Santa Barbara News-Press: March 21, 2023

A look at the new ‘Shazam!’ movie

Review: Superhero movie stands out for humor, innocence and courage - B1

Banks in crisis

Residents react with a mix of apprehension and hope during State St. interviews

Americans making less

Data: Inflation continues to outpace wages - B4

Emergency ordinance covers evictions

Santa Barbara City Council to consider proposal to protect tenants

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Santa Barbara City Council members vowed two weeks ago to aid longtime Santa Barbara tenants who pleaded with them for help in fighting what they claimed were unjust evictions by landlords who wanted them out so they could raise the rent.

The council members meant what they said.

At their meeting today, council members will consider passing an emergency ordinance to tighten the current definition of “nofault just cause” when it comes to residential evictions. It would close loopholes in the existing law, require landlords to show good faith and make them apply for work permits for any substantial renovations they want to make.

The council will meet at 2 p.m. at City Hall, 735 Anacapa St.

hundreds of others who could not be here. Do something with the power you have.”

The emergency ordinance is the council’s response.

The proposed ordinance would close loopholes in the law “by making it clear that any action to recover a rental unit requires good faith on the part of the landlord,” staff said.

That’s exactly what Councilmember Meagan Harmon said should be done in a previous interview with the News-Press.

“I do believe that the council should move forward to close the ‘renovation loophole’ — the intention behind our ordinance was to ensure that unjust evictions are stopped. If that intention is not being honored under the ordinance as written, if loopholes in the law are being exploited to circumvent its purpose, it is incumbent on our council to revise the ordinance so it is effective.”

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

“I don’t really have another option other than to trust my bank,” explained resident Sarah Duff in response to the recent crashes of banks here in the United States, including California.

She and other concerned residents talked to the NewsPress in front of the First Republic Bank branch at 1200 State St. Santa Clara-based Silicon Valley Bank and San Franciscobased First Republic Bank have been the main West Coast banks in the crisis. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over Silicon Valley Bank.

On Thursday, 11 of the nation’s biggest banks said they were providing a $30 billion rescue package to keep First Republic Bank afloat, but the bank’s problems remain. S&P Global Ratings announced Sunday that it cut First Republic’s credit rating to “B-plus” from “BB-plus.”

On March 10, Silicon Valley Bank failed and was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. This was the largest bank to fail since the 2008 financial crisis.

As of Monday, regional banks across the country had share drops. First Republic Bank, the most prominent of these, had shares drop 47%, nearly 90% down since March 8. This led the New York Stock Exchange to halt trading 11 separate times Monday.

This scare within the banking system has trickled down to other banks, and it has customers worried about the future of the country’s financial system. As a result, many people have been pulling their accounts and money from their banks.

Jorge Torres, a resident of Los Angeles, shared his thoughts during News-Press interviews in front of First Republic Bank’s State Street branch.

“The big banks will be fine because they are backed by the

government. If the government collapses, though, we have a problem.”

Recently the FDIC announced a “systemic risk exception,” which would allow the government to pay back uninsured depositors to prevent consequences for the failure of the bank.

Additionally, with approval from the U.S. Treasury department, the Federal Reserve said it would set up an emergency lending program to eligible banks so they can meet the needs of their account holders.

Jenna Wheeler, a San Luis Obispo resident and Santa Barbara City College student, shared her thoughts regarding the bank issues.

“I personally have confidence in my bank because it is smaller, and my family has used this bank for years. We never have had an issue, and I project there not to be one, even with all of this happening. I also know my bank is fairly stingy with loans so that makes me feel better.”

Many customers have looked

into their own banks and its history, seeing if this crisis could come to them in the near future.

“I know my specific bank has had some scandals, but I feel like it is big enough to be OK,” Malibu resident Reagan Phillips told the News-Press. “I guess I have never really known enough about the banking system to have active confidence in it or not. It has been more of passive confidence.”

President Joe Biden tried to share some relief for the country over Twitter on March 14 by saying “because of actions that our regulators have already taken, every American should feel confident their deposits will be there if and when they need them.”

As the banking crisis continues, people are reacting with a mix of apprehension and hope.

“It definitely scares me a bit, but I trust that things will work out,” local resident Jill Hurin told the News-Press. “Easier to not worry about it!”

email: abahnsen@newspress.com

Newsom announces San Quentin Prison revamp to emphasize rehabilitating inmates

By TOM JOYCE THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom is planning to overhaul the state’s prison system.

Gov. Newsom visited San Quentin State Prison and announced his plan to make the San Francisco bay prison serve a different purpose. He wants the prison to serve as a center for lower-risk prisoners to receive education, job training, and rehabilitation for substance abuse.

Under Gov. Newsom’s plan announced Friday, the facility would receive a name change: the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. The inmates serving prison sentences there would be moved to other prisons in the state penitentiary system.

Touting his plan, Gov. Newsom pointed to the state’s high recidivism rate. He said its current criminal justice model is not working,

so the state must change to ensure ex-inmates avoid recidivism.

“We are as dumb as we want to be,” Gov. Newsom said at the event. “Two-thirds of folks, the senator says, coming out of the prison every single year, or at least within three years, violate probation or commit another damn crime? I mean, two-thirds? And we perpetuate that system, and we call that system somehow public safety oriented?

Where’s the public safety in that?”

Gov. Newsom will allocate $20 million to enact this plan.

Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, praised Newsom for what she sees as a commitment to public safety by putting a greater emphasis on rehabilitation programs.

She noted that she wants to see inmates grow stronger ties to the communities where they live in hopes that they will commit fewer crimes in the future.

“Opening prisons to more programming by CBOs (community-based organizations)

not only shifts the culture in the prisons, it helps to forge a connection in the community that people will return to,” Assemblymember Bonta said. “And let’s be clear: 95% of our people who are in prison will be coming home to us and will be rejoining us as neighbors. Ask yourself: what condition do you want them in to rejoin our community?”

Assemblymember Damon Connolly, DSan Rafael, praised Gov. Newsom for what he thinks will be an effective approach to reducing crime and incarceration.

“The truth is in our system as things stand most people released from prison are likely to end up back behind bars,” Assemblymember Connolly said. “Today, I’m proud to join our governor and my legislative colleagues to say that this will no longer be California’s reality. We must do better and we will.”

San Quentin State Prison is the only prison in California that can legally carry out executions. However, the state has not executed anyone since 2006.

“Public testimony has provided evidence that some landlords are reading the existing code language as having loopholes,” staff said in its report to the council. “This ordinance addresses an urgent need to protect tenants from evictions, particularly evictions by owners using apparent loopholes in existing regulations to exploit and displace tenants.”

Tenants who spoke before the council said their landlords would tell them they have to leave so they could make “safety” or “habitability” repairs, when, in fact, the repairs they make, if any, are often just “cosmetic” in nature.

One speaker, Wendy Santamaria, an organizer with the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy, urged the council to help the tenants, who are afraid of ending up homeless on the street or being displaced and having to move away.

“I want to appeal to your heart,” she said. “These are real people, not just those in this room but

Santa Barbara already has a tenant protection law on the books intended to be more protective than statewide regulations, staff said. This emergency ordinance would amend that law as it pertains to just cause for residential evictions.

Grounds for no-fault just cause eviction include: recovery of a rental unit for the owner’s personal or family residence; removal of the property from the rental market; compliance with a governmental order that requires vacating a rental unit; and demolition or substantial remodel of a rental unit.

Nevertheless, “the City Council has received numerous reports of actions by owners seeking to exploit apparent loopholes in the ordinance,” staff repeated in its report.

Councilmember Kristen Sneddon told the News-Press previously that changes could be made to make the threshold higher to justify an eviction,

Please see EVICTIONS on A4

SB City Council committee tackles illegal housing rentals

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The city has long wanted to do something about the increasing number of illegal short-term housing rentals operating in Santa Barbara, and the City Council Finance Committee could begin the crackdown today when it considers authorizing a 12-month pilot program aimed at enforcement.

Staff is recommending the committee adopt a resolution to appropriate funds for the development of a short-term rental enforcement pilot program directed by the City Attorney’s Office and the Finance Department.

The Finance Committee will meet in the David Gebhard public meeting room, 630 Garden St., starting at noon.

The overall objective of the year-long pilot program is to gather accurate data on the number, location and seasonality of short-term vacation rentals operating in the city, staff said.

Once accurate data is obtained,

the effort shifts to that of gaining compliance with the city’s zoning laws through investigation and, if necessary, prosecution of people operating illegal rentals in the inland areas of the city and in the Coastal Zone in response to nuisance-based complaints, staff said.

“The true magnitude and accompanying costs of that enforcement effort cannot be determined until accurate information is ascertained,” staff said.

While short term rentals are not permitted in most areas of Santa Barbara, they have nonetheless become a new form of visitor lodging in the city within the past decade.

STRs constitute the rental of any dwelling unit to any person for exclusive transient use of less than 30 days.

“While an informal market may have existed in years past, hosts can now make a spare room or an entire apartment or house available to potential

Please see RENTALS on A2

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

First Republic Bank operates a branch at 1200 State St. in Santa Barbara. The San Francisco-based bank saw its credit rating downgraded to “B-plus” from “BB-plus” Sunday by the S&P Global Ratings.

TRAFFIC,

CRIME

AND FIRE BLOTTER

More information sought on sexual assault suspect

CARPINTERIA – Detectives

from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrested 37-yearold Carpinteria resident Luis Antonio Ibarra Delgadillo, aka Anthony Ibarra, on March 9 for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with a child under 10, dating back to 2015.

Mr. Ibarra Delgadillo was arrested after an extensive confidential criminal investigation without incident. He is currently being held without bail at the Main Jail in Santa Barbara.

Based on their investigation, detectives believe there may be additional survivors of alleged sexual assault by Mr. Ibarra Delgadillo who have not been identified. The Sheriff’s Office would like to encourage anyone with knowledge of additional alleged crimes associated with him to contact Detective Swank by phone at 805-681-4150. If you would like to be anonymous, you can submit information online at sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip or by calling 805-681-4171.

Sheriff’s detectives coordinate closely with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office’s Victim-Witness Program to ensure the needs of survivors are not

overshadowed by the focus on the investigation and prosecution of the accused. Victim advocates are available to ensure that survivors are kept informed and supported throughout the criminal justice process. Survivors have the option of contacting the Victim-Witness Assistance Program directly at 805568-2400 or toll free at 855-840-3232.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind survivors that they can also find support services through its community partner, Standing Together to End Sexual Assault. Services offered by STESA include a confidential 24Hour hotline, legal and medical advocacy and accompaniment, and counseling. You can reach a STESA advocate at any time by calling 805-564-3696.

For more information, go to

sbstesa.org.

Neil Hartstein

-

Police arrest transient

SANTA BARBARA – Police arrested a transient after he allegedly entered several commercial properties illegally, broke into two vehicles, and damaged property around 800 E. Ortega St. and 600 N. Milpas St.

The Santa Barbara Police Department received a 9-1-1 call Sunday around 10:17 a.m. about a suspicious subject and his alleged criminal conduct, police said.

“Officers arrived and contacted a subject exiting through a window of a business in the 800

block of East Ortega Street,” Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale, the SBPD public information officer, said. “The subject attempted to flee from officers but was quickly detained.”

The subject was identified as Phillip Spencer Vinke, a 37-yearold transient. He was arrested on suspicion of commercial burglary, two vehicle burglaries, vehicle tampering, and vandalism.

Mr. Vinke was booked in Santa Barbara County Jail, with bail set at $20,000.

- Neil Hartstein

Airplane lands in Santa Yne z vineyard

SANTA YNEZ – A single-engine aircraft went down Saturday morning due to engine trouble, and had to land in Sanja Cota Vineyard, adjacent to Santa Ynez Airport, Santa Barbara County Fire Department officials said.

The single-engine 1971 Maul M4 had to land shortly after takeoff, around 10:12 a.m., officials said.

The pilot glided toward the runway and made an emergency landing in the vineyard. There were four passengers on board, but no medical transport was required. There were no fuel leaks.

- Neil Hartstein

Fiesta announces lineup at La Primavera

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Old Spanish Days/Fiesta is hosting its La Primavera on May 13.

Coming from the word for springtime, La Primavera is a day celebrated in honor of the rancheros who were in the Santa Barbara area in the 1800s.

La Primavera is an important fundraising event for the Fiesta. The money raised is used toward free Fiesta events such as La Fiesta Pequeña, Las Noches de Ronda and El Desfile Histórico.

The event will be held at Casa De La Guerra (15 E. De la Guerra St.), the former home of José Antonio de la Guerra y Noriega, the last commandant of the Presidio of Santa Barbara. After the reception, guests will go to the El Paseo Restaurant for more festivities.

At this year’s event, Patricia Guerrero, one of Spain’s most celebrated flamenco dancers, will perform one of her dances. This performance was sponsored by the Spanish Office of Tourism in Los Angeles.

Other performers at the event include Manuel Gutierrez, Daniela Zermeño Sanchez and Ryan Zermeño, and Solero by

Special water board meeting planned

County Behavioral Wellness highlights social workers during Social Work Month

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

The Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness social workers are celebrating this year’s Social Work Month theme, “Social Work Breaks Barriers,” by highlighting how social workers have helped to empower people to overcome hurdles in their lives.

Each March, Social Work Month is celebrated across the nation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States. Its aim is to promote social change and provide mental health resources for communities.

In Santa Barbara County, the Behavioral Wellness program includes a staff of about 20 licensed clinical social workers and 21 associate social workers.

Created in 1962, the county

department works to promote the prevention of, and recovery from, addiction and mental illness among individuals, families and communities. This includes case management, therapy, assessments and more.

The department holds various community events for residents. Recently, the department gave out scholarship awards for people in the community who have identified having mental health struggles or substance use issues.

Other events include educational programs, cultural competency events and board meetings.

To learn more, visit countyofsb.org/274/behavioralwellness. For assistance with behavior wellness, call the 24/2 Crisis Response Line at 888-8681649.

email: abahnsen@newspress.com

Flamenco! Santa Barbara.

Additionally, there will be a historic Four Nations dinner, which honors the Chumash, Spanish, Mexican and American

SANTA YNEZ — The Santa Ynez River

cultures. There will also be a live auction at the event, which will begin with the first official dances of the 2023 Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta.

Water Conservation District, Improvement District No. 1 recently announced the cancellation of its regular board meeting. Instead, the district will hold a special board meeting in person and on Zoom at 3 p.m.

If you would like to attend the event or would like more information, visit www.sbfiesta.org. email: abahnsen@newspress.com

March 28 at 1070 Faraday St., Santa Ynez. For more information, visit syrwd.org/202303-28-board-special-meeting.

— Annika Bahnsen

Pilot program intended to achieve compliance with the Zoning Ordinance

RENTALS

Continued from Page A1

visitors through websites such as Airbnb, VRBO and others,” staff said. “Guests can select from a variety of housing options and have the experience of staying in a home in a neighborhood not traditionally geared to tourism.”

The problem, staff said, is that in many areas of the city, “unregulated short-term rentals are inherently incompatible with the surrounding land uses and neighborhood due to the intensity of use and potential nuisance impacts related to noise, parking, littering, traffic congestion, public safety, ‘party houses,’ loss of community and the displacement of long-term residents.”

Operating a residential unit as a shortterm rental is typically far more lucrative than renting the unit on a long-term basis, which can take away already scarce housing for long-term rentals in Santa Barbara, and may encourage tenant evictions if a landlord concludes that they can earn more from shortterm rentals than from a long-term tenant, staff said.

Plus they violate the city’s zoning code due to their being illegal.

Because of the start of a significant increase of STRs in Santa Barbara in 2015, the council directed staff to begin proactive enforcement of existing zoning regulations on unlawful vacation rentals.

Gathering the necessary evidence to support proactive enforcement was time-consuming and costly because of the number of unlawful vacation rentals then existing in the city, staff said.

The City Council allocated $170,000 from the General Fund to cover the costs of increased enforcement by the City Attorney’s Office and Community Development Department in Fiscal Year 2016 to hire contracted staff to

assist in the enforcement of illegal STRs.

“Unfortunately, what was learned from that enforcement experience is the amount and resources allocated at that time was nowhere near enough to curb the explosion of the STR market,” staff said.

In subsequent years, the focus and resources dedicated to enforcement shifted to defend the city’s ability to prohibit STRs in multiple legal battles. One case in particular, Kracke v. City of Santa Barbara, changed how STRs are enforced in the Coastal Zone. The Second District Court of Appeal determined that enforcement actions against Coastal Zone STRs are limited to situations where complaints are received due to tenant behavior or other nuisance-like conditions.

“Therefore, the city is unable to proactively initiate STR enforcement actions against unlawful rentals in the Coastal Zone as compared to inland where the city is free to enforce whether or not a complaint is received,” staff said.

In September, a presentation by the Community Development Department to the City Council noted that there continue to be a high number of STRs operating in the city (though that exact number is not known).

“At that meeting, noting concerns regarding neighborhood compatibility and the loss of urgently needed housing to a commercial enterprise, City Council expressed the need for increased enforcement on STRs.”

The City Attorney’s Office has designed an aggressive one-year pilot program of STR investigations in order to determine the true number of operating STRs in the city and to discourage illegal operations.

The new pilot program will have one primary goal: achieving permanent compliance with the Zoning Ordinance in the inland areas of Santa Barbara and compliance in the Coastal Zone in adherence to the parameters put in place by the court in the Kracke decision.

“To be clear, the recovery of unpaid Business License and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) cannot be the primary goal of the program,” staff said. “The results of any investigation can form the basis of a criminal filing by the City Attorney’s Office. Therefore, any action taken will be focused on deterring the activity, and revenue generation cannot be considered as an objective in the prosecution portion of this program.”

A significant first step of the program, and expense, would be directed to contracting with a private vendor to provide monitoring services of existing operating STRs to assist in identifying and locating STRs. The cost estimate for this service ranges between $100,000 to $450,000, depending on the level of service the city selects.

Once accurate data is created and maintained to initiate the enforcement program, qualified investigators will be needed to gather hard evidence, staff said. This is the costliest portion of the program.

“However, a quality code enforcement program is only as good as the documents show,” staff said. “When inquiries are conducted, investigators must develop and maintain accurate records that can stand up in court. Staff is recommending that the city contract with private investigator services, as well as hourly employees.

“While this is more costly than hiring an investigator as a full or part-time employee, the basis for this recommendation for the pilot program is the initial ability to cast a wider net on enforcement by utilizing multiple investigators simultaneously and to identify the true numbers of STRs more accurately before retaining city employees for this work.”

The total cost of estimated funding needed for the pilot program ranges from $947,000 to $1,402,000 for the full enforcement program.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

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VOL. 167 NO.

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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT PHOTO

An airplane makes an emergency landing in a vineyard shortly after taking off from the Santa Ynez Airport.

COURTESY OLD SPANISH DAYS

Patricia Guerrero, one of Spain’s most celebrated flamenco dancers, will perform at La Primavera on May 13.

Wing surfing on windy day

Wing surfers take advantage of windy conditions Sunday off West Beach in Santa Barbara.

UCSB baseball walks it off for series sweep

By ERIC BOOSE UCSB SPORTS

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Ivan Brethowr knocked a single into right field, giving UCSB baseball (15-3, 3-0 Big West) their first and only lead of the day on Sunday, walking off the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners (7-11, 0-3 Big West) for a 5-4 win to complete a three-game sweep. The Gauchos have now won ten games in a row and each of their last 15 against Bakersfield.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UCSB’s sweep bid got off to a bad start, as the first four Roadrunners reached base against starter Reed Moring. After a single and a walk, Moring gave up his first home run since the season’s opening weekend, which put CSUB up, 3-0. The visitors almost got another in the inning, following up the homer with a single and advancing that runner all the way to third before Moring got out of the frame.

The Gauchos responded

immediately, getting a run back in the bottom of the first on a Broc Mortensen RBI single before leaving the bases loaded. Moring settled in on the mound, sitting the Roadrunners down in order in the second and working around an error in the third. With their pitcher back in his groove, the Gaucho bats got back into theirs, hitting a pair of home runs in the third to tie the game. Zander Darby crushed a no-doubter to right field on the very first pitch of the frame, then Mortensen took one to the opposite field to tie the game, perhaps getting some help from the wind, which was blowing firmly out to left field.

Moring’s day was done after four innings, with Tyler Bremner taking the mound to start the fifth. After striking out the first batter he faced on three pitches, the freshman from San Diego found himself in some hot water, as a throwing error by Darby allowed a runner to reach, and Bremner’s error on a pickoff attempt put the ‘Runner on second. With two outs, Bremner induced a ground

ball to second, but Jonah Sebring took too much time fielding it and throwing to first. The batter was safe, and Bakersfield’s runner on second caught UCSB napping, scampering home.

Bremner got out of the fifth and struck out the side in the top of the sixth, then Sebring redeemed himself in the bottom half of the inning. He led off with a single to left center, stole second, and took third as the catcher’s throw sailed into center field. Thanks to Sebring’s aggressive baserunning, all it took was a Josh Williams sacrifice fly to center to tie the game.

Hudson Barrett relieved Bremner in the seventh, working into and out of a jam, as a pair of singles and another error loaded the bases, but the freshman lefty got a ground ball to get out of the inning. He worked a perfect eighth with a pair of strikeouts and into the ninth, with the game still tied. A hit batter and stolen base put a runner on second and ended Barrett’s afternoon, with

Please see BASEBALL on A4

Westmont track and field teams continue outdoor season in San Diego

By JACOB NORLING

WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

Westmont Men’s and Women’s Track and Field continued their season on Saturday, when they competed at the Ross and Sharon Irwin Invitational in San Diego. The one-day meet saw multiple Warriors post personal record marks, and saw one member of the team punch their ticket to the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.

Senior Adam King sealed his trip to Marian, Indiana in the men’s 1500 run with a third-place finish, and an A-Standard time of 3:51.24. For the NAIA All-American, his Westmont career will end fittingly at Outdoor Nationals.

“Adam actually ran two fine races,” noted Westmont head coach Russell Smelley, in reference to King’s 1:53.97 time in the 800. “It was probably the best double he’s had. He was in the race to win it, and he looked really good.”

Several Warriors finished the meet with personal records, with a handful of such leaving an impression on Smelley. Freshman Charlotte Williams ran the most impressive meet of her collegiate career, finishing with a PR time of 12.37 in the 100 meter

dash, and a PR time of 25.45 in the 200 meter dash.

Elsewhere, Ryan Hooten posted a personal recordmark of 4.49m (14-8.75) in the men’s pole vault, and Landon Torres posted a personal-best time of 2:22.92 in the women’s 800 meter run.

“Charlotte Williams had a really good day, running two personal bests,” noted Smelley. “She won both of her sections, looked really good, and the sunshine really seemed to bring out the best in her. Ryan Hooten had a really big PR.

“For a subdued and quiet guy, it was probably the most excited I’ve ever seen him. It was like he was vibrating with excitement.”

The Warriors return to action Saturday at Westmont, when they host the annual Westmont Classic. Links to live coverage will be available on the Westmont Athletics website.

Ahead of the Westmont Classic, select athletes will compete in the Klein/Nwaba Combined Events from Thursday to Friday.

Jacob Norling is the sports information assistant at Westmont College.

email: sports@newspress.com

Dos Pueblos host volleyball Invitational

The Chargers hosted the 46th Dos Pueblos Invitational Saturday at the UCSB ThunderDome.

The Chargers went 3-0 in pool play. These scores ended up being 25-18 and 25-14 against Oaks Christian, 25-9 and 25-12 against Cabrillo, and 25-21 and 26-24 against South Pasadena.

This placed the Chargers in second place going into the playoffs. They played Valencia in the quarterfinals but ended up losing 22-25. The San Marcos Royals were the champions of the tournament.

“It was a great day for boys high school volleyball in one of the oldest tournaments around,” said Head Coach Ehren Hug.

The Chargers play Pacifica on March 20 for a Channel League match.

Santa Ynez track and field compete at Nipomo Invitational

The Santa Ynez Pirates competed in the Nipomo Invitational on March 18.

Kate Mazza came home with the first place medal in the 1600 meter, with a time of 5:28.38. She also got second place in the 400 meter, with a time of 1:02.38.

Chase Sylvia earned first place in the triple jump and the long jump. He achieved a school record in the triple jump, with a score of 44’ 10”.

Vincent Casey got second place in the triple jump, with a score of 41’ 6.75”. Daulton Beard got third place in the 100 meter with a time of 11.34.

The Pirates compete next at the Simi Valley Invitation on March 24 and 25.

Carpinteria baseball beat Villanova Prep

The Warriors baseball team played Villanova Prep on March 18 and won 8-3.

Carpinteria scored four runs in the first inning, one in the second, and two in the fourth

SPORTS ROUNDUP

to lead 7-0 going into the 5th inning. They added one more run in the 6th, after Villanova Prep scored three. Eric Goebel was a major factor in the offense as he had two doubles, two RBIs and scored twice. Catcher Diego Nieves had two hits, two RBIs and scored two runs. Left fielder Isaac Flores had a first inning double that allowed for two runs to score.

“It was nice to come away with a win, but the chance to develop our team defense, tune our pitching, and work on small ball execution was the real value in playing,” said Head Coach Patrick Cooney.

The Warriors’ next game is against Fillmore on March 22.

Dos Pueblos swimmers compete at invitational

The Dos Pueblos Chargers swim team competed Saturday at the Mt. San Antonio Winterfest Invitational.

Cooper Costello took second place in the 200 freestyle and was the 100 butterfly champion, setting a pool record. Both of these swims earned him the CIF division two automatic qualifying times.

Nikko Carrillo set his own pool record when he won the 200 individual medley and took second place in the 100 backstroke. Both of these races also qualified him for CIF.

Brynn Graham made it to the finals of the 100 freestyle and the 200 individual medley, qualifying her for CIF. Ava Bennett and Megan Garner took 19th and 20th place respectively in the 50 freestyle, and both earned CIF considerations.

The Chargers’ next meet is March 22 at Oxnard.

San Marcos swimmers participate in Mt. Sac Invitational

The San Marcos Royals competed Saturday

at the Mt. Sac Invitational. The girls’ and boys’ varsity teams both had outstanding scores.

Sierra Tallman placed first in the 200 freestyle, setting a pool record. She also became the first San Marcos double event winner at the Mt. Sac Meet of Champions. Taylor Steelman swam two best times, capturing second in both the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle.

“I was really encouraged by the way we performed. I thought it was a great weekend, and everyone grew as a person and an athlete!” exclaimed Chuckie Roth, head coach of the girls’ team.

Ben Caputo achieved at CIF division two consideration time in the 100 backstroke. Jaran Depwe placed third overall in the 200 freestyle and fifth in the 500 freestyle. Gavin Tallman earned CIF automatic qualifier in the 200 individual medley and consideration in the 100 butterfly.

San Marcos will be hosting Oxnard and Buena at home on Wednesday.

Dos Pueblos softball team dominates tournament

The Chargers softball team played against Hart and Thousand Oaks Saturday in the Manlet Tournament.

The Dos Pueblos team went home as the Silver Bracket Champions.

In the first game against Hart, the Chargers won 5-2. Pitcher Kaitlyn Ashby shutout Hart for six innings, before giving up two runs in the seventh. Riley Monroe had a home run and Trisha Lo had two RBIs.

In the second game, the Chargers beat Thousand Oaks 8-1. Pitcher Georgia Wilson only gave up one run over five innings. In the third, Paulina Avina had a two run double. Anastasia Brunner had two RBIs.

The game was eventually called due to the mercy rule.

The Chargers play Santa Barbara next on March 21.

— Compiled by Annika Bahnsen

First wind, now rain

Staff urges adoption of emergency ordinance

e VICTION s

Continued from Page A1

such as requiring landlords to pull a permit for substantial work, rather than meeting the current lower threshold of just having the intent to do the work.

The proposed emergency ordinance would do just that.

“The ordinance also makes it clear that recovery of possession for demolition or substantial remodeling may occur only after the landlord has obtained all necessary governmental permits and given advance notice to the tenant, including an explanation of why the work cannot be accomplished safely with the tenant in place and why the work requires the tenant to vacate for more than 30 days,” staff said.

The tenants’ displacement comes at a time when Santa Barbara faces a serious housing shortage, particularly for middle-, moderate-, low- and very low-income households, staff noted in its report.

“Council is aware of these shortages and has directed staff to undertake a variety of initiatives to address the shortage both by encouraging new housing projects and protecting existing housing stock,” staff said.

The proposed ordinance reflects the original intention of the council when it passed the tenant protection law, staff said. The fact that it is proposed as an emergency ordinance reflects the seriousness of the situation.

Whereas a regular ordinance is effective 30 days after adoption, an emergency ordinance becomes effective immediately upon adoption.

Staff is urging its passage today “to preclude further disruption and prevent actions that will displace tenants and reduce affordable housing.”

Gauchos are now on a ten-game winning streak

baseball

Continued from Page A3

Sam Whiting taking the mound. He walked the first batter he faced, but got a fly ball and a grounder to keep Bakersfield off the board and the Gauchos a chance for their first walk-off of the season.

Williams led off the inning with a hard-hit ground ball that ate up the Roadrunners’ first baseman, and while LeTrey McCollum squared up to try bunting Willams over, he saw four pitches off the plate and worked a walk. John Newman, Jr. was called on to pinch hit and lay down a bunt, which he did perfectly. The ball tight-roped the third base line, staying fair to load the bases for the team’s RBI leader, Brethowr. The sophomore from Kansas took three pitches before getting one he liked, dropping a walk-off single into right field.

ON THE STAT SHEET

• The Gauchos are now on a ten-game winning streak for the first time since 2019, when they won 13 straight games from the end of April to mid-May.

• Aaron Parker and Broc Mortensen each had two-hit games Sunday; Mortensen drove in a run with each of his hits

to lead the team in RBI for the game.

• Sunday was the second game this season in which the Gauchos hit two home runs in the same inning, the other being their 10-0 win at Oregon, when they hit three in the eighth.

• UCSB was one of only two teams to sweep their opening Big West series this weekend, the other being UC San Diego over Long Beach State.

UP NEXT

The Gauchos will be back in Big West action and back at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium next weekend as they will host a three-game series against the CSUN Matadors, March 24-26. First pitch times are set for 5:05 p.m. Friday, 4:05 p.m. Saturday, and 1:05 p.m. Sunday. All season, children ages 12 and under will receive free admission to Saturday and Sunday home games. For fans who cannot make it to the ballpark, the games will be live on ESPN+, with an audio broadcast and live stats available through ucsbgauchos.com.

Eric Boose is assistant director of athletic communications at UCSB. email: sports@newspress.com

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

A crew takes advantage of windy conditions Sunday to set sail off West Beach in Santa Barbara. The Oxnard station of the National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for portions of Southern California — including Santa Barbara County — with “gusts up to 60 mph possible” on top of the forecasted 30 to 40 mph winds. The watch remains in effect until tonight. In addition, the National Weather Service predicted rain would start Monday evening and continue today in Santa Barbara County and the rest of Southern California. The chance of rain was seen as 100% by the weather service, which expects it to continue Wednesday. Partly cloudy skies are predicted for Thursday, with sunny days set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And highs this week will be in the mid 50s to lower 60s throughout the county, with lows in the mid to upper 40s, according to the weather service.

Passing an emergency ordinance requires five affirmative votes. If there aren’t five votes, the ordinance may be introduced by four votes and subsequently adopted at the next regular meeting.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Life theArts

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2022

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2023

‘Shazam!’ has a lot of heart

Superhero movie stands out for its humor, innocence and courage

CALENDAR

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

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Holy moley!

Lightning really can strike twice in the right place.

That’s proven by “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” a sequel that shows the further growth of Billy Batson, the 17-year-old who becomes an older superhero when he yells “Shazam!”

The movie is funny (with phrases such as “Holy moley!”), dramatic, heartfelt and

adventurous. It even has a dragon. Longtime comic book fans will recognize the Shazam superhero as the original Captain Marvel, who first appeared in Whiz Comics No. 2, published by Fawcett Comics in 1940. Marvel Comics later got the trademark when it created its own Captain Marvel in the 1960s. DC Comics started to license the Fawcett characters in 1972, bought Fawcett Comics in 1991 and renamed Captain Marvel as Shazam in 2011.

Whatever his name, this superhero stands out for his

courage, love of his fellow foster family siblings and his good heart. Ventura native Zachary Levi continues to be the perfect choice to play Shazam/Captain Marvel (a teenager in a man’s body), and Asher Angel does a good job as the kid version of the same hero, Billy Batson.

Jack Dylan Grazer plays Freddy Freeman, Billy’s friend at the foster home. When Freddy yells “Shazam,” a bolt of lighting strikes him and turns him into the adult, superhero version, played by Adam Brody.

Mr. Grazer and Mr. Brody play

their sides of the same coin in sincere, compelling ways. In fact, some of the best acting in the movie is by Mr. Grazer, who, along with Mr. Levi, brings a lot of heart to this film.

The other heroes are Pedro (D.J. Cotrona as the adult superhero version, Jovan Armand as the kid version), Darla (Meagan Good as the adult version and Faithe Herman as the kid version), Eugene (Ross Butler as the adult version and Ian Chen as the kid version) and Mary (Grace Caroline Currey as both versions). Ms. Good and Ms. Herman

stand out for showing the same kind of enthusiasm and awe in their versions of Darla, and Mr. Armand makes Pedro someone most kids can relate to.

This time around, the foster home kids are having mixed results with their efforts to save the day in Philadelphia. They save lives, but can’t keep a big bridge from collapsing. But they have to put on their A game when Hespera (the talented Helen Mirren), Kalypso (Lucy Liu) and Anthea (Rachel Zegler) come to Earth to steal a magical staff and

by a Lady’

Early botanical illustrations by women featured in museum exhibit

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s newest exhibit, “Drawn by a Lady: Early Women Illustrators,” celebrates the talent of artists and authors in 19th-century Victorian England who were disregarded because of their gender. More than 40 works of early botanical illustration are on view profiling the lives of eight women who defied convention in an era

when it was socially unacceptable for them to earn a living.

Denied access to formal education, they used their skills in drawing and painting to make meaningful contributions to the emerging field of botany.

They wrote and illustrated books, sometimes published anonymously, using their husband’s name, or credited simply . . . ”By a Lady.”

“ ‘Drawn by a Lady’ provides a fascinating look at gender issues

in the history of science. For Victorian women, illustrating and writing about plants could be a means to both support themselves and to shape botanical knowledge,” said Linda Miller, Maximus Gallery curator,

COURTESY IMAGES

who provided the text for the illustrations.

The exhibition is open through July 2 and is included in museum admission.

Among the drawings in the

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Entangled: Responding to Environmental Crisis,” runs through March 25 at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. The museum is open from 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It’s closed on Sundays and college holidays. For more information, call 805-565-6162 or visit westmont.edu/museum.

COURTESY PHOTO Boogie Knights, above, will perform 1970s hits during the New Year’s Eve Disco Boogie Ball at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez. And the Spazmatics will play hits from the ’80s. Tickets cost $50.

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.

The Marjorie Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High School, 721 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara. The concert is presented by Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Storytelling: Native People Through the Lens of Edward S. Curtis” is on display through April 30 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, visit sbnature.org.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Interlopings: Colors in the Warp and Weft of Ecological Entanglements” is an exhibit that runs through March 12 at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The exhibit features weavings dyed with pigments from non-native plants on Santa Cruz Island. The weavings were created by artists Helen Svensson and Lisa Jevbratt. For more information, see sbbotanicgarden.org.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Coast artist and London native Annie Hoffman’s exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in Colour” will be displayed through Feb. 28 at Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. For more information, visit anniehoffmann. com.

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “SURREAL

WOMEN: Surrealist Art by American Women” is on display through April 24 at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, www. sullivangoss.com.

Noon to 5 p.m. “Clarence

Mattei: Portrait of a Community” is on view now through May at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, which is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 E. De la Guerra St. Admission is free. Hours are currently from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, visit www. sbhistorical.org.

MARCH 23

7:30 p.m. Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, March 23-26 at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo, in Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to centerstagetheater.org. An artist reception will follow the March 23 performance.

MARCH 24

7:30 p.m. Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will

Please see CALENDAR on B2

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Mezzo soprano Christina Pezzarossi will be part of Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists’ production of “The Light in the Piazza.” The musical will be performed March 23-26 at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara.

From left, Maria Sibylla Merian’s “Prickly Custard Apple with Hawkmoth and Tussock or Flannel Moth,” Elizabeth Blackwell’s “Tamarind Tree,” Priscilla Susan Bury’s “Christmas Lily” and Priscilla Susan Bury’s “Amaryllis platypetala.”

‘Drawn

PHOTOS COURTESY WARNER BROS. PICTURES

Ventura native Zachary Levi returns as the title character in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.”

At left, Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer), left, and Billy Batson (Asher Angel) are foster home kids who like their secret lives as superheroes. At right, from left, Lucy Liu, Helen Mirren and Rachel Zegler play Kalypso, Hespera and Anthea, who leave their realm for Earth to steal a magical staff.

Please see SHAZAM on B4

‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ tops box office

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” soared to the top of the box office in its first weekend.

The DC Comics/Warner Bros. sequel, which is about kids who become adult superheroes by shouting “Shazam!,” grossed $30.5 million at the box office.

The “Shazam!” success scared “Scream VI” out of its No. 1 spot. It dropped to second place with $17.5 million in its second weekend.

“Creed III,” the “Rocky” spinoff

The “Shazam!” success scared

starring Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors, placed third in its third weekend with $15.4 million.

“65,” starring Adam Driver as an astronaut who survives a crash landing on a mysterious planet, landed in fourth place with $5.8 million. It previously was in third place.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” went to fifth place from fourth with $4.07 million.

“Cocaine Bear” dropped to sixth place from fifth with $3.87 million.

“Jesus Revolution” remained in seventh place with $3.5 million.

“Champions,” starring Woody Harrelson as a minor-league basketball coach who is ordered by a court to lead a team of players with intellectual disabilities, dropped to eight place from sixth with $3.03 million.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” slipped to ninth place from eighth with $1.93 million.

“Puss in Boots: The Lash Wish” dropped to 10th place from ninth with $1.51 million.

email: dmason@newspress.com

New grant program announced for art-driven campaigns

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture has announced the Central Coast Creative Corps Program, a new grant opportunity open to 501c3 nonprofits, tribal governments and government agencies on the Central Coast.

The pilot program offers 23 awards of $140,000 for organizations to hire a local artist or culture bearer to develop art-driven campaigns addressing public health, climate resilience/emergency preparedness, civic engagement

or social justice. Applications are due by May 1.

“Artists are change agents, helping us to imagine different perspectives and experiences through their work,” said Sarah York Rubin, executive director of the Office of Arts and Culture, which is serving as lead administrator for the Central Coast.

“By bringing artists to the community development table, this program invites everyone to create new approaches for understanding and caring for ourselves, each other, and the environment,” Ms. Rubin said in a news release.

Funded by the California Arts Council, the workforce development pilot provides organizations $100,000 to compensate an artist for work on the initiative. $20,000 was allocated for artist-community engagement, including art supplies and materials and an additional $20,000 to the organization for program administration. Priority will go to organizations serving communities that demonstrate the highest levels of need, as indicated by the CA Healthy Places Index.

Applicants must commit to collaborating with an artist or

The pilot program offers 23 awards of $140,000 for organizations to hire a local artist or culture bearer to develop art-driven campaigns.

culture bearer for a one-year period from September 2023 to August 2024, with an additional three-month period required for project exploration and design. Applicants don’t need to have a project or artist identified, as projects will be facilitated after funding is awarded.

Guidelines and information for Santa Barbara county-based organizations can be found at www.sbac.ca.gov/creative-corps.

Free workshops about the program will be offered on March 29 and April 13. Hannah

Rubalcava, Grants & Contracts

Manager for the Office of Arts & Culture, will help to facilitate the sessions, and also serve as a resource for applicants.

“Complex problems require creative solutions,” Ms. Rubalcava said. “We’ll be working directly with grantees about what it means to work with a socially-engaged artist and how that collaboration can be so powerful.”

CCCC is produced in partnership with the countydesignated arts agencies in the Central Coast region: Arts

Council for Monterey County, Arts Council Santa Cruz County, the San Benito County Arts Council, the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council, and the Ventura County Arts Council.

The agencies are developing a directory of Central Coast artists interested in CCCC participation. Artists are encouraged to join the directory at www. centralcoastartists.org. For more information, visit www.sbac.ca.gov.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Abby Posner has composed and produced music for movies, TV shows, commercials and radio shows.

Abby Posner to bring her talents to SOhO

SANTA BARBARA — Guitarist and multiinstrumentalist Abby Posner will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 26 at SOhO Restaurant and Music Club, 1221 State St., suite 205, Santa Barbara. Ms. Posner plays everything from guitar to banjo, mandolin, bass and drums. She’s known for her performance of folk, roots, Americana and blues

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

perform “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo, in Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to centerstagetheater.org.

MARCH 25

1 to 3 p.m.: “Holly Hungett: Natural Interpretations” will open with a reception with the artist at the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara’s gallery, 229

music.

The CalArts graduate has composed and produced music for movies, TV shows, commercials and radio shows. She played banjo and guitar in two episodes of “Glee.” She has performed several times on two Los Angeles TV stations, KCAL and KTTV. Tickets cost $25 for general admission and $67 for a dinner reservation and priority seating. To purchase, go to www.sohosb.com.

— Dave Mason

E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. The exhibit will run through May 20. The gallery is open 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and weekdays by appointment. For more information, call the foundation at 805-965-6307 or go to www.afsb. org.

4 p.m. Actor Max McLean will perform “C.S. Lewis on Stage: Further Up & Further In” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to granadasb.org.

7:30 p.m. Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, at

Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to centerstagetheater.org.

MARCH 26

2:30 p.m. Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to centerstagetheater. org.

— Dave Mason

JESSICA MIGLIO/WARNER BROS.

From left, Darla (Meagan Good), Mary (Grace Caroline Curry) and Pedro (D.J. Cotrona) try to save Philadelphia and the world in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.”

“Scream VI” out of its No. 1 spot. It dropped to second place with $17.5 million in its second weekend.

Diversions

Thought for Today

— Helen Keller

HOROSCOPE

By Horoscope.com

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Aries: Unexpected contact with a lover, relative, young person, or close friend could leave you feeling exhilarated and optimistic about the future. More frequent communication with this person will probably result, and it could mean a positive outcome in your life. You might write a lot of letters or make a lot of calls, perhaps tying up loose ends from the past.

Face the future, Aries.

Taurus: Events beyond your control may necessitate repairs to your home or yard, and some may seem overwhelming, Taurus. Don’t panic! Put your good sense to work and shop around for the best possible deal, or find a way to do it yourself. You might discover that whatever needs repair could be in better shape afterward.

Gemini: A rather unsettling communication could cause you to dwell on the negative side of whatever you learn, Gemini. Don’t fall into this trap. The positive side will become more apparent as the day wanes. You might decide to purchase some new equipment to enhance your communications, perhaps a phone or new computer.

Cancer: Unsettling developments regarding money could cause some upset, Cancer, but they’ll be resolved by day’s end. You could lose and find your wallet or bank errors could prove to be its fault and not yours. Someone you thought you knew well could show a darker side you haven’t seen before and cause you to reevaluate your involvement with that person. This is a great day to resolve inner issues.

Leo: A fortunate change of circumstances in a friend’s life could have a positive impact on your life, Leo. This situation could involve a lot of adjustment, not to mention hard work. At times you may feel overwhelmed and somewhat intimidated by these developments. It’s best to ignore these feelings and push on.

Virgo: Today represents the start of a period of endings and new beginnings in your career, Virgo. You might be leaving an old job for a new one or advancing to a new position with your current employer. New technology may play a part in this transition or new knowledge that you’ve

recently acquired, or both.

Libra: Your sense of adventure is in full swing today, Libra. New and unusual pastimes, travel to exotic places, meeting new and interesting people - all should be on your mind. Friends could call to propose enticing last-minute excursions. Go!

Scorpio: Sudden personal or professional change could come your way, Scorpio. Perhaps you will get a new job opportunity. Perhaps you will meet someone who will change your life. This is a day to savor good luck and new beginnings.

Sagittarius: You might contemplate a change of residence, or at least a change in household. Someone could move out or move in. Travel might be on your mind. You could decide to plan a trip by air either out of state or out of the country. These changes imply expansion not only in your worldly life but also within.

Capricorn: Better communication should pave the way for personal and professional advancement, Capricorn. You might come to a new understanding with colleagues or you could get some state-ofthe-art equipment that enables operations to run more smoothly. Romantic relationships improve, perhaps because of increased communication.

Aquarius: You may feel a little upset and somewhat depressed by a temporary separation from a loved one. As a result, you might throw your energy into creative projects. The results could show a power and intensity that you don’t usually expect. Children and young people could benefit from your advice and guidance now, Aquarius, so don’t be afraid to give it.

Pisces: An unexpected visit from a gloomy or depressed person might have you feeling a little disconcerted, Pisces. Don’t try to be too cheerful. It’s more important to be a good listener. You might also be a bit on edge today and jump at sudden noises. Take care not to read too much into it. This oversensitivity is only temporary and should pass within a few days.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

A snail is mugged by a turtle. The police arrive and ask the snail for a description of the perpetrator.

“I don’t know,” the snail shrugs. “It all happened so fast.”

I suspect that today’s declarer didn’t know what hit him. He reached 3NT after suppressing his four-card spade suit, but West led not a spade but the five of hearts. Dummy played low, and East took the king and shifted to the three of spades: queen, king, deuce. West returned the seven: five, nine, jack.

LAST SPADE

South next let the jack of diamonds ride. When East won, he led his last spade, and West scored two more tricks with his A-8 over South’s 10-6. Down one, in less time than it takes to tell.

South made an understandable but fatal error; he played too fast to the first trick. Instead of playing a low heart from dummy, South must grab the ace, lead a club to his hand and finesse in diamonds. He is sure of four diamonds, four clubs and a heart, and loses no more than two spades, a diamond and a heart.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: A K 8 7 5

2 8 6 3 2. Your partner opens one heart, you bid one spade and he jumps to three hearts.

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

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 through Saturday.

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

What do you say?

ANSWER: This is a close judgment call. Partner’s jump-rebid in his own suit shows 16 or 17 highcard points with a good six-card suit. Since you have two winners and a couple of hearts, to raise to four hearts would be reasonable, especially if vulnerable. Partner might hold 5 4,

A K Q 9 4 3, A 5, K J 4. I would not criticize a pass.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

Classified

Inflation continues to outpace wages, data shows

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Inflation has outpaced wages for nearly two years, recently released federal data shows.

A closer look at federal wage and pricing data shows workers are making less overall as the price for all kinds of goods and services rise faster than average hourly wages.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks “real” average hourly earnings, which are wages of Americans with rising inflation taken into account.

“From February 2022 to February 2023, real average hourly earnings decreased 0.3 percent, seasonally adjusted,” BLS said.

“The change in real average hourly earnings combined with a decrease of 0.9 percent in the average workweek resulted in a 1.2-percent decrease in real average weekly earnings over this period.”

According to the BLS inflation calculator, since President Biden has taken office, the dollar has lost about 15% of its purchasing power. To put it another way, what cost Americans $100 to buy in January 2021 now costs $115.

For some goods, like groceries and energy, the picture is even worse. While workers have seen sizeable pay raises, inflation has risen faster.

Last year, hourly wages increased about 5% but inflation rose 7%.

Critics blame the Biden administration’s trillions of dollars in federal spending and the moneyprinting that supports it.

“My comment is that as Milton Friedman pointed out, inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon,” Gary Wolfram, an economics professor at Hillsdale College, told The Center Square. “It is when the money supply increases faster

Report: California Legislature considering three dozen new taxes, fees

By RIA JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

than output. For two years, 20 and 21, the money supply, M2, grew by 40%, peaking in early 2022. Since then it has been declining. As inflation appears with a variable lag, again as Friedman noted, inflation began to be a problem. However, we are beginning to see a slowing of inflation due to the decline in the money supply and will this will continue. I am concerned that the Fed’s approach of raising interest rates in order to slow economic activity is actually slowing the reduction in inflation by reducing output.”

Supply chain issues and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have also played a role in increasing the cost as certain goods as well.

President Biden’s latest budget proposed trillions in federal spending. President Biden has touted the rising wages and deficit cuts, but inflation is still rising faster than wages and the national debt is expected to surpass $50 trillion within a decade.

“We must act now to stop reckless [government] spending and relieve Montanans of the crushing weight of inflation that is taking a bite out of their paychecks,” Sen. Steve Daines, RMontana, wrote on Twitter.

Experts say this year could be another of high inflation and overall falling wages.

“There was some optimism after the release of February’s Consumer Price Index that inflation is moderating,” Randall Holcombe, an economic expert at the Independent Institute, told The Center Square. “Year over year, the inflation rate was 6% in February. But looking at just the first two months of the year, the Consumer Price Index has already risen 1.36%. If that keeps up for the rest of the year, we’ll be looking at more than 8% inflation for the year. It’s too early to declare that we have inflation under control.”

(The Center Square) – In a Tax and Fee Report generated by the California Tax Foundation, it was revealed that, since the return of the Legislature on Jan. 4, California lawmakers had considered various bills that would raise annual taxes and fees by more than $185.6 billion.

The “report includes any measure that imposes, authorizes, or states the intent to impose or authorize higher taxes or tax- like ‘fees,’ as well as any legislation that increases a regulatory and/or license fee, user charge, or other charge for receiving a specific government service or benefit.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a state budget of $296.9 billion in January with a shortfall of $22.5 billion. This shortfall could climb by $7 billion, according to a February estimation made by the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Considering the possibility of an almost $30 billion deficit, the state Legislature would feel compelled to pass increases in taxes and fees instead of budgetary cuts.

Altogether there are 37 tax and fee increase bills proposed.

Six bills before the Legislature have known costs to taxpayers, and thirty-one additional bills without estimated cost to Californians.

It is predicted that Assembly Bill 1690, a universal health care program proposed by assembly member Ash Kalra, would be the most expensive for taxpayers. It would cost approximately $163 billion raised by imposing an increase in personal income tax, a gross receipts tax, and a payroll tax on employers and employees. The funding raised from the bill is not expected to cover the total amount it would cost to operate a governmentrun single-payer tax program, so additional means of raising

revenue would be required. The bill was proposed on Feb. 17 and is expected to have its first hearing on March 20. Kalra also proposed AB 240, a tax on pet food manufacturers.

Assemblymember Alex Lee introduced on Jan. 19 AB 259/ACA 3, which requires a constitutional amendment by the Assembly. If enacted, the False Claims Act – better known as the Wealth Tax – would impose taxes on art, retirement funds, farms, stocks, real property, mutual and index funds and other assets. The tax would be imposed on California residents’ and former residents’ global net worth. AB 259 is expected to bring in $22.3 billion in tax revenues.

One of the more eye-catching taxes was the increase of the annual vehicle tax corresponding to the vehicle’s market value because it comes at a time when Gov. Newsom has made a policy to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles, which come with a hefty price tag.

Other bills include a driving school certificate fee expected to raise $1 million in revenues; a levy on avocado oil producers; a levy on producers and handlers of commercial tomatoes; a levy on airport vehicle rental facilities; a fee to operate as an athletic trainer; a fee for the county seal on weights and measures; a tax on tickets to MMA events; a catering fee; a tax on pool chlorine; a permit fee for off-road vehicles; and various operating fees for interior designers.

California is already one of the highest tax states in the union. A Berkley IGS Poll taken last April expressed growing discontent with tax burdens felt by Californians, where pollsters found every two out of three voters thought federal and state taxes were too high.

“The findings indicate that many Californians are feeling pinched in today’s economy,” G. Cristina Mora, IGS Co-Director, said.

Movie displays blend of drama and comedy

SHAZAM

restore their realm to its previous glory.

The story has a great blend of drama and comedy, as well as surprises that won’t be spoiled here. Like the original Captain

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Marvel comics, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” is all about heart. There’s the kind of idealism and innocence here that is missing in so many superhero movies, and “Shazam!” makes phrases like “Holy moley!” suddenly cool.

The cast could not be better.

Mr. Levi and the rest of the cast,

“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” is playing at Camino Real Cinemas, 7040 Market Place, Goleta, and Fiesta 5, 916 State St., Santa Barbara. See metrotheatres.com for times.

It’s also screening at Regal Edwards Santa Maria and RPX, 100 Town Center East, Santa Maria. See regmovies.com for times. And it’s playing at Movies Lompoc, 227 W. Barton Ave., Lompoc. See www.playingtoday.com for times.

“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” has a running time of two hours, 10 minutes. It’s rated PG-13.

playing the kid and adult versions, make their characters authentic, relatable, dramatic and funny. “Shazam!” deserves credit for showing that the kids don’t have to be struck by lightning to show their true power, which is simply being themselves.

The actresses playing the villains stand out as well.

Ms. Mirren takes a careful, understated approach to her character. It’s a choice other actresses might not make, but it makes Hespera that much more powerful. After all, a powerful person with magical abilities doesn’t have to yell or get angry.

Ms. Liu is menacing without going over the top as Kalypso and can express a lot with one glare.

Ms. Zegler makes you root for her character, Anthea, and you’ll see why. Meanwhile, thanks to director David F. Sandberg, the acting and story elements blend together in a clear, straightforward way. As a result, “Shazam!” soars. There are surprises in “Shazam!” that will delight fans of all ages. As always with comic book movies, watch until the end of the closing credits for the extra scenes. In a time when superhero movies are often dark and disturbing, “Shazam!” shows there can be a sense of fun as well as positive character growth in a comic book adventure. It’s OK when heroes don’t take themselves too seriously.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Exhibit puts focus on art by Victorian women

ILLUSTRATIONS

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exhibit is “New Flowerbook, Metamorphosis of the Insects of Surinam, The Wondrous Transformation of Caterpillars” by Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), an artist and naturalist who led an unusual and adventurous life for a woman born in the seventeenth century. She wrote, illustrated and published three books and was a pioneer of insect biology as well as a businesswoman and entrepreneur financing her own scientific studies.

Born into a prominent family of publishers and artists, she was taught at a young age to paint and engrave. Widely admired during her lifetime for her contributions to natural science and art in the 19th century, she fell out of favor with scientists who scorned her methods and belittled her discoveries. It was the feminist movement nearly a century later that broadened her appeal by exhibiting her work with other neglected female artists. Ms. Merian came from the

tradition of flower painting, but she was foremost a scientist, one of the first to study metamorphosis and to understand and describe the relationships between animals and their host plants.

“A Selection of Hexandrian Plants” is the work of Priscilla Susan Bury (1799-1872). Growing up in a well-off family, Mrs. Bury was surrounded by the imported plants in her family’s gardens and greenhouses. She was drawn to painting flower portraits as one of the few subjects deemed suitable for a woman.

Encouraged by friends, she produced a book on Hexandrian plants, (those with six stamens belonging to the amaryllis and lily families), and published them under her husband’s name, Mrs. Edward Bury. Her elegant illustrations are decorative and modern in feeling. In the unsigned preface, she wrote in the third person and seemed to distance herself further from ownership. She made a disclaimer customary for women of her time as to “having no pretensions whatsoever, either to scientific knowledge or extensive research, but aimed at writing common

sense in plain English.”

The accompanying descriptions of each of the plants provide more information than just a description of the flowers, leaves, stems and scent. Some refer to books and articles that discuss the plant or give details on where it came from and how it came into the country.

Included in the exhibit is “Illustrations of the Natural Order of Plants with Groups and Descriptions” by Elizabeth Twining (1805-1889).

Born into the famous tea dynasty, Ms. Twining had the financial security to pursue both her interest in botany and good works. She studied art and drawing as part of her upperclass education and became a skilled portraitist of plants and flowers.

By 1849, she had published two volumes of her ”Natural Order of Plants,” which included 160 hand-colored lithographs in a folio format, based on drawings she made at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew. The lithographed plates depict plants arranged by botanical families placing British plants alongside those from other countries producing novel

groupings of plants seldom seen together.

Ms. Twining was also a champion for social reform. A true Victorian lady and practicing member of the Church of England, she believed that her work lay in bridging the gap between rich and poor. She was a strong believer in education for women and its power to span all the social classes. She encouraged the planting of window boxes for institutions such as hospitals and prisons, set up a temperance hall and established a hospital for the treatment of the poor.

email: mmcmahon@newspress.com

FYI

“Drawn by a Lady: Early Women Illustrators” is on display through July 2 at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta Del Sol, Santa Barbara. For more information, visit sbnature.org/drawn.