🌱 Santa Barbara Council Delays Outdoor Dining Fee + Medi-Cal

Hey, everybody. It's Friday in Santa Barbara and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Mostly sunny and cool. High: 63 Low: 47.
• Saturday: Cool with plenty of sun. High: 64 Low: 50.

Are you looking to set yourself apart from the crowd of average real estate agents? Our exclusive sponsorship showcases your expertise with targeted messaging that attracts new clients in Santa Barbara. Click here to see how we can help you stand out in the market.

Here are the top three stories in Santa Barbara today:

1. During Tuesday night's Santa Barbara City Council meeting, the council voted five-to-one to for a two-week delay in approving new outdoor dining fees for restaurants between the 400 and 1300 blocks of State Street. Councilwoman Alejandra Gutierrez said, "I would rather have everyone come together in agreement, instead of government telling the community what to do. We can’t be divided in this decision. I really want to respect the business owners." Mayor Randy Rowse, who cast the sole opposition vote, said, "I am just frustrated because once again it looks like we are being a very indecisive council. To rehash this yet again, and we will, are we going to make a decision next time? I am not confident." (Noozhawk)
2. Up to three million Californians are in danger of losing Medi-Cal coverage because the California Department of Health Care Services cannot reach them. CenCal, Santa Barbara County’s Medi-Cal administrator, estimates that "30,000 to 60,000 members in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties could lose coverage by the end of the year by not responding to the annual questionnaire." Van Do-Reynoso of CenCal said, "The quickest and easiest way to ensure continuous coverage is to visit cencalhealth.org/keep and update your information as soon as possible." To maintain coverage, members must fill out the annual re-evaluation package/questionnaire that is sent to the last known address on file. (Santa Barbara Independent)
3. As part of efforts in May 2020 to expand sustainable U.S. seafood production, then-President Trump tasked the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with proposing 19 sites for aquaculture, or "seafood farming," in U.S. federal waters. Eight of the sites chosen are in the Santa Barbara Channel, but there has been some local opposition to the proposal due to concerns about the effects on the local environment and local fishermen. Jake Schwartz from Don’t Cage Our Oceans said, "The antibiotics that these facilities pump into the water, then mixes with the fish feed and excess fish waste and creates this sludge, which can create toxic algae blooms and even dead zones in the water where there's not enough oxygen to support even basic marine life." (KCLU)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Santa Barbara Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Santa Barbara Patch newsletter possible.

Today and tomorrow in Santa Barbara:

Friday, April 14

• Once: The Musical At Center Stage Theater (8:00 PM)
• Rocketbilly Presents: The Ripkatz At Whiskey Richards (10:00 PM)

Saturday, April 15

• The Good Good Show At Night Lizard Brewing Co. (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The county of Santa Barbara released 4,000 pounds of rainbow trout into Cachuma Lake, bringing the latest total of this stocking season to 16,000 pounds of trout ready to be caught at the 26th annual Fish Derby on Apr. 15 and Apr. 16. The derby is a fundraiser for the Neal Taylor Nature Center, a non-profit that works to preserve and protect Cachuma Lake. (edhat.com)
• The Santa Barbara Zoo announced the arrival of a male red panda! Due to habitat loss, the red panda is an endangered species with only 10,000 of them left in the wild. The zoo is currently setting up the red panda's permanent enclosure in the zoo. (KEYT)
• The Santa Barbara Public Library announced that the main level is now open and includes access to fiction, DVDs, and audiobooks on CDs! The main level had been closed from January to March for construction. Click here for details. (News Channel 3-12 via Twitter)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• In the Gardens of Splendor and Delight (April 20)
• Book Signing: Kim Cantin's Where Yellow Flowers Bloom (April 20)
• "Get Out of Town" this spring! (May 11)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!

— 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!