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DATELINE. August 11, 2014
OUR STUPID CITY GOVERNMENT vs. SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE.Since 1962 The San Francisco Mime troupe has beenentertaining audiences in city parks for crowds of thousands. In just the last month their 2014 “Ripple Effect” political comedy-satire played in San Francisco’s Dolores Park, Palo Alto, Berkeley, Ukiah, Sacramento, and Oakland before getting to Santa Cruz. Some nit wits in the Santa Cruz City Hall tried to stop the Mime Troupe from performing in San Lorenzo Park. They said the same stage they’d been using at all their performances this year was 18 inches too high!!! This is after playing to all those crowds in those cities. Just how dumb can our Santa Cruz City get??? Is anybody in charge?? Led by Becky O’Malley (Chris Krohn’s mother in law and SFMT board member, and many local Troupe supporters worked overtime to allow the Troupe’s show to go on. Grant Wilson, Ron Pomerantz, Celia Scott, Micah Posner, and I made calls, and sent emails to correct those City Staff morons from carrying out their threat. As Grant Wilson says, “the San Francisco Mime Troupe had to hire a Civil Engineer- who had to go to Oakland, to measure the stage, to write a report & confirm that the stage (& back-wall) were solid & met stage safety requirements, and yes, that cost the SFMT an extra 200+$$ & a lot of precious staff time & hassle”. So back on schedule, the Mime Troupe performed their satire on San Francisco City Politics beautifully. First our City Council got rid of The Great Morgani on some technicality, then they tried to stop the Mime Troupe. We need new thinking (and people) in our city government.
LA BAHIA SHUFFLE. So the new Charlie Canfield-Craig French La Bahia plans have been 100% approved by our Planning Commission. That includes adding 40 more rooms, a cutback from 62 to 49 valet parking spaces, and the much touted conference/banquet room space was cut from 5353 to 4330 square feet. One constant BrattonOnline reader wrote, “After attending the Planning Commission on La Bahia it can now be confirmed that the fix is in. The Planning Commission offered no amendments to the Seaside Company plan for La Bahia. No real concerns over water consumption, outsized swimming pools, traffic mitigation, LEED certification, neighborhood impacts, sustainability, nothing. Not one amendment from the Commission to alter the presented plan. I wonder if they even read it?” Then another email said, “I think the outcome is a fait accompli, but we can still try to educate the public that historic preservation by its very nature is sustainable development. Adaptively reusing structures is the way to achieve this. I am in favor of developing La Bahia, but only if it involves preserving and enhancing buildings 1-4, which is Alternative 2 in the EIR. I believe that this French project will not be LEED certified. Sustainability is for us little folks. My other point is that this is a clear case of “demolition by neglect” supported by King Canfield’s Privy Council (loved De Cinzo’s cartoon). The City made no effort to consult with the King Canfield regarding the 20% federal tax credit that could be obtained by restoring the building. That’s a shame. I wonder who will be the only one to vote no with a well-documented and intelligent argument as to whyhistoric preservation matters”. BrattonOnline says, “The Boardwalk’s control over our City government is embarrassing One of my long time questions about the Seaside/Boardwalk empire is why Santa Cruz allows Canfield to continue his “demolition by neglect” by his buying the dozens and dozens of houses and lots in Beach Flats and then, like the La Bahia he lets them rot, tears them down (or tries) only to someday create his own enclosed Uncle Charlie’s Theme Park. We need new thinking in our city government.
| FAWLTY TOWERS. |
ARANA GULCH & GLITCH. Jean Brocklebank has been keeping a very close watch on what’s happening to the bridges, bicycle cement highway, and destruction of Arana Gulch. She wrote the following… “The $6.5 million dollar Broadway Brommer bicycle short cut through the Arana Gulch greenbelt, an idea that started out bad and does not get any better, continues badly” She writes about the City’s contingency fund, Micah Posner, Public Works Chris Schneiter, and the blank check the city is donating…. Nothing is small about Broadway Brommer, the industrial “path” that eats away at the greenbelt and its two creeks. So we’re not surprised that the snafus, the goofs, the oopsies are likewise large in scale. Each mistake means a change order and extra cost. There are to be many change orders for the BB project. And we predict that Mr. Schneiter’s $300,000 will be double that amount before this project is complete. To see an example of one mistake (180 linear feet that had to be demolished and rebuilt), go HERE“. Jean wrote a lot more about Arana History, and the contigency fund…
…She’ll be writing more in the next few weeks.
SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES FORUM…August 18, 7-9 p.m. The People’s Democratic Club is/are the hosts and sent this… Santa Cruz residents will get their first look at the six candidates for Santa Cruz City Council: Bruce Van Allen, Craig Bush, Cynthia Chase, Richelle Noroyan, Michael Pruger, Leonie Sherman, and David Terrazas The forum is hosted by the People’s Democratic Club of Santa Cruz County and co-sponsored by Desal Alternatives, Greater Santa Cruz Federation of Teachers, Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Alliance, and Glass Ballot. Nora Hochman will facilitate the discussion.Questions from the audience will be submitted on 3×5 cards. Questions will be sorted to combine similar questions and to assure there is a wide range of questions. The forum will be recorded and broadcast later on local Community Television.The forum is free and open to the public. Questions will come from forum attendees. Snacks will be provided. It’s at London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz. Doors open at 6:30. It might be crowded so be there early to check-in and get a good seat”. Being the first candidates Forum of this election you’ll get a chance to see and hear the candidates before they become “political”. Don’t miss it. For additional information, contact Bill Malone, 420-1133, billmalone@pacbell.net or log on to the club’s Web site, www.PDClub.org. The People’s Democratic Club (PDC) promotes progressive Democratic values and candidates and is currently celebrating 40 years of service to the community.
| MONTY PYTHON’S BICYCLE REPAIRMAN SKETCH. |
LEONIE SHERMAN KICKOFF….August 16. Leonie Sherman, City Council Candidate sent a note… “Amid the whirlwind, I’m feeling good. Just last week, Kathy Beiers endorsed me. That makes six former mayors of Santa Cruz, almost enough for a baseball team.I’d like to invite folks to gatherings in every neighborhood in town. If you’d like to host a little event at your home, just let Jay know (jay.melena@gmail.com) and we’ll make arrangements to walk through your neighborhood a week ahead of time. And we’ll bring the refreshments too; you just have to make a place available for us to meet with your neighbors for about an hour. Leonie says, ” The next four years will be a critical time for folks who live in Santa Cruz to come together to celebrate civil liberties, public space, and open democracy. I’m ready to take on those challenges. Please join us for light refreshments, live music and excellent company at the home of Ben and Tamyra Rice on August 16 from 1-3 at 109 Lisa Court. That’s just off Western Drive up by Meder Street.
BRUCE VAN ALLEN KICKOFF. ..August 17. Having been on the Santa Cruz City Council before Bruce Van Allen is the only candidate with that experience. He says, “Do you think city government should promote shared prosperity, environmental stewardship, and safe streets for all? I was amazed last year when the City claimed that its proposed desalination plant was environmentally sensible. As a community organizer, I also know and have seen that when we engage the whole community in solving these problems, we make our city the best place it can be. From my years of community work — neighborhood advocacy, affordable housing, restoring the river, promoting the arts, and supporting a voice for all Santa Cruzans — along with my experience in small business as a woodworker and software developer, I have acquired the necessary skills and understanding to ensure that city government is a positive force in community life. You are invited to a fun party to kick off the campaign to elect Bruce Van Allen to the Santa Cruz City Council. When: Sunday, August 17, 3:00 PM. Where:Friendship Garden, Harvey West Park. What:Fun • Food • Music • Special Guests. ** Free Admission • Contributions Requested ** Directions:The Friendship Garden is located in the upper area of Santa Cruz’s Harvey West Park, west of the swimming pool. You can park in the central parking lot at the end of Evergreen Street, or on Harvey West Blvd near the corner with Dubois Street, next to the Park. Please consider car-pooling or riding your bike!
| 2014 NEWS BLOOPERS |
THE RED HORSE CHESTNUT TREE’S LAST LIMBS? Gillian Greensite from the “Save Our Big Trees” writes “We hear that work will soon begin on the Hyatt Hotel at 407 Broadway. The Hyatt Corporation has snubbed our collective effort to have a dialogue about saving the tree. The developer has never responded. The city didn’t respond to our proposal for saving the tree. We are waiting to hear back from Sam Farr’s office to discuss his role in securing federal funds for the Hyatt and ways he might be helpful with respect to the tree. Recall that every statement made about the tree by the city planning director, the developer and her architect during all public hearings was not true. Only our commitment remains. As long as the tree lives we will continue to press forward in the hopes of a last minute reprieve. We know many of you can’t make the weekly vigils because of work. There are other ways you can help: “Like” our FaceBook page: Save Our Big Trees Invite your friends to join Save Our Big Trees Facebook page.”Like” or join our weekly Vigil Posting (even if you can’t attend!) Repost our Vigil Events on your Facebook page. Repost any of the Save Our Big Trees info on your FB page. Thank you for taking a few minutes to support the effort. For the trees! Thanks from Gillian “Save Our Big Trees”.
PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary talks about Soquel and their water plans and groundwater and seawater intrusion. He tells of a meeting to learn about saving water. Then he tells of the California Coastal Commission’s next meeting and live webcast. Their meeting topics include Santa Cruz Hotel regulations and a local coastal program amendment. The “hot” Coastal Commission item will be about Sand City’s Hotel development…which is huge and right on the Coast. He closes saying… the California State Air Resources Board is going to be reviewing its regulations governing fracking. I know that many KUSP listeners and BrattonOnline readers are following fracking issues in the Central Coast Region, and I imagine that we will hear a lot more about fracking during the upcoming months, since the voters of San Benito County will have an opportunity to vote in November on an initiative measure that would ban fracking in that County. If you care about fracking, you might want to think about attending the ARB workshop. It will be held on Monday, August 25th, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Coastal Hearing Room, located on the Second Floor of the Cal/EPA Headquarters Building, 1001 “I” Street in Sacramento. A webcast and remote participation will be available. Get more information at kusp.org/landuse. Read the complete scripts of the above at Gary Patton’s KUSP Land Use site http://blogs.kusp.org/landuse . Gary is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor (20 years) and an attorney who represents indivuduals and community groups on land use and environmentall issues. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, Two Worlds/365” – www.gapatton.net
| FAWLTY TOWERS ROOM WITH A VIEW |
CLASSICAL DeCINZO. DeCinzo has read the future with his reaction to Cell Towers, scroll downwards.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. Tim’s all fired up over global warming check his art out down below a page or two.
REALLY REGAL COMFORT. Nicole, the manager of our Cinema 9 took me on a tour Friday 8/08 of their theatre #2. That’s the small one right next to the candy counter. They finished installing their new reclining chairs. It is honestly staggering to see, and sit in and feel the difference these reclining chairs make. They are huge chairs and even gave me more leg stretching room than I needed. They also removed more than half their old seats to make rrom. Then they added width and padding to the walls to provent sound from next door “bleeding” through. Nicole said the beer, wine and pizza will be added later.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com), it’s official: Alias Hook is one of “Summer’s Buzzy Fantasies,” according to Us Weekly! Also, check out some other, alternative Captain Hooks on the pop culture horizon, and chow down on an entirely predictable, but still fun foodie feast in The Hundred-Foot Journey.” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
THAT IS THE QUESTION
(IN ORDER OF PERFECTION)
INTO THE STORM. This is a thrill ride much like the award winning Giant Dipper at the Boardwalk. I saw it exactly when we didn’t know if the two hurricanes would destroy Hawaii. This film is about tornadoes and the fools that chase the, You will definitely think of the Wizard of Oz and wait for Margaret Hamilton to ride by the window with Toto in tow. Bad acting, miserable plot but wonderful special storm effects. The Giant Dipper is better and much more believeble.
100 FOOT JOURNEY.A more memorable title would be “Slumdog Chef“, or “The Grand Budapest Restaurant” or “Monsoon Wedding Eats Out“. Even Helen Mirren doesn’t save this latest in the “aren’t East Indians cute and funny” type film. It’s degrading to all concerned. But I must confess, I went home and made my first omlette in months.
LAND HO. Two old geezers, one American the other Australian go on a vacation-bucket list trip around Iceland. The American is the worst possible stereotype of a gross, farting, southern, wealthy American doctor type you hope you’ll never run into. The film is not funny, touching, tastefull, or professional. The photography of Iceland is beautiful but NOT worth your money to see. An absolutely terrible film, it shouldn’t even last the usual six days at the Nick.
I REFUSE TO SEE
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. I must confess and proclaim I did not see this movie. Any film that has a talking raccoon named “Rocket” as a major character is more than I could stand. Your guess on this movie is every bit as good as mine. Actually if anyone sees this film and likes it, let me know. Especially if you can think of a reason for anyone else to see it.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES IN 3 D. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a miserable 19. I’m giving it a complete pass…and need a nap much more.
STEP UP ALL IN. One of the innumerable mutant versions of the original Step Up film that starred Channing Tatum. Just look at the trailer online…you’ll agree I’m, sure.
STILL PLAYING AT A THEATRE NEAR US
FROM BEST TO REALLY BAD
LUCY. Scarlett Johansson struts, slinks and shoots her way to the top in this science fiction thriller. Morgan Freeman loses a few acting points as he pretends he’s some kind of a professor. Amazingly, Lucy topped Hercules in box office money on opening weekend. That definitely proves something. Honestly, it’s a fun story and you’ll stay attached to the screen all the way through. The story is ridiculous, the plot has huge mistakes, there’s not one ounce of logic to it, it’s just fun to watch.
\Now, check out this cast Jon Favreau, Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., and Oliver Platt. It’s an original comedy all centering around food. It’s funny, touching, fast moving, and even educational!!! If you enjoy preparing food, and relish eating good food this is your movie! Chefs, food critics, restaurantowners, and normal people should see this well made film.
A MOST WANTED MAN. This is almost Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last film. It got a 90 on Rotten Tomatoes. Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe and Robin Wright play various roles as secret agents from The USA, Germany, Islamic territories, Russia and elsewhere. It’s a slow moving and very confusing story from John le Carre’s book. I couldn’t follow the connections and lost interest after the first 20 minutes.
GET ON UP. This is the bio-pic of James Brown the self titled King of Soul. All his songs are dubbed, the acting isn’t bad but Brown (according to the film) was one mess of a human. It seems like he had no friends, no family, and was simply unlikable. A genuine downer of a film.
BOYHOOD. This film made some sort of cinema history because the director took 12 years to film the same cast in the same roles as they aged. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 99 but I think the acting is so terrible it shouldn’t have been made…or released. Any sensitivity, reality, sincerity, or emotions are spoiled by the amateurish acting. Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke play the parents, and they aren’t very good either. Wait and rent it.
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. ( or APES OF WRATH ) It’s like Snowpiercer in that it has a somewhat serious message on the present and future status of humans. The apes who live in Marin County and ride horses are half human, speak some English and have almost exactly the same values as we do. It lacks the cutesy humor of Roddy McDowell and super stars like Charlton Heston, and is a much more somber comment on our lives after a virus kills off most humans. You could wait and rent it if you have a big screen at home.
BEGIN AGAIN. Mark Ruffalo is getting tiresome onscreen, he’s always the same guy, and he’s no different in this sad music business saga. Kiera Knightly is supposed to be a singer and James Corden (brilliant star of One Man, Two Guvnor’s is just about an invisible zero in his good buddy role here. It’s like a new copy of an old Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney movie.
JERSEY BOYS. Like most of Clint Eastwood– directed films, Jersey Boys is about as deep as a 45 rpm disc. The same plot could have been afixed to any pop group. The acting is about as good as you can expect from such a hackneyed show biz story. Even if you’re still a Frankie Valli fan, this movie is boring.
THE PURGE: ANARCHY. This bloody, confusing flick will probably make as much money as last year’s surprise Purge hit. It’s a truly evil premise that centers on 12 hours per year when everybody can kill everybody…all across the USA. This pits race against race, poor against rich, whatever!!! I guess it’s as valid as all those viruses, aliens, freezes, and radiation that kills us in the rest of the disaster films. The pacing isn’t bad, the camera work is passable, the acting is so-so but why go to see a film like this??? Just watch the box office receipts, don’t help them.
MALEFICENT. As we all know know, this is “Sleeping Beauty” gone bad. Curses, spells, special effects and Angelina Jolie’s fake jawbones plus horns make this an almost silly and phony saga. Elle Fanning who is now 16 years old is still cute as all get out. And you should get out and see some more meaningful movie.
AND SO IT GOES. Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton do their best to save this very unfunny, and even bitter film. Keaton even pretends she can sing, and you too will wonder why. Michael Douglas is supposed to be a bitter old real estate man who took care of his wife who died off screen and he won’t convince you of anything. Stay away from this mess, and don’t consider even renting it.
HERCULES. This monstrosity is exactly the film you expect it to be. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Hercules uttering such classic Roman-Greek lines as “fuck the centaurs” just leaves you breathless. What happened to great cinema stars like Charlton Heston, Victor Mature, Kirk Douglas, and even Steve Reeves.? You could believe those guys. There’s also a character named Rhesus in this saga, and the pun is too obvious. I just found (on Wikipedia) a film titled, “Hercules In New York” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (1970).
22 JUMP STREET. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back again doing their dumb undercover cop thing. The film took in $111.5 million dollars the opening weekend, and what else is new??? It’s stupid, mean, crotch focussed, anti-gay, and will probably make many more millions before thet finish 23 JUMP STREET. If you do go and see this pierce of junk don’t tell me about it!
EARTH TO ECHO. Kids find a cute tiny, little robot from outer space and it’s just like all the rest of the cutesy, summertime, kids & robots movies. Not one new twist, you don’t even see the robot until 45 minutes into the film and it’s very poorly directed and miserable editing, with lousy camera angles. Don’t go. Or at least SEND the kids, don’t go with them.
TAMMY. What a line-up of stars in this very sad downer of a movie. Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Dan Aykroyd, Sandra Oh, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Mark Duplass and Melissa McCarthy who co-authored and produced it with her husband Ben Falcone. It certainly isn’t a comedy, because Melissa and Susan Sarandon play such loser roles. It’s not a tragedy because you’ll laugh at the stupid, and vulgar scenes. It’s a waste of… time, your money and their talents.
| UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE RADIO PROGRAM KZSC 88.1 FM or live online at www.KZSC.ORG TUESDAYS 7-8 P.M. |
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. . Patrice Keet talks about all the plans for the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery on August 12, and she’s followed by Phil Collins relating the dates and events of the New Music Works. August 19 has Michael Wallace author of “Wash Her Guilt Away” a new murder mystery, he’s followed by Susan Leask, exhibit curator at the San Jose Museum of Art. On August 26 Mary Altier and Carol Trengove talk about the Pajaro Valley Arts Council’s newest exhibit, then Land Use Attorney and activist Gary Patton takes the second half hour. Sept. 2 we have Julie James and Susan Myer Silton from The Jewel Theatre Company talking about G.B. Shaw’s play “Saint Joan” opening 9/04. Then therapist Alexandra Kennedy talks about her new book “Honoring Grief“. Rose Sellery and Tina Brown discuss this years Fashion Art Show on September 16. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always at bratton@cruzio.com
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/universal-grapevine then tap on “listen here” to hear any or all of them… all over again. The update includes Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson-Darrow, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur, The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011. Hear them all!!!
QUOTES. “Let everything be reported. Then one day we may have a revolution”, Louis Pauwels. “All writing is pigshit“, Antonin Artaud. “Sorry ‘bout that sweat, honey. That’s just holy water”, Little Richard.
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BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by Tim Eagan.
