Already 3-0 after Opening Day? That’s my kind of start to the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers’ title defense.
Team Noozhawk remains in midseason form with a spirited competition among our staff to make the Top 5 most-read stories over the past week.
According to our WordPress analytics, we had an audience of 138,555 readers for the period. And according to our Google Analytics, this list is what you were reading.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5, which is another way of saying this is my opinion column. It is not a news story.
1. Santa Barbara Housing Authority Stops Issuing New Section 8 Vouchers
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara has suspended issuing new Section 8 housing vouchers, a decision affecting thousands of low-income residents waiting for assistance.
As our Josh Molina reported, 7,732 households remain on the current wait list, with 152 of the vouchers issued last year.
Officials cite potential federal funding cuts to human services as a primary reason for the pause.
“We will not be reissuing allocated vouchers for the foreseeable future until such time as the agency brings the level of issued-leased vouchers in alignment with the funding allocated by Congress,” Housing Authority executive director and CEO Rob Fredericks announced in a letter to tenants and property owners.
Fredericks assured that no existing housing contracts will be canceled.
“Our primary responsibility is to ensure housing stability for the families we currently serve,” he told Josh.
The shortfall stems from multiple factors, including inadequate federal funding, a mid-2024 federal recapture of $2.2 million from housing assistance payment reserves, and increasing per-unit housing costs.
The agency currently maintains 2,477 leased vouchers.
Under the Section 8 program, tenants pay approximately one-third of their income toward rent, with the federal government covering the remainder. The program assists low-income individuals, seniors and military veterans.
Housing authorities nationwide face similar challenges following potential Housing & Urban Development Department budget cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The city is working with HUD’s Shortfall Prevention Team to implement a cost-saving plan.
2. 7 Felony Charges Filed Against Suspect in Isla Vista Shooting, Robberies
A 20-year-old Isla Vista man is facing an attempted murder charge and a half-dozen other felony charges after a March 19 shooting and two robberies near UC Santa Barbara.
As our Tom Bolton reported, Jackson Kyle Jue was arrested March 20 in Concord and is being held without bail at Santa Barbara County Jail.
In addition to attempted murder, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has filed charges of second-degree robbery and attempted second-degree robbery against Jue, along with four weapons-related felonies.
The criminal complaint includes special allegations that could increase his sentence if convicted.
Emergency responders found a young woman with a gunshot wound on the bike path near the Santa Ynez Tunnel under South Los Carneros Road around 10:30 p.m. March 19.
She was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with what were believed to be moderate wounds.
Authorities have not disclosed her identity or medical condition.
According to UCSB campus alerts, one robbery occurred in the 6500 block of Cervantes Road while a second robbery was connected to the shooting.
Few other details about the peculiar crime spree have been released.
Jue appeared in Superior Court on March 25 for arraignment, but it was continued to March 28.
3. BizHawk: Natural Café’s Kelly Brown Joins Dutch Garden as Investor
Kelly Brown, owner of the South Coast’s Natural Café restaurants, has joined Dutch Garden Restaurant as a new investor alongside operating partner Matt English.
As our Josh Molina reported, the pair plans to revitalize the Alte Schule German eatery at 4203 State St., returning to a menu more aligned with former longtime owner Ken Luetjen’s vision while expanding hours to include a happy hour.
“The Dutch Garden is a Santa Barbara treasure with a very loyal, passionate clientele that we want to continue to serve well into the future,” Brown told Josh.
“I am excited for this opportunity.”
Originally opened in 1925 as the Poppy Café, Dutch Garden closed during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic before reopening in 2022 under English and partners Jen and Charlie Fredericks, who recently announced their departure.
In a March 13 Instagram post, the Frederickses thanked their staff and regulars who “became family” and kept “the local spirit of Santa Barbara alive.”
Not to brag but — Who am I kidding? I can’t not take a victory lap around Josh! — I knew readers would feast on that Dutch Garden lead.
4. Defendant Testifies Wife’s TV Habits Led to Fatal Shootings
A 62-year-old Lompoc man testified at his March 24 trial that his wife’s preference for Judge Judy and other “bad relationship shows” triggered the 2023 confrontation that ended with him killing her and her nephew in their home.
As our Janene Scully reported, Zavian Chappell took the stand in his murder trial and said he “punched the television” after his sleeping wife awoke and changed the channel from his program, Ridiculousness, to Judge Judy.
Referring to the show’s star, former Judge Judith Sheindlin, he said he “didn’t like her voice.”
After he broke the TV, his wife, 59-year-old Cassandra Chappell, called 9-1-1, while he called his out-of-state daughter, Noreona Johnson, hoping that she would calm him down.
Chappell claimed he grabbed his 9mm handgun because he felt trapped and fearful, saying his wife and nephew, 29-year-old Tyree Sims McPherson, blocked the exits.
“I fired my way through them,” he testified, insisting he only intended to scare them.
Earlier, Chappell said his wife watched Judge Judy and similar shows around the clock.
“All my wife would watch is bad relationship shows,” he said, reeling off a lineup of Paternity Court, Snapped and Dateline.
Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney Lindsey Bittner questioned Chappell about violent social media posts directed at his wife, including “See if Judy will love you like I did,” and detailed the number of steps he took to retrieve, load and fire his gun.
Lompoc police responded around 3 a.m. April 30, 2023, to the Chappells’ home in the 1600 block of West Pine Avenue on a domestic-violence report.
Cassandra Chappell was found dead inside the house with McPherson nearby, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He died several days later at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria.
Chappell is on trial on two counts of murder plus sentencing enhancements, including the use of the firearm.
The trial is continuing in Superior Court Commissioner Stephen Foley’s courtroom.
5. Residents Group Sues Solvang Over Builder’s Remedy Housing Project
The City of Solvang’s approval of a 100-unit housing development application faces a legal challenge over claims the project’s documentation was “incomplete and defective.”
As our Janene Scully reported, Santa Barbara attorney Marc Chytilo and the Mitchell Tsai Law Firm of Pasadena filed a lawsuit on March 7 in Santa Barbara County Superior Court on behalf of the Santa Ynez Valley Residents Association.
The suit challenges the proposed Wildwood development at Alamo Pintado Road and Old Mission Drive on Solvang’s eastern end. The vacant land is referred to as Site C in the city’s General Plan.
Project plans call for 100 housing units in seven buildings on a 5½-acre lot, with reduced parking requirements.
The legal challenge alleges that the application lacks required signatures from 18 property owners who jointly own a 60-foot easement needed for the project’s access road and parking.
“The applicants’ position … completely ignored the principles and requirements of California law on the issue of real property ownership,” the lawsuit states.
The suit also contends the project no longer meets affordable housing requirements under California’s builder’s remedy law, which the developer invoked while Solvang was out of compliance with its Housing Element Update.
The plaintiffs want the court to vacate the city’s decision on the application’s completeness.
City Manager Randy Murphy declined to comment on the pending litigation. The City Council reportedly discussed the lawsuit in closed session March 23.
The defendants — the city, Joshua J. Richman, Lots on Alamo Pintado LLC and unnamed individuals — are expected to submit official responses in the coming weeks.
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Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories:
» CalFire Releases New Fire Hazard Maps for Santa Barbara County — Executive editor Giana Magnoli can help you assess your neighborhood’s wildfire risk.
» County Releases Wildfire Protection Plan for Santa Barbara Foothills — Staff writer Daniel Green is following the Santa Barbara County Fire Department’s new plan to prevent and fight wildfires in Mission Canyon, San Roque and other foothill neighborhoods on the South Coast.
» United Jetliner Strikes Flock of Birds While Landing in Santa Barbara — Editor in chief Tom Bolton wings it with his latest Santa Barbara Airport story.
» Tenant Displacement Concerns Surface with 90-Unit Milpas Apartment Project — South County editor Josh Molina reports on a developing seniority issue with a housing project proposed on Santa Barbara’s Lower Eastside.
» Let’s Talk Housing: Noozhawk Wants to Hear From You — We’re slowly making progress on our long-awaited Housing Hits Home project. Giana has a new request for reader feedback.
» Mark Patton: Gauchos Navigate to Portal Amid Storm of College Basketball’s New World — Sports columnist Mark Patton’s reporting on UC Santa Barbara’s challenges with the basketball transfer portal take on new significance given the blue-blood pedigree of the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16. The game is increasingly a case of haves versus have-nots, and that’s not a good thing for the Gauchos.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? BizHawk: Story Behind Shalhoob’s ‘Shooby’ Burger; Big Changes Coming to Santa Barbara Public Market.
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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.
- March 31 — The Santa Barbara Yacht Club invited me to talk about the state of news media — and Noozhawk — at its Monday Forum.
- April 4 — Noozhawk in the age of artificial intelligence will be the topic when I make a return visit to the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara.
- May 28 — My favorite topic, Noozhawk, is on the agenda for my appearance at the Rotary Club of the Santa Ynez Valley.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Tuning in to birdsongs will never be the same again: Oxford Study Finds Age and Migration Shape Birdsong Evolution. HT to Best of Bill reader Tom Voehl.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
Bingo, Bill and Los(t) Alamos(t) are all in the same post in my Instagram feed this past week. And then there’s the @coralcasinobeachclub.
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Watch It
Yeah, what she said. But in a text.
