
Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) notification issued by Southern California Edison for several parts of southern Santa Barbara County, including Santa Barbara, Mission Canyon, Montecito, and Carpinteria; PSPS Outages May Occur (through Jan. 20).

In the continuing effort to financially support individuals and families who have been financially impacted by COVID-19, United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) is partnering with the County of Santa Barbara to offer rental assistance grants to eligible individuals and families– the grants pertain to those living in Solvang, Buellton, Carpinteria and Guadalupe as well as those living in unincorporated areas of the County (listed below). There is a total of $890k available for eligible applicants who must meet specific requirements. The funds were made possible by the County of Santa Barbara through federal CDBG grants.

Proveyéndole información más actualizada de los suministros y distribución de la vacuna COVID-19
Con el reciente anuncio que las pautas para las vacunas en California se habían extendido para incluir a todas las personas de 65 años o mayores, hemos recibido muchas preguntas sobre la elegibilidad y el acceso a la vacuna del COVID-19. Queremos darle una actualización con la información más reciente sobre los suministros y distribución de la vacuna.

Folks who are over 75 will begin being contacted by their medical provider to schedule a vaccination appointment and those who are over 75 are also able to sign up for appointments at our Public Health community vaccination sites here: https://publichealthsbc.org/covid-19-vaccine-appointment-registration/?
As soon as more vaccines become available from the state, vaccination will begin for those who are 65 and older. It is important to keep in mind that vaccination supply is still limited. For reference, there are over 32,000 county residents over the age of 75 and the vaccination sites will have approximately 1200 total vaccines (not including the vaccines that are available at medical providers). Our capacity to vaccinate will increase as soon as we get more vaccines from the state, which will hopefully happen very soon.

There are 1,354 new cases for today, 13,381 additional tests, and 13 additional deaths (38 year old male, 83 year old female, 97 year old male, 87 year old male, 98 year old female, 88 year old female, 67 year old female, 100 year old female, 73 year old male, 62 year old male, 85 year old male, 62 year old male, and a 83 year old female.
Our thoughts are with the loved ones of each of the people who have passed away and with the medical staff who cared for them. Please help save lives by following the public health guidance.

Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDB) was awarded $2,417,711 from the U.S. Department of Labor to prepare justice-involved individuals for the workforce. Another $350,000 was received from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act/Governor’s Discretionary Fund for services to the English Language Learner (ELL) population to foster successful job placement and retention.
WDB partnered with the Ventura County’s Sherriff Office when applying for the Department of Labor grant that provides work-related training to inmates. The Ventura County “Bridges 2 Work” (B2W) project will place employment specialists at the Todd Road Jail in Santa Paula. Their focus will be on inmates who are less than 180 days away from release. A WDB “Pre-Release Specialized Job Center” at the jail will serve up to 300 inmates.

There are 1,563 new cases for today, 9,008 additional tests, and 16 additional deaths 96 year old male, 80 year old female, 91 year old male, 59 year old female, 86 year old male, 83 year old female, 72 year old female, 31 year old male, 86 year old male, 83 year old female, 69 year old female, 82 year old male, 75 year old male, 82 year old male, 87 year old female, and a 102 year old female.
Our thoughts are with the loved ones of each of the people who have passed away and with the medical staff who cared for them. Please help save lives by following the public health guidance.

Greetings and Happy New Year! We are happy to share that in December 2020, with support from the California Arts Council, we were able to distribute CARES funds to 17 local arts and culture organizations who represent and serve communities of color disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
This money was allocated from a portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds initially given to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) who granted a portion of the dollars to the California Arts Council to be distributed by their State and Local Partners. As CAC’s Ventura County SLP, we were able to help the following groups with support for core operations and special projects:
Ballet Folklorico Bell Arts
Ballet Folklorico Cielito Lindo de Simi Valley
Bell Arts Factory
Club Flor Bonita
The CreArtive Freedom Family
Danza Tonantzin
Dr. Manuel M. Lopez Community Garden
Fork Space
Get Loud Movement
Inlakech Cultural Arts Center
Our Town. Our Children.
Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation
Redbird
Spectrum Collaborative
The Showtime Project
Teatro De Las America
Ventura County Chinese American Association

I know that for many in our community, there is anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine. Many are wondering when they can get it, how many have been administered to date, who qualifies for each tier, etc. At yesterday’s Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update from the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, which provided some answers to the burning questions I have heard from many constituents.

The County of Ventura is looking for input from residents on planning for sea level rise. The coastal zone in unincorporated Ventura County includes 29 miles of coastline and contains beautiful beaches, recreation facilities, critical infrastructure, coastal access trails, residential communities, and agricultural fields. Coastal storms, flooding, and erosion combined with sea level rise could damage these important resources in the future.

As of January 12, there are 1,326 new cases for today, 10,843 additional tests, and 21 additional deaths: 79 year old male, 53 year old female, 91 year old female, 85 year old female, 80 year old male, 84 year old male, 84 year old female, 53 year old male, 32 year old male, 73 year old male, 100 year old male, 76 year old female, 97 year old male, 93 year old male, 76 year old female, 80 year old female, 70 year old male, 69 year old female, 88 year old female, 67 year old male, and a 90 year old female. Our thoughts are with the families of those who have passed away. The doubling time is 27.8.

The Port’s SEA LINC Project (Spurring Economic Advantages with Logistical Investments for New Connectivity) was recently awarded official designation by the U.S. Department of Transportation, marking the first time a project has been designated in Southern California since the inception of the American Marine Highways Program in 2007.
The SEA LINC Project aims to move cargo off federal and state highways by shifting the cargo to barge along Marine Highway 5 (M-5) instead. The cargo, currently being trucked from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California, will now move on the water and reduce traffic and air emissions, improve safety, and eliminate wear and tear on the roadways spanning across three states. The Port’s project is also the first American Marine Highway Coastal Service project designated on the entire West Coast of the United States.

Plans to increase workforce development opportunities and skills in Ventura County through 2022 will be discussed at a Zoom Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDB) Strategic Workforce Planning Roundtable Thursday, January 28, from noon to 1:00 p.m. The public is invited to discuss the plans and provide input.
One regional and one local plan was initially created in 2017 by WDB as part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

CA SMALL BUSINESS COVID-19 RELIEF GRANT Grant Q&A
January 13 @ 12:30 pm
Have questions about the CA Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program? Join the EDC’s Business Disruption Resource Director, Clare Briglio, and EDC SBDC Financial Advisor, Juliana Ramirez, in this Q&A session! Space is limited. Please register early.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

There are 3,288 (includes Saturday, Sunday, Monday) new cases of COVID-19. There have been 30, 806 new tests performed. Current hospitalizations: 432 and current ICU: 83. Current doubling time is 26.3. The current R-effective (average number of people each infected person will pass the virus onto and represents the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading is 1.14. R-effective for California is .99.
There have been 17 additional deaths:

Over the holiday season, the Port was in full swing preparing for two new hybrid mobile harbor cranes. Their arrival on Saturday marks another step toward further reducing emissions and greening cargo operations at “The Greenest Port in the U.S.”. These new cranes will help speed the delivery of goods to local stores, increase efficiencies, support additional cargo movement, and reduce air emissions for the surrounding community.

District 5 Supervisor Carmen Ramirez took her oath of office on Jan. 5.
“I am honored to begin my service representing the residents of Ventura County’s Fifth District. I know that we have many serious challenges to overcome the difficulties each of us experience in different ways because of the health and economic crisis. But I am an optimist and believe that working together for the greater good will get us to a better future. Thank you for the opportunity to serve,” said Supervisor Ramirez.

The Oxnard City Council will appoint a District 2 City Councilmember to serve a limited term that will end on November 2, 2021, the date of a special election that will be called for District 2 voters to choose a representative to complete Carmen Ramirez’s City Council term through 2022. Ramirez was sworn in as a Ventura County Supervisor on January 5, 2021.

There are 985 new cases of COVID-19. There have been 10,764 new tests performed. Current hospitalizations: 411 and current ICU: 80. Current doubling time is 31.9. The current R-effective (average number of people each infected person will pass the virus onto and represents the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading is 1.13. R-effective for California is.97.

The City of Oxnard Recreation and Community Services Division seeks the public’s help in creating a time capsule that summarizes a year like none before it.
Capturing COVID will record this historic time and help put the year into perspective for those who open the time capsule in the future. It will contain both written word and art, and is expected to help explain this period’s impact on all aspects of life in our community, from the advent of digital learning to isolating at home to missing important family celebrations.

Given the events happening in this country, particularly the storming of the Capitol yesterday, I make an urgent plea to all of us to RAMP THIS DOWN. Civil strife of this kind erodes our republic, and in other societies, leads inevitably to bloodshed and often worse. The hate is contagious. We must value our nation’s future and our ability to live together in common humanity more than short term partisan advantage, and stop devolving into warring tribes that share no dialogue, understanding or future pursuit of happiness together.

There are 1,520 new cases of COVID-19. There have been 7,560 new tests performed. Current hospitalizations: 420 and current ICU: 81.
There have been 8 additional deaths:
82 year old male,
52 year old female,
63 year old male,
71 year old female
102 year old male
68 year old male
56 year old male
47 year old male

The State of California has successfully received thousands of completed applications and will extend the closing date to January 13, 2021, to keep the portal open for those of you still in process and for new applicants to ensure fair and equitable opportunities for California’s small business community.
If you experienced disruptions in the application process, please note that you will be notified by email when to log in to complete your unfinished application or upload requested documents. Please do not fill out a new application as this can delay consideration.

There are 894 new cases of COVID-19. There have been 12,493 new tests performed. There have been 8 additional deaths:
77 year old male
93 year old female
89 year old female
81 year old female
87 year old female
80 year old female
78 year old male
78 year old male
Our thoughts are with the loved ones of each of the people who have passed away and with the medical staff who cared for them. Please help save lives by following the public health guidance.

There are 3,986 new cases of COVID-19. There have been 26 additional deaths: …
Our thoughts are with the loved ones of each of the people who have passed away and with the medical staff who cared for them. Please help save lives by following the public health guidance.
There have been 23,397 new tests performed. Current hospitalizations: 402 and current ICU: 82.
Watch today’s update from the State by clicking here.

As most eyes were focused on the coronavirus relief package this past week, ports all across America were waiting for President Trump to sign the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA). Included in the Act were provisions ensuring more funding would start flowing to the Port of Hueneme to maintain and improve the harbor, increasing the Port’s typical Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) funding by more than tenfold.
“As the pandemic has stretched our industry thin, the news of this increased funding is exactly what we need to continue making sure we can accommodate the vessels and cargo needed to keep our region recovering,” said Oxnard Harbor District President Jess J. Ramirez. “I would like to thank Congresswoman Julia Brownley for leading the charge, and Congressman Salud Carbajal and Congressman Mike Garcia for supporting this historic legislation.”

In response to the increased transmission of COVID-19 in Ventura County, Oxnard City Hall and most city facilities and programs will be temporarily closed to the public starting January 3, 2022. The City will reopen facilities and programs as soon as it is determined to be safe, but anticipates at least three weeks of closures to the public.
Meanwhile, most services will remain available remotely.
“The safety of the Oxnard community and our City employees remains our top priority,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen. “As we continue to provide essential services, we need to limit the amount of potential virus spread and protect the City’s workforce.”

There are 1,582 new cases of COVID-19.
There have been 3 additional deaths: 84 year old female, 69 year old female and 93 year old female. Our thoughts are with their loved ones and the medical staff that cared for them. Please help save lives by following the public health guidance. Please protect your loved ones and your neighbors.
10, 615 new tests performed.
Current hospitalizations: 374 and current ICU: 66.
Let’s make it a safe New Years Ventura County. Covid cases are on the rise. 1,582 new cases reported today. The highest number since May. Our medical team rocks and they are on watch but they can’t keep up if the cases continue to rise. They want to have enough beds and staff to help you when you are in need. Masking up, social distancing and not gathering are small sacrifices to get us all moving forward in 2021. Let’s save lives. Let’s save businesses. Let’s kick this thing. Doctor Nessa Meshkaty, Doctor Mark Lepore and our entire County family wish you the very best into the new year!

This webinar brings together experts in the area of local economic development. The panelists will share their insights on the public policy changes that can be made to address the gaps that exist, which will help restaurants recover.
Key take-aways:
The role of local government in invigorating local businesses/ local economy
The synergies of government- private sector in the LA/ Ventura County areas
There will be a moderated panel discussion followed by an open Q&A.
Learn more about the panel

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is hosting #CelebrateClimateLeadership, a virtual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival dedicated to inspiration, community building, and climate action. The FREE livestream event begins on Thursday, April 22 and runs until Saturday, April 24. It will be available to view at SBEarthDay.org.
The virtual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival – which will be fully online again this year due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions – will feature three days of conversations with climate leaders, musical performances, art contests, inspirational speakers, and opportunities for individuals to learn how they can lean into action at this urgent moment.

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Bryan Stevenson for American Injustice: Mercy, Humanity and Making a Difference on Friday, April 30 at 5 p.m. Pacific. One of the nation’s visionary legal thinkers and social justice advocates, Stevenson has spent nearly four decades seeking to eradicate racial discrimination in the criminal justice system. A MacArthur Fellow, he is an attorney, human rights activist and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. He spearheaded Alabama’s Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the first national memorial to victims of white supremacy, which opened in 2018. Stevenson is the subject of HBO’s 2019 documentary True Justice and his bestselling memoir Just Mercy was adapted into an acclaimed feature film of the same name.

The Port of Hueneme is a World Trade Center licensee, and in concert with our strong team of stakeholders, is hosting this event as part of our overall initiative to advance the businesses of Ventura County and expand their reach into the global marketplace. The focus this year will be on the challenges and opportunities offered by our post-pandemic world.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, in partnership with Terra Firma Enterprises, is in the process of updating the Ventura County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Updated every three years, the EOP addresses the County’s planned response to extraordinary emergency situations and natural, human-caused or technological disasters. We believe that emergency preparedness is a shared “whole community” responsibility, involving a broad spectrum of community interests including residents, businesses, faith-based and other community organizations, academia, as well as the media and all levels of government.

Join local leaders for a lively discussion on the new Infrastructure Bill bringing billions to the region. Hosted by KABC’s Frank Mottek.
Orange Traffic Cones, Orange Ice Cream Cones, Orange Vests, Orange Hard Hats and Oranges from Ventura County ranchers – plus Cone-y Island Hot Dogs, Vegan Pizza and Orange Beer from Five Threads!
Moderated by Frank Mottek, the “Voice of Business in Southern California” and Host of the new “Mottek on Money” nightly business report 6-7 PM on KABC [Frank’s Photo]