Issuu

Questions over Clark Estate

New headquarters for domecil

Columnist Robert Eringer continues his investigation of Bellosguardo Foundation, and state attorney general’s office calls for audit - A4

Our 166th Year

Business relocates to Victoria Court in Santa Barbara - B1

75¢

T H U R S DAY, O C T O B E R 2 8 , 2 0 21

Schwartz, Williams meet about mayoral race Private meeting stirs public criticism of Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

COURTESY PHOTO

Deborah Schwartz

Santa Barbara mayoral candidate Deborah Schwartz is criticizing the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County Central Committee following a conversation she had with County Supervisor Das Williams at the end of September. The meeting between Ms. Schwartz, who also chairs the city Planning Commission, and Supervisor Williams didn’t initially stir any ill feelings between the two, Mr. Williams told the NewsPress. But now, he’s reading lengthy articles in local news sources accusing him of pressuring Ms. Schwartz to withdraw — which he

says is not true. He said he asked if she was considering dropping out, and the two discussed the possibility that an abundance of Democratic candidates may lead to the election of Randy Rowse. Ms. Schwartz is not considering withdrawing. She didn’t intend to talk about the meeting. Rumors circulated, and reporters approached her. “I didn’t go looking to expose this. It was the media,” she told the News-Press. “And I thought it was time to share this information and express my disheartenment that has occurred by his core group.” She assumed Mr. Williams approached her on behalf of the Democratic Central Committee. His chief of staff, Darcél Elliott, is

the chair of the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County. Ms. Elliott told the News-Press she was aware of the meeting but didn’t have a hand in it. Mr. Williams told the News-Press a well-known supporter of Ms. Schwartz asked him to have the conversation. “I think (the supporter) is concerned about Deborah’s future prospects if she came in fourth, which is what it’s looking like right now, and dividing up the vote and a conservative getting elected because of that,” Mr. Williams said. Ms. Schwartz doesn’t believe any of her supporters would vote for Mayor Cathy Murillo, who is endorsed by Das Williams and the Democratic Party. “Ever since I announced that I

From rain to sun It feels like California again in Santa Barbara County

was running back in December, I have been spotlighting issues with current city leadership, specifically the mayor,” she said. “Why would any of my supporters throw in the towel this late in the race?” When she ran for City Council years ago, Mr. Williams made calls “nearly every day,” he said, calling for her campaign. The local Democratic Party supported her. Mr. Williams said a withdrawal may repair relationships to the levels they were at 10 years ago. But Ms. Schwartz told him she believes the local party has changed a lot. “The Democratic party that I grew up with and my parents participated in … was one where Please see CANDIDATES on A4

RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS

Das Williams

Local doctors applaud progress with COVID vaccine Experts see advisory panel’s recommendation for ages 5-11 as good news for everyone By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS

A skater and a stroller take advantage of warm weather Wednesday on Cabrillo Boulevard in Santa Barbara.

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Sunny days are here again. After Monday’s rainstorm, things have warmed up again, and never mind that it’s October. It feels like summer. On Wednesday, people found they could turn off their heaters and turn on the air conditioners or fans with the day’s highs. They were 82 at the Santa Barbara City Fire Department, 81 in Santa Maria, 83 in Lompoc and a sizzling 88 in Santa Ynez. Goleta was cooler with a high of 74, and people needed a light jacket in New Cuyama, with its high of 68.

Those numbers are from the National Weather Service. At night, it’s fall. The weather service reported Wednesday’s lows as 40 in New Cuyama, 45 in Santa Ynez, 47 in Goleta, 51 in Lompoc and 52 in Santa Barbara. Expect more of the same: sunshine and heat. The weather service predicts highs today of 84 in Santa Barbara, 86 in Santa Ynez, 80 in UCSB and up north in Santa Maria, 79 in Lompoc and 78 in Cuyama. It’ll be a similar story Friday (with some slight dips in temperature). Then Saturday, it’ll be partly or mostly cloudy Please see WEATHER on A4

66833 00050

Local medical experts are applauding a Food and Drug Administration panel’s support for emergency use authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5-11. And Santa Barbara County is ready to administer the shots once final approval comes and the vaccines become available, Dr. Henning Ansorg, the county public health officer, told the News-Press Wednesday. “We are all geared up,” Dr. Ansorg said. “When we have the vaccine at hand, it will be distributed to pharmacies and DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS pediatricians. It will be a quick “The vaccine is an important roll out. part of keeping children “The dose is a third of the healthy,” said Dr. Henning adult dose. Studies have shown Ansorg, the Santa Barbara the lower dose is very efficient in County public health officer. producing an immune response in children and lessens the The next step is for approval frequency of side effects,” Dr. by Acting FDA Commissioner Ansorg said. Janet Woodcock. Then a Side effects for the COVID-19 Centers for Disease Control and vaccines have Prevention typically been committee soreness, would review fever, the vaccine and Local medical experts discuss fatigue and the question COVID-19 further in Sunday’s edition headaches of whether the of the News-Press. for one or two vaccine should days. be given to all “That children ages means the vaccine is doing its 5-11 or just those with health job,” Dr. Ansorg said. risks. He praised the results of Dr. Fitzgibbons noted the Pfizer-BioNTech’s research, FDA panel is asking the CDC which shows a 90.7% committee to review the data effectiveness for the vaccine. carefully and determine who Of more than 2,200 elementary in the 5-11 age group should get school children who were tested, the shots. “That’s an important three in the group receiving question. the vaccine tested positive for “I think it’s likely that most COVID-19, while 16 in the group children would benefit from getting a placebo got a positive this,” she said. “It’s most likely test. the CDC will have a more If the approval process universal recommendation for 5 continues in the vaccine’s favor, through 11 years old. shots could become available as early as next week. Please see VACCINES on B4