• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced Oct. 28 that the Santa Barbara County Flood Control District had been awarded a $13.5 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant will allow the county to purchase property along Randall Road in Montecito in order to construct a new debris basin near San Ysidro Creek. The basin could help prevent another disaster like the Montecito mudslides in 2018. “It has taken years for our community to rebuild and recover from the Montecito Debris Flow. We can, and should, honor the memories of those we lost that horrible day by doing everything possible to prevent future disasters,” Carbajal said in a statement. “Wildfires and floods, fueled by climate change, are only getting worse over time and we must adapt our infrastructure to reflect our reality. The new debris basin will go a long way toward that goal, and I’m proud of the collaborative work we’ve done across local, state, and federal governments to secure the funding necessary to turn this project into a reality.” The new basin would not only retain large boulders and debris to protect the community, but would also protect fish habitat, something that had been a concern of environmental groups in past basin discussions. “This debris basin will have more than four times the capacity of the current basin upstream, and will feature design elements to detain more trees and rocks. Because of this and because it is at the best gradient in the watershed, this is the ideal project for increasing the protection of the community,” 1st District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams said in the statement. “I want to thank the families who are selling the land to us and the community supporters who have been advocating every step of the way.” The new basin is estimated to cost $18 million, so the FEMA grant will cover 75 percent of the cost.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Oct. 28 responding to issues created by the pandemic. “The order directs the California Department of Transportation to create a process for issuing temporary encroachment permits enabling commercial activities in the state highway right of way, allowing businesses located along state highways to expand their outdoor dining options onto sidewalks and parking areas, where safety permits,” according to Newsom’s office. The order also allows people who are 70 and older to renew their driver’s licenses by mail to limit in-person DMV visits and allow the vulnerable population to remain isolated.
• Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) wrote in an Oct. 30 Facebook post that Herencia Indigena—an organization that provides medical interpreting, cultural awareness training, and training for Mixteco interpreters—has launched a Mixteco COVID-19 hotline in partnership with Dignity Health to help serve the Indigenous community. Limón wrote that people can call Monday through Friday from 2 to 8 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m. “They will be answering questions regarding symptoms, quarantine requirements, and resources,” Limón wrote. The hotline number is (805) 363-0888.
