|
ZACH FRIEND RUNNING FOR SUPERVISOR!!! Just another little BrattonOnline scoop. Yes, Santa Cruz Police flack Zach is going to run for Ellen Pirie’s County Supervisor seat in District two. Other rumors (and probably public records) say that he already makes $103, 000 from the cop job, so it can’t be the money…probably it’s the power. His wife Tina Schull our Santa Cruz Assistant City Manager, makes more than he does, she makes $129,870 per annum so they ain’t hurtin’. I too can’t exactly see him and Ellen fighting it out for the Supe seat….something’s gotta give here.
QUESTION TIME. Does anyone else wonder about Zach Friend, Ryan Coonerty, Chris Reyes and all the monetary and political interconnections to Next Space, The Boardwalk, City Politics ( LOBA, Chamber, etc.), UCSC, The Police Department, Local Democrat Party and now County politics? I mean “small town” and all that, but I sure don’t remember such relationships before those three guys and their friends, relatives, and bosses got so busy. Read this piece from last week’s Sentinel “On Sept. 27, the City Council is expected to weigh a plan that would create a shared command structure between the city and UC Santa Cruz fire departments. The pilot program likely would headed by UCSC Chief Jeff Trapp, officials familiar with the plan said. Details are still being worked out, but Fire Capt. Rob Oatey, president of the city firefighters union, said his members back the plan because it will cut administrative costs”. At first blush it seems fine, but does it ring bells like City and State and integrity and past sneaky deals like sharing water with UCSC, that we never know about??
| JESUS LOVER. |
SPEAKING OF SANTA CRUZ BEING PRO-GROWTH.First, read this, and then think about it…
“Santa Cruz bills itself as a bastion of progressive environmental thinking and lifestyle. Indeed, its past is littered with great leaders who had the forethought to preserve and protect the environment. But, in recent years, the City’s leaders, claiming to be great defenders of the environment, have paid no more than lip service to environmental protection. The City tries to paint itself as forward thinking, such as banning Styrofoam food containers, when in reality it is late to the party. Many communities began enacting this ban, as well as other green initiatives, long before “green” Santa Cruz. And while City leaders claim to be green, the reality is that they could care less. Indeed, the City of Santa Cruz is pro-growth and pro-business. This in and of itself may not be evil, but when they are to the detriment of the environment, it is at odds with what most citizens perceive should be the policy of the City and certainly inconsistent with the image that City leaders try to invent for themselves.
Residents think the City is protecting them from the evil unchecked growth of the University, but in reality City leaders want the growth and are even proposing to give the City’s scant resource, water, to the University for that growth when it does not have to. The City makes special exceptions for its developer friends. La Bahia is a perfect example where the City did not want to apply the height limits that everyone else must conform. The Dream Inn was a cynical ploy. It was billed as a way to spruce up the aging behemoth, but the “remodel” was really a tear down and replace with an even larger more imposing structure. And, lastly, Arana Gulch. Whatever side you are on, this one is the most egregious example of the City’s careless attitude towards the environment. The City could have had an alternative that provided an east-west bike path, ADA access, and other amenities while preserving an endangered plant. Instead, this “green City” painted the plant as the enemy, relishes in creating a schism between bicyclists and environmentalists, and then calls that dispute a “split” in the environmental community. Indeed, Santa Cruz City leaders even publicly stated that the Arana project must move forward to save us from global warming, as if saving us from global warming and preserving endangered species is a mutually exclusive exercise. These are not the hallmarks of a great “green” community. A green community tries to solve these issues, not drive a wedge in the community”. A well-informed friend of mine wrote it for BrattonOnline, we should memorize and act on it. AND find some good people to run for City Council.
| MARCH 2011 TSUNAMI IN JAPAN |
WESTSIDE REDTREE DEVELOPMENT. Mark Primack gave a talk at MAH last Thursday night about his architecture work for the 20 acre Redtree Development out on Delaware. Did anyone see who presented or paid for that Primack talk? Why was it given? Of course the project was approved by our pro-growth City Council even though no one has a clue what the actual plans are. AND it was approved over the protests of the neighbors. And I’ll bet if George Ow looks at the plans he’ll be forced to repeat, ” The Duomo in Florence, St. Peters in Rome, I think of the Alhambra in Grenada — you know, they don’t match what’s around them and stand out. That’s what Santa Cruz needs, actually — something that stands out and that is magnificent,’ said local developer George Ow of Santa Cruz”, according to The Santa Cruz Sentinel.
| TSUNAMI…NEXT TIME??? |
PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary’s weekly KUSP radio program for Monday, Sept 19 says, ” For those interested in policy issues related to land use, growth, and development, I’d point to a couple of other items on the County Supervisors agenda. Agenda Item #42 provides a status report on the County’s efforts to “streamline” its permit process. The key issue in any “streamlining” proposal is whether that streamlining is to be achieved by procedural changes, or whether the proposed streamlining would result from changes that would weaken the substantive environmental and neighborhood protection standards contained in the current code. My bias would be in favor of finding streamlining solutions that don’t water down environmental protection”.
More than that he says, “Those who live or work in the City of Santa Cruz should polish up their reading glasses, and get ready to put in some hours on an important document now available for public comment. I speak, of course, about the Draft Environmental Impact Report prepared on the proposed City of Santa Cruz General Plan Update. The City of Santa Cruz is getting ready for final action. If you care about the future growth and development of the City of Santa Cruz, there is no time to waste. The deadline for comments is November 14th.
The proposed Santa Cruz City General Plan Update would allow the construction of 3,350 new residential units and it contemplates a population increase of 8,040 residents, and the construction of 3,140,000 additional square feet of commercial, office and industrial uses. Impacts related to traffic, water supply, public services, schools, cultural resources, and air quality are anticipated. Your time to comment is now“, he says.
That’s what I was saying about Santa Cruz being so pro-growth. (Gary Patton is “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365” – www.gapatton.net)
 Here’s a picture from the trip down as seen from the deck of the RV Laurence M. Gould in September 2011. Swirling “grease ice” surrounds some medium-sized “pancakes” that have broken loose from the pack and started drifting northward. |
Made it to Palmer just yesterday afternoon (Sunday, Sept. 18)… getting busy here at station. Today’s -12 C and my fingers are a bit stiff for typing! How you get to Antarctica depends very much on where exactly you’re going. Getting to Palmer Station, my destination this season, from the port of Punta Arenas, Chile requires at least four days in an ice-worthy ship to cross the Drake Passage. Weather satellites and diesel engines allow modern travelers to skirt the major storms, although not the high swells characteristic of the area. We cross in the R/V Laurence M. Gould, a 76-meter ice-strengthened vessel* contracted by the National Science Foundation to serve Palmer Station in addition to operating throughout the Southern Ocean as a research vessel. Seen in person, the Gould doesn’t win your immediate confidence. Painted gaudy orange and yellow, she looks like an over-sized rubber ducky that goes bobbing unsteadily (but reliably!) across bathwater that seems to be smothering a giggle. Toward the stern, she sports a pair of stabilizers that bring to mind of inflatable water-wings worn by children at the beach. They’re intended to minimize the rolling and reeling caused by her shallow draft, necessary for navigating ice, and perhaps they do help some. Nevertheless, the Gould has a terrible reputation for turning some of the Program’s steeliest stomachs inside out and every passage sees some puke.
Those of us bound for station spend much of our time playing cards, watching DVDs, knitting and even reading when the stomach permits. I love to watch the ocean transform as we continue to cruise down the peninsula. The open water turns streaky with “grease ice,” the first sign of a freezing sea. Gradually, the pancakes** start to appear, first as little silver dollars and growing larger as we head south until eventually they pack so tightly together that they merge into sheets and lo, the ocean is solid! Icebergs begin to dot the horizon, tiny in the scheme of things but looking very grand against a sunset. In my stateroom at night I like to listen to the ice go crunch and squeak against our bow.
*Ice-going vessels fall into a detailed hierarchy based on what type and thickness of ice each is able to withstand, and under what types of conditions. The term “icebreaker” commonly used by the public does not get used lightly by those who work on these vessels.
**Please see the Wikipedia entries for more technical descriptions of sea ice formation… try searching “pancake ice” to get started.
(Micaela Neus works for Raytheon Polar Services Company as a utilities technician and is currently living at Palmer Station, Antarctica until April 2012. She will continue writing these articles as long as possible)
| RTC SPECIAL. This could have been recorded in Santa Cruz. All wordy and official but bitterly true. Debbie Bulger, Paul Elerick and other well intended readers sent it.
|
VINTAGE DE CINZO. De Cinzo addresses UCSC students, see below
EAGANS DEEP COVER. Tim helps us digest the GOP debates look below a few pages
| JAZZ FOR COWS. Kit Birskovich found this gem of a jam
|
LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul Landau equates Rick Perry with Elmer Gantry in his weekly Progreso Weekly shot–across-the-bow titled “President Rick Perry“. He opens with, “Imagine this scene: 3 million Christians brought together in Washington DC in 2013. Incoming President Rick Perry asks them to pray to God to stop warming the climate and promising in return to stop sinning: having abortions, practicing homosexuality – even same sex marrying. Since Perry announced his disbelief in man’s contribution to climate change and has attributed the hurricanes, tsunamis, droughts, floods, earthquakes and fires (best of all) to God, the Texas governor called a prayer meeting in Houston. On August 7, standing on a stage surrounded by more than 30,000 Christians, Perry – picture Burt Lancaster playing Elmer Gantry – beseeched Jesus Christ to bless and guide the nation’s military and political leaders and “those who cannot see the light in the midst of all the darkness.” His address to the prayer rally, which he sponsored as he “weighed” his decision to run for president, characterized the man and his constituency. Read it here!
Saul Landau’s WILL THE REAL TERRORIST PLEASE STAND UP plays at Albuquerque’s Guild theater, Sept. 21, 6 & 8 pm. Prof. Nelson Valdes will do Q & A. Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com
| CAPT. KIRK AND SPOCK. |
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa, busy as ever says, “Good grief! Open Studios is right around the corner, the Pacific Rim Film Festival is coming up, and even I don’t know what I’ll be writing about this week! Visit Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.
| LIONS AND LOVE, OR CHRISTIAN THE LION….Peter Scott sent this bit o’ loveliness. |
DRIVE. Ryan Gosling is about the last person you’d think of casting in this crime thriller but he’s as good as Carey Mulligan who plays his girlfriend. One critic said,
“Drive is a needle-punch of adrenaline to the aorta“, and it is, and more than that, it’s an excellently made film. You may be pacifistic and calm and sustainable so stay away, but if you want to see stunt driving, action, blood and stuff go for it…one of my top ten’s of the year so far.
STRAW DOGS.This is a genuine Hollywood-type re-make of the original Dustin Hoffman – Sam Peckinpah film, and it’s a waste of their time and money and yours too IF you go see it. It ‘s a term paper on violence, without good acting and blah photography. Don’t go.
NOT SEEN. I couldn’t get the strength together (read “lower my standards”) to go see “Bucky Larson” or “Seven Days in Utopia” or “I Don’t Know How She Does It”. If you happen to even meet anyone who did go, and had anything good to say about any of these movies…let me know. Maybe I’ll pass it on.
THOSE “LIVE” LONDON-LOCAL LAST WEEK TELECASTS. 167 folks went to see London‘s National Theatre Live telecasts of One Man Two Guvnors last Thursday and Sunday at the Del Mar. I went and can honestly say that I haven’t laughed so hard and often at any live or screened event in years. It’s in British and so we lose a few lines but the humor ranges from absolutely brilliant, sharp and witty to the lowest, bawdiest, physical pratfall stuff you just don’t see anymore. Its possible The Del Mar can get a re-run…if so just go and I’ll save a seat for you. The Regal 9 London Globe “live” telecast of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII had only about 10 of us, on the same Thursday night and time as One-Man 2 Guvnors but it was Shakespeare as I’ve never before seen it produced. Amazing, exciting and I’d go again anytime. Let’s hope they continue the Globe series and do better publicity.
| SPOCK SINGS!!!! |
SATYAJIT RAY’S LAST FILM & LECTURE ON SAT.9/24 @ UCSC. Film enthusiasts and even Vedanta types should know about the lecture and special screening
ofSatyajit Ray’s (pronounced “wry”) last film Agantuk (aka The Stranger and aka The Visitor). The screening will be at 3 p.m. in the UCSC Media Theatre. Go here for that link http://news.ucsc.edu/2011/09/
Dr Karan Singh, Member of Parliament in New Delhi, will deliver the Satyajit Ray Lecture on” Nava Vedanta : Ancient Philosophy of Non-dualism and Its Modern transformation”. It will be held at the Music Recital Hall, Performing Arts complex, UCSC. at 5 PM. It will be preceded by a CD on his Ethical and Philosophical Ideas entitled: I BELIEVE.
http://satyajitray.ucsc.edu/
For tickets and more information about the Satyajit Ray Film and Study Collection, go to: http://satyajitray.ucsc.edu, call 831-459-4012 or e-mail satyajit@ucsc.edu
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer (live only, or sometimes old programs are archived…(see next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. Tuesday, September 20th has Christopher Krohn discussing UCSC’s Environmental Studies Internship Program of which he is director, then on that same program, Rita Bottoms author of the new book “riffs & ecstasies” will talk about that book. On Sept.27 Brian Spencer and Al Muller talk about The Letters play coming to the Actors Theatre in October. Also on the 27th, ceramic sculptor Peggy Snider discusses her works and Open Studios. UCSC’s Micah Perks talks about a writing event on the campus on October 4th followed by Davis Banta relating stuff about his production of Sam Shepard’s True West. On October 11 Teresa Landers tells news about The Santa Cruz City Library system. Felicia Rice follows her and will talk about UCSC’s Digital Arts and New Media. Author, actor and acting teacher Joanne Linville will take the entire hour on October 18 to talk about her book Seven Steps to an Acting Craft. County Supervisor John Leopold will again co-host the fall pledge drive on October 25. City Council person Katherine Beiers will be the guest on November 1st. Followed by Meg Sandow and friend discussing the Homeless Garden Project. The November 8th Grapevine has former Cabrilho Professor Don Young talking about his book,” The Battle For Snow Mountain”. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES.In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 5 years here’s a chronological list of just this year’s podcasts. Click herehttp://kzsc.org/blog/tag/
QUOTES. “Facts are for people who don’t have opinions”, B. Bratton. “Thank God, men cannot as yet fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth”, Henry David Thoreau. “We have made machines out of men—now we will make men out of machines”, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis.
BEST OF VINTAGE DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by tim eagan.
