Another hat in the ring
A look at ‘Fast X’
Sen. Tim Scott announces he’s running for president - A4
Review: Sequal delivers surprise, keeps viewers guessing - B1
Our 167th Year
75¢
T U E SDAY, M AY 23, 2 023
NEWS-PRESS SPECIAL REPORT
City goes step by step through budget ballet Santa Barbara City council scheduled to vote on Fiscal 2024 plan on June 13 Editor’s note: This concludes a three-part News-Press series on the city of Santa Barbara’s budget. By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
City budgets can seem dull, dry to the point where just trying to read them makes people’s eyes glaze over. And many people find it doesn’t help to
include mind-numbing budget jargon like “structural deficit” and “expenditure reduction targets.” One way to hang in there and cut through the mind fog is to consider what the budget represents. It’s really nothing more than simply listing how much the city needs to operate over the next year to pay for such things as police officers and firefighters responding to emergencies; parks and
City staff have worked for more than a year preparing for this moment. Armed with long-range, multi-year forecasts, they’ve been keeping a careful eye on the numbers to see if their predictions were accurate. They were. Staff already knew that the new, Fiscal Please see BUDGET on A4
By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
For months, the owners of some downtown Santa Barbara’s outdoor parklets have been pressed by staff to meet city council requirements concerning ADA accessibility, stormwater runoff and overall design. Owners who have resisted, or for some other reason have failed to meet the deadlines set by council, have been targeted for repeat inspections, sent correction notices, received administrative citations and issued fines. Nothing worked, so staff issued a final ultimatum: Remove your parklets or we’ll do it for you — and bill you for the cost. The removal order was sent April 17 and the deadline was April 24. Unless, of course, the owners decided to appeal their ouster order for ADA violations directly to the Santa Barbara City Council, an option six of them have decided to exercise by taking an opportunity to publicly tell their side of the story. Their appeals will be considered today. The parklets are on the agenda of the council’s meeting, set for 2 p.m. at Santa Barbara City Hall, 735 Anacapa St. Five of the six parklets are in Santa Barbara. The sixth is in Montecito but within the Santa Barbara city limits. Those appealing their parklets’ ouster — listed officially as a “suspension of authorization to operate and maintain an outdoor business facility” — are: • Taza Mediterranean Street Kitchen, 413 State St. • Ca’Dario Restaurant, 37 E. Victoria St. • Courthouse Tavern 129 E. Anapamu St. • Trattoria Vittoria, 30 E. Victoria St. • Foxtail Kitchen and Bar, 14 E. Cota St. • Folded Hills Wintery, 1294 Coast Village Road, Montecito. Please see COUNCIL on A2
C.A.R.E.4Paws — a Santa Barbara County nonprofit that keeps animals out of shelters and improves quality of life for pet families in need — hosted its Happy Tails Celebration and Fundraiser Sunday at the Music Academy of the West. The Montecito event highlighted the work that the organization has been doing in the community and features personal stories and memories from some of the pet owners they help. The event featured guitarist Michael Holland, who provided background music for the crowd to enjoy. Additionally, there were lots of food and drink to partake in, including local wine from La Lieff Wines, craft beer by Rincon Brewery, as well as C.A.R.E.4Paws’ featured “meowgaritas.” The main fundraising portion of the night was a live auction where attendees could bid for various baskets, experiences and fun animal-related items. Specifically, some items offered were animal portraits, a VIP tour with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation or a flight on a search mission finding lost dogs. Donations were often tripled, which gave multiple buyers the opportunity to experience something they
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Four-legged attendees were part of the C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Happy Tails Celebration and Fundraiser Sunday at the Music Academy of the West in Montecito.
wanted. The fundraiser raised close to $170,000, a new event record, according to Isabelle Gullö, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ co-founder and executive director. She told the News-Press that $100,000 was raised directly at the event and
the rest was raised through sponsorships. There also was a matching grant from the Sparacio Foundation, and the organization matched $50,000 during the auction event. This helped encourage those at the
event to donate and bid. According to Ms. Gullö, the money will go directly back to the organization, “helping thousands of pet families in need in the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo areas.” Recently, C.A.R.E.4Paws expanded to San Luis Obispo with its Mobile Clinic, which allows more families to be assisted on-the-go with whatever pet needs they may have. The money raised will help support this area of the organization. “Thanks to the wonderful support for C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Happy Tails event, we will be able to help thousands of pet families in need, keeping animals healthy and with the people who love them!” exclaimed Ms. Gullö. The event also featured multiple people talking about their “Happy Tails,” sharing how the organization has positively impacted their lives. “It is really heartwarming,” said Ms. Gullö. The event was a success, and Ms. Gullö alongside the entire organization is thankful for the support. If you would like more information on C.A.R.E.4Paws, visit care4paws.org. email: abahnsen@newspress.com
The case of Nellie Gackowska — a transient woman who allegedly grabbed Santa Barbara resident Rebecca Brand’s cellphone and allegedly hit Ms. Brand with the phone on Christmas eve, bruising her thigh — remains unresolved almost five months later. During a hearing Monday in a Santa Barbara courtroom, the case was continued to June 6 for further arraignment so the court could make a determination on a motion to dismiss by Annie Hayes, Ms. Gackowska’s defense attorney. “The defense attorney had filed a motion to dismiss the case, and I filed a written opposition,” Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Branch told the News-Press. Ms. Gackowska was charged Please see ASSAULT on A2
COURTESY REBECCA BRAND
Rebecca Brand stands in front of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office. She testified Monday, reading from a written statement during part of the testimony, in the case of a homeless woman who allegedly grabbed Ms. Brand’s cellphone and struck Ms. Brand’s thigh with it.
LOTTERY
i n s i de Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A4
Assault case continued to June 6 Rebecca Brand testifies in court that Nellie Gackowska injured her
Isabelle Gullo, executive director and co-founder of C.A.R.E.4Paws, addresses the audience during the Happy Tails Celebration.
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Event raises breaking-recording $170,000 for C.A.R.E.4Paws
Six businesses are allegedly in violation of requirements
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Perhaps it would also help to think of the city budget less as a set of static figures than a dynamic process, a choreographed, coordinated series of steps designed to flow seamlessly from one to the next. A kind of budget ballet, if you will. Thus, it might make sense to consider the budget one step at a time, from start to finish, especially now, when the process stands at the halfway mark.
Happy Tails indeed
SB City Council to review parklets
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recreation workers maintaining city parks while simultaneously offering ways for people to enjoy them; public works crews making sure the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure function without a hitch; and the city administrator’s office ensuring it all runs smoothly. The flip side of the budget, of course, is to make sure there’s enough money to cover expenses.
Sudoku................. B3 Sports ................... A3 Weather................ A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 2-3-31-42-45 Mega: 19
Monday’s DAILY 4: 8-0-7-4
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 5-11-41-44-55 Mega: 14
Monday’s FANTASY 5: 14-19-25-30-39
Monday’s DAILY DERBY: 10-08-03 Time: 1:44.28
Monday’s POWERBALL: 17-23-32-38-63 Meganumber: 23
Monday’s DAILY 3: 6-4-8 / Midday 3-5-9