Republicans urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to act to prevent gas price hikes

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — California’s Republican state legislators are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to take steps to ease the financial burden for California families as summer approaches.

In a letter dated Feb. 21, and signed by all of the party’s 18 Assembly members and eight state senators, the representatives asked for three actions to be considered to ease the burden for Californians “struggling to afford the rapidly increasing cost of basic necessities.”

The letter asked for a stop on the gas tax hike, an extension of the diesel tax holiday and a delay in the fuel blend transition. The request comes as Gov. Newsom’s gas tax proposal is scheduled for a hearing today.The group argued that Californians already pay more than 50% above the national average for gas. An 8% increase is expected to take effect in July 2023. The Republicans are asking for relief from the 2023 increase through a suspension of the gas tax increase.

On Tuesday, the price for gas was $4.738 a gallon in California and $4.723 a gallon in Santa Barbara County, according to the American Automobile Association.

The war in the Ukraine, begun in 2022, has pushed prices upward. In response, President Joe Biden made what the White

House calls “a historic release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to serve as a bridge to greater supply” in 2022, but it was not clear from the start how significantly gas prices would be reduced by this course of action.

In November 2021, 50 million barrels of crude from the reserves were released in an effort to reduce the already high costs at the pump. Another 30 million

Please see GAS PRICES on A2 suspicion of making criminal threats but were unable to locate him.

That changed about 7:30 a.m. Saturday when the Santa Maria Police Detective Bureau took over the investigation.

Detectives were able to track the suspect to a location in the Orcutt area near Foster Road and Hummel Drive.

At about 2:20 p.m. Saturday, Santa Maria police detectives, with assistance from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and the Santa Maria Police Patrol Division, were able to safely locate and arrest Mr. Varelas without incident, police said. He was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on the criminal threats warrant, and he is being held there on $250,000 bail.

During the initial investigation, several more social media posts allegedly were made by Mr. Varelas and observed by officers in real time involving further threats against Santa Maria police officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said.

Mr. Varelas’ threats allegedly referenced previous police contact and current threats to “kill” officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said.

Further investigation confirmed that Mr. Varelas was allegedly targeting and stalking officers’ homes in the Santa Maria area, Sgt. Rios said.

Officers obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Varelas on email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Investigators are recommending that the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office review the case for related stalking charges.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact SMPD Detective Eduardo Servin at 805-928-3781, ext. 1362, or the SMPD Communications Center at 805-928 -3781, ext. 2277. Sgt. Rios did not return the News-Press’ phone calls Monday or Tuesday seeking comment on a possible motive for Mr. Varelas’ alleged online threats.

Turkey coop destroyed by fire

BUELLTON — An early morning fire Tuesday destroyed a turkey coop at Pork Palace, 1400 State Route 1, Santa Barbara County Fire officials said.

The 15-foot-by-20-foot turkey coop was fully involved in flames when firefighters arrived after 7:30 a.m., officials said.

The fire was knocked down 20 minutes later.

Firefighters kept the flames from adjacent structures.

An unknown number of turkeys succumbed to the fire, but multiple chickens were saved, officials said.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

— Neil Hartstein