COVID-19 spread in Isla Vista was not a surprise to reporter-photographer Max Abrams

ISLA VISTA, Calif. - As students began populating the densely crowded town of Isla Vista near UC Santa Barbara in late August and early September, health officials called the jump in COVID-19 cases a spike.

It was no surprise to reporter-photographer Max Abrams.

Abrams is the editor of the Daily Nexus paper at UCSB.

He and his staff have been documenting the street scene and late night parties that have traditionally been part of the Isla Vista lifestyle for years. Some nights it's in the hundreds, and other nights it's been much smaller. But that doesn't mean the issue has gone away.

New clusters were just reported earlier this month. That was followed by a statement from county health officials about other coronavirus concerns they were investigating through contact tracing.

Abrams says it isn't a surprise to him or his staff. He stopped short of saying it was surprising the health department was not doing what he was doing, going out into the hottest spots at the prime hours to have conversations with those who were in large crowds without proper protections.

"Some people just genuinely don't care," said Abrams. "We've got a pretty large at-risk population," he said noting the senior housing in Isla Vista and many families living on the western end of the community.

"To think that it is not going to hurt someone or it is only going to have a minimal affect is just not the right thing to do, it's just wrong," said Abrams.

Abrams has hundreds of photos for his hours of walking through the streets seeking evidence of the tightly packed gatherings. He is careful to look at each site to see if it is clearly more than what would be considered the bubble of people who live in the same place. That could be, in some cases, as many as 25 in one multi-room large house.

In many cases he has seen gatherings of 50-100 both on the properties and stacking nearby on the street. The images show few wearing masks.

The issue has been a red flag for UCSB school officials, the Santa Barbara County Health department, the Isla Vista Community Services District and the office of Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann. All have launched a full court press on Isla Vista with an educational outreach, emails and ordinances that come with hefty fines.

Abrams says UCSB has also issued a strongly worded message to students about the consequences of violating a county health order, which can include strict fines. Santa Barbara City College is also contacting its student population, some who live in Isla Vista.

The images captured by Abrams have been solid evidence of the potential expanding crisis.

Pictures from the unmasked street scene groups have been used on NewsChannel 3 and the Los Angeles Times.

"We take pictures of these large gatherings and then a week later we get  the notifications and we're scratching our heads and say it seems like   we documented what could be a super spreader," said Abrams.

At one location after the Sheriff broke up a party scene, "100 people poured out," said Abrams along Del Playa Drive. 

After several nights of seeing the unprotected party scene, and talking to student residents, "what infuriated me most is that some people just genuinely don't care."

There's been some pushback when the cameras are spotted, but not everyone is out of their bubble.

"I try to be really careful when I take these pictures.  I take about 5-600 a night.  I got to boil it down to the ten I really think are dangerous," said Abrams.
In a decision to double check the accuracy of what some of those interviewed said and meant, Abrams said, "we knew people would be out in the street   drinking, there would be drugs involved,   we followed up the next morning to make sure what they said was still on the record."

Isla Vista Foot Patrol Officers are present but what the Nexus hasn't seen are health officials at the party addresses and especially with the recent spike in cases.

Written warnings however are saturating the area.

"That says a lot, they're scared.  Now that we know the county is ramping up its contact tracing  efforts,  student health is hosting these covid testing sites, this is finally becoming a priority  because for a time it wasn't," said Abams.

Aside from some big parties,   the streets this fall have noticeably been quieter.

Abrams agrees, and expects more changes.  "Things are going to start clamping down and these opportunities to party are going to start dwindling now that there's going to be large fines."

 Abrams  hopes the Nexus front line reporting will emphasis the risks that are making this area a virus hotspot and directly impacting the county as a whole.

"To think that it's either not going to hurt anyone or that it's only going to have a minimal affect its wrong," he said.  The student population is next to family housing and a senior living complex.

Along the way, Abrams has been confronted and taunted, up close, for taking the pictures.

He and his staff say they have been open about who they are and what they are seeking.

(For more information go to : The Daily Nexus)