••• In September 2020, it was reported that the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s deal with Netflix included a reality show following them around; a spokesperson adamantly denied it. The rumor is back, with more heft: “Netflix will finally get its ‘pound of flesh’ from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with an ‘at-home with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex–style’ docuseries, Page Six can reveal. […] The cameras have been allowed behind the scenes at their home in Montecito, Calif., and joined the Sussexes on their trip to NYC last September.” If there was a denial this time, Page Six didn’t mention it, and their spokesperson declined to comment to the L.A. Times.
••• The Independent declined to endorse either candidate for county sheriff. Some of the reasoning against incumbent Bill Brown: “Brown was quick to reject out of hand the idea of a civilian oversight board. He called it a national solution in search of local problem that doesn’t exist here in Santa Barbara. It’s important to recognize that the County of Santa Barbara has paid out $9 million in the last 10 years to settle excessive-force or wrongful-death lawsuits involving deputies who answer to Bill Brown.” And this: “How is it that that someone so politically gifted and so accomplished could have such rocky relations with the county supervisors — who control the purse strings on which Brown relies — with the union that represents his own troops, with not one but all the fire chiefs in Santa Barbara County, and with the four cities that currently contract with his department for law enforcement services?”
••• The Santa Barbara Police Department is having trouble hiring: “The future of law enforcement in Santa Barbara consists of fewer officers, with about one-third of them commuting from out of the city. In 2017, the Santa Barbara Police Department received 1,442 applications for jobs. That number dropped to 695 in 2021. So far this year, the city has received 208 applications. […] The department has about 20 vacant positions.” —Noozhawk
••• “Montecito remains exposed to dangerous debris-charged flows and floods. According to a $600,000, 168-page study of the historical record titled ‘Fire, Flood and Landslide Dam History: Community of Montecito and Vicinity,’ released this spring by the Project for Resilient Communities, these events are far from rare. […] The study shows that both Montecito and Carpinteria have been hit with four other debris-charged events during the past 200 years that were larger than the 1/9 debris flow—the debris flows of 1825, 1861-62, and 1914, and the debris-laden floods of 1995.” —Newsmakers
••• “The state is opening two Covid-19 ‘Test to Treat’ locations—in Santa Maria and Goleta—where people get tested, be seen by a healthcare provider and, if eligible, get a prescription for antiviral pills. […] The state’s Test to Treat services are free to everyone, with or without health insurance.” The Goleta one is in the Direct Relief parking lot. —Noozhawk
••• “It will cost more to attend skate camps, play pickleball, use youth baseball fields, and swim and dance under the Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department’s 2023 budget proposal.” —Noozhawk
••• “After Alisal Fire, Life Returns to Arroyo Hondo Preserve […] Property Reopens to Visitors After Closing Last October. […] The preserve is open to the public on the first and third full weekend of each month.” Reserve here. —Independent
••• The tree of the month is the jacaranda. “Last winter’s late rains and warmer-than-usual temperatures have resulted in the most magnificent display of Jacaranda seen in Santa Barbara for many years—and the fabulous display of vivid, lavender-blue, blooms has occurred much earlier this spring. Some trees display blooms all across their canopies but have no leaves at all, which makes a spectacular show. Others bear both flowers and light-green, lacy, foliage—a combination that is delightful, whether seen from up close or from afar.” —Edhat
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