I’m still basking in the euphoria of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, and I’m not gonna lie: It’ll last for a long while.
In spite of my previously mentioned doubts, this is the best Dodgers team in my lifetime.
Even while compiling the game’s best record, they overcame unprecedented adversity and staged the most epic postseason run ever, with a couple of performances for the ages from World Series MVP Freddie Freeman and ace starting pitcher-turned-emergency closer Walker Buehler.
They played like Dawgs, and I can’t wait till next year.
In between now and then, of course, is the Nov. 5 election.
While national politics grab headlines, it’s our local elections that will truly shape Santa Barbara County’s future.
Our Noozhawk team has been working around the clock to bring you the stories that matter to our community:
- We’ve followed the hard-fought campaign for and against Santa Barbara City College’s ambitious $198 million bond measure. With the bond and three SBCC trustee seats on the ballot, voters will have a big impact on the future of the college. And that’s not all: six local school districts are pushing bonds of their own.
- In Santa Barbara’s first even-year election in decades, we’ve covered the competitive City Council races in Districts 1, 2 and 3. The candidates’ contrasting views on rent control, raising the sales tax and the future of State Street could reshape city policies for years to come.
- Frustrations over housing development and roadwork brought a slate of challengers to the Goleta City Council election. There are three seats on the ballot, including Mayor Paula Perotte facing off against challenger Rich Foster.
- The four-way Santa Maria mayoral candidates forum focused on the city’s budget and the contentious labor dispute with firefighters. Mayor Alice Patino is running for re-election against candidates Andrew Foster, Diana Perez and Will Smith.
- In Buellton, we’ve reported on two City Council members running for mayor: incumbent Dave King and David Silva. Voters will also decide whether to expand the city’s urban growth boundary, which could alter the region’s landscape and open up new areas for development.
- Noozhawk and CalMatters co-hosted a VotingMatters forum at Third Window Brewing Co. to talk ballot measures and help people decide how they’re voting. Executive editor Giana Magnoli and CalMatters partnerships manager Dan Hu broke down state and local initiatives on the minimum wage, rent control, criminal justice, school bonds and sales taxes.
Our local news reporters work tirelessly to bring you these crucial stories, often spending long hours investigating leads and attending community meetings to get the full picture.
And as an important reminder, Noozhawk does not endorse election candidates or take political positions — and we never have.
We believe we can best serve you by providing thorough and unbiased reporting on the issues so you can make informed decisions on your own. You don’t need us, or anyone else, to tell you what to do.
Over the last 17 years, our reporters have earned your trust by keeping their opinions out of what they write and simply reporting the truth. That, too, is unique around here.
But this kind of in-depth, independent journalism requires significant resources. We depend on readers like you to keep these important articles coming.
We’re proud of our record and reputation, and I’m asking that you join our Hawks Club with a financial contribution today.
By becoming a member, you’re not just supporting our journalism; you’re investing in the future of our community. Click here to make an online donation.
According to our WordPress analytics, an audience of 172,269 of you elected to read Noozhawk this past week.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading over that period.
And while Noozhawk doesn’t share its opinions, I do from time to time — but only in this weekly opinion column that I write in my civic capacity as Noozhawk’s publisher.
1. Locals Demand Crackdown on Street Food Vendors
Restaurant owners in Santa Barbara County are serving up a hefty helping of frustration over the proliferation of unregulated street food vendors, demanding that officials get cooking on stronger enforcement.
As our Daniel Green reported, restaurant proprietors packed the Oct. 24 Santa Barbara County Association of Governments meeting in Santa Maria to dish out complaints about vendors who skirt health codes, dodge permits and create what Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse calls “remote predatory operations.”
The spiciest revelation? County health inspectors have found vendors storing meat in dirty buckets, operating without handwashing stations, and illegally dumping grease in storm drains.
That’s disgusting.
Efren Alvarez-Ramos — owner of Efren’s Mexican Restaurant in Santa Maria, which was opened by his father, a one-time street vendor himself — expressed concern about regulatory and overhead advantages enjoyed by the often fly-by-night outfits, many of which are from Los Angeles County.
“Ever since we started our restaurant we have to abide by all the laws and all the stuff that the Health Department puts in front of us,” he said.
He also expressed doubts about the source of vendors’ food, noting that some restaurant employees steal products to sell on the side.
While Solvang Mayor Mark Infanti wants to warn the public about health risks, and county Fourth District Supervisor Bob Nelson suggests impounding vendors’ equipment, officials acknowledge their hands are tied by state law.
“We don’t get to pick which state laws we like and which ones we don’t,” Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said, suggesting a joint letter to Sacramento and stepped-up pressure on local legislators might be the best path forward.
Rowse and Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann have been the most outspoken in their opposition to the roadside rogue rangers. Both wrote high-profile Noozhawk commentaries:
- Joan Hartmann: The Unintended Consequences of Illicit Roadside Food Vending
- Randy Rowse: Illegal Street Food Vendors Cook Up Safety Concerns
Although both op/eds were well-read, and Hartmann’s even made the Sept. 20 Best of Bill Top 5, the traffic on Daniel’s story has driven it to the third most-read Noozhawk story this year. So far.
2. Major Injuries Reported in Crash That Shut Down Highway 154
A two-vehicle collision on Highway 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley injured three people the night of Oct. 26. One woman was airlifted to the hospital with major injuries.
As our Tom Bolton reported, the wreck occurred around 8 p.m. near Paradise Road, about 1¼ miles north of the Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge.
Authorities say Santa Barbara County firefighters had to extricate the occupants of both vehicles.
A woman with major injuries was flown by Calstar medical helicopter to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, while two men with moderate and minor injuries were transported there by American Medical Response ambulances.
No identities were released and the medical conditions of the injured were not disclosed.
According to the California Highway Patrol, one of the vehicles had been reported driving recklessly before the collision, which shut down the highway for more than an hour.
The CHP is investigating the circumstances of the crash.
3. Family Frustrated After Driver in Son’s Hit-Run Death Gets Probation
The hit-and-run driver who killed a 31-year-old Santa Barbara man in a downtown collision earlier this year will serve zero jail time, leaving the victim’s family — and many Noozhawk readers — questioning California’s justice system.
As Noozhawk reported previously, 34-year-old Salvador Jimenez was driving a Ford pickup truck around 2 a.m. Feb. 24 when he struck and killed Dane Angus, who was riding his motor scooter in the 600 block of Santa Barbara Street, near the East Cota Street intersection.
Our Rebecca Caraway reported that, at the time of the wreck, Jimenez was driving on a suspended license after drinking five beers.
Instead of stopping to help after he ran over the victim, Jimenez drove away with Angus’ Vespa wedged under his pickup.
When that didn’t really work, he abandoned the truck and scurried into the night on foot like a rat.
On Oct. 24, Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Pauline Maxwell sentenced Jimenez to two whole years of probation — with jail time only if he violates terms that include no alcohol, no bars and liquor stores, and mandatory drug and alcohol treatment.
“It’s really hard to stomach,” Angus’ father, Hal, told Rebecca in an exclusive interview.
“… He really did some reprehensible, inhumane things, and had no regard at all for the life of our son, and he’s not going to do any jail time for that.”
Jimenez was charged with hit-and-run in Angus’ death. After first pleading not guilty, he later changed his plea to no contest.
He wasn’t charged with a DUI because Santa Barbara police couldn’t confirm what his blood-alcohol content was — since he didn’t turn himself in until 18 hours after he had fled the scene.
The case took another twist when Jimenez’s girlfriend, 26-year-old Estefani Guerrero, was charged with being an accessory after lying to police about witnessing the crash from across the street and concealing or destroying evidence.
She actually was riding in Jimenez’s truck at the time of the collision.
Both Jimenez and Guerrero first blamed Angus, claiming he was at fault for the crash.
Angus, who had moved here from San Diego to attend Santa Barbara City College and UC Santa Barbara, was the production and design manager at Pure Joy Catering, less than two blocks from where he was killed, and ran his own candle company.
At the emotional hearing in Maxwell’s packed courtroom, family and friends wore “Justice for Dane” bracelets while sharing memories of the man described as “everyone’s best friend.”
“I’m going to miss having a big brother,” Brock Angus said of his older sibling while fighting back tears.
Angus’ mother, Jan, said the process and outcome have made her lose all faith in the criminal justice system.
“It’s really made me think about California, because this guy can do all these things, run away, kill our son and get off on probation only,” she said.
4. Teenage Motorcyclist Killed in Santa Maria Crash
About 200 people gathered at Santa Maria’s Elks Field on Oct. 29 to honor Mason Rohwedder, an 18-year-old Orcutt baseball player who died in a motorcycle collision last week.
Rohwedder was killed Oct. 24 when a vehicle turned in front of his motorcycle at the intersection of South College Drive and Bradley Road, in front of Santa Maria Fire Station 4, at 2673 S. College Drive.
Santa Maria police Lt. Paul Van Meel told our Janene Scully that the motorcyclist had slammed into the side of the turning vehicle when its driver failed to yield the right of way.
Rohwedder was transported by American Medical Response ambulance to Marian Regional Medical Center, but died of catastrophic injuries.
Van Meel said police are investigating the circumstances of the collision. The other driver’s identity has not been released.
At the time of the wreck, Rohwedder — a June graduate of Orcutt Academy High School and a popular former catcher for the Santa Maria Indians summer ball team — reportedly was en route to Elks Field, at 600 S. McClelland St.
At the emotional vigil, baseball gloves and balls sat at home plate while attendees held candles and signed memorial banners that will be displayed next season.
Former teammates and coaches remembered Rohwedder as someone who “respected the game of baseball.”
“He had a heart bigger than all of us,” one former teammate said.
When Indians general manager Jimmy Melena asked for players whose pitches Rohwedder had caught to step forward, more than two dozen responded.
Melena announced plans to honor Rohwedder by installing a new scoreboard bearing his name and jersey number 9, replacing the aging, glitchy scoreboard the teenager once operated.
Family members — including parents Audrey and Anthony Rohwedder, sister Nevada, and grandparents Sharon and Ole Pedersen — sat near home plate as his grandmother recalled his lifelong willingness to help others.
“We’re going to miss him,” she said.
Rohwedder was a freshman at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo and had started the process of enlisting in the U.S. Army.
Friends have established a GoFundMe account to assist his family with funeral expenses. As of Nov. 1, the account had raised nearly $25,000. Click here to make an online donation.
Funeral services are pending.
5. 2 Vehicles Destroyed by Fire in Downtown Santa Barbara Parking Garage
A fire engulfed two compact SUVs on the top level of a Santa Barbara parking garage the afternoon of Oct. 31, sending up a large column of black smoke visible throughout downtown.
As our Tom Bolton reported, Santa Barbara firefighters responded to Lot 7 at the corner of Anacapa and East Figueroa streets just before 12:30 p.m.
Battalion Chief Cory Cloud told Tom that crews found a Toyota RAV4 and a Subaru in flames up on the structure’s top level.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, which destroyed both vehicles.
The cause and circumstances of the fire are under investigation.
No injuries were reported, but nearby offices and businesses were briefly evacuated.
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Good Reads
Have you read these six stories?
» Miramar Resort Strikes Deal with All Saints By-the-Sea Over Housing, Retail Project — Well, well, well. Last week’s Best of Bill top story on the Rosewood Miramar Beach shops and housing project takes a big stride toward resolution a few days later. You’re welcome. South County editor Josh Molina has been following the saga.
» Santa Barbara Woman Sentenced to 6 Months in State Hospital After Stabbing Former High School Classmate — Cora Vides will serve all of six months for an attempted murder. Staff writer Rebecca Caraway lays out the gory details, which are lighter than the sentence.
» Repair Crews on Scene After Phone, Internet Outage in Santa Ynez, Lompoc Valleys From Wildfire Damage — North County editor Janene Scully connects the damage from last week’s wildfire near Buellton to a massive internet and phone outage — including 9-1-1 service — from Santa Ynez west to Vandenberg Space Force Base.
» Driver Sought After Fleeing Scene When Toddler Hit, Killed in Santa Maria — What is wrong with people? Janene has the APB.
» Students Sail Through Santa Barbara History on Mystic Whaler Ship — Staff writer Daniel Green channels his inner Richard Henry Dana for a visit aboard the Mystic Whaler.
» SBCC Athletics Placed on Probation Following Football Recruitment Violations — Sports editor Diego Sandoval throws the flag on egregious unsportsmanlike conduct, but I hope the dumbass responsible faces more repercussions than just his resignation.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Coffee Shops, Delis Co-Owned By Embattled Santa Maria Valley Financial Adviser Shut Suddenly.
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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.
- Jan. 7 — I’ll be sharing Noozhawk’s story and discussing the future of local news — and local news in Santa Barbara County — with my friends at the Minerva Club of Santa Maria. The Minerva is one of the oldest, continuously operating women’s clubs in California and a community treasure since 1894.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Imagine what Indiana Jones could find with a computer: Major Lost Maya City in Mexican Wilderness Discovered While Searching Google.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
Far be it from me to rank anything above the @dodgers winning the #worldseries, but #nicotime is a kick. It’s all in my Instagram feed this week.
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Watch It
This will never get old.
