Board of Supervisors — 2021-10-05

Good morning. I'll call to order the October 5th, 2021 meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

for this meeting today.

All right thank you

Chair Nelson and members of the board, I do have a couple of quick announcements today. I would like to remind the public that the Board of Supervisors meetings are being interpreted and broadcast live in Spanish. We're broadcasting our meetings in Spanish both for Cox Cable subscribers in South County as well as Comcast cable subscribers in North County. Members of the public can now view our meetings in Spanish by turning on the secondary audio programming also known as SAP under their language settings.

Lastly, I would like to remind the public who are participating in our meeting today of the board's updated methods of public participation. For the Board of Supervisors' methods of public participation and to provide public comment on general public comment or an item on the board's agenda please see page two of the agenda. Members of the public can now attend meetings in person in both the Santa Maria Board Hearing Room Chambers as well as the Santa Barbara Board Hearing Room Chambers.

Please note on September 5th, 2021 a new county health officer order went into effect requiring indoor mask usage for everyone over two years of age regardless of vaccination status. If you attend the board meeting in person you will be required to wear a face covering or mask at all times regardless of vaccination status information regarding how to properly wear a mask has been posted throughout both locations as a friendly reminder masks should cover your nose and mouth Wear the mask from the bridge of your nose to all the way under your chin.

Tighten any loops or ties so the mask is snug. If you do not have a mask that fits properly, we will provide you with one. Individuals that would like to provide verbal public comment virtually may do so via Zoom by registering in advance via the link available on page 2. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing important information about joining the virtual meeting.

Once the chair has announced the item you want to comment on, please join the meeting with the information provided in the registration confirmation email. You'll be placed on mute until it is your turn to speak. The clerk will call you by name. When removed from you, you will hear a notification your line has been unmuted. If you are using a touchtone phone, you may need to press star six to unmute yourself.

Each person may address the board for up to three minutes at the discretion of the chair. If you have any questions please contact the clerk of the Board's office at 805-568-2240 and that concludes my announcements for today.

Thank You Madam Clerk

Good morning Chair Nelson and Board Members. I have four quick announcements and then I will hand it over to Vaughn Doronosa our Public Health Director and Dr. Ann Sorg who are here to give flu shots this morning. So first of all just a reminder to the public that the County Emergency Rent Assistance Program is available to qualified tenant households in Santa Barbara County dating back to March 2020 It's administered through the United Way of Santa Barbara County. The requirements and the application are available at unitedwaysb.org backslash rent. You can go on the site and check the status of applications already submitted as well.

Second issue is that the Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission has less than three months to complete new boundary maps for the county supervisorial district boundaries based on the 2020 U.S. Census and community input in respect to neighborhoods and community equity. The public is invited to the next meeting, which is tomorrow at 6 p.m., at the Joseph Centeno Bettaravia County Admin Building At 511 East Lakeside Parkway in Santa Maria. And for more information, you can go to drawsantabarbacounty.org. That's drawsantabarbacounty.org Third, Central Coast Community Energy also known as 3CE begins service for the Southern California Edison Territory in South Santa Barbara County this month. Enrollment is open through early December. Customers and PG&E's North County service area began in January.

Service for Buiton begins in January 2022. The public is invited to learn more at 3cenergy.org Fourth, the Tri-County Regional Energy Network or 3CREN is launching the Multifamily Home Energy Savings Program with a public webinar on October 12th. The program will provide rebates for whole building energy efficiency upgrades to buildings with five or more units. Property owners and contractors can register for the launch at 3c-ren.org, 3c hyphen ren dot org.

And that concludes my announcements and I'd like to now hand it over to Dr. Dorinoso.

Good morning. Let me start over. Good morning, thank you for allowing public health to be here to start off your day we are initiating our annual flu campaign and with us today is Kathy our immunization coordinator and Sarah a nurse in our immunization program and with that I'd like to invite Daz and Greg to come down for your annual flu shot So what we typically do is we will take photos and use this as a photo op to really push it out on our social media, encouraging all members of our community to get their flu shot. And flu shots are widely available anywhere in the community.

There's a new feature this year where there are walk-in appointments as well as scheduled appointments. And you can go on to myturn.ca.gov and select either the flu vaccine or the COVID vaccine, and where you live, and whether you want to walk in or whether you want to schedule an appointment. It's a really easy process. The flu vaccine is free And it's covered by most private insurance as well as covered by Medi-Cal and Medicare. And the Public Health Department will be hosting community flu clinics on a smaller scale, not in a mass pod venue like we have done previously but we will be Partnering up with community organizations and offering it in congregate living centers, in high density living situations.

In combination with our COVID-19 vaccine as well.

And board members and supervisors, and anyone in the audience including a couple of department heads I see. They do have enough flu vaccine if anyone would like to do that after this presentation and we'll, I think public health will set up in the large conference room.

Thank you Dr. Donovo. Supervisor Hartman?

I just had a question but I'll wait until the photo op is over. She didn't want the hat. You knew that. Thank you. Thank you. Maybe I can ask my question of Dr. Ansorg and that is, is the flu vaccine a one size or one shot fits all? Or are there different kinds of flu vaccines? Good so that's the you advise that it's OK. Thank you.

Thank you Supervisor Hartman thank you Dr. Anzorg. All right. Is that are there anything else?

Thank you, Chair Nelson.

All right and thank you Public Health and the public in general for indulging us while we made that special announcement or that special presentation.

I just wanted to note about A-22. This is the grant for vessels and I'll let the clerk read it.

Great, and I will be pulling A-15, 16, 17, and 27 for a separate vote. With that Madam Clerk do we have any, is the public pulling any items today?

Chair Nelson and members of the board I have no requests from the public

All right, so at this time if I could get a motion to approve the administrative agenda with the exception of items A-15, 16, 17 and 27. So

moved.

Is there a second? Second. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion passes unanimously. All right Madam Clerk will you read item A- 15 at the record

Chair Nelson and members of the board, administrative item number 15 is from human resources. It is to consider recommendations regarding an engineers and technicians association ETA successor memorandum of understanding.

All right thank you I pulled this item and my comments I'm going to make here would apply to all three of the items but it's been previously a longstanding practice of the fourth district to pull in and vote against employee contracts I want to take this opportunity to explain both my support and reservation for these raises. Some like to argue that county employees are paid too much, I do disagree.

Many of our employees are highly trained, highly educated and have chosen to invest their time and talent in county employment. The county offered a job at a salary level and county employees have chosen to accept it. It's a transparent transaction. As a responsible employer, I believe we have a duty to protect our employees' salaries by acknowledging and adjusting our salaries to reflect inflation.

We also should from time-to-time reevaluate issues of compaction, evolution of job duty and address hard-to fill positions. These three contracts A15, 16 and 17 on agenda today attempt to do that. While I acknowledge our county's employees aren't overpaid, I also have to acknowledge that they are expensive There are many reasons that it's true, and it's impossible to compare that to the private sector.

So these raises ultimately lead to a zero-sum game in our budgeting process. We don't have the luxury to print more money so these raises if they don't keep up with revenue increases result in one of the two things higher taxes and fees or future cuts to services and layoffs. I am concerned with the future property tax revenue and the state and federal government's ability to cover rising labor costs. For this reason, I cannot fully support these three items and will be abstaining from the vote today.

So with that if I can get a motion on A15-16-17? Move

approval.

Second. Any further discussion? All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Or sorry, no I'm going to abstain. Messed that one up. Madam Clerk actually we should do a roll call on that. Let's try it again. Roll call vote.

Motion passes all

right thank you for Patience with me on that one. All right, Madam Clerk we read item A-22 in the record.

Chair Nelson and members of the board administrative item number 22 is from Sheriff. It is to consider recommendations regarding the surrendered and abandoned vessel exchange save 21 grant of $25,000. And a four fifth vote is required for this item.

All right, thank you Madam Clerk. Supervisor Williams?

Well I think we just passed it because we didn't pull it from the vote but my purpose of pulling it was simply to just thank Lieutenant Arnoldi that the coordination with him and our office and local residents has enabled the removal of several vessels. thank Heal the Ocean for their participation as well. This has been a good effort of trying to make sure that some of these boats don't end up being a nuisance or dangerous for beach goers and for local residents.

All right, thank you Supervisor Williams. I believe

Chair Nelson, I believe we did pull this item so if we could do a roll call vote on it.

All right just to be sure can get a motion to approve Item 822? Second. So moved.

Second.

All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion passes unanimously.

Thank you

all right moving along A27

Chair Nelson and members of the board administrative item number 27 is sponsored by Supervisor Hart and Supervisor Hartman. It is to adopt a resolution affirming the right of reproductive freedom for the residents of Santa Barbara County.

All right, so this is an item for presentation and so I think it's going to be read and then I think we're going to do a presentation but before we do that I just on a personal level or needed to pull this You know this board has diverse opinions on issues and there's few issues in society that is as controversial as this one. I personally, as well as a representative represent many people who have an alternative view of what reproductive rights mean.

I am a proponent of contraceptive care and women's access to healthcare. I am concerned about what abortion means, and I believe since 1973 when Roe v Wade was decided by the Supreme Court that we know so much more about the unborn And I cannot support this resolution and will not be signing it. So, I believe we do need probably a motion though to approve it prior to presenting it.

So moved.

Second. Madam Clerk roll call please.

Motion passes 3-1

All right with that madam clerk would you please read the resolution

Yes, Chair Nelson and members of the board. I would first like to mention that we do have joining us today via Zoom Dr Jenna Tosh from Planned Parenthood of California Central Coast as well as Luz Reyes Martin. And I will now read the resolution into the record. Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States has acknowledged in its 1973 landmark decision Roe versus Wade, that the ability to make a private medical decision impacting one's own reproductive health is a constitutionally protected right of privacy.

And whereas prior to 1973, pregnant people in many states face significant obstacles in accessing safe and legal reproductive care resulting in widespread loss of life and serious illness. And whereas this historic Supreme Court decision legalized abortion and recognized pregnant people's freedom of reproductive choice as essential to their lives rights and health and contributed most especially to women struggle for equality.

And whereas nearly 600 pieces of legislation attacking and eroding access to safe and legal abortion care, and women's reproductive rights were introduced in states throughout the nation in the past year. And whereas in August 2021 The U.S. Supreme Court declined to uphold the President's set-by-the-row decision and allowed the state of Texas to enact Senate Bill 8 into law, which functionally denies abortion access for more than 6 million women of reproductive age living in Texas.

And whereas these restrictions, bans and attacks on Reproductive freedom disproportionately affects populations that already face barriers to accessing health care. Communities of color, people with low incomes, immigrants, young people and women with children. And whereas as states around the country enact extreme laws that violate the fundamental right to decide whether to bear children or end a pregnancy, the County of Santa Barbara can serve as a model by committing to defend reproductive freedom And access to safe and legal abortion care.

And whereas prohibitions on the right to safely access a range of reproductive health care services, including abortion and contraception care are careful are harmful. to public health and safety, and are contrary to the values of the people of Santa Barbara County and the state of California which affirmed this fundamental right to privacy in 1969 prior to Roe.

Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors acknowledges the harm of eroding safe and legal access to reproductive care including abortion and contraception, and upholds the constitutional rights enshrined by Roe v. Wade for all residents in the County of Santa Barbara passed and adopted today.

All right. This item is sponsored by Supervisors Hartman and Hart. Would you like to say anything before we go into our guests?

I will, sure. The Supreme Court is poised to hear a Mississippi case that would overturn Roe v Wade and this court has emboldened 23 other state legislatures to enact laws to follow suit including Texas whose law creates a bounty system to go after anyone aiding a woman seeking to terminate a pregnancy And here are just a few facts. Nearly one in three or four American women have had an abortion during their lifetimes and already by age 20, one in five.

The abortion rate though has declined since 2008 largely because of sex education and the availability and use of contraceptives But many of the states that would enact restrictions on abortion have also limited sex education and contraceptive care. 90% of women who get an abortion do so in the first 13 weeks, but the exception is for poor women which includes women of color.

It simply takes poor women longer time to find a place where they could get an abortion, to get the transportation and to raise the funds. So the impact of overturning Roe v Wade will far disproportionately affect poor women who won't be able to fly to New York or California. So this is really about reproductive justice. There was a study that was done Looking at How Abortion Affects the Lives of Women. And it was published and described in greater detail in the Turnaway Study, 10 Years, 1,000 Women, and the Consequences of Having an Abortion or Being Denied an Abortion.

So this was done by the UCSF Medical School researchers, a ten-year study, and this book embodies some of the findings. When they asked women, those who were denied an abortion and those who actually had one about the factors that went into their decision. They found that there were multiple factors and that choice shapes the whole trajectory of a woman's future life. Her chance of having a reliable partner, her chance of having a support network to help with family, her chance of supporting herself and her family I would like to begin by thanking the Board of Supervisors for this opportunity.

Representative Cori Bush said, at 18 I was raped. I became pregnant and I chose to have an abortion. Choosing to have an abortion was the hardest decision I have ever made but at 18 years old I knew it was the right decision for me Representative Pramila Jayapal, she needed an abortion despite taking contraception when she was a young mother caring for a very sick child and struggling to recover from postpartum depression so severe that she had considered suicide. Her doctor told her that carrying a second child to term would be extremely risky for both her and the baby.

And then Barbara Lee somewhat older congresswoman She described getting an abortion in a back alley in Mexico at the age of 16 before they were legal in the U.S., and noted how many women have not survived these. So again, these are decisions that are not taken lightly, and they shape the whole future course of a woman's life and that of her child and her family. It's a decision that a woman, her partner, her family, and her health care provider need to make It is a fundamental right to privacy and reproductive justice.

Thank

you. Thank you Supervisor Hartman for asking me to co-sponsor this really important resolution today, and I also want to thank Dr. Chenotosh and Luis Reyes Martin who are here from Planned Parenthood to accept the resolution This past weekend ahead of the Supreme Court reconvening yesterday, women and men across the country stood up and marched to send the justices and other lawmakers a very clear message.

Alexis McGill Johnson, the president of Planned Parenthood stated this message so well. Abortion is health care, basic health care, essential health care and healthcare that cannot wait. This past Saturday, I joined the women and men of our community at the Santa Barbara County Women's March for Reproductive Rights. As we listened to the speakers before the march, I was struck by a simple fact.

We are witnessing the most dire threat to abortion access since the passage of Roe v Wade. For the first time in nearly 50 years, by failing to take action on the Texas Legislature's bill, the Supreme Court has failed to protect the constitutional right to choose if and when to have children. I stand with everyone across the country fighting to protect this basic right to safe and affordable access to abortion period.

We cannot go backwards to the dark days when women were forced to seek dangerous, life-threatening abortions outside of safe and legal clinical settings.

Thank you Supervisor Hart. Supervisor Williams?

I think that if folks I want to say that, first of all, vigilantism against women is not the right way to exercise public policy. And that's essentially what the Texas law empowers is a sort of legal vigilantism where anybody can bring a suit against a woman who seeks an abortion. I think the right way, especially when these studies indicate that a large plurality of and even majority some of the studies link the desire to get an abortion to economic issues is economic empowerment social safety net I'm going sex education actually reduces the demand for abortion.

And so I would speak to those that want to reduce abortion, I think that's the right way to do it through sex ed reproductive health care That is birth control and economic opportunities for women. That has in the last two decades, three decades reduced the demand for abortion in the United States. And I think that's the way to move forward as a country not as Texas has done.

Thank you Supervisor Williams Ms. Reyes-Martin, Dr. Tosh, welcome.

Good morning Chair Nelson, Vice Chair Hartman and Supervisors Hart and Williams. I'm Jenna Tosh CEO of the Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund on behalf of the over 3,000 people who marched in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria this weekend for reproductive rights and access. I want to thank you for passing this resolution 2021 was the worst year for abortion rights and access since the Roe v. Wade decision. There were nearly 600 abortion restrictions introduced in state legislatures across the country, and 90 of them were enacted.

And today abortion is effectively illegal in Texas—the first time a U.S. state has banned abortion since 1973. Yesterday, the Supreme Court began its new term, and in December they will hear a direct challenge to Roe If Roe is overturned, 26 states would likely ban abortion before the end of next year. And those states are home to 36 million women of reproductive age and more trans men and gender nonconforming and non-binary people.

That means that nearly half of US people who can become pregnant could lose their reproductive rights overnight. We know that Black, Latinx, Indigenous people already face the greatest barriers to getting the reproductive care they need. These bans hurt communities of color most and 8 in 10 Americans support the Roe v Wade decision and do not want to see Roe overturned.

In the face of these grave threats to our constitutional rights and the dignity of pregnant people, none of us can be silent. And we all must do everything we can to protect safe legal accessible affordable abortion care. So I appreciate your leadership Vice Chair Hartman and Supervisor Hart for affirming your commitment and affirming the commitment that Santa Barbara supports this essential constitutional right. Thank you.

Thank you, Dr. Tosh. Ms. Raismorton?

Thank you so much Board of Supervisors. I will just briefly add again my deep appreciation for your leadership and for taking this step to affirm the values that we share in Santa Barbara County, that we support reproductive freedom, that we support healthcare and access to reproductive health care including abortion So thank you so much.

Thank you Ms. Martin. At this time we'll take a five minute break. All right, welcome back. At this time we now will go to administrative item number 28. Madam Clerk, will you please read that item?

Chair Nelson and members of the board, administrative item number 28 is sponsored by Supervisor Hartman. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of October 2021 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Santa Barbara County. And joining us today in person we have Josefa Rios, June English and Dr. Vando Reynoso to receive this resolution.

Go ahead and read the item into the record or read the resolution, please.

I will now read the resolution into the record Whereas in the U.S., one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and when breast cancer is detected early in a localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 98% as a result. Women should work with their medical providers to establish a plan to detect this disease in the early stages which includes regular mammograms, clinical breast exams and self-breast exams.

And whereas health care plans cover preventative services such as breast exams, the Public Health Department's Every Woman Counts program provides support for breast cancer screenings and diagnostic services for low-income women who do not have resources for this important service. And whereas in the past fiscal year, Santa Barbara County Every Woman Counts health educators provided 284 tri-county individuals with breast cancer education and referrals to free screenings. In addition providers whom partnered with every woman counts conducted free breast cancer screening and diagnostic services for 10,042 tri-county individuals And whereas in the past fiscal year, Santa Barbara County's Every Woman Counts has provided 44 tri-county women with patient navigation services from the program's nursing staff to support patient compliance and eliminate barriers to timely screening, completion of diagnostic testing and facilitating referral for treatment.

And whereas we are in support of Santa Barbara County's Every Woman Counts prevention efforts Now, therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors does proclaim the month of October 2021 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote the health of all residents in the County of Santa Barbara passed and adopted today.

Thank you Supervisor Hartman

I'll go first. Although it affects one in eight women who actually contract the disease, it affects every single woman. I had a close friend whose mother had the genetic mutation and died of it. My friend never spoke of it until she was diagnosed. And then she let it be known that it was too painful and she just wanted to repress it and not think about it. I have many other friends who have been treated and successfully. And so we all need to take this very seriously because the treatments are effective, but we have to take the initiative and follow through.

So thank you for all your work on this.

Thank you Supervisor Hartman. Dr. de Reynoso?

Yes, good morning and Supervisor Hartman through the chair thank you so much for highlighting this very critical health service that we provide and the need to be proactive in taking care of our bodies and with that I'd like to introduce June who will say a few words

Thank you, Supervisor Hartman and board members for this recognition. We are trying very hard to get back to normal. Our activities last year continued to be face-to-face in some of the free clinics that we work in through a unique shared employee thing. I also have wanted to introduce one of our partners, the Promotaurus Network. Josefa Rios has been with Every Woman Counts for many years as Well, in different capacities but she's been a trainer for the Promotaurus as well as very active in that. So she's one of the key players in Santa Barbara County for helping to spread this information and we love working with the Health Linkages Program.

And on behalf of the Santa Barbara County Education Office and also Sonora County Promotores Network Health Linkages Program, we're just honored to receive this recognition. And it's an honor too also with all respect and thank you very much for everything that we do.

Thank you. All right, we've already approved that item with the administrative motion.

Chair Nelson and members of the board, administrative item number 29 is sponsored by Supervisor Nelson. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the week of October 3rd 2021 through October 9th 2021 as National Fire Prevention Week in Santa Barbara County. And joining us today we do have fire chief Mark Hartwig here.

Hold tight one second.

Yeah. That's my fault. I think we had some miscues and as we were done with the admin item forgetting, we had to rez those and he went to get his flu shot so he'll be right back in a few seconds.

All right. And here is.

I will now read the resolution into the record. Whereas October 3rd through 9th has been declared National Fire Prevention Week as a time to reflect on the importance of fire safety education and prevention And whereas the 2021 National Fire Prevention Week theme, learn the sounds of fire safety works to educate children and adults about smoke and carbon monoxide CO alarms their necessity and how the sounds they make help save lives.

And whereas fire is a serious public safety concern, both locally and nationally. And recognizing and understanding the importance of smoke and CO alarms is instrumental in saving lives. And whereas Santa Barbara County residents who have educated themselves on the proper utilization and recognition of smoke and CO alarms are more prepared and will therefore be able to recognize and react to a potential fire or toxic release of gas In their home or place of business.

And whereas the 2021 Fire Prevention Week theme, learn the sounds of fire safety effectively serves to remind us that we need to take advantage of the technology afforded to us to safely recognize and respond to fire and carbon monoxide. Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors proclaims the week of October 3rd through 9th as National Fire Prevention Week throughout the Santa Barbara County, and encourages everyone to participate in fire prevention activities at home, work, school, and all locations making this Fire Prevention Week the beginning of a year-long effort to improve fire safety passed and adopted today.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Welcome Chief Harwig.

Thank you Chair and distinguished members of the board I just want to make a couple brief comments if I could about the resolution you've passed before us we spend a lot of time rightfully so here talking about wildfire preparedness We shouldn't forget with all that emphasis that goes into that to the fires in the home. Often, very often the first sign that anybody has in a home that there's a fire in the home is a working smoke detector Now we have technology that would also detect carbon monoxide, which we call the silent killer.

Having both of those alarms working alarms will save lives. It does save lives throughout the country and it will save lives in this county undoubtedly so thank you for your recognition and I'm honored to accept the resolution on behalf of the Fire District. Thank You Chief Harwick And our fire marshal who I think is still getting vaccinated.

Chief, can I ask a dumb question? In a typical 1500 square foot house or even maybe a little bit larger for those that have those, how many fire alarms should you have in a home?

Every room and in every hallway. And if you're tempted like I am that when it starts beeping, not to climb up and change the battery because you didn't change it the one time a year when you changed the clocks. Don't be tempted to remove the alarm. That's the worst thing you could do. And yet often when we're going into homes looking for helping on medical aid, we see people who have disabled those alarms so yeah.

All right,

resist

the temptation.

I guess try to reinstall some. Thank you Chief Hartwig.

Guilty as charged. All right so that concludes our administrative agenda now is the time for members of public to speak on items that are not on the agenda today Madam Clerk are there any requests to speak on general public comment?

Chair Nelson and members of the board we have four requests to speak under general public comment today

All right, and before we get started I just want to remind the public that we do have an item on COVID. So if you have any comments related to COVID, COVID response it'd be more appropriate to speak on Item D1. Madam Clerk?

Chair Nelson and members of the board, we will begin in Santa Barbara with Caroline Abate to be followed by Katie Mickey.

Welcome Miss Abate.

Hello, thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to speak even though COVID is declining in Santa Barbara County politicians give out new and ever more increasingly severe mandates for injections and masks. Even during public comment all speakers here must wear a mask. Is this really necessary? Is a healthy person speaking at this podium during public comment without a mask, a high risk for spreading COVID to someone else?

Have any epidemiological studies been done showing the transmission rate of COVID by a completely asymptomatic person with no mask speaking for three minutes during public comment? Typically, coronaviruses are transmitted by airborne fomites when coughed, sneezed or breathed out from a person who tests positive. Another person must be in close enough proximity for a long enough period of time to inhale a large enough amount of airborne viral fomite into their own nose or mouth.

That's how the vast majority of transmissions occur. Even still, the person may not necessarily become a symptomatic case until the virus comes in contact with their immune system. How many people have coughed or sneezed and then because of the mask, their next breath inhaled the virus deeper into their nose and nasopharynx to the back of their throat down into their trachea and lungs?

In other words, how many cases of symptomatic COVID have been caused through self-infection as a result of wearing a mask where the person would not otherwise have become sick? Could constantly wearing a mask have a risk benefit ratio? This mask mandate affects thousands of people here in Santa Barbara County. Many of whom wear the mask all day at work Hour after hour, day after day.

Is there any data from the County of Santa Barbara Public Health objectively analyzing risk of self-infection from continually wearing a mask? A mask is helpful in some situations however it's silly to wear a mask when the risk of spreading any virus to another person is practically zero While at the same time, the mask may even be doing more harm than good.

Thank you for being willing to think about these questions.

Thank you Mr. Bate.

We will now go to Katie Mickey in Santa Barbara to be followed by Dr. Amy Smith on Zoom.

Dear County Board of Supervisors, today we can all celebrate Governor Newsom's veto of SB 556 one of the five deregulatory wireless broadband bills. To Supervisor Williams and all of you who asked the governor to veto SB 556 I thank you. Regrettably AB 537 the fast track broadband bill was signed into law And more broadband bills are waiting in the wings. This bill puts a 60-day shot clock requirement that deems applications approved once the shot clock has passed, unless the county has properly codified grounds of denial and exercised their authority to deny incomplete and unsubstantial applications.

AB 537 makes it difficult for local governments to protect safety in the right of way Deemed approved remedies effectively give industry free reign to build on public property. When a local government misses a deadline, the application is presumptively granted whatever the safety consequences might be. This type of revision has obvious problems for workers in the public. Although the industry would like to make it sound as if deployment is as simple as attaching a shoebox to a pole, this work is often complex and can create dangerous conditions for both the public and other workers in the right-of-way including risk of fire and cancer because no one is monitoring that radiofrequency radiation that is outputted from the poles.

The ball is now in your court, dear supervisors to amend our county code and give our review boards clearly defined grounds of denial such as proof of significant gap in coverage based on six months of drop calls. Whether the proposed facility presents a minimal intrusion on the community Whether the applicant has proven based on the evidence presented to the approval authority that there are no potential alternatives, less intrusive locations than the site proposed.

We currently have five Crown Castle applications being reviewed in our county and a code with no teeth. Our review boards are restricted to aesthetic determinations. Safe Text Santa Barbara County has sent you all a federal law-based analysis of the City of Santa Barbara's Municipal Code We look forward to meeting with each of you to discuss the legal means to codify grounds of denial. Thank you very much.

We will now go to Dr. Amy Smith on Zoom, to be followed by Maria Kastner who is our final speaker.

Welcome Dr. Smith.

Hello can you hear me?

We can.

Thanks um I just you know was a little shocked to see what looked like a product placement commercial for the flu shot this morning and i'm sure it'll be profiled for free in the news media And it's a great way to let people know about the flu shot, but who's telling people about the risks of the flu shot? Because there are risks to any medical intervention and the flu shot has well-documented risks and adverse events and concerning ingredients. And so this is the same concern that we get to that somehow we're not being objective and we're being coerced or pressured into taking the position That promotes the interests of huge corporations that have captured so much of our society, including the media and educational systems and the publishing of literature peer reviewed research everything.

So this is very concerning. And we're talking about my body, my choice you know that reproductive rights and medical privacy but that's not being extended to the reaction and when it comes to COVID. And that seems like a tremendous contradiction, I don't see how people can miss that point. Now we're asking everybody kids on the Santa Barbara City Council or college campus are wearing bracelets to show their medical intervention status that they have had a vaccine that is not privacy at all.

So we are just not Operating on principle and objectivity and protection of everyone. These things are very concerning I will talk after the COVID report more detailed about that, but you passed four to one a mandate for the workers in our community in our for our county to get this Untested gene therapy, genetic engineered intervention that has no long-term safety profile. No cost benefit analysis that people can take and make for their own self and they have to grovel to have their religious views examined with no privacy for their religious beliefs either so this is very disturbing I would just remind you that in the Declaration of Independence it says we have unalienable rights And you know to take away rights when there's a disease that is treatable, that has lots of treatment options and is not being explored.

You know why don't we have a commercial where everyone come in and take their vitamin D pill and show that that's a great thing to help get your vitamin D status or get it checked to make sure that you're protecting yourself against respiratory illness? You could be doing other things but everything is being geared toward this pharma agenda that's also towards A vaccine passport and a data agenda and violating our freedoms. And it's up to you, and I'll just leave you with Martin Luther King. Cowardice asks the question is it safe? Expediency asks the question is it politic? Vanity asks the question is it popular? But conscience ask the question, is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right.