City Planning Commission chair Gabe Escobedo acted swiftly after a seat on the Santa Barbara Unified School District board of trustees unexpectedly opened up this week.
Within 48 hours of incumbent Kate Ford going public with her surprise decision not to seek re-election, Escobedo not only had captured her endorsement, but also that of her close ally, Laura Capps, as well as State Senator Monique Limon and SB Council members Alejandra Gutierrez and Meagan Harmon -- drawing support from both factions of the local Democratic Party.
Escobedo's instant emergence as a front-runner in the school board's first election by neighborhood district was a prime topic on a new edition of Newsmakers TV, as Nick Welsh, Josh Molina, Jun Starkey and Ryan P. Cruz join the genial host for a far and wide look at this week's top political news stories.
Beyond politics, the gang also breaks down the implications for the county of the statewide Monkeypox public health emergency, as well as the tragic spike in local overdose deaths, many traced to Fentanyl; where to get free back-to-school supplies and SBUSD Superintendent Hilda Maldonado's controversial visit to the zoo; the long-awaited opening of the "tiny homes" homeless project downtown and the mysterious burning of Pride flags in the Santa Ynez Valley; not to mention the axe throwing boomlet and a glimpse at the historic martial art of Krav Maga.
Plus: a fond farewell to famed actress, and local resident, Olivia Newton-John. RIP.
It's all here, right now on Newsmakers TV.
JR
Check out the new show via YouTube below or by clicking through this link. The podcast version is here.