Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Lots of Updates!

Framework rules:

A county will remain in a tier for a minimum of three weeks before being able to advance to a later tier and county can only move forward one tier at a time, even if metrics qualify for a more advanced tier. A county’s tier status will be assessed on a weekly basis, with the first assessment released on September 8th. A county must meet criteria for the next tier for the prior two consecutive weeks in order to progress to the next tier.

To move back:

If a county’s adjusted case rate and/or test positivity has been within a more restrictive tier for two consecutive weekly periods, the county must revert to the more restrictive tier.

Sector changes effective 8/31/20:

• Hair salons and barbershops – open indoors with modifications
• All retail – open indoors with modifications at max 25% capacity
• Shopping malls – open indoors with modifications at max 25% capacity, closed common areas and closed food courts

Report a Violation:

If you want the County to investigate potential violations of the Protection Plan Protocols or the health order currently in effect, please visit www.RecoverySBC.organd scroll to the bottom of the page to find “Report a Violation”

Business Briefing: Update on New Statewide COVID-19 Tiers and Business Openings

Presented by the Santa Barbara County Chambers of Commerce

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

12:00-12:45 p.m.

Join us this Wednesday September 2nd at 12:00 p.m. for a business briefing on the updated statewide COVID-19 tiers and what this means for businesses and reopening.

Presenter:

Nancy Anderson, Assistant County Executive Officer of the County of Santa Barbara

Questions will be addressed following the presentation. Please feel free to submit any questions in advance to stephanie@sbscchamber.com.

Webinar info:

Please register in advance for the workshop. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Register Here.

• Sitting, lying, standing, sunbathing, sight-seeing, picnicking, and all other non-exercise, passive or sedentary activities on beach parkways are prohibited.
• Items for sitting or lying on the beach are prohibited for use of possession on beaches, such as umbrellas, shade structures, tents, barbeque grills, sand or beach toys, coolers and beach chairs.

You will be able to go to http://www.countyofsb.org/housing starting tomorrow to find out more information and how to apply.

We are estimating to be able to help about 600 households in the Unincorporated County (not living within the boundaries of any city – for example: Cuyama, Summerland, Montecito, Noleta, Isla Vista, Santa Ynez, Orcutt, and others). Those households who are at or below 80% of Area Median Income will be eligible (that’s $66,750 for a household of 1, $95,3000 for a household of 4 – more info on the website). The subsidy will consist of $1,000 per month for up to 3 months (max $3000 per household) paid directly to the landlord on the tenant’s behalf. All funds must be disbursed before November 30^th.

On the rental assistance front, the California Legislature passed AB 3088, the Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act of 2020. This bill:

• Limits evictions in which a residential tenant has fallen behind on rent or other payment obligations under their lease due to financial hardship caused by the pandemic until January 31, 2021, and creates protections for small landlords who become delinquent on their mortgage payments.
• Makes any unpaid rent between March 1^st and August 31^st into consumer debt, exempting it from being the basis of an eviction ever.
• If a tenant pays at least 25% of unpaid rent between September 1^st and January 31^st, the remaining unpaid balance is converted into consumer debt and cannot form the basis for an eviction ever.
• If a landlord intends to try to evict a tenant for nonpayment of rent or other charges due under the lease, the landlord must first serve a notice giving the tenant 15 days to either pay the demanded amount, vacate the premises, or return a declaration to the landlord, signed under penalty of perjury, indicating the tenant cannot pay the rent in full and on time because of COVID-19 related financial hardship. If that is returned within 15 days, the tenant becomes protected by the bill and the due rent becomes consumer debt, something the landlord can sue the tenant over but cannot evict them for.

As you may know, Supervisor Gregg Hart and I have been sponsoring an eviction moratorium that was passed and renewed by the Board multiple times now to keep people in shelter during this pandemic and not make the situation worse. That was very effective for our residents in the unincorporated community but this bill will provide protections throughout the state and acts as more of a long-term solution. It was negotiated between groups representing tenants and landlords and is the best solution we can hope for at this time. I want to thank Assemblymember Limón and Senator Jackson for the role they played in helping these protections pass. As always, anyone who is able to pay their rent in full at this time, PLEASE DO SO. It is a critical piece to support those who are not able to pay their rent.

Furthermore, typically we would be gathering on September 11^th at the Seal Fountain to hold a vigil for all those who have lost their lives to suicide in our community and we cannot do that this year due to COVID-19, which may further cause distress to some folks. HopeNet is holding an online vigil and observance of Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month on their website and Facebook page. Hear community guest speakers, music, and learn about resources. For further information, contact Deborah at 805-637-5438 or email hopenetofcarp@gmail.com. Feel free to light a candle in honor or your loved on as you listen.

I am extremely grateful and appreciative of Lisa’s service to the First District – for the last year and a half with us and her years of service previously with former-Supervisor Salud Carbajal. Especially in the last year and a half, Lisa has been an indispensable member of this team and has provided countless hours of support to those affected by the Thomas Fire and 1/9 Debris Flow and recently, to our Latinx and Migrant community affected by COVID. I’m very excited for her that she will get to focus on these issues full-time and deepen her service to our County.