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Rallies call for reopening Pair of demonstrations held Saturday opposing shutdown
State of the County South Coast Chamber event features address from county officials By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS
A group of people protesting the ongoing California pandemic-induced lockdowns march up State Street on Saturday.
Protestors march down State Street By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Several dozens gathered at noon on Saturday and marched down State Street in protest of the state’s stay-at-home order which applied to Santa Barbara County in the Southern California region. Coordinated by the Santa Barbara Tea Party & Culpepper Society, the protestors carried signs and waved American flags, chanting phrases such as, “Open schools now,” “Recall Newsom,” “We want to work,” “We will not concede,” “Open our churches” and “We have rights.” While a portion of the crowd was wearing face masks, many more were not. “We’re sending a message to Gavin Newsom,” Barbara Batastini, one of the event leaders, said over a megaphone. “Let my people go. We want freedom, not tyranny.” The protestors often called for the recall
of Gov. Newsom, and passed out petition slips to everyone at the end of the protest to sign as a part of the effort for his recall. “I’m here because I want to support free enterprise,” Cheryl Trosky, one of the protestors, told the News-Press. “I want to support freedom and our democracy, and oppose the tyranny of the Left that’s oppressing our American way.” A few business owners and passersby showed support of the protest, coming outside their stores or restaurants and clapping, while others counter protested or told the crowd to wear masks. “It’s about our freedoms, it’s about our constitutional rights, it’s to get our economy back on track, to let people get back to work,” Kay Bowman, another one of the event organizers, told the NewsPress. “The statistics for COVID don’t really warrant us being shut down… Some Please see state street on A3
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By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Local residents joined together Saturday afternoon at the parklet in front of Tres Lune restaurant along Coast Village Road in Montecito, speaking out against health orders that have closed both indoor and outdoor dining due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens donning masks showed up in support of the Montecito Italian restaurant, as well as other local eateries that have been forced to shut down as coronavirus cases surge. Gene Montesano, owner of Tres Lune and other local restaurants, said that Saturday’s demonstration was about the employees who continue to suffer financially due to the COVID crisis, many of whom may not get a Christmas because they are out of work. “They’re not going to have presents for
their kids, and they’re not going to have a holiday,” he said. “It’s a crime as far as I’m concerned.” Mr. Montesano said they’ve had to lay off 73 employees in recent weeks due to the new orders. Tres Lune General Manager Leslee Garafalo said that half of the restaurant’s front staff had been let go, which she said was “horrible” to do during the holidays. “It’s a gigantic pain. We had to lay off staff, then we have to gamble that they’re going to find some place else to work in another county or another state and not be able to get them back,” explained Mr. Montesano. With Christmas decorations and lights set up along the Montecito corridor, Mr. Montesano said it was “terrible” that there were no people walking along the street. He went on to say that recent reports Please see montecito on A3
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Residents speak out against restaurant closures
The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber held its 2020 State of the County, featuring the County CEO, the assistant CEO, Chair of the County Board of Supervisors and the director of the UCSB Economic Forecast Project. Although the address was filmed Thursday, Dec. 3 before the stay-at-home orders were announced from the state, regional leaders reflected on the last several months dealing with the pandemic and discussed what the future may hold for Santa Barbara County. Gregg Hart, the Chair of the County Board of Supervisors, reviewed the county’s response to the crisis, including prohibiting commercial evictions related to COVID-19, assisting schools and creating partnerships, addressing inequities in the health care system, creating new COVID-19 Task Forces and more. “2020 has been a year unlike any in our lifetime,” Mr. Hart said. “So many have suffered physically, emotionally and financially. But we will recover, thrive and prosper.” He said that until the county, and nation, has a widely distributed vaccine next year, “We’ll be living with the ebbs and flows of this virus.” Mr. Hart also mentioned positive projects moving forward, such as providing housing opportunities and support for community members experiencing homelessness, transportation projects to increase jobs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the county’s Climate Action Plan. Please see county on A5
Obituaries............. A8 Soduku................. b2 Weather................ A8
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 1-13-24-26-39 Meganumber: 17
Saturday’s DAILY 4: 6-4-9-8
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 19-31-37-55-67 Meganumber: 25
Saturday’s FANTASY 5: 21-28-32-33-36
Saturday’s DAILY DERBY: 05-04-08 Time: 1:46.53
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 17-54-56-63-69 Meganumber: 20
Saturday’s DAILY 3: 9-7-0 / Sunday’s Midday 0-1-5
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