🌱 Higher Parking Fees + Ortega Park + Teachers Rally Over Salaries

Hello, everybody! Today’s National Eat What You Want Day; did you know that Thomas and Ruth Roy of wellcat.com created this day, so you can “actually enjoy yourself?” Sylvia here with your fresh copy of the Santa Barbara Patch newsletter, filled with these stories and more...

• 👮 Anonymous gun buyback event.
• 🚧 Housing project on Santa Barbara Street is a go.
• 💰 It’s getting more expensive to live here.

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌤️ But first, today's weather: Clouds, then sun. High: 67 Low: 50.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Around Santa Barbara

• Fuel Depot at 101 West Carrillo St., $4.49
• Santa Barbara Gas & Propane at 303 West Carrillo St., $4.51
• Fuel Depot at 2299 Las Positas Road, $4.53

🍷 Hobby Poll!
Everybody has hobbies. If time and money were no object this summer, which new hobby would you like to learn or take up? We have some preliminary results.

• 20.8 percent - traveling
• 8.4 percent - flying
• 4.2 percent - fly-fishing, crocheting, Mahjong, basket making, dog training & showing, surfing, watercolor, pickleball, line dancing, pottery, reading, ballroom dancing, horseback riding, wine collecting, car collecting, playing guitar, kickboxing

📰 Here are the top stories in Santa Barbara today:

1. Fees might just be going up in Santa Barbara. The latest one is a 50-cent increase in hourly parking rates and decrease of the free period by 15 minutes. While officials are apologetic, they’re dealing with a $2.9 million deficit that they have to make up somehow. So far, they have devised “184 pages of fee and permit increases.” If it feels like you’re having whiplash, you aren’t alone. Parking fees rose just a year ago from $1.50 to $2.50. (Independent)
2. While teachers at the Santa Barbara Unified School District announced that they’re not planning on a full strike, they will continue rallying. The Teachers Association said Tuesday that the rallying is in response to the district’s refusal to open salary negotiations. Teachers have been leaving the district to transfer to districts that pay more and have lower costs of living. (KEYT)
3. The Ortega Park Master Plan is still on the books. The latest development is the city’s intention to apply for a federal grant that would fund part of the project. Project Supervisor Justin Van Mullem explained that the park hasn’t had significant upgrades in more than five decades. However, neighborhood critics say that the overall design “lacks green open spaces.” (Santa Barbara Independent)
4. Also on the books is the 19-unit housing project at 425 Santa Barbara St. A neighboring commercial property owner doesn’t want the project to go forward. A major point of contention was the absence of parking spaces, which could set precedent and “lead to canyons surrounded by tall buildings and no parking all over the city.” (NoozHawk)
5. If you, or someone you know, have a firearm they’d like to get rid of, the Santa Barbara Police Department wants to buy it. The department has scheduled a gun buyback event for May 20 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. The transaction will be completely anonymous, and all you need to do is show up at 300 East Cota St., turn in the gun, and receive a $100 gift card. (Santa Barbara Police Department)

From our sponsor:

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📆 Today in Santa Barbara:

• Swap Meet at the Earl Warren Showgrounds (8 AM)
• Pet Wellness Clinic at Santa Barbara Eagles (10 AM)
• Lunchtime Meditation at the Mahakankala Buddhist Center (12:30 PM)
• The Library on the Go hosts Juegos In The Park at Bohnett Park (3:30 PM)
• Pop-Up Night Market at Stik N Stuk Creative Studios (5 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "We are so excited to officially announce our upcoming 27th Annual Art Faire: Artful Minds! Save the date of May 20 and join to view some beautiful art made right here in Santa Barbara! Featured are approximately 60 local artists living with mental illness, across a variety of visual and craft mediums which include painting, drawing, jewelry and sculpture." (Mental Wellness Center)
• "Get a behind the scenes look at City operations on Wednesday, May 17. Learn about our efforts to create a pathway toward smart government at our City Hall Open House. Take a tour of Council Chambers, Touch-a-Truck, play games and meet City Councilmembers. It’s free and family-friendly, with entertainment and treats for the kids (while supplies last). For details, check out the event on our calendar, here." (City Hall)
• "Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved the month of May as Wildfire Community Preparedness Month. Remember to 'Clear Your Brush,' June 1 is the defensible space inspection DEADLINE." (SBC Fire Info)
• "The district is recruiting to fill a volunteer position on the District Hearing Board. The Hearing Board is a quasi-judicial body that makes determinations on permit appeals, variances from local District rules and regulations, and considers requests for permit revocations." (Santa Barbara County APCD)
• "The City's African American/Black Historic Context Statement just received awards from the California Preservation Foundation and the California Chapter of the American Planning Association." (City of Santa Barbara)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• "Get Out of Town" this spring! (May 11)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (May 16)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today. I'll be in your inbox Saturday morning with a new update!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Christ follower. Wife. Book dragon. Proud supporter of the Oxford comma.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Santa Barbara Patch newsletter? Contact me at santabarbara@patch.com