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OTHER STORMS OTHER TIMES. This was Pacific Avenue and Front Street and Mission Street and Water Streets intersection in 1957. Bank of The West is there now on the left and so is our Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park high atop the hill above the Burgermeister Beer & Wrigleys Juicy Fruit billboard.

photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

Additional information always welcome: email bratton@cruzio.com

DATELINE February 6, 2017

MAYBE GREAT & NEW INVENTIONS

FATS WALLER…Gonna sit right down and write myself a letter.

BERKELEY POLICE PASSIVELY WATCH “ANARCHISTS”. Here is something our City Council and The Santa Cruz Police should consider. From Sunday (2/5/17) San Francisco Chronicle.

“When it comes to its treatment of anarchist protesters like the ones who trashed Sproul Plaza the other night, UC Berkeley’s attitude amounts to this: “We’d rather deal with broken windows than broken heads”.

The result was about $100,000 in damage to the campus — and a worldwide image of UC police standing by as “black bloc” protesters fired bottle rockets at them and used police barricades as battering rams to break the windows of the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union, where right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to speak.

It wasn’t just the building that took damage. Some people who the anarchists concluded were there to hear Yiannopoulos were attacked, and one of the organizers of the Berkeley College Republicans, who were hosting the Breitbart News website editor, was splashed with red paint.

Police made no attempt to stop the attack or arrest any of the rioters. It was a legacy, in part, of the infamous incident during the Occupy protests of 2011 in which a UC Davis police officer shot pepper spray directly into the faces of peaceful, seated demonstrators on the campus quad.

After that PR disaster — which resulted in UC agreeing to a nearly $1 million lawsuit settlement — the university rewrote its police rules to mandate that officers use the minimum amount of force needed to ensure the maximum safety of everyone involved.

Taking on the anarchists at the Berkeley protest with batons and tear gas might have resulted in arrests, but it would also have resulted in injuries — and not just to black bloc types. The hundreds of demonstrators who were behaving peacefully would have been in the middle of the mess.

“We’re not talking about people who, if you try to arrest them, are going to say, ‘I’m sorry’ and just let themselves be cuffed and taken in,” UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said of the anarchists. “There would have been confrontations that involved innocent bystanders, and we would have had far more than the six injuries we had.”

Having the police scurry for cover may have been a bad look on TV, but it was an easy call for campus officials, Mogulof said. “It was too dangerous for everyone.”

Something happened Wednesday, however, that is causing law enforcement officials to re-examine their procedures. In the past, when violent protesters have shown up at East Bay demonstrations, they’ve mixed with the crowd and used peaceful protesters as human cover. This time, the 100 or so black bloc anarchists marched brazenly up Bancroft Way and into Sproul Plaza after the protest was under way, lined up directly in front of their target and attacked. It was as if they knew no one would stop them — which turned out to be the case. “That is a real game changer,” Mogulof said”. UCSC Campus Police should go on a retreat and think about this as well.

MAXIMIZING & TRIVIALIZING TRUMP IN SANTA CRUZ. Scroll down on last week’s issue and see what I wrote about how our Santa Cruz City Council has much the same effect locally as Trump’s meaness and lack of humanity is having on the world. I’m pleased to announce that the reactions I received are just about 50-50. Half saying I trivialized what Trump is doing and the other half saying they were happy to see that I was right in bringing to light some of the behind the door…under–the-dais treatment our City Council doles out against the homeless, the houseless, the Beach Flats locals and so many others. More later.

ART & JUNK ON WEST CLIFF DRIVE. The Sentinel story about that rusting, rotting piece of art sculpture over on West Cliff should make any and all of realize that our West Cliff Drive and any Ocean Frontage in the county shouldn’t be trashed by any “art” or exercise equipment, or any man-made structure at all. Well, except for a few benches to better enjoy the view of our Ocean. Think of it this way…how many times have you or any of our money- laden- tourist- targets said “lets go to the cliffs and see the art”? If the City or County wants to help struggling artists by displaying their art …put the largest possible creations in front of Starbucks, Safeways, New Leaf, Burger joints, like they did on Pacific Avenue in front of Jamba Juice.

POPCORN POPPING IN SLOW MOTION.

A BIT OF GOOD NEWS. Long time friend (Pasadena ’50’s) David McReynolds turns out and forwards very progressive/socialist emails nearly daily. Here’s one he sent Saturday 2/04…

RESISTING, FIGHTING TRUMP IS WORKING!
For everyone who believed in #resist, congrats on helping with the following successful efforts.
Because of you:
1. Federal hiring freeze is reversed for VA (Veteran Affairs).
2. Federal judge imposes temporary nationwide halt to Trump’s travel ban.
3. Green card holders can get back in country after massive airport protests and litigation efforts. Iraq war vets were part of those protests.
4. Uber CEO drops off presidential advisory council and pledges $3M and immigration lawyers for its drivers after #DeleteUber trends on Twitter. 200,000 Uber users drop the app. Lyft gives 1m to American Civil Liberties Union to fight immigration ban.
5. Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) enrollment ads are still going to air with help from private companies.
6. The ACLU raised 24M over one weekend (normally 3-4Mil/year).
7. HHS, EPA, USDA gag order lifted due to tremendous protests and pressure.
8. 800,000 scientists have signed up for a march in support of science.
9. More people of different career/religious/economic/ethnic/gender backgrounds are considering running for political office than ever before.
10. White House contender Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has opposed almost all of Trump’s nominations and is getting support as a result.

Trump’s approval ratings are low by historical comparisons.
Governors are standing up against Trump – most notably in California. They are joined by over 17 state attorney generals.
Big City mayors are defying Trump on immigration issues and more.
Renewable energy is growing despite Trump, and is likely to continue to do so.
High profile athletic teams – and many others – are joining the effort to boycott Trump hotels.
Theaters are absolutely packed with viewers of the just released and extraordinary documentary on James Baldwin. This must see film is the latest in asking us to face the racism that continues to plague the heart of America.
There will be a growing number of efforts to impeach Trump.
Reproductive rights activists are pushing for protection at state level.
Most important perhaps, hundreds of thousands of new people are engaged. Scores of new platforms for engagement have been launched including:

Justice Democrats
Unite for America
Americans Take Action
https://www.facebook.com/TownHallProject
dailyaction.org

These are dark times and the threats are colossal. While more resistance and creative forward-moving strategies will be needed, sometimes we have to celebrate our wins. Stay vigilant, but also take self care seriously. Activist burnout is a thing. Marathon, don’t sprint. Give thanks for all the others – known and unknown – who are shoulder to shoulder with us in this fight.
#resist. Feel free to copy and circulate and amend as you feel moved. I’m sure I’ve missed a boatload of things”. Thanks to David for that.

A FOUNTAIN OF ABUSE

Have you seen the latest example of the city’s failure to respect the coastline beauty of West Cliff Drive and to follow established codes? If not, check out the new drinking fountain at Dutra Point, the overlook near the Sea and Sand Inn. It should be hard to create an eyesore out of a drinking fountain but the city has managed to do just that. There was a former drinking fountain in the same location, a simple, low structure that in no way impacted this world class view. Then, the landscaping at the Point was torn out and re-done and suddenly this gem appeared.

It is actually worse than is captured in this static photo. Whether you walk or ride a bike along West Cliff or drive on the road, the full sweep of this magnificent view from the mountains to the east, the municipal wharf to the south, the arc of Monterey Bay and the cliffs at Indicators all now have this dark maroon, five and a half foot tall industrial structure in the foreground. The old drinking fountain’s sightlines were below the guardrail and painted the same color. No I’m not proposing a new paint job will fix this act of visual sabotage. I’m proposing the city remove this eyesore and relocate it out of the line of sight. There is plenty of space at Dutra Point for its relocation.

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One wonders what process was followed, if any, for this installation? Did a person at a desk just research the latest in multi-use drinking fountains and like the look of this one? Did anyone consider the impact on this iconic view? Did it pass muster at the commission level? Did anyone involved ever walk, bike or drive West Cliff? Did anyone check the city codes relative to structures along West Cliff Drive?

If they did, they would have been aware and should be aware that West Cliff Drive is within the Ocean Front Recreational District (OF-R) and the Shoreline Protection Overlay District (SPO). Both codes contain strict and clear guidelines for protecting this world-class view shed from structures. The stated purpose of the SPO code is to, ” Maintain public view corridors between the sea and the first public roadway parallel to the sea and maintain natural views of the coastline.”

A similar act of visual sabotage and failure to follow the code was achieved by the city Parks Department last year, when it erected without a required coastal permit, a 14 foot tall giant chair- like structure, a piece of outdoor gym equipment, at the furthest ocean overlook opposite Swanton Boulevard. It was removed after diligent community members pointed out the code and the need to comply with it plus the obvious visual intrusion into the ocean view shed. The community should not have to be the watch- dog for the city to follow its own codes and protect its ocean views. This latest example, if not nipped in the bud is probably a harbinger of things to come. The draft Parks Master Plan makes reference to “linear” parks and that includes West Cliff Drive. Since the current Parks Department leadership seems to favor Venice Beach style activities, gym structures and “activated” open spaces as opposed to passive, peaceful soaking in the view or bird watching we may have a fight on our hands to protect what’s left.

As for the drinking fountain at Dutra Point, no doubt the city will extol the advantages and “green” features of this new structure with its space for filling water bottles and dog drinking bowl at the base. All good except on Saturday I observed a woman with her dog by-pass the dog bowl and instead allowed her dog to jump up, have its paws on the rim and drink from the bowl intended for people’s use. Whether green or obscene, the point is that this drinking structure is in the wrong place and should be relocated. To achieve that you will need to send an email to city council. And the people in charge of making such decisions need to be reminded that they work for the community; that this community cares about its beauty; that the codes in place to protect such beauty should be followed, not ignored.

~Gillian Greensite is a long time local activist, a member of Save Our Big Trees and the Santa Cruz chapter of IDA, International Dark Sky Association http://darksky.org Plus she’s an avid ocean swimmer, hiker and lover of all things wild).

“Parks Master Plan is Master Boondoggle?”

It was an honor to sit among a study group of village elders this past Saturday (2/04/17). They included former mayors and city commissioners, neighborhood activists and agitators from the eastside, westside, and downtown Santa Cruz. We discussed the two-inch thick document known as the “City of Santa Cruz Parks Master Plan 2030” (PMP). It is a proposed city policy setting instrument, which some present called “flawed,” “too pro-mountain biking,” “not respectful of the 38% of survey respondents who supported hiking and pedestrian trail access,” and simply “a boondoggle,” and then they got into how they really felt. The group was preparing for last night’s Santa Cruz city council discussion of the PMP.

Due to a deadline constraint I will let you know the details of that discussion next week. I am confident that the dialogue surrounding this significant park’s planning document will last for several months. What remains mildly disturbing is that last night the PMP came to the council not as a “Draft Plan,” but as”The Plan” for the future of what parks and recreation could look like in Santa Cruz for many decades to come. The last time an effort like this was carried out was in 1983. And just to let the reader, and voter, know how this stuff comes to the council,with the approval of the city manager, the Parks and Recreation Director went ahead and wrote out a motion for the council before the meeting, “to accept the staff report and direct staff to work through identified issues…”

So let’s get into the weeds of the PMP, but not too far into the weeds. As you might imagine, this study group of Santa Cruz elders went to town “identifying issues” in carrying out the suggested staff’sparliamentary motion.

I’ll call the group”The Fighting Fourteen.” (They’re different than my “Dissecting Dozen” steering committee, but more about that group later.) The Fourteen spent the better part of Saturday afternoon debating, discussing and digesting yet another “Plan.”Running through our hours-long conversations were references to the ghosts of the fifteen other “Plans” that have come to the city council over the past 20 years. Some are referenced in the current PMP, but most appear to be forgotten by the authors of this present “Plan.” Past efforts include: Pogonip Master Plan (1998), Jessie Street Marsh Management Plan (2002), San Lorenzo Urban River Plan (2003), City-wide Creeks and Wetlands Management Plan (2008) and the Delaveaga Master Plan among others. Where have all the Plans gone, long time passing? (Apologies to Pete Seeger.) Were they implemented or shelved and discarded? The Fighting Fourteen wanted to know. One reason being, these plans don’t come cheap. The costs of the PMP are approaching $115,000, just to put it together, with another $85,000 budgeted for environmental review, which the Fourteen deemed as inadequate.

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My sense is that we all have a common interest here, the future of our parks and greenbelt lands is at stake. I believe it’s close to a moral imperative to wrestle with this Parks Master Plan with the goal of leaving a legacy—a better Santa Cruz—for our children and grandchildren, and also for the children and grandchildren we don’t even know but who will inhabit surf city long after we’ve been laid to rest.And by the way, there may be more surf than city if climate change has its way.

“Visit Santa Cruz?”

What’s at stake in the PMP is whether we will recognize our park resources as community benefits and manage them in meeting the needs of the community—families, students and neighbors—or turn these same parks over to commercial entities, part of some kind of “Visit Santa Cruz” tourism sell-off with the outcome serving tourist needs over those of locals. It’s yet another battle of the few telling the many what’s good for them. The battle lines seem to be drawn between commercial interests who wish to control the design, development, and construction upon these resources vs. the many who seek solace and adventure in recreational hikes where they can even find occasional sightings of wildlife. The PMP as it is places lines in the sand all over Santa Cruz. Folks, the battle’s on!

This discussion about the plan got me thinking a lot about Chief Seattle and his letter to the “The Great White Chief.” Words from his famous letter came to mind. “How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?” He goes on to write, “this we know, the earth does not belong to man-woman, man-woman belongs to the earth.”

Santa Cruz vs. Drumpf-World

My moral compass tells me all things are connected (and to follow the money). As we continue our daily encounter with some strange and uncertain politics wafting our way from the east coast we see a not so “great white chief” in Washington, D.C. beginning to gut, shred and dismantle so much of what the local and national progressives have worked for all our lives. The things we hold dear—clean air and water, access to public education, equality for all, and combatting racism—are all at stake. Therefore, we must act locally if we are to preserve our Santa Cruz “ecological hotspot” for the generations to come. Getting involved locally on issues like the Parks Master Plan allows us to ward off the depression of the environmental and political insanity that’s masquerading as some “new” public policy initiatives inside the white house. The opening weeks of this administration has pulled back a curtain of shame. If they have their way from building the Dakota and Keystone XL pipelines to disempowering the Environmental Protection Agency, to drilling for oil offshore they will,in fact speed up global warming. But here, Santa Cruz needs to save Santa Cruz and use the Obama “Yes we can” spirit to do it!

“The Coast is Never Saved, The Coast Is Always Being Saved”

For example, the PMP speaks of “connectivity” in terms of moving people from place to place in a kind of economic subsidy program for the recreation industry. The community needs to respond. Where is the connectivity for the mountain lions, bobcats, foxes and birds in this plan? Remember the plan’s survey results, 38% of park users self-identify as hikers and walkers, by far the largest single category of parks and open space users. So may I suggest five areas in which to focus our efforts with respect to the PNP: 1) City residents have priority over the tourist industry when it comes to our parks and open spaces, 2) open spaces like Pogonip, the Moore Creek Uplands, Bethany Curve, Arroyo Seco and even Lighthouse Field need to remain open to hikers and free of new development; 3) Mountain bikes are welcome, but not everywhere. We know there are erosion problems, so certain terrain for mountain bikers must be kept open, but carefully contained; 4) Certain program outcomes in this plan are flawed given the data collected. For example, there is less emphasis on hiking, more on biking; less attention and resources for restoration of degraded hillsides and marshes, more on adding trails in Pogonip; and focus on restoring bird habitat to the San Lorenzo River corridor, instead of suggestions of renting kayaks on the River Walk, even before the Coastal Commission has signed off, (which they probably won’t); and 5) We need to focus our efforts on using scarce dollars for trail maintenance, locating more benches and bathrooms everywhere, and how about opening up the Harvey West swimming pool to year-round use? 6) Let’s set aside money in this year’s budget hearings (May) and purchase the Beach Flats Community Garden in its entirety and set it aside for the community forever. People are excited about that! And finally, an idea whose time has come: what about placing moveable street furniture downtown, as most European cities do, and declaring a portion of Pacific Avenue to be a city park too? Doing less with respect to this plan may actually be doing more to protect the awesome parks and green spaces we already have. Why not approach our parks this way: before adding amenities, let’s fix those trails, foot bridges, marshes and beaches,first?

Deep Throat Said…”Follow The $$$”

There exists a tension, clearly apparent in the Parks Master Plan 2030 PMP, between our parks as accessible recreational spaces for the people of Santa Cruz, the ones who pay taxes and raise their families here vs. the tourism and commercial interests (a minority, but a powerful one for sure) who see dollar signs in the exploitation of our local resources. It is up to the people acting through their city council to be stewards of our stunning natural environment. Although the discussion about the future of neighborhood parks and greenbelt lands began anew in earnest last night, it will continue and your input is urgently needed. If you have an idea or comment about our city’s parks please let the city council know at 420-5020, or drop us an email at citycouncil@cityofsantacruz.com.

~This week’s Bernie Sanders quote from CNN 2/5/17:

“[Trump’s] a good showman, I’ll give you that. He’s a good TV guy. But I think he’s going to sell out the middle class and the working class of this country.”

(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, former Santa Cruz City Councilmember (1998-2002) and Mayor (2001-2002). He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 12 years. He was recently elected last November to another 4-year term on the Santa Cruz city council).

MEASURE D IS IN THE WORKS…
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) met last Thursday, February 2 in Watsonville to discuss a number of issues, but there were two biggies: sorting out Measure D procedures and 2) allocating money to do more work on the Coastal Rail Trail between Davenport and Santa Cruz.

The discussion about Measure D centered on how to follow through with the annual reports, annual audits, and establishment of the Oversight Committee. Supervisor Greg Caput had some questions about how the division of funds will be assured of dispersements as promised to voters. “I just want all decisions to be public, not a backroom shoving match with the Commission” he said. Other Commissioners took issue with that insinuation of problem transparency. Supervisor Leopold said maybe Supervisor Caput had not been paying attention when the RTC voted on all that. Ouch.

Well, I think Supervisor Caput has reason to voice transparency concerns. How did the RTC have the sudden idea last spring when discussing how to divide the money, to pull off developing the Pajaro Train Depot that would link any future County passenger rail service to Amtrak and CalTrain lines? I was at that meeting and was stunned that the RTC had such a sudden remedy for coming up with more money for Metro to satisfy the audience members who testified at that day’s meeting. Removing the Pajaro Depot funding was not publicly discussed, it just suddenly came up on the chopping block.

Brown Act violation? Well, maybe.

I am grateful that Supervisor Greg Caput brought the subject up because Section 31of the actual Measure D ordinance reads: “Section 31. ENVIRONMENTAL. This Ordinance is not a project as defined in Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and is therefore exempt from CEQA requirements. Approval of this Ordinance and Expenditure Plan does not commit to implementation of any specific project or activity listed herein. Prior to commencement of any specific project or activity identified in the Expenditure Plan, applicable provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) shall be completed.”

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When I read “Approval of this Ordinance and Expenditure Plan does not commit to implementation of any specific project or activity listed herein.”, I have to wonder what that really means? To me, it says “we don’t really have to do anything we said we were going to do with the money.” Let’s keep our eyes on the Oversight Committee (maximum of 5 members, with no guidelines regarding criteria for their selection) and those annual audits.

And what about that Rail Trail? The RTC voted to get moving with a 2.1 mile section of trail that will connect Davenport with Santa Cruz. The price has gone up…and the trail is now increased in width to 16′. Gee, that is wider than many rural roads (or what is left of them) in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

RANCHO DEL MAR UPGRADES….STAY TUNED FOR A COMMUNITY MEETING!

Mr. Bruce Walton, representing Terra Mar Centers (TRC), says a second community meeting is in the works for folks interested in knowing what is planned for the Rancho del Mar Shopping Center in Aptos. Last April’s first meeting at Seascape Golf Clubhouse brought an audience of about 300, fueled largely by the closure of the Aptos Cinema. Mr. Walton and his team were amazed by the high level of interest. “We usually only have about 15 people show up to these meetings in other places,” he said. Well, maybe it’s because the County and Barry Swenson Builder shoved the Aptos Village Project through and woke people up. It helped to have the meeting during evening hours so that people could attend. The County government officials need to take note of that. Mr. Walton feels the Rancho del Mar meeting date will be confirmed soon, and will most likely be held within the next month. Stay tuned…..

MAKING SECURITY AND CITIZENSHIP POSSIBLE…..
Continuing with something positive, the International Rescue Committee, recognized by the US Department of Justice, is holding a free Citizenship Workshop and Information Session on Saturday, February 18, 11am-3pm at the Downtown Public Library (224 Church Street, Santa Cruz). The presentation will explain how to apply for naturalization to gain security against deportation and to provide other protections while becoming a US citizen. Participants who want to file an N-400 application for citizenship may do so at the workshop, provided payment of $725 to U.S. Dept. Of Homeland Security and information is submitted. Registration is required; register here.

Please share this information.

HOW CAN YOU COMMENT ON AN UNKNOWN AGENDA?
Recently, Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors decided on a new rule regarding the deadline for public comment submissions being included in the Board agenda packet. Now, you must submit your comments to the Board two days BEFORE their agenda is public. Anything submitted after 4pm on the Wednesday before the next meeting (held on Tuesday nights), will NOT be included in the Board’s agenda packet but will be available for review at the District Offices. The Board agendas are made public on Fridays. Does that make sense to you? Maybe the Board was just tired of getting so many people protesting the proposed plan to inject treated sewage water into the drinking water supply for one-third of the County? Contact them if you have thoughts about how people are to comment on an invisible agenda. 831-475-8500 or <Board@soquelcreekwater.org>. Maybe this is their idea of transparent government..

LOOK AT THIS LIST OF STORM-BATTERED SANTA CRUZ ROADS…..
Item #49 on the February 7 County Board of Supervisor agenda includes a list and some photographs of the storm-related road damages in Santa Cruz County. Mr. John Presleigh, Director of Public Works, estimates the cost of repairing the various storm damage sites is over $20 million. Here is the link

If you click on the date (February 7), you can sort through supporting documentation according to the item number on the agenda. If you click on the “agenda”, you can’t link to the compartmentalized documents like you used to. This new system also requires that you log in with considerable information in order to be able to submit comments on the agenda items.

I wonder if Trump will really cut all federal funding to our County and cities for failing to follow his deportation orders? That could make it difficult to get many of these road repairs done anytime soon.

VALENCIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEEDS A SECONDARY ACCESS NOW…..
One of the storm-damaged roads that has been closed is Valencia Road, near the Trout Gulch Road intersection in Aptos. The road is unstable, having sunk an additional 14 inches further this week. School officials have warned students and parents not to even walk over the area to get to school from the Aptos Village area. Supervisor Zach Friend has informed school staff that there is no money to repair Valencia Road, so it may be closed indefinately.

Parents and staff now must travel an additional three to five miles to get to school, traveling from Freedom Boulevard. That adds lots of traffic to the narrow country roads, and adds delays to critical emergency response times.

WHY NOT BUILD A BRIDGE across Valencia Creek to access the school via Soquel Drive? There happens to be a parcel of land for sale that is almost directly across the creek from school property. Last year The County Parks Department bought a 150′ span of a metal bridge capable of handling pedestrian and light vehicle traffic for the Farm Park in Soquel, but residents there are rather angry at the sudden change in promises regarding a bridge (as well as other issues). They were promised a 40′ footbridge would be all they would look out at from their backyards….

Couldn’t this be made into a win-win? Valencia School has needed a secondary emergency access for many years (the Community Safety Officer recently told staff that if the kids ever had to be evacuated, teachers would have to lead them out through poison oak and the creek bed). Emergency responders, students, families and staff sorely need a quicker access now. Why not purchase the parcel on Soquel Drive ($329,000 asking price), and put in the mammoth and unwanted bridge from the Soquel Farm Park?

Maybe there is emergency grant money available from the State. Maybe, since it is an emergency, all the customary California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) hoops could be wiped off the slate. Maybe, it could happen fairly soon.

Where there is a will, there is a way. Contact Pajaro Valley Unified School District, County Office of Education and Aptos / La Selva Fire Protection District with your thoughts. Maybe even County Supervisor Zach Friend would love to hear from you. Zach Friend <Zach.Friend@santacruzcounty.us> or 831-454-2200.

Maybe you can ask him why the $2 million Aptos Village Traffic Improvement Project Phase I that will move the westbound bus stop to benefit Barry Swenson Builder and the Aptos Village Project is still on board to begin any day now.

BEAUTIFUL…
Take a moment to appreciate the amazing photography display on the 5th Floor of the County Government Building (701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz) now through March 31. Amateur photographer Mark Holsapple’s exhibit featuring various birds is guaranteed to lift your spirit as you make your way to the next meeting (Board of Supes, Planning Commission, Regional Transportation Commission, etc.)

Mark Holsapple told me that about 18 months ago, he almost died. He underwent a liver transplant and was struggling to recover. A drive down the Big Sur coastline inspired him to choose to do what he most wanted, focused on what he loves in life. He said ‘goodbye’ to his corporate job as Global Director of Logistics at Seagate Technology and began experimenting in photography. He loves and appreciates the natural world and, having lived a stressed corporate life, strives to bring to the public the beauty of nature that few seem to have time or patience to explore and appreciate in the outdoors.

What captured my attention first were the piercing eyes of the falcons. I moved on to the hummingbirds…then the pelicans…and was stunned by the close-up of a sleeping Snowy Plover chick. Mark tells me that particular photo won first place in a local competition and is featured on the cover of the 2017 Elkhorn Slough Foundation calendar. Each photo has some information about the bird or circumstances of the photo. Each is priced, with a portion earmarked as donation to UCSC Arboretum, Ventana Wilderness Society, or the Elkhorn Slough Foundation.

Take time to view Mark Holsapple’s exhibit. It really filled me with a sense of awe…for the amazing beauty of the subjects, and the incredible talent of the artist…inspired by what he loves.

(Mark Holsapple 831-915-3288 markdholsapplephotography@gmail.com with permission)

March 3 will be First Friday, with artist receptions throughout the building’s exhibits.

~WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Cheers,

Becky Steinbruner. (Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes).

From Gary’s “We Live In A Political World”website…Thursday 02/02/17

“AFTERWARD”

Zeynep Tufekci, is an assistant professor at the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina. She has a new book coming out soon, the title of which includes this phrase: “The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest.” In a recent column in The New York Times, Tufekci commented on the Women’s March on Washington, pictured below. The March was impressive, and may have been, as Tufekci says, “the largest protest in American history,” with an estimated 3.5 million participants in various locations throughout the United States. So….does size matter? Tufekci delivers what she calls, “bad news.” In the digital age, the size of a protest is no longer a reliable indicator of a movement’s strength. Comparisons to the number of people in previous marches are especially misleading….

This doesn’t mean that protests no longer matter — they do. Nowadays, however, protests should be seen not as the culmination of an organizing effort, but as a first, potential step. A large protest today is less like the March on Washington in 1963 and more like Rosa Parks’s refusal to move to the back of the bus. What used to be an endpoint is now an initial spark.

More than ever before, the significance of a protest depends on what happens afterward. Read Tufekci’s column. I think you’ll agree. Marching, and getting a lot of people to a big demonstration, does not change history. President George W. Bush called the marchers against the war in Iraq a “focus group.” We didn’t stop the war. “Afterward” is, in fact, what counts, and it’s already “afterward” now. (Gary is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor (20 years) and an attorney for indivuduals and community groups on land use and environmental issues. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. You can read his blog at www.gapatton.net

CLASSICAL DeCINZO. Girl Scout Cookie time…see DeCinzo’s report just below…

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Immigrant’s new view” down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Why was it so quiet over at the blog last month? Why has the spinning of cobwebs and the lonely chirping of a solitary cricket been the only activity on my social media pages? Find out this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express http://ljo-express.blogspot.com . While you’re there, take a look at my Top 9 movies of 2016 (I couldn’t come up with 10). What movie would you add?”. Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

JULIETA.We are lucky that directors as good as Pedro Almodovar are still able to make films. His films are usually excellent and have been getting even better over the years. Julieta is a masterpiece.Filmed in Spain and subtitled this is a woman’s film in more ways than one. Deep, complex, heartbreaking, sensitive…it’s a story about a mother and her daughter. Just go see it but only if you appreciate great filmaking.

THE COMEDIAN. This is a sad movie. Sad because Robert DeNiro is or was a fine actor BUT he’s not funny. He tries hard in this pathetic movie but he’s not any more likable than he is laughable. You’ll cringe a lot at the “jokes” and wish DeNiro once again would be offered some challenging acting roles. Don’t go.

THE SPACE BETWEEN US. In an effort to stop you from seeing this disaster Rotten Tomatoes gave it an 18%. A boy born to an astronaut on Mars goes back to earth when he’s a teenager and meets a girl and it gets even worse than that. Tacky, unbelievable, meaningless, plot holes larger than the Milky Way. Trust me.

PATERSON. Jim Jarmusch is one of a very few directors working today whose films are so unique and so stylized that you could guess who directed them without reading the credits. Think of films such as Sling Blade, Ghost Dog, Mystery Train and Down By Law. More than that, they are major additions to cinema mastery. Adam Driver plays a Paterson, New Jersey bus driver and we become part of his life for a week. That’s all you need to know…just don’t miss it if you appreciate great filmaking.

20th CENTURY WOMEN. Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Billy Crudup, and Greta Gerwig do award winning roles in this very independent, off kilter story of a “family” group trying to exist in Santa Barbara in 1979. Bening deserves every possible acting award for her role as a mom trying her damndest to raise her son while surrounded by rapidly aging girls. It’s not an easy film to follow and takes twists, turns and flashbacks with little or no warning…but go see it. You’ll be completely intrigued by it.

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA. Casey Affleck single handidly sustains this deep, emotional film. It’s on the way to several awards and should win them all. It’s an intelligent, beautifically acted in depth portrait of people going through trauma and relationships. Along with Affleck there’s Michelle Williams, Gretchen Mol, even Mathew Broderick in a bit part and especially the 16 year old Lucas Hedges. It’s a cold and unrelenting film that demands your attention especially since you’ve gone through tragedies too. I’m going again, there’s just so much to watch and think about.

JACKIE. I can’t honestly critique this film. Watching Natalie Portman portray Jackie Kennedy so perfectly as she went through those agonizing moments just seconds before the assassination and a few days after, just ripped me apart. It took just minutes into the film before I was back there in November of 1963 sharing her shock and horror as we all tried to face the reality of losing our president and all the dreams and hope that vanished with him. It’s a sad, monumental film. It also shows the cruel, condescending power of the males surounding Jackie in her time of need. See this film, no matter how old you are

MOONLIGHT. For starters, Moonlight has a 98 % on Rotten Tomatoes, so it’s not just me who really not only enjoyed this tale of drugs, gangs, and love, but people who like deep, serious films loved it too. Set in Miami, this sharp, delicate, brilliant story of a Black man’s life is told in three parts. It’s best not to read too much about the plot and just watch with wonder as it unfolds. You’ve never seen a film like this one. Yes, It’s back again…many nominations did it.

FOUNDER. Michael Keaton is just about the only reason to see this McDonald’s Burger saga. Founder is probably President Trump’s favorite movie, both he and Roy Kroc bought and fought their way to the top by every hook and crooked means they could think of. Roy Kroc bought the rights to McDonalds from the McDonald brothers. He then screwed them out of every deal they made with him. Keaton plays this part perfectly. Laura Dern is in this for about three minutes, a must for Keaton fans., maybe his best role yet.

ARRIVAL. Amy Adams has always been an excellent actor and she’s even better in this pretty sophisticated science fiction spellbinder. 12 alien speceships hover around earth just a few feet above ground while Amy and Jeremy Renner attempt to communicate with them. It’s a thoughtful film and it’ll make you wonder just how would anybody relate to aliens (and vice versa) Like the Trump victory the world is in a state of shock over these visitors. No killings, violence or cheap cliches…a fine film. I forgot to add that like so many Special effects films nowadays it is photographed in a very dark style. (Saves money I guess)

LION. A true story of a little 5 year old boy getting lost in India. At last we get to see Dev Patel portray somebody serious and he does an excellent job. It’s a very cornball plot that you can guess every turn and twist, but still just because it’s India you do stay tuned in all the way through. Rooney Mara is his girlfriend for part of the plot and Nicole Kidman is the Australian wife who adopts him. It’s 100% feelgood and there are much better films out and around now, but it does have a certain charm.

HIDDEN FIGURES. A syrupy, Hollywoody much- altered story of three Black American women who did spectacular mathematical and technical work at NASA while fighting against a lot of racial and female prejudice. All to launch John Glenn into orbit. It’s both a cute and painful story at the same time. It’s a contender and still lacks something that could have made it a classic. It almost outdrew Star Wars on opening weekend!

LA LA LAND. It all depends on how much you remember the glorious and very bright and brilliant days of the Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Betty Grable, even Barbara Striesand, Judy Garland, and especially Ginger Rogers musicals. La La Land works very hard to convince us that the world hasn’t changed since those days and tries earnestly to recreate the innocence, and obvious genius of those performers. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone make La La Land fun and happy to a degree, but it’s not the same. The music and songs aren’t anywhere near as good and the photography of today’s LA doesn’t add much either, besides that Stone and Gosling are not professional dancers or singers like all of above. It’s like having Eddie Redmayne play Tarzan.

SPLIT. M. Night Shyamalan makes some pretty weird and frequently awful movies. But Split has James McAvoy playing a very disturbed guy with 23 distinct and split personalities (and most of them are very crazy). He’s lured and locked up 3 teen aged girls and it’s scary and more or less predictable after that, but you’ll stay glued to the screen and your seat…go for it …if you like scary stuff. Not anywhere near as a good as Hitchcock, but he tries. (Shyamalan even makes a secret cameo appearance like Hitch always did).

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY. We can only guess that now that the Star Wars movie property is Walt Disney Property it would change, but not like this latest mess. Instead of being more cute, cuddly and cartoonish (like traditional Disney films)…Rogue One is darker, colder, meaner and full of war and killing. It has none of the charm, humor, humanity, mystery, history, tradition or fun quirkieness that the original Star Wars films brought us. The plot is tripe stuff about stealing Death Star plans. Darth Vader is back and James Earl Jones voice is too, but he looks thinner and smaller. The biggest afult for me is that it was filmed so dark it’s hard to see details, or look anywhere besides center screen. No great intricate space ships stay in view long enough to enjoy the fantasy. The acting is ok but there’s not much screen time for it to happen. Big disapointment.

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 archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. . Sexpert, author, lecturer, and performer Susie Bright guests on Feb. 7 talking about lots of things, some maybe even sexual! Then Abbi Samuels talks about the Freedom Sleepers and more current issues and causes. Feb.14 has Lisa robinson director of The San Lorenzo Valley Museum talking about the Explosive history of the Valley. Then author Dave Evans shares ideas from his new book, “Designing Your Life”. Veterans Advocate Dean Kaufman brings us up to date on veterans issues and programs on Feb. 21. Sculptor, artist Peggy Snider guests on February 28 talking about her political sculpture show opening March 3rd. On March 7 Newton and Helen Harrison talk about their book, “The Time of The Force Majeure”. Patrice Vecchione returns March 14 to talk about her one-woman show “Dressed and Undressed” happening March 17 & 18. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com

This is a very powerful take on patriotism. Delivered by none other than John Cena; I’m sure this will turn a head or two.

NEW UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVE FEATURE. Stuff changes at KZSC a lot. If you missed either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… http://www.radiofreeamerica.com/dj/bruce-bratton You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens.

UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, 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.

QUOTES. “IMMIGRATION”

“Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists”, Franklin D. Roosevelt
“The truth is, immigrants tend to be more American than people born here”, Chuck Palahniuk, Choke
“I take issue with many people’s description of people being “Illegal” Immigrants. There aren’t any illegal Human Beings as far as I’m concerned”, Dennis Kucinich
“A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out”, Tony Blair
“We asked for workers. We got people instead”, Max Frisch

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February 7 – 13, 2017

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Deep Cover by Tim Eagan.