Author: KEYT

Alissa Orozco

GOLETA, Calif. – The City of Goleta announced today that the Goleta Police Department will be holding a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location on Friday, May 16th from 6:00pm – 2:00am. Officers will be looking for drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The city says checkpoint locations are chosen on past history of DUI crashes and arrests.

The Police Department reminds the community of the dangers of driving impaired – not just from alcohol. While the use of medicinal and recreational marijuana is legal, driving under the influence of it is not. Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may also interfere with driving. Anyone ingesting and smoking anything that can affect their ability to drive, should stay home.

The police department says drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

For more information, visit the city’s website.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Alma de Mexico is now practicing at Ortega Park after being displaced from their usual rehearsal space at La Casa de la Raza.

The city of Santa Barbara placed a red “unsafe” tag on the historic building last week, citing gas, electrical, entryway, and signage issues.

“We are trying to get ready for Old Spanish Days. The practice doesn’t stop, we have to keep going,” said instructor Jennifer Sanchez. “I have to provide classes for up to 45 girls. I’m teaching the next generation. Cultural preservation is the most important thing for this community, so I’m a strong advocate for that. Even if the building is closed, we have to keep going.”

Ballet folklórico is not the only class affected by the closure. A popular Zumba class is also expected to move to the park. Local bands that practiced at La Casa are also in need of new rehearsal spaces.

However, music rehearsals had previously led to noise complaints from a neighbor living in the condos across the street.

Other events, such as a recent Mother’s Day brunch, have relocated to Café La Fonda, not far from the Federal U.S. Bankruptcy Court, where La Casa de la Raza’s future is now being decided.

“It is very complicated, even within the bankruptcy world,” said Lisa Valencia Sherratt, Board President of the original La Casa de la Raza founded in the 1970s. “I understand from our counsel that we have many unique situations. The nonprofit, the original La Casa de la Raza, is in an involuntary bankruptcy with an associated case. That case went to mediation, and the result is that the building will be sold and have new ownership.”

The building, constructed in 1917, is considered a local landmark.

“La Casa de la Raza is actually listed in the conditional use permit. It started as a community center, and from what I understand, whoever buys it will have to continue using it as a community center,” said Valencia Sherratt.

The timing of the sale depends on court paperwork.

“We are waiting for a settlement agreement to be issued. Once that’s out, the sale will be open, which actually gives us hope for who might buy it next and where we go from there.”

Sources familiar with the court filings estimate the building could be sold for around $4.3 million, though that amount could change. There is optimism that a buyer aiming to restore it to its former glory might acquire it for less.

Valencia Sherratt also addressed confusion over the use of the La Casa de la Raza name. She said the original group of volunteers is developing a new website under the official La Casa de la Raza name. Meanwhile, the displaced volunteer group has been using the name “La Casa Founders” for its website.

Click here to follow the original article.

Caleb Nguyen

ISLA VISTA, Calif. – Fire crews rescued a 74-year-old man from high tide after two men tried helping him on the beach in Isla Vista, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The two men tried calling 911 when the 74-year-old was caught against the cliff near Del Playa and Camino Pescadero, according to the SBCFD.

Firefighter swimmers then rescued the 74-year-old to safety and took him to Cottage Hospital for an evaluation, detailed the SBCFD.

Click here to follow the original article.

Caleb Nguyen

ISLA VISTA, Calif. – A car crash hurt two pedestrians in Isla Vista just before 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

One pedestrian, both adult females, had major injuries from the crash. The other had minor injuries after being hit by a solo female driver at Camino Pescadero and Sabado Tarde, according to the SBCFD.

The SBCFD detailed that both pedestrians were helped via ground ambulance to the Cottage Hospital ER. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Free movies at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens are back this summer with a full lineup of movies centered around man’s friend.

The “Dog Days of Summer” movie series will begin July 11th, and will run every Friday night this summer through August 29th, with an exception on August 1st due to Fiesta.

The dog-themed movies will kick off with Disney’s 101 Dalmatians at 8:30pm. The following movies include:

July 18th – The Sandlot
August 15th – Isle of Dogs

July 25th – Best in Show
August 22nd – Marley and Me

August 8th – My Dog Skip
August 29th – Dog

Movie watchers can set up their spot on the lawn starting at 12pm that Friday of the screening – only blankets are allowed and low-back chairs are recommended.

Guests are invited to bring their own food and drinks, as concessions will not be sold on-site.

Click here for more information about the Free Summer Movies Series.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dave Alley

ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. – A road construction project described as the biggest in the history of Arroyo Grande will soon begin and will bring significant traffic impacts for several months.

On Tuesday evening, Arroyo Grande held an official groundbreaking to kick off the Traffic Way Bridge Replacement Project.

In the works for several years, the project will most notably include the complete replacement of the nearly 100-year old Traffic Way Bridge.

The bridge, which is located just off of West Branch Street, is traveled by 11,000 vehicles daily, and is an integral part of the city’s infrastructure that helps link the Village area to the southwest portion of city, including Arroyo Grande High School.

During the project, the entire bridge will be removed, followed by the construction of a newer, more modern version, thus causing a portion of Traffic Way to close to traffic.

As a result, several traffic modifcations have been designed to create an entirely new flow of traffic through the popular Village area.

“We have to remove the bridge in its entirety and shut down traffic way between Station Way and West Branch Street,” said Shannon Sweeney, Arroyo Grande City Engineer. “Because of that, we’ll need a pretty significant detour. We have put in place a lot of (changes) to try to alleviate congestion.”

Among the new traffic patterns will be the creation of one-way traffic going northbound on nearby Bridge Street, which will also include a temporary signal at the intersection of West Branch Street.

A temporary traffic signal is also being installed at the intersection of the Highway 101 southbound offramp and Fair Oaks Avenue.

In addition, a new traffic circle was recently installed on Fair Oaks Avenue outside the Arroyo Grande High School parking lot to allow for vehicles exiting the school to turn left.

“This is a collaborative project with the city,” said Arroyo Grande High School principal Brad Grumbles. “That’s why it’s in our AG blue and gold, but it’s a collaborative project. Please be patient with us as there’s growing pains. All of this is for the betterment of the community. It allows us to get the legal left, which will allow traffic to head in the proper direction while the bridge project is taking place, so we’re excited to be a part of it. The city has been extremely helpful and communicative throughout this whole project, so I’m optimistic of what it’s going to bring to the community and what it will do for traffic flow in the future.”

The city is emphasizing to the public that all driveways to businesses along Traffic Way will remain open and accessible throughout the entire length of the project.

However, nearby business owners are worried about potential impacts the construction may have on the ability of customers to navigate all of the different changes.

“One of the concerns I have that I think a lot of the businesses have is that if it feels too difficult for people, that they may avoid the village altogether,” said Renee Westerhuis, who has owned the The Green Room hair salon in the Village for 37 years. “I’m really trying to keep faith that my clientele are loyal enough and they’re going to deal with whatever they have to deal with to get to me. They are closing the entrance to the street that goes up to my parking lot, the direct way up to my parking lot, which is also a concern for me, so I’m having to direct people through a different parking lot through the park.”

The project is slated to cost $11 million and is projected to be completed by Nov. 26, 2025.  

For more information about Traffic Way Bridge Replacement Project, click here to view the City of Arroyo Grande’s official webpage for the project.

“We are encouraging anybody who uses Traffic Way on a normal basis to check out the city’s website,” said Sweeney. “There’s a website for this project where we do regular updates. The detour maps can be found there and also upcoming important dates.”

Click here to follow the original article.

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — After months of concerns, the city of Santa Barbara has strengthened its ordinance to improve bike safety throughout the city. Officials say the changes come in response to frequent complaints, particularly in the downtown area, about accidents, injuries and reckless riding.

Santa Barbara police are now authorized to issue administrative citations for risky or unlawful riding behavior. Fines start at $100 and can increase to $500 for repeat offenses within a year. First-time offenders may be eligible to eliminate the fine by completing a safety diversion course.

“We want a safe place for everyone, whether they’re walking, biking or driving,” said Commander Chris Payne of the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The updated ordinance includes electric bikes, scooters, skateboards and other e-conveyances, as well as smaller motorcycle-style vehicles. Riders stopped on unapproved electric motorcycles can have the vehicle towed and impounded for 72 hours.

Citations have already been issued to minors riding without helmets, as well as to those riding recklessly, popping wheelies near pedestrians or cars, riding on sidewalks, running red lights and failing to yield.

“The educational aspect clearly has not taken root,” said David de L’Arbre, board president of the Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association. “So now they are in the enforcement phase, and I think that will have a bigger impact, especially among young bike riders who will realize there are real consequences to bad behavior on State Street.”

Police say enforcement efforts are supported by previous education and outreach, including school visits and social media campaigns.

The diversion program for first-time offenders includes a two-hour class and a short test.

“As long as they pass the test with 80 percent or better, the citation is excused,” Payne said.

Some local riders support the increased enforcement.

“I love biking here in town, but obviously there are rules that need to be followed or else it’s going to put people at risk,” said daily rider Oliver Banales Vallejo. “If you’re going to be riding on the streets in Santa Barbara, you shouldn’t be reckless. You’re putting people in danger no matter what.”

City leaders say enforcement is only part of a larger discussion about how pedestrians, drivers and cyclists can safely share space downtown.

“The question is how to coexist in a fun and inviting way on State,” de L’Arbre said.

Police enforcement is ongoing, with motorcycle and bicycle officers patrolling the downtown corridor.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday urging Congress to protect federal food assistance programs as local food banks prepare for major funding cuts that could significantly impact low-income families and small farmers.

The resolution affirms the county’s commitment to the social safety net, including programs such as SNAP and CalFresh, amid rising food insecurity and the loss of key federal support.

Erik Talkin, CEO of the Santa Barbara County Foodbank, accepted the resolution during the meeting and detailed the financial toll of the funding cuts.

The Santa Barbara County Foodbank expects to lose close to $5 million in direct support. That includes more than 1.5 million pounds of food, a $24,000 FEMA emergency food grant, and $500,000 from the now-canceled Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.

“That represents a quarter of all of the food that we distribute in the county,” Talkin said.

The San Luis Obispo County Food Bank is facing a $600,000 annual loss. A proposed 20 percent cut to federal food assistance could double demand at local food banks, officials said, placing additional strain on already stretched resources.

Talkin added that food banks are increasing partnerships with local farmers by paying them to grow food for distribution, supporting both growers and families in need. This comes however following the cancellation of the federal program that allowed small farms to sell produce directly to food banks.

In Carpinteria, farmer Juan Osorio said he feels overwhelmed following this cancellation.

“What’s going to happen is I won’t be able to provide for my family,” Osorio said.

Second District Supervisor Laura Capps called on the community to step up support.

“If there was ever a time to support our local food bank, it is now, and with private dollars,” Capps said. “What is happening is devastating. This is a bipartisan program that has received support from both parties for a generation.”

While the resolution does not directly challenge federal or state authorities, it reinforces the county’s support for local solutions that maintain access to food for vulnerable residents.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alissa Orozco

OXNARD, Calif. – A local advocacy group reports a father was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at an Oxnard gas station, leaving behind his two children still in the vehicle at the gas pump.

805 UndocuFund says on May 4th, around 9:30am, a man stopped at a Sinclar gas station at the intersection of Ventura Rd. and Wooley Blvd. in Oxnard. A witness says as the man got out of his truck to pump his gas, a group of vehicles pulled up and surrounded him.

Fox 11 details the man was taken into custody quickly, leaving one minor child and their older 19-year-old sibling in their father’s truck. The group says the children were “old enough to be left alone but unable to drive, stranded, and powerless to leave.”

The witness told 805 UndocuFund he helped the children move the truck away from the pump, they then called their sister to come pick them up.

The identity of the man was not released, and why he was detained is unknown.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dave Alley

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Central Coast firefighting agencies are taking the time during Wildfire Preparedness Month to warn the public it expects a busy fire season during the upcoming summer months.

“As we approach summer, we’re getting closer to announcing fire season here within the county,” said Scott Safechuck, Santa Barbara County Fire Department public information officer. “You can tell that with the warmer weather, you can see on the hillsides that our vegetation is starting to turn brown, and the grass is that first indicator of that, especially in the North County, and it will transition to the South County as things warm up here.”

Late winter rains, combined springtime precipitation, was a welcome sight over the past couple of months.

The recent storms helped bring much-needed rainfall to the Central Coast, but it also helped fuel significant vegetation growth hillsides and other open spaces throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

With vegetation beginning to dry out, especially after enduring warmer than usual temperatures over the past few days, firefighting agencies predict increased chances of wildfires.

“We can expect to see an above average increase of significant wildfires starting in and around July,” said Fleming Bertelsen, Los Padres National Forest public information officer. “We’re still kind of in a drying trend. You look around and we’re seeing the light, flashy fuels transition from green to brown and it’s happening very abruptly. This last weekend it was kind of a dramatic change, so it’s something giving us a heads up.”

Click here to follow the original article.