Buellton proclaims Human Trafficking Awareness Month, honors law enforcement

The Buellton City Council on Jan. 9 issued two proclamations, declaring January 2026 Human Trafficking Awareness Month and recognizing Jan. 9, 2026 as National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

Mayor David Silva read the trafficking proclamation and called attention to the local presence of the problem. "Human trafficking is not a distant problem, and it's not somebody else's issue," said Anne McCarty, who identified herself as executive director of the North County Crisis and Child Protection Center and a member of the Santa Barbara County human trafficking task force. McCarty described the task force as a partnership of the district attorney's office, local law enforcement, homeland security and community‑based organizations and said the group is distributing posters and educational materials for placement in city offices, businesses and parks.

McCarty urged the council to help spread materials to hotels and public facilities and to coordinate with the Chamber of Commerce. "By recognizing January as human trafficking awareness month, you're doing more than issuing a piece of paper — you're shining a light where traffickers depend on the darkness," she said.

Mayor Silva also presented a proclamation recognizing National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which Sergeant Kurowski accepted on behalf of the department. "I'm accepting this on behalf of the department ... and the guys and gals out on the street," Kurowski said, thanking the council and the community for their support.

City officials said they will work with community partners to distribute posters and informational materials and that staff will follow up on outreach logistics with local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce.

The proclamations do not create new city policy; they formally recognize the month and day and encourage continued coordination between the city, county task force and local organizations.