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.
Community News · Santa Barbara, CA
The California DMV office at 535 Castillo St. in Santa Barbara will close Friday at 5 p.m. for approximately three months of renovations, with a scheduled reopening on Jan. 15, 2027. Upgrades include new flooring, carpet, furniture, interior and exterior paint, data cables, and restrooms. Residents needing in-person DMV services can visit offices in Goleta (7127 Hollister Ave., #24), Ventura (4260 Market St.), or Oxnard (4050 Saviers Road). Many services—including registration renewals, license/ID applications, placards, address changes, and payments—are available online at dmv.ca.gov.
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Local Politics · Santa Barbara, CA
A referendum petition with more than 8,000 signatures was submitted to the Santa Barbara city clerk last week, seeking to put the City Council's 6-1 vote approving a State Street master plan before voters. The plan, estimated at nearly $100 million, would significantly alter the downtown corridor; opponents organized through the State Street Business Alliance after earlier appeals for compromise were unsuccessful. Two separate referendum efforts are underway: one targeting the State Street Master Plan and another challenging the city's recently adopted rent stabilization ordinance, backed by the Santa Barbara Rental Property Association. The article is an opinion piece by Colleen Macey defending the petition process and arguing residents deserve a public vote on the decision.
Local Politics · Santa Barbara, CA
Three Santa Barbara mayoral candidates—Wendy Sims-Moten, Eric Friedman, and Kristen Sneddon—answered questions from Dos Pueblos High School and Santa Barbara City College students at a Friday NAACP Santa Barbara forum. Topics included responses to the recent Blackface incident at San Marcos High School, e-bike enforcement targeting youth of color, and accessible transportation for low-income residents. Sims-Moten called for greater school accountability; Sneddon cited her prior work declaring racism a public health crisis and urged the district to pause and retrain; Friedman highlighted the Teen Court Program as a peer-based alternative. On e-bikes, all three emphasized education and engineering over criminalization, with Sneddon warning against appearance-based enforcement disparities. The forum was among the candidates' last appearances before voters choose Santa Barbara's next mayor on Nov. 3.
Community News · Santa Barbara, CA
Tecolote House, a 12-bed residential facility operated by PathPoint at 310 Camino del Remedio, is now providing supportive housing for adults living with serious mental illness. Next door, a 14-bed Sobering Center operated by Good Samaritan Shelter offers a safe place for people to stabilize while under the influence of alcohol or other substances, replacing a former county facility that closed due to building-condition concerns. County officials say both facilities address growing needs among people facing barriers to housing, treatment, and long-term stability. The project was funded through state funding.
Public Safety · Santa Barbara, CA
A 3-year-old girl remained in critical condition Monday after being struck by an eastbound vehicle while crossing State Street in a marked crosswalk shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday, according to the Santa Barbara Police Department. The child received emergency treatment at the scene, was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, and later transferred to a specialized hospital. Cmdr. Nathan Beltran said the driver remained at the scene, was not cited or arrested, and drugs or alcohol are not suspected factors; the investigation continues. A GoFundMe campaign for the family had raised $15,683 of a $30,000 goal as of Monday afternoon.
