Housing & Development · Santa Barbara, CA
On October 6, Santa Barbara's City Council adopted rent-stabilization rules limiting annual rent increases to the lower of 60 percent of CPI or 3 percent, with the city announcing a 2027 allowable increase of 2.2 percent versus the statewide AB 1482 cap of 8.6 percent. The Council also advanced short-term rental regulations on October 6, with final adoption scheduled for October 27. Through September 2026, South Coast home sales rose 8.5 percent while the median price fell 11.4 percent to $2,115,000, driven by a shift toward lower-priced properties that now represent 46 percent of transactions versus 34 percent a year earlier. Santa Barbara County unemployment increased from 3.7 percent in May to 4.6 percent in August.
Local Politics · Santa Barbara, CA
The Santa Barbara City Council unanimously approved stricter language preventing the use of disaster reserves for normal city operations, as the city sits $23 million short of its 25% reserve target. Finance Director Keith DeMartini warned that if current spending continues, disaster reserves would be fully depleted by the end of fiscal year 2028-29. Councilwoman Meagan Harmon proposed lowering the target from 25% to 15%, but colleagues including Wendy Santamaria expressed concern about setting a lower standard amid diminishing federal support. A Finance Committee review is scheduled for Nov. 17 to examine further budget-balancing options.
Public Safety · Los Angeles County
The National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard issued a coastal flood advisory Wednesday at 11:39 a.m., in effect until Friday at 2 p.m., covering beaches from San Luis Obispo County through Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties including the Malibu Coast. High tides are expected to reach 7.5-8.0 feet (MLLW) late Thursday morning, 1.0 to 1.5 feet above astronomical projections, decreasing somewhat Friday but remaining near 7.5 feet around noon. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is likely in low-lying areas including beach parking lots, bike paths and harbor walkways, with moderate to significant beach erosion expected and isolated structural damage possible in the most vulnerable areas. The NWS advises residents in flood-prone areas to move to higher ground and warns against driving through floodwaters.
Local Business · Santa Barbara County
Registered nurses at three Cottage Health facilities in Santa Barbara County officially filed Tuesday for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, seeking to join SEIU 121RN. The vote would cover 40 nurses at Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital, 103 at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, and 1,153 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Union organizers cited wage transparency, executive compensation, high cost of living, and changes to a long-term leave policy as motivations. Cottage Health management said it prefers direct communication over third-party representation and noted nurses have received annual raises ranging from 5.4% to 6.3% in recent years. The NLRB is expected to schedule the secret-ballot election within the next few weeks.
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Local Politics · Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County election official Joe Holland received a letter from Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, demanding verification of 180 names suspected of noncitizen voter registration within 48 hours before the November 3 midterm elections. Holland did not respond to media calls and delayed notifying county supervisors, the county executive, and county counsel after receiving the letter. Essayli appeared in federal court Tuesday to deny he was threatening anyone. The article notes that DOJ's original list of suspected noncitizen registrants had shrunk from 252,000 to 20,000 before reaching California counties, and Secretary of State Shirley Weber questioned the accuracy of the names.
Social Events · Santa Barbara, CA
Actor Andrew Garfield will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award during the 42nd annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 6, 2027. He will join film critic Leonard Maltin for an on-stage conversation reflecting on his career and body of work. The festival runs from February 3 to February 13, 2027.
Community brief · Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara City College Theatre Arts Department presents a student showcase production of "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" by Joe Landry, directed by Katie Laris, Nov. 11-21 in the Jurkowitz Theatre on SBCC's West Campus. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with matinees at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 21; the Nov. 15 matinee is live-captioned for hearing accessibility. Tickets are $22…
Community brief · Santa Barbara, CA
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is displaying "Selby's Circles," a first-of-its-kind exhibit featuring approximately 20 bird etchings by 19th-century ornithologist Prideaux John Selby, in the John and Peggy Maximus Gallery at 2559 Puesta Del Sol. Curator Dr. Sarah Monks organized the show after the museum received a donation of Selby's prints last year. The exhibit highlights Selby's life-size illustrations of 383 bird species and…
