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DATELINE November 14, 2016
WHAT NOW? Hours and hours watching most of the news channels secretly hoping and believing that something was wrong. There had been a mistake, or maybe something big and positive would happen…but NO. We have to live with the fact that all the hopes we had when Obama was elected are dead, over with, finished and America is in reality, just the way we never like to admit. Looks like Chris Krohn was elected to serve with Cynthia Mathews on the City Council, what’s that about? That’s a genuine tough job he has and he’s got a lot of support and he’s is one of our few citizens who can do it. Keeping the death penalty in California…why? There’s 14,500 Trump supporters in Santa Cruz, and we have to admit that too. Rick Longinotti tells us there are 10’s of thousands of votes still to be counted and not until November 14 will we know the final count on Widening Highway 1.
| PAUL McCARTNEY AT THE WHITE HOUSE. Watch this awe-inspiring 2010 performance at the White House. Stay with it to the end…it’s a touching tribute to the Barack Obama presidency we won’t forget! |
BOYCOTT TRUMP SUPPORTING BUSINESSES. If you care about whether you support businesses that support Donald Trump, and in case you believe boycotting sends a message check out this list. Coors, Home Depot, Pep Boys, Nascar, Hobby Lobby, Fairmont Hotels, Formula One, Bally’s Casino, UFC, Icahn, Swissotel, and plenty more
Go here to read the Arbiter News about boycotting… and also.. Boycott Trump: A list of businesses to avoid
HAPPY HAPPENING!!! Leaving the Del Mar theatre after seeing Moonlight (you should too!) I heard a nutty street duo calling themselves the Kangaroo Rat Music. They consist of only an accordion and xylophone and are just excellent. What really drew me to listen and watch them for a very long time was the first number I heard them playing….drove me crazy, I knew that “tune” I’d heard it a million times, and could almost sing along. What was it? Where’d I heard it before? I had to ask them…’ twas the theme from “Game Of Thrones”!!! Jeez. I could say only in Santa Cruz would you hear a street group playing “Game Of Thrones” but they probably tour a lot.
SELF PUBLISHED BOOKS. Ny REVIEW. “More than half of the books published annually in this country are self- published (400,000)” says a letter in the latest issue of New York Review of Books. The letter goes on to complain that the self published books are rarely given any Library of Congress numbering or cataloging. They are also rarely reviewed by main American reviewing journals. It says that the “houses” that help these self publishers should offer that official cataloging, and the Library Of Congress should pursue these books and make them universally accessible. Just a thought, because I’m almost ready to write my book!
GENOCIDE OF OUR LOCAL NATIVE INDIAN POPULATION. The latest issue of the New York Review of Books (Nov. 24) has a review of a new book “An American Genocide: The United States and The California Indian Catastrophe 1846-1873” by UCSC Historian Benjamin Madley. Details of times, places, names and statistics on the murder/genocide killing of native peoples in Northern Central California between 1846 and 1873. Mass killings by Gold miners, U.S Military State Militia, small town posses and ordinary citizens who hunted natives on weekends. UCSC Historian Martin Rizzo knows Benjamin Madley and is trying to get him to come to Santa Cruz. Maybe we can create a book signing and a guest shot on Universal Grapevine. Even Berkeley’s famed historian Alfred L. Kroeber (Ishi’s “friend” ) had a hand in this tragedy. Amazon books says, “Between 1846 and 1873, California’s Indian population plunged from perhaps 150,000 to 30,000. Benjamin Madley is the first historian to uncover the full extent of the slaughter, the involvement of state and federal officials, the taxpayer dollars that supported the violence, indigenous resistance, who did the killing, and why the killings ended. This deeply researched book is a comprehensive and chilling history of an American genocide”.
LEAF BLOWERS & MORE INFO. Jim Elmore sent this link to give us some info and statistics re the dangers of living near and using gas leaf blowers. http://www.nonoise.org/quietnet/cqs/home.htm . Back in 2009 Jim sent a letter to Cynthia Mathews our nearly permanent mayor, and all of our then City Council … it said…
10 October 2009
City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Attn: Cynthia Matthews, Mayor
Re: Noise and Air Pollution – Leaf Blowers
Dear Ms. Matthews:
As a thirty-four year resident of the city, I am dismayed by the noise and air pollution that has overtaken us in the form of gas powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers. I am now retired and one of the projects I am working on is a book: peace and quiet enhances my productivity yet almost every day and sometimes several times a day, that peace is disturbed by gas-powered noise and pollution makers. So, my ox is being gored, but in the bigger picture, this is what is happening to all of us.
Bad for the environment, bad for people, bad for the landscape, bad for the community. My Santa Cruz is a leader in so many ways; we need to act on this pollution problem.
I’m sure you’re knowledgeable regarding this subject but I would appreciate it if you would bring up the matter at a council meeting if it hasn’t already been mentioned.
Following is something I found on the net—Citizens for a Quieter Sacramento—which gives so many reasons for abolishing leaf blowers. Ref: http://www.nonoise.org/quietnet/cqs/leafblow.htm. Please read the section where: Grandmother Proves Rake and Broom as Fast as Leaf Blowers.
We re-landscaped our front yard four years ago and I found that the landscaping crew that we hired to maintain our yard used a blower which did nothing but blow the leaves elsewhere and remove the “gorilla hair” that was protecting the plants and kept the moisture in the ground. We asked them to stop using it; if they needed to clean the walkway, please use a broom.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, James R. Ellmore.
As we can guess nothing was done or has been done by our city council. Jim added last week… “Maybe something will happen this time. In our case, we have not allowed them ever since we started having had periodic gardeners; they use brooms and rakes. I did buy an battery-powered leaf blower but they ended up not using it. There was resistance at first; “I like to do a great job and leave it very clean and without using a blower, it is not as efficient and will take more time.” My answer was that everything does not have to be perfect, nature is messy.
The Wharf Master Plan is headed to council. Next Tuesday, November 22nd, the current council will vote on whether to approve the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) which the city had to revise and re-circulate for a month due to the failure of its original MND to adequately study the impact of this massive project on nesting birds at the wharf. This inadequacy had to be pointed out by members of the public.
The revision acknowledges that some nesting birds exist and others perch on the wharf but vastly understates the documented 117 bird species that have been sighted at the wharf, 69 species in the past 4 months alone. Similarly lacking is a comprehensive study of marine mammals and only a sketchy mitigation for their protection. For example, if no marine mammals are sighted for 15 minutes then pile driving can commence. The MND makes no mention of Humpback whales which a group of us watched breach and spout within a few hundred yards of the wharf last week. The inadequacy of the MND to study the environmental impacts of the planned construction and changes is clear. What is less clear is how the city council will vote. Why is it that the city of Santa Cruz stands out like a sore thumb when it comes to proper environmental review of its major proposed projects? The city of Santa Cruz also stands out in its dismissive attitude towards the public. Consider that the city of Capitola, also poised to make changes to its wharf, reassured the public that they will be listened to before any changes are proposed and that no major changes are contemplated. By contrast, the city of Santa Cruz obtained federal funds to the tune of a million dollars from the Department of Commerce for tsunami relief (the tsunami had no impact on the wharf) and gave that to a San Francisco design firm that developed the Wharf Master Plan in exchange for the million dollars. Only the inside circle had input. The public was and is still largely unaware of how dramatically the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf will be changed if this project is approved.
With little if any publicity, responses to the original MND were few. By contrast a petition opposing the makeover of the wharf and calling for an EIR has gathered 631 signatures in just 3 days. This seems a more reliable measure of public sentiment than the responses from insider stakeholders. You can find the petition and sign it here.
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~ 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.
Well, last week brought many surprises to us all, but the upshot is that citizens simply must wake up and get active in community issues. That’s what Ms. Medea Benjamin said as well, at her inspiring talk last Saturday at Louden Nelson Center. Many thanks to the local organizations that made her visit possible. So, what about water issues in our beautiful Santa Cruz County? The state has declared our area “Critical Overdraft”, meaning that the local water suppliers have been pumping out more water than is being replenished in the Purisima Aquifer, and now the salt water of the ocean is creeping inland and potentially destroying the water supply. Does that make you nervous? It should.
Last week, Soquel Creek Water District officials Mr. Ron Duncan and Mr. Bruce Daniels made a presentation to the Santa Cruz County Planning Commission to help them understand the critical problem the District faces in supplying new development with water. They hold great hope for the plan to inject treated sewage water into the aquifer to push back the advancement of salt water. They also talked a bit about the possible river water transfers from Santa Cruz to the District’s areas of Capitola, Aptos and Soquel.
Well, I have many questions about those plans and maybe you do, as well. How will the injection sites be monitored? It is, afterall, against state law to pump the treated sewage water back out of the aquifer any sooner than two months after injection. What about pharmaceuticals in the waste stream that cannot be tested for or removed? What about the difference in chemistry between the treated water (hydrogen peroxide is typically used as a disinfectant but is extremely reactive and was responsible for the arsenic spikes in the water Orange County supplied to customers after injecting treated sewage water). What about the difference in water chemistry between the north coast creeks and San Lorenzo River water that would, the District’s studies show, potentially cause problems within the supply pipes and possibly customer plumbing? Fresno is in serious trouble right now, said Soquel Creek Water District Engineer Mr. Taj Dufour at a recent Board meeting, because of this very issue (he was surprised it had not hit the media).
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~(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.
#317… A FACEBOOK FIASCO.
The San Jose Mercury News ran a story in its Sunday, November 6, 2016 edition that was titled, “Facebook expansion approved.” Here is a brief excerpt from the article:
Menlo Park has approved Facebook expansion plans that will add 6,550 employees, roughly 1 million square feet of office space and a 200-room hotel along the Bayfront Expressway.
While some residents and city officials expressed concern about the toll on housing and traffic such a large expansion could take, the City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the 301-309 Constitution Drive project. It also approved an agreement that calls for Facebook to either build 20 below-market-rate units or pay $6.5 million in fees into a city fund dedicated for such housing. So, 6,550 new employees and 20 new housing units that an average or below-average income person could afford.
This is happening everywhere, including in my own home town of Santa Cruz, where ordinary income people are being driven out of their housing because they are outcompeted by persons with Facebook-level salaries. In fact, this decision in Menlo Park will make housing prices worse in Santa Cruz, because some of those new 6,500 Facebook employees will locate here. The Facebook fiasco in Menlo Park will increase the likelihood that the so-called “Corridor Plan,” in Santa Cruz, which proposes to put high-rise housing along every major transportation corridor in the City, will in fact go through. When elected officials try to increase city revenues, without paying any attention to what that means for their existing residents, the result is a disaster for the community.
Based on the election results in Santa Cruz, on Tuesday, voters in my city haven’t gotten the message”.
(Gary is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor (20 years) and an attorney who represents indivuduals and community groups on land use and environmental issues. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, Two Worlds at www.gapatton.net
OUR STATE PARKS. Julie Sidel, Interpreter 1 for our Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park wrote BrattonOnline… “Let’s revisit that train stop and straighten out our parks history! “Teddy Roosevelt did take the train up to the redwoods. The location was the grove that is the center of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park today. But at that time it was privately owned Welch’s Grove. His comments congratulating Californians on our first state park were directed at California Redwoods State Park, which we know today as Big Basin Redwoods State Park. That is our oldest state park (1902), and the first California state park purchased by tax dollars via legislative authority. (Yosemite had been signed over to California as a park by president Lincoln in 1864. By 1906, it was a National Park, no longer in the state.) Thanks for your photos, your history, and for doing what you do!” Julie Sidel. Thanks Julie.
CLASSICAL DeCINZO. Ever alert DeCinzo exposes the secrets behind shopping for food in Santa Cruz….see below a page or two.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Slinkin Memorial” at the top of the column this special week. And the webmistress snuck in a favorite from the vaults – this one is from November 2012, just after the previous election. 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.
MUNCHING WITH MOZART. These free concerts happen the third Thursday of every month. This Thursday 11/17 features…
VIOLIN WITH PIANO. That’s Brian Johnston on Violin and Ben Dorfan playing Piano.
They’ll play…
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Sonata in B-flat, K. 378. Allegro moderato, Andantino sostenuto e cantabile, Rondeau–Allegro
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) The Lark Ascending
Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) Sicilienne op. 78
Again that’s Thursday, November 17th. 12:10 – 12:50. Santa Cruz Main Library Downtown Branch – Meeting Room
SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER PLAYERS CONCERT NOVEMBER 19, 20. The next concert in their 2016-2017 series is titled “Music That Elevates the Soul“. It features The Black Cedar Trio playing flute, cello and guitar. You’ll hear musics by Bach, Haydn, Takemitsu, Cowell, Gardel, Tan Mi Zi and Hsieh. It happens this SaturdayNov. 19 at 7:30 and Sunday Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. These are good, fun concerts to attend (I’ve been going for decades) informal, all great seating , lus music not often heard around these parts. It’s at the Christ Lutheran Church, 10707 Soquel Dr, In Aptos. Go here for a map and info… http://www.scchamberplayers.org
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Black lives matter in Moonlight, an eloquent coming-of-age drama that explores issues of race, culture, and love in unexpected ways, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com). Also, join me in a fond farewell to the one and only Leon Russell, whose rockin’ boogie-woogie piano provided much of the soundtrack to my misspent youth. Rock on, Leon!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
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. Please go and go quickly. Landmark may not keep it too long if we don’t support it.
ARRIVAL. Amy Adams has always been an excellent actor and she’s even better in this pretty sophisticated science fiction spellbinder. 11 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)
AMERICAN PASTORAL. A very, very poor adaption of Philip Roth’s Pulitzer winning book. Save your money and time, and read the book again. A fine cast with Ewan McGregor (also directed it) Jennifer Connelly, Dakota Fanning (now older and much less entrancing) and a stiff, unfeeling naration by David Strathairn. The acting by all concerned is shockingly bad. The fake accents don’t work. Too many lines are shouted not emoted, the entire film lacks believable love or feelings.
THE ACCOUNTANT & DONALD TRUMP MONEY. For some mysterious reason this lousy, nearly insane movie is back again playing in several chain and independent theatres. We should all remember that Steven Mnuchin one of the film’s producers, is now and has been Finance Chair of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. It’s just if you care where your money goes…that’s all. The movie??? Well… Ben Affleck plays an autistic criminal bookeeper who is also a ruthless killer, and yes, that makes as little sense as does 98 % of this murder filled mess of a movie. Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jeffrey Tambor and even John Lithgow all do what they can in such a miscast cast that makes you feel like you’re watching an audition session, that nobody cares if they get the parts or not. You won’t believe the plot, or the acting, or the fact that you paid money to see this flick. ps. Jack Reacher is better…if you like these type flicks.
THE HANDMAIDEN….warning…you have to love Asian/Korean subtitled films especially ones directed by Chan-Wook Park before you can enjoy this one. Ever since taking three or more years of film classes from UCSC’s Earl Jackson (now teaching in Korea)I am a complete devotee of films by Chan-Wook Park. The sex, violence, even murder in his films are so unique, so subtle,and sensitive that they take on different meanings. Oldboy, Sympathy for Lady Vengence and Snowpiercer must be seen to be hallowed. This latest masterpiece contains three versions of the same plot. Con-artists out to cheat a wealthy woman of her estate. It has a 94 on Rotten Tomatoes, so it’s not just me.
CERTAIN WOMEN. A genuine women’s film with three separate stories going deep inside the frustrations of three or four women as they deal with our society. Laura Dern is a Montana attorney frustrated by the lack of respect in her taking the case of a potentially suididal man. Michelle Williams keeps her family frustrations hidden as she tries to add life, love and a future to her husband and daughter. Kristen Stewart floats and drifts through an insecure part of her life while new actor Lily Gladstone tries to add love, respect and friendship to their tenous relationship. Slow moving, intense, even boring at times, you’ll think about this delicate film lang after it’s over. Kelly Reichardt directed it and once again proves she creates great films unlike any other director.
DOCTOR STRANGE. I had to work very hard all through this latest Marvel Comic special effects spectacular to remind myself….it’s a comic book, it’s a comic book. etc. It doesn’t make any sense, there’s little logic in any character’s role and we get to see Benedict Cumberbatch do his American accent (it’s flawless). Not only does Cumbarbatch play Dr. Strange but Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, and the always wonderful Tilda Swinton all do their damndest to out do any/all previous Marvel Comic special effects silliness. Dr. Stephen Strange’s hands are ruined in a car accident and he goes to Kathmandu and tons of mysticism to repair his surgeon’s hands. Go only if you truly believe in comic books…then you’ll love it.
DENIAL. A subject like denying the holocaust has about as much relevance as alien kidnappings, the earth is flat, and denying climate change. And this is a very serious film starring Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson (one of his very best roles), and the evil and believable Timothy Spall. Courtroom, Auschwitz, anti-semitism, Adolf Hitler, and it’s all true. It’s full of suspense, and you’ll think a lot about a Trump- run USA.
A MAN NAMED OVE. A Swedish film with subtitles. Whew…93 on Rotten Tomatoes!!! It’s worth every tomato too. The film centers on 59 year old Ove and his attempts at suicide. He fails many times and dreams back to his near perfect and lovely wife who died, and why he wants to join her. He’s beyond crabby, he’s angry, mean and yet, and yet, there’s something so magnetic and powerful and redeeming in him that you’ll watch and wait for his every move. It’s a wonderful film…and I think he’s older than 59, and I remember 59 fairly well. Rolf Lassgard who plays Ove is actually 61 and has been in many films and even played Puck in a production of Midsummer Night’s Dream!!
JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK. It’s actually one of the better action –merciless- blood filled- escapist movies. There’s a semblence of a plot that makes even Tom Cruise seem human at times!!! It only got a 39 on Rotten Tomatoes so maybe Cruise’s Scientology friends haven’t gone yet!!! The skimpy plot has maybe a daughter for Cruise, several incredibly manic mindless, brutal killings BUT some scenes are very exciting. But you must really this type of film before paying to see it.
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. . Nov. 15 has Deborah Muth talking about her new book on Scotts Valley history. Attorney Bob Taren returns that same November 15 to share views on THAT election. Christina Waters guests November 22 talking about her new book. After Christina, Sean Michael Conley discusses genealogy and their local chapter functions. Sean Van Sommeran emerges on Nov. 29 to tell us about the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation. Minutes after author and historian Sandy Lydon returns to talk about his future historical adventures. Keeping traditional, The winners of Bookshop Santa Cruz Young Writers Contest read their entries the full hour on December 6. Jennifer Horne from UCSC’s Film Dept. discusses changing techniques in film development. PAMF’s Dr. Paul Ware follows Jennifer to tell us some of his theories about health and the role food plays. On December 20, author Lois Watson talks about her popular book, “Growing Up In Santa Cruz”. 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
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Distraction and entertainment. That’s what I’m up for at the moment – how about you?
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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. “ELECTIONS”
“Free election of masters does not abolish the masters or the slaves”, Herbert Marcuse
“Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half”, Gore Vidal.
“When one with honeyed words but evil mind
Persuades the mob, great woes befall the state”, Euripides, Orestes
“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters”, Abraham Lincoln
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. 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!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
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Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
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BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by Tim Eagan.
