The nonprofit community is not only essential to Santa Barbara County’s well-being, it’s a significant driver of our local economy.
And it has been an important part of Noozhawk’s focus and identity since we launched nearly 19 years ago.
We’re a for-profit business, supported primarily by local advertising revenue and the generosity of our Hawks Club members.
From the beginning, we’ve counted a wide range of nonprofit organizations among our clients, but we’ve always worked to make sure they receive real value for their investment.
We don’t want to divert precious resources from the local nonprofit community. We strive to be additive — helping organizations advance their missions and amplify the important work they do, not competing with them for funding through large operational grants from foundations and philanthropists.
It’s in that spirit that we’re excited to partner with the Grace Fisher Foundation on a Nonprofit Media Workshop, the first in a series we’re launching for nonprofit organizations around Santa Barbara County.
On Sept. 9, sales and marketing director Sheridan Taphorn, executive editor Giana Magnoli, sales and marketing manager Claudia Delgado, sales representatives Justin Souza and Jasmin Frausto, copy editor Marcia Heller and I will share practical strategies nonprofits can use to work more effectively with the media, tell their stories and reach the audiences they need.
Email staphorn@noozhawk.com for more information.
According to our WordPress analytics, Noozhawk had an audience of 131,296 readers this past week.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading during that period, as tracked by our Google Analytics.
This is my opinion column, which I write in my civic capacity as Noozhawk’s publisher. It is not a news story, and I am not a reporter.
1. After Years of Debate, Santa Barbara Adopts Final State Street Master Plan
To absolutely no one’s surprise, the Santa Barbara City Council adopted the State Street Master Plan on Sept. 1, enshrining our former main street as a permanent bicycle freeway — at an astronomical cost that will be paid in more than project dollars.
Our Rebecca Caraway did a fantastic job reporting on the meeting, but two quotes stood out to me. Together, they perfectly capture the philosophical divide that has defined six years of debate over State Street.
And rent control.
And stewardship of the City of Santa Barbara’s increasingly precarious finances.
First, City Councilman Eric Friedman:
“I can almost guarantee you it’s not going to cost $100 million and be done in six years,” he said. “It’s going to cost more, and it’s going to take longer.
“If we leave it as is for the next six years, that is why those who are not buying in are saying they don’t have six years to wait, and they need some type of circulation.”
Then City Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon:
“I’m not worried that we don’t know where exactly every dollar is going to come from right now,” she said.
“If we make a plan, and that’s how we’re oriented, the funding will come. There are investors who are waiting for us to be decisive.”
And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen.
Those two quotes crystallize the stark choice Santa Barbara voters will face in the upcoming mayoral election between Friedman and Sneddon.
Whether you want State Street open or closed almost becomes secondary. Remember those two quotes.
They reveal fundamentally different approaches to governing — to spending, risk, accountability and the role of City Hall.
And virtually every major issue facing Santa Barbara can be viewed through that same lens.
The current City Council majority won’t put State Street or rent control directly before the voters. But you have a chance to render your verdict on both — and on the city’s broader direction — with your vote for Friedman or Sneddon.
Choose wisely.
2. Missing Kern County Man Found Dead Near Santa Barbara Jail
A Kern County man was found dead in brush near the Santa Barbara County Jail eight days after he was released from custody and reported missing.
As our Evelyn Spence reported, 53-year-old David Mireles of Shafter was released the morning of Aug. 20 after being booked on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI the night before.
Five hours later, deputies learned he had been reported missing and searched the jail grounds and surrounding area without finding him.
His family described Mireles as at risk because of health conditions and said he had no phone, wallet or identification when released.
His body eventually was found beneath brush on a hillside adjacent to the jail administration building at 4436 Calle Real.
Authorities believe Mireles died shortly after his release.
No foul play is suspected. The sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau is investigating his death.
Mireles’ nephew established a GoFundMe account to assist his family with funeral expenses.
As of Sept. 4, the campaign had raised $300. Click here to make an online donation.
3. Camp Canine Drains, Closes Pool After Dog Drowning
The wading pool where a year-old English bulldog drowned at a Santa Barbara dog daycare facility in July has been drained and closed and will soon be removed.
As our Pricila Flores reported, Camp Canine general manager Jayne Sigman said the facility has resumed full daycare, grooming and boarding services, although with a limited number of dogs.
“We have had a soft opening due to our longtime customers’ wishes and needs for doggie daycare,” she said.
Sigman said employees are undergoing intensive pet CPR training and have been reviewing procedures at the facility at 803 E. Montecito St.
Daycare operations were suspended temporarily after the July 16 drowning of the English bulldog named Bruce, who was supposed to be in the small-dog enclosure but somehow ended up in the large-dog section where the pool was.
Widespread outrage erupted over his death and how his owners, Ashley and Chris Merz of Ventura, learned about it — which was when Chris Merz arrived to pick up his pet after what was supposed to be a day of play only to be handed his lifeless body instead.
Adding gasoline to the fire was a bystander who recorded Merz’s understandably anguished reaction and then uploaded the voyeuristic video to the internet.
The resulting fury included demands that the 42-year-old Camp Canine be shut down and its two-generation family owners be run out of town.
Oh, and who can forget the bullying and threats of violence from self-described “dog lovers” trolling social media accounts of anyone who declined to grab a pitchfork and light a torch?
Not me. I kept the receipts.
The Camp Canine pool apparently lacked required permits. Santa Barbara police said the investigation is ongoing, and includes a previous city code enforcement case involving the pool.
Authorities say the case has been submitted to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.
4. Goleta Commission Clears Path for 59-Unit Hollister Avenue Housing Project
Concerns about emergency access and building heights accompanied the Goleta Planning Commission’s unanimous approval of a 59-unit housing project on Hollister Avenue.
As our Pricila Flores reported, the commission voted 4-0 to approve City Ventures’ plans for 7360 Hollister Ave., where four structures would be demolished and replaced by a dozen three-story townhome buildings a few blocks west of Pacific Oaks Road.
The all-electric, modern farmhouse-style townhomes would range from 1,292 to 1,628 square feet, with three units designated for very-low-income households.
The project seeks a state density-bonus concession allowing buildings up to 38.6 feet, above Goleta’s 35-foot limit.
Neighbors at the adjacent Ellwood Station mobile home park have objected to the height and potential loss of privacy.
Commissioners generally praised the project but expressed disappointment that it includes only three affordable units.
“They are meant to be first homes for future homeowners,” explained Nick Patterson, City Ventures’ development manager.
The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce expressed its support for the project.
“With housing options becoming scarce and increasingly more expensive, more home ownership opportunities support people like me who grew up here or those who moved to the region to work,” said Rachel Murphy, the chamber’s public policy coordinator.
Commissioner Rita Serotkin questioned whether fire and emergency vehicles would have adequate access and suggested extending Entrance Road around the rear of the property to improve emergency response.
Which reminds me: Whatever happened to the City of Goleta’s mythical Fire Station 10 at the west end of Hollister Avenue across from Sandpiper Golf Club?
Serotkin and commissioners Jennifer Fullerton, Katie Maynard and Cary Penniman voted for the project. Commissioner Anne Miller was absent.
5. Vegetation Fire Breaks Out off Santa Barbara’s Foothill Road, Forward Progress Stopped
Firefighters quickly contained a brush fire along Arroyo Burro Creek in the Santa Barbara foothills, and tackled two other small blazes burning in Santa Barbara County over the last week.
As our Evelyn Spence reported, Santa Barbara County and Los Padres National Forest crews responded around 7:20 p.m. Aug. 28 to a quarter-acre fire near Arroyo Burro Creek and Barger Canyon Road, north of Foothill Road and to the east of North La Cumbre Road.
Authorities said that although the flames were burning toward one structure, firefighters stopped their forward progress within 10 minutes.
There were no injuries in the blaze, which remains under investigation.
On Aug. 31, Santa Barbara County and Kern County firefighters responded to a one-acre vegetation fire near the 300 block of Wasioja Road in New Cuyama.
The blaze was burning downhill on the western side of a hill.
Earlier that day, crews battled a 50-by-50-foot brush fire along railroad tracks near Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Several sheds burned near Black and Point Sal roads in Casmalia, but Union Pacific railroad operations apparently were unaffected.
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Good Reads
Check out these six stories, too:
» Strong Rip Currents Expected Through Labor Day Weekend at Local Beaches — Staff writer Pricila Flores remains safely onshore while combing the beach for signs of rip currents.
» Subterranean Homeless Encampment in Carpinteria Removed after Fire — South County editor Evelyn Spence digs up a story on an underground homeless hovel that was only discovered with a fire inside.
» BizHawk: Mullet-Themed Cocktail Bar Opens in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone — I don’t get to use the word “mullet” in my Best of Bill column as much as I’d like. HT to Pricila for giving me the opportunity.
» Equestrian Arena Coming to Santa Ynez under Agricultural Enterprise Ordinance — Staff writer Jack Dindia is along for the ride as an enclosed, 45,000-square-foot equestrian arena is approved for Santa Ynez.
» Sheriff’s Lt. Butch Arnoldi Prepares to Retire After 53-Year Career — Congratulations to my friend, Santa Barbara County sheriff’s Lt. Butch Arnoldi on his upcoming retirement. Staff writer Daniel Green has the details.
» Mark Patton: Ben Howland Followed the Bouncing Ball All the Way into the Hall of Fame — Sports columnist Mark Patton scores a nothing-but-net feature on Goleta’s own Ben Howland, one of several inductees into this year’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Hall of Fame.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Sutter Health Criticized After Viral Video of Santa Barbara Urgent Care Staff Mocking Patients.
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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.
Sept. 9 — Noozhawk is hosting a Nonprofit Media Workshop in partnership with the Grace Fisher Foundation. Sales and marketing director Sheridan Taphorn, executive editor Giana Magnoli, sales and marketing manager Claudia Delgado, sales representatives Justin Souza and Jasmin Frausto, copy editor Marcia Heller and I will will cover practical ways to work more effectively with media tools. Email staphorn@noozhawk.com for more information.
Sept. 29 — Noozhawk and CalMatters are partnering again on a VotingMatters forum, this one focused on the race for state insurance commissioner and the ballot measures on the Nov. 3 ballot. We’ll have more details next week.
Oct. 29 — I don’t recognize who Scouting America — Los Padres Council is describing, but I’m being honored with the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award at the annual Salute to Scouting celebration at the Santa Barbara Club, #myhomeawayfromhome.
Dec. 10 — Having not learned their lesson from last year, the Channel City Club has invited me back to emcee its Christmas brunch at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. I’m privileged to do this in honor of my close friend, the late Erin Graffy, the club’s longtime host.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Now this woman was a mother: Hero Mom Dies After Sacrificing Herself to Save Toddler Daughter from House Fire.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
Oak tree down in my Instagram feed this past week. That’s about it.
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Watch It
The only thing missing is Lane Kiffin.
