I mentioned this a couple of Best of Bill columns ago, but Noozhawk is excited to be partnering with CalMatters for an engaging and informative election conversation next week.
Our Oct. 14 VotingMatters forum will feature CalMatters partnerships manager Dan Hu leading a discussion on statewide ballot propositions along with Noozhawk executive editor Giana Magnoli, who will be handling local bond and tax initiatives.
The forum — sponsored by Noozhawk, CalMatters and Third Window Brewing Co. — is an exclusive benefit for our Hawks Club members.
You can read our Noozhawk report on it next week, but you should click here to join our Hawks Club so you won’t miss out on our next event and other exclusive opportunities.
Membership has its privileges, and we’re grateful to the several thousand loyal Noozhawk readers whose voluntary financial contributions support us and our mission to deliver the freshest news in Santa Barbara County, 24/7.
According to our WordPress analytics, we delivered to an audience of 120,908 readers this past week.
What follows is my own recap of the Top 5 stories you were reading over that period. In other words, this is my opinion column. It is not a news story.
1. 4 People Injured in Crash on Highway 101 in Western Goleta
Picking up where we left off in last week’s Best of Bill column, a two-vehicle collision on Highway 101 in western Goleta the night of Oct. 7 left four people injured, including two children.
As our Tom Bolton reported, Santa Barbara County fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said the 8 p.m. crash involved a sedan and a Ford F-150 pickup truck just before the northbound Winchester Canyon Road exit ramp, the westernmost exit in Goleta.
The wreck caused the pickup to roll over on its roof off the roadway while the sedan slammed into the center divider.
Safechuck said two adults and two children from one vehicle were transported by American Medical Response ambulances to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment of what were believed to be minor injuries.
The driver of the second vehicle, the lone occupant, declined medical treatment.
No identities were disclosed.
The northbound highway was closed till around 9:30 p.m. so the wreckage could be removed.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstance of the collision. Although not known to be a factor at this point, the area was cloaked in heavy fog that night.
2. 22 Units of Housing Proposed Across from Santa Barbara Cemetery and Bird Refuge
The Santa Barbara Cemetery Association has unveiled plans to build 22 apartments directly across from the cemetery between Channel Drive and the Union Pacific railroad tracks.
Our Josh Molina reported that the proposed development — at 1 Hot Springs Road near the new East Cabrillo Boulevard roundabout across from the Andree Clark Bird Refuge — includes a mix of two- and three-story townhouses averaging 1,421 square feet each.
During a recent Historic Landmarks Commission meeting, the project received enthusiastic support.
Commissioner Dennis Doordan humorously noted that story poles wouldn’t be necessary, quipping, “Most of your neighbors are dead.”
The development, which would be an income source for the cemetery, includes 12 three-bedroom apartments, five two-bedroom units and five studios, including four below-market units.
Parking for 50 vehicles would be provided along with garages for residents.
The city landmark Charles Caldwell Park Watering Trough and Fountain, designed in the Beaux Arts style by architect Francis Wilson in 1911, would be retained and enhanced with a water bottle and refill station for the public.
While minor design adjustments were suggested, commissioners praised the concept.
“It is fantastic,” commissioner Cass Ensberg said. “I love it. I can’t imagine what I would suggest to make it better.”
Commissioner Michael Drury was equally enthusiastic.
“You are basically building a neighborhood,” he told the development team. “It could be a good benchmark project for the city.”
3. BizHawk: Namaste Indian Bistro Set to Open Soon on State Street
The latest addition to Santa Barbara’s downtown dining scene is Namaste Indian Bistro, which just opened at 1218 State St. next to The Granada Theatre.
As our Josh Molina reported, owner Rohit Singh operates a similar establishment in Riverside but decided a move was in order.
“Santa Barbara is good, the weather is good,” he told Josh. “People like Indian food here.”
Looking at the Namaste menu, it’s not hard to see why. The Shrimp Biriyani and the Veg Tandoori Salad sure caught my eye.
The spacious venue — whose past greatest hits include Bedda Mia Sicilian Cuisine, Mollie’s and Tupelo Junction — can accommodate 100 diners indoors and has additional outdoor seating.
It also joins at least three other Indian eateries downtown: Apna Indian Kitchen, Bibi Ji and Indian Tandoori Kingdom.
Namaste is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
4. Santa Barbara First Responders Mourn Loss of Retired Fire Captain Anthony ‘Tony’ Pighetti
Retired Santa Barbara fire Capt. Anthony “Tony” Pighetti, a giant in the development of critical mental wellness programs for first responders, died Oct. 9 after going missing while paddleboarding off Montecito’s Miramar Beach the evening before.
SBFD spokeswoman Liliana Encinas said the 58-year-old Pighetti was reported missing Oct. 8 by his family when he didn’t return before nightfall as planned.
After an extensive all-night search, Pighetti was found by the U.S. Coast Guard early the next day. He was rushed to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where he died around 9 a.m.
The San Marcos High School graduate served nearly 30 years with SBFD before retiring in 2019. He was instrumental in developing peer support programs for firefighters locally and statewide, advocating for mental health awareness in the first responder community.
After the Fire Chiefs Association of Santa Barbara County tapped Pighetti as the countywide Peer Support Team coordinator, he leaped into action.
He ensured that local firefighters had access to trained support professionals and clinicians, and trained team members from all local fire agencies to recognize signs of mental health needs among firefighters.
His work extended well beyond Santa Barbara County, including supporting firefighters affected by last year’s deadly Lahaina Fire in Maui.
Pighetti is survived by his wife, Andrea; son Josh and his wife, Cammie, and granddaughter Quincy; daughter Paige and her husband, Dylan, who are expecting a son in February; son Jake and his fiancé, Jenna; and his loyal golden retriever, Donuts.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Rest in peace.
5. Peter Rupert: Rent Control Is a Renter’s Nightmare
Peter Rupert, executive director of the UCSB Economic Forecast Project, unpacks the Nov. 5 ballot initiative, Proposition 33, which would eliminate California’s 1995 Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.
Backed by decades of data from around the globe, the UC Santa Barbara economics professor contends that expanding rent control would harm the state’s already frazzled and fraying housing market.
Rupert cites specific examples from Argentina and the Netherlands, where rent control resulted in reduced housing supply and higher overall rents.
He explains that rent control disincentivizes landlords from maintaining properties and developers from building new units.
His commentary argues that while housing affordability is a serious issue, rent control unfairly burdens landlords and is ineffective. As alternatives, he suggests housing vouchers, zoning law changes and permitting more manufactured homes, which aren’t limited to mobile homes.
Perhaps most significantly, Rupert warns that passing Prop. 33 would allow local governments to impose rent control on all units regardless of age and implement rent increase caps for new tenants.
Rupert concludes that controlling prices by government fiat is an ineffective solution to housing affordability problems. But that’s a lesson I think all Americans may soon have to learn all over again — and not just with housing.
Full disclosure: I’m a board member of the UCSB Economic Forecast Project and am proud of the work we do. Or more accurately, what Rupert does.
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Good Reads
Here are six more stories you should read before you go:
» County Salutes Heroism of Officers After Santa Maria Court Bombing — North County editor Janene Scully is on hand for the ceremony honoring the heroic law enforcement and security personnel whose very quick reactions kept the Sept. 25 Santa Maria courthouse bombing from becoming much worse than it was.
» Developer Rick Caruso Pitches Miramar Project to County Planning Commission — Having successfully sidelined the Montecito Planning Commission, the Rosewood Miramar Resort takes its chances with the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission. South County editor Josh Molina is following the spectacle.
» Semi Truck Hauling Pumpkins Overturns on Highway 101 Near Buellton — Executive editor Giana Magnoli could have let down her gourd but she played it straight with her squash story, I mean crash story.
» Film Festival Leases Former Fiesta Five Theater in Big Downtown Shakeup — Josh rolls the credits on the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s new home.
» Sansum Clinic, Sutter Health Expand Staffing in First Year of Partnership — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway has a checkup on the partnership of Sansum Clinic and Sutter Health.
» Courtney Brewer of Santa Barbara, 1965-2024 — Popular and longtime Monroe School teacher Courtney Brewer lost her two-year battle with cancer, but the impact she made in the community will be long remembered. #rip and prayers to her family and friends.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? SpaceX Rocket Loudly Departs Vandenberg Space Force Base.
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What I’m Up To
Although I’m not looking for a free meal, I occasionally do have free time if you’re looking for a speaker for your club, group or organization and want to hear more about Noozhawk. Email me at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
I’ll Google it: Is a Chat with a Bot a Conversation?
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
It was a light week for me in my Instagram feed, but some old #montecito memories came flooding back.
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Watch It
Last week’s Top Gun video inspired this week’s Top Gun video. HT to Best of Bill reader Maddie Levina.
