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This past week, Noozhawk had an audience of 114,046 readers, according to our Google Analytics. What follows is my own weekly recap of the Top 5 most-read stories of the previous seven days.
And by “recap,” I mean this is my opinion column. It is not a news story.
I’m afraid this week’s edition of my Best of Bill column is a bit dark, and it’s not made any cheerier by the loss of our longtime friend and colleague, Dave Loveton.
Dave was one of the finest sports writers I’ve ever worked with, and few could so effortlessly report a game story like he could — regardless of sport. He was a joy to edit and to read, and he was revered locally for his unerring accuracy and attention to even the tiniest of details.
A few of us at Noozhawk had worked with Dave in a previous life, and we were delighted when sports editor Barry Punzal brought him aboard several years ago as an extra hand. He was the consummate professional and he helped us expand our sports coverage.
Tragically, Dave had been battling stage 4 renal cancer for the last three years. He had the heart of a warrior and he fought fiercely, but cancer is a formidable foe. It finally robbed him of his life on April 28 at age 62.
Rest in peace, Dave. It was a privilege.
1. Authorities Release Names of 2 Young Men Killed in Separate Vehicle Crashes in Santa Barbara County
April 25 was a brutal day on the highways and byways of Santa Barbara County, with two young men dying in terrible crashes just hours apart.
As our Tom Bolton first reported, 23-year-old Jonathan Garcia-Bogarin of Goleta was driving his 2021 Jeep Gladiator off road near West Camino Cielo above Goleta when the pickup truck overturned.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Garcia-Bogarin was partially ejected in the 12:30 p.m. crash about four miles west of the Winchester Canyon Gun Club. Pinned by the wreckage, he suffered major trauma and was declared dead at the scene by responding Santa Barbara County firefighters.
Several hours earlier, authorities were alerted to a wrecked vehicle off southbound Highway 101 on the Solomon Grade south of Orcutt. When county firefighters and other emergency personnel arrived around 6:25 a.m., they found the driver dead of his injuries.
Authorities say he was not wearing a seatbelt and had been ejected from the car, a 2016 Lexus sedan.
County fire Capt. Daniel Bertucelli told Tom that the car apparently had veered off the highway at a high rate of speed and rolled over several times after the driver overcorrected. Investigators believe the wreck happened overnight but was not discovered until dawn.
Santa Barbara County sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick identified the victim as 22-year-old Angel David Morales of Santa Maria.
The CHP is investigating the circumstances and causes of both crashes.
Known as “J.B.,” Garcia-Bogarin was a 2015 graduate of Dos Pueblos High School, where he played varsity soccer. Friends describe him as a kind and loyal friend, an off-road and backroad enthusiast, and a gifted photographer. His Instagram account, @jb.capturess, is filled with stunningly beautiful images from his adventures.
Funeral services are pending, but a GoFundMe account has been established to help his family with expenses. As of April 30, more than $23,000 had been raised. Click here to make an online donation.
A GoFundMe account also was established to assist the family of Morales, who is survived by his wife and their infant daughter. As of April 30, nearly $36,000 had been raised.
Morales’ cousin, Mario Meza of Santa Maria, called him a “beautiful soul” with an unmistakable laugh, and said he was “so excited to be a father.”
Funeral services are pending. Click here to make an online donation.
2. State Street Property Owners Consider Bringing in Private Security to Address Homeless Challenges
Ask anyone to name the biggest downer about downtown Santa Barbara and the uniform response will be the out-of-control homeless issue. Whether a landlord, a business owner, an employee, a tourist, even many homeless people themselves, the answer is the same.
It’s been that way for years, and the vagrancy has only gotten worse with the COVID-19 crisis.
From time to time, an elected official or two will take up the cause, but for the most part they’ve washed their hands of this piece of the — admittedly — intractable challenge. People can complain all they want, but City Hall is convinced that the dogs will bark and the parade will pass.
Besides, electric bikes can solve climate change. Let’s do that!
Frustrated property owners have about had enough, however. Realizing their financial contributions to the City of Santa Barbara are more like ATM withdrawals and recognizing that their exhaustively compiled documentation of incidents, offenders and outright lawbreakers is being ignored, they’re stirring to action.
The Santa Barbara Leadership Team, representing property owners who are fed up with the condition of State Street and surrounding corners, nooks and crannies, is exploring the creation of a State Street Association to hire private security to provide actual policing in area.
I’m not convinced that’s a good idea, but I certainly understand the sentiment — having witnessed all kinds of revolting behavior that I can’t unsee.
Jim Knell, chairman of SIMA Corp., one of the largest downtown landlords, touts the track record of private security at his properties.
“Without public police or a private security force, we’re fighting a losing battle,” he told our Josh Molina. “It’s a big plus to have a group like Mission Security be able to escort people off our properties.
“When they do escort them off our properties and they are in the public space, the game changes.”
That’s where things get murky. Private property owners are able to remove people from their buildings and land, but public sidewalks are, well, public.
Anyone has a legal right to be on a public sidewalk — you, me, or someone who is sharing a head with several personalities. This is America.
But there may be approaches that can make a difference, specifically public-private partnerships that must be part of an actual long-range strategy.
Interim police Chief Barney Melekian acknowledges the alliance possibilities.
“I don’t see any super downside to it,” he said, before adding that police officers and private security guards all must understand and accept the clear jurisdictional boundaries.
But the homeless issue — and its root causes — is bigger than State Street, downtown and Santa Barbara.
“I really think that until we have a true city/county partnership, and take a true regional approach in dealing with this, there are some jurisdictional issues that really get in the way of trying to solve this, just in terms of finding space and where to put people and how to get them to go there,” Melekian said.
3. Delta IV Heavy Rocket Soars Into Clear Blue Skies from Vandenberg Air Force Base
Right on schedule, an enormous Delta IV Heavy rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base on April 26, carrying a clandestine cargo into space.
The 23-story-tall, 810-ton United Launch Alliance rocket was delivering a U.S. spy satellite into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office.
As our Janene Scully reported, the rocket lifted off at 1:46 p.m. from Space Launch Complex-6 on South Base.
The launch left a white contrail as the rocket soared into the clear blue sky west of Lompoc, but it was largely invisible on Santa Barbara County’s South Coast.
From my backyard office, I was able to follow the flames from the booster until a larger flash signaled the rocket’s nose cone separating less than 10 minutes after liftoff.
4. BizHawk: Plans for Gas Station at Coffee Shop Site in Western Goleta Generate Buzz
The old Zizzo’s Coffee on Storke Road in Goleta has quietly been converted to The Point Coffee but, as our Josh Molina reported April 22, the new place is more of a short coffee break while something bigger is brewing.
Local developer John Price, who owns more than a dozen gas stations — and several car washes — around the South Coast, plans to break ground on a new Fuel Depot gas station at the 370 Storke Road site over the summer.
A self-service car wash will be torn down to build the six-bay gas station, and Price is pursuing approval from the City of Goleta to rebuild the car wash behind it.
According to Josh, Price wants to keep the rare drive-through entitlement on the one-acre lot so the coffee shop itself will stay. For now.
He said several suitors have come courting, including cannabis companies, Starbucks, Dutch Bros Coffee and Chick-fil-A.
Not all offers will be considered as Price has said he’s mindful of the already heavy traffic on Storke Road.
“We’re gonna do what’s right for the community and what’s right for the business,” he told Josh.
5. Lompoc Police Release Name of 28-Year-Old Man Shot, Killed in Vehicle
A Lompoc man, who was gunned down as he sat in a car April 22, has been identified as 28-year-old Alfredo Vargas.
As our Janene Scully first reported, Lompoc police were dispatched around 5:30 p.m. to the 600 block of West Maple Avenue near North H Street, following 9-1-1 calls about a shooting.
Sgt. Vincent Magallon said the victim was found in a parked car and rushed to Lompoc Valley Medical Center, where he he died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Later, Magallon said, a Chevrolet Malibu believed to have been associated with the shooting was found — on fire — off Ocean Avenue, near Legge Avenue west of the city.
At this point in the story, it won’t surprise you to learn that the car had been reported stolen in Santa Maria two days before.
Police are asking any witnesses to the shooting and anyone with surveillance video from the commercial neighborhood where it occurred to contact detectives at 805.736.2341.
• • •
Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? City of Santa Barbara Ready to Enter Big Deal With Paseo Nuevo.
• • •
Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
How did we ever survive? Mom, How Come the Kids in These Old Books Are Allowed Outside Without a Parent or Cell Phone?
• • •
Best of Bill’s Instagram
A Pacific gopher snake is a welcome sight in my orchard in my Instagram feed this past week, but @sadiethealaskanmalamute got the #vip treatment at the @cottagehealth #covid19 #vaccineclinic at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital.
• • •
Watch It
When the rules of engagement seem to change almost hourly.
(Trey Kennedy video)
• • •
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— Bill Macfadyen is Noozhawk’s founder and publisher. Contact him at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com, follow him on Instagram: @bill.macfadyen, or click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
