🌱 Cannabis Tax Revenue $10.5 Million Short + Temporary Home Funds

Hey, Santa Barbara! I'm here right on time with your Friday edition of the Santa Barbara Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy and cool. High: 61 Low: 45.
• Saturday: Increasing amounts of sun. High: 66 Low: 48.

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Here are the top three stories today in Santa Barbara:

1. Santa Barbara County officials announced that the cannabis tax revenues for 2022-23 could fall short of projections by $10.5 million. The county's cannabis program revenue is earmarked for public services, including libraries, long-range planning, parks, roads, and more. According to Brittany Heaton, principal cannabis analyst for the County Executive Office, the cannabis tax revenues are projected to be $5.8 million, but the county budgeted for $16.3 million. County officials said they have decided to use carryover cannabis tax revenues from previous years to cover the large difference. (Santa Barbara Independent)
2. On Mar. 14, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved allocating $3.3 million to Good Samaritan Shelter to continue creating and maintaining temporary homes for the homeless in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria. The money will go towards operating DignityMoves’ tiny homes through March 2025, creating more housing for people experiencing homelessness, and funding programs like Emergency Housing Vouchers, substance abuse prevention, case management, and more. (Santa Barbara Independent)
3. The Grace Fisher Foundation recently opened a new venue, The Inclusive Arts Clubhouse, for youths with a disability and adults living with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injuries. The facility is designed as a safe space where participants use creative activities to express themselves, such as through art, music, and dance. The space is loated at La Cumbre Plaza, Space F 118 in Santa Barbara. (KEYT)

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Today and tomorrow in Santa Barbara:

Friday, March 17

• Santa Barbara St. Patricks Day Pub Crawl & Block Party At Backstage (4:00 PM)
• St. Patrick's Day Bash - Spencer & The Worried Lads At SOhO Restaurant & Music Club (5:00 PM)

Saturday, March 18

• Santa Barbara St. Patricks Day Pub Crawl & Block Party At Institution Ale Co. (1:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The first Santa Barbara urgent care for pets will open in the next few weeks! Soon, pets will be able to go to urgent care instead of choosing between waiting days for a regular vet appointment or braving the long wait lines of an emergency animal hospital. Urgent Veterinary Care of Santa Barbara will be a walk-in facility that bridges the gaps in the local pet medical field. (Santa Barbara Independent)
• The City of Santa Barbara announced that construction for the Westside Community Paseos Project will continue this month, weather permitting, on the 600 block of W. Micheltorena Street. The project is expected to take about eight months. (Santa Barbara Edhat)
• The Santa Barbara Symphony’s John Williams Tribute concerts will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 18, and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 19. The multimedia tribute will highlight the composer's film scores in movies like "Star Wars," “Harry Potter," “E.T.,” “War of the Worlds,” “Jaws,” “Schindler’s List," and much more. (Noozhawk)

You're officially in the loop for today! See you all soon for your next update.

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!