A South Coast motel was red tagged, and its residents displaced as part of a sweep by building inspectors of more than 160 motel, and home units owned by a Santa Barbara County property owner.
City of Santa Barbara building inspectors say they launched the effort after hearing about issues with some properties owned by Dario Pini. Pini has been in legal trouble in the past over the condition of some of his housing units.
One 22 unit motel was red tagged, and its residents displaced because of what city officials say were hazardous modifications to a gas fired boiler system. Inspectors say they found unsanitary and unsafe conditions in a number of units. They say in one case, they found 16 beds in one two bedroom apartment.