Santa Barbara News-Press: October 03, 2021

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News-Press exclusive: Defense sources discuss Afghanistan — A2

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Tribute honors 13 fallen troops Santa Barbara Elks Lodge program salutes those who died Aug. 26 in Afghanistan By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Sgt. Nicole L. Gee of the U.S. Marine Corps posted a photo of herself on Instagram, holding a baby in Afghanistan. The caption read, “I love my job.” “One of Sgt. Gee’s photos, one of her last, shows her near a cargo plane as a line of people waited to board from the back,” speaker Drew Wakefield told a large crowd Saturday in the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge parking lot. Sgt. Gee and others in the U.S. military helped Americans and Afghans during evacuation efforts in Kabul. And she and 12 other young U.S. troops remained dedicated to those efforts right up to the last moment of their lives, cut short by the explosion of an ISIS bomb on Aug. 26. Photos of all 13 troops stood on a long table

facing the crowd and a row of American flags as Mr. Wakefield spoke of the troops’ heroism and courage on a sunny but windy day. Every so often, the wind would blow down one of the photos, but someone sitting in the front row of the audience would immediately get up and put the picture back up. As he looked out on an audience that included veterans in uniform, Mr. Wakefield praised the fallen troops for their heroism and courage. His keynote address was part of the “13 Fallen: A Warriors’ Tribute” program. Mr. Wakefield started his talk by defining heroism and courage. Then he quoted John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Mr. Wakefield noted the 13 fallen troops went a step further. “These great, brave, heroic warriors — these American soldiers — laid down their lives for people they did not even know in a country

that probably a few years ago, they could not point out on a map,” he said. “Dedication, respect, heroism, bravery — add that all up, and it says, ‘American serviceman or service woman,’ ” Mr. Wakefield said. In addition to Sgt. Gee, the fallen troops consisted of 10 Marines — Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui — and Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak (assigned to a Marine regiment at Camp Pendleton) and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss. All 13 were brave heroes, Mr. Wakefield said, later discussing each of them in detail. In addition to his speech, “13 Fallen: A Please see TRIBUTE on A3

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

Drew Wakefield speaks in front of the placards listing the biographies of the 13 American servicemen and women who died in the August 26 Kabul Airport bomb attack during a ceremony honoring their lives on Saturday.

Thousands rally for March for Reproductive Rights

Supes to hear report on workforce housing needs By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will hear an update on workforce housing needs during its regular meeting this Tuesday. According to a board agenda letter, “workforce housing” refers to accommodations for the “missing middle,” or a segment of the population that cannot afford market-rate housing and are not eligible for government subsidies. In Santa Barbara County, these are often workers who are critical to the community’s infrastructure — police officers, firefighters, school teachers, electricians and restaurant staff. In a recent report from Realtor. com, Santa Barbara County ranked as the number one county in the entire country “where home prices have outpaced salaries since fourth quarter 2019.” In addition, assessor data from the last decade found that the median single-family home price in each of the county’s housing markets (South Coast, Santa Ynez, Lompoc, Santa Maria, Cuyama) varies from $930,000 on the South Coast to $30,000 in Cuyama. “This precludes households earning less than above moderateincome from accessing housing near South Coast job centers, forcing longer commutes to work,” the board agenda letter states. The letter also explains that housing development needs have fallen short of goals established

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Demonstrators in support of reproductive rights gather for a rally at De la Guerra Plaza in Santa Barbara on Saturday. NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Over a thousand local residents marched through the streets of Santa Barbara on Saturday in support of reproductive rights for all, waving signs and leading chants to protest abortion restrictions. The local rally was part of a nationwide demonstration known as the March for Reproductive Rights. Across the nation, thousands gathered in various cities on Saturday to support access to reproductive care and oppose recent legislation out of Texas that bans abortion after six weeks. “We are here today because we are outraged by the attacks on our reproductive rights,” Jenna Please see RALLY on A5

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Westmont baseball team bats a thousand for growth — A6

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Foreigner to perform at Santa Barbara Bowl — B1

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Inside today’s News-Press

By MADISON HIRNEISEN

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in the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, which has led to residents paying in excess of 30% of their income toward housing. During Tuesday’s meeting, staff from the county’s Community Services Department will overview strategies to address the shortage in affordable workforce housing. According to a board letter, staff is recommending that up to $245,000 be allocated for a workforce housing development study and strategic plan that would address the need for additional housing. In addition to this presentation, the board will also receive a COVID-19 update from the county’s Public Health Department and hear a presentation on how American Rescue Plan Act funding could contribute to child care relief and recovery. Tuesday’s meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the County Administration Building in Santa Barbara. Members of the public can either attend the meeting in person or watch the meeting livestream at countyofsb.org/ceo/ csbtv/livestream.sbc or youtube. com/user/CSBTV20. To make a public comment on Zoom during the meeting, register in advance at countyofsb. zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ cAJl4FoATlGHnaZGbR9psA. You can also email comments to sbcob@countyofsb.org.

Sudoku................. B3 Sports ................ A6-7 Weather................ A4

Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 6-22-32-34-46 Mega: 3

Saturday’s DAILY 4: 3-9-3-0

Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 21-25-36-62-63 Mega: 6

Saturday’s FANTASY 5: 1-32-36-37-39

Saturday’s DAILY DERBY: 11-02-01 Time: 1:41.58

Saturday’s POWERBALL: 28-38-42-47-52 Meganumber: 1

Saturday’s DAILY 3: 3-0-4 / Midday 3-6-6


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