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Real estate companies give back Local businesses find ways to help their community
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Local real estate companies have seen a boom in sales during the pandemic. And they’re sharing their good fortune by finding unique ways to give back to the community.
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“It was incredibly important that we as a community pay forward our local businesses to give them funds to survive,” real estate entrepreneur Cristal Clarke said.
CRISTAL CLARKE Cristal Clarke has donated $100,000 to Berkshire Hathaway Charities in support of local charities in the community. Cristal Clarke serves buyers and sellers in Montecito, one of the most affluent communities in the U.S. “As a result of the restrictions imposed on businesses due to COVID-19, what became apparent
at a very early stage was the need to support local businesses, which are the mainstay and fabric of our community, more than ever,” owner Cristal Clarke told the News-Press in an email. “It was important that once we emerged from the restrictions, our local businesses were still in place to serve our community. “With that in mind, it was incredibly important that we as a community pay forward our local businesses to give them funds to survive. I made the decision very early on to pay forward all the people I do business with — restaurants, dentists, chiropractors, photographers, hairdressers, etc. — so they had some sort of income to support themselves during those uncertain
times. “Thankfully with the support of this great community, I believe we are stronger now than before, and it is gratifying to be able to continue the support through this donation to the Santa Barbara chapter of The Charitable Foundation.” In 2020, Ms. Clarke’s sales exceeded $260 million. She is ranked No. 1 overall in the Santa Barbara MLS (multiple listing services) by sales volume and ranked No. 2 overall in the Santa Barbara MLS by units. She is also ranked as the No. 1 BHHS (Berkshire Hathaway Home Services) agent in California by sales volume. And she is ranked as the No. 1 BHHS agent worldwide by sales
UC strike canceled UC reaches agreement with lecturers; UCSB rally celebrates victory
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Storke Tower’s bell rang out to an empty plaza at 10 a.m. Wednesday — the planned picket canceled thanks to a last-minute agreement with the University of California. The union representing UC’s non-tenured faculty and librarians, University Council-American Federation of Teachers, reached a tentative agreement with the university at 4 a.m. Wednesday. UC-AFT members had previously planned a strike to begin that morning. “It’s a really good deal, and we’re really proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Caroline Luce, UCAFT’s communications chair, told the News-Press. The contract increases lecturers’ pay 30% over five years and provides what non-tenured staff want most: stability. The agreement sets a path to become a continuing lecturer, the title given to those who have taught over six years in their department and passed an excellence review. Continuing lecturers have regularly scheduled merit reviews, which in turn, grant raises. But according to UC-AFT’s strike readiness resolution, lecturers have a high churn rate. UC lecturers teach an average of two years on their campuses, and 40% of lecturers in their first six years do not get their contract renewed, the resolution says. “We have to re-apply for our jobs every year, and what that means is it’s really hard to plan our lives,” Dr. Luce said. “The university doesn’t even have to lay us off; they just don’t renew us.” Stephanie Moret, a lecturer in the environmental studies department at UCSB, has taught for more than six years but is still considered a “pre-six” lecturer because the university didn’t count her summer quarters toward continuing. The tentative agreement changes this standard. It also reverses some campuses’ effort to remove retirement benefits from the summer session. Dr. Moret said she joined the union because she is nearing
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“I have always thought that as a real estate industry you can still volunteer and do things, even in times of recession. We just keep fundraising and would love to see competitors do more in this good market,” said Renee Grubb, owner of Village Properties.
Lompoc city manager resigns, accepts new position
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Lompoc City Manager Jim Throop is leaving Santa Barbara County to work as the city manager of Cupertino.
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Harold Marcuse, a professor in UCSB’s history department, speaks about lecturer churn rate during a rally at Storke Tower Wednesday afternoon.
“retirement age.” “I couldn’t have this job if I didn’t have another income in my household,” she said. “There are a lot of lecturers who are my children’s age. For families, it’s really important that they have job security.” The agreement promises four weeks of paid family leave to all faculty — a key piece of the unfair practice strike. Chase Hobbs-Morgan, a political science lecturer, and Charmaine Chua, assistant professor of global studies, spoke at a celebration rally Wednesday by Storke Tower. The two, who both use they/them pronouns, are partners and see the different treatment of tenured/ senate faculty and lecturers. “My partner teaches about twice the number of classes that I do, at about 60 to 70% of the pay that I get. My partner also is Please see RALLY on A2
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volume out of more than 60,000 agents. Among her other accomplishments in 2020, she closed 59 transactions and represented 37 sellers and 22 buyers. “At the onset of COVID-19 no one, in real estate, could have foreseen what would happen in the local real estate marketplace, myself included,” Ms. Clarke said. “In fact, many companies, agents and news organizations were forecasting doom and gloom for the housing market, which turned out to be entirely opposite from the reality of what happened. “While the real estate market received tremendous growth in
A picket sign created for the strike was altered after the union and the University of California came to an agreement at 4 a.m. Wednesday.
Lompoc City Manager Jim Throop has announced his resignation, effective Jan. 2. The Lompoc City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the resignation. Mr. Throop has served as city manager since July 2018. Mr. Throop has accepted a position as city manager for Cupertino in Santa Clara County. “It’s been my honor and a true privilege to serve the city of Lompoc during these past three and a half years,” Mr. Throop said in a statement. “I am more than proud of what our city team and community members have been able to accomplish working together, and the wonderful city that Lompoc is. “Although there have been challenges during my time in Lompoc, I would not trade this experience for anything and will always reflect fondly on my time here. Lompoc is in good hands thanks to the city’s hardworking and dedicated staff, and the fantastic community that advocates for what they believe in. I look forward to what’s ahead for Lompoc,” said Mr. Throop. His accomplishments during his time as city manager include making significant steps toward improving the city’s budget and fiscal health, according to a news release from the city. The city
explained Mr. Throop did so by building substantial reserves, reducing debt and paving a better financial path forward. Lompoc Mayor Janell Osborne praised Mr. Throop, saying that he assumed his position during a difficult time, but he persevered through a transitional period and enacted permanent change. “Jim came into a lot of issues when he arrived as Lompoc city manager, including staff shortages and financial difficulties, but he has set us on a path to success,” Mayor Osborne said. “I only regret that Jim will not stay with the city longer to enjoy the fruits of his labor. I am thankful for Jim’s service to our city, and Lompoc is better for his time spent here.” Prior to coming to Lompoc, Mr. Throop served as the chief financial officer for the city of Oxnard. He has more than 33 years of financial and city management experience in both the public and private sector. And he holds a bachelor’s. in economics from USC and a master’s in business administration from Chapman University. Discussion concerning the appointment of an interim city manager is expected to take place during a closed session of the next city council meeting on Nov. 30. email: kzehnder@newspress.com
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L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 8-7-7-8
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 6-22-44-53-65 Meganumber: 3
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 4-7-14-19-31
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 05-12-09 Time: 1:46.79
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Sudoku................... B3 Sports . .................... A3 Weather................. A4
Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 4-2-8 / Wednesday’s Midday 3-2-4