Community News · Santa Barbara County
The California Fish & Game Commission voted to advance two tribally led petitions creating new marine protected areas off Santa Barbara County: a 9.18-square-mile zone near Point Sal in North County and a 9.05-square-mile Mishopshno area off Carpinteria in South County. The Point Sal petition passed unanimously, while the Carpinteria petition received a 4-2 vote with two commissioners dissenting over tribal take exemptions. Shore-based recreational hook-and-line fishing would remain permitted in both zones, but all other take activities would be prohibited for non-tribal users. The proposals now enter a regulatory process including three public hearings and environmental review before final adoption.
Public Safety · Santa Barbara County
Climate scientists at UC Santa Barbara say NOAA forecasts a 75% chance the 2026 El Niño will be the strongest since at least 1950, with tropical Pacific surface temperatures already 4°C above average. Experts warn Southern California could face stronger storms, coastal flooding, erosion, and potential atmospheric rivers this winter, with wet conditions predicted to peak February through April. Downtown Santa Barbara's Mission Creek estuary and the Goleta Slough near the airport are identified as areas at heightened flood risk. Residents are urged to review neighborhood flood history, clear gutters and drainages, obtain sandbags if prone to flooding, and consult county Office of Public Works storm-preparation resources.
Public Safety · Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County residents in Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Carpinteria rely on a single transmission corridor known as the Goleta Load Pocket, roughly 40 miles of which crosses fire-prone terrain near Los Padres National Forest. The corridor's vulnerability was demonstrated during the December 2017 Thomas Fire (85,000+ customers lost power) and a January 2025 Southern California Edison shutoff affecting ~9,000 customers. A property-tax exclusion for qualifying solar energy systems, in place since 1980, will expire January 1, 2027 after AB 2389 failed to extend it during the Assembly's budget process in May. Homeowners considering solar and battery installations face a practical completion deadline earlier than year-end due to permitting and installation timelines.
Local Politics · Goleta, CA
Four candidates for Goleta City Council Districts 1 and 2 discussed infrastructure, public safety, artificial intelligence, the revenue neutrality agreement with Santa Barbara County, and Isla Vista cityhood during a one-hour forum Thursday at the Goleta Community Center, hosted by the League of Women Voters. Business owners Rollin Gartzke and Phebe Mansur challenged incumbents Luz Reyes-Martín and James Kyriaco on issues including Hollister Avenue striping changes, Project Connect completion, Fairview/Calle Real traffic patterns, and Measure B's $105 million in sales-tax infrastructure spending. Candidates split on whether to integrate AI into city permitting systems and on the terms of Goleta's perpetual revenue-sharing agreement with the county. Voters will decide Nov. 3.
Local Business · Goleta, CA
Mission Refill, located on Calle Real near Trader Joe's in Goleta and described as Santa Barbara County's only refill store, will close its doors October 30. Owner Valerie Voorhees said the closure stems from a 40 percent rent increase over her 2023 lease terms, not lack of customer interest; she noted her customer base grew 20 to 30 percent annually since opening in 2023. Voorhees said she spent several months searching for an affordable alternative location but could not find one that would avoid a two-year financial deficit. The store had diverted more than 30,000 bottles from landfills and sourced 80 percent of its products from California vendors.
