down he goes. Surely none of my readers would fail at 3NT.

Now I must guess in clubs. But East, a passed hand, had the ace of diamonds, queen of hearts and king of spades. He won’t have the ace of clubs, so I lead to the king, making the game.

For a postpaid to U.S. copy of “Play Bridge With Me,” send $23.95 to PO Box 962, Fayette AL35555. Tell me how you’d like it inscribed. Profits donated.

Men knew how to be cool with the right kind of gloves

By DR. ELIZABETH STEWART “ASK THE GOLD DIGGER” COLUMNIST

Walt Disney became the first animator to put white gloves on a character (Mickey Mouse) when he made the film “The Opry House” in 1929. Those big white gloves stop at the wrist and fasten at the back with a button. They have those distinctive three stitch lines that radiate from the fingers tapering to the wrists on Mickey Mouse.

A.G. sent me a similar pair of men’s gloves in gray — not designed for the cold weather and made of rayon, a fabric that is semi-synthetic, approximating silk. The dating of the invention of rayon is important to our dating of the gloves because rayon was

discovered in France in the mid19th century but not marketed in America until 1911. That puts A.G.’s gloves at the Nineteen Teens.

In our world, we don’t think about gloves on a man unless it is cold, although some gloves worn during the pandemic served a hygienic purpose, and this was true in former decades. But gloves, in the main part, in the 17th, 18th, and 19th- and even early 20th centuries were de rigueur for gentlemen as it was unseemly for a gentlemen’s bare hand to touch a lady.

Not only decorum, but hygiene made it de rigueur to wear gloves. Cities were dirty, and gloves were a protective layer. Remember that the late 19th and early 20th centuries were an era of the discovery of bacteria

and germs. This was the era of white and light colors to symbolize cleanliness (white tiled baths in this era were the fashion.)

So the two main themes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries — sexuality and hygiene —‚were represented in men’s gloves. Gloves were integral to a man’s wardrobe, says the wonderful website about anything vintage in clothing “Vintage Dancer” from which I learned the fashions of gloves in this period for men. Mickey wasn’t the only male wearing gloves in 1929!

There were two categories of gloves for men: day or street gloves, and evening gloves. The upper class American and British man of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was highly sociable, and conducted his day (without working at a job as we

do) by going to the bank, church, club, library, restaurant, and for these occasions, the day glove was worn. And of course, because of the concern for cleanliness, not a trace of dirt was to be found on a gentleman’s glove. The colors worn were tan, cream and gray, with those classic three lines of top stitching . After 1910, when the metal snap became popular, the classic pearl button was lost. The glove was short and stopped at the wrist. Upper-class men in England and the U.S. wore gloves of the finest leather and were always a perfect snug fit, and they matched black polished shoes. (Gloves were of gray and black).

The website “Vintage Dancer” describes the “Evening Glove”: if a man were invited to an evening affair, such as a dance, he would be expected to wear white evening gloves (1900-1920). These would be of white goatskin leather and necessary to prevent a sweaty hand on a lady while dancing (horrors!) or a bare touch (even worse!).

In the 1930s a new fashion came along for men’s gloves in very formal situations such as state weddings: the light gray glove, of washable goatskin. If a man received an invitation for a

COURTESY PHOTO

These 1911 men’s gloves are valued at $25.

black or white tie event, then it was expected that he wear white gloves.

A.G.’s gloves — his ancestor’s — were made by the premier glove company of perhaps all time: the label, as well as the lettering on the snap, says “Fownes Make,” the Fownes Brothers and Co. was established in 1777 by John and Thomas Fownes in the British City of Worcester, a center for glove manufacturing.

The company opened a sales office in New York City in 1887, which was their global headquarters, located on

Broadway.

In 1903 the company opened U.S. factories in Gloversville and Amsterdam, N.Y.

In the 1950s, ahead of its time, the company opened factories in Asia, with an office in Shanghai 2002. Fownes and Brothers is still privately owned with over 3,000 workers. They are still setting the pace: they have two innovative divisions: U/R Powered, which has created touch screen gloves and interactive headgear, and another division for conductive leather and fabrics.

I myself got lucky one day and found my favorite pair of gloves at Goodwill — Fownes that was made in leather with oh-so-warm cashmere lining. Might have been $100 or more at retail. I paid $5. A.G.’s men’s 1911 gloves are valued at $25.

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.

Junior League kicks off 99th year

SANTA BARBARA — The Junior League of Santa Barbara is kicking off its 2023-24 year, the organization’s 99th, with a summer full of recruiting events and preparation for the organization’s Nov. 10 gala. The JLSB — an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community — is hosting several information mixers to welcome new women into the fold. Events are scheduled for July 13 at the Hilton Garden Inn Goleta Rooftop Bar & Bistro, July 26 at Brass Bear Uptown and Aug. 10 at Validation Ale. The mixers are

each set to begin at 5:30 p.m.

An orientation event is also planned on Aug. 26 at the JLSB office, 229 E. Victoria St., at 10 a.m. A virtual make-up orientation event is also planned for Sept. 20 at 6 p.m.

Those interested in learning more about joining the league are free to attend those events. Or they can contact Join@ JLSantaBarbara.org for more information.

JLSB membership requirements include attending the new member orientation, participating in league volunteer opportunities and displaying a general interest in volunteerism

with a commitment to community service and in developing your potential for voluntary community participation. Women must be 21 or older to join. More information is available online at JLSantaBarbara.org/Become-AMember/. The JLSB’s 2023 Gala is planned for Nov. 10 at the Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito from 5-11 p.m. For information on the event, contact Gala@ JLSantaBarbara.org. For more information on the league in general, call 805-9632704 or visit JLSantaBarbara.org.

— Matt Smolensky

Upcoming movies

BROS.

“Dune: Part 2,” starring Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Zendaya as Chani, is scheduled for a Nov. 3 release in theaters.

Jaime Reyes (Xolo Mariduena) discovers the power of a scarab in “Blue Beetle,” scheduled

release in theaters.

One nation, under God/ C2

DID YOU KNOW?

Bonnie Donovan

Q&A with A.I. about SB

Did you know the way of the future is A.I. (artificial intelligence)?

We thought we would put it to the test since most people say “Google it” while others say you can’t believe everything on the internet.

Let us start with some questions here in Santa Barbara.

Question for A.I.: Define “inclusionary.”

“Inclusionary means designed or intended to provide equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those having physical or intellectual disabilities or belonging to other minority groups.”

Q: Define equity, “Equity is the quality of being fair and impartial.”.

Q: Define equality. “Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights and opportunities.”

Q: Define special interest group.

Lack of civics education is destroying our republic

“Mrs. Powel, we gave you a republic if you can keep it.”

— Benjamin Franklin, Sept. 18, 1787

Civil illiteracy runs rampant in this country. This last election was a perfect example of this. People blamed our country’s problems on the president so they voted in a new one from another party. Astonishingly, they found no need to replace a Congress that had a lower approval rating than the president!

According to a recent Zogby poll, 57% of those voters surveyed did not know which party controlled Congress. It’s disturbing that few people know the president has zero powers to make laws.

Even fewer surveyed knew that the president proposes the budget but Congress has no obligation to accept it.

The Constitution gives the House of Representatives power to propose and to approve laws, taxes, and spending. The speaker of the house, who leads the majority party, determines what budget best suits the interests of their party and proceeds to act on it. Not the president. Even if he vetoes the budget, members of Congress will still pass it by overriding his veto.. Then the president is obligated by law to sign “their budget.”

America has a civics problem if over half of the voters do not know that 100 senators, 435 congressmen, not one president, are responsible for the problems that plague our nation. Further proof of this pathetic civil illiteracy is that the voters re-elected the majority of these congressmen.

“In the U.S., we believe the best way to improve lives is to improve public education.”

Bill Gates

—

The results of a recent National Assessment of Educational Progress show that only one-fifth of eighth grade students have attained proficiency in civics. The test included the past history of the significant events in our nation and the basic knowledge to understand the responsibilities and the rights of an American citizen. The test included students of all races regardless of economic status.

Only 13% of these students met the basic standards of history proficiency. The remaining 87% did not know our past major periods, the events that affected our nation most, or the people who were responsible for many of the ideas and concepts that influenced the United States we live in today.

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.”

—Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

A 2019 RAND survey of 223 public high school teachers found that only 43% said it was essential for students to be knowledgeable about periods such as America’s founding, the Civil War and the Cold War. Even fewer felt it was essential to teach about the protections guaranteed by the Bill of Rights; teaching the concept of federalism, separation of powers and the necessity of states rights.

A Foundation for Individual Rights in Education survey of 159 college students in 2021 found 23% of teachers think it is OK to use violence for controlling campus speech. It is no wonder that 66% of college students today believe that shouting down speakers to control their speech is acceptable.

The results of these tests and surveys should serve as a wake-up call for Americans, that “woke public education” is failing miserably in teaching our youth how to become good citizens. Children without proper knowledge or national identity grow up to become ignorant adults who yield to the voices of social media, TV news and the liberal fish-wrap and vote collectively not individually.

These are troubling signs that the wokes’ method of teaching social studies and U.S. history in public schools is not only

producing bad citizens, it is destroying the principles of our republican government.

“Burying our heads in the sand does not make problems go away.”

— Milton Freeman

School boards defend their teaching methods and claim that these scores were so low because some schools were closed during the pandemic. Others claim that the criteria given to them by the U.S. Department of Education deemphasizes teaching traditional history, civics and social studies.

Until 1979, when President Jimmy Carter created the Department of Education, the states controlled public education and were able to employ their own teaching methods and subject matter. They taught students things they felt important, which included civics.

Today, federal law requires that students are tested in English, math and science but not social studies, which encompasses history and civics.

Some teachers confuse their role of conveying knowledge with meeting and maintaining minimum test scores. It is no secret that what is tested directly affects what will be prioritized and taught in schools since a great deal of funding is based on test results, not on the quality of teaching skills.

A bill requiring all students

in community college take a course in American history or government in North Carolina is causing havoc with a group of University of Northern Carolina professors. They are trying to stop it in its tracks, claiming that it is government “overreach” and an insult to the faculty’s intellectual expertise. Yet …

“The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”

— Malcolm Forbes

This bill simply states students must read the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation.

They also must read five Federalist Paper essays, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s entire Letter from the Birmingham Jail along with the Gettysburg Address.

Our republic is in danger because progressives control the federal government, and they are force feeding their woke political agenda on our public school system. They have their own idea of what should be taught in civics and social study classes, which is totally void of republican civics classes.

This commentary was made available to the News-Press by The Center Square, a nonprofit dedicated to journalism.

Fed must do more to tackle in ation

Recent reports show that annual inflation rose 4% in May, down from 4.9% in April.

In response to this and recent bank failures, the Federal Reserve announced that it’s pausing raising its target interest rate in June after approving 10 consecutive rate hikes, raising its target from nearly zero to a high of 5.25%.

But prices remain elevated, and inflation is double the average 2% rate that the Fed prefers, which is making it challenging for Americans to get by. Food prices increased in May at home and away from home faster than 5% year-over-year, and shelter and new vehicle prices are up well above 4%. While wages are rising slightly, they still aren’t keeping pace with inflation yearover-year for 26 straight months.

Simply put, times are tough. This is why the Fed needs to use the one policy tool in its box that it directly controls and has the most significant influence on inflation: cutting its balance sheet.

Measures of the money supply are declining. The broader money supply known as M2 is down about 5% over the last year, which is the fastest pace since the Great Depression. And the Fed’s monetary base has declined by about 6% over the last year, which is the fastest pace since 2019. But these are after some of the most rapid increases in these measures on record, which leaves their amounts extraordinarily high and manipulative in the marketplace.

These extreme increases in measures of the money supply resulted in artificial market distortion as more money was created out of thin air while available goods and services remained stifled by shutdowns, government spending, taxes and regulations. As this made it more difficult to discern the true value of goods and services, price signals were thwarted. None of these ramifications will be abetted by declining

interest rates or pausing rate hikes.

Just as the markets were hurt by the Fed increasing its monetary base, so can the markets improve with fewer distortions by the Fed decreasing its balance sheet. By relying less on government intervention and artificial liquidity, markets can get closer to being free markets and clear based on market fundamentals rather than government failures. The Fed should at least double its rate of current cuts to achieve market sanity, meaning at least 12% year-over-year, until it gets to less than 10% of gross domestic product rather than the nearly 50% today. This would be aggressive and result in a harder economic landing but is necessary given the severe market distortions after many markets have been propped up on false strength for years.

In the event of a hard landing, spending, employment and investment would likely be affected as economic activity would be

“A special interest group is an association of individuals or organizations that share a common goal or interest and try to influence public policy in their favor.”

Q: Define cash business.

A cash business is a business that primarily operates using physical currency, such as banknotes and coins, and does not accept checks, money orders, or credit and debit cards.

Q: Define businesses filing income tax.

“Businesses filing income tax refers to the process of reporting the income and expenses of a business to the government for tax purposes.”

Did you know our elected officials have responsibilities to the general public?

Q: What is every elected official’s first responsibility?

Every elected official’s first responsibility is to serve the public good and represent the interests of all citizens in their city or town.

Q: What about public health and safety? I thought that was their first priority.

The first responsibility of elected officials is to serve the public good and represent the interests of all citizens in their city or town. Public health and safety are important issues

Please see DONOVAN on C4

PURELY POLITICAL

James Buckley

James Buckley has decided to conclude his work as a News-Press columnist. The News-Press thanks the Montecito writer for his insightful “Purely Political” commentaries for the Voices section.

Our other regular local columnists — Bonnie Donovan, Andy Caldwell, Henry Schulte and Brent Zepke — will continue to write for our four-page Voices section, published every Saturday. We also will continue to publish occasional commentaries by other local writers, as well as our letters to the editor. Please email

C4

SANTA

Wendy McCaw Arthur von Wiesenberger Co-Publisher Co-Publisher

GUEST OPINION

Let’s bring back what made the United States beautiful

‘Arepublic if you can keep it!”

These famous words were xuttered by Benjamin Franklin when he was asked at the conclusion of the constitutional convention what type of government we would have. Unfortunately, in this day and age it is manifestly evident that we are failing at keeping the republic.

In a democracy, the majority rules. In a republic, such as ours, we are governed by laws that are designed to protect the rights of each and every citizen even if they are in the minority.

As the Declaration of Independence states, all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The Bill of Rights lists a few more of these rights, among which are the freedom to exercise one’s religion, along with free speech, freedom of the press, freedom to bear arms, and the ability to own property, intellectual and otherwise.

Obviously, the key concept and spirit of America had everything to do with freedom and liberty.

Yet, the goal of these freedoms was to create a civil body politic. There was never a freedom to kill, steal or destroy.

The power of the mob and the power of government were to be restrained so that a good and moral people could live their lives in a community wherein the laws of nature and nature’s God would rule supreme for the benefit of one and all.

Unfortunately, however, as our founding father John Adams warned, “Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

As Adams saw it, the American people faced a stark choice: esteem and embrace godly virtue and thrive or cast it away and decline.

“While our country remains untainted with the principles

Now … the good news

With our present administration, it’s easy to write about what’s wrong with America.

But it can also be easy to write about what’s good too.

Ainternetthriving

Five years after Title II net neutrality, the world wide web still works

and manners which are now producing desolation in so many parts of the world; while she continues sincere, and incapable of insidious and impious policy, we shall have the strongest reason to rejoice in the local destination assigned us by Providence.”

So what happened to us along the way? Well, the best clue comes by way of the opening statement in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident ...” A nation that can’t agree on the truth, even when it is self -evident, is destined for division, and as we all know, divided houses always fall. It is their destiny.

Things have gotten so far afield that we are now living in a post-truth society. Young people have been led to believe that there are no absolutes in this world.

Truth has become a feeling rather than a fact.

The truth is what one wants it to be, and, relatedly, most young people have no faith in God.

Relatedly, we are also living in a post-Christian, postWestern civilization mind set.

Our founding fathers, on the other hand, recognized truth as emanating from God.

Our founding became the pinnacle of Western Civilization with our JudeoChristian heritage, roots, and world view becoming the driving spiritual and moral force of the same.

In short, America doesn’t work without God and truth, or more specifically, God as our truth.

As Thomas Jefferson put it, “God who gave us life gave us liberty.

And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God?

That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?

Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever ...”

Caldwell

Five years have passed xsince the Federal Communications Commission removed Title II net neutrality regulations from internet service providers, and the world wide web is more robust than ever.

Ookla reports that fixed broadband speeds have increased a nearly whopping 300% since June 2018, from 94 Megabits per second to 270 Mbps. Mobile broadband speeds are up 570% from 27.5 Mbps to 156.5 Mbps.

Consumers can thank increased investment in internet infrastructure due to the removal of regulations.

Previous to the removal of the regulations, there was a dip in broadband spending by private providers after a Tom Wheelerled FCC imposed the rules. Those regulations changed the internet from a lightly-regulated information service to a heavyregulated telecommunications service.

As former FCC chairman Ajit Pai noted recently in National Review, President Barack Obama pushed for the reclassification after the 2014 midterm elections.

Mr. Pai objected, calling it “a solution that won’t work to a problem that doesn’t exist” — his version of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

After President Donald Trump made Mr. Pai chairman in 2017, Mr. Pai quickly went to work to repeal the rules. Progressives framed the issue as “net neutrality,” making preposterous claims about the future of the internet if the classification was removed.

Mr. Pai provides an excellent

list of some of those in his National Review piece, which makes for a great comedic read. Peter Jacobson noted in an op-ed for the Foundation for Economic Education that CNN declared the removal of Title II as “the end of the internet as we know it.”

“Unfortunately for all kinds of doomsday prophets, extreme rhetoric always looks silly in hindsight when it fails to pan out,” Mr. Jacobson wrote.

Mr. Pai wrote that hyperbole ruled the day “in an era defined by the paranoid style of American political arguments,” with net neutrality opponents proven to be “diametrically wrong.”

“The evidence is indisputable today that in the five years since the FCC’s decision to repeal netneutrality regulations went into effect, American consumers are benefiting from broadband networks that are stronger and more extensive than ever,” he wrote.

“Millions more Americans have access to the internet today compared with 2018, thanks in large part to private investment in digital infrastructure.”

Two years after the repeal, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance conducted an investigation to determine if blocking or throttling was commonly occurring, as the proponents of net neutrality regulations opined would happen once the rules were removed. A Freedom of Information Act request to the FCC uncovered just a few hundred complaints related

to those issues, and deeper examination of the complaints found that practically all of them could be explained as standard network issues rather than malicious intent on the part of providers.

In places like Europe, bandwidth hogs were asked to throttle speeds during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic while the robust American broadband infrastructure required no such curtailing.

In fact, COVID-19 was a U.S. internet success story with people being able to work from home, order groceries and binge watch their favorite streaming services.

Despite the success story, Democrats continue to foolishly push for the reimplementation of the rules. Fortunately, during most of the Biden administration, the FCC has continued to be without a fifth commissioner, resulting in no headway for the return of net neutrality under Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

President Joe Biden has nominated Anna Gomez to give Democrats a majority after previous nominee Gigi Sohn withdrew, but her confirmation in the Senate should be a lengthy and contentious process.

Rather than focus on misguided regulations, the FCC should concentrate its energy on loosening rules to help close the digital divide.

Johnny Kampis is director of telecom policy for the Taxpayers Protection Alliance. This commentary was provided to the News-Press by The Center Square, a nonprofit dedicated to journalism.

Georgia on my mind: Part 1

Many time, the mention of the state of Georgia stimulated my mind to hearing Ray Charles singing “Georgia on my Mind,” including the lyrics: “Georgia, Georgia …”

And later in the song: “Other arms reach out to me “Other eyes smile tenderly “Still in peaceful dreams I se e “The roads lead back to you.”

However, on June 14, 2023, my “peaceful dreams” associated with Georgia turned to nightmares after learning that the “roads” that “lead back to you” also lead to the evidence that might have changed the results of the 2020 and 2022 elections, and may do so again in 2024. What is that evidence?

That evidence is the Halderman Report entitled “Security Analysis of Georgia’s Image Cast Ballot Marking Devices.”

In September 2020, J. Halderman, a University of Michigan Professor of Computer Science and

Engineering, with the assistance of Drew Sringall, security researcher and assistant professor at Auburn University, were hired by the Curling Group to test the security of Georgia’s Dominion’s touchscreen ballots marking devices that were to be used in the November 2020 presidential elections.

The overview of the Halderman Report, dated July 1, 2021, provides:

“In 2020, Georgia replaced its insecure decades-old voting machines with new ballot scanners and marking devices (BMDs) manufactured by Dominion Voting machines in their ImageCast X voting systems.

“Although the same BMDs are used in 15 states, Georgia is unique in using them

statewide as the primary method of in-person voting.

“This unusual arrangement places potentially malicious computers between Georgia voters and their paper ballots. Most of the U.S. voters mark paper ballots directly by hand, and the BMDs are reserved for those who need or request them. Georgians who vote at a polling place generally have no choice but to use the BMDs.

“I played the role of an attacker and attempted to discover ways to compromise the system and change votes.

I, along with my assistant, spent approximately 12 person weeks studying the machines, testing for vulnerabilities and developing proof-of-concept attacks. Many of the attacks I successfully implemented could be effectuated by malicious actors with very little time and access to the machines, as little as mere minutes.

“We discovered vulnerabilities in nearly every

Aside from the obvious being a free nation, Americans have so many opportunities to allow anyone to become whatever they want to be. Skin color, station in life, nationality, male or female, religion, are not hindrances in this still great land of opportunity.

Our news feeds, including myself in my own columns, tend to focus on all the negative things that swirl around us. And those things need to be pointed out for sure. If we turn our backs, shrug our shoulders, and ignore the wrongs, then we get steamrolled. So it’s imperative we stay focused.

However, our news media feeds us a diet of fear, divisiveness, anger, hatred and pits us against each other. It makes for gossip news, but not good news, and certainly not news that helps people with their daily anxieties of getting through life.

The true America, the real world, and I’ve made mention of this before, I find in the most unlikely place, is spread out before our eyes like a societal smorgasbord on the TV show, “America’s Got Talent.” This amazing format of offering anyone from around the world to showcase their talents and skills before millions, is an opportunity beyond their wildest dreams. In many cases, as Simon Cowell, show founder and one of the judges keeps saying, “These three minutes could change your life.”

For me, it isn’t necessarily just the talent or who the winner of the million-dollar prize will be, that’s the show’s finale. It’s the people themselves — the individuals, the bonding of the singing groups, amazing dance troupes from the far corners of the world with children who weren’t born when the show first aired. Young comedians. Unbelievable singers. Magicians.

On occasion the audience has sat frozen in momentary silence after a performance leaving the person(s) onstage to wonder what happened, then suddenly all 4,000 roar in a standing ovation. The performer(s) are brought to tears of joy. What a rush that must be. How rewarding.

But what really makes something special. What you see on that stage and hear from the audience, is there are no color lines, no prejudice, no condemnation. Unless they’re really bad (but that’s a performance being judged, not the person), and even some of them get cheered through. The audience is rooting for the human beings, the artistes. They are cheering, clapping, crying, a thunderous appreciation for the amazing talent. Nationality or even physical handicaps makes no difference.

It’s like watching mankind through a clear unblemished lens without the infection of politics or an infusion of propaganda to try and make someone think something other than what they’re witnessing. The lens of life is sharpened to reveal what people really are like. Good, caring, loving, emotional, unselfish. They’re rooting for the performers to do good. To be given the chance to change their lives for the better. To reach success no matter how small or large.

The show reveals to me the genuine heart of the world. Not the one we’re being forced to see or believe on a daily basis. But the real, unadulterated beauty of what makes humans,

Andy

is the COLAB executive director and host of

Andy Caldwell

Andy Caldwell

Henry Schulte The author lives in Solvang

Brent E. Zepke

The author lives in Santa Barbara.

COURTESY IMAGE

ADOBE STOCK

Fixed broadband speeds in the U.S. have increased nearly 300% since June 2018.

Johnny Kampis

Public seeks clarity from GOP on social issues

With one year since the Dobbs decision, in which the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, how should we be thinking, as a nation, about this crucial issue?

Commentary in the press is conveying that Dobbs was an unpopular decision and that it has strengthened sentiment in the country for legal abortion.

Per Gallup, 61% say overturning Roe v. Wade was a “bad thing,” and 38% say it was a “good thing”.

In the latest abortion polling from Gallup, percentages saying abortion should be legal has climbed to high points for each trimester — 69% for the first three months, 37% for the second three months and 22% for the last three months.

Conventional wisdom reported after the last congressional elections is that the anticipated strong gains for Republicans did not materialize because of Dobbs.

And that Democrats certainly plan to build on this sentiment and focus on abortion in the 2024 elections.

Republican candidates are jockeying to define themselves regarding protection of life. Greatest clarity has come from Mike Pence, who has challenged Republicans to

support a federal ban on abortion at 15 weeks.

Former President Donald Trump, speaking to the Faith and Freedom Coalition, finally noted that the federal government has a role in protecting life, but did not spell out details regarding how.

My advice to Republican candidates is to look to the wisdom of the very first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln.

“In this age, in this country,” observed Lincoln, “public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed.

Whoever molds public sentiment, goes deeper than he who enacts statutes, or pronounces judicial decisions.”

Certainly, there is no issue more relevant for applying Lincoln’s wisdom than abortion.

Well known, for instance, is how responses in polls can vary depending on how questions are asked.

Despite what appears to be polling showing strong sentiment for legal abortion, there is plenty other polling showing that Americans are not at all happy with the

moral and social state of affairs in the country.

According to recent Gallup polling, 54% say the state of “moral values” in the country is “poor.”

This is 20 points higher than where this stood 20 years ago. Only 11% say the state of moral values is “excellent/good.”

This is half where this stood 20 years sago. We expect businesses to have great expertise regarding public sentiment in markets where they sell.

But we just saw the marketing disasters of Bud Light and Target in assessing incorrectly openness of the public to accept LGBTQ values as mainstream.

In Gallup’s recent annual poll asking about “moral acceptability” regarding a list of morally sensitive issues, 11 of the 19 show a lower percentage now saying they are morally acceptable compared to last year. The biggest drop was in “gay and lesbian relations,” with a seven-point drop in 2023 saying this is morally acceptable compared to 2022.

The percentage of Americans now self-identifying as socially conservative, per Gallup, is at 38%, up from 30% two years ago, and highest in 10 years. This is compared to 29% who self-identify as

socially liberal.

Let’s also note the new report from the Census Bureau about the aging of the country. The median age now, the oldest ever, is 38.9.

In 2000, it was 35. In 1980, it was 30.

The breakdown in values in which marriage, family and children flourish does not bode well for our future.

Republican candidates need to provide clarity to primary voters on where they stand on the full range of social issues — not just specifics on abortion. All these issues together comprise the culture of life.

The upcoming Republican debates, to be hosted by Fox, should be used as a platform to get clarity from candidates on all these issues, and all candidates, including Donald Trump, should participate.

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.

Modi’s visit reflects India’s importance to U.S.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States has received mixed reviews.

This is not surprising given the nationalist direction of his government, hostility toward religious minorities and growing repression of public criticism of the regime.

India continues to purchase oil from Russia, despite an international embargo in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi himself declines to criticize his neighbor for the military aggression. Despite the shortcomings of the regime in New Delhi, Mr. Modi was accorded a state dinner by President Joe Biden and addressed a joint session of Congress.

The India leader himself demonstrated some astute public relations, and that included joining a mass yoga exercise on June 21 on the grounds of the United Nations. The benign symbolism was a shrewd move.

The respect accorded Prime Minister Modi in no way reflects approval of the unfortunate and ugly aspects of his government, but rather realistic awareness of the profound importance of the South Asia region. Reasonably stable relations with New Delhi are essential to furthering U.S. — and international — interests in stability in that volatile and often violent part of the world.

“The Great Game” refers to the strategic competition between Great Britain and Russia for influence in South Asia throughout the 19th century. Secure India borders were central to British calculations. The same logic applies to containing Russia, along with China, today.

Conflict between India and Pakistan remains dangerous.

In 2019, an attack in disputed Kashmir killed 40 Indian

Putting the best things first

For my new video, I xasked people on the street, “If you could spend $30 billion trying to solve the world’s problems, how would you spend it?”

“Build houses ... address homelessness,” said a few. “Spend on health care,” “redistribution.” The most common answer was “fight climate change.” Really? Climate change is the world’s most important problem?

“It’s not surprising if you live in the rich world,” says Bjorn Lomborg, president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center.

Mr. Lomborg has spent the last 20 years consulting with experts from the United Nations, nongovernmental organizations and 60 teams of economists, seeking consensus on how to address the world’s biggest problems.

“The point is not that climate change is not an issue,” says Mr. Lomborg, “but we just need to have a sense of proportion.”

He says that while climate change may cause problems someday, “if you live most other places on the planet, you’re worried that your kids might die from easily curable diseases tonight.”

police. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility. Limited combat between forces of the two nations followed.

Both have nuclear weapons, drastically increasing the risks. In early 2016, militants raided an India military base.

The United Jihad Council, a Kashmir group, claimed credit. Simultaneously, terrorists attacked an Indian consulate in

Afghanistan.

Only a week earlier, India’s prime minister had visited Pakistan.

The attacks threatened talks involving Afghanistan, India and Pakistan along with China and the U.S. Ethnic violence occurred again in July that year In 2012, Taliban attackers shot young Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan in revenge for her advocacy of education for females.

She survived and has become a vital international symbol of courage. Vital Voices Global Partnership, a nonprofit organization to empower girls and women, established the Malala Fund.

Global media emphasis on incidents involving U.S. military ally Pakistan reflects the region’s strategic importance, but overshadows democratic progress.

In September 2013, Mamnoon Hussain succeeded Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who did not seek re-election.

This was the first peaceful presidential transition in Pakistan’s history. This somewhat balances the deterioration of longestablished political democracy in India.

Yet Pakistan-U.S. relations remain vexed. Pakistan since 9/11 is a front line in the struggle against terrorism.

Osama bin Laden’s ability to hide in Abbottabad raised suspicion that Pakistan officials may have been complicit in concealing him. That government was not informed in advance of the U.S. SEAL Team 6 raid that killed him.

Historically, Pakistan has been

a generally reliable ally of the West, a point often overlooked in media commentary.

The British-trained military is extremely capable.

In the 1950s, Pakistan joined both the Central Treaty Organization in the Mideast and Southeast Asia Treaty Organization. Pakistan and Britain were distinctive as members of both alliances. These alliances are gone, but geostrategic interests continue.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (The Quad), established in 2007 and significantly revitalized in 2017, involves growing collaboration among Australia, India, Japan and the United States. Important incentives include containing China. U.S. cooperation with India reflects hard political realities.

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.

ESG, net-zero policies make July Fourth more expensive

July Fourth is almost here. It’s time to celebrate freedom, independence, and America’s birthday with new environmental, social, governance policies and federal regulations to make your hot dogs, hamburgers, and backyard fireworks more expensive.

Ironically, just as Americans gather to remember our declared independence from King George’s overreach, the Biden administration will be embracing new European-style climatecontrol rules that have proven just as tyrannical.

Under President Biden’s proposed rule, U.S. companies must issue annual ESG reports for shareholders.

The idea is to help investors invest in companies that share their environmental goals and supposed social values, which sounds harmless on its face, but as stricter ESG and emissions reporting requirements steer investment dollars away from energy companies, agricultural

firms, and some food processors, the American consumer will ultimately pay the price at every grocery store from sea to shining sea.

ESG investors will pressure food processing companies, for example, to buy food only from farmers who can afford pricey emissions tracking equipment and high-priced ESG auditors, and who adopt expensive, dubiously sustainable farming practices.

As the chairman of Coller Capital, a massive ESG investing network that oversees $69 trillion, proudly announced: “Cows are the new coal, and we can’t meet our climate goals without addressing them.”

And to “address them,” ESGminded firms will squeeze farmers to curb their emissions by adopting labor-intensive regenerative agriculture practices, using naturally sourced

fertilizers, and culling herds that emit too much methane.

Taking these steps will increase farming costs, decrease harvests, and reduce meat supply.

Farmers facing higher costs to cover their carbon tracks, smaller herds, and limited harvests combined with the economic law of supply and demand can only equal higher prices for consumers in the checkout line and food shortages.

If you don’t believe me, just ask Europe.

European governments began imposing stringent ESG requirements several years ago and their people have been hamstrung by food shortages, rampant price hikes, and environmental taxes ever since. To meet climate goals, Ireland, for example, will address its “new coal problem” by needlessly slaughtering 200,000

cattle. The Netherlands opted for spending billions of dollars to buy farmland and convincing farmers to stop farming.

More generally, Europe’s high carbon taxes forced European fertilizer producers to buy from the American heartland where natural gas is plentiful and carbon emissions remain untaxed. But Europe’s farmers will no longer benefit from cheaper, Americanmade fertilizer because the European Union has levied new carbon emissions import taxes.

President Biden chose to follow these and other disastrous examples when he signed his John Hancock and rejoined the Paris Climate Accords in 2021. Since then, American families have been scrimping their way through the highest food-price inflation in half a century.

But the Biden administration wants even higher prices with its allegiance to European climate ideology, misguided ESG mandates, and proposal to quadruple the estimated “social cost of carbon” to $190 per metric ton.

Accounting for that alleged carbon cost would make next year’s July Fourth barbecue at least 77% more expensive.

A hamburger will cost double what it does today.

And 15% more for deli potato salad and a store-bought apple pie. As the parades and fireworks remind us, America declared its independence from European rule once before. It looks like it may be time to do so again.

Trevor Lewis is an economic policy analyst at The Buckeye Institute, focusing on energy, agriculture and the intersections between them. This commentary was provided to the News-Press by The Center Square, a nonprofit dedicated to journalism.

That’s why, he says, it’s important to ask ourselves, “Where can we spend dollars and do a lot of good versus ... just a little good?”

Twenty years ago, the United Nations issued development goals.

Surprisingly, Mr. Lomberg says they actually helped people.

“They basically said, ‘Let’s get people out of poverty, out of hunger; get kids into school; stop moms and kids from dying.”

That effort, plus global capitalism, lifted millions out of poverty.

Unfortunately, now the U.N. pushes “sustainable” goals that promise everything to everyone.

“Get rid of poverty, hunger,

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 dmason@ newspress.com.

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.

As reflected by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States, a good relationship with India is important to furthering American and international interests in South Asia, columnist Arthur Cyr writes.

COURTESY

To meet climate goals, Ireland, will address its ‘new coal problem” by needlessly slaughtering 200,000 cattle.

Trevor Lewis

The author is with The Buckeye Institute

Q & A about Santa Barbara

Continued from Page C1

for elected officials and the city. Public safety refers to the welfare and protection of the general public. It is usually expressed as a governmental responsibility. Most states have departments for public safety.

“Public officials and employees are required to place loyalty to the citizens, the laws, and ethical principles above private gain. The California Fair Political Practices Commission has established rules for public officials and employees.”

Q: If the city approves a promenade where bicycles are allowed and someone is injured by them, what are the factors for liability?

The person or parties responsible for the cycling accident may be liable to pay monetary damages. “An accident victim may seek compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit in California.” The most common way attorneys prove liability in bicycle accident cases is by using negligence. “Negligence is a legal term that refers to a failure to exercise the degree of care a reasonable person would have exercised in the same circumstances.”

Q: What is the purpose of a public safety department?

“The purpose of a public safety department is to protect

the welfare and safety of the general public from dangers affecting safety such as crimes or disasters.” In the United States, a Department of Public Safety is a state or local government agency that is responsible for overseeing the emergency service departments and other public health, safety, and security departments in their area. The department may have a broad portfolio of responsibilities, which may include fire services, rescue services, haz-mat services, and ambulance and emergency medical services (EMS).

Q: What is the definition of public health and safety regarding California elected officials and the city? Public health and safety are important issues for elected officials and the city. Public safety refers to the welfare and protection of the general public. It is usually expressed as a governmental responsibility.

“Most states have departments for public safety.

“Public officials and employees are required to place loyalty to the citizens, the laws, and ethical principles above private gain. The California Fair Political Practices Commission has established rules for public officials and employees.”

Q: Who is liable if the city approves a promenade where bicycles are allowed and someone is injured by them? If the city approves a

promenade where bicycles are allowed and someone is injured by them, the person or parties responsible for the cycling accident may be liable to pay monetary damages. An “accident victim may seek compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit in California.” The most common way attorneys prove liability in bicycle accident cases is by using negligence. “Negligence is a legal term that refers to a failure to exercise the degree of care a reasonable person would have exercised in the same circumstances.”

Q: Would the city have to pay for the accident or injury?

The answer is the same as the answer to the previous question.

Q: Can elected officials be sued for their vote?

Elected officials can be sued for their votes if they violate the constitutional rights of an individual. However, government officials sued for constitutional torts continue to be protected only by qualified immunity.

Q: What is qualified immunity?

Qualified immunity is a legal principle that grants government officials performing discretionary functions immunity from civil suits unless the plaintiff shows that the official violated “clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.”.

Q: Is it equality/equitable/ inclusionary for the city to help

It’s time to embrace responsible spending

restaurant businesses but not retail businesses? It is not fair for the city to help restaurant businesses but not retail businesses. The city should provide equal support to all small businesses.

Q: Is it discrimination for the city to provide special treatment or public right of way to restaurants but no other business?

Yes, it is discrimination for the city to provide special treatment or public right of way to restaurants but no other business.

Searching for: definition of common sense, Common sense is a sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts. “It is the basic level of practical knowledge and judgment that we all need to help us live in a reasonable and safe way.”

The mixing of pedestrians and wheeled vehicles, some powered by electricity, on the same thoroughfare is, in the opinion of Did You Know?, giving fair warning, a dangerous mix of incompatibility that almost guarantees collisions and injuries to both pedestrians and riders. Now go ask A.I. any questions you have on State Street Promenade, parklets and sidewalk vendors.

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

Questions remain about Georgia

ZEPKE

Continued from Page C2

part of the system that is exposed to potential hackers.

The most critical problem we found is an arbitrary-codeexecution vulnerability that can be exploited to spread malware from a county’s central election management system (EMS) to every BMD in the jurisdiction. This makes it possible to attack the BMDs at scale, over a wide area, without needing physical access to any of them.

“Our report explains how attackers could exploit the flaws we found to change votes or potentially even affect election outcomes in Georgia, including how they could defeat the technical and procedural protections the state has in place.”

The rest of the 96-page report (available on the internet) explained in detail how the professors learned the votes could be altered.

The professors wrote that they took “approximately twelve person weeks studying the machines…and developing

proof of concept-of-concept attacks.”

Hmm, preliminary analysis available before the November election since two professors could accomplish 12 “person weeks” in six weeks of calendar time?

Accolades to the Curling Group for confirming their suspicions on the security of the Dominion systems by hiring eminently qualified outof-state professors to test the security of the voting system.

Why had the person-incharge of elections in Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger, failed to do his job to verify the security of the system?

Was it because he was too lazy, or because he trusted Dominion to do his job, or because of the more sinister reason that President Donald Trump’s being a candidate influenced this openly a “never-Trumper?”

In the November 2020 elections in Georgia, Joseph Biden Jr.’s winning margin was 11,779 votes out of approximately five million votes, meaning the results could be changed by only switching half of the 11,779

GINN

Continued from Page C1

forced to slow down. But if the government lets markets work, the economy would stabilize more quickly. The long-term result would be that wages keep pace or grow faster than inflation again, cooking at home would be cheaper than eating out, and debts would decrease.

Unfortunately, since overspending is a bipartisan problem, political pushback would likely ensue if the Fed goes this route as it will mean a higher cost of funding the massive national debt. Although cutting the balance sheet is the solution, a cultural shift among politicians that favors less spending must preclude it because the Fed is implicitly and explicitly helping the federal government from blowing up the budget more with even higher net interest payments.

Ultimately, the path toward a stronger and more prosperous economy lies in the Fed’s willingness to take bold actions and the political will to embrace responsible spending and balance sheet practices. A brighter economic future can be achieved by prioritizing market stability over short-term political considerations.

Vance Ginn, Ph.D., is founder and president of Ginn Economic Consulting, LLC, senior fellow at Americans for Tax Reform, chief economist or senior fellow at multiple think tanks across the country and host of the Let People Prosper podcast. He previously served as the associate director for economic policy of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, 2019-20. Follow him on Twitter @VanceGinn.

This commentary was provided to the News-Press by The Center Square, a nonprofit dedicated to journalism.

Let’s make good stuff the primary news

SCHULTE

Continued from Page C2

human.

If we could harness, embrace the love and goodwill coming from that audience in a bottle and offer that as a booster shot to those who struggle with how they view the world and their lives, Earth would blossom into a planet of unicorns and rainbows.

votes, or 5,890 votes, from one candidate to the other.

The recount, which showed another 3,000 votes for President Trump, may have been “irrelevant” as all it could do was recount the same votes that may have been permanently altered in the machines.

Why did we not hear about the final Halderman Report, dated July 1, 2021, until June 14, 2023?

It was sealed by Obamaappointed Federal Judge Amy Totenberg of the Court for the Northern District of Georgia, whose name may be familiar.

Nina Totenberg, the judge’s sister who is a legal affairs correspondent for National Public Radio, is best known for bringing Anita Hill to prominence in an attempt to prevent the Senate from confirming the conservative Clarence Thomas as a Supreme Court justice by alleging that sometime in the past he had harassed her by handing her a soda can with a pubic hair on it. Of course, there was no proof, and even Sen. Joe Biden doubted her story.

But Nina Totenberg set a precedent of using the last-minute allegation of an unsubstantiated sexual act to try and block the confirmation of a conservative justice.

Decades later, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, tried to use Christine Blasey Ford to allege, in the confirmation hearings, a sexual act by Brett Kavanaugh.

The Georgia “roads” for using not secure voting machines led to Brad Raffensberger. However, where the roads would then lead will be discussed next week in Part 2 of “Georgia on My Mind.”

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 NonLawyers.”

Progressive states can learn from Iowa

Arecent editorial by The Wall Street Journal highlighted that several progressive Democrat x“Blue” states are confronted with budget problems as a result of overspending and tax increases.

States such as New York, New Jersey, and California are experiencing a decline in tax revenue. In New York, “state tax collections in the past two months are running 32.2% lower than a year ago,” and the Empire State is projecting a $36.4 billion budget shortfall. A similar situation is occurring in New Jersey where revenue has declined 20%.

California is also confronting a budget deficit estimated to be at least $32 billion. The reason these “Blue” progressive states are experiencing a decline in revenue and budget deficits is the fact that they have followed the failed policy model of spending and tax increases. Governments, at any level, cannot tax and spend their way to prosperity.

New York, New Jersey, and California are not the only progressive “Blue” states that are in economic trouble. Illinois is another state that can be included, and Minnesota recently ended their legislative session with a massive increase in spending. Minnesota started the legislative

session with an $18 billion budget surplus, but the end result was not tax relief, but rather expanding government and tax increases. The Minnesota legislature created $10 billion in new taxes and state spending will increase by 33 percent.

The Wall Street Journal editorial offers Florida as a comparison to these “Blue” states.

In Florida, “tax revenue is exceeding forecasts.”

Further, Florida’s budget, which is $117 billion, is “half as large as New York’s, though it has 2.5 million more people.”

Although Florida garners much attention in the national media for its fiscal conservative policies, Iowa is actually a better example to demonstrate why fiscal conservativism is better than the progressive tax and spend policy. Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Republican legislature have made conservative budgeting a priority.

Even before the COVID pandemic Iowa’s fiscal foundation was strong. This session, the legislature enacted an $8.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2024 that funds the priorities of government.

The $8.5 billion budget spends only 88.25% of projected tax collections. Iowa law mandates that the legislature can only spend 99 % of projected revenue and the legislature has demonstrated fiscal restraint by controlling the growth of spending.

The evidence is clear that prudent budgeting is paying off for Iowans. Iowa’s budget continues to be in surplus. The surplus for fiscal year 2023 is projected to be $1.7 billion and the current estimated surplus for fiscal year 2024 is projected to be $2 billion.

In addition, Iowa’s reserve accounts will continue to be funded at their statutory limits with a combined balance of over $961 million. The Taxpayer Relief Fund will also continue to increase.

The balance in the Taxpayer Relief Fund for fiscal year 2023 is $2.7 billion and this is estimated to increase to $3.5 billion in fiscal year 2024.

Gov. Reynolds and the legislature have also enacted a series of pro-growth tax reforms.

Last year, the legislature passed the largest income tax reform measure in state history. Iowa’s progressive income tax will be replaced by a 3.9% flat tax by 2026. Tax revenue, even with the income tax cuts going into effect, continues to be strong.

Further, Gov. Reynolds proposed, and the legislature passed, the first state government consolidation measure in over 40 years. This reform measure will consolidate agencies to increase government efficiency. Currently, Iowa has 37 executive-branch cabinet agencies – more than any of its neighbors, and this new law will reduce the number of executive-level agencies to 16.

It is estimated that this proposal would save taxpayers over $214 million over four years.

Critics of Gov. Reynolds and the legislature will argue that they have deprived various programs of much needed resources, but this is not the truth.

Even with conservative budgeting, government spending in Iowa continues to grow and funding for programs such as public education continues to increase.

It is only in government that slowing the growth of spending is viewed as a cut.

Iowa is setting the gold standard for fiscal conservatism.

The evidence is clear: States cannot tax and spend their way to prosperity.

The planet is tainted with information intended to give the impression that most people are bad. That skin color is responsible for so many things, white or black or green.

Even the worst of the worst, many who likely will never get their mental wires uncrossed, all began life like every human being on the planet, as an innocent child.

Bad wiring, society, parental upbringings, if they even had parents all, played a role in messing up with people’s heads. They are the ones that lead the news.

The news media, of course,

needs to report these worst of the worst, such as the mass shootings.

But the focus needs to be on those who lost their lives and how did the shooter get to that point and how can we fix it. Instead, it always turns into something else.

In a perfect world, all the good stuff should be the primary news and the bad stuff take a back seat. Can you imagine how much nicer things would look? How less stressful for so many it would be. I know I sound a little like a peace-loving hippie, but I think we all have some of that in us. It’s sure a lot nicer to be talking about happy things instead of all the world’s problems.

On the other hand, waking up and taking inventory on what hurts before I try and get out of bed, is a daily reminder, there are some things you just don’t have any control over.

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

Fighting climate change would cost trillions

STOSSEL

Continued from Page C3

disease, fix war, corruption, climate change,” says an exasperated Lomborg.

But a Bank of America report estimates that fighting climate change alone would cost trillions. Even that might not affect the climate very much.

“If we spend way too much money ineffectively on climate,” Mr. Lomborg points out, “not only are we not fixing climate, but we’re also wasting an enormous amount of money that could have been spent on other things.” Better things.

Mr. Lomborg’s new book, “Best Things First,” says “$35 billion could save 4.2 million lives in the poor part of the world each and every year.”

For example, screening people for tuberculosis, giving medicine to people who have it and making sure they complete their treatment would save up to a million lives a year.

“Nobody in rich world countries die from tuberculosis, but in poor countries, they still do,” says Mr. Lomborg. “Spend about $5.5 billion, you could save most of those people.”

Hundreds of thousands more die from malaria.

Buying bed nets with insecticides that kill mosquitoes would save lots of lives.

So would spending on basic vaccines for kids.

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 edit all submissions for length, clarity and professional standards.

We do not print submissions

These ideas are common sense. They cost much less than what we spend now pretending to manage the climate.

“You want to help people,” I say to Mr. Lomborg, “yet people hate you.”

“Well, some people hate me,” he laughs.

One shoved a pie in his face. Others call him “the devil incarnate,” a “traitor” who “needs to be taken down.” All because he points out that the world has bigger problems than climate change.

“Climate change might kill poor people, too,” I point out.

“It certainly will. And climate change is more damaging for poor people!” Mr. Lomborg replies. “But remember, everything is worse for poor people -- because they’re poor.”

“Unmitigated scaremongering leads to ineffective political action,” says Mr. Lomborg. “We need to have a conversation about where we spend money well, compared to where we just spend money to feel virtuous about ourselves.”

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.

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.

All letters must include the writer’s address and telephone number for verification. We cannot acknowledge unpublished letters. We prefer e-mailed submissions. Send letters to dmason@newspress.com.

John Hendrickson is policy director for Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation

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