Santa Barbara News-Press: May 02, 2023

Big West champs

Quest for liberty

s trawberries inspire santa Maria festival

is JP Morgan’s purchase of failed bank from FdiC a government bailout?

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – The FDIC took over the embattled San Francisco bank, First Republic, and auctioned it off, with JP Morgan taking over as regulators hope to fend off a domino effect in the banking sector.

“Our government invited us and others to step up, and we did,” Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, said in a statement after the purchase.

But critics point out that JP Morgan profits grew sizeably off the deal and argue it amounts to a government bailout.

First Republic’s collapse is the biggest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis, when the federal government bailed out banks with billions of taxpayer dollars.

In this new deal, JP Morgan

took on about $92 billion in First Republic’s deposits and another roughly $203 billion in assets.

“JPM is paying about $10.6 billion, but is getting $13 billion from the FDIC, or in other words, we the taxpayer,” E.J. Antoni, an economic expert at the Heritage Foundation, said. “That means JPM already booked a profit on the deal. Another $50 billion is available from the FDIC to JPM if losses from First Republic’s assets continue to mount. To cover the existing and any future losses, the FDIC will levy a

The Expo Wheel is part of the fun during the final day of the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival Sunday at Santa Maria Fairpark. The festive environment there varied from visitors enjoying a wild slide to art by Katherine A. Taylor of Poetry Frog Illustrations. Ms. Taylor’s art was part of a new addition to the festival — the Chalk Festival. In addition to the carnival rides and chalk art, the three-day event in Santa Maria featured strawberry tastings, a children’s coloring contest and local businesses that were showcased on the Center Stage. Coming up on May 20 and 21 is another berry-inspired event — the California Strawberry Festival, which has moved from its longtime home at College Park in Oxnard to the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura. More about that festival will appear later in the News-Press. For now, you can see additional photos from the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival on B2.

Santa

Barbara

City Council to discuss police department audit

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara City Council today will hear a presentation from staff on the findings and recommendations of an audit of Santa Barbara Police Department policies, procedures and practices that highlight strong leadership and community engagement, as well as a low use of force rate.

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

The council approved conducting an audit of the SBPD on June 6, 2022 as a key component of implementing a new civilian oversight system for law enforcement. It was a proactive effort to ensure transparency and demonstrate accountability to the highest of standards and best practices.

The OIR Group, an independent team of police practices experts, was the firm selected to conduct the audit due to its more than two decades of experience in oversight.

The audit was directed by the City Administrator’s Office and primarily supported by Commander Kasi Corbett of the Police Department’s Community Accountability Team.

The audit included a review of the police department’s complaint process; the need for executive development and leadership training; employee retention and recruiting; use of force training and review; and general policy compliance.

It includes 31 recommendations, of which 19 already have been implemented and eight are in process of being implemented. Three recommendations have been noted for further review.

The city said its review was not in response to a critical incident or a publicized case of police misconduct. Instead, the city said it took a proactive step to ensure transparency of the department’s policies, processes and practices as well as accountability to the highest of standards and best practices.

Please see AUDIT on A4

California finalizes rule requiring electric trucks by 2036

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - “The future happens here first, and California is once again showing the world what real climate action looks like,” Gov. Gavin Newsom proudly stated as he announced yet another state regulation in an effort to reduce the greenhouse gasses that drive climate change.

The latest regulation, approved by the Biden administration last month, requires zero emissions in all new heavy-duty truck sales by 2036, with garbage trucks by 2039. Last year, California approved regulation that required all new car sales to be ZEVs by 2035 following an executive order in 2020 by Gov. Newsom. This newest regulation builds on that, requiring all other vehicles to be zero-emissions by 2042 in the California scheme known as Advanced Clean Fleets.

The pathway to 100% zero

Sheriff’s Office honors new sergeants

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office congratulated three new sergeants Monday on their recent promotions.

In a ceremony held at the Sheriff’s Office Training Bureau, Sheriff’s Sgt. Matthew West, Custody Sgt. Shaun Crouse, and Custody Sgt. Tariq Falfal were joined by

a room full of their family, friends and colleagues.

“The caliber and quality of our people is such that the competition for promotion is always very tough,” Sheriff Bill Brown said.

“Those who emerge successfully from this rigorous process are to be congratulated, and that is what today is all about.”

Before he introduced each of the newly promoted sergeants, Sheriff Brown shared some principles of leadership from one of the key leaders of the Civil War, as written in an

SBPD accepting applications for Community Academy

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2023 Community Academy.

The academy will run for six weeks, meeting every Wednesday from 6-8:30 p.m. between May 10 and June 14.

The Santa Barbara Police Department Community Academy is an opportunity for community members to learn more about the inner workings of SBPD. Participants will be able to meet with both sworn and professional staff during the academy experience. Community members will engage in various law enforcement topics, discuss, ask questions and participate in a behind-the-scenes SBPD experience. This is also an outstanding opportunity for people interested in a career at SBPD or those who want to learn more about the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The academy is at no cost to the participants, and experiences may include:

• Meeting the chief of police and command staff.

• Station tour and interactive SBPD history briefing.

• New police station update with current exterior and interior renderings.

• Communications Center tour.

• Traffic enforcement, equipment and collision

Fire department honors volunteers

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara City Fire Department hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony last week to recognize and honor volunteers’ hard work and dedication.

The department is proud to work alongside local fire department volunteers, who have contributed their time, skills and expertise to educate and prepare the communities in fire safety, emergency preparedness.

City fire department leadership said, without the volunteers’ tireless efforts, the department would not be able to provide the essential services and programs that keep the community safe, including Community Emergency

investigations.

• Driving Under the Influence investigations.

• Community Action Team (ebike patrol).

• Patrol operations.

• Police K-9 demonstration.

• Crime scene investigation and fingerprinting.

• Detectives and investigations.

• Professional standards and learning about the complaint investigation process.

• Mental Health Response Team.

• Volunteers in Policing.

• Police officer training requirements. (There will be an inside look into the Police Academy).

• Employee Recruitment and Wellness.

• Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.

• Force options and deescalation scenarios (Virtual and role-playing).

• The opportunity to participate in police officer ride-alongs (optional).

To apply, visit SBPD social media accounts or santabarbaraca.gov/government/ departments/police-department/ community-academy-policeprograms.

You can also contact Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale with questions at eragsdale@sbpd.com or 805-8972432.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Response Team, LISTOS, Fire Safety House and Santa Barbara Response Network.

During the ceremony, Fire

Chief Chris Mailes acknowledged the fire department volunteers for its outstanding contributions and awards, and it recognized those who have gone above and beyond in their service.

“We are incredibly grateful to our fire department volunteers who selflessly commit to our public education programs and logistical operations,” he said.

“Their contributions have made a significant impact on our department’s ability to serve our community. This event is a small way to express our appreciation and gratitude and to celebrate their achievements.”

Neil Hartstein

—

article by Robert B. Shaw entitled “Leadership Lessons from the Life of Ulysses S. Grant.”

“The greatest leaders are those who can see through the conflicting ideas and loyalties of their time and work for a better future,” Sheriff Brown said.

If you are interested in a career in law enforcement or know someone who is, visit sbsheriff.org to apply.

— Dave Mason

Central Library construction approaches new phase

By NEIL HARTSTEiN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The construction project at the Central Library is progressing to a new phase this spring.

The library, which is at 40 E. Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara, will be temporarily closed May 811 due to scheduled work on the ADA elevator project.

The construction work will impact air quality, so staff and the public will not be able to access the library during this work.

Because the Faulkner Galleries are on a separate HVAC system and can be sealed off from the rest of the library, the galleries will remain open.

All scheduled programming, including early literacy classes and special events, is unaffected. Room rentals will continue as planned. The Faulkner Galleries will be open and available for art viewing during Central Library’s regular open hours, except for scheduled room rentals, but seating and study space are unavailable.

The Library on the Go van will have a pop-up stop on the Anapamu block of State Street from 9:45 - 11:30 a.m. May 10. Holds pickup for items at Central Library will not be accessible during this time, but pickup by dates will be extended. Patrons may request their holds be routed to Eastside or Montecito libraries in advance via their online account in the library catalog or by speaking with staff before transit.

Book drops will remain open. But since the Santa Barbara Public Library doesn’t charge overdue fines and the items will not be able to fill requests for other patrons during this time, library staff encourage patrons to keep their items, as there will be limited space to store returned items during the closure period.

SBPL Works! appointments, literacy tutoring space, computer use, printing, microfilm access, and reference assistance will be unavailable at Central Library during the closure. Staff encourage patrons to use the Eastside Library for these services. Library staff will be available via Santa Barbara Public Library’s main phone line and chat service during business hours.

The Michael Towbes Library Plaza construction project will also reach a new milestone next week.

Construction crews will begin laying the pavers, including the path to the Anapamu Entrance, on May 5. While crews complete that work, the main entrance to Central Library from Anapamu Street will be closed for approximately four to six weeks. Patrons can still enter Central Library from the Library Avenue Entrance near the City Parking Lot No. 7 off Anacapa Street. The new Michael Towbes Plaza and accessible elevator are scheduled to be completed later this year.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

Firefighters tackle structure fire

SANTA BARBARA — County firefighters responded early Monday to a structure fire that left one man in critical condition.

The fire in a single family residence in the 500 block of Halkirk Street was reported at 3:49 a.m.

Arriving firefighters found two female occupants outside. One resident had to be rescued by fire personnel. The man was found unresponsive. Rescue workers

performed CPR. The man was taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in critical condition.

The two women self-exited without injuries. The fire was knocked down at 4:07 a.m. It was contained to the room of origin.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department and one engine from the Santa Barbara City Department responded.

Firefighters remained on scene for mop-up. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

—

Neil Hartstein

emissions is the first of its kind in the world. Along with the announcement of the new standards for trucks in the coming decades, California implemented new emission standards for trains as well, becoming the first state to do so.

“Last year, our state approved one of the world’s first regulations requiring all new car sales to be zero emissions. Now, with these actions requiring all new heavy-duty truck sales to be zero emission and tackling train pollution in our state, we’re one step closer to achieving healthier neighborhoods and cleaner air for all Californians,” Gov. Newsom proclaimed.

Trucks account for more than one third of California’s emissions of NOx (nitric oxides) and 25% of on-road greenhouse gasses, yet they are only 6% of all California vehicles. When it comes to rail transportation, the California Air Resources Board announced a new rule on April 27. Under

Please see TRUCKS on A3

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VOL. 167 NO. 30

COURTESY SANTA BARBARA SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Sheriff Bill Brown stands with three newly promoted sergeants — Sheriff’s Sgt. Matthew West, Custody Sgt. Shaun Crouse and Custody Sgt. Tariq Falfal.

UCSB men’s tennis blanks Irvine for Big West Championship

By ERIC BOOSE

UCSB SPORTS WRITER

UCSB’s historic 2023 men’s tennis season rolls on, as the Gauchos thumped UC Irvine, 4-0 Sunday morning, capturing The Big West Championship and with it an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. UCSB’s 22-3 record is their best ever by winning percentage, and the most total

wins since the 1985 season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Santa Barbara jumped out to an early lead in doubles, with Luka Mrsic and Conrad Brown winning on court two. Gianluca Brunkow and Pablo Masjuan did the same on court three, clinching the point for the Gauchos. Phillip Jordan and Kai Brady had the lead on

court one when doubles ended. Santa Barbara kept right on rolling in singles, with Brunkow storming to a win on court five. Jordan put the Gauchos within touching distance of the trophy with a win on court one, then Brown finished it off on court six. The title is UCSB’s 15th Big West Men’s Tennis Championship and their seventh in the last nine seasons.

UP NEXT

As Big West Champions, the Gauchos are headed to the NCAA Tournament, which will begin on Friday.

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

UCSB baseball fends off late rally to complete sweep of Aggies

By ERIC BOOSE UCSB SPORTS WRITER

The UCSB baseball team (28-12, 13-5 Big West) jumped out to an early lead on Sunday, then held on in the late innings to put away UC Davis (14-25, 5-13 Big West) and complete the three-game sweep with a 5-4 win. Freshman righties Reed Moring and Tyler Bremner came in from the bullpen and put out the fire, with Bremner earning his third save of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Like they did on Saturday, the Gauchos got their lead-off runner on and brought him around to score in the first inning. Zander Darby hit the first of three consecutive singles to load the bases in the bottom of the first, then Christian Kirtley brought Darby home with a sacrifice fly to center. They could have had more, but a double play ended the first, then another double play extinguished a first-andthird, one-out threat in the UCSB half of the second.

The Gauchos padded their lead in the fifth, plating four runs in the inning. LeTrey McCollum was hit by a pitch to start things off, then Darby’s double put him and McCollum in scoring position. Jared Sundstrom’s single to left scored McCollum and moved Darby to third, then Broc Mortensen’s groundout brought Darby home. With Sundstrom on second, Kirtley’s single up the middle made

it 4-0 Gauchos. Kirtley would come around to score before the end of the frame, thanks to a double from Ivan Brethowr, to make it 5-0. With the way starter JD Callahan was pitching, that lead seemed more than comfortable. After allowing a pair of hits in the first, the righty stranded those Aggies on the corners then proceeded to throw 5 1/3 nohit innings, setting Davis down in order in the second, then again in the fourth.

It took until the seventh inning for the visitors to record their third hit of the day, but that was when things got dicey for the Gauchos. A walk and a double put two Aggies in scoring position, and the lead runner came home on an error. UCSB did get the second out of the inning on the play, catching the batter taking too wide of a turn around first, but the next man up doubled down the left field line anyway to make it 5-2 and end Callahan’s day on the mound. An RBI single would make it 5-3 before Sam Whiting entered from the bullpen and got the third out.

A lead-off single helped the Aggies claw back to within one in the eighth, as that runner would come around to score, but Moring was able to prevent any further damage. A scoreless Gaucho eighth meant it was up to Bremner to preserve the one-run lead. The freshman did just that with three fly balls, though the first came perilously close to the left field wall, and the third looked for a second like it might carry out to right.

Delaware’s delegation urged to back federal pot reclassification

By CHRISTIAN WADE THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — A bipartisan group of state lawmakers who pushed to legalize recreational cannabis in Delaware are calling on members of the state’s congressional delegation to back efforts to change federal pot laws.

In a letter to members of the delegation, the 16 state senators urged Democratic U.S. Sens. Tom Carver and Chris Coons and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester to support a proposal in Congress to reclassify cannabis under federal law.

The lawmakers argue that the federal controlled substances act Class 1 level designation is intended for heroin and other “exceptionally dangerous substances with high potential for abuse and no medical use.”

“Marijuana has many currently accepted medical uses in the United States, having been recommended by thousands of licensed physicians to at least 350,000 patients in states with medical marijuana laws,” they wrote.

To date, at least 22 states, including Delaware, have legalized recreational marijuana, to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Thirty-seven states have medical marijuana programs.

Recent polls have shown an everincreasing majority of the nation’s voters support legalizing recreational cannabis.

But the drug remains illegal under federal law, and the nation’s credit card companies and banking system have been reluctant to authorize transactions involving cannabis sales, which could be considered “aiding and abetting a federal crime and money laundering.”

“Most financial institutions are unwilling to accept this risk, meaning medical marijuana distributors have limited access to traditional banking and financial services, and are forced to operate in cash,” they wrote. “Operating a business with large amounts of cash on

TRUCKS

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the In-Use Locomotive Regulation, rail locomotives are limited to a 30 minute idling time and rail operators are required to contribute to a spending account. The amount is determined by the level of emissions the rail company generates. The rule also requires zero emissions for all freight line locomotives by 2035, and all other locomotives by 2030.

hand is a public safety threat, as these establishments become targets for crime, putting the safety of staff and patients at risk.”

There are about 5.4 million state-legal patients in the U.S who can’t get medical insurance health coverage for medical marijuana, primarily due to the drug’s federal designation, the lawmakers noted.

Cannabis is also not eligible for purchase using health savings accounts because of the legal designation, even if it’s being used for medicinal purposes, they said.

Delaware legalized pot last week after Gov. John Carney declined to veto a pair of bills legalizing the drug and authorizing retail sales. Lawmakers who backed the move pointed to neighboring states like New Jersey that have legalized the drug, and argued that Delaware was missing out on tax revenue and jobs from the regulated cannabis market.

In October, President Joe Biden announced that he is ordering an administrative review of federal marijuana scheduling, and granted mass pardons for people who have been convicted of federal cannabis possession offenses.

“Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit,” President Biden said at the time.

Last week, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers filed a bill that would, if approved, establish a “Commission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis” to study federal and state regulatory models and make recommendations on regulating cannabis on a federal level.

“With nearly every state adopting its own set of cannabis reforms, an end to federal cannabis prohibition is inevitable,” Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, one of the bill’s primary sponsors, said in a statement. “Now is the time for the federal government to respect the will of our constituents and begin the conversation on fair and effective cannabis regulation.”

Board Chair Liane Randolph stated, “With the new regulation, we are moving toward a future where all transportation operations in the state will be zero emissions.”

The highest greenhouse gas emissions of any country in the world is produced by China which is double that of the United States.

Construction, agriculture, manufacturing and mining sectors use about 63% of China’s energy and 49% of China’s coal. In 2021 China’s reliance on coal-powered electrical plants rose as the country saw a 10% rise in demand for electricity. In comparison the US

ON THE STAT SHEET

• This weekend was the first series since 2018 in which the Gauchos did not hit a home run; it was their first time winning such a series since taking two out of three from New Mexico State, March 24-26, 2017.

• In lieu of home runs, UCSB did their damage with doubles, hitting 10 two-baggers in the series, their most in a three-game set this season. Seven different hitters recorded at least one double, with Mortensen, Corey Nunez, and Darby each hitting a pair.

• Callahan worked his longest outing and second quality start of the season, going 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a pair of walks, with two strikeouts. His two Ks came back-to-back to end the first.

UP NEXT

The Gauchos head to Riverside for their next four games — a mid-week matchup with Cal Baptist today then a three-game weekend series against UC Riverside, May 5-7. All four games will be live on ESPN+ with live stats and an audio broadcast available on ucsbgauchos.com.

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

IRS report shows nearly 2,500 people left California for South Dakota

By KIM JARRETT THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) - More people are moving into South Dakota than leaving and some are leaving behind sunny California for the state’s colder climate, according to data released from the IRS.

South Dakota lost 23,085 residents to other states, according to 2021 federal tax forms. But the state gained 29,351 residents.

The majority of the residents lost, 2,673, moved to neighboring Minnesota. But 3,579 people moved to South Dakota from Minnesota, according to the data. Additionally, 2,484 residents moved to the state from California.

Gov. Kristi Noem has said several times that the state is growing.

“Thousands of people are moving to South Dakota, and they’re not moving here for our beaches,” Gov. Noem said in a February 2022 Twitter post. “They’re moving because they want to live somewhere where the government respects them. They want to be free, and they know they can do that in South Dakota.”

South Dakota was the only state that did not impose any restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state does not have a corporate or state income tax.

The influx of residents also means more money for the state. The data shows an adjusted gross income of 1.22 billion moving into the state and just $7.7 million lost for a net gain of $450.9 million.

California lost the most residents, followed by New York and Illinois, according to the data. The states gaining the most residents are Florida, Texas, the Carolinas and Tennessee.

The IRS data does not reflect residents who do not file federal income tax returns.

shift in reliance from coal to natural gas saw its electric power sector emissions drop by 27%.

“This is a big deal for climate action. Last year, California became one of the first jurisdictions in the world with a real plan to end tailpipe emissions for cars. Now, thanks to the Biden Administration, we’re getting more zero-emission heavy duty trucks on the roads, expanding our world-leading efforts to cut air pollution and protect public health,” Gov. Newsom said at the approval of the Advanced Clean Fleets proposal.

‘A future where all transportation operations in the state will be zero emissions’

Some say comparison to traditional bank bailout goes too far

Continued from Page

‘special assessment’ on banks that is passed to customers.”

Mr. Dimon admitted his company “modestly benefits” in the deal.

“The service JPM is providing here is to provide a massive amount of liquidity to meet depositor’s demands,” Mr. Antoni said. “That will prevent the sale of some $30 billion in securities that First Republic had which have lost value, if sold today. If held to maturity, however, those securities will still pay their anticipated rate of return.”

Other experts say comparing this to a traditional bank bailout goes too far and emphasize that stabilizing the banking sector was necessary for the sake of the broader economy. First Republic, which has a branch on State Street in Santa Barbara, is the third U.S. bank to fail since March of this year.

Notably, the FDIC is funded by insurance premiums paid by banks, not by Congressional appropriations.

“I would not call this a bailout,” Gary

Wolfram, an economics professor at Hillsdale College, told The Center Square. “It is an attempt to stabilize the banking system. The reason the FDIC was created nearly 90 years ago was to guard against ‘runs’ on banks.

Individual banks hold only a fraction of their deposits on reserve with the Fed, and if we all went in to get our money you have the scene from the Jimmy Stewart movie, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’

“While J.P. Morgan may benefit, it is taking on $92 billion in deposits that were in First Republic (as well as the loans and securities) and it is large enough that people will probably not withdraw their deposits for fear that J.P. Morgan will fail,” he added.

Mr. Antoni argues taxpayers will still foot the bill.

“The FDIC levies fees on banks which are passed on to customers. Anything, like an overdraft fee, contributes to this,” he said.

“The interest rate on a loan will be slightly higher and the interest rate you get paid on your savings account will be slightly lower. This functions like a particularly regressive tax because low-income people are much more likely to pay things like overdraft fees.

However, the FDIC also has an existing line of credit with the Treasury of $100 billion. Tapping into that costs the taxpayer. Additionally, when the FDIC has really gotten into trouble in the past, the Treasury has not only expanded that line of credit but simply paid for outstanding FDIC bills, meaning those dollars were never repaid.”

While calling this a bailout is up for debate, the federal government is taking the blame for fueling inflation and then hiking interest rates to compensate for inflation, which is what has put the strain on the banking sector.

“The Fed is offering an alternative to the FDIC guaranteeing all deposits as it did with the other two banks,” Mr. Wolfram said. “It is following the Swiss authorities actions with Credit Suisee. The recent swift and large increase in interest rates by the Fed resulted in a sudden decrease in the value of bond holdings of banks, such as Silicon Valley, and now it is trying to deal with the result of this. This is complicated by the massive deficits of the federal government and the Fed’s attempts to deal with inflation caused by the massive increase in the money supply (a 40% increase in M2 that started in March 2020).”

Last officer-involved shooting in SB was in 2019

AUDIT

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“I am pleased that the audit aligned with many of the improvements and refinements that I was already in the process of implementing,” Police Chief Kelly Gordon said.

“It also affirms that our department fundamentals are strong, and that our team excels in regards to how we engage with the community, investigate both internal and external complaints, and conduct use-of-force investigations.”

The audit highlights the low number of complaints received by the Santa Barbara Police Department, as well as the extraordinarily limited number of use-of-force incidents.

In 2022, there were only 147

use of force incidents out of 45,111 contacts, which means that approximately 99.67% of contacts did not result in force used. The majority of these incidents are “takedowns,” where officers take resistant subjects to the ground to better control and detain them.

The independent auditor specifically noted that the last officer-involved shooting in the city was in 2019, and that there is a culture that supports restraints and de-escalation of conflict rather than a reliance on physically aggressive policing, officials said.

However, the OIR Group noted opportunities for enhanced review of Use of Force cases as well as providing further detail on de-escalation tactics that are utilized by officers.

All of the recommendations OIR made relating to the complaint

process have already been implemented by the department’s Professional Standards Unit. These improvements include enhancement of post-investigation communications, inclusion of all correspondence with complainants as part of the formal investigation file, and establishing an internal standard to complete a majority of investigations within 120 days. A theme throughout the report is the impact of low staffing levels on the ability of the department to support and promote professional development opportunities for officers, as well as exceed established training standards, which in turn impacts employee morale, retention and promotion. Under Chief Gordon’s leadership, executive development is a top goal for the department, according to the city.

Newsom gives California regulators credit for seizing First Republic

By DAVID MASTIO THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square)

–

With eyes focused on federal regulators at the FDIC, California Gov. Gavin Newsom pointed out that local regulators played a role in the seizure of a floundering San Francisco bank.

“In close partnership and coordination with the FDIC, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation took decisive and critical action to stabilize the situation, avert layoffs, and protect Californians. The swift action by FDIC to secure a purchaser for the bank will protect depositors, including uninsured depositors,” he said.

The FDIC took over First Republic and sold it to the highest bidder, with JP Morgan emerging with the prize.

JPMorgan said it would accept First Republic’s $92 billion in deposits and more than $200 billion in loans and securities.

The bank had 93 branches in 11 states, mainly New York, California, Massachusetts and Florida.

While California regulators took the lead in seizing the bank, independent analysts wonder whether the priorities of California regulators played a role in getting the bank in financial trouble in the first place.

Chief Gordon will speak to the prioritization of executive development and training throughout the budget process that begins in May.

The department is also in the process of updating and improving its employee recruitment and retention strategies.

“The audit supports the direction the mayor and City Council took in creating the new civilian oversight system for law enforcement,” City Administrator Rebecca Bjork said.

“This offers the community more insight into our police department, and provides the opportunity for us to work closely together as we evolve our policies and practices to meet new standards and expectations.”

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Treasury gives Congress dire June 1 deadline on debt ceiling

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – U.S. Treasury

Secretary Janet Yellen gave lawmakers a deadline Monday: raise the debt ceiling by June 1 or risk a default on U.S. debt obligations.

Ms. Yellen sent a letter to Congressional leaders Monday saying a default could come as early as June 1, though it could potentially be delayed a few weeks. A default would be unprecedented and have catastrophic consequences for the U.S. economy.

“After reviewing recent federal tax receipts, our best estimate is that we will be unable to continue to satisfy all of the government’s obligations by early June, and potentially as early as June 1, if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt limit before that time,” the letter said. “This estimate is based on currently available data, as federal receipts and outlays are inherently variable, and the actual date that Treasury exhausts extraordinary measures could be a number of weeks later than these estimates.”

Ms. Yellen warned of the economic fallout of failing to raise the debt limit.

“We have learned from past debt limit impasses that waiting until the last minute

to suspend or increase the debt limit can cause serious harm to business and consumer confidence, raise shortterm borrowing costs for taxpayers, and negatively impact the credit rating of the United States,” the letter said.

“If Congress fails to increase the debt limit, it would cause severe hardship to American families, harm our global leadership position, and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests.”

House Republicans recently passed a bill to cut spending by nearly $5 trillion and raise the debt limit by about $1.5 trillion, or until March 31, 2024, whichever comes first. With the bill’s passage, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy showed he was able to wrangle lawmakers in his own party and put the ball in President Joe Biden’s court.

After Ms. Yellen’s warning, President Biden reportedly reached out to Congressional lawmakers Monday to schedule a meeting.

“President Biden and the Democrats are putting our economy in jeopardy by risking a default,” Rep. McCarthy said in a statement.

“House Republicans are the only ones who have taken responsible action. The Limit, Save,

Grow Act is the only plan that raises the debt ceiling, avoids a default, and saves taxpayer money.”

As The Center Square previously reported, the Republican bill would remove energy and environmental tax credits implemented in President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, implement permitting reforms to formally blockPresident Biden’s student loan cancellation, and also would put work requirements in place for some federal social programs, such as requiring Medicaid recipients to work 80 hours per month.

President Biden quickly blasted that legislation, saying the debt limit is too serious to pair with negotiations. His outreach Monday to lawmakers may be a walking back of that earlier stance.

“The President has been clear that he will not accept such attempts at hostage-taking,” President Biden’s budget office said in a statement last week. “House Republicans must take default off the table and address the debt limit without demands and conditions, just as the Congress did three times during the prior Administration.”

Three years after pandemic began, Biden will lift federal vaccination mandates

By COLE LAUTERBACH

CENTER SQUARE

THE

(The Center Square) – The Biden administration announced Monday that it would lift vaccine requirements for federal employees, Federal contractors, and international air travelers on May 11.

The end of the controversial mandate coincides with the day the administration will end the COVID-19 public health emergency.

“Following a whole-ofgovernment effort that led to a record number of nearly 270

The end of the controversial mandate coincides with the day the administration will end the COVID-19 public health emergency.

million Americans receiving at least one shot of the COVID19 vaccine, we are in a different phase of our response to COVID19 than we were when many of these requirements were put into place,” the administration wrote in its announcement.

The vaccination requirement for federal contractors and employees was the subject of several lawsuits. In January, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in

Cincinnati allowed a preliminary injunction on the proposed mandate.

As recently as last month, the Arizona GOP petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate an injunction on the vaccine mandate for federal contractors while the court challenge continued.

In March, a group of 10,000 employees challenged the mandate, saying the COVID-19 vaccination requirement violated

their religious rights under the Civil Rights Act. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security will begin to wind back their vaccination requirement for Head Start educators, CMS-certified healthcare facilities, and certain noncitizens at the land border.

The administration plans to offer further details on the scaling back of the requirements.

Regulators hope to fend off the spread of insolvency to other banks. California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation issued a press release stating, “DFPI appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver of First Republic Bank.”

“Our government invited us and others to step up, and we did,” Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, said in a statement after the purchase.

“The collapse and ‘rescue’ of First Republic Bank raise questions that need to be answered both about the risk management practices of some banks and the policy priorities of California and federal bank regulators. Like nearby Silicon Valley Bank, First Republic jumped on the trendy ESG bandwagon in vogue with the Biden administration and California politicos. Whether regulators may have ignored or overlooked the bank’s risk management practices as a result of its adherence to woke causes is a question that needs to be looked at,” said John Berlau, the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s director of finance policy said.

First Republic is the third middle-sized bank to fail in two months. The first was Santa Clara’s Silicon Valley Bank.

A default would be unprecedented and have catastrophic consequences for the U.S. economy.

Life theArts

Liberté!

French people’s quest for freedom and a composer’s role in that is told in ‘Chevalier’

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Violinist Joseph Bologne isn’t as famous as Mozart, even though he showed he could outplay him.

In fact, his contribution to classical music isn’t as wellknown as the contributions of other composers whose last name starts with a B — Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.

But while Napoleon banned Bologne’s music from being played, masterpieces can’t be silenced forever.

Bologne is well-known today as one of the early black composers of classical music and

CALENDAR

Soprano Tamara Bevard will be among the soloists when The Choral Society performs its “Mozart to Modern” concert May 6 and 7 at the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara, 21 E. Constance Ave.

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 appointment on weekdays: “Holly Hungett: Natural Interpretations” is on view through May 20 at the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara’s gallery, 229 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. 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.

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.

a leader in the French people’s quest for liberty or as they would say, “Liberté!” His story is told honestly and with great depth in “Chevalier,” now screening at local theaters. All lovers of good music and liberty — as well as love stories — should see it.

Director Stephen Williams does a great job putting writer Stefani Robinson’s story on the screen, and the cast is equally skilled at its interpretation of historical figures.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars as Bologne and effortlessly shows his strengths, flaws and ultimately his courage in defying the French monarchy and choosing to side with everyday people. It took Bologne some

FYI

“Chevalier”

“Chevalier”

time to become a champion of the masses. His early focus was on rising from slavery to a prestigious position in the court of Marie Antoniette (played with an understated forcefulness by Lucy Boynton).

Bologne was the illegitimate son of an African slave and

a French plantation owner. (There was slavery in the French colonies.) The plantation owner recognized Bologne’s musical talent and put him in an academy, where he excelled with his playing but faced prejudice and ruthless bullying.

Bologne survived that and went on to become Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de SaintGeorges in the court of Marie Antoniette.

And he became determined to become the manager of the Royal Academy of Music at Paris Opera House, but had to defeat the other candidate for the job by composing an opera. In the process, Bologne fell in love with his lead singer, Marie-Josephine, portrayed

expressively by Samara Weaving. Ms. Weaving has a knack for saying a lot with her eyes and facial expressions, and that complements the way she embodies the character with her dialogue and body language.

Ronke Adekoluejo plays Nanon, Bologne’s mother, who is freed from the plantation and joins him. Thanks to her son, she has her freedom, but she has something to give him: some wisdom about the world he lives in and what he can do to save it. Mothers can see farther than their children, and that’s a great lesson to remember with Mother’s Day approaching. email: dmason@newspress.com

7:30 p.m. Pete Muller and The Kindred Souls will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 2 at SOhO Restaurant and Music Club, 1221 State St., Suite 205, Santa Barbara. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Wilderness Youth Project. Tickets cost $30 for general admission and $85 for VIP seats. To purchase, go to www.sohosb.com. The concert is for all ages.

MAY 3

7:30 p.m. Movie stars Laura Dern and Diane Ladd will be speaking during a UCSB Arts and Lectures program to discuss their new book “Honey, Baby, Mine: A Mother and Daughter Talk Life and Love.” The event will take place at UCSB Campbell Hall, where the actresses will talk with KLITE’s Catherine Remak. For more information, go to artsandlectures. ucsb.edu.

MAY 6

7 p.m. The Choral Society will wrap up its 75th anniversary season with a “Mozart to Modern” concert at the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara, 21 E. Constance Ave. Accompanied by a full orchestra, the 70-member Santa Barbara chorus will perform Mozart’s Requiem and music varying from Palestrina to Morten Lauridsen. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for children. To purchase, go to sbchoral.org.

MAY 7

3 p.m. The Choral Society will wrap up its 75th anniversary season with a “Mozart to Modern” concert at the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara, 21 E. Constance Ave. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for children. To purchase, go to sbchoral.org.

MAY 13

7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform its “Platinum Sounds” concert at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. The orchestra’s 70th anniversary program will feature Grammy-nominated American violinist Philippe Quint on Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Opus 64. And the symphony will showcase its own players

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2023

COURTESY THE CHORAL SOCIETY

At left, freed from a French plantation, Nanon (Ronke Adekoluejo) reunites with her son, Joseph Bologne. At right, Lucy Boynton portrays Marie Antoinette.

is playing at Fairview Theatre in Goleta and The Hitchcock Cinema and Pub in Santa Barbara. See metrotheatres.com for showtimes.

has a running time of 1 hour and 47 minutes and is rated PG13 for thematic content, some strong language, suggestive material and violence.

PHOTOS BY LARRY HORRICKS/SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES

Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars as Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges in “Chevalier.” REVIEW

Festival fun in Santa Maria

805-988-7861 or 800-346-3781

National tour brings singer to Solvang

United Way offers

Fun in the Sun at local schools

Enrollment is now open for United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Fun in the Sun — a free six-week summer learning program that provides academic and reading practice, hands-on STEAM activities, field trips and other enrichment activities for more than 400 second through fifth graders.

This year’s program will continue at all six sites in Santa Barbara County, including Franklin Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Hollister Elementary and Aliso Elementary on the South Coast. Santa Ynez Elementary and Mary Buren Elementary will serve students in North County.

Fun in the Sun is a national award-winning summer learning program involving 80 service delivery partners, more than 38 funding partners and more than 600 volunteers.

Students who participate in the program qualify for the federal free/reduced lunch program and are referred to the program from local districts and educators.

According to a news release, the 2023 program will continue to provide its full spectrum of services, including literacy and academics; community support and engagement; STEAM activities and field trips; and emotional

wellness and enrichment activities. The program runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and provides snacks, breakfast and lunch for all students.

This year, United Way will expand its STEAM curriculum through a new partnership with NASA. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in the GLOBE Goes to Camp program, which helps students explore nature while fostering environmental stewardship and scientific literacy. Program staff will lead participants through scientific investigations curated by NASA scientists. Kids will also receive handson experience through field trips, including a visit to a local pier where students will receive instruction and fishing practice with a local professional fisher.

“During the summer, with Fun in the Sun, students are able to access academics and never have that summer slope,” said Casie Kilgore, principal at Franklin Elementary School. “They also get an amazing experience that our students would never have the opportunity to see and interact with in our own community. Fun in the Sun carries us through every summer. It’s helped our kids progress academically, social, and

emotionally, and prepared them for a secondary system to make college success not just a dream, but an obtainable reality.”

United Way is now hiring for the 2023 summer season. Current opportunities include Fun in the Sun site coordinators, program leaders and site aides. More info and application information located at www.unitedwaysb.org/ employment-opportunities. Here are the locations and dates for the programs.

• Mary Van Buren Elementary: June 12-July 21, 2023.

• Santa Ynez Elementary: June 19-July 28, 2023.

• Hollister Elementary: June 19July 28, 2023.

• Aliso Elementary: June 19-July 28, 2023.

• Franklin Elementary: June 20July 28, 2023.

• McKinley Elementary: June 20-July 28, 2023. For more information, visit unitedwaysb.org/fun-sun. For help with Fun in the Sun enrollment, contact United Way at 805-9658594 or ygonzalez@unitedwaysb. org. For assistance with CIT enrollment, contact United Way at 805-965-8591, ext. 106, or nvasquez@unitedwaysb.org

— Staff reports

Local author writes ‘Basque Poppies’

Francine Kosla, a Santa Barbara County author, has written a newly released book, “Basque Poppies: Survival Under the Swastika” (Dorrance Publishing Co.). The book is based on true accounts of a French Basque family. Joseph Vienney, his wife and teen-age daughters were

patiently resigned to wait out the German occupation until conscience, opportunity and the enemy arrived at their door. Shackled by the Nazis living under his own roof, Joseph engineered one of the most ingenious missions of World War II. But unless he could carry out his plan flawlessly,

the reprisals against the Basque population could only result in its genocide.

“Basque Poppies: Survival Under the Swastika” has a retail price of $19.00 (eBook $14.00). You can buy it at Amazon.com.

— Dave Mason

‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ tops the box office again

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

There seems to be no stopping “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”

Based on the Nintendo game, the movie is the No. 1 film for its fourth weekend, with a gross of $40 million.

“Evil Dead Rise” remained in second place with $12.2 million.

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” — the story of a 11-yearold girl adapting to her new life in the suburbs — opened in third place with $6.8 million.

“John Wick: Chapter 4” stayed

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

performing Jonathan Leshnoff’s Concerto Grosso, previously commissioned for the symphony’s 60th anniversary. The orchestra will also perform Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Opus 68. Tickets cost $35 to $175. To purchase, go to granadasb. org

in the No. 4 spot with $5 million.

And The Force is still with “Star Wars.” A re-release of “Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” (1983) came in fifth with $4.69 million.

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” dropped to sixth place from fifth with $4 million.

“Air” — the movie about Nike’s efforts to recruit NBA star Michael Jordan to endorse the Air Jordan shoes — dropped to seventh place from sixth with $3.98 million.

“Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two” — the story of Arulmozhi Varman’s journey to become Rajaraja I, the

MAY 14

3 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform its “Platinum Sounds” concert at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. The orchestra’s 70th anniversary program will feature Grammy-nominated American violinist Philippe Quint on Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Opus 64. And the symphony will showcase its own players

ruler of the Chola empire of south India —opened in eighth place with $3.81 million.

“The Covenant” — the story of a local interpreter risking his life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of grueling terrain — fell to ninth place from third with a gross of $3.62 million. And “Sisu” — which is about an ex-soldier who faces Nazi soldiers after finding gold in the Lapland wilderness — opened in 10th place with a gross of $3.25 million.

email: dmason@newspress.com

performing Jonathan Leshnoff’s Concerto Grosso, previously commissioned for the symphony’s 60th anniversary. The orchestra will also perform Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Opus 68. Tickets cost $35 to $175. To purchase, go to granadasb.org. A pre-concert talk with Nir Kabaretti, the symphony’s music and artistic director, will take place at 2 p.m.

— Dave Mason

COURTESY PHOTO

Singer-songwriter Bryan Bielanski will perform May 12 at the High Roller Tiki Lounge in Solvang. It’s one of the stops on his nine-month tour throughout the U.S. For a story about him, see newspress.com/ singer-behind-super-happy-fun-time-to-perform-in-solvang.

KENNETH SONG /NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Families enjoy various rides Sunday at the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival in the Santa Maria Fairpark.

SUDOKU

Thought for Today

“Think in the morning. Act in the noon. Eat in the evening. Sleep in the night.” — William Blake

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com Tuesday, May 2, 2023

ARIES — A heightened sense of idealized romance could hit you today, Aries. If you aren’t currently involved, beware!

That wonderful new person you’ve just met may have a wellhidden side. If you’re currently involved, expect a simultaneous high from romantic exhilaration and insecurity that maybe your beloved doesn’t love you anymore.

TAURUS — Something you feel you desperately need right now is missing, Taurus, and it’s very well hidden. You may search the house for it and drive yourself crazy in the process.

Do you really need it that badly?

If so, sit for a moment and try to collect your thoughts. If you can’t, leave it for now.

GEMINI — Don’t listen to gossip today, Gemini. Any rumors that are spreading are likely to be based on false assumptions and totally outside the realm of reality.

Yet someone who loves to talk is very convincing! Take anything you hear that you can’t immediately verify with a grain of salt, if not the whole shaker.

CANCER — A luxury you’ve been craving could seem very tempting today, Cancer. Make sure you’re really ready, willing, and able to spend the money to get it. Think about it carefully before whipping out your credit card. Do you really want it that much? Is the expense feasible right now? If so, go for it.

LEO — Emotional turmoil may overwhelm your usual objectivity and good sense today, Leo. Family problems could weigh on your mind, as communication between you and family members may be lacking. You might not feel in touch with what’s going on. Try to encourage them to talk to you.

VIRGO — Your imagination should fly high today, Virgo. Whether you’re into writing, music, or dance, make the most of your creative inspiration. If you don’t, your ideas may vanish as soon as they appear. If you’re too busy, at least make time to jot down your insights and any possibilities for developing them.

LIBRA — Doubts about a

friend may plague you today, Libra. Did this person borrow money? Promise to do you a favor? Can you depend on this person? The best way to judge is by their track record. If they’ve been undependable in the past, chances are they might be again. It might be best for you to turn to someone else.

SCORPIO — Confusion might get in the way of anything you hope to accomplish today, Scorpio. You may feel like you’re walking around in a daze, uncertain of your actions. Try to stay focused and be your usual practical, objective self. It might not come as easily for you as it usually does, but you can do it.

SAGITTARIUS — Spiritual and metaphysical concepts may seem murky to you today, Sagittarius. Ideas that friends accept as matters of course might feel strange. Don’t get into an argument. Ask about books, websites, or magazines that you can consult for more input and, hopefully, clarity. Find out about future lectures on the subject. It should all come together eventually.

CAPRICORN — A strange, bothersome feeling could plague you today, Capricorn, as if you can’t remember something you need to do. Don’t drive yourself crazy over this. Chances are you haven’t forgotten anything but had a rather irritating dream. If you can’t seem to shake the idea, try asking your subconscious to pull up the dream. Write it down.

AQUARIUS — Is a romantic partner having trouble communicating with family, Aquarius? If so, be prepared to hear about it today. Be a good listener. Your understanding and objectivity will be greatly appreciated. Your beloved probably isn’t seeing the real facts and needs an outside party to point this out. However, avoid the temptation to patronize.

PISCES — Listen carefully when you receive instructions today, Pisces. Your mind may not be as sharp as usual. If you aren’t careful, you could get on the wrong track and end up having to start all over again. Don’t be too shy or ashamed to ask questions. It’s always better to ask a question than make an unnecessary error.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

“My partner has a spark of genius,” a club player told me. “I’ve seen him make many good plays. But he has ignition problems; the weak part of his game is the opening lead.”

My friend said his partner was West in today’s deal and led the nine of clubs against four hearts.

“I took the queen and ace,” he said, “and led a third club. Declarer won, took the ace of diamonds and ruffed his low diamond in dummy. He carefully cashed dummy’s ace of spades before leading a trump to his king. My partner took the ace and had to lead a diamond, and South ruffed, drew trumps and claimed.”

WEAK HAND

“I don’t know why partner didn’t lead his singleton spade when he had a weak hand and the ace of trumps as a fast re-entry. Then we beat the contract easily. I can get in to lead a second spade, and he scores his ten of trumps on a trump promotion.”

West’s lead wasn’t sparkling — nor was East’s defense. If East leads almost anything except the ace of clubs at Trick Two, the defense still prevails.

Your partner opens one heart, you respond one

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

spade, he rebids two hearts and you try 2NT. Partner then bids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner’s bidding suggests six hearts, four clubs and minimum values; he wants no part of game or notrump. (With a better hand, he might have bid two clubs at his second turn or jumped to four hearts at his third turn.) Pass or bid three hearts. Don’t bid 3NT.