Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo makes first official COVID-19 address
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Almost two months after California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Stay at Home Order, Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo makes her first official address on COVID-19.
Previously, Mayor Murillo had released 15 videos on her Twitter page. In those videos she talked about different aspects of the health emergency, Stay at Home Order, face coverings and supporting local businesses. But none of those videos are of the magnitude of her address Monday.
In recent weeks on social media, the mayor and city council were criticized for not being in the public eye enough during the global pandemic.
In the address the mayor talks about the city of Santa Barbara’s strategy moving forward. She said the city will follow the county of Santa Barbara and state of California’s guidelines. She also encouraged Santa Barbarans to hold the line.
“A few have adamantly called out to disregard the State’s orders,” said Murillo. “They say reopen all of Santa Barbara immediately. The city is not in a position to willfully disregard California’s order. That’s not who we are and surely that does not align with our value system as Santa Barbarans. Education, Public Health, and public safety must rule the day. COVID-19 is not going away.“
Mayor Murillo also outlined the state’s re-opening plan, and where Santa Barbara fits into that. She addressed the frustration many county officials have with Lompoc Federal Prison. And how their numbers should not count with other Santa Barbara County cases. As of Sunday afternoon County Public Health shows Lompoc Federal Prison is responsible for about 65% of all COVID-19 confirmed cases in Santa Barbara County. Mayor Murillo hopes Governor Newsom makes an exception for Santa Barbara County pertaining to the prison.
She encourages people to continue to shop and support local stores and restaurants, especially on Take-Out Tuesday. And to call local store owners, who recently reopened for curbside pickup, about how they can view merchandise online.
Financially, Murillo address the state’s, the city’s, local business’ and residents’ concerns and problems. She outlined the state expects to have a $54 billion dollar deficit and the city projecting a $12.3 million dollar deficit. She added there’s still money left for small businesses to apply for federal loans. Those loans encourage business to use 75% of the loan for payroll. And also the city’s Temporary Eviction Moratorium Ordinance, or TEMO, which allows tenants to defer their payments temporarily. The tenant would eventually have to pay missed rents in full.
Murillo closed mentioning she hears the concerns of those in Santa Barbara.
She stated, “There is no sugarcoating our future. This hurts, but with each passing day we get closer to a time when we can tell a distant story of how we survived the Covid-19 pandemic. Santa Barbara we are stronger together. Let’s do our part, the Santa Barbara way, be empathetic and compassionate when engaging with others in our community. We will be better for it in the end.”
This is the first of at least five weekly message Mayor Murillo plans to release during the health emergency.
The video was shared with our newsroom and broadcast on the News Now Channel. Mayor Murillo's address was recorded prior to the State of California allowing for the Lompoc Prison coronavirus totals being excluded from the county totals.
