Blog Archives

January 22 – 28, 2025

Highlights this week:

Greensite… Greensite on the Affordable Housing Ballot Measure … Steinbruner… Battery Storage Fire Risks in Santa Cruz County?  Taxing MidTown, Ugly Soquel Creek Water District Project … Hayes… First Bloom, Maritime Chaparral… Patton… Cindy Sends A Message … Matlock… …parental advisory…whataboutism…truly pathetic…indulgent nitwittery… Eagan… Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover… Webmistress serves you… peaceful jellyfish to calm your soul … Quotes on… “Resistance”

...

RORY CALHOUN AND WIFE LITA BARON IN SANTA CRUZ. This was probably taken upstairs in the Palomar Hotel or maybe the Del Mar mezzanine sometime in the 1950’s. That’s Eunice and Leonard Sanchez and Mary and “Hi” W. Eisile with Rory and Lita. Rory lived here between 1927 and 1936, then went to Santa Cruz High but got in some near serious trouble and left for Hollywood. He was the only actor to star in 3 films with Marilyn Monroe. We brought him back for a special home town welcome warming in 1991.

photo credit: from Bruce’s private collection

Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

Dateline: January 23, 2025

RABBIT HOLE. I did not expect to spend 45 minutes looking up things about Rory Calhoun today, but that’s ADHD and the internet for you… This week’s photo made me curious. I confess I don’t know a lot about him. Turns out he was born in LA, and spent his early years in Santa Cruz. He turned to a life of crime as a juvenile, went to prison, and still ended up a 1950s heart-throb actor with quite some success. I wonder if that would even be possible today. Here’s a link to his Wikipedia page. Spend a minute if you have it, his life was quite interesting.

LA STILL NEEDS HELP. (I’m leaving this here for another week, since it’s still an urgent matter.) While they are in need of donations of all sorts (people have lost ev-e-ry-thing after all), following the impulse to load up the car and drive down there is not that great of an idea. In fact, when there are disasters, well meaning “civilians” are often a hindrance as opposed to the help they want to be. If you feel moved to give to SoCal (and you should, if you can), please coordinate with some form of already ongoing relief effort. Here’s an article on KQED on How to Help People Affected by the LA Fires, containing links and useful information. Here’s something I learned that I did not know – if you have a GoFundMe that specifies that the money will be used for relief (like house repairs, funeral expenses, etc) from a natural disaster, then you can not receive funds from FEMA for that same disaster. That’s a good thing to know! Also, be leery of fundraising scammers. Sadly, these “digital looters” pop up around natural disasters.

...

ERASERHEAD. Max. Movie (7.3 IMDb) **** In honor of the passing of one of the most individual visions in the film industry, David Lynch, I went back and revisited “Eraserhead” for the first time in 40 years. It would become a cult hit during the late 70’s-80’s. There was nothing like it at the time, with a Buñuel level of slow-paced uncomfortable surrealism, and a story that can’t easily be described. As such, it tends to be shoehorned into the genre of horror, which, on a certain level, is fair, but it is so much more. It will be a slog for the short attention-span set, but worth every unsettling moment. Starring Jack Nance, one of Lynch’s personal ensemble favorites. ~Sarge

FLOW. Apple TV, PrimeTV. Movie (7.9 IMDb) *** “Flow” is a an amazing journey – animated with a small crew on open-source software, it is a personal exploration by animals in the wake of a global flood. A cat is joined by a capybara, a bird, a lemur, and a dog, as they explore the flooded world together on a boat. No dialogue, but actual animal voices in the soundtrack. A refreshing new animaed film, without the glossy signature stylings of Pixar or Dreamworks. We need more of this. Latvian, but it translates well. ~Sarge

STAR WARS: SKELETON CREW. Disney+ series (7.2 IMDb) *** It’s refreshing when a big franchise realizes they’ve created a universe big enough to tell other stories (look at Star Trek Lower Decks – a successful animated comedy entrenched deeply in the Star Trek Universe), and that’s what Skeleton Crew does for Star Wars. A quartet of children, chafing at the bureaucratic cloister of their homeworld, stumble on a crashed spaceship and find themselves launched into the rough and tumble Star Wars Universe. Using a rough “Treasure Island” plotline, there’s space piracy aplenty: Jude Law’s character is referred to as Cap’n Silvo (nod to Long John Silver from Treasure Island) and the ship’s yarr-voiced droid is SM-33 (Smee was Captain Hook’s first mate in Peter Pan). Good for adults and children (though not TOO young – plenty of life-taking and intense scenes). ~Sarge

NIGHTBITCH. Hulu movie (5.6 IMDb) *** This film is ideal for husbands and fathers, capturing the mix of profound and bullshit (and profound again) moments in a woman’s journey from being a successful artist to new motherhood. What begins as a seemingly supernatural plot evolves into a raw, magical realist exploration of the chaos and sacrifice of motherhood and identity. It’s a subjective, visceral experience, navigating the emotional and (literal) physical mess of this transformative stage. ~Sarge

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE. PrimeTV. (6.9 IMDb) *** A quietly ponderous Christmas tale set in a small town in Ireland in 1985 (swear to god it feels more like the 1940s…). Cillian Murphy plays a loving father and quietly likable coal delivery man, who comes into conflict with the steely “kind” Mother Superior (Emily Watson) of the local school and “Magdelene Laundry” for fallen girls. A bit of a slow walk, and as heartening as it could be, given the Laundries wouldn’t be eliminated till the mid 1990s. Excellent performances all around, particularlly given how little dialogue there was. ~Sarge

EMILIA PÉREZ. Netflix. (6.8 IMDb) ***- A musical for those who don’t like musicals. Emilia Pérez is a spectacular film with a compelling story. A ruthless drug cartel leader, Juan “Manitas” Del Monte (played by Karla Sofía Gascón), seeks the help of attorney Rita Mora Castro (played by Zoe Saldaña, who just won a golden globe) to undergo gender affirmation surgery and begin a new life as Emilia Pérez. However, things go awry when she invites her unsuspecting former wife Jessi (played by Selena Gomez) and her children to live with her. The musical numbers are strong and short. ~Jennifer

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN. In theaters. (7.8 IMDb) ****I don’t know what I can say about this movie that you haven’t heard from your friends or read about in social media or reviews. It’s one of best movies I’ve seen in a long, long time – and I’m not a fan of biopics, especially musical biopics, but this one is so well done! Although the director, James Mangold, did ‘Walk the Line’, the Johnny Cash movie with Joaquin Phoenix, and that was great too. Timothée Chalamet captures our vision of a young Dylan to a T. He’s an incredibly soulful actor, and Ed Norton as Pete Seeger is uncanny. They edited the songs down from their original versions, but they did in such a way that they never feel like they’re being yanked out from under you; it just makes you want to go and listen to the originals. My 25 year old son loved it too. Run, don’t walk, and believe all the hype because it’s true. ~Hillary

BABYGIRL. In theaters. (6.6 IMDb) ** “Babygirl” aka “Nicole’s mid-to-late life crisis” feels false in so many ways, including, if not especially, the sound of her orgasms. A lot of reviews have focused on the exchange of power, particularly female empowerment because the traditional male-female age gap is turned on its head. I found the deeper message to be that no matter how successful a woman becomes, what she truly craves is to be objectified and bossed around by a man. Have 50 years of feminism and a powerful #metoo movement taken us nowhere? Kink part aside, her young buck gets abusive in other ways and she’s just there ready to forgive and forget and go another round. In real life she would have ended up alone with nothing in a studio apartment going to Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings. Besides being distracted by facial tweaks and procedures, I couldn’t help wondering what compelled Nicole to do this movie in the first place other than to show off her toned 57 year-old body while she can. Which begs the old adage, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. ~Hillary

THE LAST NIGHT AT TREMORE BEACH. Netflix series. (7.0 IMDB). *** An extra dramatic and moody plus scary drama about a composer/ pianist. It centers on his composing plus memories of his deceased wife. It’s all in Ireland at a beach house/cabin. It deals with fate, his predictions coming true. You’ll be mesmerized, don’t miss it.

BLITZ. Apple movie. (6.4 IMDB). **** This is much more of a saga of a young half black boy and what he has to deal with after he and his mom are separated. Apple pushes the Blitzkrieg attack on London by Hitler at the start of World War II. The prejudice, bigotry, and inhumanity are much more the main thrusts of the plot.

...

January 20, 2025

Housing Ballot Measure: Housing For Whom?

Signature gathering has begun for the City of Santa Cruz Workforce Housing Affordability Act. Supporters expect the ballot measure to be ready for the November 2025 election.

Under this Act, funds would be raised from each property in the City of Santa Cruz being taxed an extra $96 annually, with some exemptions, plus a transfer tax that would kick in on the sale of properties above $1.8 million. If passed by a simple majority, the money collected, expected to be around $5 million a year, would go into the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

At first glance, this ballot measure appears easy to support. Other than those who oppose any new taxes, who could be against affordable workforce housing? Except that “workforce” as used in the ballot measure is merely feel-good jargon, without substance.

Evidence for this is found in the Definitions section 3.34.010 (b) which states: “Affordable and Workforce Housing” shall mean housing that is affordable for extremely low, very low, low and moderate-income households.” Note the absence of reference to the word “workforce”. According to the ballot measure’s definition, this housing will be available for those qualifying at the stated income categories, whether in the city or not, whether workers or not. Despite its name, the ballot measure is not earmarked for workers. The term “workforce” appears added as a marketing ploy.

Wait, I hear the promoters’ objection; look under the section (c) Eligible uses. 9, which states: “Santa Cruz residents and workers, and veterans shall have priority for obtaining housing units, to the extent allowed by law.” Well, we have some evidence about this “priority” business with respect to inclusionary housing and the evidence is not encouraging.

The Civil Grand Jury of 2023-24 released nine investigative reports, one of which is titled, Housing For Whom? An Investigation of Inclusionary Housing in the City of Santa Cruz. Full transparency, I was one of the nineteen jurors for that year.

For Inclusionary Housing, that percentage of housing a developer is required to offer at below market rate, the City’s Municipal Code has similar required priorities for residents and local workers. The Grand Jury investigated to determine whether such priorities are being applied, if and how the city tracks the data and what percentage, if any, of such housing is occupied by UCSC students.

The Grand Jury Investigation determined that the city has no data on whether the required priorities are being followed. As a result of this investigation, the Grand Jury made four Recommendations to the city to remedy this lack of data. The city declined to adopt any of the Grand Jury’s Recommendations. They either disagreed with the Findings-all exhaustively documented- or misleadingly stated the issue was already resolved when it clearly was not. In their rationale for not gathering data on resident or worker qualifications for inclusionary housing the city claimed such data gathering would be an invasion of privacy, an asinine excuse given the copious personal information required to prove income eligibility and the fact that such information is not publicly available.

Because this housing ballot measure includes no data gathering tool to determine whether the new tax will benefit locals, and the “workforce” as the promoters claim, one can conclude it’s a crap shoot. Because the tax will be levied only on city property owners, but the housing may be occupied by non-city residents, your vote is worth thoughtful consideration.

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.

...
More battery storage in Watsonville?

With Moss Landing fire still smoldering, a large battery bank storage facility in Watsonville…thanks to former Supervisor McPherson.

Well, here is the first of the three projects that Planning Dept. staff vaguely referred to as “projects we have heard about” in their presentation. Many thanks to my friend, Al, who sent me this information.

Battery Storage Near Watsonville [Lookout article]

“The 14-acre scale project is being developed by New Leaf Energy, a renewable energy developer based in Lowell, Massachusetts. It’s planned for a site in an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County on Minto Road, near Green Valley Road, next to a Pacific Gas & Electric transmission substation.”

Last August, then-Fifth District County Supervisor Bruce McPherson tried to rush through approvals of four large parcels in the County for rezoning to accommodate hypothetical battery storage facilities.  Planning Dept. staff stated that the projects were news to them, and would need at least six months to determine necessary environmental evaluations and make staff reports.  “How about by mid October?” was McPherson’s response.  Sure enough, by mid October, the item was back on the agenda and staff had recommendations to approve three sites.  It seems that one of the four original sites proposed was within Scotts Valley City limits where the County has no jurisdiction.

Then-Second District Supervisor Zach Friend opposed converting farmland into industrial use, reminding the Board that Measure J prohibited them from doing such.

That did not stop McPherson, nor the others from voting 4:1 in favor of establishing these large battery facilities on ag land, near residences and near Aptos High School.

The battery energy storage system is expected to help reduce the chance of power outages in Santa Cruz County and provide renewable energy to the existing power grid and increase its reliability, said Max Christian, project lead for New Leaf Energy. The project’s estimated cost is $200 million.

The system is planned to have a capacity of 200 megawatts — enough power to support up to 200,000 homes for up to four hours, in its current design. Changes can be made to the battery’s design before construction even begins, as technology is always changing, said Christian.”

The battery storage system has an estimated 20-year lifespan and will collect its electricity via solar power during the day, to be stored and fed back into the grid during peak hours.

The battery energy storage system will be located on a locally owned apple orchard on Minto Road, he said; the project will be built on part of the orchard where the soil is not viable for planting apple trees. Christian said the rest of the property will still be used by the family who owns it. 

The project could bring the county up to $50 million in economic benefits during its 20-year lifespan, largely from property and sales tax revenue, said Christian. The development of the project will increase the amount of property tax paid for the land, and the county will also receive revenue from development fees and the transfer tax from the land sale.

The project first started development in 2019, said Christian, and projects like this one have a long process. A permit application was submitted to the county’s planning department in December, and Christian anticipates the project will go in front of county supervisors later this year. 

The anticipated construction date is set for 2027, he said, and the battery energy storage system will not begin to operate until 2029.

At the time of this writing, yet another massive fire has happened at the Moss Landing battery storage facility and large areas were evacuated… Will this be the picture of what is to come at the Green Valley site in Watsonville…and Aptos…and Santa Cruz?  Stay tuned.

Seahawk Energy Storage

What the fire industry is saying….Hundreds evacuate as Calif. Li-ion battery plant, one of the world’s largest, burns

Please watch this expert video, describing the need for changes in warehouse-style battery energy storage sites and demand Santa Cruz County adopt new codes to ensure updated technology that prioritizes public and environmental safety.

Disaster at Moss Landing: The Risk of Battery Storage

On January 21, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors held an emergency Special Meeting.  Vistra claimed there was no problem with air quality following the fire, and yet has no idea when cleanup will begin.  The emergency response plans required by the State to be submitted to the local emergency response agencies seem to be missing, showing non-compliance of SB 38 (Laird).

Did you get a notice from CruzAware to stay inside with doors and windows closed during this fire?  I did…in the Aptos Hills.  Imagine what would happen if such a fire were to occur at any of the three Battery Energy Storage Sites Supervisors McPherson and Hernandez shoved through on October 29, 2024.

Please contact your County Board of Supervisors, 831-454-2200

YET ANOTHER UGLY HIGH-RISE IN SANTA CRUZ
Recently, Novin developers got approval to build the 831 Water Street project that will be five stories tall and one massive building.  Now the City Planning Commission approved a Workbench developer project that will be a block away, and six stories tall.  This is an historic neighborhood, known as Villa de Branciforte, but the massive unimaginative giant boxes keep getting approved, with no nod whatsoever for blending in with the character of the neighborhood.

Water St. housing proposal advances

A six-story, 83-unit housing complex is proposed on the 900 block of Water Street in Santa Cruz. (Natalya Dreszer — Santa Cruz Local file)

The Santa Cruz Planning Commission on Jan. 9 unanimously advanced plans for a six-story, 83-unit housing complex on the 900 block of Water Street in Santa Cruz.

All the homes are expected to be rented below market rate. Representatives from Santa Cruz-based developer Workbench said the units will be one-, two- and three-bedrooms from 532 to 953 square feet. The ground floor is anticipated to have commercial space and an outdoor patio for a potential restaurant.

The project initially was proposed with four stories and more than 100 units, but it was made taller with fewer units.
—Stephen Baxter

An October plan revision called for six stories rather than four on the 900 block of Water Street. (Workbench)

PARK PLACE HOMEKEY PROJECT SEEMS STALLED
The controversial Homekey Project at 2838 Park Avenue is stalled.  According to Supervisor Manu Koenig, the project is over-budget, and needs additional funding.


This project was built in modules somewhere else and transported here, claiming the cost was very low.  I wonder how many local jobs got bypassed in doing so?
Stay tuned.

MIDTOWN BUSINESS TAX?
Santa Cruz City Economic Development staff and consultant team recently held two workshops for businesses and property owners in the Midtown/Eastside neighborhood to provide an update determining the feasibility of a Property-Based Improvement District (PBID) and gather additional feedback.  Ms. Katie Ferraro lead the workshops on behalf of the City.

She kindly sent the information below about what residents and businesses can expect going forward. The City Council will review it January 23, along with a review of the Downtown Economic Plan.

It appears to be scheduled as a benefit assessment and Prop. 218 vote, likely weighted so that those whose assessments would be highest will have more power at the ballot box:

IMPLEMENTATION PHASE

January 2025:

  • Final MDP and Engineer’s Report upon City review
  • Prepare petitions and petition packets to include Management District Plan
  • Summary, PBID newsletter, official petition, and petition instructions
  • City Council Study Session – Status Update

February 2025:

  • Petition kick-off (allow 3 months)

April 2025:

  • City Council approves Resolution of Intention and calls for public hearing;
  • Assessment ballots mailed to all assessed property owners

June 2025:

  • City Council public hearing, tabulate ballots (45 days later)

This sums up alot….

“Development in the pipeline and currently in construction is
rapidly changing our physical environment downtown. As more than 1200 housing units are
absorbed into the downtown community over the course of the next five years, we will need to
regularly revisit circulation, parking use, and consumer and transportation behavior as needs in
our downtown core change.”

(page 6 of the City Council agenda report)

Here is information about a Downtown PBID

Do you think this will help businesses or add just one more financial burden?

ISN’T THIS UGLY???
The PureWater Soquel Project Advanced Water Treatment Facility is built but not operational.  Located next to the new Chanticleer Pedestrian Overcrossing in Live Oak, the plant will store many hazardous chemicals necessary for treating the sewage water before sending it a couple more miles away to be pressure injected into the aquifer supplying drinking water for the Aptos and Capitola area residents.

When the Project was approved in 2018, Soquel Creek Water District promised the tanks and structures would be shielded from view by lovely trees and vines.  Take a look at what the reality is of this ugly blight in the Live Oak Community and view shed of Highway One…and the Chanticleer Overcrossing users.


The Board of Directors still has not addressed the ugly site, even though they formed an ad hoc committee months ago to evaluate the mess and make recommendations to improve the aesthetic quality of the facility.  See what the Soquel Creek Water District promised the public on pages 26, 44, 52, 56 and 67

What would you suggest the Ad Hoc Committee recommend to address this visual blight they have caused in the disadvantaged Live Oak Community???

NO CHICKENS OR COWS AT THE COUNTY FAIR THIS YEAR?
Recently, the California State Veterinarian and Governor Newsom issued an edict banning all exhibits of poultry and beef in the State indefinitely.  This comes as a result of some cases of Avian Influenza in the state.

This caused a large and very popular Gold Coast Poultry Show in Hollister at Bolado Park to be scratched at the last minute.

What would have hosted over 1,000 different breeds of chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese from throughout the west coast was instead barren.

The question remains….how will this affect the 2025 Santa Cruz County Fair?

State Veterinarian Bans All California Poultry and Dairy Cattle Exhibitions at Fairs and Shows [pdf]

HONORING ALVERDA ORLANDO
Last month, Ms. Alverda Orlando passed away.  She loved local history, especially Davenport’s, and worked hard to help preserve it.

I had the great honor of meeting Ms. Alverda Orlando when she served on the County Historic Resources Commission.  She and I sat together at a County History Fair one time with a display of information about the Davenport Jail.  We both had great fun watching people smile when I placed the original iron bars from the Jail on my lap and begged people to help me escape.  Alverda edited the “Lime Kiln Chronicles” and recorded many interviews with Davenport’s historic characters:

Santa Cruz County Public Librabry search, Alberta Orlando

Santa Cruz Sentinel Obituary, Alverda Orlando
At her memorial last weekend, it was wonderful to see so many from the Community gather to honor her.  I am very glad to know that her daughter, Lucia, now serves on the County Historic Resources Commission.

Please join me in lighting a candle for Alverda, and her family.

WRITE ONE LETTER.  MAKE ONE CALL.  ASK SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SUPERVISORS WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF A BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SITE THEY HAVE APPROVED WERE TO CATCH FIRE, SUCH AS WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED IN MOSS LANDING.

MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK BY JUST DOING SOMETHING.

Cheers,
Becky

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. She ran again in 2020 on a slightly bigger shoestring and got 1/3 of the votes.

Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com

...
First Bloom, Maritime Chaparral

The ridgeline expanse of chaparral lay dormant, wafting resinous scents, clicking and crackling as the morning sun’s first rays dried the maroon, shredding bark strands which hang peeling from the skin-smooth twisty manzanita trunks. Through the late summer and fall, each day brought the same routine, sometimes hotter days, sometimes nights bringing fog, dripping and awakening lichen which festoon branches and carpet the ground, nestled into lichens and patches of rabbit poop. Then, the rain came, soaking the rocky ground. Now, months later, maritime chaparral awakens with its first bloom.

Frost and Petal Snow
Today, on the early morning drive to the trailhead we encountered huge white, slippery frost patches along the spine of Ben Lomond Mountain where Empire Grade bisects high chaparral, towering oak forest, and miles of burned conifer trunks. We were off to Big Basin not for lingering in the recovering redwood forest as much as to spend time in the warmth of chaparral. Once on the trail, my cheeks and nose were numb with cold, as we descended from magnificent wet old growth forest onto drier rocky ocean view ridges with a different type of snow…petalfall.

The 3 types of manzanitas at Big Basin and Butano State Park have already been blooming for a month. The best show is from a shrub that only grows in the southern part of the Santa Cruz mountains, but there are two other species of manzanita also flowering. The woodland edge manzanita, a species that can get 20’ tall, is aptly called Santa Cruz manzanita; it gets large clusters of obviously pinkish flowers. Glossy leaf manzanita with its small dark green boxwood-like leaves form the neatest of dense bushes with tiny white flowers. Giant woody burls of brittle leaf manzanita send out much less organized clusters of trunks, intertwining with other shrubs to add to the branchy complexity of impenetrable scrubland. In the chill shade below manzanita bush canopies, a carpet of white…the snow of spent blossoms covers moss mats and gravelly barrens.

More Unfolding
The manzanitas are first, but other chaparral shrubs are also awakening. We saw the first dusty, dark blue flower clusters of the pine-scented, warty-leaved wild lilac. Milk maid’s simple four petaled flowers adorned the trailsides where we walked along with the very first boisterous redwood sorrel blossoms emerging from a lush carpet of shamrock leaves. I look forward to hiking in chaparral in a month or so, when there will be an even more impressive profusion of flowers.

Next: Flowering Hillsides
We will soon encounter the 5th spring after the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, and the burned hillsides promise a Big Show. First up in the pageant: blue blossom, or wild lilac. They have just begun, but in 6 weeks there will be thousands of acres of sky blue flowers covering 10’ tall glossy leaved shrub-trees. Fire-following bush poppies are next, in June: 2” wide, cheery yellow flowers smiling from the startling silvery blue-green canopies of six foot tall leggy shrubs. Magenta flowering and very poky chaparral pea, twisty white flowers of twining wild morning glory, and white spikes of chamise. For more than half the year, maritime chaparral is a colorful show with patches of yellows, splashes of blue, rafts of white and pink, and dots of red set in cushions of diverse blue-green mounds of shrubs, sometimes towered over by occasional pines or redwoods.

Misplaced Scorn, Not Enough Love
These shrubby ecosystems are being disrespected (again) right now, but we should show them more love. News and talk shows about the fires in southern California frequently include scorn of the shrubby landscape which carries fire so fiercely. ‘Control that vegetation!’ some say. ‘Cut down those shrubs!’ others exclaim. At the top of Loma Prieta, cell phone tower owners mow down many acres of the most beautiful chaparral. Even local parks have started destroying chaparral along trails and fire roads. Few note that no matter how much energy you put into messing up that habitat, what comes up will still be flammable, and probably badly so.

On the other hand, chaparral blankets and protects the poorest of soils allowing rain to replenish the groundwater. In places where humans have tried hard to convert chaparral to something else, they manage to create a terrible weedy patch – fine fuels that carry fire fast. And, in those places, the hillsides give way in heavy rains and fill streams with sediment, creating flooding and debris flow problems.  Where these amazingly drought tolerant chaparral shrubs are given a chance, they hold incredibly steep poor soils in place allowing rainfall to soak in without landslides.

Now, Go!
If you can find some time to spend with chaparral, try taking a few trips to the same place in the next few months to watch the flower display change and unfold. Those ridges in Butano and Big Basin State Parks are great chaparral displays. Summit Road near Loma Prieta is also quite nice. Despite fuels management and long intervals without fire, some patches of chaparral persist in Wilder Ranch and in/around Nisene Marks, both State Parks. Montara Mountain in San Mateo County is my favorite chaparral trekking location…amazing views, too.

When you go to these places, here are some questions for the trip:

  • How many Ceanothus, aka blue blossom or wild lilac, do you see? Is there variation in flower color? What’s your favorite?
  • What kind of rock is the chaparral anchored into? Do you see any soil? How do these shrubs get water?
  • How long has it been since there was a fire in that patch of chaparral? Is there a lot of dead fuel build up? Are there young or old pines, which might indicate how old the stand is?
  • Is the chaparral well managed by people? Are invasive plants under control or spreading? Are the roads and trails eroding or well maintained? Are the nearby houses, power lines, and roads sensitively integrated into the system?

After your return from your chaparral tour, please keep this conversation alive. Talk to your friends and family about chaparral. Read more about it. Vote as if chaparral mattered: political candidates should have opinions about how to protect rare habitats given the constant onslaught of poor human behavior.

Grey Hayes is a fervent speaker for all things wild, and his occupations have included land stewardship with UC Natural Reserves, large-scale monitoring and strategic planning with The Nature Conservancy, professional education with the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, and teaching undergraduates at UC Santa Cruz. Visit his website at: www.greyhayes.net

Email Grey at coastalprairie@aol.com

...

Monday, January 20, 2025

Today, as our presidency changes hands, I am reprinting, in full, an Opinion Editorial that ran in The San Jose Mercury News on November 10, 2024. The headline on that article read, in part, “Local Government Does Work.”

I was a local government official in Santa Cruz County for twenty years. I am, thus, speaking from personal experience when I tell you that Cindy Chavez (pictured above), who wrote that editorial statement, is absolutely right. Chavez served as an elected official on both the San Jose City Council and on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

After the election of Donald J. Trump to the presidency, last November, professors and pundits were putting out statements like the following: The End of US Democracy Was All Too Predictable. You can click that link if you’d like to see what I had to say about that statement.

Anyone worried about the future of our democracy (and we should all be worried, I believe) can do something about that worry – something meaningful – by immediately engaging themselves actively and aggressively with their local government. Take it over! Make it work for you!

This prescription is not an invitation to waste your time. Believe what Cindy Chavez has said. You can take it from me:

Local Government Does Work

Cindy Chavez: A message as I leave office — local government does work

Words from departing politician after 20 years on the San Jose City Council and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

Having spent two decades in elected office at the city and county level in Santa Clara County, I have learned something about the relationship between government and the people — something I feel a need and an obligation to share as I leave office.

Local government can work responsively and pragmatically. We can make a dent in local, national and global problems in our own way. We can tackle our troubles and concerns and tap into our community’s vitality.

Consider the COVID-19 pandemic, a catastrophe that left many feeling powerless and touched all corners of our planet. County residents wanted and needed medical care, vaccines, information, transportation and more. Those needs were manifested throughout our county of 2 million people. Our county administration and Public Health Department led on this issue and set the response standard for the rest of the nation.

Other examples came six years ago, when O’Conner and St. Louise hospitals had to be sold, and this year, when Regional Medical Center initiated cutbacks in stroke care and other critical services. These were private sector issues; we could have easily just thrown up our hands and let community assets go by the wayside.

Instead, community members organized and called for preserving these essential health services. The county responded by purchasing O’Connor and St. Louise. The purchase of Regional Medical Center is in the works, with services expected to be restored in the future. Plain and simple, these purchases saved lives and will save many more.

What is it about local government that allows it to uniquely produce such achievements? I believe it results from democracy at the local level.

Local government is accessible and has direct interactions. It isn’t hard for residents to speak at City Hall or the county Board of Supervisors’ chambers, in person or virtually.

Local government is open and governed by the Brown Act and the Public Records Act to make sure business is done where residents can see it happen.

Local public officials listen. Even if they are being told what they don’t want to hear, they try to respond. That’s because most local officials represent relatively small districts, cities or towns. Disgruntled residents can organize to replace them. Successful recalls do happen.

Local government is pragmatic. We focus on issues that may not rile up the left or right wings of politics or result in much castle intrigue. Building libraries, paving streets, operating 911 systems or responding to medical emergency calls induces officials to concentrate on reality, not rhetoric.

All these hallmarks of local government empower us to institute change and make an impact, whereas we might feel powerless at the state and national level. Change here can serve as a template and inspiration for greater change at higher levels of government.

Days after the national election, there’s plenty to be gloomy about. I understand. But after 20 years serving you in Santa Clara County, I’m convinced local government is a strong and vital pillar supporting American democracy.

It deserves your continuing energy and support, even if we are disappointed with it some of the time. It will never be easy. Democratic government challenges our wisdom, our patience and our sense of fairness.

That local relationship between elected officials and the governed, like all relationships, has times of stress and turmoil. And like the other great relationships of our lives, it’s worth it.

Cindy Chavez served on the San Jose City Council from 1998-2006 and has served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors since 2013. She will step down on Tuesday and begin her new job as county manager of Bernalillo County, N.M., the following day.

Originally Published: November 9, 2024 at 5:15 AM PST

Gary Patton is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor (20 years) and an attorney for individuals and community groups on land use and environmental issues. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. You can read and subscribe to his daily blog at www.gapatton.net

Email Gary at gapatton@mac.com

...
VENGEFUL CAESAR, ALTERNATIVE FACTS, SPICEY REDUX?

President Joe Biden was given a sendoff by Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update with Colin Jost saying, “President Biden said that the Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks were one of the toughest negotiations he had ever experienced. The hardest part was convincing both sides that he was still president.” Jost’s co-host, Michael Che, reported that Biden, after delivering his farewell address from the Oval Office“triumphantly rode off into the pavement,” showing older footage of him crashing his bike. Che added, “Biden defended his administration’s accomplishments by ending every sentence with, ‘You ungrateful bastards.'” Taking a potshot at incoming Donald Trump, Jost’s reaction to the newly released official inaugural portrait, a scowling takeoff on his Georgia booking photo, offered, “Trump is trying to look so hardcore in this photo, I’m surprised he didn’t add a parental advisory sticker and a durag.”

The Biden administration recently announced that the president had commuted the sentences of about 1,500 people, with pardons of 39 individuals convicted of crimes such as drug offenses. These acts follow the earlier pardon of his son, Hunter, which stirred quite a controversy. On his show, Stephen Colbert commented, “Wow! I didn’t know he had 39 sons. That’s impressive. What Biden did today is the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. I believe that is an emphatic and generous act of forgiveness and hope. That will be knocked out of the headlines as soon as Trump threatens to bomb Manila because he cut himself on one of their envelopes. You know that’s coming.”

James Carville in a video interview for Politicon says President Biden is the “most tragic” political figure of his lifetime, not because he pardoned Hunter, but because his dropping from his presidential candidacy came too late for Democrats to put together a competitive race against Trump. “I actually feel for Biden,” he said, knowing full well that he spoiled Harris‘ chances. “He wasn’t crooked, he didn’t pursue bad policies, he is the most tolerant, loving, caring, non-prejudiced person you can imagine, and this is what he’s faced with,” Carville remarked. Biden’s pledges to run for reelection and not to interfere in his son’s legal cases, both reversed, lead Carville to believe Biden’s wavering resulted in the Democratic loss despite a strong and admirable race. Unconcerned about Hunter being let off the hook, Carville rationalized the act by saying, “Ok, everybody’s going to do whatever they’re gonna do with their own children.” But he goes on to say that had Joe made his announcement to drop out several months earlier, the election result would have been different, arguing, “And it wouldn’t have been that close because we would’ve had so many talented frickin’ people running.” After which, he maintains, Biden could have left the White House “on a high note” as “the toast of Washington,” having landmarks named after him, with a future Democratic president pardoning Hunter.

“What’s so sad is it didn’t have to be this way. He brought it all on himself. All of this is self-inflicted. It’s tragic, it’s sad, and of course everything about him is…it’ll be six years before somebody comes back and talks about all of the stunning things Biden accomplished.” Carville’s deep respect for Biden made the election result even more devastating for him, and though he had predicted an unequivocal win for Harris/Walz, he admitted that the lack of primaries left many Democrats feeling they had been co-opted. MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, last week on his The Last Word show, had an exclusive interview with the outgoing president, where he complemented Biden on his many accomplishments, many having received little fanfare during his tenure. To his regret, Biden admits he did “too little politicking” in communicating his achievements, while expressing his concerns about democracy as we move into the Trump regime.

Steve Schmidt writes on his The Warning blog, “The American people are fickle, and soon the majority will bear the economic, security and moral consequences of their vote.” He regrets that two long years await us before voters can cast ballots for or against the MAGA dominated governance. Schmidt sees Trump stepping into the Oval Office as a “political colossus, an angry, vengeful Caesar, who will tear down America’s institutions that have been in effect since FDR.” He points to MAGA as “a propaganda machine that depicted the most powerful nation in world history as a rotten hells cape, immoral, corrupt, failing and occupied by an ‘enemy within.'” This machine prevailed because it is stronger, more powerful and better funded than anything that exists in opposition, that has been building for 30 years to bring about a different America. Schmidt doesn’t hold back about Trump, pronouncing him as being a chilling choice of the voters, who is a man-child who has never worked an hour in his life, never succeeded at anything, whose life is a tabloid joke, and is as ignorant about the world as a person could conceivably be, a father who indulges his children in order of their nitwittery.

Schmidt decries the impending cruelty of MAGA in their handling of migrants, and Trump’s ‘zero tolerance’ family separation policy — the cruelty being a permanent feature of MAGA culture. He maintains that MAGA has not been shy regarding its declarations that ‘might makes right,’ ‘the strong inherit the Earth,’ and ‘the rich have a right to rule over their lessers’ — as long as they are obedient to Donald Trump. Schmidt adds, “Donald Trump is going to create the most extreme and servile administration in history. It will be utterly lawless. It is going to smash every institution, collective security agreement and scientific agency it can. The first year of the Trump presidency will seed the catastrophe to come. At first the people will cheer, but then it will start to slip away each day. Trump will be undone by his overreach, arrogance and insecurities. Musk and Vance will destabilize the administration, and bring it to its tip-over point at a rapid pace. Trump has the ball, and it’s of the wrecking variety. He intends to use it.” He concludes, “Donald Trump is writing our future. It’s what we chose as a country. What a shameful act. The price will be immense.”

Economist Paul Krugman predicted on ‘The Daily Blast’ podcast, “A lot of people” who voted for Trump “are going to get brutally scammed” upon Trump’s return to the Oval Office, when he enacts his “really radical” and “terrible” economic policies. Raising tariffs and cutting taxes on high income earners will batter the working class, and the deportation of millions of immigrants will have an even worse effect on the economy. There are no Wall Street “heavyweights” to “steer him away” from his destructive instincts to redistribute income, and small business owners who are “the most fervent MAGA types out there” will suffer, just as small local businesses have been targeted for scams throughout Trump’s business career by not getting paid for their work.

So why do Republicans fall so quickly for ‘information’ that simply isn’t true? A problem with reality is that it’s just a bridge too far? Henry Morgan posted on Quora that the 1976 presidential election loss to a peanut farmer rocked their very souls, which led them to use focus group studies to put them on a winning track. The result was a decision to divide the country along the lines of religion, switching from fiscal conservatives to religious conservatives, fundamentally changing the nature of the party from a pragmatic group of people searching for workable solutions to the country’s problems. This new faith community believed the most important issues to Republicans were group loyalty and shared belief. A group centered on its beliefs as opposed to its goals quickly finds it is difficult to change beliefs if the facts don’t line up, and in particular if the beliefs are wrapped in religion — handed down by God! Solution? ‘Alternative facts’ — beliefs are important, facts are less so. The party was more willing to create facts that align with their beliefs, and then believing those ‘facts.’ Morgan calls this ‘cowardice,’ predicting ever worse disasters for the country, because policy has to align with real facts. Beliefs are not terribly important in politics — facts and aligned policies need to be the focus. The religious right has changed the way people discuss positions, with the Trump cult being an extension of this — con men making a profession of manipulating voters through their feelings and beliefs, with half the country under the spell of an imbecile. In conclusion, Morgan tells Republicans to remember that ‘whataboutism‘ is simply an indication that you are wrong, without a leg to stand on!

A few weeks ago, Stephen Colbert brought attention to what he called Donald Trump’s “farm-team of far-right weirdos” who are vying for attention in hopes of gaining a spot in his administration. One wannabe is ultra-conservative Christian nationalist, Oklahoma Education Superintendent Ryan Walters who has made headlines for attempting to push Christianity into the state’s classrooms, mandating Bibles be placed into classrooms along with lessons. Colbert said, “Yes, because Bibles always make places more holy. That’s why only wholesome stuff happens in motels.” Responding to news that Superintendent Walters was also demanding that students watch a video of himself praying for Trump, Colbert said, “OK, that’s a weird thing to force public school kids to watch. But you know what? I pray. I’ll even pray for Donald Trump right now,” and clasping his hands together, bowing his head, he asked, “Dear Lord. Do you know Donald Trump? God, help us.” In his monologue, Colbert pointed out that a paperback Bible can be purchased for $1.99, and that Walters spent “a whopping $60 apiece” on Trump Bibles, using money from the state treasury.

It is rumored that Trump will take the oath of office on one of his Trump Bibles — never hurts to do a bit of free telemarketing when you have a captive audience of billions. Perhaps the Bible, the guitar, the tennis shoes, the watches, and NFTs are old hat by now with market saturation, but never fear! Last week he announced a new grift by releasing a new meme coin. He TRUMPeted on social media, “My NEW Official Trump Meme is HERE! It’s time to celebrate everything we stand for: WINNING! Join my very special Trump Community. GET YOUR $TRUMP NOW. Have fun!” Republicans Against Trump immediately posted: “You’re nothing but a shameless grifter. Truly pathetic.” The coin features an image drawn from the July assassination attempt, blurring the line between his government role and the continued effort of his family to profit from his power and global fame. Getting into the game, Melania announced her $Melania coin later. This is simply a sign that the Trump Crime Family will be less hesitant in his second term to bend or breach traditional ethical boundaries, in particular because this coin is issued as cryptocurrency, which is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Anybody willing to take them to court on this? Probably not, since it was disclosed that he intends to name cryptocurrency advocate, Paul Atkins, to the SEC chairmanship.

President-elect Trump was royally roasted across social media after announcing that his inauguration would be moved indoors due to “very cold weather,” expected to be the coldest inauguration day in 40 years according to ABC News. Trump was eager to show a photo of the weather forecast, minus any suspicious black Sharpie marks, and revealing that “various dignitaries and guests” will be “brought into the Capitol,” adding, “This will be a very beautiful experience for all, and especially for the large TV audience.” Social media commenters pointed out that previous inaugurations took place outside in equally frigid weather, and that Trump was more fearful of a low turnout as in 2017, when Sean ‘Spicey’ Spicer had to cover for low crowd size without benefit of a black Sharpie. Political strategist David Axelrod pointed at Trump’s age as being a factor, but another responder added, “For an administration all about tough guy culture, they certainly don’t seem that tough. Guess he fears his cult followers won’t be that dedicated and that his hair will get messed up with a hat.” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz trolled by posting a photo of himself covered in snow flurries, writing, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” It should be noted that Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman wore shorts, sneakers and a hooded sweatshirt, viewing Trump’s swearing-in ceremony from the front row of seats. Good clothing for the event! An out-of-country poster speculated that Trump didn’t wish to be cold, but with hotel bookings at a record low, the attendance was going to be pathetic. Trump also predicted a turnout of 200,000 to 600,000 to watch the inaugural parade, to be held indoors (in a venue that holds 20,000!), and it will be embarrassing to hear him make excuses for those unable to attend as he touts unprecedented ratings for online and TV viewers. This poster says other presidents have held ceremonies in the cold, but then other presidents have been mostly honorable men, with Trump being the most objectionable, unpresidential creature to squat in the Oval Office, and while the world laughs at Trump, there is grieving for the US.

Melania attracted much attention for her Inaugural Day outfit — a dark navy coat, matching navy hat with a white stripe, dark navy heels and black gloves. The hat drew the most attention, some calling it “stunning” and “classy.” Others were quick to point out that the first lady resembled the McDonald’s Hamburglar character, minus the mask. Another asked, “Why is she dressed like Michael Jackson? She looks Smooth Criminal era Michael Jackson at a funeral.” A VP Harris supporter added, “Melania is in mourning today. Four more years stuck next to this clown!”

Satirical writer Andy Borowitz in his The Borowitz Report says: “In an eleventh-hour decision on Sunday, the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump has been moved from the Capitol Rotunda to the interior of a Tesla Cybertruck. The change of venue, dictated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), means that only people with a net worth of over $100 billion will be able to attend. “There’s room for me, Zuckerberg, and Bezos, but, unfortunately, no JD Vance,” Musk said. “I usually don’t let employees work remotely, but JD will be allowed to call in.” The decision to hold the inauguration inside the electric vehicle pleased Trump, who estimated the number of people inside the truck at 4 million.”

Dale Matlock, a Santa Cruz County resident since 1968, is the former owner of The Print Gallery, a screenprinting establishment. He is an adherent of The George Vermosky school of journalism, and a follower of too many news shows, newspapers, and political publications, and a some-time resident of Moloka’i, Hawaii, U.S.A., serving on the Board of Directors of Kepuhi Beach Resort. Email: cornerspot14@yahoo.com
 

...

EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. View classic inner-view ideas and thoughts with Subconscious Comics a few flips down.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Deep Cover” 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.

Resistance

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.”
~Mark Twain

“I shall earnestly and persistently continue to urge all women to the practical recognition of the old Revolutionary maxim. Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.”
~Susan B. Anthony

“To fly we have to have resistance.”
~Maya Lin

“The intensity of the pain depends on the degree of resistance to the present moment.”
~Eckhart Tolle

“Whatever you resist you become. If you resist anger, you are always angry. If you resist sadness, you are always sad. If you resist suffering, you are always suffering. If you resist confusion, you are always confused. We think that we resist certain states because they are there, but actually they are there because we resist them.”
~Adyashanti

...

Peacful jellyfish… just set this to full screen and breathe for a bit…


COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential.
Email: webmistress@BrattonOnline.com
(Gunilla Leavitt)
...

Deep Cover

Posted in Weekly Articles | Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *