“The intent of this legislation is to get a handle on what has become a huge problem in the state of California, which is pet overpopulation,” said Alex Traverso, press secretary for Assembly member Lloyd E. Levine, sponsor of the bill. “We’re dealing with the veterinarians and shelter controls and they’re all saying the same thing to us, ‘Pet overpopulation is a huge problem.’ The numbers they’re reporting are going up, not down.”

Los Angeles County is reporting the need to construct new shelters at $150 million a piece according to Traverso.

Critics of the bill, including the American Kennel Club, argue that the bill punishes responsible owners and breeders by requiring a fee for an in tact pet permit. They also contend that according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, the number of animals in pet shelters has declined over the last 20 years, indicating that educating pet owners is the most effective route to solving the pet overpopulation and euthanasia problem.

The law will now go before the State Senate for a discussion and a final vote.

 

Man Arrested in Glendale Suspected of Robbing Santa Barbara Citibank

Glendale police arrested a bank robbery suspect June 5 believed to be “The Irreconcilable Differences Bandit” who may be the suspect who also robbed the Citibank in Santa Barbara, June 2.

Upon searching the suspect, police found currency from the Citibank heist.

“When you recover stolen property when taking in a suspect in a robbery, that’s pretty good evidence,” said Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Officer Lt. Paul McCaffrey.

Because the case is being prosecuted federally, the Santa Barbara Police Department will be aiding the prosecution, but not leading the investigation.

“When things happen in our city, we take it to heart in the interest of our citizens,” McCaffrey said.

The “Irreconcilable Differences Bandit” is believed to have been the perpetrator of some 16 robberies since December 2006. McCaffrey said the arraignment will most likely be held at a federal court in Los Angeles.

The title was given to the robber because its reported that during his first suspected robbery, he said he was “going through a divorce.”

The Santa Barbara Police Department is not currently releasing the surveillance photos from the June 2 robbery to prevent witness corruption.

 

The Valley Visitors Association to Hold its Third Meeting of the Year

The Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association will hold its third general meeting of 2007 at 8:30 a.m. June 13 at the Petersen Village Inn, 1576 Mission Drive, in Solvang. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

“Since tourism is one of the dominant industries in the Valley,” said Media/Public Relations Director for the association, Laura Kath. “It’s important for business owners and the public to understand how tourism is being promoted.”

The meeting is open to the public and will end at 9:30 a.m. Agenda items will include reports from the association’s new Executive Director, Mary Harris as well as updated on this year’s marketing activities.

“Our most recent general meeting was a special presentation on culinary tourism with Bryan Baker as the guest speaker; more than 80 people attended the meeting. It was a tasty success,” Kath said.

The Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association has over 100 members and its mission is to promote the Valley as a year-round tourism destination. The association holds four general meetings each year.

“It’s great networking for all business,” Kath added.

The association holds four general meetings each year. “It is the best opportunity to meet the players in the local hospitality industry.”

 

College Scholarships Available for Children of War Heroes

The Freedom Alliance is now acceptance applications for its 2007-2008 College Scholarships for children of U.S. troops who have been killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. The application deadline for the 2007-2008 academic years is July 20, 2007.

“We can never fully give back to our brave service members what they have sacrificed for us and the cause of freedom,” said Freedom Alliance President Tom Kilgannon. “but what we can do is show our appreciation by helping their children pay for college.”

According to a statement released to the press June 5, 2007 the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund has provided over $1 million in scholarship funding to hundreds of students attending colleges.

The Freedom Alliance’s mission is to “advance the American heritage of freedom by honoring and encouraging military service, defending sovereignty of the United States, and promoting a strong national defense.”

“We want to reach out to those families who have lost a loved one and let them know that Freedom Alliance is ready to assist their children who are going to college,” Kilgannon said.

To download a scholarship form or for more information contact Jennifer Ohman at 310-367-1326 or visit www.freedomalliance.org

 

Miniature Horse Clubs to hold their Annual Horse Show

The SoCal and NorCal Miniature Horse clubs will be presenting their annual Pacific Coast Classic Miniature Horse Show on June 15-17 at the Earl Warren Show Grounds located at 3400 Calle Real St. in Santa Barbara. Horses will be available for visitors to purchase in the Sale Barn. The event will also feature a parade of sale horses during lunch time.

Spectator admission is free and educational events, entertainment will also be featured.

“There will be a lot of fun to be had,” stated a recent press release from the horse club.

 For more information please contact Susan Hopman at 805-686-1051 or by e-mail, susan@lavistafarm.com.

 

County Board of Supervisors’ Meetings are Now Online

The County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors’ Meetings can now be viewed via a web cast online.

“The live video streaming on our Web site is making County government more open and accessible,” said Assistant County Executive Officer Terri Maus-Nisich. “[It] offers the public improved customer service by allowing them access the meetings at their convenience.”

According to a statement from the County of Santa Barbara, the new service began in a test phase in May and has become officially open and available to the public with the June 5 Board meeting.

“Archiving meetings on the Web site will eliminate the need for people to order and wait for copies of Board meetings,” Maus-Nisich said. “We all lead busy lives and now the public will have 24-7-365 [days of the year] access to any meeting.”

Before the service was offered to the public the process for obtaining a copy of the taped meeting included placing a request and a $16 service charge.

The video streamline service is provided by the County and San Francisco based Granicus Inc. For more information or to view a Web cast visit www.countyofsb.com

 

Highway Vegetation Fire Still Under Investigation

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department are investigating a vegetation fire that started at highway 101 in Santa Barbara June 7. The fire occurred one-half mile south of Mariposa Reina near Gaviota. According to a statement released by the county fire department the first arriving brush engine company found a fire burning in grass and light brush by the ocean side Highway 101. The fire was ablaze between the railroad tracks and the bluffs. Because of a speedy response, the fire was declared contained at half an acre at 2:05 p.m.

No injuries or damage to any structure were reported.

 

 

Elton Gallegly Aims to Stop Identity Theft

Representative Elton Gallegly introduced the Credit Agencies Identity Theft Responsibilities Act, June 5. HR2568 would require credit reporting agencies to report certain irregularities in consumer credit reports to the Secret Service.

“This bill would help Californians and people across the Country who are victims of identity theft,” said Tom Pfeifer, director of communications for Rep. Elton Gallegly. “This is a major problem across the nation, and something we need to get a handle on.”

If passed Gallegly’s bill would consider three or more names associated with a Social Security number; three or more addresses associated with the name of any consumer within a one-year period and more than one birth date listed for a consumer, as criteria to initiate an investigation. 

According to the release and the Federal Trade Commission, credit card fraud is the most common form of identity theft, at 25 percent, followed by utilities/phone fraud and bank fraud at 16 percent, and employment fraud at 14 percent.

“Elton is a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and crime has been a focus of his from the days he was a city mayor, and this is an issue that right now is becoming more and more of a major problem.”

HR2568 has been assigned to the House Committee on Financial Services for further review.