High-ranking Santa Barbara city officials have asked Granada
Theatre supporters to rescind their request for an additional
$500,000 from the city’s Redevelopment Agency. Several city
councilmembers expressed interest in imposing new conditions on any
additional financial assistance given to the theater
rehabilitation. Councilmember Grant House suggested adding a $1
surcharge to Granada tickets to bankroll other arts organizations.
Councilmember Brian Barnwell wanted the Granada to train high
schoolers to run the lights and sound boards. Other councilmembers
thought the theater – which has already received $4.5 million from
the city – should wait until the normal budget schedule begins in
early spring before asking for money. Renovation costs have almost
doubled since the project’s unveiling.

The City Council voted behind closed doors to settle a
long-simmering legal dispute with gay ex-cop Ruben Lino for almost
$1 million and a positive job reference, rather than appeal the
awards already granted to both Lino and his attorney Janean Acevedo
Daniels. A jury awarded Lino $451,000, saying he’d been the victim
of retaliation – though not discrimination, as Lino also
charged – after he complained to Chief Cam Sanchez about anti-gay
remarks made by fellow officers. Daniels was awarded$660,000 in
attorney’s fees. Around City Hall, Lino’s victory was widely
regarded as the result of a weak-minded jury, and City Attorney
Steve Wiley argued City Hall stood a good chance of prevailing upon
appeal. Apparently, enough councilmembers felt otherwise, or Wiley
changed his mind.

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