The closing of a few blocks of downtown Main Street to vehicles has commenced. This allows restaurants and stores to expand into the street.
This was part of an “emergency economic development policy,” approved by the City Council.
“We’re taking innovative, creative, flexible steps to show our business community that we’ll do everything within our power to support this
recovery,” Mayor Matt LaVere said.
This will last for one month as a pilot program at which time the Council will decide whether to leave it in place
Category Archives: News and Notes
Will Father Serra statue be moved?
About 200 people attended a protest at the statue.
A demonstration was held. on Saturday, June 20, to demand that the statue of Father Junipero Serra in front of Ventura City Hall be taken down on grounds that he had committed atrocities against Native Americans, including the local Chumash.
Father Serra is credited with bringing Catholicism to California but many blame him for what they say were his efforts to do away with Native American culture in California and for the premature deaths of thousands of indigenous people.
Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, representatives from the Barbareño/Venureño Band of Mission Indians and Father Tom Elewaut, the pastor of Mission San Buenaventura, agreed and issued a joint statement agreeing to take down the statue and have it moved to a more appropriate non-public location. See copy of it in this issue.
“We have listened, and we have heard the calls from those in the community and believe the time has come for the statue to be taken down and moved to a more appropriate non-public location. We all believe that the removal of the statue should be accomplished without force, without anger and without uncivil discourse, much less vandalism,” the joint statement reads.
Tension built for a time at the rally as a group formed a ring around the base of the statue to protect it from being taken down. Ventura Police Department patrol units arrived and the tension subsided. The protest concluded peacefully with no arrests or further problems.
Those gathering represented a mix of views. Those who want it removed and those who think it is an important part of our history and should remain where it is.
Speakers included Chumash elder Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, tribal chair of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians and Tom Elewaut.
The first statue was created by John Palo-Kangas in 1936. It was replaced in 1989 by a statue made from the wood carving by the late Wilbur Rubottom that is on display in City Hall atrium. Rubottom Cabinets is still located in Ventura and run by members of his family.
Elewaut said “I can’t say that I agree that the statue should come down. But I will acquiesce to it if it helps bring some healing to the present-day Chumash community. Father Serra saw himself as a spiritual father for the indigenous people. Were people decimated? Yes. I understand the hurt and the loss of culture that the indigenous people experienced.”
“In recent weeks, the City of Ventura has received a groundswell of feedback from the public on the Father Junipero Serra statue. We want the community to know that we are receptive to their concerns and seek to provide a peaceful environment where all voices are heard and respected,” stated Ventura City Manager Alex D. McIntyre. “This is an historic decision and must involve the voices of the Chumash tribe, the Mission San Buenaventura, residents of Ventura, and the City Council.”
The public is invited to join the Ventura City Council for a virtual community discussion on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. about the Father Junipero Serra statue. The special public meeting will include the Ventura Mayor, City Council, and city leadership.
You can share written responses online by visiting www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/FatherSerra. All responses will be shared with the City Council.
Once removed the big question is where should it be relocated? The Breeze would love to hear our readers thoughts at [email protected].
The Ventura Police does support peaceful protests
‘I support any movement that supports equal rights’
by Carol Leish
Ventura Police Chief Darin Schindler stated, “The current Black Lives Matter movement does focus on the rights that all people have, and the idea that everybody deserves to be treated fairly and with respect. In my opinion, it will go on for a long time, since it will be continuing until people feel that things are changing in our society.”
The Ventura Police does support peaceful protests, according to Chief Schindler. He said, “Everybody, no matter who you are, or what your race or gender is, deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. The police department deals with all people of various races, gender, and sexual orientation.” Thus, he emphasizes that, ‘All people should be treated fairly and with dignity.”
According to Chief Schindler, ‘We do not use choke holds. We do use the carotid control hold, which is an upper body control hold, that restricts the blood flow to the brain, and causes somebody who is fighting to pass out temporarily. It’s not a choke hold that would restrict breathing or compress the front of the neck. It is only rarely used when there is the imminent threat of death or serious injury to the officer.”
He stresses that, ‘In the 30 years that I’ve been working within the police department, this is one of the most heated times for prejudices. People feel that it’s coming to a boiling point. And, people don’t like being biased against or treated differently.”
Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere stated, ‘Ventura hasn’t had any rioting. We’ve had peaceful and productive demonstrations, which I think is the Ventura way of doing things.”
He went on, ‘I support any movement that supports equal rights in order for everyone to be treated equally. Black Lives Matter movement will be lasting until the community make necessary changes to make sure that there is equality between all people.”
“As police officers, our job,” according to Chief Schindler, “is more of policing versus just enforcing laws, which is just a small part of what we do. We also do problem solving. We can do a lot more when we work together. Through building trust, by building bridges within the community, we can find a solution together. We want everyone to feel welcome and safe, and to realize that we’re here for them.”
Closure to restore Scorpion Fire burn area at East Santa Cruz Island
The Scorpion Fire burn area of approximately 1,411 acres will be closed for restoration until further notice.
The closure includes the entire burned area that extends eastward from the Smugglers Road that leads from Scorpion Valley to Smugglers Cove. Most of the burned area extends seaward to the coastline from Smugglers Road.
The Smugglers Road will remain open to foot traffic. Boaters will not be able to access Little Scorpion Canyon from the shoreline due to the closure.
“The National Park Service is grateful for the rapid response to the Scorpion Fire by Los Padres National Forest and Santa Barbara County Fire on Santa Cruz Island,” said Channel Islands National Park Superintendent Ethan McKinley. “We are in the process of assessing and understanding resource impacts from the fire and deciding which methods are best to restore the burn area.”
There was some damage to a historic grove of cypress trees known as Delphine’s Grove.
This small grove of cypress trees was planted in the early 1900s by the oldest child of former island owner Justinian Caire. The fire did not reach the historic olive groves at Smugglers Cove.
Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island remains closed due to construction of a new pier.
The National Park Service has more than 20,000 National Park Service employees who care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.
Learn more at www.nps.gov.
Ventura County Public Health Department awarded National Reaccreditation Status
The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) has announced that the Ventura County Public Health Department is among the first 25 local public health departments in the nation and the first in the State of California to be awarded reaccreditation status. The accreditation demonstrates a consistent and continued commitment to collaborative efforts to keep communities throughout Ventura County safe. The rigorous accreditation process requires commitment to quality and performance improvement.
“The Ventura County Public Health team is deeply committed to protecting and improving the health of every member of our community, including identifying and overcoming disparities and barriers to leading a healthy life. This recognition is a well-deserved validation of that commitment and their efforts,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers. “During this unprecedented pandemic, we are fortunate to have such a dedicated, recognized public health department with the capacity and ability to respond effectively to protect the lives of all community members.”
PHAB is a nongovernmental nonprofit organization that administers the national accrediting program, which works to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and transforming the quality and performance of governmental public health agencies in the United States and abroad.
Ventura County Public Health Director Rigoberto Vargas, MPH, expressed gratitude to the department’s “outstanding and diverse team of public health professionals dedicated to protecting health and promoting the well-being of all residents in Ventura County.” Added Vargas: “We are especially proud to have been the first health department in California to have been accredited, and now to be the first to be reaccredited. Achieving reaccreditation, all while also responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, further demonstrates that indeed, Ventura County Public Health is a high-achieving department that’s not just meeting, but largely exceeding, national standards for health department excellence.”
PHAB’s national accreditation program, which launched in 2011 with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has become the national gold standard for public health in the United States.
To receive national accreditation through PHAB, a health department must undergo a rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets nationally established public health quality standards and measures. PHAB-accredited health departments range in size from large state health departments serving tens of millions of people to small local health departments serving communities of fewer than 50,000 people.
There are approximately 3,000 local health departments in the United States eligible for accreditation. Currently, there is a total of 36 state, 255 local and 3 Tribal Departments of Public Health that have achieved five-year initial accreditation or reaccreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board, bringing the benefits of PHAB accreditation to 82 percent of the U.S. population.
Ventura City Fire Department respond to structure fire at four-unit apartment building
On June 24, at 8:52 am, the Ventura City Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire in the 100 block of Kellogg St. First arriving firefighters discovered a single story four-unit apartment building with one unit fully involved in fire. The fire was contained to the unit of origin and extinguished. Adjacent apartment units had no damage from fire.
The cause of the fire is suspicious and remains under investigation by Ventura City Fire and Ventura Police Department. No injuries were reported as a result of this incident.
East Ventura Community Council meeting
Development issues are the main topics at the next ZOOM meeting of the East Ventura Community Council, on Thursday, June 18. Ashdon Development will present plans for a mixed use project at Wells and Darling Roads, to include retail establishments, residential units, community-oriented businesses and additional spaces designed for small businesses. Ashdon representatives will be available to discuss possible tenants and to answer questions.
Also on the agenda is Stephen Peck, President of U.S. Vets, part of the team developing Veterans’ housing next to the State Vets Home on Telephone Road.
The agenda will include a report on crime in the area, by the Ventura Police Department, and additional items of interest from East Ventura City Councilmembers.
Other topics may be added to the agenda, so be sure to check the group’s Facebook page for updates.
The council represents those who live east of Victoria Avenue. The public is encouraged to attend and participate.
The meeting will be held online via the Zoom application and starts at 7:00 p.m.. To participate you will first need to download the free Zoom app on your desktop or smartphone. Go here to view: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81503509590
During the meeting you may ask questions via the chat feature on Zoom or send them ahead of the meeting to [email protected].
For additional information, contact Chairperson Marie Lakin at [email protected].
Downtown Ventura welcomes you for 30 days of Main Street Moves!
Beginning soon Downtown Ventura welcomes you to safely shop, sip, snack, and stroll in the streets for 30 days of Main Street Moves!
For the next 30 days, four blocks of Main Street (between Palm and Fir) and one block of California Street (between Santa Clara and Poli) will be a spacious promenade, open to pedestrian and cyclist traffic only. During Main Street Moves, you’ll be able to safely take to the streets as Downtown restaurants, bars, and retail shops expand their service area onto the sidewalks, allowing more room for dining and shopping, and giving visitors a chance to support Downtown Ventura businesses while maintaining safe distances.
During the street closures, vehicles will not be permitted in the area and barricades will be in place to ensure the safety of visitors.
Food Share has expanded its operations
In response to dramatically increased levels of food insecurity, Food Share, Ventura County’s largest hunger-relief organization, has expanded its operations through a generous donation of a temporary lease of a 37,000 square foot warehouse in Oxnard.
The addition of the new space is thanks to Lawrence Joss, owner of Surfaces USA, who has provided the warehouse for free for a minimum of three months while the building is on the market to be sold. The 146th Airlift Wing of the CA Air National Guard provided key logistical support to Food Share staff during the move to help set up the new space for the packing of emergency food boxes.
“We were bursting at the seams trying to store and distribute the additional food we’ve had to bring in to meet the current level of need,” commented Monica White, President & CEO of Food Share. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, we’ve increased the amount of food we purchase a month from $50,000 to $300,000. Lawrence understood the problem that was being created at our existing warehouse facility and stepped forward without hesitation. We are beyond grateful for his support for us and our community.”
“I know as a person of privilege and resources that I need to step off of the sidelines and participate in actively sharing,” said Joss. “I know this is a minor offering but I’m hoping that people like me will be willing to get off the sidelines and out of the comfort of the systems that we disproportionately benefit from to be creative and share something for the benefit of all.”
Even in normal circumstances, 1 in 6 people in Ventura County experiences food insecurity, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal will be coming from. Typically, individuals and families using food pantries do so on an occasional basis, often to cope with unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs. However, as the mass layoffs, furloughs and reduced working hours caused COVID-19 pandemic have taken hold, the number of people experiencing food insecurity has skyrocketed. Food Share has served more than 120,000 individuals in just the past two months. Many people attending the more than 50 emergency drive-thru food distributions that Food Share have held over the past two months are first-time recipients of food aid.
Up-to-date information on temporary pantry closures, pop-up distribution sites and emergency volunteer opportunities will be posted at foodshare.com/covid19/ and on Food Share’s social media channels.
For information on free Senior Food Kit distributions please go to foodshare.com/seniorkits.
VCAAA also has information and resources for seniors at vcaaa.org/covid-19/
You can make a donation in support of Food Share at foodshare.com/give
Since 1978, Food Share has been feeding the hungry in Ventura County. It all began when eight friends banded together to provide food to those in need in Ventura, CA. The early philanthropic movement started in a family garage, quickly outgrew a donated fire station in Saticoy and now operates in Oxnard, CA with two warehouses with a combined 36,000 square feet. Today, staff and volunteers distribute over 13 million pounds of food, or over 11 million meals, annually through its 190 pantry and program partners. As Ventura County’s food bank, Food Share provides food for 75,000 hungry friends and neighbors monthly. Food Share is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, as well as the California Association of Food Banks. For more information about Food Share, visit www.foodshare.com. Find us on Facebook , Instagram, and Twitter.
Ventura high schools hold graduation event at historic city hall
by Richard Lieberman
Graduation season is here, and Ventura city schools celebrated graduating seniors from local high schools, Buena High School, El Camino High School, Ventura High School, Pacific High School and Foothill Technology High School.
Graduating seniors were invited to join their principal and staff at City Hall to have their names read, receive their diploma, and have their photo taken on the steps of City Hall in their caps and gown, all while their family watched from cars below. With 1200 graduating seniors scheduled to walk officials knew the event would need to be held two days. Saturday June 13th and Sunday June 14th were selected.
“Much like our school year, everything changed on a dime, and our teams knew we could wait to see what happen in terms of mass gathering guidelines. We began working on alternative plans immediately in the event traditional graduation would not be possible.” Said Joe Bova, graduation committee coordinator.
Schools had been in the process of planning for pre-recorded virtual ceremonies, per restrictions put in place for large gatherings. That changed on May 27th when a directive from Ventura Count Public Health allowed county schools to plan for a car line graduation ceremony, where students would be able to leave their vehicles for a photo opportunity and to receive their diplomas. The car line ceremonies only allow for the graduate and their families to attend.
The ceremony was filmed by CAPS Media with fixed and remote cameras and will be shared on-line by June 20th.
Dr. Roger Rice, Superintendent of Schools said “We want to thank the many dedicated VUSD employees who have been working tirelessly to make this magical moment a reality, never giving up on our student’s dream of an in-person celebration. A big thank you to our city of Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, city staff, and the Ventura Police Department. Due to the current mass gathering rules, making this ceremony a reality for our students has been no easy feat, and we appreciate you working with us to make this important milestone happen for our students.”
The front of Ventura City Hall was decorated with colorful shade tents, decorated arches and signs depicting the unique event.
Students exited their vehicles and walked to the steps of City Hall where they were presented with their diplomas. After receiving their diplomas students walked down the steps and were shown how to switch their tassel from right to left signifying this momentous occasion.
