Santa Barbara News-Press: May 16, 2023

Doing The Twist

Chubby Checker to perform at community block party Saturday - B1

suspect in s anta Maria fire to be sent to treatment facility

Prosecutors tell News-Press that man charged with arson will go to locked state facility

By NEIL HARTSTEIN

NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Nipomo man charged with arson for allegedly setting a fire inside a Santa Maria courtroom will be sent to a locked state facility for treatment of undisclosed mental health problems, prosecutors said.

In addition, the defendant, Eric Wolfgang Spies, 31, will be required to take medication, by force if necessary.

“The judge ordered Mr. Spies to be

125 known, suspected terrorists apprehended at southern border this year Afghan with terrorist ties apprehended near San Diego

By BETHANY BLANKLEY

THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – An Afghan national on the federal Terrorist Screening Dataset (TSDS) was apprehended attempting to enter the U.S. illegally near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego, California.

The TSDA is the federal government’s database that includes sensitive information about terrorist identities. It originated as a consolidated terrorist watch list “to house information on known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) but has evolved over the last decade to include additional individuals who represent a potential threat to the United States, including known affiliates of watch listed individuals,” CBP states.

The Afghan national apprehended in California was identified after a fingerprint scan showed he was in the TSDA. Information about his identification hasn’t been released.

In January, The Center Square reported on 38 known or suspected terrorists apprehended in the first three months of fiscal 2023 and in March, newly reported CBP data showed the number was nearly 10 times greater. Data as of May 15 shows the number of foreign nationals believed to be known or suspected terrorists illegally entering the U.S. is even higher.

In fiscal 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations agents apprehended 67 KSTs at ports of entry and 98 between ports of entry at the southern border, totaling 165. At northern border ports of entry, they apprehended 313. Combined, CBP OFO agents apprehended 478

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MORE INSIDE

For more on the southern border, please see A3.

transported to the Department of State Hospitals to receive restoration services in a locked facility,” Deputy District Attorney Austin Ingalls told the NewsPress.

“The court also authorized forced medication compliance,” he said. “We are back in court on 06/22/2023 for a review of Mr. Spies’ treatment progress.”

The facility had not yet been determined when the judge issued his ruling last Thursday, the prosecutor said.

The Department of State Hospitals, he said, “will decide where he receives his treatment.

“There are numerous locked DSH facilities all over the state,” the prosecutor said. “Some of the ones close to us are Atascadero State Hospital and Coalinga State Hospital.”

The issue arose on March 2, when Mr. Spies’ attorney declared his doubt about his client’s mental competency. Criminal proceedings against Mr. Spies were

suspended.

On April 20, a judge ruled that Mr. Spies was not legally competent to stand trial, which means he is unable to assist in his own defense.

Mr. Spies has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of arson and seconddegree commercial burglary in connection with the Feb. 18 incident, in which he allegedly broke into the Santa Maria courtroom and set a fire, triggering the sprinkler system.

Pre-Fiesta excitement

La Primerva raises more than $40,000 for Old Spanish Days

Court officials said the combination of flames and water caused extensive damage to furniture, wall paneling, cabinetry, carpeting and court records. They estimated the cost to be about $750,000.

Mr. Spies allegedly went to the Santa Maria court complex, ignored a security guard’s order to leave and broke two glass doors to gain entry into the criminal court building.

Please

ss sPECiAL REPORT City of sB plans for ‘Vision 2030’

Staff look at future for local government’s finances

Editor’s note: This concludes a three-part series on finances for the City of Santa Barbara government.

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

For nearly four years, the city of Santa Barbara staff have been actively working to plan for the city’s future.

In July 2020, staff presented its Vision 2030 plan to the Santa Barbara City Council Finance Committee.

“Vision 2030 is the framework by which staff take on these budget and operational challenges to improve the work we do to meet the needs of the community given our limited financial resources,” Finance Director Keith DeMartini said.

“It is a framing of an initiative to preserve the best of what makes Santa Barbara unique, and direct us to where we are headed over the next 50 years, and positions the city as a leader in smarter, proactive government, ensuring the city is sustainable, and the community is thriving.”

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

At the historic El Paseo Restaurant on Saturday, a sold-out crowd was in for an exciting and memorable night of history, dance and community, all while raising more than $40,000 for Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara.

David Bolton, El Presidente of Old Spanish Days, told the News-Press that this is the largest amount of money raised by a single event in Fiesta history.

In 1919, the La Primavera Association was created, and the annual La Primavera celebration has entertained the Santa Barbara community since then.

The goal was to host a spring festival to honor the memory of the early Spanish and pioneer days of California. The La Primavera Association is also the origin of the presentday Old Spanish Days.

Then two years later, staff unveiled another plan with an equally impressive name: Fiscal Sustainability Initiative. It presented this initiative to the Finance Committee in June 2022.

“It’s a staff-led effort to develop recommendations and solutions to ensure the city continues to meet the needs of the Santa Barbara community now and for many years to come,” Mr. DeMartini said. “The objectives of this initiative are to identify and assess options that will increase revenues, create efficiencies, eliminate redundancies, and make continual process improvements that may ultimately reduce costs.”

Staff have made great progress thus far, he said, calling their proposed Cost Recovery and

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PHOTO BY FRITZ OLENBERGER / COURTESY OLD SPANISH DAYS

World-renowned Spanish flamenco dancer Patricia Guerrero performs at La Primavera at El Paseo Restaurant. La Primavera includes Folklórico regional dances of Mexico.

PHOTO BY ISAAC HERNANDEZ / COURTESY OLD SPANISH DAYS Please see FIESTA on A4

Board of Supervisors to discuss former encampment sites

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will discuss former encampment sites at its meeting today. The board will meet at 9 a.m. at the County Administration Building, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The board is scheduled to consider recommendations regarding the approval of a contract for environmental rehabilitation at former encampment sites in Santa Barbara County, using California encampment resolution funding for interim housing.

Specifically, what the recommendation looks at is the approval and authorization to execute a service contract with Channel Islands Restoration in the amount of $150,000.00. This contract will provide environmental rehabilitation at former encampment sites throughout the county for a period of approximately 15 months.

The board will also consider a construction contract for Hedges House of Hope Kitchen, specifically for kitchen renovations. The renovations are set for about $1.5 million, which will go to the lowest bidder of

contractors. There is another construction recommendation on the agenda regarding the Botanic Garden Bridge Repair Emergency Permit in the Mission Canyon community. This authorized the replacement of components of an existing bridge over Mission Dam which was originally approved on March 1 of this year.

There is also a recommendation that will be discussed regarding a Health Resources and Services Administration Grant for expanding COVID-19 vaccinations. This money will be directed to the Santa Barbara Public Health Department, after the Board approves this grant allocation.

Three approvals of appointments are also on the agenda that will take place at this meeting. Randall Sharer will be appointed to the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District, Division Seven, Brian Caird will be appointed to the Agricultural Advisory Committee, and Dave Davis will be appointed to the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District Board of Directors.

Additionally, there will be a resolution of commendation honoring the 2022-2023 Dos Pueblos High School Mock Trial Team as well as a resolution of

commendation that will proclaim May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

Fiery collision leaves one person dead

VENTURA — One person died after a fiery collision Monday morning on Highway 101 just north of Ventura.

Ventura County firefighters and California Highway Patrol responded.

The collision involved a Honda CR-V and utility truck, both of which caught on fire, and possibly other cars. The incident happened near Solimar Beach and was reported around 9:30 a.m.

After the collision, northbound lanes were shut down for more than four hours at the State Beaches exit. Traffic was rerouted to State Route 1, then to State Routes 33 and 150, according to the CHP.

A northbound lane reopened at 2:30 p.m.

— Dave Mason

Firefighters rescue hiker bit by snake

MONTECITO — Firefighters from the Montecito Fire Department were dispatched Saturday morning to the Romero Canyon Trail to rescue a 26-yearold woman who was bitten by a rattlesnake.

The woman was hiking with her dog when the snake bit her on the foot on the Montecito trail.

Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit helicopter 308 responded and hoisted her out. She was transported to the hospital at about 10:15 a.m.

Firefighters hiked down with

Dos Pueblos senior competes in track and field finals

Elizabeth Yancey, a senior at Dos Pueblos High School, competed Saturday in the CIF track and field finals at Moorpark High School.

She competed in the 100m hurdles and ran a personal best of 15.41 seconds. She finished in fourth place.

She also participated in the long jump, where she cleared 16’ 6.25”, which gave her a ninth-place finish.

“Despite getting a late start to the season, she finished as the team’s standout student-athlete,” said head coach David Jackson.

— Annika Bahnsen

Planning panel cancels meeting

BUELLTON — The Buellton Planning Commission canceled its meeting, scheduled for Thursday, because of a lack of business.

The panel normally meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month.

Dave Mason

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her dog and turned over the canine to Santa Barbara County Animal Services, who was to reunite the pair. A bear was spotted on an adjacent trail during the rescue.

Bear sightings have been increasingly frequent in the Montecito area in recent weeks, officials said.

— Neil Hartstein

in

SB Finance Committee to discuss fee changes

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Today’s regularly scheduled Santa Barbara City Council meeting has been canceled, but that doesn’t mean all council members will have the day off.

The scheduled noon Finance Committee meeting will still be held.

“We are agendized to make formal recommendations to the full council in regards to the proposed fee changes proposed by staff,” Finance Committee Chair Eric Friedman said.

“We finalize tomorrow,” he told the News-Press Monday. “We don’t present them to council. Staff includes the Finance recs (recommendations) as part of their final budget presentation to council.” That is scheduled for the council’s next regular meeting on May 23.

The recommendations will include a proposed Cost Recovery and Fee Policy aimed at saving the city money by charging fees to individuals who benefit from city services that are provided to them exclusively.

“Overall, the policy is a guide and can be used to help determine the level of subsidy for a specific purpose,” Councilmember Friedman said. “While ideally cost recovery would be captured, in many cases there are reasons that full cost recovery may not be feasible or a desired policy goal.

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By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH

CONTRIBUTOR

THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) - In a town named for the fabled city of gold - El Dorado, Robert Sedler former president of Grand View Financial LLC discovered that fool’s gold can get you convicted.

“Let this be a strong warning to anyone seeking to steal people’s hard-earned money: We will find you, and we will hold you accountable,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. On May 12, a Sacramento superior court convicted Sedler on 100 felony counts. He will be sentenced on July 21, 2023.

Mr. Sedler along with Steven Rogers and Audrey Gan were indicted for grand theft, false representation, elder abuse and filing false documentation. In bringing the case, the trio was indicted on 121

counts involving over a dozen properties. The grand jury heard from 27 witnesses in a scheme that resulted in the loss of over $7 million to property owners from the counties of San Diego, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Placer, Solano, Mendocino, San Francisco, El Dorado, and Sacramento.

Among the financially distressed victims who sought consultation to save their homes were elderly residents seeking mortgage relief services. Mr. Rogers and Ms. Gan pleaded guilty before trial, while Mr. Sedler chose to go to trial.

Mr. Rogers, Mr. Sedler and Ms. Gan operated Grand View Financial, LLC between April 4, 2015 and May 1, 2019.

Mr. Rogers opened 6 other financial LLCs for registering Deeds of Trust as part of the

Please see EL DORADO on A3

“There are some services the city provides that benefit a specific individual, some that are a broad public benefit and others that have some public benefits as well as individual benefits,” he said “This would be a tool that helps categorize fees and assist in determining the level of cost recovery.

“For example, public safety services, such as police and fire are services that benefit the entire city, so charging a full cost fee for use of service would not be good policy. On the other hand, getting a permit to remodel a kitchen is an individual benefit.

“When setting fees to determine the amount of cost recovery and subsidy, it is important to consider the level of individual vs community-wide benefit.” email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

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The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors are set for a 9 a.m. meeting at the County Administration Building today.

MONTECITO FIRE DEPARTMENT PHOTO Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit helicopter 308 responds to Romero Canyon Trail to assist with the rescue of a hiker bitten by a rattlesnake.

Former ICE chief: Biden border policies

‘greatest national security threat since 9/11’

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – The former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Trump administration says the Biden administration’s border policies are creating a national security threat that are “almost treasonous.”

Tom Homan made the claim as U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operation agents have so far apprehended 332 known or suspected terrorists this fiscal year to date. This includes 125 caught at the southern border and 207 at the northern border.

It’s the unknown that keeps Mr. Homan and others in law enforcement up at night, he said.

At a recent town hall event in El Paso organized by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Mr. Homan spoke on a panel expressing his fear that another terrorist attack against Americans could occur as a direct result of Biden administration policies.

“This administration has created such a crisis that it’s not about immigration anymore. It’s about border security,” he said. “When you cause a crisis this big and take 70% of agents off the line, that makes the border vulnerable.”

With the public health authority Title 42’s

end and more people entering the U.S., more agents are pulled off the line, making the border more vulnerable, Mr. Homan said.

“That means more fentanyl is coming across to kill more Americans. That means more women and children will be trafficked across that border,” he said. “That means more migrants are going to die. That means more known, suspected terrorists are going to cross that border.”

“What’s happening is the greatest national security threat since 9/11,” he continued.

“Border Patrol has arrested people from 171 countries. Many of these countries are sponsors of terrorism.”

Mr. Homan also pointed to the record number of gotaways, those who’ve illegally entered the U.S. and evaded capture by law enforcement, which total over 1.7 million reported by Border Patrol agents since the president’s been in office.

“If you don’t think a single one of the 1.7 million is coming from a country that sponsors terrorism, then you’re ignoring the data,” he said. “That’s what makes this a huge national security issue.”

The Biden administration has maintained the border is closed while also expanding entry through the use of a CBPOne App, opening asylum offices overseas, and sending thousands of federal employees to the border

NYC mayor buses foreign nationals out of city, considers moving them to university housing, closed prison

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – After Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams blamed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for busing illegal foreign nationals from the border and creating a “crisis” in his city, he began the city’s first busing mission to New York suburbs.

Since last year, Texas has bused more than 5,700 illegal foreign nationals to New York City. The Democratic-run city of El Paso, Texas, has bused more than 10,700 to the Big Apple.

The mayor says that the influx of foreign nationals is “destroying the city,” and for the first time on Thursday he began busing people to another county. In an unrelated news conference on Thursday, Mayor Adams said, “We are coordinating, explaining to our colleagues in the state that this is a statewide issue.” The city is paying for their transportation out, he said, and those being bused volunteered to do so, the exact same process as in Texas.

He also said the city was “communicating with the officials up there on what we’re doing,” referring to Orange County officials. “Some may not like it, but people can’t say we’re not communicating.”

His plan, to send them to conservative and Republican leaning counties of Rockland and Orange, north of the city, has already been met with a lawsuit.

Mayor Adams also is considering housing illegal foreign nationals in state university housing or a closed prison.

According to an audio call recording obtained by POLITICO, Mayor Adams

EL DORADO

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scheme.

But it was in El Dorado that the criminal enterprise was discovered. On July 5, 2017 District Attorney Investigator, Ted Horlbeck of El Dorado’s District Attorney’s office received a citizen’s complaint on a foreclosed property at 1102 Penniman Drive, El Dorado Hills. The property was purchased at an auction on June 1, 2017 and the purchaser noticed that on June 16, Mr. Rogers attached and recorded a Deed of Trust without his knowledge.

The journey of the property’s entanglement with Grand View Financial began on June 21, 2016 when the company unlawfully acquired interest in the residence acting as a foreclosure consultant.

Mr. Rogers and Mr. Sedler had promised homeowners that they could save their homes from foreclosure and then deed it back to them free and clear of any liens. Their financial “program” which they sold as being backed by the Department of Justice, required homeowners to pay “rent” in the interim.

Before providing all the services Grand View had contracted to perform on behalf of the homeowners at El Dorado Hills, the company received the deed, and transferred the title of the property to themselves.

On the same day in June that they transferred the title, they registered a Deed of Trust from Grand View to Upscale Financial LLC, securing a loan in the amount of $224,000. with the property.

Over the course of a year, July 2016 to May 2017, Grand View received $20,428.60 in rent from the distressed homeowners for which they were eventually charged with grand theft.

Around September 20, 2016, Grand View sought to evict the homeowners from their home through an unlawful detainer complaint, filing what the indictment

said he needed help from neighboring counties as the city was already maxed out after providing “housing, food and other services to more than 65,000” people who were released into the U.S. by the Biden administration after they entered the U.S. illegally.

According to the recording, Republican Newburgh Supervisor Gil Piaquadio suggested Mayor Adams consider placing them in vacant housing at SUNY New Paltz and in a closed downstate correctional facility in Fishkill, in Dutchess County.

“It would take a little bit to make sure it don’t look like a prison because you don’t want it to look like we’re housing people in a prison, but that would be a great shelter,” Mr. Piaquadio said, according to POLITICO.

Mayor Adams replied, “Nothing is off the table. If anyone has alternative locations, we’re open to listening. We’re not taking anything off the table at all. We’re going to look at both of those locations you mentioned.”

Just 12 days earlier, Mayor Adams said that Gov. Abbott was “once again deciding to play politics with people’s lives” by busing many who’d been released into Texas and volunteered to be sent to New York City at no cost to them.

Gov. Abbott’s Press Secretary Andrew Mahaleris called out what he said was Mayor Adams’ hypocrisy. He told The Center Square that Mayor Adams was proud to tout his “self-declared sanctuary city status until Texas began busing” illegal foreign nationals to New York City “to provide relief to our overrun and overwhelmed border communities.”

to “scale up processing efforts.”

And while Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas claimed Trump administration policies were inhumane, Mr. Homan argues Biden administration policies are inhumane.

“People in this administration think its policies are humane,” Mr. Homan said, “but they’re killing Americans in record numbers. They’re killing migrants in record numbers.

Since Joe Biden’s been president, over 1,700 migrants have died on US soil.”

What’s happening isn’t “mismanagement,” he said. “This isn’t incompetence. This is by design. They ran on open border policies.

“This is about public safety and national security. Mark my words, I don’t know how many terrorist have come across the border but some day we’re going to find out and it will be a bad day for this country.”

Mr. Homan said the Biden administration was facilitating millions of people coming to the U.S. illegally and going to so-called sanctuary cities on purpose.

“The millions of people heading to sanctuary cities will be counted in the next census,” he said. When seats are apportioned for Congress, he said, “that’s going to create more seats in Congress for Democrats. They sold this country out. It’s almost treasonous.”

Republican border security bill would increase deficit despite reducing expenses

By BRETT ROWLAND THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – The House Republicans border security bill provides a look at the dollars and cents behind immigration at the U.S. border.

The bill, H.R. 2, known as the Secure the Border Act of 2023, would restrict the Department of Homeland Security from providing parole to foreign nationals by defining the reasons for which parole may be granted. Parole allows people to temporarily enter the United States. It would also require all employers to use E-Verify, a federal system that allows public- and private-sector employers to confirm work eligibility in the U.S. Use of E-Verify would be phased in over several years.

The Congressional Budget Office said the bill would increase unified budget deficits by $6.1 billion over the next decade. That deficit consists of a $45.4 billion decrease in on-budget deficits and a $51.5 billion increase in off-budget deficits, according to the CBO report.

classified as “procuring or offering a false or forged instrument.” They repeated this felonious filing again on Sept. 1, 2017.

On December 13, 2016, the property was registered in a Deed of Trust filed with North Park Investments, LLC securing a loan for $50,000.

Finally, on June 16, 2016, the property was again registered in a Deed of Trust with Grand View, LLC as the Trustor, Noted Results, LLC as the Trustee and Refreshing Resources, LLC as the Beneficiary of the secured loan in the amount of $50,000. By then the home had been foreclosed and the new purchaser reported the unauthorized Deed of Trust.

California Department of Justice, Fraud and Special Prosecutions Section and White Collar Investigation Team; the United States Office of Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; the United States Office of Inspector General, Federal Housing Finance Agency; the United States Trustee Program; the United States Marshals Service; the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office; and the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office and assistance from from the United States Trustees, Los Angeles Field Office cooperated in the investigation which lead to the arrests and indictment of Mr. Sedler, Mr. Rogers and Ms. Gan.

Throughout history, courtiers, governors, explorers and conquistadors have risked it all to discover El Dorado in the hopes of finding great riches. They all instead discovered that the city could not be found - it was indeed a fable.

With the conviction of Mr. Sedler, the Department of Justice sent a clear message.

“Individuals who prey on vulnerable communities to enrich themselves will be held accountable by the California Department of Justice. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who disregard the rule of law,” Mr. Bonta stated.

In terms of direct spending, the biggest savings would come from reduced health care and nutrition benefit programs. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that under the bill these expenditures would decrease by $21 billion from 2024 to 2033. Much of that would come from savings on premium tax credits, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Direct spending on those programs would decline by $13.5 billion that time period, according to CBO estimates. Spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, would decline by $4.3 billion over the same time period. The Secure the Border Act of 2023 would result in less revenue. The CBO and the United States Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimate that the E-Verify and parole provisions in the measure would “reduce revenues, on net, by about $28.4 billion over the 2024–2033 period.” That’s largely the result of a $51.6 billion reduction in payroll taxes for Social Security partially offset by a $23.2 billion net increase in taxes.

“Those changes largely reflect JCT’s expectation that the mandatory verification of employment authorization would result in some workers without work authorization being paid outside of the tax system – that is, they would move into the underground economy,” according to the CBO report.

Additional savings are expected in the Office of Refugee Resettlement, according to the CBO. The agency estimates that under Secure the Border Act of 2023 about 200,000 fewer foreign nationals would receive asylum and about 550,000 fewer unaccompanied children would be released from 2024 to 2033. That would result in savings ong cash, medical assistance, job training, and other benefits, such as those offered to unaccompanied children, including housing, health care, education and legal services. CBO estimates that those services will cost about $69,000 in 2024 for each child.

As a result, the CBO estimates that the bill would decrease spending by $42.1 billion over the 20242033 period.

The Secure the Border Act of 2023 also includes costs. The bill would re-start construction of a southwestern border wall. It would require the Department of Homeland Security to build at least 900 miles of wall and physical barriers at an estimated cost of $1 billion from 2024 to 2028 and an additional $1 billion after 2028. It would also direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire enough border patrol agents to maintain staffing at 22,000. That would mean the U.S. Customs and Border Protection would have to add about 3,000 agents at an estimated cost of $1.3 billion from 2024 to 2028. CBO estimated it would cost $4.6 billion from 2024 to 2033 period to hire, train, and retain the bill’s required 22,000 border patrol agents. Democrats have said the Republican House’s Secure the Border Act of 2023 is dead on arrival in the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate. President Biden also has indicated he would veto the bill should it reach his desk.

‘Individuals who prey on vulnerable communities ... will be held accountable’

Issa: ‘This president has only begun to be held accountable’

BORDER

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KSTs in fiscal 2022.

Fiscal year to date, OFO agents have apprehended 45 KSTs at ports of entry and 80 between ports of entry at the southern border, totaling 125. At the northern border, the numbers are still higher: 205 at ports of entry and two between ports of entry. So far, that’s 332 this fiscal year who’ve been apprehended trying to enter the U.S.

Spirit, Junior Spirit perform in first official dances

FIESTA

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The evening started at the adjacent historic Casa De La Guerra, where guests were treated to folklórico regional dances of Mexico as well as early California dance with live musicians. The reception culminated with people reenacting the Theodore Van Cina painting Fandango, which portrays a festive dance scene that took place during the three-day wedding of Don Jose De La Guerra’s daughter, Anita, to Alfred Robinson.

Guests then made their way into the historic El Paseo Restaurant where a flamenco show awaited.

A blessing by Ernestine Ignacio De Soto, Chumash Barbareño elder and 2023 Fiesta Parade grand marshal, kicked off the Four Nations meal, which was made to honor the

FINANCES

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Revenue Policy a “specific deliverable” of this initiative.

“Implementing the Cost Recovery and Revenue policy will be important for staff and the City Council to use in the future when assessing and evaluating fees for optimal cost recovery,” he said.

“Setting fees is a complicated, but very important process. There are many considerations that go into setting fees, including achieving cost recovery, but also considering social and other public benefit reasons why a particular fee may be lower than full cost recovery.

“Staff is committed to ensuring that the city is able to maximize the revenue to be collected from its existing revenue sources,” he said.

“One of the most important ways staff achieves this goal is by routinely auditing our General Fund tax sources, with the support of our audit consultant partners,” he added. “We have ongoing audit programs for business license tax, sales tax, utility users tax and franchise fees. We are working toward initiating an audit program for cannabis as well as TOT for hotels.”

Just last month, he noted, the City Council authorized a pilot program for short-term rental activities with the intent of shutting down illegal operators.

“Although revenue generation is not the primary policy consideration for this program, staff anticipate generating additional TOT and business license tax revenue,” he said.

There are other revenue-

Chumash, Spain, Mexico and the United States — the four nations that have governed Santa Barbara.

The highlight of the evening was the flamenco dance show that wowed the crowd.

The dance featured the first official dances of 2023 Spirit of Fiesta Jack Harwood and 2023 Junior Spirit of Fiesta Olivia Nelson. Matthew Peterson treated the crowd with his singing from new Fiesta sponsor, Opera Santa Barbara.

Manuel Gutierrez also performed a powerful flamenco dance to live music. The headliner of La Primavera, Spanish flamenco artist Patricia Guerrero, brought the evening to a close with a flamenco dance after traveling to Santa Barbara from Spain. TourSpain was the evening’s title sponsor and, with the support from community members in attendance, will help fund the free Fiesta events in August.

generating options on the horizon as well, he said.

As part of the Fiscal Sustainability Initiative and Vision 2030, staff have established a Revenue Working Group to develop a comprehensive list of revenue- generating options and policies for the City Council’s consideration, he said.

“I have the pleasure of leading this Working Group. These options have been evaluated initially by staff and will be presented and discussed in detail with the Finance Committee and City Council in the coming months.”

UNIQUE BUT NOT ALONE

There’s something comforting about not being the only one to face difficult problems.

Although Santa Barbara is unique in many ways, “we are not necessarily unique when it comes to budget challenges,” Finance Director DeMartini said.

“Many California cities, especially those along the coast (that) have a large proportion of their economic sectors relying on tourist activities, are in a similar situation as Santa Barbara.”

And like the others, Santa Barbara faces a set of continued financial challenges the city needs to address.

One by one, Mr. DeMartini counted them off:

• The city is limited in the amount of revenue it can collect from General Fund taxes. Any tax rate increase or change requires the voters to approve.

• The city has a structural budget deficit. “This means that the city’s ongoing revenue growth is not enough to cover the ongoing expenditure growth,” he said.

• The city must address the

“TourSpain wanted to show the Santa Barbara community the experience of Spain,” Mr. Bolton told the News-Press. El Presidente Bolton emceed, and KEYT-TV reporter John Palminteri was the auctioneer for the limited edition 2023 posters that were printed on metal. The next fundraiser will be Fiesta Ranchera, which will be held June 15 at Rancho La Patera gardens in Goleta.

Then on July 30, La Recepción del Presidente at the historic Santa Barbara Club will feature the “Four Nations Dinner” honoring the Chumash, Spain, Mexico and the United States.

Fiesta will take place Aug. 2-6 at various Santa Barbara venues. Tickets are on sale now at www.sbfiesta.org/ tickets.

email: abahnsen@newspress.com

need to increase labor wages to ensure retention and recruitment of staff.

• The city has a great deal of deferred maintenance and capital investment in order to ensure Santa Barbara’s existing structures remain safe and can be used to deliver services to the public.

In addition, pension costs are increasing for many reasons, including life expectancy increasing and the volatile rates of return on CalPERS investment portfolio, which has resulted in an unfunded actuarial liability on the city’s balance sheet that will be addressed over time.

There is a great deal of economic uncertainty within the next 12-18 months, and “the city has recent experience knowing our revenue sources may be impacted from similar events,” Mr. DeMartini said.

And it’s becoming increasingly expensive to adequately insure the city’s properties because of recent wildfire, flood and storm events that have driven up insurance prices nationwide.

“Our city’s operational and budget issues are exacerbated when dealing with competing challenges like addressing our houseless community, supporting local businesses, and addressing potential sea level rise impacts,” Mr. DeMartini said.

“The city also has hundreds of buildings where vital city services are delivered, and many of those buildings are old and require continual maintenance and investment to ensure safety and efficient delivery of services.”

On the plus side, there’s the fact that revenue from sales taxes and TOT is growing again, that General Fund department

budgets will continue to grow despite necessary cuts, and that plans are in the works to generate new sources of revenue.

In addition, the city has a strong reserve policy, Mr. DeMartini said. “And these reserves have proven to be invaluable to see the city through challenging economic and budget times in the past.”

Perhaps most important in terms of public perception, the budget process remains “very transparent” and has only increased its transparency with the implementation of the online budget book and transparency tool, he said.

“Staff welcomes members of the public to engage in the process and attend public hearings and Finance Committee meetings.”

THE BOTTOM LINE

Under the leadership of City Administrator Rebecca Bjork and the City Council, staff is committed to Santa Barbara’s long-term fiscal sustainability.

“The budgetary challenges the city faces are not necessarily new, but they are different and have evolved over time,” Finance Director DeMartini said. “The city provides an incredibly robust and diverse set of programs to the public and is committed to continuing to provide those services in the future.

“In order to do so, our city government must become smarter, more efficient and will likely require additional revenue in order to continue to meet these objectives,” he said. “There is no doubt in my mind we will get there.”

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Location of treatment yet to be determined

TREATMENT

Continued from Page A1

Once inside, he allegedly forced his way into a courtroom, pulling the doors so hard that he broke the wood frames on the top of the doors. Court officials allege he then started a fire

on the defense counsel’s chair, which spread to the table and carpet. The fire was so hot that it melted the lights in the ceiling and caused the sprinklers to come on, court officials said.

The defendant reportedly told the security guard he had received a notice about an upcoming hearing on a misdemeanor vandalism case and went to the court complex

to see where he had to show up.

His case is being heard in San Luis Obispo County because a Santa Barbara County judge, without specifying why, declared it would be a conflict of interest for a local judge to preside over his criminal case.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

reckless policy is also an open invitation to even the most wanted terrorists in the world to come to America. “They know they’ll never have to leave. The nation knows what’s going on and this president has only begun to be held accountable for what he has done.”

Law enforcement officers have expressed concerns about the unknown number who’ve illegally entered and haven’t been caught. In response, U.S. Rep.

Darrell Issa, R-California, who represents the district where the Afghan was apprehended, issued a statement, saying, “Biden’s open borders aren’t just a gateway to five million illegals, record human and child trafficking and the deadliest drug crisis in our history. Biden’s

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas continues to claim the border is closed and that agents are prepared and able to handle the influx of people. DHS also expanded the use of America’s first ever CBPOne App to allow people to apply to enter from other countries while not even on U.S. soil. He’s also directed thousands of federal personnel to “scale up processing efforts.” This is as south Texas is experiencing an ongoing record influx of people in the past few weeks. A group of 15,000 Haitians demanded entry and 15,000 Venezeulans were released entering through the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and another 23,000 are reportedly en route to Del Rio, Texas.

‘Our city government must become smarter, more efficient’

PHOTO BY ISAAC HERNANDEZ / COURTESY OLD SPANISH DAYS

Guests are greeted by 2023 El Presidente David Bolton, Primer Caballero Gonzalo Sarmiento, Spirit of Fiesta Jack Harwood and Junior Spirit of Fiesta Olivia Nelson.

Life theArts

Let’s do the twist!

Chubby

celebrate its 150th anniversary

By DAVE MASON

Chubby Checker changed the way people danced. He got everyone to do the twist, the fly, the pony, the shake — 1960s dance moves that got couples dancing apart to the beat but looking at each other during rock ’n roll.

“Before Chubby Checker came along, people didn’t dance that way at all,” Chubby told the News-Press.

“When I see dancing, all I see is Chubby Checker,” he said, referring to the use of various 1960s dance moves. “Understand something. ‘The Twist’ is the No. 1 song from the day it was first on the charts to 2021. ‘The Twist’ is the first No. 1 song of all time.”

a

years old, his mother took him to see country singer Ernest Tubb and Sugar Child Robinson, a child piano prodigy.

The performers impressed Chubby, who pursued music and started a street corner harmony group at age 11.

FYI

Chubby Checker and the Wildcats will perform during a community block party from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Lobero Theatre’s esplanade, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. Admission is free for the event, which celebrates the theater’s 150th anniversary.

Chubby attended South Philadelphia High School and worked after school at places such as a produce market, where his boss gave him the nickname of “Chubby.” His boss at another job — Henry Colt at Fresh Farm Poultry — was impressed when he heard Chubby singing to himself while cleaning the store. That gave Mr. Colt an idea. He would have Chubby sing to the customers.

“He bought a sound system,” Chubby told the News-Press. “He said, ‘Now, sing.’

Chubby Checker and his band, The Wildcats, will get everyone to do the twist when they play during a community block party from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Lobero Theatre’s esplanade.

The free event will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the historic theater, located at 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara.

In addition to Chubby, the 150th Ovation Celebration Block Party will feature Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket fame, Spencer The Gardener and La Boheme Dancers.

Chubby Checker was born Ernest Evans on Oct. 3, 1941, in Spring Gulley, S.C., but grew up in Philadelphia. When he was 4

CALENDAR

Events at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria include the Jazz Band concert on May 19 and the Symphonic Band concert May 22.

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 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Road, has reopened its permanent mineral exhibit of rocks and crystals that is on view in the small hall off the museum’s central courtyard. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. The exhibit, which opened April 22, is included in museum admission. Members are always admitted free. For others, prices vary from $14 to $19. For more information, visit sbnature. org/minerals.

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.

“The store was an open store,” Chubby said, referring to its open exterior. “He used me to bring people into the store so they would buy the chickens.”

Mr. Colt and his friend KalMann arranged for Chubby to do a private recording of “Jingle Bells,” featuring Chubby’s impersonations of various singers, for Dick Clark, the host of “American Bandstand” (which was filmed in Philadelphia before its later move to Hollywood).

Mr. Clark sent it to his friends and contacts in the music industry.

“I’m on the piano doing my Fats Domino (impersonation), and a lady said, ‘Chubby, why don’t you put Checker on the bottom of that?”

Chubby Checker will sing “The Twist” and other hits outside the

Chubby told the News-Press. “She was Mrs. Dick Clark.”

Chubby took Barbara Clark’s advice and went with the name Chubby Checker.

In early 1959, Chubby recorded his first hit, “The Class,” and in June of that year, he recorded “The Twist,” a song that was originally released by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters as the B-side to “Teardrops on Your Letter.” But it was Chubby’s

performances that led the Twist to become a No. 1 song 14 months after Chubby recorded it.

“I was on ‘American Bandstand,’ and I had one or two ‘Ed Sullivan Shows,’” Chubby said.

Chubby is the only artist to have a song be No. 1 twice — “The Twist.” Chubby’s success continued for years with the release of one dance record after another, with “The Fly” and “Let’s Twist Again,” for which he won a Grammy for Best Rock

Performance. He went on to perform “Peppermint Twist,” “Twist and Shout” and “Twistin’ the Night Away.”

Chubby said variations of 1960s dance moves added sexuality to the dance floor.

“The twist, the fly, the pony, the shake — they (performers) slowed it down and called it boogie,” Chubby told the News-Press. “It slowed down, and it got sexy.” email: dmason@newspress.com

I Madonnari Painting Festival back at the mission

Appointment on weekdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays: “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.

5 p.m. “Ending Sexual Violence on Campus: A Holistic Approach” — a panel discussion featuring UCSB faculty, students and staff — will take place at UCSB Henley Hall. Sponsored by the Capps Forum on Ethics and Public Policy, it is free and open to the public. Panelists include Erin Khuê Ninh, associate professor and chair, Asian American Studies; Ariana Alvarez, director and Title IX officer, Office of Title IX and Sexual Harassment Policy Compliance; Cierra Sorin, PhD candidate, sociology; Leila Loose, co-chair, Students Against Sexual Assault; and Briana Miller, director, Campus Advocacy, Resources and Education. For more information, contact the Capps Center at 805893-2317 or info@cappscenter.ucsb. edu.

MAY 18

3 to 5 p.m. A recruitment reception for volunteer docents will take place at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St. The year-long training course begins each September. For more information or to attend, visit www.sbma.net/docent or contact education@sbma.net.

MAY 19

7:30 to 8:45 p.m.: The Allan Hancock College Jazz Band will perform at the Fine Arts Complex at the Santa Maria campus at 800 S.College Drive.

SANTA BARBARA — The I Madonnari Painting Festival will return Memorial Day weekend to the Santa Barbara Mission plaza.

The free event is set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 27, 28 and 29.

The 37th annual festival is a major fundraiser for the Children’s Creative Project , a nonprofit arts education program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office. Plans call for the festival to feature more than 100 street paintings drawn live with chalk pastels by renowned artists and other enthusiasts including children, families, businesses and schools.

This year’s featured artist is street painter Lorelle Miller, whose works have been seen at festivals throughout California

and elsewhere in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Norway. She will create a mural directly beneath the mission steps.

Kids’ Squares can be purchased for $15, which includes a box of chalk, for children to create their own street paintings.

The three-day event will feature live music and a food market on the mission lawn. Performers will vary from Mexcal Martini to Jason Libbs and the Congregation featuring Jackson Gillies, Brasscals and Rent Party Blues Band.

For more information, see ccp. sbceo.org/i-madonnari/welcome. To see this year’s festival T-shirt, go to ccp.sbceo.org/2023-tshirt-1.

— Dave Mason

MAY 20 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The 37th annual California Strawberry Festival will be held from at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura. General admission is $15. For active military and their dependents with IDs and seniors 62 years and older, admission is $10, and for ages 5 to 12, admission is $8. Children 4 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www. castrawberryfestival.org or upon entry to the festival.

MAY 21 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The 37th annual California Strawberry Festival will be held from at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

Above is a painting created by Lorelle Miller, this year’s featured artist at the I Madonnari Painting Festival at the Santa Barbara Mission.

Dramatic street paintings will be created during the I Madonnari Painting Festival, set for Memorial Day weekend at the Santa Barbara Mission.

Checker to lead everyone in the iconic dance he made famous

NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

The Lobero Theatre will

with

block party Saturday. starring Chubby Checker & The Wildcats.

COURTESY PHOTO

Lobero Theatre Saturday.

Naturalist Larry Ballard to lead the way at Alameda Park

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Ever want to learn more about the trees of Alameda Park?

Larry Ballard can help.

On June 11, the naturalist will guide attendees on a stroll through Santa Barbara’s Alameda Park, where he will discuss the botany and history of selected trees that have been cultivated on these two city blocks.

The walk is set for 9 to 11:30

a.m. at Alameda Park, 1400 Santa Barbara St.

The park is home to 300 trees,

comprising about 75 species from six different continents with at least six of the park’s specimen trees found nowhere else in the Santa Barbara region.

There is a California Big Tree state champion, three trees planted by King Albert and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium on their visit to Santa Barbara in 1919, several specimens over 100 years old, and another nearly 100 feet tall.

Mr. Ballard plans to focus on the species with the best stories.

Mr. Ballard is a natural history educator with a focus on botany and has been a popular field trip

leader for the Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society and other organizations for nearly 25 years. He has offered past tours of the famous collection of trees on the campus of UCSB, as well as educational walks to introduce the trees of valley communities, including Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang. Participation is limited to 20 people and tickets are required. It is $10 for members and $25 for nonmembers. To register, email syvnhs@syvnature.org or call 805-693-5683. email: abahnsen@newspress.com

REVIEW

Never a dull moment

in ‘Book Club’ sequel

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

“Book Club: The Next Chapter” is a real page turner. And much of the credit goes to Mary Steenburgen, Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda and Candice Bergen, who continue to be brilliant in their latest movie together.

The four stars are poignant and hilarious in “Book Club: The Next Chapter,” which is less about books and more about the four women’s adventures and misadventures in Italy.

FYI

“Book Club: The Next Chapter” is playing at the Fairview Theatre in Goleta, Paseo Nuevo Cinemas in downtown Santa Barbara and The Hitchcock Cinema & Pub in Santa Barbara. See metrotheatres.com for the times.

The film is also screening at Movies Lompoc (playingtoday.com) and Regal Edwards Santa Maria & RPX (regmovies.com).

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura. General admission is $15. For active military and their dependents with IDs and seniors 62 years and older, admission is $10, and for ages 5 to 12, admission is $8. Children 4 and under are free.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.castrawberryfestival.org or upon entry to the festival. 2 p.m. Free concerts take place

SOFT WASHING

at 2 p.m. Sundays through July 9 at Hitching Post Wines’ tasting room, 420 State Route 246, Buellton. For more information, visit hpwines.com.

MAY 22 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. The Allan Hancock College Symphonic Band will perform at the Fine Arts Complex at the Santa Maria campus, 800 S. College Drive.

JUNE 3 4 to 7 p.m. Zoo Brew, the Santa

Soft washing is the alternative to pressure washing. We use water based, biodegradable solutions. They emulsify dirt and grime, break down insect nests and webs as well as kill mold, mildew, algae and bacteria. All while sanitizing the surface we are cleaning. Soft washing uses one-third the water of pressure washing, lasts four to six times longer, and doesn’t erode the surface like pressure washing often can.

ADDING HOME VALUE

According to the National Association of Realtors, cleaning the homes exterior (for the home and driveway) can add anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 to the value of your home, making pressure washing one of the most costeffective and time-efficient cleaning techniques. “High pressure washing systems are likely to damage asphalt roofing and should not be used on asphalt roofing for removing algae or for any other purpose.” — Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing Association

Santa Barbara Soft Wash uses processes and roof cleaning solutions that are recommended by the ARMA so you can be reassured that your roof warranty is not voided.

KILLS MOLD, MILDEW, & ALGAE

The problem with high pressure washing is it only strips away the top of the algae bloom, and while it may temporarily remove discoloration, it leaves the root spores on the surface, often blasting them deeper, and allowing them to grow back thicker and healthier. Soft Washing penetrates to the root of the growth, eliminating the discoloration instantly while breaking the bond of the spores and achieving a 100% kill ratio.

Barbara Zoo’s annual fundraiser that caters to beer and animal lovers alike, will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. with a VIP hour from 3 to 4 p.m. The zoo is at 500 Ninos Drive, Santa Barbara. General admission tickets are $75 per person and include unlimited beer tastings and one Zoo Brew 2023 commemorative tasting cup, and VIP tickets are $110. All proceeds benefit the animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo. For more information, call 805-9625339.

— Dave Mason

WINDOW

In the sequel, Carol (Ms. Steenburgen), Diane (Ms. Keaton), Vivian (Ms. Fonda) and Sharon (Ms. Bergen) continued their book club discussions via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic over, the four women decide to take a trip to Italy together before Vivian’s wedding to Arthur (Don Johnson). They go to places such as Venice, where things don’t go according to plan, but somehow, triumphs follow the

“Book Club: The Next Chapter” has a running time of one hour and 47 minutes. It’s rated PG-13 for some strong language and suggestive material.

missteps.

“Book Club: The Next Chapter” has great plot surprises that won’t be spoiled here. And there’s a good mix of drama and comedy among Carol, Diane, Vivian and Sharon, who are insightful and funny because they say what they think with no filter. At a

recent screening, the audience was laughing frequently at the dialogue, which Ms. Steenburgen, Ms. Keaton, Ms. Fonda and Ms. Bergen deliver with total sincerity. And the chemistry among the four stars is incredible. Director Bill Holderman makes good use of that chemistry in the story he co-wrote with Erin Simms for this Focus Features release, which placed No. 3 at the North American box office in its first weekend.

By the way, there’s some good acting by the men behind the women, with Craig T. Nelson, Don Johnson and Andy Garcia playing Bruce (Carol’s husband), Arthur (Vivian’s fiancé) and Mitchell (Diane’s boyfriend), respectively. If you see “Book Club: The Next Chapter,” you’ll laugh. You might also tear up because “Book Club: The Next Chapter” embraces some sweet moments. Bring some tissue.

email: dmason@newspress.com

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ still No. 1 at the box office

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

“Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3,” Marvel Studios’ closing chapter of the superhero team trilogy, continues to top the North American box office. During its second weekend, the film grossed $60.5 million.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” remained the No. 2 film with $13 million.

“Book Club: The Next Chapter” — the sequel starring Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Diane Keaton and Mary Steenburgen — opened

in third place with $6.5 million.

“Evil Dead Rise” dropped to fourth place from third with $3.73 million.

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” — the story of a 11-yearold girl adapting to her new life in the suburbs — fell to fifth place from fourth with $2.5 million.

“Hypnotic,” starring Ben Affleck as a detective investigating his daughter’s disappearance and a secret government program, opened in sixth place with $2.36 million

“John Wick: Chapter 4” dropped to seventh place from sixth with

$1.93 million.

“Love Again” — about a woman meeting a man when she sends text messages to her deceased fiance’s old phone — dropped to eighth place from fifth with $1.55 million.

“Air” — the movie about Nike’s efforts to recruit NBA star Michael Jordan to endorse the Air Jordan shoes — dropped to ninth place from eighth with $768,000.

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” dropped to 10th place from seventh with $741,000. email: dmason@newspress.com

UCSB Capps Center announces this week’s events

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Capps Center at UCSB is hosting a forum at 5 p.m. today on approaches to ending sexual violence on campus, featuring experts from UCSB.

This will take place at Henley Hall Lecture Hall. The panelists include UCSB faculty, students and staff: Erin Khuê Ninh, associate professor and chair, Asian American Studies; Ariana Alvarez, director and Title IX officer, Office of Title IX and Sexual Harassment Policy Compliance; Cierra Sorin, doctoral candidate, sociology; Leila Loose, co-chair, Students Against Sexual Assault; and Briana Miller, director of Campus Advocacy, Resources and Education.

In addition, Capps Center is cosponsoring several events with

other campus and community organizations during the week:

• Today at UCSB Humanities and Social Change Center, a variety of conference presenters will be talking about addiction, specifically regarding its consumption and dilemmas of freedom. The program is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The speakers of this talk are Susan Zieger, professor of English, UC Riverside; Natasha Schüll, associate professor of media, culture and communication at UCSB: and Lucas McCracken, doctoral candidate in religious studies, UCSB.

• “Sensitive People: Cancel Culture and Other Myths” will be covered by a panel from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at UCSB Henley Hall Lecture Hall. Speakers are Kathryn Lofton, FAS dean of humanities, and Lex Hixon,

professor of religious studies and American studies and professor of history and divinity at Yale University.

• A graduate symposium featuring UCSB faculty and graduate students, as well as faculty and graduate students from other universities, will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the West Conference Center. This symposium will specifically highlight the Asian/ American Studies Collective.

• Finally, from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1500 State St., attendees will get the opportunity to have an afternoon with Sister Joan Chittister. Sister Joan Chittister, O.S.B., is the Benedictine nun and executive director of Benetvision. Tickets are $30 and available for purchase at www.trinitysb.org.

email: abahnsen@newspress.com

From left, Carol (Mary Steenburgen), Vivian (Jane Fonda), Diane (Diane Keaton) and Sharon (Candice Bergen) enjoy Italy in “Book Club: The Next Chapter.”

Star-Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and his friends save the day again in “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3,” which again topped the box office last weekend.

COURTESY PHOTO

Naturalist Larry Ballard will lead a walk around Alameda Park in Santa Barbara on June 11.

SUDOKU

Thought for Today

“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.” — Saadi

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

ARIES — A number of loving communications may come your way from people who live in distant states or exotic lands. You’re feeling especially affectionate now, Aries, particularly regarding those closest to you. It might not be a bad idea to get on the phone and talk to people you may not have seen in a long time.

TAURUS — A small amount of money might come your way today, Taurus. It could be a gift, dividend, or bonus. You may want to squander it on gifts for yourself and others rather than put it to more practical use, which is perfectly fine! Books may be especially appealing, particularly those on new spiritual or metaphysical ideas.

GEMINI — You should feel and look great today, Gemini. Your charm and social skills are at a high level, and your joviality and gift for conversation should make you a welcome guest at any social event. And you should be invited to a lot of them - perhaps too many! Enjoy this special time of sociability and friendship.

CANCER — Your psychic abilities and imagination are operating at a very high level, Cancer. You face other people with a profound, spiritual love. They will return it! You might want to write down your thoughts or draw pictures of whatever pops into your mind, even if you don’t feel you have talent.

LEO — Some friends associated with a group you admire might take you to some kind of rally, Leo. This could be a lot of fun for you. You could make some new friends. You’re naturally inclined toward humanitarian concerns, and these might be the focus of some animated discussions today.

VIRGO — You’re naturally a kind, compassionate person, Virgo. Today your feelings are likely to be focused not only on those close to you but also on all the world’s population. A feeling of unity with the billions you’ve never met could overwhelm you now. You might want to write down your impressions so you can refer to them later.

LIBRA — With today’s planetary aspects, Libra, you’re likely to feel a rush of love. This

includes love for family, friends, partner, and all life forms. The reality of spiritual advancement through love is all around you. Your artistic sensibilities are very high, so you might want to write, draw, or paint something that captures your thoughts and feelings.

SCORPIO — You’re feeling especially loving and passionate, Scorpio, and likely to want to pursue a romantic encounter with the special person in your life. Money matters look positive, as your intuition regarding money management has been working well and is likely to continue. Your psychic and intuitive faculties are wide open and receptive.

SAGITTARIUS — Today is a great time to form or strengthen romantic relationships, Sagittarius. If you aren’t involved, chances are you will meet someone. If you are, expect your relationship to develop a new spiritual bond. New friendships, particularly with people who share your interests, are on the horizon.

CAPRICORN — This is an ideal day to begin a creative venture, Capricorn. You’ve had many ideas and creative urges. Today it’s time to choose one and take the first step to making your vision a reality. You will find that the form will change. This is no reason to be discouraged. It’s part of the normal evolution of any work of art. The key here is to begin.

AQUARIUS — Your naturally loving nature gets a boost today, Aquarius. You could look especially attractive, so don’t be surprised if you draw admiring looks from strangers. Romantic novels and movies could seem appealing now, but you’re more interested in the real thing. If you can, try to schedule alone time with the special person in your life.

PISCES — Your energy might turn toward beautifying your home, Pisces. Perhaps you’ve decided to repaint or go in a completely new direction in your decorating taste. Posters or other souvenirs of foreign lands might also be especially appealing now. Expect someone to drop by and bring some interesting news that might get your mind going a thousand miles an hour.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

“No way I would ever get a good result on that deal,” Cy the Cynic told me. We were reviewing the deals after a duplicate.

Cy’s least favorite holding is a doubleton K-Q. It reminds him of marriage, and institution he distrusts.

When Cy beholds a “marriage” in his own hand or dummy, he says it portends disaster.

Cy was declarer at a routine four spades, and West led the deuce of hearts, The Cynic played the jack from dummy, and East took the ace and led the ten of diamonds. Cy cashed the king and queen, then took the A-K of clubs and ruffed a club, hoping to reach his hand for a trump finesse.

12 TRICKS

West overruffed with the king, and Cy’s matchpoint score for plus 650 was poor. Most Souths were plus 680.

“As expected,” Cy growled.

Cy must win the first diamond with the ace. He picks up the trumps, takes the top clubs, ruffs a club, goes to a high diamond in dummy and ruffs a club. He can ruff a diamond in dummy and pitch his last diamond on the good fifth club.

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

left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, and the next player bids two diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner will usually have support for the unbid suits. If his hand is short in diamonds, as the auction suggests, and your hands fit well, you can make game with fewer than 26 points. Bid at least three spades to invite. I would rather bid four than two.

North dealer

Nevada Legislature OKs measure to ask voters if abortion should be constitutional right

By CHRIS WOODWARD

THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – The Nevada Legislature has approved a measure to ask voters whether to make abortion a constitutional right in the state.

Senate Joint Resolution 7 would amend the Nevada Constitution to include “a fundamental right to reproductive freedom.”

“The right of an individual to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, burdened or infringed upon unless justified by a compelling State interest that is achieved by the least restrictive means available,” the resolution’s text reads.

Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, D-Las Vegas, said in a press release that health care decisions should involve patients and their doctors, not politicians.

“After a radical Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, we saw legislatures across the country immediately pursue extreme abortion bans and work to strip away access to reproductive healthcare,” Sen. Cannizzaro said. “Senate Joint Resolution 7 will give voters the opportunity to affirmatively say reproductive freedom is a fundamental constitutional

Senate Joint Resolution 7 would amend the Nevada Constitution to include

right, and to prevent extreme anti-choice politicians in Nevada from imposing draconian restrictions on those rights.”

Assembly Majority Floor Leader Sandra Jauregui, D-Las Vegas, said “the vast majority of Nevadans” agree that rights should not be rolled back or that health care be “criminalized.”

“It’s more important than ever to give Nevada’s voters the opportunity to enshrine their right to reproductive healthcare into the state constitution,”

Assemblymember Jauregui said.

The resolution must now pass the Assembly and the Senate in the 2025 session. If that happens, the issue will be included on the November 2026 general election ballot.

Nevada Republicans and prolife groups did not immediately respond to The Center Square’s requests for comment.

Gov. Abbott to call special sessions if legislature doesn’t pass school choice bill

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – With less two weeks left in the regular legislative session and ahead of a scheduled House committee vote on a watered down school choice bill, Gov. Greg Abbott warned the Republican-led legislature that he would veto any school choice related bill if it doesn’t come close to SB 8, a parental rights and school choice bill, and special sessions would be called until the legislature passes it.

On Sunday night ahead of a scheduled vote by the House Public Education Committee on a watered down version of SB 8, Gov. Abbott said, “This latest version does little to provide meaningful school choice, and legislators deserve to know that it would be vetoed if it reached my desk.

“Instead, the original House version of the Senate bill provides a more meaningful starting point to begin House-Senate negotiations.”

Special sessions will be necessary, Gov. Abbot said, if a meaningful school choice measure is not sent to his desk.

“Empowering parents to choose the best educational path for their child remains an essential priority this session,” he added. “A majority of Texans from across the state and from all backgrounds support expanding school choice.”

The regular legislative session ends May 29. Only the governor can call a special legislative session for 30 days, to be extended by another 30 days. The governor also determines the legislative agenda to be considered during the special sessions.

Gov. Abbott indicated that because of the Republican-led House’s inability to pass meaningful parental rights or school choice bills, the legislature was heading to more than one special session. In 2021, he called

three special legislative sessions after House Democrats absconded to Washington, D.C., and after the legislature failed to pass key priority bills.

SB 8, filed by Sen. Brandon Creighton, RConroe, creates a parent’s bill of rights, a teacher bill of rights, and new school choice options.

The Senate passed the bill April 6. On the same day, the House passed an amendment as part of its budget deliberations attempting to block state money from funding school choice programs like Education Savings Accounts. Twenty-four Republicans joined Democrats opposing school choice funding.

Another 10 were present but abstained from voting, including the chair of the House Public Education Committee, Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado. Buckley, a former school board member with the Killeen Independent School District, is married to the assistant superintendent for secondary schools in the same district.

The Republican-led House’s watered down bill only allows a version of ESAs for special education students and those attending Frated schools, students who already have some school choice options. The Senate plan creates Education Savings Accounts for 62,500 students as a starting point.

Gov. Abbott made parental rights and school choice an emergency legislative item, which includes increasing the number of special needs students who can apply for the ESA program, “expanding school choice options

through ESAs to all Texas students,” and amending the Texas Constitution to “bolster a parent’s right as the primary decision maker in all matters involving their child.” His plan also would require schools to better inform parents of their rights, expand parental access to curriculum and books, reform the grievance process, and strengthen health consent requirements, all measures incorporated in SB 8.

“The Senate’s version of school choice makes about 5.5 million students eligible, while the House’s version of that bill proposed last week would make about 4 million students eligible,” Gov. Abbott said Sunday night. “The latest House version of school choice, which came out this weekend, only applies to about 800,000 students. It also provides less funding for special education students than the original House version of the Senate bill and denies school choice to low-income families that may desperately need expanded education options for their children.”

The governor said that as the regular session progressed, “the number of House members supporting school choice has continued to grow. The realization that the STAAR test will be eliminated if school choice is enacted is attracting even more legislators. No doubt other modifications can be made to the original House version of the Senate bill to attract even more legislators, as well as to bridge the divide with the Senate. Parents and their children deserve the time and effort this will take.”

“a fundamental right to reproductive freedom.”

The regular legislative session ends May 29. Only the governor can call a special legislative session for 30 days, to be extended by another 30 days. The governor also determines the legislative agenda to be considered during the special sessions.