••• “Santa Barbara County announced Friday that three new state-operated, by-appointment testing sites will open in the County next week. […] The goal for each testing site is 100-130 tests each day, according to Santa Barbara County Public Health. The testing will be done indoors, and not in cars. Public Health says, in combination with contact tracing efforts, that the new testing will help the County reach a necessary milestone before it can begin a true ‘transition phase,’ where some businesses can reopen and some coronavirus-related restrictions can be relaxed.” —KEYT
••• “The May Firm, a personal injury law office on State Street, is now offering $25 reimbursement payments to households who order from Santa Barbara restaurants. The office will pay for $10,000 worth of restaurant orders [….] To get reimbursed, simply upload an image of your receipt. The firm will send a reimbursement via Paypal or Venmo. ” Damn! Had a terrific meal from Barbareño last night, but the receipt has already been taken out in the garbage…. —Independent
••• Newsmakers interviews city administrator Paul Casey: “Amid the crisis, however, Casey also said that he remains focused on streamlining and improving operations of the embattled Community Development Department, a target of developers and elements of the business community unhappy with its slow and exasperating operations on planning, permitting and building issues. He said he has made clear to department Director George Buell the urgency of the problem.”
••• And more interesting stuff on the pandemic in the Newsmakers interview with Thomas Tighe, “longtime CEO of the celebrated, humanitarian medical assistance non-profit based in Santa Barbara,” Direct Relief.
••• “The Santa Barbara Unified School District expects the $39 million Peabody Stadium Project to be finished by May 30.” —KEYT
••• Two pieces of shopping news in Montecito Journal*: Field + Fort “is gearing up to reopen with an expansion into the building next door (the former Gentleman Antiquarians space) to showcase pieces privately to clients and designers,” and the Viva Oliva olive oil store has moved from Coast Village Road to 927 State Street, where it probably makes more sense, given the tourist traffic there in normal times. (*Articles not online yet, or maybe ever.)
••• “Los Padres National Forest announced that their developed recreation sites will remain closed through May 15 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. […] Developed recreation sites refers to designated recreational use areas such as campgrounds, day use sites and picnic areas.” Also, toilets are closed and there’s no trash removal. —KEYT
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