“Thousands at Santa Barbara Courthouse Protest the Killing of George Floyd” by Delaney Smith — I wrote several pieces connected to the Black Lives Matter movement this year, but this first initial protest that took place at the end of May takes the cake as one of Santa Barbara’s most memorable moments of 2020. The included photos by Daniel Dreifuss are breathtaking, too.
“Lompoc Prison Inmates and Families Describe ‘Cruel’ COVID-19 Conditions” by Tyler Hayden — The work Tyler Hayden has done around Santa Barbara County law enforcement and the conditions of the Lompoc Federal Prison is groundbreaking. This piece stood out to me because of the immense light it shines on the tragedies within the prison. The letters from inmates to their families are chilling, and if it weren’t for Tyler’s work on it, they would still be in the dark.
“Six Scramble for two Seats on Goleta Union School Board” by Delaney Smith — The election coverage of both the Santa Barbara and the Goleta Union school boards was uniquely paramount this year, as the pandemic took away the traditional campaign trail. The Indy had individual candidate profiles, endorsements, and virtual Zoom forums to inform the community despite the circumstances. Because of the tough questions, my forum with the Goleta Union candidates is ranked as my favorite piece of political coverage of this year.