Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Register for May Book to Action Events!

Firsthand Stories of Internment and Artist Harmony Becker

The Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries would like to invite you to register for our upcoming Book to Action events. As part of the Book to Action community read featuring “They Called Us Enemy” by George Takei, we are announcing three special online presentations in May:

  • June Aochi Berk spoke on Saturday May 1 on “Camp Rohwer Memories.” From age 10-13, Berk was incarcerated with her family in the Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center in Arkansas. Watch a recording on YouTube.
  • On Saturday, May 15 at 3:00 p.m. Sigrid Toye will speak on “Tuna Canyon Detention Station, and the History of German American Incarceration in the United States during WWII.” Toye will share with us her family’s experience of her father’s three years at Tuna Canyon Detention Station and will cover a brief history of German American incarceration during World War II. Register here.
  • Artist and illustrator Harmony Becker will be featured on Saturday May 22 at 2:00 p.m.to speak about creating the artwork which is so much a part of George Takei’s graphic novel “They Called Us Enemy,” which was published by Top Shelf Productions in 2019. Sign up for this event here. 

The 2021 Book to Action program at the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries centers around the themes of equity, diversity and inclusion found in George Takei’s autobiographical memoir They Called Us Enemy. The book uses the powerful format of graphic novel storytelling to bring to life George Takei’s childhood experiences as a Japanese American who was forced from his home into an internment camp during World War II. His story of courage and the challenges faced by his family spotlights issues of racism and injustice that remain at the forefront of global conversations today. Community members are invited to read this compelling book together and participate in engaging online programming that will honor this story and celebrate inclusion for all.

For more information and a schedule of all virtual events, visit the Book to Action page on our website at www.cityofgoleta.org/city-hall/goleta-valley-library/information/book-to-action. Copies are available to borrow through the library catalog and as a free, instant-download eBook in English and Spanish from Hoopla, as well as on Overdrive, two of the library’s popular streaming and download services.

Book to Action is a program of the California Library Association, supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

No More Library Late Fee Fines

The City of Goleta is pleased to report that library patrons will soon no longer be charged late fines at the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries. The Goleta City Council unanimously approved the Library Advisory Commission’s recommendation to do away with late fines at the April 6, 2021, Council meeting. Beginning July 1, 2021, patrons will only be billed for items that are 30 days overdue after the original due date, and no overdue fines will be charged. Existing fines will be forgiven but patrons will still owe for unreturned materials and collection agency fees. Patrons with fines for late fees on their accounts will see those fines disappear in the next couple of weeks.

Library Director Allison Gray said, “I am very grateful to the City Council for taking this action. It will open up the wonderful services offered by our Library System to those who could not previously make use of them and ensure that we are being inclusive in offering our services to everyone.”

Many libraries across the country have taken this step and found that it not only increased their circulation but brought the people who most need the library back. Numerous studies indicate that eliminating fines increased goodwill between patrons and library staff and did not lead to an increase in late book returns.

In order to regain overdue materials the library will send mailed notices to patrons at 30 days past due (item is billed) and 60 days past due (replacement cost is final). At 63 days past due (and $40 or more in fees) the library will forward your account to a materials recovery agency and a $10 non-refundable service charge will be added to your account.

We hope that this action will lead many more people to get a Goleta Valley or Santa Ynez Valley Library card and begin accessing all of the physical and virtual materials and resources available. You can get your card during Sidewalk Service at your local branch (Wednesdays – Saturdays 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.). Please bring with you a form of valid, government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport that shows your home address. If your photo identification does not match your current address, bring in any piece of mail that has your name and address on it. Children from birth through 5th grade are eligible for their own library cards with the signature of a parent or guardian. Teens ages 12 through 17 can apply for their own card. You can also register here for an e-card that gives you immediate 24/7 access to online services.

Eliminating late fees also allows staff to spend more time providing positive services to library patrons, such as Tech Tutoring, Homework Help, Personal Reading Lists, and helping to navigate the Library’s robust website offerings. Visit www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org to learn more about the programs and services available.

Read the full staff report from the April 6, 2021, City Council meeting at: https://tinyurl.com/3xhszama. A recording of the meeting is also available to view here.

Reminder to Mail Back Your Pre-Paid Project Noticing Plan Postcard

By now you should have received a letter in your mailbox from the City of Goleta about the City’s new Project Noticing Plan. Please don’t recycle or throw it away! Take a moment to fill out and send back the pre-paid postcard that was included letting us know that you would like to receive notices directly about large projects via email, text or in the mail. You can also send an email to PIO@CityofGoleta.org specifying your preference(s) and preferred language (English or Spanish).

The City of Goleta wants to make sure you are aware of projects occurring within the City and that you have an opportunity to be a part of the consideration process. At the same time, we are mindful that many of our community members would prefer to receive notices via on-line methods rather than by mail. For more information on the City’s Project Noticing Plan go to www.CityofGoleta.org/ProjectNoticing.

We encourage you to stay connected with us on our outreach platforms to be informed about all that is happening in our City. 

Ways to Stay Connected

LED Lights Coming to a Street Near You

The City of Goleta is getting closer to replacing more than 1,300 High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlight fixtures throughout Goleta with new energy efficient LED streetlights. The new lights will save the City money, require less maintenance, provide clearer lighting and are better for the environment. The project is expected to save Goleta over 345,000 kilowatt hours and approximately $115,000 in energy costs in the first year after the project is implemented.

In 2020 the City acquired the streetlights from Southern California Edison and began looking into different LED options for our community. In January 2021, we held a Pilot Study to get community input. Based on feedback, the City has selected GE fixtures that are 2700K color temperature streetlights. The wattage of the LED fixtures will vary depending on the road type of the light’s location: arterials, collectors, and residential streets will all vary in brightness. The busier streets will have higher energy, and thus brighter lights.

We know there are a lot of questions about this project and encourage you to look at the newly updated Frequently Asked Questions on our LED Streetlight webpage: http://cityofgoleta.org/LEDStreetlights. Stay tuned for information about a virtual Town Hall as well as a video sharing more information on this project.

The next City council meeting on the LED streetlight project is anticipated to be June 15, 2021, and staff will be recommending City Council approve the final plans and initiate the streetlight conversion work. If approved, installation will begin in the fall. Public comment is welcome. The agenda will be available in advance at https://cityofgoleta.org/goletameetings.  

Pictured: Deputy Public Works Director James Campero and Assistant Engineer Michael Winnewisser filming our LED streetlight video

Goleta City Council Approves Homelessness Strategic Plan

The City of Goleta has its first ever Homelessness Strategic Plan (Plan). At the April 20th Goleta City Council meeting, the Council approved the Plan which was more than two years in the making. The goal of the Homelessness Strategic Plan is to provide important direction and clarity around needs, service gaps, and priorities in order to make effective and strategic funding decisions that serve both the existing homeless population, as well as those at risk of becoming homeless.

City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “We are proud to be one of the few cities on the Central Coast with a strategic plan to address homelessness. Unfortunately, the number of people experiencing homelessness has continued to grow and many of our residents are at-risk of becoming homeless due to the pandemic. The City of Goleta wants to play a role in trying to address this regional problem.”

Jaime Valdez, City of Goleta Neighborhood Services Interim Director, said “We’ve seen a significant increase in homeless encampments and the number of people in the community needing assistance with basic needs. The Strategic Plan will provide important policy guidance to staff and identifies specific objectives to be implemented over time to fulfill unmet needs.”

The Plan will help guide and coordinate efforts to prevent and address homelessness within the City of Goleta, and particularly, funding decisions related to homelessness initiatives and grants for non-profit service providers that focus on the homeless. Public input has been an essential part of developing the Plan, and we are grateful for the public’s input and interest in this important effort.

The City’s upcoming budget process will include consideration of funding for homelessness initiatives using this new Plan for guidance. Staff will be exploring various options for implementing some of the objectives of the Plan for the coming fiscal year and will be taking additional items to the City Council related to implementation in the near future.

The Plan is available to view here. Watch the April 20, 2021, City Council meeting here.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

COVID-19 Business Resources

Emergency Business Assistance Program Announced from the County of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Foundation

The County of Santa Barbara, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation, announce the Emergency Business Assistance Grant Program that consists of two components: microenterprise business assistance and small business assistance grants.

The application period is open May 10 through June 30, 2021, or when all funds are granted, whichever comes sooner. Eligible microenterprise businesses may apply for up to $10,000 in funding, while eligible small businesses may apply for up to $25,000.

To apply for a grant, please review the grant guidelines and eligibility requirements. Before accessing the grant portal and registering your business to receive access to the application, please complete the eligibility checklist.

Staff from the County and Santa Barbara Foundation will be hosting two similar workshops to discuss the Emergency Business Assistance Program with interested businesses. The first is set for 10-11:30 a.m., Monday, May 10; and repeated noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 19.  

For questions or more information, please contact the Santa Barbara Foundation at (805) 963-1873.

Economic Development Collaborative

Get the latest COVID-19 resources for businesses from the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC). The EDC serves Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, giving businesses, community partners and civic leaders the resources they need to succeed. During the pandemic they have compiled the business resources for the community. Please visit https://edcollaborative.com/covid19/ for grant opportunities, loan opportunities, housing-related assistance, tax credits, unemployment benefits and more.

The EDC Small Business Development Center (SBDC) call team and experienced advisors are available to answer questions and help you navigate today’s complex business environment. The Economic Development Collaborative hosts the Small Business Development Center and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Signing up as a client takes just a few minutes and provides you lifetime access to all of our no-cost services. Get started today with no-cost consulting by calling our Business Assistance Line at 805.409.9159. Resources and advising are available in English and Spanish. For more information go to https://edcollaborative.com/.

COVID-19 Rental Assistance for Goleta Residents

Residents financially impacted by COVID-19 (e.g. job loss, reduction in wages, etc.) can apply for rental assistance funds. The City of Goleta is providing funds to assist residents with their rent through the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara County. Upon application approval, applicants may receive up to $5,000 or up to 3 months of current and/or past-due rental expenses, whichever is less. Once approved, assistance payments to applicants will be paid directly to landlords.

ELIGIBILITY / DOCUMENTATION

  • Must provide proof of residency in the City of Goleta
  • Household income must be 80% or below the area median income (AMI)
  • Must demonstrate loss of income related to COVID-19, with eligibility starting last year on March 13, 2020, and must provide:
    • Documentation of past 2 months of income for the entire household
    • Proof of lease or rental agreement

Additional documentation may be required during the review process. To apply, go to https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/SANTABARBARACOUNTYCA/participant. If you need assistance or have questions, contact the Housing Authority at 805-735-8351 or email Questions@hasbarco.org.

Haga clic aquí para obtener información en español.

In addition, the County of Santa Barbara is offering emergency rental & utility assistance through United Way of Santa Barbara County to eligible Santa Barbara County residents. The Board of Supervisors recently voted to increase the amount of rental assistance to 100% – the first county in the nation to do so. Rental assistance is available for 3-month increments up to a 15-month span. Learn more and apply at https://www.unitedwaysb.org/rent.

mission::vaccinate – Rides for Seniors and Volunteers Needed

Through their new program, mission::vaccinate, Community Partners in Caring is providing free rides to help those aged 62+ get to their vaccination appointments. People must be able to walk without the assistance of their driver (canes and walkers will be placed in the vehicle during the ride). Those 18+ years old and considered “at risk” (if mobility is restricted by chronic illness or disability and they lack access to transportation or are unable to drive) may also be eligible for free rides.

After registering for a vaccine appointment, someone needing a ride should call Community Partners in Caring at 805-925-8000 to arrange the free ride. Two-day advance notice is required. For more information go to www.partnersincaring.org/missionvaccinate.

Partners in Caring is also looking for volunteers to take seniors to their vaccination appointments. Perks include choosing your own schedule, mileage reimbursement, and knowing you’ve helped to protect seniors in our community. Sign up as a mission::vaccinate volunteer at www.partnersincaring.org/missionvaccinate, or contact Community Partners in Caring at volunteer@partnersincaring.org or 805-925-8000.

COVID-19 Mobile Vaccine Program

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is excited to announce the COVID-19 Mobile Vaccine Program. With a focus on health equity, the program serves to remove barriers for groups of individuals who are not able to get their vaccine at community clinics.

The clinics will be administering the Moderna vaccine given in a series of 2 doses.

TO HOST A MOBILE CLINIC AT YOUR SITE YOU MUST BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:

  • Identify eligible individuals who would like to receive a COVID-19 vaccine – Eligibility for vaccination is now open to anyone 18 and older
  • Fill out consent forms and assign appointment times to the eligible persons.
  • Provide a space to hold the clinic (inside or outside area)
  • Provide tents, tables, chairs, and water for the observation area
  • Be able to secure at least 80 and up to 250 eligible appointments for the day of the clinic. (smaller sites are encouraged to call. Combining efforts with other smaller entities is possible)

Click here to request a mobile clinic.

Email inquiries can be sent to mobileclinic@sbcphd.org. A flyer is available here.

I’ve Been Vaccinated! Now What?

By Dr. Henning Ansorg, M.D., FACP, Health Officer County of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Health

If you’ve been vaccinated, congratulations! If you are still awaiting your turn to be vaccinated, thank you for your patience. You can learn more about vaccinations in Santa Barbara County, including how to sign up to receive your vaccine, by visiting the County’s vaccine information website at: https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/.

You are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 approximately two weeks after receiving your second dose in a two-dose series, such as with Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. If you received the Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen, you are considered fully vaccinated approximately two weeks after receiving your single-dose vaccine. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, (CDC), those who are fully vaccinated may:

  • Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
  • Visit with unvaccinated people (including children) from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
  • Participate in outdoor activities and recreation without a mask, except in certain crowded settings and venues
  • Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel
  • Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States
  • Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings
  • Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic
  • Refrain from routine screening testing if asymptomatic and feasible

Even if you are fully vaccinated, remember that not everyone else is, so you should continue to:

  • Take precautions in indoor public settings like wearing a well-fitted mask
  • Wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease
  • Wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people from multiple households
  • Avoid indoor large-sized in-person gatherings
  • Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
  • Follow guidance issued by individual employers
  • Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations

There is also information on the CDC website regarding large events and gatherings and domestic travel.

For more information about local public health orders, guidance, and vaccine distribution in Santa Barbara County, please visit: https://publichealthsbc.org/.

This article has been updated with the most recent information from the CDC.