I’m over winter, which officially ended March 20 — not that it got the message.
The latest in a very long line of weekly storms arrived later that night, lingering through March 23 as it dropped another inch or two of rain around much of Santa Barbara County.
The deluge added to one of the soggiest rainy seasons in recent memory, and it was accompanied by damaging winds, flooded roads, high seas, sleet, lightning, thunder and even a tornado.
That wasn’t the worst of it for me, though. It’s the persistent cold that has me feeling like I’ve been shivering since September. Make it stop!
Noozhawk’s traffic was unaffected by the temperature. According to our Google Analytics, we had an audience of 104,425 readers this past week.
What follows is my own recap of the Top 5 stories you were reading in that period. In other words, this is my opinion column. It’s not a news story.
1. Winds Slash Through Carpinteria Mobile Home Park, Damaging 26 Residences
A day after 75 mph winds shredded more than two dozen homes in a Carpinteria mobile home park, the National Weather Service concluded a rare tornado was to blame for the March 22 excitement.
Miraculously, no one was injured when the weather service says “a weak, narrow tornado briefly touched down” at about 6 p.m. in the Sandpiper Village mobile home park, at 3950 Via Real west of Cravens Lane.
As our Tom Bolton reported, about 26 mobile homes were damaged when the wind ripped apart roofs, carports and awnings.
Weather service meteorologist Rose Schoensled told our Grace Kitayama that the tornado was a landspout, which forms near the ground while thunderstorm clouds are still growing.
The tornado cut a 25-yard-wide swath about a half-mile long, then stormed through the Carpinteria Cemetery District, at 1501 Cravens Lane on the north side of the mobile home park.
Carpinteria-Summerland fire Chief Greg Fish said the tornado knocked down several trees at the cemetery and damaged a nearby greenhouse.
2. Lamborghini Driver’s License Suspended, Fined for 152 mph Ticket
Most of us will never haul ass in a Lamborghini Aventador on Highway 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley but, in case you’re wondering, the penalty for driving 152 mph in a 55-mph zone is a 30-day license suspension and a $1,950 fine.
As our Janene Scully reported, that was the punishment handed out to 50-year-old Zhan John Akopyan of La Cañada Flintridge after a brief trial in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria.
For the few of you who haven’t been reading Janene’s car caper coverage, Akopyan was caught by California Highway Patrol Officer Joel Asmussen on Nov. 20 allegedly doing nearly three times the legal speed limit just west of the Highway 246 roundabout in Santa Ynez.
A Beverly Hills attorney entered a not-guilty plea on Akopyan’s behalf during an arraignment hearing last month, and another of his defense attorneys stood in for him before Judge Kay Kuns at his March 20 trial.
In addition to suspending his driver’s license for the maximum 30 days and the nearly $2,000 in fines and fees, she noted he’ll get two points on his license for the conviction and is not eligible for traffic school.
Kuns did give Akopyan three days to find alternative transportation, and I thought I’d try to be helpful. While not as sleek as a $560,000 Lamborghini, Walmart has a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe on sale for $54. You’re welcome.
In a parting shot, and speaking for all of us who regularly drive Highway 154’s blood alley, Kuns suggested that lawyer John Carlson tell his client how lucky he is that he stayed out of felony territory by not causing a crash or killing somebody.
3. Hundreds of Isla Vista Renters Face Eviction by New Owner of Apartments
A Chicago company that bought three large Isla Vista apartment buildings is planning major renovations for the sprawling complex at the corner of El Colegio Road and Camino del Sur just west of the UC Santa Barbara campus.
That’s all well and good — but for the fact that the company, Core Spaces, has sent eviction notices to at least several hundred long-term residents, who fear they’ll be priced out when the construction is complete.
Our Josh Molina stopped by and talked to some of the tenants at the CBC & The Sweeps apartments, at 775 Camino del Sur and 6711 and 6721 El Colegio Road. Their apprehension is palpable and justifiable.
Samira Soto and her 4-year-old son have to vacate by August.
“I am a third-generation Santa Barbaran,” she told Josh. “This is all I know. It’s not an option to just go to the next town over when your whole family, your friends, your grandparents are here.
“We deserve to also have a space where we can grow up alongside the generations that have been here with us previously, and not feel like we are being pushed out of our hometown.”
Core Spaces managing director Katy Darnaby told Josh that the company is “working directly alongside our residents” to provide resources, financial assistance and letters of recommendation for relocation.
She says about 550 residents are affected although tenants say the number is closer to 1,000.
As just about everyone knows, Santa Barbara County’s South Coast is not a friendly environment for renters, especially working-class Hispanic ones.
According to Hayes Commercial Group, local vacancies are a measly 1.7%, which helped fuel a 9% rise in rent rates last year.
More and more property owners are investing in and remodeling apartment buildings, a trend that often results in “renovictions” for longtime tenants.
The challenge is even more acute in Isla Vista, where many UCSB and Santa Barbara City College students can afford higher housing costs, further displacing long-term renters who have few other options on the South Coast.
4. Motorcyclist Crashes After Pursuit by Santa Barbara Police
A motorcyclist allegedly fleeing from Santa Barbara police managed to briefly elude the law on March 16, but karma caught up with him when he ran into a work truck. Literally.
As our Tom Bolton reported, Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale said an officer spotted the motorcyclist breaking a traffic law on East Canon Perdido and tried to pull him over just after noon.
The male rider refused to stop, however, and Ragsdale said the pursuit was called off after six blocks out of safety concerns.
“The motorcycle continued, colliding with another vehicle at East Montecito Street and North Milpas Street,” he said.
The motorcyclist, whose identity was not disclosed, was transported by American Medical Response ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.
The other driver apparently was not hurt.
The incident is under investigation, and it was not yet known if the motorcyclist will face any charges.
5. Santa Barbara Planning Commission Supports Unique Hotel-Condo Project on Garden Street
Santa Barbara’s first condotel has cleared a key hurdle, with the Santa Barbara Planning Commission unanimously approving a 13-unit project near downtown.
As our Josh Molina reported, the unique hotel-condominium project — at 1018 Garden St. between East Carrillo and East Figueroa streets — is the brainchild of property owner Arvand Sabetian.
He initially planned to convert the former office building into a 13-room hotel. Later, he decided to subdivide it to allow people to buy individual units. The owners can use the units themselves but also generate income by offering them as short-term vacation rentals.
“You might be setting the precedent for a whole new world of projects like this in the community,” said Roxana Bonderson, the commission chairwoman.
“Set a good pace for us, all right?”
Sabetian answered dozens of questions during the grueling two-hour hearing, including why he would allow individual ownership of the units instead of having investors own the entire site.
“The main advantage that I see for the owners is that they can participate in an investment vehicle that is not as large as a 13-unit hotel,” he said.
At several points, Josh said, Assistant City Attorney Tave Ostrenger and senior planner Allison DeBusk emphasized that owners could not stay for more than 30 consecutive days in their units and that they would have to pay hotel occupancy taxes.
“By definition, a hotel cannot be occupied for more than 30 days, whether it’s by the owner or anybody,” DeBusk said. “Then it becomes a residential unit.”
Ostrenger said the city will keep a close eye on the project, including regular audits of hotel bed taxes collected.
By the way, Josh and I have long had a friendly competition about these Best of Bill items. For the record, my March 17 column, “Alleged 152-mph Lamborghini Driver Trying to Outrun Infraction,” actually finished in the No. 5 most-read spot, but I figured I’d hitch a ride with Janene’s Lamborghini saga and give him this one.
I’ll catch you next time, Josh.
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Good Reads
Here are a half-dozen additional stories you should read:
» Ray Ford: It’s Never Too Early to Prepare for Fire Season — During one of the wettest rainy seasons most of us can remember, why is outdoors columnist Ray Ford writing about fire season? Because it’s gonna be here before you know it.
» Opioid Overdose Antidote Narcan May Soon Be Sold Over the Counter — With the fentanyl epidemic showing no signs of peaking, staff writer Serena Guentz reports on a — frankly — long-overdue decision to make a lifesaving drug easier to obtain.
» Laurie Jervis: Wineries and Vineyards Provide County $1.7 Billion in Annual Economic Activity — Wine columnist Laurie Jervis decants the latest numbers on the economic impact of Santa Barbara County’s Wine Country.
» Cottage Health Celebrates 100-Year-Old Employee Retiring After 70 Years — Here’s a shout-out for 100-year-old Jenny Cué, who retired from Cottage Health this week after a 70-year career — and also is the mom of my longtime friend, Ed Cué. Staff writer Serena Guentz is on hand to chronicle the celebration.
» Elisabeth Fowler, Joe Howell Selected as 80th Persons of Year — Contributing writer Judith Smith-Meyer shares the news of the Santa Barbara Foundation’s newest “Persons of the Year.” Not only is Noozhawk proud to sponsor the annual event, honoree Joe Howell is our longtime attorney. Way to go, Joe!
» Mark Patton: Rumors Circulating About UCSB’s Joe Pasternack Being Pursued by Cal — Sports columnist Mark Patton is posted up under the basket, waiting for the coaching carousel spin to stop on UC Santa Barbara’s Joe Pasternack.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Man Declared Dead after Possible Drowning Reported at Red Rock in Santa Barbara Backcountry.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
America’s fastest growing population may be ex-Californians: The Math Behind the New Super Commute.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
A Bingo Belle has my number — but doesn’t call it — in my Instagram feed this past week.
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Watch It
Best of Bill reader Warren Delano saw last week’s Bangori the gorilla video and remembered going bananas over this one a few years back.
