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Dear KCSB listeners and Daily Nexus readers,
– KCSB and Daily Nexus journalists
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Unmasking Isla Vista:
Local Businesses & Essential Workers
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- Business owners in Isla Vista typically center their busy times around students. But when UC Santa Barbara announced it was moving fully online for spring quarter – a shift that would end up lasting more than a year – business owners had no choice but to pivot.
- County and state regulations over businesses evolved as the pandemic worsened throughout 2020. Isla Vista faced smaller COVID-19 peaks in May and July 2020, with a severe uptick in cases in January 2021. As the county's positivity rate increased, business capacity shrunk.
- Buddha Bowls owner and operator Daniel Dunietz was gearing up for another busy Deltopia weekend in April 2020. But instead of a line out the door, Dunietz served 10 people for the whole day. His business had evaporated seemingly overnight, as students fled Isla Vista amidst the beginning of the pandemic.
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- The Isla Vista Food Cooperative, one of only two grocery stores in town, is one of the only places where students can easily get fresh food. Their mission to serve the community continued on through the pandemic, but with fewer customers and more restrictions, the challenges were steep. I.V. Co-op board president Lisa Oglesby said the business had a "huge drop-off in sales, almost as much as 25% in some months, while at the same time, needing to maintain all of the expenses that you have to run a community grocery store to be open and available to the community, if and when they need groceries."
- Woodstock's Pizza was able to maintain steady takeout business during the pandemic, but the restaurant suffered from the lack of in-person interaction. Crowded trivia nights and half-price pint nights meant that Woodstock's was rarely empty come dinner time during a regular year. Woodstock's employee and third-year global studies major Meg Wilson said the lifting of the mask mandate in June was a "turning point," when people felt more comfortable eating in person again.
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- Isla Vista case numbers have steadily lowered through 2021 as vaccines became readily available to all. But the growing Delta variant has caused cases in the county to rise by over 400% over the month of July.
- Business owners say they hope cases will go down again by fall, when they expect earnings to rebound as students come to the area for in-person school for the first time in over a year. "I am hoping for a bit of fall revitalization in Isla Vista, and I'm hoping that it's not just filled with corporate restaurants that want to come in and sort of change the local flavor of this town," Oglesby said.
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About KCSB News:
KCSB News is a team of volunteer reporters, students, and community members who contribute to the KCSB 5 pm Newscast (Mondays/Thursdays) and Inside Isla Vista (Wednesdays at 5 pm) on 91.9 FM and KCSB.org. To listen to recent news stories go to soundcloud.com/kcsbfm.
Report for KCSB News! No experience is necessary; we will train you. Email news@kcsb.org to find out how. Got a news tip? Send it to news@kcsb.org.
About the Daily Nexus:
The Daily Nexus continues to be the go-to source to stay up-to-date on all things involving UCSB's campus and Isla Vista. We offer positions for writers, photographers, artists, and any creative souls interested in immersing themselves in culture and information. The Nexus provides a fast-paced environment for aspiring journalists, as well as learning opportunities for students who want to explore the stories that define our community. Check out recent news stories here.
Get involved with the Daily Nexus! No prior experience is necessary, and all UCSB students are welcome. Each section has its own application, and art, photography, copy, and production teams require applicants to submit a sample of their work. Email news@dailynexus.com for more information on how to join.
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