It is just the photo and Tim Eagan’s comics this week; we are taking the week off and will be back on December 7!
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EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. View classic inner view ideas and thoughts with Subconscious Comics.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Deep Cover”. 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.
BRATTON… De-sal in our Bay, Mayor Fred Keeley, great Craft sale, film critiques GREENSITE…on Cuba. KROHN…election results 2022, who won, who cares? STEINBRUNER…Purewater Soquel project, Branciforte Fire District, SC County Fire Code, Aptos Village new intersection? HAYES…Ferns. PATTON…Name those Billionaires. MATLOCK…searching for solutions in all the wrong places. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover WEBMISTRESS’…pick of the week. QUOTES…”Thanksgiving, part 2″
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DATELINE November 21
DESALINATION PLANT COMING SOON! In a surprise move the California Coastal Commission voted to approve a de-sal plant in Marina. Go here to read the sad news. It’ll be built and operated by Cal Am. As Cal Matters newsletter states…
“California American Water, the nation’s largest publicly traded water and wastewater company, plans to build the plant to pump ocean water, desalinate it and provide drinking water to 100,000 people on the Monterey Peninsula. The largely Latino, agricultural community of Castroville would also receive the water at a discount”. “”It’s our city, our water, our beaches, and our wildlife — so that Cal-Am can send the water to another wealthier community who don’t even want it,” Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado told commissioners, his voice breaking”.
All of this battle over again long after we fought de-sal here locally years ago. More than that another website says, Cal Am Desal threatens to diminish and contaminate Marina’s water supply with saltwater intrusion. 100% of your drinking water comes from Marina’s groundwater basin.
Cal Am proposes to build a desal project that will take up to 15 million gallons per day from Marina’s already over-drafted groundwater basin. It would only supply Monterey Peninsula customers. Marina would receive none of this water .It threatens to diminish and contaminate Marina’s water supply with saltwater intrusion.
Cal Am’s desal threatens Marina’s beautiful coastline by adding a major industrial facility on its dunes and beaches.
It would damage vital open space, and natural and wildlife habitat, and would limit access to the new beachfront property after the CEMEX sand mining plant closes.
ABOUT MAYOR FRED KEELEY. Last week I “printed” a note here about our new Mayor Fred Keeley that said he was a rich landlord. I should have checked before using that note. Turns out he isn’t a landlord and he isn’t rich.
GIFTS FROM LOCAL CRAFTSPEOPLE. I’ve known almost all of these crafts people for decades, and their work is excellent. I went to their first Barn Sale last year and almost finished my entire gift list. Check out… Marcia McDougal – ethnic jewelry, textiles, and collectibles. Heather McDougal – jewelry, painted leather, quilted bags and garments. Kim Kempke – pottery. Saarin Schwartz – pottery. Rita Bottoms – books of her own essays and a new book about her husband Tom Bottoms’ art. Bonita John – maps and cards. Jill Damashek – pottery. Matt Hill – wood sculpture and poetry. You’ll find pottery, jewelry, textiles, wood sculpture, books, and cards created and collected by local artisans. It takes place at The Barn which is a great, nearly ancient structure up the Ocean Street Extension road at #2016. It happens only December 3 & 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact dishsister@gmail.com
I search and critique a variety of movies only from those that are newly released. Choosing from the thousands of classics and older releases would take way too long. And be sure to tune in to those very newest movie reviews live on KZSC 88.1 fm every Friday from about 8:10 – 8:30 am. on the Bushwhackers Breakfast Club program hosted by Dangerous Dan Orange.
THE GOOD NEIGHBOR. (HULU MOVIE) (6.3 IMDB). Two men forced to be neighbors become involved in a bike accident killing a young beautiful blonde girl. Their relationship to each other and how they work to avoid the guilt and legal problems makes this a positive nightmare to watch…and you should watch it.
FROM SCRATCH. (NETFLIX SERIES) (7.9 IMDB). I could only take about 25 minutes of this mindless, low level “romantic drama”. A girl from Texas goes to Florence Italy and despite the super scenery has typical Hollywood tete a tetes that will make you cringe.
1889. (NETFLIX SERIES) (8.1 IMDB).A German film centering on a cruise ship full of passengers that meet up with a ghost like ship named The Prometheus. It’s a fine film with great effects, good acting, intelligence and a plot that will keep you attached for episodes.
THE DEVILS HOUR. (PRIME SERIES) (7.8 IMDB). The plot is that 3:33 am is the devil’s hour for this mother who is raising her son. He has amnesia and she’s a social worker. The police are heavily involved in trying to solve a murder and she keeps seeing bloody scenes in her dreams. It’s worth staying up for.
FALLING FOR CHRISTMAS. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (5.3 IMDB). I was curious to see what Lindsay Loman (now age 36) looks like after all these years. This is billed as a “romantic comedy” but it really isn’t either one. The acting is nonexistent, the plot is terrible and it’s aimed at teen agers who haven’t learned what’s funny. Avoid at any or no cost.
FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE. (HULU SERIES) (6.7 IMDB). Jesse Eisenberg plays off Claire Danes as a separated but still married couple. He’s a doctor and is trying to adjust to being single and still raising their kids. Good acting, intriguing plot, and a chance to review your own issues with relationships. Go For it.
SPECIAL NOTE….Don’t forget that when you’re not too sure of a plot or need any info on a movie to go to Wikipedia. It lays out the straight/non hype story plus all the details you’ll need including which server (Netflix, Hulu, or PBS) you can find it on. You can also go to Brattononline.com and punch in the movie title and read my take on the much more than 100 movies.
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (7.1 IMDB). A serious story from a book about a very young girl who was deserted by her family and forced to live her life known as the Marsh Girl. Perfectly acted by Daisy Edgar-Jones and aided by David Strathairn as her attorney its deep, colorful, and threatening as she learns how to cope with the few humans in her life plus a murder. The ending is a shocker and it’s very worthwhile watching.
THE CROWN. (NETFLIX SERIES) (8.7 IMDB). This is the fifth (that’s 5!!!) season of this Queen Elizabeth saga and it does lack something. We Americans (and much of the world) have always been so fascinated by the British throne and surroundings so we watch anything and everything about those royals. Here we watch Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s marriage remain in hell especially having Dominic West playing Charles. He just isn’t right for the part, but watch it anyways just to get one more take on all the sadness and mistakes the royals make decade after decade.
CICI (NETFLIX MOVIE) (7.3 IMDB). A Turkish movie that starts off in black and white and goes to full color as the movie works hard to reveal the terrible intra family relationships between father and mother and all their children and relatives. It’s depicted as some of the relatives reunite while they attempt to film their own movie of their families past. Its slow moving, flips from present to their past many times and even gets confusing and requires careful paying attention.
BANSHEES OF INISHERIN. (DEL MAR THEATRE) (8.2 IMDB). A nearly perfect movie that I would give many Academy Awards to. First of all to Colin Farrell who plays a longtime friend to the older Brendan Gleeson. These two guys live on a very small fictional island off the coast of Ireland and suddenly Gleeson tells Farrell he doesn’t want to be friends anymore. It baffles Colin and all of their friends on the island. It’s a deep but nearly humorous self-inspection that Colin goes through that makes us all relate to our own friendships. Well worth watching and admiring such talent.
ROBBING MUSSOLINI. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (5.5 IMDB). This silly movie starts off with a bunch of thugs from Milan trying to decide and plot how to steal Benito Mussolini’s wartime treasures back in 1945. Then 10 minutes into the plot it turns to cartoons and Marvel Comics tricks and lost me completely. I stopped it after 25 minutes.
This sculpture, located in the Plaza San Francisco de Asis in Havana, was donated by the French Ambassador to Cuba in 2012. It is titled, La Conversacion and is the work of the French sculptor, Etienne. It embodies what has been singularly absent from most of the US government’s approach to this island country since the Cuban Revolution of 1959.
I just returned from a trip to Cuba organized by The Nation magazine’s travel program. Our government does not allow us the freedom to travel to Cuba as individuals. The easing of some restrictions under the Obama administration, including travel, was reimposed by the Trump administration and the Biden administration has done little to improve the situation.
Organized under the currently permitted category of person-to-person contact, The Nation arranged an outstanding itinerary for the week’s adventure. A free copy of the riveting book, Back Channel to Cuba, The Hidden History of Negotiations Between Washington and Havana by William LeoGrande and Peter Kornbluh was sent to each traveler well before departure. This tome, based on previously classified exchanges at the top levels of government, provided a framework for understanding the undercurrents of political posturing by various administrations from Eisenhower to Biden towards the tiny country of Cuba, population 11 million, that overthrew a corrupt, unpopular US supported dictatorship with a Revolution that had wide popular support.
Where that support stands today and how the people of Cuba are faring is what I hoped to discover. The Nation provided the opportunity for fascinating conversations with a variety of Cubans, including Oniel Diaz, cofounder of AUGE, a private advisory group on business management, a presentation from urban planner Miguel Coyula and a Q&A with Carlos Alzugaray, the former Cuban diplomat and Ambassador to the European Union with Cuba expert Peter Kornbluh. Political and economic discussions were balanced with amazing trips to the homes and studios of independent Cuba artists, the Museum of Cuban Art, the Habana Compas Dance Studio and a visit to the Lizt Alfonso Academy, a women-led dance company and school for local youth. A Cuban saying: “food is optional, music is mandatory” notwithstanding, we were treated to the best of both, including renowned singer, songwriter Frank Delgado for a discussion and performance of the nueva trova movement as well as a private performance by the 14-member Youth Symphony Orchestra that had us to our feet with standing ovations.
There was ample opportunity for informal, frank conversations. I peppered with questions the Cubans we encountered on our trip as well as Peter Kornbluh. Their wealth of experience and knowledge framed my observations. In no way do I have a complete picture, nor would I venture a definitive opinion. Cuba is a complex puzzle. I feel I have a handle on a few pieces and can draw some tentative conclusions that I expect will be challenged by a fresh conversation, but this is what I can surmise so far.
The Cuban people are hurting. Badly. The economy is dangerously precarious. Inflation is skyrocketing. Food and supplies are in serious short supply. Despite much open land and good soil available for farming, Cuba imports most of its foodstuffs, including basics such as chickens and pigs. I kept asking why? The answer when it came clarified the problem. While land is available, feed for chickens and pigs, seed for crops, parts for machines are not. As many know, the US has imposed an embargo on Cuba since the Eisenhower Administration. The Cubans call it a blockade. Fidel Castro called for an end to the blockade in every concession he offered to the various US Presidents via back-channel communications. The blockade is still imposed today. It was the major driving force behind Cuba’s increasingly closer ties to the Soviet Union. When the USSR collapsed, so did Cuba’s economy. Today there are more Cubans leaving Cuba via dangerous routes than at any time since the Revolution.
It is easy to blame the US blockade for Cuba’s economic problems and exodus of Cubans and it certainly is a major part. However, other factors are also involved. Covid significantly decimated the tourist industry and the Trump administration’s banning of cruise ships visiting Cuba finished it off as did Trump’s reversal of the Obama administration’s allowing remittances to be sent to relatives in Cuba by Cuban Americans. There are also internal factors involved. I was impressed with the willingness of the Cubans we met to readily acknowledge the economic problems created by the hard-liners in the Cuban Communist party as well as by the bureaucracy. The private sector in Cuba now constitutes most of the businesses compared to those state-owned. There were 100 private companies started in just the last year. Trumps crack-down on the ability of Cubans to travel to the US has severely impacted the growth and success of this private sector, which, if you are keen to erode support for communism, the rallying cry of the US for 60 years, it should be obvious to encourage.
So far, the Biden administration has left most of the Trump administration’s crackdown intact, despite his campaigning on opening channels of communication and normalizing relations with Cuba. Maybe we can start a conversation towards this goal with our representatives? The Cuban people need and deserve our support.
| 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. |
November 21
“ELECTION RESULTS 2022”
Who Won, Who Lost and Who Cares?
As readers of “The Santa Cruz Political Report” and Brattononline.com may ascertain, there is no joy in Mudville this week, Measure O and Measure N have both struck out. Within the Santa Cruz progressive-left community, it is an earthquake of 8.0 proportions. We worked hard, spent hours walking neighborhoods, fundraising, and distributing yard signs. While N, the empty homes tax, was straightforward—a tax of $6,000 on homes left empty for at least eight months per year affecting less than 1% of property owners, Measure O, “Our Downtown, Our Future” was a bit more complicated and aggressively challenged the capitalist take down, the hoped for accumulation of $capital$ to be extracted from Surf City. Some of the biggest names in real estate and development in this part of the world are at the table carving up the Holy Cross like it was one of those chocolate Easter crosses made at Mackenzie’s on Soquel Avenue. The administrators of this sacking, the city council, are now parceling out the realtor chocolate goodies to the Swensons, Devcons, Pacific Homes’, and Lawlor LLCs. All are peculiar interlopers to this community, they gobble up our seed corn faster than it is produced. Santa Cruz is for sale and guess what? It has many buyers including Goldman Sacks of NYC, the UC Regents of Oakland, and the (Brian) Dinnerstein Companies of Houston. The word is out, this town is on the high roller sales charts, brace yourself for more plunder. These election results will see more baristas, bar-backs, bus boys, and Berners living in their cars, in the UCSC forest, or in the hinterlands of Hollister, Gonzalez, or Los Banos. The enclave-by-the-sea, aka Santa Cruz, will be tough to buy into for most people. The results of Election 2022 places an authentic and unrelenting Haves, or real estate imprimatur, on our town that may be hard to cast off.
Top Ten Reasons Why Measure O Went Down
Measure O…the Vote
As of Friday, November 18th at 4pm:
Total
Yes 8,971 (40.01%)
No 13,453 (59.99%)
Total Votes:
23510
Total
Undervotes (these are ballots counted, but the voter chose not to mark this particular Measure).1,077
Measure N, What Happened?
In the beginning, Measure N, taxing empty homes up to $6,000 to acquire, or build, affordable housing seemed like bringing a thimble of water to the Pacific Ocean. Yes, it would indeed be significant like a moon landing inside of the immeasurable universe, but a small piece of the housing puzzle. It would not solve the housing crisis, but would bring some much-needed spirit, and a few dollars, to the long-term struggle for affordable housing in Surf City. The Measure N steering committee knew that the forces of capital, the investors who spent so heavily against rent control, might be bellying up to the bar on this one as well. Well, we found out quickly, that they were looking for a gun fight as the California Association of Realtors threw down a chunk, $49,900, to defeat this well-crafted affordable housing initiative.
Top Reasons Why Measure N is Failing
Measure N, the Vote
As of Friday, November 18th at 4pm, Measure N was doing far better than Measure O, but still trailing.
N – City Of Santa Cruz Empty Home Tax Initiative – Majority To Pass (Vote for 1)
Total
Yes 10,109 (44.19%)
No 12,765 (55.81%)
Total Votes: 23510
Undervotes 628
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Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and a Santa Cruz City Council member from 1998-2002 and from 2017-2020. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 16 years. On Tuesday evenings at 5pm, Krohn hosts of “Talk of the Bay,” on KSQD 90.7 and KSQD.org His Twitter handle at SCpolitics is @ChrisKrohnSC Chris can be reached at ckrohn@cruzio.com
Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com |
NOT SO DENSE, PLEASE
Pleasure Point residents have paid attention to the County General Plan Update and consistently worked hard to present alternative solutions to the Plan’s proposal to rezone nine parcels along Portola Drive for new very high-density development, cramming new Ultra High Flex (UHF) zoning that would allow 45-80 units/acre all on Portola Drive. It seems their Supervisor, Chairman Manu Koenig, listened and asked other Supervisors last Tuesday to remove the ultra-high density zoning from those parcels. “I’ve received lots of correspondence from the group about this, and it seems they are not opposed to housing, but just want a bit less,” he said.
Supervisors agreed to reduce the allowed density to Residential High Density, bringing 30 units/ acre, and to keep commercial zoning on a parcel at the end of 41st Avenue.
Many have wondered how the County planners could feel that focusing all of the County’s new ultra-high density housing in Pleasure Point made any sense, when it is not near any major transportation corridor, and Portola Drive is about to be put on a “road diet”, actually reducing the number of lanes available for the traffic that exists now.
The Supervisors will continue their review of the proposed General Plan update on December 6.
Make sure your voice is at the table and present alternatives to what concerns you most. Good work, Pleasure Point Community!
WHAT THE PUREWATER SOQUEL PROJECT WILL DO TO YOU AND THE ENVIRONMENT YOU LOVE…DECEMBER 1 PUBLIC HEARING
Folks, this is your final chance to weigh-in on Soquel Creek Water District’s expensive and potentially damaging PureWater Soquel Project that will inject treated sewage water into the drinking water supply for the MidCounty’s aquifer. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors.
Find a section of the document that speaks to your concern, and write to the District in the manner outlined on the website. Here is a link to the document
1.9 Pathogenic Microorganism Control ………
1.12 Response Retention Time …………….
1.13 Contingency Plan …………
1.14 Monitoring and Reporting Program ………………
3.1 Requirements for Public Health Protection ……………………… 3-1
3.2 Requirements for Environmental and Water Quality Protection ……………3-9
3.3 SWRCB Requirements …………………… 3-12
3.3.1 Antidegradation Policy (aka how will this affect the pristine aquifer water??……………………… 3-12
3.3.2 SWRCB Recycled Water Policy ……………………………………….. 3-12
3.4 Federal Requirements for Groundwater Replenishment Projects …………… 3-13
Please participate in this December 1, Virtual Public Hearing at 5:30pm and send in written comment with your thoughts, concerns and alternative solutions.
MAYBE NO PURPLE PIPE FOR RECYCLED WATER IRRIGATION AFTER ALL?
A friend sent me the latest customer newsletter for the City of Santa Cruz Wastewater Department, which highlights the PureWater Soquel Project tertiary water treatment plant construction.
I am curious about the vague statement regarding the City using Title 22 water for irrigation and bulk water fill station:
“In the future, Title 22 tertiary water may be provided for offsite use as well such as irrigation of La Barranca Park and a bulk water fill station for construction dust control.”
It was my understanding that a part of the City’s agreement with Soquel Creek Water District is that the City will receive 360AF/Y Title 22 recycled water for irrigating La Barranca Park and would build a bulk fill station to accommodate the opportunity to provide some of that recycled water for construction uses.
I also had understood that the water at the tertiary plant now under construction will not meet Title 22 standards, so the recycled water for the City’s uses would require the City to install a 6″ purple pipe from the Project’s Chanticleer Advanced Water Treatment Facility to return the agreed-upon 360AF/Y Title 22 recycled water to the City.
However, in now reading the description of the City’s Title 22 recycled water benefit, it is unclear what the Project now includes in terms of the City’s 6″ purple pipe commitment.
I wrote to Ms. Rosemary Menard last week about this. She acknowledged my message but stated there will be no answer until early December. Hmmmm……. Does that all hinge on the PureWater Soquel Project Engineering Report getting rubberstamped?
Please read through that voluminous document to see what you can learn, and participate in the December 1, virtual Public Hearing at 5:30pm. Public Comment on the document closes December 8.
TURMOIL IN BRANCIFORTE FIRE DISTRICT
Why would Chairman of the Branciforte Fire District demand a Director Pete Vannerus resign as one of the two who voted in opposition to the District spending $28,000 on a verbal-only bid likely to cause a new tax on residents?
Why would the Director of LAFCO strong-arm the Branciforte residents to spend this money to determine what may already be coming along in another consultant study funded by LAFCO, and due out soon?
How can a Board that does not have a quorum move ahead on a verbal $28,000 consultant bid when last month’s Board action had no written amended contract?
All of this odd activity, and more, caused Director Dick Landon, who had voted against the $28,000 verbal contract last month, to resign in disgust.
Read the Draft Minutes of the October 20 Branciforte Fire Board meeting here
The Board could not approve them last Thursday because there was not a quorum, due to the two resignations and Director Kurt Meyer was not present.
WHAT THE NEW SANTA CRUZ COUNTY FIRE CODE MEANS FOR RURAL PROPERTIES
In my opinion, it was rather devious of the County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios and the County Board of Supervisors to bury the new Countywide Fire Code in with the major Building Code amendments last Tuesday. The spotlight on the new requirement for all-electric construction overshadowed the major changes to the County Fire Code…both were mashed into Item #12.
Unless you looked very carefully, the Fire Code issue was essentially hidden.
The link to the Strikeout-and-Underline version of the Code provided on the Board website continues to be broken…offering only this message:
Error : The document appears to be corrupted and cannot be loaded.
The Supervisors will be reviewing this again for Final Adoption on December 6. Please contact your Supervisors with concerns and alternative solutions.
If you are able to find a Strikeout-and-Underline copy, maybe you will share my concerns regarding the following:
1) The definition of FIRE CHIEF has been removed from 7.92.202. You will only find that fact by looking at the Strikeout-and-Underline version (which the County doesn’t seem to want us to see) or in a list of “Proposed Changes to Fire Code” provided in the four-page list on the Central Fire District website under Community Risk Reduction Division
Section 202 – Fire Chief Definition has been removed
Who IS the Fire Chief? Who can act AS the “Fire Official”, a term used throughout the new Fire Code, but never defined?
2) 7.92.111.1 Section 111.1 is amended – Board of Appeals established.
Section 111.1 of Chapter 1 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is amended to read as follows: 111.1 – Board of Appeals established. In order to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the fire code official relative to the application and interpretation of this code, there shall be and is hereby created a Board of Appeals.
The Board of Appeals shall be: For the Santa Cruz County Fire Department, the Board of Supervisors of Santa Cruz County, or a sub-committee as appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Santa Cruz County.
What is the cost of taking an appeal to the Board in this instance? Anyone appealing a planning dept. issue must pay $1800 to file such an appeal with the Board of Supervisors.
3) 7.92.112.4.2 Section 112.4.2 is added – Enforcement.
Section 112.4.2 of Chapter 1 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is added to read as follows: 112.4.2 – Enforcement. The fire code official and their delegated subordinates, pursuant to the provisions of Section 836.5 of the Penal Code of the State of California, are hereby authorized to arrest a person without a warrant whenever they have reasonable cause to believe that the person has committed a violation of any of the provisions of this Code in their presence. Upon making such an arrest, the fire code official or their delegated subordinate shall prepare a citation and release the person arrested pursuant to Section 853.6 of the Penal Code of the State of California, the provisions of which are hereby adopted by reference as part of this section.
This is very chilling language. Who IS the “fire code official”? Who CAN be the “delegated subordinates”? There are no definitions of either term in Section 202.
4) 7.92.202 Section 202 is amended – Definitions. Section 202 is amended – Definition of All-Weather Surface.
Definition of All-Weather Surface in Section 202 of Chapter 2 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is added after Alcohol-Blended Fuels to read as follows:
ALL WEATHER SURFACE. An all-weather surface shall be a minimum of 6 inches (152 mm) of 95% compacted Class II base rock for grades up to and including 5%, oil and screened for grades up to and including 15%, and asphaltic concrete for grades exceeding 15%. No grade shall be allowed to exceed 16% in State Responsibility Area (SRA) or 20% in Local Responsibility Area (LRA).
This requires paving all driveways and roads over 15% grade in the SRA. This will be cost-prohibitive for some rural residents, and will cause increased stormwater runoff. Why are steeper gradients allowed in the LRA?
5) 7.92.307.4.1 Section 307.4.1 is added – Bonfires.
Section 307.4.1 of Chapter 3 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is added to read as follows: 307.4.1 – Bonfires. A bonfire shall not be conducted within 50 feet (15240 mm) of a structure or combustible material unless the fire is contained in a barbecue pit. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 50 feet (15240 mm) of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.
7.92.307.4.2 Section 307.4.2 is added – Recreational fires. Section 307.4.2 of Chapter 3 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is added to read as follows: 307.4.2 – Recreational fires. Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet (7620 mm) of a structure or combustible material. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet (7620 mm) of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.
What is the difference between a “bonfire” and a “recreational fire”? There is no definition provided in Section 202.
How are “warming fires” defined and regulated? The document is silent on warming fires, yet these fires have great potential to cause wildland fires, and in fact have in Santa Cruz County, eg, the DeLaveaga Fire in August, 2022.
6) 7.92.308.1.7 Section 308.1.7 is added – Religious ceremonies.
Section 308.1.7 of Chapter 3 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is added to read as follows:
308.1.7 – Religious ceremonies. When, in the opinion of the fire code official, adequate safeguards have been taken, participants in religious ceremonies are allowed to carry handheld candles. Hand-held candles shall not be passed from one person to another while lighted.
This is government overreach, and should instead offer language about ground surface conditions required (eg, beach sand, raked bare mineral earth or road base free of organic material).
7) 7.92.503 Section 503 is added – FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS.
Section 503 of Chapter 5 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is added and amended below. 7.92.503.2.1 Section 503.2.1 is amended – Dimensions. Section 503.2.1 of Chapter 5 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is amended to read as follows:
503.2.1 – Dimensions. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet (6096 mm), exclusive of shoulders, except for approved security gates in accordance with Section 503.6, and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 15 feet (4572 mm).
Exceptions:
Where it is environmentally inadvisable to meet these criteria (due to excessive grading, tree removal or other environmental impacts), a 12-foot (3658 mm) wide all-weather surface access road with 12-foot (3658 mm) wide by 35-foot (10,668 mm) long turnouts located approximately every 500 feet (152,400 mm) may be provided with the approval of the fire code official.
How will property owners and private road associations comply with this new requirement when, combined with the new 16% grade limit, it would not be technically or financially feasible?
8)7.92.503.2.1.1Section 503.2.1.1 is added – Vegetation clearance along access roads.
Section 503.2.1.1 of Chapter 5 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is added to read as follows:
503.2.1.1 – Vegetation clearance along access roads. Areas within 10 feet (3048 mm) horizontal and 15 feet (4572 mm) vertical on each side of portions of highways, public and private streets, roads and driveways which are ordinarily used for vehicular traffic shall be cleared of flammable vegetation and other combustible growth. Design of such area may be found in Santa Cruz County Fire Prevention Officers Standards.
Where is the “Santa Cruz County Fire Prevention Officers Standards”? Does this mean that the Santa Cruz County Dept. of Public Works will be required to resume roadside mowing on an annual basis?
9) 7.92.503.2.4 Section 503.2.4 is amended – Turning radius. Section 503.2.4 of Chapter 5 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is amended to read as follows: 503.2.4 – Turning radius. In the State Responsibility Area (SRA) no roadway shall have a horizontal inside radius of curvature of less than 50 feet (15,240 mm) and additional surface width of 4 feet (1219 mm) shall be added to curves of 50-100 feet (15,240-30,480 mm) radius; 2 feet (609 mm) to those from 100-200 feet (30,480-60,960 mm). In the Local Responsibility Area (LRA) the minimum centerline radius shall be 35 feet (10,668 mm).
How will the County address existing roads in the mountains, such as Eureka Canyon Road and Highland Road, where there are curves that do not comply? Is this an example changing the road requirements to accommodate purchases of Type I engines, rather than Type 3 engines?
10) 7.92.503.2.5.1Section 503.2.5.1 is added – New dead-end access roads.
Section 503.2.5.1 of Chapter 5 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is added to read as follows:
503.2.5.1 – New dead-end access roads. New dead-end roads are prohibited, without secondary access, serving more than one parcel in new minor land divisions or subdivisions which exceed the following distances from an adequate through road unless approved by the applicable fire protection agency, the Department of Public Works, and by the Planning Commission; in no case shall a new dead-end road exceed 1/2 mile in length.
If property owners are unable to obtain easement agreements with neighboring properties (such as State Parks) to allow for a secondary access, this would prevent the property owner from building. This is a taking by government regulation.
11) 7.92.503.2.7 Section 503.2.7 is amended – Grade.
Section 503.2.7 of Chapter 5 of the Fire Code of Santa Cruz County is amended to read as follows:
503.2.7 – Grade. The grade for all roads, streets, private lanes and driveways shall not exceed 16% in State Responsibility Area (SRA) and 20% in Local Responsibility Area (LRA).
This is inconsistent without explanation. The grade limitation for LRA shoud be 16%, consistent with the SRA limit.
Take time to read through the document, ask your Supervisor to provide a Strikeout-and-Underline version that makes it transparent exactly what the new Santa Cruz County Fire Code changes will mean for rural residents, write the Board with your concerns and reasonable solutions, and remember to show up at their December 6 meeting to speak up.
NEW COUNTY FIRE DEPT. WEBSITE IS PROBLEMATIC AND MISSING CRITICAL DOCUMENTS
The new Santa Cruz County Fire Dept. website just got launched, but is missing some really important information, such as the financial documents, the County Fire Master Plan, and the Santa Cruz County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
When I wrote CalFire Chief Nate Armstrong, who also gets paid to act as the County Fire Dept. Chief, to ask about this problem, he responded on November 8:
“Unfortunately I can’t tell you exactly when the links will be fixed and don’t know of another online location for those two documents right now. But I can assure you that knowledge of those two documents is by no means needed for participating in a constituent interview for the current master plan process, which I think you will see once you attend your interview. I do appreciate your wanting to be prepared for that process, but I think you will see that the input the consultants are looking for is more global and subjective than the particulars of any document.”
In order to prepare for a stakeholder interview to which I was invited, with the purpose of providing input on the County Fire Master Plan that County Fire taxpayers are giving $40,000 to AP Triton consultants to do, I really did need to review the expired 2012-2015 Plan version. I realized that the County Board of Supervisors must have approved the document, because they are the governing body for County Fire Dept., I did a search…and there it was.
County Fire Chief Nate Armstrong looked very shocked when I presented a hard copy of the document to the County Fire Department Advisory Commission on November 16 and explained how I managed to find it myself. He looked across the table in disbelief at General Services Director Michael Beaton, who controls the purse strings for County Fire, who convinced the Ad Hoc Committee they were not capable of updating the County Fire Master Plan and that AP Triton had to be the consultant to do the fast-tracked job…without bid or RFP, or consulting the Commissioners.
When Mr. Beaton later presented to the Commissioners the Scope of that work, with great apologies for not having provided them with any information at all about it until that moment, he initially refused to answer my question about who will pay for the $40,000 cost? “Public Comment has ended” he said, but then reluctantly offered that “County Fire” will pay the bill. Wow.
APTOS VILLAGE GETS NEW INTERSECTION?
New Parade Street intersection at Soquel Drive in Aptos Village now includes railroad crossing arms and signals, just installed last week.
Another view…note that the Bayview Hotel has recently been painted white, restoring it to the original color. The historic private crossing in front of the Hotel will be closed as soon as Parade Street is opened.
MAKE ONE CALL. WRITE ONE LETTER. ATTEND THE DECEMBER 1 ZOOM PUREWATER SOQUEL PROJECT PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK WHY THERE ISN’T WIDESPREAD USE OF THE RECYCLED WATER FOR IRRIGATION AND GREEN PLANET COOLING? ATTEND ONE ZOOM COMMISSION MEETING AND FIND OUT WHAT YOUR COMMISSIONERS ARE DOING TO REPRESENT YOU AS AN ADVISORY GROUP TO MAKE THE COUNTY BETTER.
HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING …WE INDEED HAVE MUCH FOR WHICH TO BE GRATEFUL.
Cheers,
Becky
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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. She ran again in 2020 on a slightly bigger shoestring and got 1/3 of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
November 20
FERNS
When the flowers fade and the leaves fall, ferns are the life-filled bright points in the natural world around us. Most people could distinguish a fern from other types of plants: they are distinct enough and their patterns seem imprinted in the human psyche. Ferns are an ancient type of plant: Earth was dominated by ferns for millions of years before plants with more showy flowers (and seeds) evolved. Ferns can reproduce sexually or asexually, and we are still learning about those reproduction systems. People can grow ferns from spores…and luckily people are doing enough of that to make ferns available in the nursery trade, because certain ferns can be great additions to our tended landscapes and in restoration areas.
In this column, I describe four common local ferns: western sword fern, giant chain fern, polypody ferns and bracken fern. These four types of ferns are so common in our area that it is worth knowing which is which. It will take little practice to tell them apart.
Sword Fern
Western sword fern (Polysticum munitum) is called this because each leaflet has a hilt-like appendage at its base. These are bunch-ferns: each plant has a center point where it grows new fronds. New fronds unfurl each year in the middle of winter. These ferns don’t like fire. Students I’ve worked with analyzed forest vegetation data before and after fire to discover that what had been nice understories thick with sword ferns failed to regenerate after the Lockheed fire. Sword ferns survived our north coast fires because they were in spots that fire skipped over or where the fire burned less severely. Sword ferns prefer dark, moist coniferous forests- north-facing slopes are best, but they thrive anywhere redwoods drip moisture combed from summer fog banks.
What good are sword ferns? Indigenous people north of here used this species as roof thatch. I’ve lowered myself from one fern bunch to the next on extremely steep slopes; the plants were that well rooted! They must be important for slowing erosion and slope failure. If you have a shady place in dense forest, it would make a great landscape plant: it is the ideal size for most people – 3′ tall and 3′ wide – and is evergreen.
(Sword fern photo by Flickr user brewbooks, licensed for use through creative commons.)
Polypody Ferns
Polypody ferns are easy to spot because they sprout fronds from runners rather than forming bunches. And, they go entirely to sleep during the dry summers, their fronds wilting and disappearing. With the recent rains and cooler days, Polypody ferns have begun their annual re-flush of new growth. The best stands I’ve seen are on rocky outcrops at the edge of ravines on the North Coast – big, lush mats unfurling new fronds right now. I’m used to seeing ferns and orchids draping tropical trees, and I am always pleased when I find polypody ferns growing on tree branches around here. It is uncommon, but you can see them if you look enough.
There are two polypody ferns locally: California polypody and Licorice fern. It is difficult to tell the difference between them. Licorice fern, though, is less common – it has roots that taste sweet with notes of ginger and licorice.
(Sword fern photo by Flickr user John Rusk, licensed for use through creative commons.)
Giant Chain Fern
Giant chain fern (Woodwardia fimbriata) is a big, big fern of the wettest places. This species’ fronds get up to 4′ long. It cannot grow unless its roots are wet: in springs, seeps, and along creeks. But, it won’t grow in much sun, preferring mostly to full shade. It gets its name from the neatly arranged, chain-like shape of its spore-bearing ‘sori’ on the underside of its leaves. I’ve encountered stands of giant chain fern that are so thick on the banks of local creeks that I hesitated to hike through them. But they are gentle enough and, if you are careful, you can weave between the towering fronds without getting too tangled.
Indigenous people north of San Francisco used this species of fern stems in basketry.
(Giant chain fern photograph by Flickr user aliivibrio licensed for use through creative commons.)
Bracken Fern
Bracken fern is a very widespread fern that grows from gnarly long underground runners. Someone once told me that this species is responsible for a lot of tropical rainforest deforestation. The story goes like this: ranchers cut down rainforest for pasture, pasture grows nice for a little while but then bracken fern takes over, so they must clear another patch. And so we learn that bracken fern spans the globe from the tropics to very northerly latitudes. And, we learn that cows don’t eat bracken. When I helped take care of University lands at Fort Ord, I encountered people harvesting arm loads of bracken fern fronds. These fronds are a popular food in some cultures. But bracken fern fronds are carcinogenic! Perhaps the news hasn’t reached everyone. Don’t eat them! That carcinogen is probably why cattle ranchers don’t want their livestock eating it.
In fact, nothing much seems to eat bracken- even deer leave it alone. Apparently, there is a sawfly that feeds on it.
Bracken fern takes over meadows around here, too. There are big stands of bracken in the meadow across from the UCSC Arboretum. If you go out there in the early summer, I recommend lying down in the middle of that patch on a sunny day and breathing deeply. Bracken gives off a sweet, spicy smell that is like lightly toasted hay.
This species has been shown to inhibit the growth of other plants through chemicals it exudes. So, once a bracken fern stand gets thick enough, little else grows near it.
Of the ferns I describe in this article, this is the one you don’t want to plant in your landscape. Like polypody ferns, this species dies back each year. But, unlike polypody ferns, this one leaves behind a massive amount of dead and dry leaves which are difficult to clean up. The old leaves are still well attached to their runners and, at the same time, are a fire hazard. Bracken fern shoots up new leaves right after wildfires, even when it otherwise seems quite dry.
(Bracken fern drawing provided via Wikimedia commons and made available via a Creative Commons share alike 4.0 international license.)
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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 |
November 16
#321 / Name Those Billionaires!
That is Larry Page, pictured above. He is one of the co-founders of Google. He is also number six on a list, compiled by Forbes, of the 400 richest people in the country. I almost said “men,” but there are a few women on the list. Want to see the entire Forbes 400 list? Click right here!
If you’d like to pare it down a bit, and don’t have time to look through a listing of 400 people, you can use the following link for an article that is headlined, “80 California Billionaires Make Forbes 400 List Of Super Rich.” That’s where I got the picture of Larry Page.
I, personally, qualify as a “Native Son of the Golden West,” meaning that I was born in California, and when it comes to naming the billionaires, I always like to keep my focus local. I don’t need to keep track of every billionaire in the nation or the world. My envy and outrage can be confined to that list of eighty! Maybe you’re the same!
Actually, I like to think, I am not really that “envious” of the billionaires who have made that Forbes 400 listing (California-based or otherwise). A certain quotient of “outrage,” however, might be admitted.
For a nation of such great wealth, isn’t it something worthy of condemnation, not congratulation, that a rather short list of people controls such a large percentage of land, money, and everything else, including both personal celebrity and political influence? I do have an “egalitarian” bias, I have to confess, based on my belief that we are “all in this together.”
Generally speaking, it seems to be natural to equate wealth with importance, but who is important, actually? My answer? EVERYONE is important.
We are, in fact – and it isn’t just a feel-good slogan – “in this together.” The enterprises and activities that have produced the wealth that is documented in these lists of the billionaires were not created and made successful ONLY by the persons who have ended up with the most money. Wouldn’t we all be better off if we were able to reduce the economic inequality that these lists of the billionaires document, and make sure the benefits of human ingenuity and activity were distributed to everyone – at least to the extent that everyone would could live a life that includes sufficient food, housing, health care, education, and safety?
That would seem fair to me, and that, at least, is what I suggest should be our economic, social, and political goal. We might start thinking of this as a “global” objective, too.
Such a more egalitarian distribution of the wealth that we all help produce isn’t going to happen, though, is it? Well, it certainly isn’t unless we change the rules.
And who makes the rules?
When I ask that question, I am back to that old Abe Lincoln prescription. Right near the end of the Civil War, which was fought to end a system of wealth acquisition based on slavery, Lincoln told us that the Civil War had been fought to ensure that a “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
OF the people, and BY the people means that we have to get involved in government ourselves. Personally!
I happen to know, from my own personal experience (in mostly a local context, I admit) that when more people get personally engaged in politics, in making the government do what most people want, in making the government do what we believe we need, the theoretical principle, articulated above (and which is hard to disagree with in principle) actually does work!
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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 |
SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
So far this week, the wheels have stayed on despite the expected announcement of The Former Guy, tossing his hat into the ring for a third try at the office of president. Complicating his run is Attorney General Merrick Garland’s appointment of a special counsel to oversee the Justice Department’s dual investigation into The Don’s possession of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, as well as his involvement in the planning and attempted overthrow of the election of Joe Biden as the rightful successor to the presidency with the insurrection on January 6, 2021. With the midterm elections past, the AG made his announcement that a veteran prosecutor, Jack Smith, would be handling the problematic explorations of wrong-doing, especially in light of Trump’s entry into the race. This should be a signal to Trump that he is in completely new territory…no more whacks across the knuckles with a ruler for him!
“The Department of Justice has long recognized that in certain extraordinary cases, it is in the public’s interest to appoint a special prosecutor to independently manage an investigation and prosecution,” Garland announced from the DOJ podium. Smith, who is a registered Independent, previously worked in the department’s public integrity section, before serving as the acting chief federal prosecutor in Nashville, TN during the Obama years, and is now coming from a stint as chief prosecutor for the special court in The Hague while investigating international war crimes. Lacking a political party affiliation will serve to deter any interpretation of bias or partiality, though Trump immediately branded Smith as “a Trump hater,” as he joins this “continuing political witch hunt.” A Trump lackey called the appointment “a totally expected political stunt by a feckless politicized, weaponized Biden Department of Justice.”
“Throughout his career, Jack Smith has built a reputation as an impartial and determined prosecutor who leads teams with energy and focus to follow facts wherever they lead,” Garland said. “As special counsel, he will exercise independent prosecutorial judgement to decide whether charges should be brought. The extraordinary circumstances here demand it.” Smith’s statement through the Justice Department said he will do his work independently and “in the best traditions of the Department of Justice. The pace of the investigation will not pause or flag under my watch,” he promised. Smith will have authority to prosecute federal crimes resulting from his work, but the AG maintains final authority, and should he oppose any proposed investigative results from Smith, by federal law he is required to notify Congress. To many observers it seems that it’s a cut-and-dried case considering all the evidence revealed in press coverage, and particularly from the House Select Committee’s findings. If evidence doesn’t exist to file charges, “You have to be able to admit that if it’s not there, it’s not there,” Smith says. “I think that’s hard for people to do and having been a prosecutor for 15 years that is something I can do.”
Let’s hope Smith at the least considers two recent reports released by veteran prosecutors and top legal minds of these two ongoing probes, both reaching the same conclusion, that evidence exists to bring charges against the Orange One. The probe into his actions in Georgia to “find 11,780 votes”, and the mishandling of top secret documents taken to Mar-a-Lago upon his retreat from Washington, are seen as an ending to Trump’s evasion of accountability for his crimes. It took almost 500 pages to enumerate his likely state and federal transgressions such as soliciting to commit election fraud, violating state RICO acts, to espionage and obstruction of justice. “We conclude that Trump’s post-election conduct in Georgia leaves him at substantial risk of possible state charges predicated on multiple crimes,” declares a report from the Brookings Institution.
Just Security, a group made up of former prosecutors, found additional statutes to be considered in Trump’s mishandling of documents that would allow for his prosecution, just as anyone who has faced similar charges. “We determine there is strong precedent for the DOJ to charge Trump. There are many felony cases that the DOJ pursued based on conduct that was significantly less egregious than the present set of facts in the Trump case,” they wrote. “In short, we conclude that if Trump were not charged, it would be a major deviation from how defendants are typically treated.” Members of this group include former prosecutors who worked on the Mueller Report, saying that the former prez’s reluctance to return documents after a request to do so, which then resulted in a subpoena and consequently the FBI ‘raid’ only add to the significance of the case. All of which is further complicated by the number of highly sensitive documents, the length of time he chose to retain them, and his involvement of others in the handling of the materials.
The report finds at least 11 charges that could be brought as a result of Trump’s Georgia actions. In the Mar-a-Lago section of the report, three additional statutes could be considered beyond the original three in the government’s warrant, two of which address the resistance from Trump, to include criminal contempt and lying to authorities. The third, a statute that covers conversion of government property (good for ten years behind bars), would require the government to prove that a defendant converted or retained items for their own use. In true fashion, Trump denounced the FBI and DOJ in his candidacy speech, saying, “No threat is greater than the weaponization from the system, the FBI or the DOJ.”
These reports also respond to any likely defenses Trump might use – twenty pages dealing with Mar-a-Lago alone – such as his claim of personal items being taken, or claim of executive privilege, ad infinitum. Also dismissed in the Georgia case, is a possible defense that Trump genuinely believed he won the election and therefore has some immunity from prosecution, a concept solidly disproven by the House J6 Committee.
The Donald is attempting to block any legal challenges by his announcement, but he also sees his support within the GOP dwindling, which was impetus to shake up the troops and get early contributions that might otherwise go to campaigns of potential rivals. One consideration is that he needs to appear as a vocal leader after his midterm endorsed candidates had lackluster results, and his limited campaign appearances resulting from a number of candidate shunning his support. His favorable ratings were sinking before the FBI search at Mar-a-Lago, after which his favorables dropped even more, instrumental in turning the predicted midterms ‘red wave’ into an ‘ebb tide.’
Let’s face it…nobody likes a loser who has never won the popular vote, even though his arrogance and his insolent down-with-the-libs style still speaks to the GOP. But, the Blitzkrieg Bozo had to step up before his floor collapsed, and now the party is affixed with an albatross they don’t want or need, with an infestation of hesitant cowards with no guts to step up and call the would-be emperor a phony frog-prince. Even the Parking Garage Hero of January 6, VP Mike Pence will only skirt the possibility that he and his family were endangered by the mob, saying that he was initially “angry” with his boss on that day, but his “Christian beliefs” have since tempered his feelings – call it ‘fear,’ Mikey. You’re not going to mess with the Albatross by criticizing him, or by showing your hand as you reach for the Golden Ring on his finger. Adherents of Florida’s ‘Coyote’ DeSantis keep tempting him to enter the fray as his poll percentages rise, and as he says, “Followers will walk across broken glass to see me.” Sure, Ron – just make sure you’re wearing your brogans and a bullet-proof vest when you bend over to kiss that ring – he shoots people on Fifth Avenue, you know!
New York Times columnist, Charles Blow, writes that Trump has learned through his failures, his close calls with the justice system, to become a better political predator, being more dangerous than ever now. He has learned that his supporters will support much of his disdain for the system, for women, and for the law, and he sees the necessity of severe loyalty tests, that grasping for power must come early in order to break the political system. A tight grip on those around him would be needed…no more wishy-washy ‘loyalists’ who won’t kowtow until the end, such as Mike Pence or Bill Barr, who questioned his authority. His belief that presidents should operate with impunity, which would invite corruption and total defiance of democracy; however, he has come to believe that though presidents aren’t too big to fail, they are too big to jail, and a Donald Trump free of prosecution is a Trump free to rampage with revenge. Blow says, “Not prosecuting Trump threatens the collapse of the entire political ecosystem and therefore the country.”
So, until special counsel Jack Smith gets his investigation underway, we will have to rely on Republicans to face up to it: do they fall prey once again to the wiles of a narcissistic, sociopathic grifter? Or, despite the gravitational pull of the party’s base do they finally escape this rocket ride toward the darkness of another ‘lost in space with the Trump Syndicate’ era? “As an American, the idea of another Trump campaign with all of his lies and divisiveness and his efforts to undermine American democracy is an absolute horror show.” said Senator Bernie Sanders. “On the other hand, I got to say that as a politician who wants to see that no Republican is elected to the White House in 2024, his candidacy is probably a good thing.” Even the National Review presented its message to the GOP with, “Republicans: Trump is your problem. Wake up.”
Robert Harrington writes in The Palmer Report, “The GOP knows that Trump still has ratings with much of the low-information and brain-damaged part of the American constituency, and they are hell-bent on exploiting it. After all, those people do in fact vote, unfortunately.” He goes on to say, “Trump doesn’t merely live on toxic waste. He thrives on it…so many Americans love Donald Trump because he gives them permission to hate. They love hate and Trump is the only hate merchant in town. So they will continue to defend and protest this toxic little man because he’s the only one who will openly join them in their disgusting pastime.” He ends with, “That is the evil that faces us today. I think we can defeat them.”
A possible, but temporary, solution to our political problems may lie within this story: On a flight from Delhi to New York it was discovered after take-off, as flight attendants were readying meals for passengers that only 200 meals were mistakenly loaded for the 400 on board. An idea by one attendant was announced to the passengers, “Ladies and gentlemen, we don’t know how it happened, but we have over 400 people aboard, but only 200 dinners. Anyone kind enough to give up their meal to someone else, will receive unlimited free liquor for the duration of the flight!” Her next announcement six hours later: “Ladies and gentlemen, if anyone wants to change their mind, we still have 180 dinners available.” Moral of the story: People who like to drink, Democrat or Republican, have very kind hearts. Might work!?
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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.
“Thanksgiving, part 2”“My parents came from little, so they made a choice to give a lot: buying turkeys for homeless shelters at Thanksgiving, delivering meals to people in hospices, giving spare change to those asking for it.”
~Meghan Markle
“Every year, I hear about Thanksgiving. Who do one give thanks to? … And who is giving thanks? What are they giving thanks for? For lots of poverty that’s on the earth and lots of war that is a-rumoring all over the earth? For lots of people who die daily and the crime that multiply?”
~Peter Tosh
“We may not have it all together, but together, we have it all.”
~Anonymous
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I’m not sure what to say, other than this is pretty precious 🙂 |
BRATTON…election reactions, Stacey Falls on results and consequences, Nancy Abbey about Cuba, Paul Lee’s passing, looking at Lookout. GREENSITE…has gone to Cuba and will return soon. KROHN…will be back next week. STEINBRUNER…1000 new downtown residents, drinking sewage water, county general plan, Kaiser Med. Facility issues, Freedom Campus, builders remedy. HAYES…Human-non human compatibility. PATTON…Growth ? Good MATLOCK…A Red ripple and voting in the streets. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover WEBMISTRESS’…pick of the week: historical nuggets. QUOTES…”Thanksgiving”
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DATELINE November 14
LOCAL ELECTION REACTIONS.
One way or the other Santa Cruz, well a disappointingly small part of Santa Cruz, has spoken. Nagging minds will forever debate whether it was home owners versus renters, or long timers versus Silicon Valley half residents, or maybe students versus locals, but we took a setback no matter how you read it. The pro-growth city council aided and abetted by officials like Lee Butler will have our skyline rising beyond belief. Butler was interviewed on KZSC’s Bushwhackers program and stated that we have no hope in controlling growth because the State mandates that we grow. What he and so many of our “leaders” are failing to do is to fight and amend those state mandates like many, many other cities continue to do. We can control growth but only if we elect the right people. Fred Keeley, our new mayor, will take some close watching to see where and how he comes down on development. He’s got a huge interest in the Warriors property and as a semi-permanent Mayor he’ll have a lot of persuasive moves to make
STACEY FALLS RELATES TO OUR VOTING LAST TUESDAY.
Stacey Falls is and has been a staunch supporter of what’s best for Santa Cruz. She wrote this piece for a FB page last week.
“great. santa cruz voted based on real estate interests. we decided that rich people who own mansions that they visit a few weeks of the year don’t need to help out our housing crisis in any way. we decided that the pretty white landlady who skips more city council meetings than all the other councilmembers combined can just keep doing her thing. and our new mayor is a rich, white, straight guy (also a landlord) who danced on his chair when the empty home tax failed.
we used to have a city council that had 0 white men, and we just elected two old white men to the council, voting down the only hispanic to run in years.
come on santa cruz. is this really the city we want to be? we just went 30 years back in time”.
OUT LOOK FOR LOOKOUT continues. Many folks have noticed the number of writers who have left Lookout now the rumor grows about Lookout quitting after the end of this month. Though its Hat’s Off to Wallace Baine and the piece he did on Paul Lee’s demise. It is detailed, heartfelt and pretty thorough.
NANCY ABBEY ABOUT CUBA.
Nancy Abbey, one-time Santa Cruz activist and long-time advocate for normalizing relations with Cuba, now lives in Maui surrounded by family and enjoying a view of Molokai . She sent these comments that are well worth reading and working on…It’s about our ascribing the poverty in Cuba to socialism and the poverty in other countries as just poverty.
“I’m increasingly frustrated with the spin given by even the most liberal of political commentators when it comes to describing immigrants. Consistently, without fear of contradictions, immigrants who come from economically struggling countries are described as fleeing poverty – except for Cuba. Cubans they say are fleeing communism.
Are they? Or are they fleeing the food shortages and the substandard living conditions that must be attributed to a major extent on the 60 year blockade as much, or more than, their economic system? After all, reducing the island to the lowest possible economic level – humans be damned in the process – is the entire purpose of the decades long policy.
If Cubans are fleeing communism, why aren’t Mexicans, Haitians, Guatemalans, Asians and Filipinos fleeing capitalism? Aren’t they fleeing an economic system that isn’t working for them?
There’s a subtle message here that’s easily ignored by readers and listeners and woven into the accepted belief in this country that Cubans flee communism. In reality, Cubans don’t flee the abject poverty and violence of developing countries, but they come to this country for the economic promise held out to them by a government that welcomes them with open arms, greets them with a monthly stipend, eases their path to a green card and, ultimately, to citizenship.
Do Cubans enjoy the political freedom we do? No, they don’t. With a major enemy 90 miles from its shores, political freedom is curtailed to an extent greater than ours. (One does have to ask though, if Iraq and Iran were 90 miles away, would someone advocating for the Taliban be free to walk the streets? Or, wait a sec – are they free to do that now?)
Contrary to popular belief here, dissidents do live and operate in Cuba until they cross the line to work with the U.S., and Cubans complain non-stop without fearing reprisal. Were in-the-street protestors last October met with a police crackdown? Yes. Were they protesting their government? Yes. They were angry about blackouts, shortages of food and medicine, and they blamed their government because their government is supposed to assure a decent standard of living.
Were they protesting communism? I wouldn’t pretend to answer that question. Do we protest capitalism when we march in the streets?”.
PAUL LEE IS GONE! Santa Cruz won’t be the same now that Paul Lee passed on to the next place last week. He had great ideas and those ideas changed our community in a very good way. His teaching at UCSC, his support of the homeless, his restaurant in the old Cooper House, leading the Penny University and dozens more will never be and can’t be forgotten.
I search and critique a variety of movies only from those that are newly released. Choosing from the thousands of classics and older releases would take way too long. And be sure to tune in to those very newest movie reviews live on KZSC 88.1 fm every Friday from about 8:10 – 8:30 am. on the Bushwhackers Breakfast Club program hosted by Dangerous Dan Orange.
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (7.1 IMDB). A serious story from a book about a very young girl who was deserted by her family and forced to live her life known as the Marsh Girl. Perfectly acted by Daisy Edgar-Jones and aided by David Strathairn as her attorney its deep, colorful, and threatening as she learns how to cope with the few humans in her life plus a murder. The ending is a shocker and it’s very worthwhile watching.
THE CROWN. (NETFLIX SERIES) (8.7 IMDB). This is the fifth (that’s 5!!!) season of this Queen Elizabeth saga and it does lack something. We Americans (and much of the world) have always been so fascinated by the British throne and surroundings so we watch anything and everything about those royals. Here we watch Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s marriage remain in hell especially having Dominic West playing Charles. He just isn’t right for the part, but watch it anyways just to get one more take on all the sadness and mistakes the royals make decade after decade.
CICI (NETFLIX MOVIE) (7.3 IMDB). A Turkish movie that starts off in black and white and goes to full color as the movie works hard to reveal the terrible intra family relationships between father and mother and all their children and relatives. It’s depicted as some of the relatives reunite while they attempt to film their own movie of their families past. Its slow moving, flips from present to their past many times and even gets confusing and requires careful paying attention.
BANSHEES OF INISHERIN. (DEL MAR THEATRE) (8.2 IMDB). A nearly perfect movie that I would give many Academy Awards to. First of all to Colin Farrell who plays a longtime friend to the older Brendan Gleeson. These two guys live on a very small fictional island off the coast of Ireland and suddenly Gleeson tells Farrell he doesn’t want to be friends anymore. It baffles Colin and all of their friends on the island. It’s a deep but nearly humorous self-inspection that Colin goes through that makes us all relate to our own friendships. Well worth watching and admiring such talent.
ROBBING MUSSOLINI. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (5.5 IMDB). This silly movie starts off with a bunch of thugs from Milan trying to decide and plot how to steal Benito Mussolini’s wartime treasures back in 1945. Then 10 minutes into the plot it turns to cartoons and Marvel Comics tricks and lost me completely. I stopped it after 25 minutes.
SPECIAL NOTE….Don’t forget that when you’re not too sure of a plot or need any info on a movie to go to Wikipedia. It lays out the straight/non hype story plus all the details you’ll need including which server (Netflix, Hulu, or PBS) you can find it on. You can also go to Brattononline.com and punch in the movie title and read my take on the much more than 100 movies.
ENOLA HOLMES 2. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.9 IMDB). This is take 2 about Sherlock Holme’s sister Enola. Henry Cavill is back as Sherlock and it’s a semi-serious comic look at how Enola Holmes solves crimes and she looks at the camera a lot which was clever once or twice. Helena Bonham Carter has a small role, and it’ll take your mind off politics.
GOD FORBID. (HULU MOVIE) (6.9 IMDB). An amazing shocking beautifully done documentary about Jerry Falwell’s fall from power and his secret sex life. It covers Falwell’s Christian church manipulations and digs right into his relationship with Donald Trump and the whole Florida fiasco…don’t miss it, you’ll be surprised.
BLOCKBUSTER. (NETFLIX SERIES) (5.4 IMDB). There really is one Blockbuster Store left open and running but this isn’t in this simple minded comedy. It’ simple minded not clever and I’m not sure why it was produced. Don’t waste your time.
THE PERIPHERAL. (PRIME SERIES) (8.4 IMDB). Chloe Grace Moretz is always a pleasure to watch and she’s the lead in this trippy sci-fi adventure. It’s just outside of London in 2090 and she has a brother who obtains nerve bending headsets that projects Chloe into simulations that will keep you very near the edge of your seat.
THE WHITE LOTUS. (HBO SERIES) (8.4 IMDB). Back again with a new locale and almost all new cast set in Sicily. Again it’s about tourists staying in a fancy hotel and some dead bodies are discovered. Jennifer Coolidge returns as the extra-large and outgoing married babe with issues. Intrigue and suspicions bounce around and there’s lots of Italian scenery to look at as well as the very clever twisted plot.
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (7.9 IMDB). If you’ve seen the original 1930 movie from the book by Erich Maria Remarque you’ll almost recognize many, many of the bloody cruel scenes all over again. There’s little plot except to show us once again just how pointless and evil war has and will always be. It’s in German and centers on World War I and how it ended. Excellent and 5 thumbs up!!
Gillian is in Cuba and will return shortly
| 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. |
(Chris is covering the UC Strike and will be back next week)
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Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and a Santa Cruz City Council member from 1998-2002 and from 2017-2020. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 16 years. On Tuesday evenings at 5pm, Krohn hosts of “Talk of the Bay,” on KSQD 90.7 and KSQD.org His Twitter handle at SCpolitics is @ChrisKrohnSC Chris can be reached at ckrohn@cruzio.com
Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com |
November 14
1000’S MORE COMING TO DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ
If you haven’t been in downtown Santa Cruz lately, you may be amazed by what you see happening near Front Street and Laurel. Here is what’s coming…
LAST CHANCE FOR YOUR COMMENT ON DRINKING TREATED SEWAGE WATER
Finally, the Soquel Creek Water District website has information about the important December 1 Virtual Public Hearing for the Title 22 Recycled Water Engineering Report
The Virtual Public Hearing will open at 5:30pm to review the critical 1552-page document that essentially outlines the PureWater Soquel Project with environmental analysis that should have been done long ago before embarking on this cost-inflated Project.
Will it work? Recently, District Director Bruce Jaffe admitted he’s not sure.
Read through this important information if you care about what the PureWater Soquel Project will do to our drinking water supply. Note that Public Comment period ends December 8.
SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER NEW WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS NOVEMBER 29
Last Monday (11/7), the Santa Cruz City Water Commission heard the final presentations regarding potential water supply augmentation projects to provide water during future droughts. The group approved the recommendation to present a very lengthy Resolution to the City Council that includes a palette of possible projects, including desalination and using treated sewage water from the PureWater Soquel Project or a new independent treatment plant at the wastewater treatment plant.
The cost of the option to inject treated sewage water into the aquifer was the most expensive…over $10,000/AcreFoot. Wow.
The interesting issue raised was just how much sewage water would Soquel Creek Water District be allowed if the District doubles the production volume of recycled water to share with the City of Scotts Valley (via a new pipe along Graham Hill Road)?
Please plan to participate in the November 29 City Council review of this important question….”Where will the water for all the future development come from?”
TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE
The first of two public hearings for the sweeping changes our County General Plan will see come before the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, November 15. The second hearing is happening December 6.
Take a look at the notable Impacts this new General Plan would cause (beginning on page 11)
*Significant loss of farm land (page 12)
*Significant loss of riparian habitat by dense development at Thurber Lane /Soquel Drive (page 14)
*Significant loss of historic structures (page 16)
*Significant and unavoidable traffic congestion and increased vehicle miles travelled (page 24 and 25)
But take a look at this on page 20!
Impact HYD-2: Groundwater. Adoption and implementation of the proposed Sustainability Update would not directly or indirectly substantially decrease groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that the project may impede sustainable groundwater management of the basin. NO IMPACT???
But this is reversed on page 25:
Impact UTL-2: Water Supplies. Adoption and implementation of the proposed Sustainability Update could lead to development that could result in future increased demand for domestic water supplies, but two existing providers (City of Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek Water District) may not have sufficient water supplies available to serve the development indirectly resulting from implementation of the Sustainability Update and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry, and multiple years
Maybe the plan is to have everyone drinking treated sewage water by then…
The Final EIR is worth reading, especially the Comment Letters. Amazingly, there were only 14 submitted for this massive document that will change the face and feeling of our County. Of note, the comment sent by AMBAG Planner Heather Adamson leads one to believe that the Plan would build even more than what AMBAG is mandating (see page 66)
And on page 68:
While the projected growth in the Draft EIR is this greater than AMBAG’s population forecast, the growth rate resulting from the project would continue to be consistent with historic growth rates and the County’s Measure J annual growth rates as discussed on Draft EIR pages 4.13-13 to 4.13-15. As indicated, the proposed Sustainability Update could accommodate an increase of approximately 4,500 new dwelling units between 2020 and 2040, which could generate approximately 11,385 new residents based on the average household size in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. This estimate provides a worst-case scenario of theoretical maximum project buildout for the purposes of CEQA analysis, and it is not known whether this growth would actually occur.
Santa Cruz City Water Dept. Manager Rosemary Menard did well to gently suggest the EIR Hydrology section should include discussion of the County Water Quality Ordinance (Chapter 16.24) (see page 71)
Read the interesting Comment Letter from the Coastal Commission (page 86-87) pointing out that the proposed annexation and dense development to the west of Watsonville, near the Pajaro Valley High School, would violate the MOU with the Commission that was made when the new school was approved. “The objective of making any changes at all is unclear.” “…and would not serve anyone well.” The Coastal Commission recommended all land use changes in areas west of Watsonville be dropped.
Read the Comment Letter from California Highway Patrol opposing the reduction in the amount of lanes on Portola Drive. (page 105) The Consultant dismissed the opposition, because the Kimley-Horn consultant study said it will all work just fine. Hmmmm….
Participate in these public hearings, as overwhelming as they may seem, because this is what is shaping the future of our neighborhoods.
KAISER MEDICAL OFFICE PROJECT HEARING LIKELY DECEMBER 14 TO PLANNING COMMISSION
As usual, many large critical projects are flooding in during the upcoming holiday season. If you are concerned about the impacts of the proposed 4-story Kaiser Medical facility and attendant four-story 700+ car parking garage in Live Oak, keep your calendar open for December 14. The County Planning Commission will be reviewing this massive project then in a morning virtual meeting.
No public transportation service there? Hmmm…..
Based on this comprehensive contamination assessment of the site, there will have to be a lot of remediation, possibly involving contamination monitoring of the shallow groundwater table
NEW LARGE COUNTY FREEDOM CAMPUS QUIETLY MOVING FORWARD
Very soon, the former site of the County Courthouse on Freedom Blvd. in Watsonville could become a two-story complex, with 160 residential units filling up the five acres that once housed the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake survivors in over 100 FEMA trailers.
The site is potentially archaeologically-sensitive, relating to Native American uses of the nearby Corralitos Creek area. Local tribal leaders requested to be involved in any ground disturbing construction activity. (see page 44 and page 144)
I do wonder why Rincon consultants have seemingly copy-and-pasted certain aspects of this CEQA document in a rather sloppy fashion, evidenced on page 60 with a discussion about Bonny Doon geologic hazards?? Hmmm….
And imagine this:
Policy 7.18.2. Written Commitments Confirming Water Service Required for Permits. Concurrent with project application, require a written commitment from the water purveyor that verifies the capability of the system to serve the proposed development. Projects shall not be approved in areas that do not have a proven, adequate water supply.
The Rincon Consultants do not really address whether or not there is water available for this large new County Government Freedom Campus facility, merely describing the sewage treatment facility existence. But here is a shocking tidbit of information from page 154:
In the City’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, it was determined that the City’s 2020 water consumption was 87 gallons per capita per day (City of Watsonville 2020). Wow. That’s nearly double the per capita water use of other areas of the County.
Hmmmm….
Well, never mind. The consultants deemed the Project deserves a Mitigated Negative Declaration and will move forward.
Here’s the description, with no mention that the existing Master Gardeners’ Teaching Garden will be obliterated.
The Master Plan would involve a multi-stage redevelopment of the project site, including demolition of all six existing on-site buildings, construction of up to one or more new health services and other County buildings that would consolidate existing County health services and other County uses, and designate an approximately four-acre portion of the site for residential development consisting of one or more residential buildings with a combined total of up to 160 housing units. The building or buildings would be two stories in height, with an average floor-to-floor height of 15 feet and a total building height of approximately 35 feet. Regardless of the number of buildings, the building(s) would comprise a total of 70,000 to 85,000 square feet. Up to 5,000 square feet of the building(s) would be dedicated to community-serving uses, which may include but would not be limited to a community teaching kitchen and a multi-purpose community room. The project would also involve providing on-site parking for the health service building or buildings. Parking would be either surface parking or a new parking garage, or a combination of both.
WHAT THE NEW STATE-MANDATED HOUSING CONSTRUCTION MEANS FOR THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Last Wednesday, the County Planning Commission heard a clear report from the new Senior Planner, Mr. Matthew Sundt, about the new State-mandated housing construction numbers the County will be required to get built by 2031. It was sobering.
This big stick is known as the Regional Housing Number Allocation (RHNA). Contrived by regional agencies for each area of the State, the goal is to require all cities and counties to “build their fair share” of housing, especially affordable housing, for what the State determines is the likely future demand. In our area, the Association of Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) did that formulation for Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties and cities within, based on economic development models, but who knows exactly how those forecasts were developed?
Under the new RHNA 6th Cycle requirements, any vacant and “underutilized” parcels that have been on the books as such for the last 15 years and not built upon will not be allowed to be included for consideration to meet the new mandated dense building areas.
By December 15, 2023, Santa Cruz County has to have all vacant and/or “underutilized” parcels rezoned for dense infill housing, with taller buildings, larger Floor Area Ratio (aka, less green and open space likely and small trees to replace the large ones cut down) and the Board of Supervisors must have it all approved.
The report lists a timeline and “we intend to stick to it” said Mr. Sundt, showing the County Planning staff inventorying all parcels in the Unincorporated Area and within the Urban Services Line to see what is vacant or “underutilized”.
“Builder’s Remedy” would allow any developer with a Project that meets code and CEQA (which the County always declares “exempt”) would have AUTOMATIC APPROVAL of their Project upon submitting the application. No public hearings. Just imagine what a heyday Barry Swenson would have.
NO one addressed any of my questions. It was an informational item only, so the Commission took no action. I phoned Mr. Sundt afterward to again ask my questions, but added one: “Will the County consider using eminent domain at all to achieve these RHNA housing numbers be met on these vacant or underutilized parcels to be identified?” His quick answer was “NO.”
He said he knew nothing of the sewer hook-up moratorium in the Rodeo Gulch Basin area of Live Oak, the area targeted for dense in-fill tall buildings. He had mentioned to the Commission, but did not explain, the use of a “Wisdom Council” concept to gain public acceptance of these shockingly massive developments, currently focused on Pleasure Point. This is something new that Chair Manu Koenig proposed and the Board approved unanimously to try in an effort to bring the public onboard. Mr. Sundt took time to explain to me how the Healthy Democracy consultants had assembled the panels in Eugene, Oregon and Petaluma, CA, then said he needed to get back to work.
I later learned that Mr. Sundt was the former Planning Director for the City of Gonzales, and successfully annexed 1,300 acres with a goal of building 6,200 residential units there. Wow. He began his work for Santa Cruz County Planning Dept. just three months ago. Here is his LinkedIn profile
Read Mr. Sundt’s staff report about the RHNA numbers coming our way
COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS RESUME IN-PERSON ON JANUARY, 2023
For those who like to see slide presentations and feel that looking Commissioners in the eye when you speak with them is important, take heart. According to the report given at last Wednesday’s County Planning Commission, those in-person meetings will resume next January.
Call-in option will be kept available for the public but all Commissioners must be in-person. It will be interesting to see who will represent Districts 3 and 4, with the new Supervisors in place.
WATCH THE RIVER RISE IN THE NEXT RAIN
When it rains, I enjoy watching and listening to the rivers and creeks swell. Here’s a way you can watch those levels from your computer, rather than the riverbank
Let’s hope for some good rains, in measured amounts.
How will you save some of the rainwater for later use in your landscape? That’s something we all can do, and that local water agencies need to do, given the information of Climate Change models showing less frequent storms but more intense rain when they do arrive.
THE LIBRARY THAT WILL HAVE NO BOOKS OR LIBRARIAN CONTINUES UNDERWAY
The Live Oak Library Annex, being funded by Measure S Library tax money, is moving along, blocking access to the Simpkins Swim Center and existing community spaces.
How can anyone ever accept this can be called a “Library” when there will be no books or library staff available? This is precisely what the Grand Jury asked in their investigation
BALLOTS ARRIVE IN A DARK PARKING LOT, HALLWAYS EMPTY
I used to take my young children to the County Building on Election Night to watch the ballots come in from polling stations. There were floodlights to secure the area, and Poll Managers had to show ID as they entered and turned over the precious boxes of votes. The basement hallway was buzzing with activity, checking in and verifying the locations of the polling stations and the people handling the boxes of ballots. It was exciting, and meaningful.
Things have changed.
Last week, my daughter and I went to the County Building as the polls closed on Election Day, having observed at a couple of the Vote Centers. The parking lot was mostly dark. A solitary security guard was guarding the first floor entrance to the building as the vehicles filled with boxes of votes pulled up to the nearby basement entrance. There, the hallway was empty:
Up on the third floor, tables set up in the hallway were ready, with a few volunteers opening boxes and verifying Vote Center origins. The busiest action was in the room where scanned ballots had irregularities and had to be adjudicated. A team of two worked at lightning speed, their split-second decisions visible to observers from the hallway monitors.
Having watched new voter after new voter enter the Voting Centers we had observed (one Station had averaged 6-10 voters in a day but got nearly 400 on Election Day) register to vote on the spot but showing no proof of ID made me wonder about whether our Country is doing all it can to preserve the importance of secure informed voting while supporting the ability to vote?
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. ATTEND A VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING IN YOUR PAJAMAS. ASK THOUGHTFUL, INFORMED QUESTIONS AND DEMAND MEANINGFUL ANSWERS.
TAKE A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS AND A RAIN GAUGE TO A FRIEND.
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK AND JUST DO SOMETHING.
Cheers,
Becky
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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. She ran again in 2020 on a slightly bigger shoestring and got 1/3 of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
HUMAN-NON-HUMAN COMPATIBILITY
How is it that we humans can be more compatible with the many non-humans around Santa Cruz? This was the theme recently when I joined hundreds of others to experience Chris Eckstrom’s and Frans Lanting’s fascinating illustrated discussion of their newest project ‘The Bay of Life.’ That experience made me think more about how we live in this super-biodiversity hotspot and how we might be more responsible and compassionate in our day-to-day lives.
Compatibility Histories
Peregrine falcon, California condor, whales, sea otters, and mountain lions: all examples of species that have rebounded after humans realized how to be more compatible with them. It took Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring to catalyze a movement leading to the ban (in the US, but alas not elsewhere) of DDT, a pesticide responsible for the thinning of bird eggshells, resulting in the endangerment of many bird species.
There is a more recent history of toxin control for bird species. Because of the work of dedicated scientists and regulators at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California recently banned lead bullets for hunting. After DDT was banned, lead was the major threat to the recovery of the California condor. This toxic metal was causing terrible health impacts to condors who scavenged animals that had been shot by hunters.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act along with work by the Sea Shepard and Greenpeace has gone a long way to bringing back whales on our central coast. Sea otters also benefited from that Act, recovering so well that we are discovering behaviors never seen before like using the Elkhorn Slough as their favorite nursery…leading to a possibility that they’ll further recover in the extensive tidal wetlands of the San Francisco Bay.
In 1990, a state law passed banning sport hunting of mountain lions, which were elevated to being ‘candidate’ species in 2020- meaning they receive protection as if they are endangered until the State makes that finding. Mountain lion conservation is a very modern effort by leaders in nonprofit conservation organizations working with scientists and the State to create laws that protect the species.
Current Compatibility Efforts
There are important things occurring right now that are improving upon the historic legacy of human compatibility with non-humans. The Highway 17 wildlife tunnel has just been completed and wildlife are already making tracks in the loose soil under the highway. This allows wildlife to move safely from the southern Santa Cruz Mountains to the north, improving the ability for mountain lions specifically to move around to hunt and to get fresh bloodlines to avoid inbreeding depression. The tunnel will allow other species to move past Highway 17, including deer, which will reduce highway accidents that can also kill and injure humans.
New measures are being taken to protect whales, as well. This year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife restricted the timing of crab fishing to ensure safe passage of blue and humpback whales, orcas, and leatherback turtles which have been entangled in the trap equipment and died. There is some talk about new ‘whale safe’ technology to be used for trapping crabs.
Another notable wildlife compatibility effort underway is by the private, nonprofit conservation partners managing the San Vicente Redwoods property in northern Santa Cruz County. The property will soon be open to the public who can visit newly created trails. This is the first time in our region that recreational use of a natural area will be governed by a modern carrying capacity analysis that defines limits of acceptable change. If those limits are surpassed, the land managers will change their approaches to address the issues. For instance, if a certain number of recreationalists do not abide by restrictions limiting their visitation to the ‘open’ areas of the park, the property managers may limit or close visitation; they may also delay opening of more trails until the unauthorized uses come into control.
Future Compatibility Needs
The Bay of Life presentation covered much of what I outline above and closed by featuring a series of speakers from local conservation organizations. Each of those speakers asked for public support to better address human-nonhuman compatibility issues around the Monterey Bay. The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County focused on redesigning agriculture to have less toxic runoff and more wildlife-friendly buffers in the southern parts of the county. Watsonville Wetlands Watch focused on urban tree planting as a way to address climate change while providing more shade and habitat. The National Marine Sanctuary asked for volunteers to monitor wildlife and recreation compatibility on the Bay. And yet, these actions are a fraction of what needs to happen if we are to have healthy wildlife populations for future generations in our region.
Pesticides, Toxic Runoff, and Trash
Not enough has occurred to ensure that our agricultural systems are compatible with wildlife. For instance, more work is necessary to assure that pesticides are used in ways that are compatible with non-human animals. Fungicides and neonicotinoid pesticides have been shown to impact non-human animals such as monarch butterflies, which have plummeted in numbers in recent years. The US EPA doesn’t have the political support it needs to address the huge backlog of pesticide reviews in cue. Runoff from agriculture continues to carry massive amounts of nutrients into the Elkhorn Slough each day, poisoning habitats and leading to the degradation of marsh soils. As I previously reported in this column, urban pollution from roadways and cityscapes is often very poisonous during ‘first flush’ – and yet, there is little enforcement by the Central Coast Regional Water Board of water quality standards to address these issues.
Trash is an ongoing issue for wildlife. Out in Monterey Bay, marine life gets entangled in trash and eats indigestible plastic clogging their digestive tracks. On land, condors feed bits of plastic to their chicks who can starve with their stomachs full of trash. As much as we ask volunteers to clean beaches, I watch trash hauling trucks from the City of Santa Cruz spewing trash out their back going to the dump every day. Many people seem careless about their trash at local beaches and in their backyards. More needs to be done.
More Habitat Connectivity
There is a need for more wildlife movement across our landscape, and habitat connectivity needs to account for more than just large creatures. Wildlife connectivity projects are planned for Highway 101 near Prunedale, Highway 101 north of Morgan Hill and along Highway 17 towards Los Gatos. These will be tunnels or wildlife bridges, and these projects will join the many popping up across the world. Those projects need to be designed so that plants, insects, amphibians, and all manner of life can move through them: climate change will require migration of many species. Also, bridges and tunnels are not enough for species like badgers and salamanders that will still try crossing roads unless they are guided to crossing points using fencing or other means.
Core Habitat Management
Crossing roads is a big issue, but it’s not enough. Wildlife needs core habitat areas, but we often do not know how to design those core habitat areas or how to manage them once they are set aside. Referring again to the San Vicente Redwoods property, the private conservation group landowners have designed what they hope will be a sanctuary for mountain lions, with no public access. They hope that they can manage to keep recreational users out so that mountain lions keep using that habitat to raise their young, but only time will tell.
The preserve area at San Vicente Redwoods is the only place in the Santa Cruz Mountains designed specifically to protect core habitat for wildlife. There will likely need to be more of these kinds of wildlife sanctuaries – managed and enforced to keep recreational visitors out. That will likely mean closing areas to visitors that currently have either renegade or legal trails: this will take a lot of public support that isn’t currently organized. Hopefully, we can learn more about which animals are sensitive to visitation and how to design and manage core habitat for their use. Can you think of a single environmental organization in our region that would champion this cause in public parks? I can’t.
What You Can Do
I hope that you will work to help humans be more compatible with nature. Clean up every bit of trash you see, make sure you aren’t contributing to toxic runoff or pesticide use, don’t use renegade trails on conservation lands, and only hunt with legal, non-lead bullets.
Political support is also important. Support political candidates that publicly support environmental regulations to protect our air, water, soil, and wildlife needs. Politicians and environmental groups that champion wildlife protection, habitat connectivity, and ways to reverse climate change deserve your time or financial support. Working together, we can keep the momentum to become more compatible with nature in the super biodiversity hotspot we call home.
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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 |
November 9
For the twenty years that I served as an elected Member of the Board of Supervisors in Santa Cruz County, California (from 1975 to 1995), I was known as the guy who didn’t want more “growth.” I led the fight to set aside important environmental areas, and to ban developments that could damage them. I led the fight to prevent any development of economically productive agricultural lands. In lots of ways, I was the “No Growth” candidate and the “No Growth” public official.
The person pictured above, Herman Daly, who died on October 28th this year, and whose obituary was published today in The New York Times, was a respected economist. Daly took a similar “no growth” position. I was happy to read his thoughts in the Sunday, July 24, 2022, edition of The New York Times Magazine, in one of David Marchese’s “Talk” columns.
Online, the conversation between Marchese and Daly is titled, “This Pioneering Economist Says Our Obsession With Growth Must End.” The paywall gods permitting, I hope you’ll be able to read the entire thing for yourself. Here is one, brief excerpt:
Historically we think that economic growth leads to higher standards of living, lower death rates and so on. So don’t we have a moral obligation to pursue it? In ecological economics, we’ve tried to make a distinction between development and growth. When something grows, it gets bigger physically by accretion or assimilation of material. When something develops, it gets better in a qualitative sense. It doesn’t have to get bigger. An example of that is computers. You can do fantastic computations now with a small material base in the computer. That’s real development. And the art of living is not synonymous with “more stuff.” People occasionally glimpse this, and then we fall back into more, more, more.
Bottom line? Just like my headline says: “Growth ? Good.”
Accelerating global temperatures make clear the importance of this lesson:
Learn or Burn
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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 |
A RED RIPPLE AND VOTING IN THE STREETS
Delusion, confusion, contusions, and transfusions…all descriptive terms for our pre- and post-mid-term election conditions. The organized and well-funded legal challenges by Republicans prior to the election over voter registration, voter access, voting machines, and procedures with mail-in ballots seemed to have so far been less successful for them than desired. Party leaders and allies are likely preparing challenges to the results as they search for evidence of shenanigans; and, as Benjamin Ginsberg, co-chair of the Election Official Legal Defense Network says, “Republicans charge fraud. Democrats charge suppression. Each side amplifies its position with massive and costly amounts of litigation and messaging.”
The Republican National Committee’s ‘election integrity team,’ with its 37 lawyers in designated states, has trained a volunteer group to look for voter fraud, and has filed 73 lawsuits in 20 of those key states. RNC Chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, maintains that this team ensured that November’s vote was “free, fair and transparent.” As if they weren’t in the past, Ronna? Needless to say, Trump’s America First Legal which is run by the Orange One’s advisor, Stephen Miller, is in the midst of the scrimmage to contest results, as they continue their assault on democracy. These attacks go on despite the futility of the multitude of lawsuits filed by DJT’s crack team prior to and after the 2020 election, which then went on to become the catchword, the maxim, of the GOP to cry foul.
The Democrats have attempted to encourage registration and voting, assisting those who have been denied through intimidation, misinformation and delay by election officials, or threats and aggressiveness of ‘observers‘ at ballot drop box locations, or polling places. Elections workers themselves have been vilified and abused with threats of violence, have been followed and intimidated for doing their duty. On Election Day, the Oklahoma ACLU had several reports that poll workers in Oklahoma County and Cleveland County were telling voters to simply vote a straight party ticket, an option provided on that state’s ballots. Although the ACLU contacted all county election boards requesting they remind poll workers not tell voters how to vote or who to vote for, the Oklahoma State Election Board has made no public comment. However, the final vote tallies show not the slightest tinge of blue…go figure!
Professor Emeritus of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School, Laurence H. Tribe, weighed in this week on the attempt to thwart the vote by Republicans. “It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that Republican officials, too often abetted by federal judges appointed by Republican presidents, are making up technicalities enabling them to shred mostly Democratic ballots,” he says in an essay printed by the LA Times. By urging their supporters to spurn voting by mail and waiting until Election Day to vote in person, Republican officials have begun an effort to disqualify thousands of mail-in ballots in their scheme to disenfranchise voters through phony technicalities, who in all likelihood voted for the opposition. Michigan’s Republican candidate for secretary of state sought to toss out absentee ballots not cast in person by someone with a valid ID, was unable to offer a legitimate reason for doing so, leading any rational observer to conclude that it was targeted at the heavily Democratic, majority-Black city of Detroit – not the entire state. Tribe fears that technicalities of judicial timing and procedure will be piled atop technicalities of voting administration, all of which are directed toward tripping up Democratic voters, with the current judiciary wearing away our right to vote, the very foundation of American democracy.
With recently announced election results from Arizona and Nevada, Democrats will retain control of the US Senate, leaving Senator Joe Manchin out in the cold for the time being. The cliffhanger runoff election in Georgia, between Walker and Warnock is important but doesn’t hold the significance it had initially. Senator Rick Scott, the head of the campaign arm to elect GOP senators called the 2022 midterms a “complete disappointment for the party, with the predicted ‘Red Wave’ being a ‘Red Ripple.” Scott told Sean Hannity on Fox News that the tsunami of GOP voters simply did not turn out in sufficient numbers to counteract the Dems. With the constant criticism of President Biden and his administration, the GOP failed to offer a positive vision with which voters could identify, “we have to have a plan of what we stand for.” History has not been kind to sitting presidents in maintaining their power in the Congress, but this year defied the conventional wisdom, even with Biden’s low approval ratings and a frustrated electorate faced with an unmerciful economy. Perhaps Senator Mitch McConnell’s early campaign comment regarding “candidate quality” was spot-on? What say, Mitch? And, perhaps Senator Scott should have stuffed a sock in it before spouting that, “We have to do everything we can to help Herschel.” What’cha say, Mitch?
The story with the US House of Representatives is meeting expectations of control by the GOP, thanks in part to something much more mechanical than polling or historical patterns, with a nod toward a Republican majority being able to redraw district boundaries following the 2020 census. So, if current results hold the GOP will have control of the 435 seat body, led by Rep. Kevin McCarthy if he has his druthers. The state of Florida ended up redrawing a whole new districting map, approved by its legislature and signed by the governor, which in the end also gave them an extra district. Coupled with Governor DeSantis‘ overwhelming win over Charlie Crist, the state became a king-maker of sorts, sending a coattail-contingent to be seated in the House.
Four other states – Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Ohio – were allowed to use contested maps for this election cycle, even though significant legal challenges and outright recognition that legal requirements were violated – rulings that alone would have assured extra Republican seats. In Louisiana, a judge had rejected that state’s redrawn maps, pointing out the state’s history of disenfranchising Black voters; enter the US Supreme Court to block the judge’s order, a similar move to one they had approved in Alabama, both of which in essence had shuffled Black voters into districts that would lessen their voting power.
Taking much of the blame for the poor showing of the GOP is The Orange Albatross himself, who saw many of his endorsed candidates fall to Democrats (see Mitch McConnell’s ‘candidate quality’ comment). Pennsylvania’s voters rejected Dr. Mehmet Oz, who Trump had supported (and was it Melania’s and Hannity’s fault that he was led astray on this endorsement?), but his early support of “ass-kissing” author J.D. Vance led to a successful Ohio election victory over Tim Ryan. The Don’s support of Adam Laxalt of Nevada was not sufficient to ward off a Catherine Cortez Masto senate victory, nor was support of Blake Masters effective in keeping Mark Kelly from returning to Washington. At of this writing, the Arizona governorship is still hanging, with Democrat Katie Hobbs maintaining a one percentage-point lead over Republican, and Marjorie-Taylor-Greene-wannabe, Kari Lake. Will she, or won’t she, accept defeat?
More hand-wringing is probably evident in GOP circles, than in Democrat environs about the pending candidacy of the former president. Republican leaders, and the Orange One’s own staff have cautioned him about declaring a run for the presidency before the New Year, or even before the midterms have been put to bed. When did this man-child ever listen to rational advice? With his declining popularity, and talk of possible contenders, he feels the need to start grabbing the cash, and attempt to garner the attention his ego craves. It’s not that he likes the job…it’s the grifting and the possibility of escaping prosecution from his monstrous evil-doing that spurs him on. Oh, and his sadistic revenge-factor to punish his Republican detractors who look on in horror!
Democrats had hoped to win big in the midterms with young voters and women, winning small majorities in each group, but winning big with young women. Exit polls showed that 72 percent of women in age group 18-29 voted for Democrats, which helped propel Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman over Mehmet Oz. As one absentee voter said, “As the Republican Party becomes more extreme and moves away from the core American principals of democracy and rights for all, voting Democratic is the only path forward.” Edison Research exit polls revealed that fifty-three percent of women overall voted blue in House contests. Women over 45 brought the party no advantage at all, while Democrats won a low 54 percent of votes from young men. Over the past two decades, Gallup Polls show young women trending liberal, while young men have remained relatively centrist. Competing AP VoteCast poll shows 58 percent of young women voting Democratic, compared to 47 percent of young men. The same poll shows only 49 percent of all women voting Democratic, compared to 43 percent of men.
The under-30s forcefully voted for Democrats, driven mainly by women. The over-40s went Republican, with Blacks overwhelmingly for the Dems, Hispanics and Asians favoring Dems, and Whites, including White women, going Republican. Married women were mainly in the Red column, with unmarried women for the Blue. President Biden praised the female vote after Tuesday’s vote, saying, “Women in America made their voices heard, man. Ya’ll showed up and beat the hell out of them.” However, the reality is that women as a group gave more votes to Republican House candidates from White, older, married, Southern, rural, and middle- to upper-income women.
“As you look over the election results across the country, please, I beg of you, do not forget that White women are white first,” wrote Jenn Jackson, a political scientist at Syracuse University, in a post-election Twitter post. “White men are not the only forces to struggle against. I assure you.” She goes on to criticize Hispanic women, who nationally favored Democrats, but were instrumental in reelecting Governor DeSantis in Florida, though favoring Beto O’Rourke in Texas. It was White women who pushed Governor Greg Abbott into another term. Political scientists attribute the ‘Me Too‘ movement, rising LGBTQ identification and former President Trump as factors in pushing young women to the left, with the recent motivator being the Supreme Court’s Roe v Wade decision.
The post-midterm post-mortems continue with many saying that the GOP has followed Donald Trump over the cliff, with one Republican source saying, “If it wasn’t clear before it should be now. We have a Trump problem.” The ex-president’s criteria for picking his candidates had to do with their supporting the Big Lie, which probably kept his base in line, but the independent voter has sway here, usually known for voting against the party in power. But the GOP was too extreme on many issues. Even Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post ran a front-page headline reading ‘DeFuture‘ along with a photo of a smiling, victorious Governor DeSantis. And, to add insult to injury, the following day featured a front-page cartoon of Trump teetering atop a wall, labeled ‘Trumpty Dumpty.’ Another Trump loyalist forsaking the King of the Oompa Loompas?
President Biden has emerged from the midterms in a stronger position to run for a second term, but there are rumblings within the Democrat base that he will be too old to run again, that his lackluster ratings are too much of a drag, and younger candidates should be considered. Even Biden this week says that while his plan is to run again, it will be a family decision when that time comes, probably early next year. Exit polls show two-thirds of voters don’t want to see him on the ticket again. So, who could the Dems nominate instead to defeat another Trump run, or a DeSantis candidacy? VP Harris would certainly be given a high priority, though many think she needs to develop her chops a bit further to be a contender. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has a recognizable face and has managed to stay above the conflicts and political strife. Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer defeated a Trump-endorsee by double digits, turning her state blue and raising her star status a bit higher, especially considering she was on Biden’s short list for VP. California governor Gavin Newsom is viewed as a strong contender who is not afraid of standing up to Republicans, especially Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott. Other names will no doubt be thrown into the mix before it gets settled, but let’s all enjoy this brief hiatus before it starts to heat up again.
As reported in The New Yorker magazine’s satirical column, The Borowitz Report, Senator Lindsey Graham warned that Joe Biden’s “incendiary pro-democracy rhetoric” could lead to “voting in the streets.” Pray that Graham is right on!
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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.
“THANKSGIVING”“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence”.
~Erma Bombeck
“An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day”.
~Irv Kupcinet
“Even though we’re a week and a half away from Thanksgiving, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”.
~Richard Roeper
“My cooking is so bad my kids thought Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor”.
~Phyllis Diller
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One of my favorite things about YouTube are all the interesting historical facts you can dig up… |
BRATTON…How to vote again, Annie Steinhardt visit, no lookout news. GREENSITE…on Tree Loss for Segment 9, Rail/Trail. KROHN…(watch this space). STEINBRUNER…Cabrillo college name change news, rail & trail in Live Oak, Scotts Valley water and Soquel Creek district. HAYES…Intentional fire. PATTON…two crises. MATLOCK…It’s showtime for the small ‘d’…and no complaints! EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover WEBMISTRESS’…pick of the week. QUOTES… “Voting”
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DATELINE November 7
LAST TIME VOTING NEWS!! I mixed online print dates about voting so I’m running my advice and choices again this week. I also want to point out Dale Matlock’s Musings and his statistics study. See Grey Hayes deep news about the “controlled burns”, read Becky Steinbruner’s briefing about Cabrillo College’s name change. Gillian Greensite rails positively over the removal of trees for the Rail system. Gary Patton tells us about the deep divide in our two major parties…just make sure you vote.
 Bratton Online is a work of passion. Bruce and the other writers don’t get paid to do this. However, websites still cost money to run, host, etc. We are in our 20th year and in need of some upgrades on the back end, so any help is much appreciated! The button below will take you to the secure donation form. Thank you!
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TIME TO VOTE. More than ever it’s important that you mail in your vote or drop it off or find a voting place. Seldom in our Santa Cruz history have we had so many life changing issues and candidates to choose from!! Big money developer money backing pro-growth projects and candidates like Shebreh even though Bud Colligan’s money couldn’t stop the Pro Rail and Trail movement. Justin Cummings experience and clear positions make him a clear choice. Fred Keeley’s quick change artistry and flip flop stands make Joy Schendledecker by far the most responsive and responsible City Mayor candidate.
MORE ABOUT VOTING. I have absolutely no reason or reasons whatsoever to differ one iota from the slate that Santa Cruz For Bernie puts forth. Go here to check it out https://sc4b.org/endorsements#2022-general .
Gail Pellerin, California Assembly District 28 (parts of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties) https://www.gailpellerinforassembly.com Voting Rights Veteran, Groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Ally
Justin Cummings, Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 3 (Santa Cruz and North Coast) https://www.cummingsforsupervisor.com Environmental Scientist, Renter Advocate
Felipe Hernandez, Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 4 (Watsonville and South County) https://www.voteforfelipe.com Labor Champion, Affordable Housing Advocate
Yes on N, Empty Home Tax, Santa Cruz City Ballot Measure https://emptyhometax.org fund truly affordable housing
Yes on O, Our Downtown, Our Future, Santa Cruz City Ballot Measure https://www.ourdowntownourfuture.org no library under a parking structure
Joy Schendledecker, Santa Cruz City Mayor https://joyforsantacruz.com
Héctor Marín, Santa Cruz City Council District 4 https://hector4santacruz.com
Sean Maxwell, Santa Cruz City Council District 6 https://maxwellforcitycouncil.com
Once again… MEASURE O DESERVES YOUR YES VOTE. In my 52 years in Santa Cruz I can’t remember an issue that created more division than Measure O the library parking garage farmer’s market measure. Go to https://www.ourdowntownourfuture.org/ to check the organizations, people, and facts about the Measure.
ANNIE STEINHARDT FANS. Just a note for fans of Annie’s that she’s doing well and is in Bend, Oregon! Annie was the fiddler in our Hot Damn String Band for more than 30 years. She wrote many books (Thunder La Boom, Pele Voodoo, and How to get Balled in Berkeley) and of course was a star of the Pele Juju band playing bass and fiddle. We had a grand phone call and she really misses Santa Cruz.
LOOKOUT’S FINANCIAL FUTURE? I shared the rumor last week about the Lookout newsletter having financial problems. Receiving no news on that score whatsoever we can only assume it’s true…but we’ll keep watching.
I search and critique a variety of movies only from those that are newly released. Choosing from the thousands of classics and older releases would take way too long. And be sure to tune in to those very newest movie reviews live on KZSC 88.1 fm every Friday from about 8:10 – 8:30 am. on the Bushwhackers Breakfast Club program hosted by Dangerous Dan Orange, Calamity Kyle and DJ Tamarindo.
ENOLA HOLMES 2. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.9 IMDB). This is take 2 about Sherlock Holme’s sister Enola. Henry Cavill is back as Sherlock and it’s a semi-serious comic look at how Enola Holmes solves crimes and she looks at the camera a lot which was clever once or twice. Helena Bonham Carter has a small role, and it’ll take your mind off politics.
GOD FORBID. (HULU MOVIE) (6.9 IMDB). An amazing shocking beautifully done documentary about Jerry Falwell’s fall from power and his secret sex life. It covers Falwell’s Christian church manipulations and digs right into his relationship with Donald Trump and the whole Florida fiasco…don’t miss it, you’ll be surprised.
BLOCKBUSTER. (NETFLIX SERIES) (5.4 IMDB). There really is one Blockbuster Store left open and running but this isn’t in this simple minded comedy. It’ simple minded not clever and I’m not sure why it was produced. Don’t waste your time.
THE PERIPHERAL. (PRIME SERIES) (8.4 IMDB). Chloe Grace Moretz is always a pleasure to watch and she’s the lead in this trippy sci-fi adventure. It’s just outside of London in 2090 and she has a brother who obtains nerve bending headsets that projects Chloe into simulations that will keep you very near the edge of your seat.
THE WHITE LOTUS. (HBO SERIES) (8.4 IMDB). Back again with a new locale and almost all new cast set in Sicily. Again it’s about tourists staying in a fancy hotel and some dead bodies are discovered. Jennifer Coolidge returns as the extra-large and outgoing married babe with issues. Intrigue and suspicions bounce around and there’s lots of Italian scenery to look at as well as the very clever twisted plot.
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (7.9 IMDB). If you’ve seen the original 1930 movie from the book by Erich Maria Remarque you’ll almost recognize many, many of the bloody cruel scenes all over again. There’s little plot except to show us once again just how pointless and evil war has and will always be. It’s in German and centers on World War I and how it ended. Excellent and 5 thumbs up!!
SPECIAL NOTE….Don’t forget that when you’re not too sure of a plot or need any info on a movie to go to Wikipedia. It lays out the straight/non hype story plus all the details you’ll need including which server (Netflix, Hulu, or PBS) you can find it on. You can also go to Brattononline.com and punch in the movie title and read my take on the much more than 100 movies.
THE GOOD NURSE. Based on a terribly true story Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne takes leads in this Pennsylvania and New Jersey tragedy of a hospital attendant who killed somewhere between 40 and 400 hospital patients while on duty. How he does it and how all the hospitals he worked for covered up his sick work is terrifying. It’s also perfectly acted and produced. He’s still in prison and the hospital have never been charged for allowing his behavior.
TAR. (Del Mar Theatre) (8.2 IMDB). A complex fictional story about the trials and tribulations of a lesbian classical orchestra conductor who is brilliant, driven and trying to raise a daughter. The story will remind some audiences of Marin Alsop formerly of our own Cabrillo Festival of Music and she does actually get a mention at the beginning of this saga. Cate Blanchett takes acting to a new level and should take home yet another Oscar. It is a very original and rapid paced story that will have you poised and wondering all the way through. Don’t miss it.
GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES. (NETFLIX SERIES) (7.6 IMDB). There’s eight one hour complete stories, some good some great others are blah. Actors such as Tim Blake Nelson, F. Murray Abraham, Rupert Grint and Martin Starr all have varying roles. I enjoyed and shriveled watching story #2 “Graveyard Rats”. It was perfect pre Halloween viewing and let’s hope for more from G. del Toro who didn’t direct any of these stories but does act as host.
THE VATICAN GIRL. (NETFLIX SERIES) (7.2 IMDB). This is an amazing documentary about a 15 year old girl who lived inside the Vatican City and disappeared in 1983. To this day they have never found out what happened to her!! It’s got four episodes and covers so many historical facts and revelations about the pope’s life you’ll be shocked….and puzzled. Was it mob induced, was it church secrets? Questions keep occurring and we’ll probably never know the answers.
THE PRIEST. (PRIME MOVIE) (6.1 IMDB). A poorly done movie from India that copies every fake “was it suicide or murder plot” ever filmed. The acting is unbelievable, the photography is unimaginative the plot is boring and no tension either. A cop and a priest try to find out who is doing it and I left it at 1hour and 5 minutes.
November 7
GREEN THINGS THAT STAND IN THE WAY…
If you love trees, whether for their beauty, habitat, carbon capture or all three, the draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for Segment 9 of the Rail Trail project should give pause for thought.
The photo above is a small stretch between 7th and 17th Avenues (photo credit: Michael Lewis). Almost all the trees are native and will be cut down for the rail/trail project. According to the DEIR, “the proposed project would result in the removal of 381 trees, 265 are native species: coast live oak, CA bay laurel, madrone, wax myrtle, arroyo willow, CA buckeye etc.” (3.3-116 DEIR).
The DEIR captures the impact of this habitat removal:
“Project operation (trail use) would result in the permanent loss of 1.94 acres of wildlife movement habitat, including coast live oak woodland, riparian habitat, non-native forest, and understory vegetation (Table 3.3-2 and Table 3.3-7). Over this area, native vegetation, non-native forest, and ornamental plantings would be replaced with the hardscape trail infrastructure, including retaining walls, the trail itself, and the trail shoulders. This impact would degrade the functions and values of the wildlife corridor and contribute to increased fragmentation of City and County open spaces and linear aquatic features. Additionally, wildlife-friendly fencing (see footnote 23) is proposed along Twin Lakes State Beach open space and guardrails would be installed along the viaducts. These features may further impede wildlife compared to the existing conditions where wildlife can move freely through and across the corridor.
“The permanent loss of trees along the rail corridor would reduce cover, shelter, foraging opportunities, and reduce available resources generally. The loss of tree canopy, especially significant and Heritage trees (see Table 3.3-8) would change the microclimate of the corridor through a significant reduction in shade. In this Mediterranean climate, large trees with multi-tiered canopies provide a range of functions, buffering wind, providing a combination of deep shade and dappled sun, insulation from both heat and cold, creating leaf litter, which retains soil moisture, promotes soil micro-organisms and nutrient cycling, and provides habitat for invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. Understory vegetation, where present, also contributes to the value of the corridor, providing forage and refuge and further affecting the microclimate of the area. These functions are important for wildlife moving between open spaces and linear aquatic features.” (DEIR page 258)
The DEIR concludes that: “Due to the substantial number of trees planned for removal, including a large percentage of trees regulated by City and County Ordinances, the inability to mitigate the majority of tree removal on-site, and the number of years required for trees to mature, this construction impact would conflict with City and County policies and ordinances that regulate tree removal and thus would be significant and unavoidable (emphasis in original) even with the identified mitigation (Mitigation Measures BIO-9a, BIO-9b, BIO-9c).”
As Alexander Gershenson PhD reminded the Santa Cruz city council when they sought to weaken the city’s Heritage Tree Ordinance in 2013, “mature trees store, on average, 1-2 metric tons of carbon.” If cut down, not only is future carbon storage lost forever but also from “chipping, the usual disposal method, the vast majority of this carbon is released to the atmosphere within 5 years.”
The DEIR for Segment 9 admits there are no current plans on where to plant replacement trees. A sapling, even 20 saplings do not equal a mature tree and may take 50-100 years to reach the carbon potential of the big tree cut down. Meanwhile the big trees’ ongoing carbon sequestration is forever lost.
Not only are the trees gone. Also gone is the understory vegetation, vital for many bird species. The hill slopes bull-dozed, the soil, a carbon sequester, paved over. Birds, bats, butterflies, reptiles, insects all rendered homeless due to human self-interests. No, they don’t just relocate. All are territorial and compete for habitat in a world increasingly dominated by human encroachment.
None of the above apparently disturbs the rail/trail zealots. Wedded to the carbon reduction hypothesis that the train will get people out of their cars in sufficient numbers to compensate for the carbon release from such massive tree removals, they evoke the following:
“The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity… and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself.” William Blake
In its Alternatives section the DEIR fails to include a 12-foot trail. This smaller alternative would save many if not most of the trees. The DEIR only includes two alternatives: a 16-foot- wide pedestrian/bicycle trail on top of existing rails and a 26-foot- wide pedestrian/bicycle trail that replaces the existing rails and railbed. Since the rail/trail Segment 7 Phase 2 is already under construction with a 12-16-foot trail, it is curious why such an option is omitted for Segment 9 where the environmental impact is more significant.
For those still reading, who have not penned an angry email to BrattonOnline protesting the inclusion of such heresy, and who would like to submit a comment on the DEIR, the deadline is Friday November 11th. Comments can be sent by 5pm that day to Nathan Nguyen, Public Works at nnguyen@cityofsantacruz.com
| 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. |
November 7
VOTE
Turnout is pretty low so far, so if each of us goes out and reminds five of our friends and family members, each vote will count even more because overall turnout in this non-presidential year, and sleeper-governor’s race, may barely make it to 50%. But most of us are hoping for a higher turnout. This week’s column is abbreviated because I have been out drumming up votes, but suddenly, last week four University of California bargaining units voted overwhelmingly to authorize an indefinite strike beginning Monday, November 14th. More about this below, and next week, but for now, please vote because there has never been more of a difference between candidates and measures.
All of UC Set to Strike Over Unfair Labor Practices by Administration
There are currently four bargaining units that have decided to authorize a strike across all 10 UC campuses beginning next Monday, November 14, which includes our grad students and junior researchers. All of them have contracts up at the same time. The group totals 48,000 employees across the 10 UC campuses. We are living in unprecedented times.
What it means for Santa Cruz
What blows me away is that according to the UC Student-Workers Union UAW 2865 Twitter site, 36,558 voted to strike. That number is huge. It is around 75% of the total number of members in the four unions and it represents a 98% vote to authorize a strike. This vote is a long-time in coming and says something dramatic about the times we are living in. It is reflective of the gulf between California haves and have-nots. Most deciding to strike are part of the have-not class. I am from a union household. Growing up, both my parents were union members and I have been a member of 2 unions. I have never heard of these kinds of numbers and percentages before in terms of participation by rank and file in a vote, and the 0-60 mph velocity that is being taken towards an actual strike. They are not threatening to strike, according to my source, they voted to authorize a strike if demands were not made. And those demands are also unprecedented. What is even more dramatic is that this could be an indefinite strike, not typical 2-day ones we have become accustomed to on the UCSC campus. The current group appears to be tightly organized and ready to walk out. Stay tuned, there may be traffic snarls, lots of rhetorical sword slashing, mostly on the part the part of UC adminstrators, and an eery air hanging over our city, emanating from the 1965 bargain hammered out by the old conservatives who ran Santa Cruz way back in the day. Some of them are still waiting for a PAC 12 football team to rise up through the November fog. Not a chance now. What strikers are asking for is a living Santa Cruz wage of $54,000 per year. It is likely a non-starter with the Oakland office of the UC. This may be a much longer strike than previous ones. The UAW has already said they will provide strike benefits of $400 per week to those willing to person the picket line. Again…stay tuned.
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Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and a Santa Cruz City Council member from 1998-2002 and from 2017-2020. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 16 years. On Tuesday evenings at 5pm, Krohn hosts of “Talk of the Bay,” on KSQD 90.7 and KSQD.org His Twitter handle at SCpolitics is @ChrisKrohnSC Chris can be reached at ckrohn@cruzio.com
Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com |
November 6
CABRILLO COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY DECIDE TO CHANGE THE NAME THIS WEEK
Trustee Adam Spickler mentioned to Sandy Lydon at a recent “History Dude” presentation that on November 14, the Cabrillo College Board of Trustees will consider a report and recommendations by the Ad Hoc Committee to change the name of Cabrillo College….will anyone know about this until it is done?
According to Sandy Lydon’s presentation, in the late the College was named with neutrality foremost in mind and it helped knit a very fractured and divisive Santa Cruz County together. Will a potential name change just open up more political tension while wasting millions to change the name on documents and all manner of legal matters?
Here is the link to recorded public educational meetings held on the matter in 2021:
Name Exploration Subcommittee – Cabrillo College
Watch for the November 14 Trustee Agenda here
RTC EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD FOR RAIL TRAIL IN LIVE OAK
If you have thoughts about the Rail Trail Project segment in Live Oak, you have more time to research the Project environmental impacts and send in your Comments by Friday..
The Project alignment extends from the Beach Street/Pacific Avenue roundabout within the City limits on the west to the eastern side of 17th Avenue in the unincorporated Live Oak area of the County on the east.
Public Review Period: The public review period for the DEIR begins Friday, September 23, 2022, and has been extended to Friday, November 11, 2022 at 5:00pm. The City must receive all written comments regarding the adequacy of the DEIR within this time period. Written comments may be
submitted in person, by mail, or by e-mail. The mailing address is 809 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Direct all comments to the attention of Nathan Nguyen, City Engineer, via email at nnguyen@cityofsantacruz.com or via phone at 831-420-5188.
Coastal Rail Trail | City of Santa Cruz
CALL IN WITH YOUR COMMENT ABOUT PG&E VEGETATION REMOVAL
If you care about how PG&E is handling all the trees their crews have been cutting down for vegetation management projects, you need to call in on November 17 when the CPUC will take public comment on Resolution M-4864 at its voting meeting, when this item is expected to be considered.
Here is the explanation from the Rural Counties Representing California (RCRC):
On October 31, RCRC and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) jointly requested that PG&E immediately begin removing felled wood cut down during utility vegetation management operations.
While PG&E commendably increased the pace and scale of its vegetation management operations to reduce the risk of utility-caused wildfire, it is regrettable that PG&E is largely refusing to remove trees cut down during those operations.
This refusal is: impairing public safety; increasing fuel loads; compromising property owners’ efforts to create and maintain defensible space; and imposing heavy financial burdens on property owners to abate these hazards created by PG&E. More than a dozen counties have expressed concerns about this course change and the dangers and burdens it creates.
On November 3, RCRC and CSAC provided comments to the CPUC on Resolution M-4864, which would allow PG&E to exit Step 1 of the CPUC’s Enhanced Oversight and Enforcement Process. PG&E was placed on Step 1 of the Enforcement Process because it failed to sufficiently prioritize its vegetation management work on its highest risk power lines in 2020. As PG&E has focused its work on high-risk lines, the CPUC is considering whether to let it out of the enforcement process. RCRC and CSAC noted that PG&E’s work is far from done.
By failing to haul away the resulting wood debris, PG&E has failed to complete its vegetation management work on many of those line miles. As a result, RCRC and CSAC urged the CPUC to either:
The CPUC will take public comment on Resolution M-4864 at its November 17th voting meeting, when this item is expected to be considered. Members of the public will have 1-2 minutes to speak, and the call-in number will be:
CONNECTING WATER SUPPLIES FOR SCOTTS VALLEY AND THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ
There will soon be an emergency water supply intertie connection between Scotts Valley Water Dept. and the City of Santa Cruz. It’s in the works, with the City pursuing easements on private properties affected. One such parcel is owned by Scotts Valley Fire Dept., and is along La Madrona Drive.
The project includes a new 12″ diameter water main that will connect to Santa Cruz City tanks on Kite Hill Lane, and to a new pipeline via Fire House Lane to Sims Road. The pumping station will be at 6000 Fire House Lane, on property owned by Scotts Valley Fire (APN 021-141-20).
The issue is clearly described in documents included in this Wednesday’s Scotts Valley Fire Board meeting packet, as Item 9.2 Correspondence.
This will allow a more regional water management system, and better help all municipalities prepare for emergency water collaboration.
COMBINING SCOTTS VALLEY WATER DEPT. WITH SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT?
Last week, the Soquel Creek Water District Board reactions were cool to the generous offer of Scotts Valley Water Dept. to fully fund a consultant analysis of consolidating various administrative and /or operational aspects of the two water agencies. The idea came up last winter with the proposal to form an Ad Hoc Committee to discuss the potential partnership. Out of those monthly discussions came the proposal by Scotts Valley to fund the RFP for detailed analysis.
Mind you, Soquel Creek Water District Board members are enthralled with themselves and what they do, and are really hesitant to give up any control at all. Director Bruce Daniels was obviously irritated that the Board could not really turn down the RFP gift. “Well, we should suggest three things the consultant should study so that they aren’t just going all over the place looking at things.” Board Chair Tom LaHue wondered what control, if any, the Board has over the content and scope of the RFP selected? General Manager Ron Duncan said he will suggest that the Board be allowed to comment on the RFP scope and selection of consultant.
Take a look at Item 7.2 on the November 1 Agenda: Agenda Center
Isn’t this interesting? The common thread is the PureWater Soquel Project water treatment plant that could provide recycled water to Scotts Valley. As I understand it, the plant is being built to accommodate more than the 1.3 million gallons/day currently planned to pressure-inject into the aquifer and drinking water source for the MidCounty area. This would allow Scotts Valley Water Dept. to have more recycled water for irrigation, or even to sell for drinking water when the State legalizes selling recycled water directly as potable water. That regulatory change is expected to happen late next year.
A STUDY TO STREAMLINE PERMITTING FOR DRINKING TREATED SEWAGE WATER
Also on the Soquel Creek Water District Board November 1 meeting was a Consent Agenda Item 4.6 to contribute $5,000 to a $65,000 study by the National Water ReUse Institute to develop a document to help push through Potable ReUse permits for Soquel Creek Water District’s PureWater Soquel Project and others like it.
Project Description
The project is intended to work with the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) to develop a regulatory framework for technology and validation credits, including primary and secondary treatment, Membrane Bioreactor (MBR), Reverse Osmosis (RO), Ultra Violate (UV), Advance Oxidation Peroxide (AOP), free chlorine, ozone, groundwater recharge, surface water augmentation, etc. The framework would detail the performance of each process, the settled science on each process, the surrogates for each process, the credits that can (or should) be approved for each process.
The document would have conservative minimum criteria along with higher credits based upon site-specific data. It would also lay out data collection and analysis procedures. The primary end goal is to give the Department of Drinking Water a document which staff can reference to expedited approvals and provide greater confidence in treatment train validation and pathogen removal credits to the sponsor utilities.
The framework and reference document will focus on applications for small-to-medium sized agencies, which are representative of many of the utilities along the central coast who are looking toward potable reuse.
Proposed Facilitation Team
The proposed plan is for the NWRI to have an Independent Advisory Panel (IAP) conduct the work. The IAP should include engineers experienced in validation, pathogen experts, those with regulatory expertise, and those that understand how to implement projects. Contributing utilities should have a seat at the table, providing review and guidance to the IAP.
Funding
The costs for this work, estimated at $65,000, are necessary to cover the costs of NWRI efforts. These costs will result in the hosting and chronicling of workshops as well as the generation of draft and final reports detailing the effort. Where possible, IAP time will be donated.
I wrote the Board and asked that they pull this critical item from the Consent Agenda for better public discussion. They refused to do so.
HOW MANY OFFICES DOES SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT NEED?
I feel sorry for the ratepayers who are facing ever-increasing significant rate increases to fund the expensive PureWater Soquel Project. This Project has at least three construction offices…ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching!
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Early on, the District did an EIR evaluation of establishing a construction office, bought a new double-wide mobile trailer to install adjacent to the District offices at 5180 Soquel Drive, and paved a parking lot for the PureWater Soquel Project construction office, outfitting it with office furniture. It seems empty. | |
| The District also uses the former Pro-Vision Glass Shop building adjacent to the Project’s treatment plant on Chanticleer Avenue (across from the Sheriff Center) and uses that as a construction office for staff |  |
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And, according to a small sign posted at the treatment plant construction site, there is a third construction office location in the adjacent West Marine Center building at 2350 17the Ave. Suite 250 | |
| No wonder the Project cost has skyrocketed, being sold to the Board at an initial $60 million and now approaching $200 million. I pity the ratepayers almost as much as I pity the privately-owned small water company customers (Pine Tree Lane Water Mutual and Bluff Water Mutual) and private well owners who are directly downstream of the treated sewage water injection well at Twin Lakes Baptist Church, just across the Highway. |  |
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Out-of-control spending for a Project that may not even work to address salt water intrusion in the La Selva Beach and Seascape areas, and could potentially contaminate Midcounty drinking water supplies. Construction of the eight miles of pipe has and will continue to snarl traffic for months, but is not including any purple pipe for the District to use for recycled water for irrigation along the way. |
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Please make sure to participate in the December 1 Virtual Public Hearing about this Project and consider writing to the Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors
Board of Directors: bod@soquelcreekwater.org and copy Emma Western, Clerk: emmaw@soquelcreekwater.org.
CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF PIGEON POINT LIGHTHOUSE BEACON
There’s a big celebration this Saturday, November 12 at Pigeon Point Lighthouse will honor 150 year history of the beacon, and may be the last time you can tour the structure before it closes for renovation. The evening will feature the glorious original Fresnel lens on display in the Fog Signal Building, (5pm-7pm).
Pigeon Point Light Station SHP Anniversary Celebration | Coastside State Parks Association
Here is what that Fresnel lens beacon pattern looked like when operational at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse:
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. READ THE PUREWATER SOQUEL PROJECT TITLE 22 ENGINEERING REPORT AND PARTICIPATE IN THE DECEMBER 1 VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING.
THANK A VETERAN FOR THEIR SERVICE.
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK BY JUST DOING SOMETHING.
Cheers, Becky
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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. She ran again in 2020 on a slightly bigger shoestring and got 1/3 of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
INTENTIONAL FIRE
California has a wildfire problem and intentional fire must be part of the solution. Last week, there were two intentional fires in our area: at Wilder Ranch State Park and Soquel Demonstration State Forest. These were what is termed as ‘broadcast burns’ rather than ‘burn piles.’ Many more burn piles happen than broadcast burns each year, but there are more and more broadcast burns happening with time. The idea is that if we don’t burn dead vegetation when we want to, it will burn when we don’t want it to, fanning the flames of wildfire and endangering human and non-human lives, property, water supplies, and habitats. There are debates about the need to do broadcast or pile burning in wildland situations, but vegetation and fuels control within 100 feet of homes at the wildland urban interface is more widely accepted.
Fire History
While the date of the advent of human manipulation of California’s landscape pushes further back, we can locally at least note a 6,000 year history. From the fire scars left in old growth redwood, we know that native peoples burned into redwood forest every 4-6 years. Early Old World explorers described extensive areas of grasslands being burned along the coast. Without humans, scholars suspect that fires would have been fewer and more catastrophic: lightning strikes along the coast are rare and it would be rarer still that lightning strikes would have occurred in a dry enough time of year so that fires would spread. I’ve read that the non-human fire return interval for our area is hypothesized as every 80-120 years: at that interval, fires would have really raged! But, before the native peoples, our region had other factors at work that would have created a different, more fire resilient landscape.
Ecological History
Before humans and their fires, there were other things going on here in Central California that would have affected natural fire regimes. This region has been drying and getting hotter for a long time. Judging from the pollen records dredged up from local ancient ponds, only 20,000 years ago we had the same kinds of fir forests that you find in Northern California presently. Those fir forests suggest a moister landscape. The pre-human Californian landscape also had Pleistocene megafauna: herds of grazing animals, including mastodons. Those animals would have reduced wildfire fuels through grazing while uprooting trees and shrubs and creating discontinuous firescapes. Fewer trees would have meant moister forests as there would have been less transpiration of the groundwater. And, beavers would have flooded valley floors, making wet fire barriers.
The Present Conundrum
Except in wetlands and adjacent to streams, vegetation doesn’t decompose readily in our climate. If it isn’t consumed by herbivores, you can find grass stems that have accumulated in our coastal prairies for 5 years – quite a fuel load! In redwood forests, branches larger than 1″ sit on the soil surface for decades before decomposing. In shrublands, dead branches hang onto plants for many, many years and whole dead shrub skeletons stand for a long time, held up by living neighbors. Eons ago, that biomass might have been once crunched into the soil or eaten by the Pleistocene megafauna. For the past millennia, that biomass might have been burned by native peoples. Now, it just accumulates awaiting the next fire.
Intentional Burning
Given the fuel accumulation across our region, intentional burning seems an important option if we are to adequately steward this landscape to keep people safe. There are important differences between pile burns and broadcast burns. Pile burns take a lot more labor to pile up all of the fuels and need to be carefully placed as to avoid damaging branches overhead. The intense heat from a burn pile can damage the soil beneath or at least kill the seeds and microorganisms, leaving a pock mark that has to heal. Broadcast burns take less labor and flames/heat are patchy and generally less intense in any one place. Broadcast burns are more likely to trigger germination of the many ‘fire followers’ – plants that require heat or chemicals from fire to germinate.
Intentional Fire Tricks
There are many tools and techniques that professionals employ to make an intentional or prescribed burn happen safely and effectively. The first thing that they do is to make sure that the entire burn area is planned so that flames cannot escape into adjacent areas. Sometimes, this means bare soil created by bulldozers, roads, or hand tools. Other times, it can mean an adjoining moist forest or creek. Next is picking the right weather to burn. It seems that local fire professionals are looking for a time after the first rains when it is still dry enough to burn. Recent rains calm the heat and spread of fire by increasing the moisture in the fuel. If it gets too wet, it won’t burn well or at all, so there’s a sweet spot. Someone monitors the temperature and humidity every day in the week leading up to fire; they plot those along with fuels moisture on graphs and share them with the team that’s working on the burn. Another thing that has to be in alignment are air circulation patterns, so the government agency that makes sure we have good air to breathe, the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, has to declare the day of the burn a ‘burn day.’ They do this based on the science of air circulation: they want smoke to be blown away and dispersed so that it is not too much of a threat to human health. On the other hand, the burn team doesn’t want so much wind that controlling the spread of the fire will be an issue. Much lies in the balance. It is often difficult for everything to align. With climate change, viable prescribed burn days are predicted to get harder to find.
More Burn Work
Another part of making intentional broadcast burns work is the people part. The burn team needs to notify a lot of people. Signs go up along nearby roads ‘prescribed burn, do not report’ is a common sign. They also tell emergency responders so that when people call 911, they’ll know what is going on. Each agency’s public affairs office puts out word through their networks; increasingly, social media is becoming important this way but traditional news outlets are also informed.
And then, there is bringing together the people working on the burn. There are crews of ‘drip torch’ operators: those are the ones lighting the fire with a can of fuel that literally drips fire onto the ground. Their supervisors let them know when and where to drop fire; those supervisors need to understand how fire will spread and proceed according to a plan that was agreed upon way in advance of the burn day. There is always a burn boss, the person following that plan and communicating with everyone on what to do. There are also crews of people ready to put out the fire with fire hoses and hand tools. There are fire engine operators standing by; sometimes, there are fire fighting helicopter operators ready, as well.
Our Role with Intentional Fire
Watching carefully the recent prescribed burn at the Soquel Demonstration Forest and having participated in other such fires, I see how everyone is able to play a part with making it more possible for more intentional burns to help restore ecosystems, maintain water supplies, protect lives and keep human infrastructure safe. If you want to participate in prescribed burning, the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association is the place to go. With basic training, you can participate in burns like just happened at Wilder Ranch State Park. The more trained people there are willing to help, the more burns that can happen. There appear to be expanding opportunities even for well-paid careers in this field for those considering changing jobs or entering the workforce. Volunteering as a fire fighter will help not only prescribed fire but also save lives and property when wildfires take place.
Those with the skills to help us learn more about prescribed fire are needed to do citizen or more formal science on the effects of prescribed fire. We need to better understand how frequently we should burn, the effects of fires that occur after rains have germinated seedlings, and the effects of prescribed fire on greenhouse gasses. Many are concerned about burning some types of habitats too frequently, especially locally the many types of rare chaparral and pine woodlands; so, more folks taking data about those areas would really help.
Those who can’t directly, physically help with prescribed burning or who don’t have the skills for science, have other ways to help. If you pay attention to the media and see a prescribed burn being planned, help spread the word so people aren’t fearful when they see smoke. If you want to help others to understand the reasons for prescribed fire, tell this and your own stories to friends.
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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 |
November 5
David Leonhardt writes for The New York Times. In his lengthy article, “A Crisis Coming: The Twin Threats to American Democracy,” Leonhardt says this:
The United States today finds itself in a situation with little historical precedent. American democracy is facing two distinct threats, which together represent the most serious challenge to the country’s governing ideals in decades.
The first threat is acute: a growing movement inside one of the country’s two major parties — the Republican Party — to refuse to accept defeat in an election….
The second threat to democracy is chronic but also growing: The power to set government policy is becoming increasingly disconnected from public opinion.
There is no doubt in my mind that Leonhardt is right to be concerned about the state of democracy in the United States of America today. The fact that significant numbers of people are willing to deny the validity of our last presidential election, without producing any proof of any significant failure in the vote-counting process (just to place themselves in support of the person they wish had won) is definitely disturbing. It is a sign that our democracy is not in good health. Again, there is no doubt about that.
But let me push back just a bit on Leonhardt’s second threat – or at least the way he has phrased it – and let me suggest that the “two” threats identified by Leonhardt may actually be the same threat. I am quarreling with Leonhardt’s idea that “public opinion” is what should be guiding our politics.
In fact, our political system is not designed to reward or respond to “public opinion.” There are many different opinions, about almost everything, and our system exalts this as a positive good. To measure “opinion,” however, we use “polls,” or “focus groups,” or other evidence of what people are thinking. Polls, and poll results, are not “votes,” and we do not, and should not, expect that the results of opinion polls (opinion) will determine the public policy decisions that will guide governmental action. Those who support former president Trump should not expect that their passionate opinion about Trump’s claim to have won the election should determine whether or not he is president.
“Votes,” not “opinion,” is what counts in our system.
To cite to an important and pertinent example, and one alluded to by Leonhardt, that means that the fact that a majority of people in the United States think that a woman should have a right to choose whether or not to have an abortion during the first trimester of a pregnancy (which was the rule set down in Roe v. Wade) is not what does or should determine what the rules about abortion should actually be.
What counts is not “opinion” but “votes.” That is the way political power is tallied up and the basis upon which that power is then made effective.
The Trump election deniers are really claiming that “votes” shouldn’t matter, and that the decisions that determine what the government does should be based on the opinion of the public – which those who support Trump believe is strongly supportive of the former president. Naturally, those who don’t support Trump think that public opinion is against him, not for him, but the argument must not be about “opinion,” but about “votes.”
The way Leonhardt phrases his “second” threat to democracy, claiming that we need to have political decisions that reflect “public opinion,” is a rather slippery slope. His “first” threat shows just how slippery.
There are, as Leonhardt demonstrates, a number of structural aspects of our current governmental system that make it possible for there to be decisions that fail to conform to the overall “public opinion,” on abortion and on other issues. I am not much moved. If there are deficiencies in how we have structured our government (I will stipulate that there are) then we need to change the system. I pointed out in another recent blog post that there are mechanisms to change the Constitution, if it comes to that.
In fact, though, the real source of the disconnect between “public opinion” and “public policy,” is that too many people think of government as something that happens to them, instead of something they do themselves. We have “opinions,” and we root for the home team. Maybe we click on those political emails that I find, myself, to be so unappealing. The point is, we are ever less willing, most of us, to recognize that a system of “self-government” means that we must get engaged ourselves.
If we lose “democracy,” or our “democratic system,” the fault is not that governmental institutions are not reflecting “public opinion.” Who knows, really, what that public opinion is, until the votes are counted?
I have engaged in a lot of politics (mostly at the local level). It requires personal involvement, door-to-door excursions to talk to strangers, and hard-headed demands backed up by whatever political tools are currently available.
Politics cannot be carried out “online.” It is not a “spectator sport.”
“Opinion” is fine, but political power becomes effective when the public with opinions mobilizes to obtain the right to govern.
It’s the “votes” that count.
POSTSCRIPT:
Just in case you haven’t noticed, your last chance to vote in our current elections – affecting national, state, and local policy – is this Tuesday, November 8th. Whatever your opinions, make sure your votes will help advance the policies, and the politicians, you prefer.
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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 |
November 6
IT’S SHOWTIME FOR THE SMALL ‘d’… AND NO COMPLAINTS!
Well, it’s finally show time! So, depending on when this is read, the question is…will you vote?…or did you vote? Left Coast California numbers show that only about 17% of ballots had been returned by early voters by last Friday, hardly a respectable number considering that a 55-60% turnout overall was predicted for the state’s mid-terms. Procrastination, disinterest, disgust, or fear? Across the nation, CNN reports that early voting is up compared to the 2018 mid-terms, particularly in four of the key states poll watchers have been eyeing, though mail-in ballots remain below the 2020 counts. Pre-election voting is up in Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin, with only Arizona seeing a decrease in early voting activity. Wouldn’t be that state’s armed activist groups clad in military garb, bullet-proof vests and masks, who are ‘guarding’ ballot boxes with their intimidation and threats to prevent ‘misconduct,’ could it?
These right-wing paramilitary, conspiracy theorists claimed to be protecting the vote by dissuading ‘ballot mules‘ from ‘fraudulently’ casting dozens of ballots at once for friends, neighbors or family. They have also mobilized to work the polls as observers at counting centers, searching for transgressions with the count and challenging ballots cast. Many of these groups have been organized by Clean Elections USA, the founder of which is a QAnon adherent. A judge ruled against a lawsuit filed by the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino, both of which had complained that an injunction was necessary to prevent the ‘observers’ from intimidating voters by photographing them, or criticizing their right to vote. Judge Michael T. Liburdi found that while voters might feel threatened, the conspiracy theorists were protected constitutionally to assemble in public places by the First Amendment.
The state of Texas didn’t have to resort to paramilitary QAoners to suppress their undesirables from early voting…simply place only one ballot drop box per county, and it requires that you waltz across Texas with an overnight at the Dewdrop Inn to exercise the political franchise. Home county of Houston, Harris County, has a populace of 4.7 million people within its 1,777 square miles, and only one drop box. The capitol city of Austin, in Travis County, embraces 1.3 million souls within its 1,023 square miles, and only one drop box. And, to complicate the situation in Houston, you have to know the rules: “In-person drop off at NRG Arena on Election Day only from 7 AM – 7 PM. You must present an acceptable form of photo identification. Only the voter may deliver their ballot in person.” Just short of the ‘Jim Crow‘ poll tax, albeit with extra mileage?
As we rational individuals know, cases of fraudulent voting are few and far between, though there are many unfounded complaints around the nation, and investigators are kept busy looking at them simply to maintain voter confidence in our system while prosecuting a small number to hold people accountable. And, as we also know, the storm began by the Orange Albatross after his 2020 election defeat, along with his QAnon base, has initiated the distrust of many as they continue the ‘Big Lie‘ of a ‘stolen election,’ making it critically important to prove otherwise. Elections departments nationally have had to either add staff or increase workloads to deal with the complaints which range from accusations of campaign finance violations, government employees blatantly espousing their preferences, or simply a distaste for lawn signs or bumper stickers.
Ronna McDaniel, Republican National Committee Chairwoman, responded to an interviewer that GOP candidates will accept the results of Tuesday’s midterm election. “When this process is played out and the votes are canvassed and certified, every one of your Republican candidates will ultimately accept their results, even if they lose?” asked CNN’s Dana Bash on ‘State of the Union.’ “They will”, the Chair responded, while indicating she believes Republicans will take over both houses of Congress. Florida’s Senator Rick Scott said the results will “absolutely” be accepted, with the proviso that Republicans deem the outcomes to be “free and fair.” Telling Chuck Todd on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press, “We’re also going to do everything we can to make sure they’re free and fair, and if there are any shenanigans, we are ready to make sure. We support our candidates to make sure these elections are fair and every ballot is counted the right way.” Hmmm…the ‘right way?” Both GOPers are echoing Arizona’s Kari Lake who said she will support the election results because she “is going to win.” No shenanigans here, folks!
Susan Glasser in The New Yorker, writes, “I have a bad case of election dread right now. It’s hard to see how any American democrat – that’s democrat with a small ‘d’ – wouldn’t.” Last week, President Biden in his speech, proclaimed that our Democracy itself is on the ballot with the midterm campaigning coming to a close. He referred to the undercurrent of threats and violence, as he spoke of the attack on Paul Pelosi, but his main thrust was against The Trumpmeister and his Big Lie becoming an article of faith for the MAGAts. Whether the former president believes the lie or not, he uses it to drive a wedge between what we now see as two Americas, casting aspersions upon our long-held beliefs that ‘the system works.’ The extreme Republicans, in questioning the legitimacy of races they don’t win, is a subversion of the electoral system, creating disunion and chaos. Glasser’s essay continues, “I’m sure that many Democratic candidates in close races around the country would prefer that Biden had spoken about his plan to defeat inflation or bring down gas prices or safeguard women’s reproductive rights. The President’s pitch, though, was not about policy battles a much as his first principles. He was campaigning for democratic votes, not just Democratic votes.” With Biden’s warning that “we can’t take democracy for granted any longer,” Glasser goes on to say, “There was no real news in this lament other than the startling fact of it occurring. As I listened, it sounded to me like Biden’s personal rebuttal to a recent Times public-opinion survey that seemed to sum up the dissonance of a nation hurtling recklessly over a cliff. ‘Voters see democracy in peril, but saving it isn’t a priority.’”
Dan Rather in his recent essay on Steady, speaks of ‘An Unsettled Time,’ reminding us that with Trump and his minions fanning the fires to swell our disorientation, stoking our anxiety and fears, it is important to face facts. Too many Americans have refused to do so, leaving us in the current mess with forces destroying American democracy by inciting division instead of building unity within which most Americans wish to live. With polls so close, we may or may not be in trouble, but whatever the results, it will be momentous for the country. Dan says that “come what may after Tuesday, the country will continue and it will be up to us to nurture a future of opportunity where America’s most noble values can thrive anew.”
So, how will you vote/did you vote? Here’s hoping it is/was for the small ‘d’ with a !!
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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.
“Voting”“It’s not the voting that’s democracy; it’s the counting.”
~Tom Stoppard
“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
“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
~H.L. Mencken
“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”
~Thomas Jefferson
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This is the cutest thing! Lucille Ball, Lucie Arnaz, and Ginger Rogers do a dance number, and someone set it to Beoyncé’s “Single Ladies”. The originals are here, for comparison: The Charleston and Single Ladies |
BRATTON…problems at Lookout, time to vote, how to vote, Measure O, passing of two friends, movie critiques. GREENSITE…on what’s next for the Wharf. KROHN…The Story of O. STEINBRUNER…compostables, infill locations, county commissions, Prospect Heights. HAYES… Three parallel trajectories. PATTON…Stop the skyscrapers. MATLOCK… Evangelicals running amok in the town square. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover WEBMISTRESS’…pick of the week. QUOTES…”November”
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DATELINE October 31
LATTE BREAKING NEWS… LOOKOUT FUTURE? Rumors are circulating that Lookout, the digital news project now starting their second year, is in serious financial trouble. I’ll keep you up to date when I know and hear more.
TIME TO VOTE. More than ever it’s important that you mail in your vote or drop it off or find a voting place. Seldom in our Santa Cruz history have we had so many life changing issues and candidates to choose from. Big money developer money backing pro-growth projects and candidates like Shebreh even though Bud Colligan’s money couldn’t stop the Pro Rail and Trail movement. Justin Cummings experience and clear positions make him a clear choice. Fred Keeley’s quick change artistry and flip flop stands make Joy Schendledecker by far the most responsive and responsible City Mayor candidate.
MORE ABOUT VOTING. I have absolutely no reason or reasons whatsoever to differ one iota from the slate that Santa Cruz For Bernie puts forth. Go here to check it out.
Gail Pellerin, California Assembly District 28 (parts of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties) gailpellerinforassembly.com Voting Rights Veteran, Groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Ally
Justin Cummings, Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 3 (Santa Cruz and North Coast) cummingsforsupervisor.com Environmental Scientist, Renter Advocate
Felipe Hernandez, Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 4 (Watsonville and South County) voteforfelipe.com Labor Champion, Affordable Housing Advocate
Yes on N, Empty Home Tax, Santa Cruz City Ballot Measure emptyhometax.org fund truly affordable housing
Yes on O, Our Downtown, Our Future, Santa Cruz City Ballot Measure ourdowntownourfuture.org no library under a parking structure
Joy Schendledecker, Santa Cruz City Mayor joyforsantacruz.com
Héctor Marín, Santa Cruz City Council District 4 hector4santacruz.com
Sean Maxwell, Santa Cruz City Council District 6 maxwellforcitycouncil.com
MEASURE O DESERVES YOUR YES VOTE. In my 52 years in Santa Cruz I can’t remember an issue that created more division than Measure O the library parking garage farmer’s market measure. Go to ourdowntownourfuture.org to check the organizations, people, and facts about the Measure. I asked Bob Morgan, educator and activist with Our Downtown Our Future, to write us a wrap up on Measure O. He wrote…
“What’s your YES vote on Measure O mean? Why is it important for downtown Santa Cruz and for the integrity of the democratic process? Another question looms, too: who gets to shape our community? Measure O asks voters to weigh in. The outcome of the vote on Measure O will affect both the streetscape of our downtown and our possibilities of community, as well as the embedded power structure of Santa Cruz. Unfortunately, the City has forged ahead with an unpopular project despite voluminous public opposition. The 2016 Measure S campaign called for renovating the current Downtown Library at Civic Center. Then the City pulled a bait-and-switch under the false claim of robust outreach to the Santa Cruz community.
Let’s be very clear about what a Yes on O vote will accomplish. It will:
A Yes on O vote accomplishes these things, but it does more. It answers the question of who shapes our Downtown: it sends a clear signal to developers and realtors that they don’t own our community. The opposition to the measure has collected nearly $75,000 from local and over-the-hill developers and big real estate. Here’s a partial list of big money: Swenson’s Green Valley Corporation ($10,000), Seaside Company ($10,000), Devcon Construction ($5,000), Dream Inn ($5,000), Roundtree Partners LP ($10,000); and SCFS Ventures, a.k.a, the Cruz Hotel ($5,000). Santa Cruz is witnessing enormous development projects like the out-of-scale one at Laurel and Pacific. The developers’ greatest fear is that a citizen-driven initiative will alter their grandiose plans for Santa Cruz.
Your Yes on Measure O vote means that you refuse to accept the highly scripted zoom public outreach that city staff call robust public input. That you refuse to accept a public survey that went to 2000 library patrons, when it didn’t ask the fundamental question, “Would you like the current library to move to Lot 4?” That you refuse to accept the enormous pressure put on the city council by entrenched staff and an old-guard political establishment, aligned with big developers, to launch a project that was birthed by two city bureaucrats; namely a former city manager and a current public works director, both of whom wanted a fifth parking garage downtown. But most significantly, you refuse to accept that a 30-year library bond, for which you’re paying, is being used to build an eight-story mixed-use project on Lot 4 that you never were asked about when you voted for Measure S in 2016.
Your Yes on Measure O vote means we provide our Downtown Library with a complete, beautiful renovation. It means bringing the library to modern standards of infrastructure and technology. The renovated library will include floor-to-ceiling windows wrapping around its ground floor to allow sweeping views of the Civic Center, outdoor patios for the children’s library and a community meeting room, and an entrance sweeping open to City Hall. Voting Yes on Measure O will allow the city to again apply for a $10 million dollar grant from the California Libraries that was denied in the City’s application for building a new library on Lot 4 because the goal of the grant funding is to renovate existing structures, not to build new structures.
Your Yes on Measure O vote means we keep the Farmers Market at Lot 4, its home for over twenty years, and take advantage of the $1.8 million infrastructure funds the City has committed to the Farmers Market to provide a permanent home for it, seed money for a true Town Plaza. Your YES vote will save nine heritage trees on Lot 4. The Farmers Market, the shade trees, the sunny space are all ingredients for our central Downtown Town Plaza.
Your YES on Measure O vote will dedicate eight city-owned parking lots for 100% affordable housing. We can start with Lot 7. More housing can be built there than the current project on Lot 4, and more quickly. That’s because the garage and library together in the mixed-use structure take up most of the building’s volume, and the complexity of the financing of the project and its funding gaps—$17 million underfunded for the library; $122 million underfunded for the housing and no housing grants yet applied for; no guaranteed funding for the garage, which carries a debt burden of at least $1.1 million a year; no deal yet to purchase Toadal Fitness, land needed to build the project—means the timeline for this project is highly speculative.
Your YES on Measure O vote will stop the building of a new downtown parking garage when 30% of our parking resources go vacant even on peak days of use and when transportation choices are expanding, not diminishing. We don’t need another concrete parking garage Downtown. Instead, use money to build affordable housing.
Measure O deserves your YES vote. One more issue needs airing: the project’s poor design. The Lot 4 building would stretch from Lincoln Street to Cathcart Street, a full city block, sidewalk to sidewalk, and tower 90 feet into the air. Its Brutalist steel and concrete architecture would dwarf the surrounding neighborhood, to be seen from blocks away. It would scar the cityscape. Instead of such a building, we can have an excellent library, more units of 100% affordable housing, and a welcoming, community Town Plaza with the Farmers Market flourishing beneath shady magnolias, a community asset and gathering place shaped by and for us.
A Yes vote on Measure O is a vote for a community vision of our Downtown.
FRIEND LEAVING #1….Stan Stevens. Was a librarian emeritus from UCSC. He showed me around the map department decades ago and we were good friends ever after. Stan aided and assisted just about everybody involving Santa Cruz History with faultless accuracy and friendly advice. His wife Carli passed on just a few weeks ago and that may well have been part of Stan’s early departing. To say he’ll be missed just covers a tiny part of the changes in effect.
FRIEND LEAVING #2…Michael Stamp was the genial General Manager of the Santa Cruz Chamber Players for more than 20 years. He was also good fun and even played the cello I recently learned. He died suddenly last week and he’ll be missed by many, many friends.
I search and critique a variety of movies only from those that are newly released. Choosing from the thousands of classics and older releases would take way too long. And be sure to tune in to those very newest movie reviews live on KZSC 88.1 fm every Friday from about 8:10 – 8:30 am. on the Bushwhackers Breakfast Club program hosted by Dangerous Dan Orange.
THE GOOD NURSE. Based on a terribly true story Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne takes leads in this Pennsylvania and New Jersey tragedy of a hospital attendant who killed somewhere between 40 and 400 hospital patients while on duty. How he does it and how all the hospitals he worked for covered up his sick work is terrifying. It’s also perfectly acted and produced. He’s still in prison and the hospital have never been charged for allowing his behavior.
TAR. (Del Mar Theatre) (8.2 IMDB). A complex fictional story about the trials and tribulations of a lesbian classical orchestra conductor who is brilliant, driven and trying to raise a daughter. The story will remind some audiences of Marin Alsop formerly of our own Cabrillo Festival of Music and she does actually get a mention at the beginning of this saga. Cate Blanchett takes acting to a new level and should take home yet another Oscar. It is a very original and rapid paced story that will have you poised and wondering all the way through. Don’t miss it.
GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES. (NETFLIX SERIES) (7.6 IMDB). There’s eight one hour complete stories, some good some great others are blah. Actors such as Tim Blake Nelson, F. Murray Abraham, Rupert Grint and Martin Starr all have varying roles. I enjoyed and shriveled watching story #2 “Graveyard Rats”. It was perfect pre Halloween viewing and let’s hope for more from G. del Toro who didn’t direct any of these stories but does act as host.
THE VATICAN GIRL. (NETFLIX SERIES) (7.2 IMDB). This is an amazing documentary about a 15 year old girl who lived inside the Vatican City and disappeared in 1983. To this day they have never found out what happened to her!! It’s got four episodes and covers so many historical facts and revelations about the pope’s life you’ll be shocked….and puzzled. Was it mob induced, was it church secrets? Questions keep occurring and we’ll probably never know the answers.
THE PRIEST. (PRIME MOVIE) (6.1 IMDB). A poorly done movie from India that copies every fake “was it suicide or murder plot” ever filmed. The acting is unbelievable, the photography is unimaginative the plot is boring and no tension either. A cop and a priest try to find out who is doing it and I left it at 1hour and 5 minutes.
SPECIAL NOTE….Don’t forget that when you’re not too sure of a plot or need any info on a movie to go to Wikipedia. It lays out the straight/non hype story plus all the details you’ll need including which server (Netflix, Hulu, or PBS) you can find it on. You can also go to Brattononline.com and punch in the movie title and read my take on the much more than 100 movies.
THE LOST CITY. (PRIME MOVIE) (6.1 IMDB). Sandra Bullock is back and takes the lead in this supposedly comic movie. The world seems very serious to me right now and I think we need better fun movies than this big budget half laugh. Daniel Radcliffe plays the evil zillionaire searching for a lost city and Channing Tatum is Bullock’s leading man. Brad Pitt has about 6minutes on screen but that’s about enough. It’s gross, not clever but mildly absorbing.
AMBULANCE. (PRIME MOVIE) (6.1IMDB). Jake Gyllenhaal has about the only role that speaks or actually shouts in the 99% truck and ambulance chase movie. It’s a crude action and digitally enhanced vehicle chase all around and around downtown Los Angeles. There’s a bank robbery gone wrong, then there’s the FBI, the Los Angeles police, etc.,etc. It makes no sense and Gyllenhaal is the bad guy for a change.
RAYMOND & RAY. (PRIME MOVIE) (6.4 IMDB). They’ve marketed this as a dark comedy and while it is dark there’s not much comedy. Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor are brothers from a different mother and probably from many different fathers too! It’s quirky, weird, lots of mugging but it’s creative in plot. It just takes more to be truly funny nowadays.
THE STRANGER. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.6 IMDB). Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris play two guys who meet on an airplane trip. It’s all in Australia and while their friendship gets deeper and deeper there’s some secrets they both let out very slowly and carefully. There was a young boy who was murdered and it all becomes more and more complex. Go for it, you’ll become glued.
THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (5.7 IMDB). Definitely a fairy tale movie for kids up to about age 10. Huge budget, great special effects, plus witches, cyclops, King Arthur’s round table and Charlize Theron as a witch in charge. Laurence Fishburne and Cate Blanchett mug their ways through it too. Not for viewers past 10 years old.
DOLL HOUSE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.9 IMDB). A film in the Filipino tradition unfortunately. Poor acting, simple plot, predictable story. There’s a rock band and the lead singer has a daughter and they go to Amsterdam and I stopped watching after 42 minutes.
October 31
THE WHARF: NEXT CHAPTER
Despite losing a lawsuit due to its violation of state law in its environmental review (City of Santa Cruz v. Don’t Morph the Wharf!) and despite overwhelming public objections to the proposed gentrified changes to the Wharf, the city is proceeding full steam ahead to revise its rescinded Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and reconsider the rescinded Wharf Master Plan (WMP) for a near future council vote.
At the October 11th council meeting, both documents were formally voided as required by the court. Speaking to the item, city staff, city attorney and city manager made constant reference to the required EIR revisions as “minor.” In my experience, city managers rarely if ever insert themselves into a council discussion of policy, except when asked to clarify. In this case, the city manager spoke to the issue of whether to hold a scoping meeting–a public meeting to give input to staff on what should be studied in an EIR. The city manager, speaking against holding such meeting was of the mind that it “gives the impression that the council wants to take a second look at the Wharf Master Plan.” Ah, well…yes! That is exactly what the public wants, and the court ordered! The approved Master Plan has been set aside. Nonetheless, with city manager, city attorney and Economic Development director all weighing in against it, the council majority voted NO to holding a scoping meeting.
This means we the public have far less opportunity to have our voices heard early enough to provide input into the revised draft EIR content as we enter round two of the fight to save our Municipal Wharf from gentrification. We will have to wait to comment on the revised draft EIR when it is circulated for 45 days and at council when its adequacy is considered. The city staff has made it clear that it intends to make only “minor” EIR modifications. Instead, the EIR must be revised on a number of points to inform appropriate changes to a better Wharf Master Plan.
A reminder if you have forgotten the details. The now-voided Wharf Master Plan, at its core, aimed to change the class character of the Wharf and its aficionados. It included three new 40 feet tall buildings, one at the Wharf’s southern end that would block the view of Monterey Bay, displace the Dolphin restaurant and cover the sea lion viewing holes that would be moved “somewhere”; a second at the site of the current open-air stage and a third close to where the Wharf widens. The photo above shows people enjoying the Wharf’s open-air, out on the water feel where the second 40-foot building was proposed. In promoting that building, the design firm and staff argued “it gets cold out on the Wharf!” and that the fabric sides of the building could be rolled up in nice weather. All this plus much more will be back before us in short order.
At the October 11th meeting, Council member Renee Golder spoke with visible irritation directed at the group members that sued the city. They, she complained, are just a “few people who have the means and privilege to hire lawyers to fight and block things.” She went on: “they had their opportunity to comment, and they don’t like the way things have turned out.” They are, she said, “skilled at sending out messages that people may not fully understand.” Her final dig was that, “there’s not a huge community group that wants to stop the Wharf Master Plan.”
Her comments reveal a lack of awareness of public sentiment. Over two thousand people responded to the initial Don’t Morph the Wharf! petition within about two weeks. Hundreds of the signers added detailed comments expressing their opposition to the changes planned. Apart from basic maintenance, (which the lawsuit judgment allows to proceed, as suggested by Don’t Morph the Wharf!) all expressed a deep love for the existing Wharf and a horror at the proposed make-over. Her comments also reveal an ignorance of the group she maligns. Don’t Morph the Wharf! is an ongoing core group of community members with a deep commitment to preserving the historic Wharf. Over twenty of the core supporters attended the court hearings before Judge Burdick.
Council member Golder’s comments reveal something more serious than being out of touch with community opinion. When the city is sued it is not because of a disgruntled few or as senior staff say, “this is Santa Cruz, everyone sues.” The city has been sued when its council fails to require staff to properly address the environmental impacts and feasible mitigation of proposed projects. When, as with the Wharf Master Plan, a suit is successful, it means a judge agrees that law was violated.
Compounding the legal shortcomings is the city’s failure to respect thoughtful public opinion. Council members Sandy Brown and Justin Cummings tried to steer the council towards recognizing the waste of public money and the related need to listen to the public to approve a better Wharf Master Plan. They were ignored.
Now we need to roll up our sleeves and make sure that the city will follow state law that protects the Wharf –and the migratory Guillemots. As I write they are feeding in Puget Sound before they fly once again in late March or April all the way to their nests under the Municipal Wharf. They expect to find their nests in the same location, and we won’t let them down.
| 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. |
It was a dark and stormy night…It’s 1998 and Larry Erwin, the irascible, cigar-smoking old-school Santa Cruz Public Works Director is keen on a 610-space parking palace to be built on Cedar Street’s Lot 4, located between Lincoln and Cathcart streets. His bureaucratic steam-rolling efforts take place within the aftermath of the 1998 elections when three progressives overturn the then-city council majority and turn back the onerous BSOL—the Beach and South of Laurel plan. The city’s public works department is still set on constructing this enormous garage, until they aren’t permitted to. A new, environmentally-conscious council majority—Sugar, Fitzmaurice, Beiers, and Krohn–say no, slam the door on enlarging this community’s climate footprint, and politely request City Manager Dick Wilson not to bring it back to the council again. The city staff waiting-game begins. Wilson did not ever bring up again with that council, but enter a new council majority in a new century, but when the 2008 recession hits, the garage idea is moth-balled, but still percolating in the minds of some lifer city hall aparachiks.
Library Funding Referendum
In June of 2016, over 70% of voters bubble in YES on Measure S. Voters voted for the following:
Vote YES on S to provide locally controlled funding to strengthen our local libraries.
All of the information that voters saw before that election clearly led them to believe that the creaky main library on Church Street, the system’s main branch, would be fixed, remodeled, and spruced up in a major way as $26 million of the bond, the largest amount for any library within the system, would be dedicated to renovating and repairing that location. After all, there has been a public library at the corner of Church and Center for more than 100 years. If the original intent and ratification of that intent by the voters had been followed, the Church Street library would by now have been fully restored, but empire-building and politics would prevent that from happening.
The Library at the Bottom of the Garage
In 2016, Sandy Brown and I were elected to the city council and when we arrived at city hall and met with then-city manager Martin Bernal, there appeared on what has now become his infamous office white board, a hidden agenda of sorts. Among the big projects included were getting more housing built, a permanent Warriors arena, and library at the bottom of a garage on Lot 4. Both of us were taken aback. We did not support the building of a five-story parking garage then, or now. As our first two years unfolded, talk of this project continued. Both of us were courted by the Economic Development Director, Bonnie Lipscomb. In these meetings, her body language said that we presented obstacles to this project. Perhaps another election would make the project a reality for her. In 2018, with rent control on the ballot and the library-garage in the public conversation, Drew Glover and Justin Cummings both ran against this project and both were elected. Lipscomb, along with Public Works Director Mark Dettle and Bernal, changed their strategy and brought forward a project that included 50 units of affordable housing and around 460 parking space-garage. Later is became 124 units of housing and 310 spaces for cars. But this was never community support for it. They could’ve put it on the ballot, but declined. More community support to keep the Farmer’s Market on Lot 4 and remodel the library where it is trickeled on until it culminated in a firehose of support for a petition effort.
The People United Will Never Be Defeated
Several groups, including Don’t Bury the Library (DBL), the Campaign for Sustainable Transportation (CFST), Downtown Commons Advocates (DCA), Santa Cruz Climate Action Network (SC CAN), and finally, the Sierra Club, came together to demand that the people of Santa Cruz get a chance to vote on this project, while also offering the opportunity to vote on an even better one. It took well over two years to take shape. Five thousand signatures of registered voters were gathered and Measure O was born. I’ve worked on two other ballot measure signature-gathering efforts and this one was by-far the most popular. City residents were feeling hoodwinked by city hall and they wanted to vote on this project that was seemingly being foisted upon them.
The Campaign
Measure O is no ordinary local ballot measure. It contains five distinct parts and its beauty is reflected in five appendages. It might appear to be a hodgepodge of issues, but there is a central theme, and what is included is something for everyone to like.
Yes on Measure O!
Measure O supporters have been out, knocking on doors and engaging with voters for the past couple of months. What we’ve found is widespread support for this initiative. Sure, the $118,000 taken in by the No on O people as of October 24th, will undoubtedly dissuade some voters, but most will want to be a part of this community movement towards a better Santa Cruz. Imagine, when Measure O is won, people will feel like they did it! They will have a gathering place under shade trees for theatre and concerts in the center of town, and yes, finally a permanent home for the beloved Farmer’s Market. Then, there is the restored library. This will be a chance for a completing a compelling vision of a Santa Cruz civic center. As one of the Jayson Architects’ renderings portrays, a light filled library building opening up to city hall and the civic auditorium across Center Street. Could the building of a real civic plaza be far behind? And if Measure N passes, the funding, $2.5 million to $4 million per year, will be there to leverage further funding to construct real affordable housing on the city lots slated for housing in the Measure O initiative. Voting Yes on O, Santa Cruz city voters have a real opportunity to stand up to developers, corporate real estate interests, and unelected city staff who are driving a vision of Santa Cruz that is not shared by most community members, or is it? We will find out when the results of Measures O and N are revealed, but maybe not until around Dec. 7th because the county clerk has 30 days to count all ballots. If it’s close, they will take all 30 days.
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Uh oh, when you see graduate students threatening to strike, you know good things may be on the horizon. “Fired up, can’t take it no more.” More than 300 graduate students gathered in UCSC’s Quarry Plaza to discuss the dismal state of trying to live on less than $30k a year in Surf City. Their answer: $54k per year!
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Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and a Santa Cruz City Council member from 1998-2002 and from 2017-2020. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 16 years. On Tuesday evenings at 5pm, Krohn hosts of “Talk of the Bay,” on KSQD 90.7 and KSQD.org His Twitter handle at SCpolitics is @ChrisKrohnSC Chris can be reached at ckrohn@cruzio.com
Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com |
October 31
MAYBE IT’S NOT COMPOSTABLE AFTER ALL!
Last Tuesday, the Dept. of Public Works staff reported the latest news on the Buena Vista Landfill and how much longer the facility will be able to accept our trash. Of note, staff said the compostable cups and food ware were not really compostable after all in the timeframe considered for effective composting, and maybe should not be accepted in food waste bins. You can listen to that statement at Minute 38:25
Recent laws require food waste to be composted, so the County’s contractor hauler, GreenWaste, is now accepting compostable food waste in the yard waste bins.
“In 2018, the County hired SCS Engineers to conduct a waste characterization study for all County waste. Organic waste was the largest portion from all sectors of the waste that was deposited for disposal in the landfill. Compostable organic material made up 36.7 percent of commercial waste, 46.2 percent of single-family residential waste, and 47.1 percent of all multi-family residential waste. With food waste now being diverted to organics processing facilities, we should see a drop in tonnage of organic material that is being landfilled as more and more of this material is diverted to be made into compost.”
Read more about that report here.
If people do a good job of separating out the compostables, the Buena Vista Landfill will be operational for another 5-7 years. If not, it will be full in 3-5 years.
A NEW IDEA FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN COUNTY FUTURE DENSE INFILL LOCATION DESIGNS AND MITIGATIONS
Last Tuesday, when Ms. Stephanie Hansen, the Assistant Director of Community Development and Infrastructure (formerly the Planning Dept.), presented information about how the County plans to meet the new Regional Housing Number Allocations (RHNA) that will require dense infill low- income housing amidst the traditionally affluent areas, Chairman Manu Koenig suggested a new idea for public engagement and trust: Form a Citizen Assembly.
The County will be required to build four times more very low income housing units than in the past, and got a $500,000 grant from the State to help with public outreach to support doing the re-zoning necessary to accomplish the dense infill that is coming.
The 6th Cycle RHNA for Santa Cruz County is approximately three and one-half times as large as the 5th Cycle RHNA:
| Income Level | 5th Cycle RHNA | 6th Cycle RHNA | Percent Increase |
| Very Low | 317 | 1,492 | 471% |
| Low | 207 | 976 | 471% |
| Moderate | 240 | 586 | 244% |
| Above Moderate | 550 | 1,580 | 287% |
| Total RHNA | 1,314 | 4,634 | 353% |
Although interrupted by the 5.1 earthquake that caused internet disruptions and a brief recess, the discussion focused on how to include the public in the difficult placement of low-income housing projects among the affluent areas.
Supervisor McPherson (who lives in Pasatiempo) stated “this will be interesting and a real challenge.” He wanted to know what happens if the County does not meet the new RHNA numbers? Ms. Hansen replied that the biggest worry is that the State will not provide grants to non-compliant counties, especially transportation grants. (See minute 2:24) Supervisor McPherson also asked about using County-owned parcels for the low-income dense infill projects. (See Minute 2:50)
Supervisor Caput noted that the Schapiro Knolls development in his District 4 was at first met with protest from the neighbors, but after 10 years, the 80-unit low income housing development is largely accepted because traffic issues were mitigated and there are no complaints regarding tenants.
Supervisor Zach Friend commented that District 2 has already taken its share of low income units with Aptos Blue and the two affordable developments in Seacliff.
Supervisor McPherson made a motion to accept the Housing Element Report, noting it will really strain the County’s infrastructure to meet the RHNA increases mandated by AMBAG, and added direction to issue an RFP for a consultant to assist with the Citizen Assembly, using a deliberative process to determine placement of very low and low income housing projects within the affluent areas countywide. (see minute 2:50)
Read more here about the Citizen Assembly model.
Here is what happened in Petaluma, the first city in the United States to try this model:
In Petaluma, the Future of Democracy and the Fate of the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest Are Intertwined
Contact your County Supervisor and ask to be on the Assembly
FYI…the County Planning Commission will review the new RHNA requirements on Wednesday, November 9 at their virtual 9am meeting:
Do try to listen in and participate.
IS HELP IN SIGHT FOR CHAOTIC COUNTY COMMISSIONS?
Buried in last Tuesday’s Board of Supervisor Consent Agenda was some good news with Item #17 regarding how Commissions will work, hopefully for the better:
“The Clerk of the Board’s Office has begun work on a phased project to better support County commissions, committees and advisory boards and their appointed representatives. Aligning with County initiatives and standards, the project will provide resources and trainings for successful work by both County commissioners and staff liaisons. The first phase of the project is planned to launch in early 2023 to support the Board’s new members and their appointees with onboarding information, including a welcome letter, oath of office, and key trainings. A second phase will follow later in the year and include a handbook for new commissioners.
The County Administrative Office will return on or before March 28, 2023 to provide an update on the work of the ASCLM committee, the results of the 2022 County commissions and boards demographic data survey, and related activities.”
Keep your fingers crossed for some much-needed improvement!
PROSPECT HEIGHTS AND DELAVEAGA FIRE WORKSHOP
The FireWise Community leaders near DeLaveaga Park organized an excellent public workshop and discussion about the fire risks and homeless issues in the area. Here is the video recording
We should all note that the City police and fire departments conducted an After Action Review following the DeLaveaga Fire in August, and as a result, better planning and collaboration will happen next time.
So, why hasn’t Santa Cruz County Fire Dept. conducted an After Action Review for the 2020 CZU Fire??? Contact your County Supervisors and ask that this be done. Board of Supervisors
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HOW LONG WILL CALFIRE BE ABSENT FOR SOQUEL VALLEY EMERGENCY RESPONSE?
Last week, I noticed the CalFire Soquel Fire Station is still moving along extremely slowly. Last summer was the second summer that there have been no CalFire engines stationed in the Soquel Valley, due to the construction of the new Station, and a new office for the Soquel State Demonstration Forest. Engines responding to emergencies in the Valley are stationed in Felton. Engines also respond from Burrell Station on Highland Road. That’s a long way to drive. Why isn’t CalFire stationing units at the Seventh Day Adventist Conference Grounds? I asked, and was told “because that is not in CalFire jurisdiction” and any temporary station would sit empty in the winter when the Soquel Station traditionally ceases to be staffed. Does that make sense to you? Not me. There were no crews working at the site. Neighbors told me there is usually only one guy working alone. Wow. This could take years to complete. |
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A WASTELAND, NOT A PLAY GROUND
All summer, the lower playground at Anna Jean Cummings Park in Soquel has been brown. Ever since Soquel Creek Water District imposed draconian 9% annual rate increases in 2019 to pay for the outrageously expensive PureWater Soquel Project, the County has been forced to let this and other play areas die. Take a look at the sad state of the former play area at the Park and ask why no recycled water will be used for irrigation anywhere other than the 50 years of FREE irrigation water for the Twin Lakes Baptist Church athletic fields, currently being expanded. Wasteland that was once a park inviting kids to play at Anna Jean Cummings Park. –> |
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CONTINUED PIPELINE ATTACHMENT ON LAUREL STREET BRIDGE
Last week, crews began installing the hardware to attach the PureWater Soquel Project pipes to the Laurel Street Bridge. <--- Take a look The crew on the bridge had one traffic lane blocked, snarling the local traffic. Note the sky crane in the distance where a seven-story building is going up. I wonder what Tuesday's 5.1 earthquake felt like there? Liquefaction, anyone? |
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SIGN OF THE TIMES
These signs have popped up all over the County, while the County’s Housing Element and AMBAG will mandate a 353% increase in housing units built over the next eight years. Hmmmm…. What states if any have you researched and are you considering? Most popular states include: Tennessee, Georgia, Idaho, Florida, and Texas. |
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WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. READ ALL YOU CAN TO INFORM YOURSELF ABOUT CANDIDATES AND ISSUES, AND VOTE. MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK BY JUST DOING SOMETHING.
Cheers, Becky
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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. She ran again in 2020 on a slightly bigger shoestring and got 1/3 of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
October 30
THREE PARALLEL TRAJECTORIES
There is much to learn from the arcs of development of “Modern” farming, Native Peoples land tending, and recent wildland stewardship. Each practice takes place on the land, but each has vastly different philosophies and practices. At the same time, they each suffer from some similar issues which we must ponder if we want good land care for generations to come.
Northern Santa Cruz Agriculture’s Deeper Past
Santa Cruz is one of a handful of hubs from which the organic farming movement disseminated. But, that Santa Cruz legacy was built on a 150-year history and culture of agricultural innovation on California’s Central Coast. Along Santa Cruz County’s North Coast, farmers learned how to grow and manage successful dairies on some of California’s most productive grasslands. The dairies collapsed but farmers kept growing brussels sprouts until the organic foods movement emerged and new farmers started businesses.
More Recent Agricultural History
Alan Chadwick was important in the organic farming movement locally founding the still very important UCSC Farm and Garden, where many interns went on to found organic farms. Do you recall Santa Cruz Farms, an early powerhouse organic producer run by a lively character named Fran (aka Francis Corr)? A colleague who was early on with the organic farming scene in Santa Cruz, Reggie Knox, recently reminded me that Fran introduced many new people to radicchio in the late 1980’s. Santa Cruz Farms and Dennis Tamura’s still-extant Blue Heron Farms helped many see that successful organic farming was possible, and they trained many people how to grow a wealth of diversity of crops. Then there was Route 1 Farms with Jonathan Steinberg (“Steiny”) (until 2002) and Jeff Larkey. Recently, this highly successful farming operation ended when Jeff retired. Also recall the founding of Dirty Girl Produce by Jane Freedman and Ali Edwards at Golf Club Drive near Pogonip. This farm later transitioned to be run by Joe Schirmer, continuing to be successful to this day. And then there’s the Rodoni Farm now in its third generation on the North Coast. Molino Creek Farm is another local historic organic farm, along with its partner entity Two Dog Farm, early upstarts in the organic movement especially well known for their dry farmed tomatoes (disclosure: I’m a partner in that farm). There’s also Jim Cochran of Swanton Berry Farm, Larry Jacobs and Sandra Belin of Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo, and the Hudsons of Coastways Ranch…all with a deep history of innovation and organic food production.
Compared with the prior legacy of Native Peoples managing that same land, the ‘modern’ agricultural movement has gone by so quickly and its very near future is quite uncertain given that many of the farms and farmers I mentioned are either retired or do not have a viable transition plan to keep building on their success and wisdom.
Native American Land Tending
How long were the Native Peoples tending the landscape around us? What did they do? We know too little, but we have evidence that they were managing this landscape for at least 6,000 years. The Sand Hill Bluff shell mound has been dated to ~6,000 years old and contains bones of an extinct flightless duck, a scoter (Chendytes lawi). I have encountered shell containing mounds in many places on the North Coast, evidence of the importance of sea life as food. I’ve also seen lots of stone tool fragments and grinding stones: evidence of hunting and processing of seeds. The scale of Native People’s land tending was huge: fire scars on redwoods show 4-6 year intervals of burning into the forest, but the grasslands were burned every year. Without that fire, we probably wouldn’t have the old growth redwoods and definitely there wouldn’t have been any grasslands at the time of contact with the Old World Peoples. The extinction of the flightless duck followed the extinction of many other species of wildlife during the past 15,000 years, a time where human hunting coincided with climate change. And then, there was 1791 and the genocide of local peoples by Old World Peoples. Locally, all knowledge gleaned from thousands of years of land management was lost.
Wildland Stewardship
More recent than agriculture and Native Peoples land tending is the practice of wildland stewardship. Locally, we have a few generations of experience with the management of more wild places in our County. Multi-generational families like the McCrary’s of Big Creek Lumber, Tommy Williams of N-A Ranch, and others have some experience with how natural lands work. But, wildland stewards otherwise must learn by experimenting. Some of the issues facing present day wildland stewards are new. For instance, climate change induced droughts and floods are novel. Each new invasive species, including plants, animals, and pathogens, presents its own suite of issues. The extensive and intensive pressures from recreational uses have never been encountered before on these wildlands. And, while there was a giant wave of extinctions a few thousand years ago as humans entered this landscape, we are on the brink of a new wave of further extinctions.
Tying Together Three Trajectories
What do the stories about agriculture, Native Peoples, and wildland stewardship have in common? The most obvious issue they share is a challenge of continuity. With agriculture, I recounted the collapse of dairying, and it is a rare farmer that has transitioned what they built to the next generation. We are on the verge of the loss of much of what has been learned by the last generation of highly successful organic farmers on the Santa Cruz North Coast.
The existence of elk, salmon, and so much more alongside very dense human populations are a testament that the Native Peoples had a good method of passing on what they learned about land tending from one generation to the next. But alas, they were annihilated by genocide as is too common across the world. Fortunately, our local tribes are organizing to relearn land stewardship and pass on that knowledge using tribal frameworks.
And then, there’s wildland stewardship. Besides intergenerational transfer in families overseeing working lands, most other wildland stewards are employed by organizations that lack the means of passing on lessons from one employee to the next. Scientific papers are few, written records of local wildland management decisions and even the anecdotal observations of land stewards are not readily available for reference. In the past 30 years, Ken Moore, founder of the Wildlands Restoration Team, developed extensive control strategies, methods of attracting and engaging wildland stewardship volunteers, and maps of extensive invasive species control projects. Little of that legacy remains despite its extensive value. Fred McPherson‘s methods of training people to observe wild nature in our area are in jeopardy of being lost; without observation skills such as Fred taught, wildland stewardship is not possible.
Onward
How do we nurture the kind of intergenerational transfer of land care lessons that we need to adequately steward agricultural and wildlands?
To transfer knowledge, we must first develop and document that knowledge. Farmers haven’t figured this out, but there are government agencies like the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Resource Conservation Districts that might help…if only their staff can also figure out how to maintain and pass on the wisdom of each generation. Local tribes are working on ways to pass on what they are learn about tending the land, but are facing very big challenges. Wildland managers, like farmers and even local tribal members, don’t have adequate support and so have little time to learn, record their lessons, and train the next cohort.
To take that kind of time, we must expand the number of people involved with learning about how to do better farming, supporting tribes to relearn and take care of the land, and helping wildland stewards to improve their work. We must build popular support, but there is almost no work to raise these types of issues to the public, who remain largely unaware of the need for land care.
It would seem that the threat of fire and the scarcity of water across the State, would provide leverage to engage the public to gain their appreciation for land care. California’s Department of Public Health has public information campaigns for human health issues…so, why can’t the California Natural Resources Agency work to engage the State’s public on issues related to intergenerational transfer of agricultural knowledge, tribal land tending, and wildland stewardship? Can you imagine state-issued press releases with titles like: “Small Farm Knowledge Transfer: Crisis Bulletin Issued” or “Tribal Land Tending Important to Prevent Wildfire” or “How You can Support Wildland Stewardship.” With time, I can imagine a state-wide, state-run volunteer land stewardship core working with farmers, with tribes, and in wildlands. I can also imagine more and more people wanting to be farmers, support tribes, and advocate for increased wildland stewardship support. You might drop the NRA a note asking for them to work with the agencies they oversee to increase public information campaigns so that California’s public supports transfer of knowledge between generations of farmers, within and between tribes, and between wildland stewards. Ask them how you can help. Email: secretary@resources.ca.gov
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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 |
October 25
The image above depicts a possible future for areas within a proposed “expanded downtown” in the City of Santa Cruz. These buildings would be located, if the current City Council has its way, in an area immediately adjacent to the San Lorenzo River levy, right near where Broadway/Laurel intersects with Front Street.
Here’s how the City Planning Department describes this image:
City planners have created three development scenarios, all of which correspond to very tall buildings being built along the San Lorenzo River. Maximum building heights would reach either 145-feet, 185-feet, or 225-feet under the scenarios put forward by staff. Renderings generated for “Scenario 3” show buildings between 17 and 20 stories tall.
This “skyscraper proposal” (which was rejected by the City Planning Commission, by the way) was APPROVED by the Santa Cruz City Council – with Council Members Justin Cummings and Sandy Brown voting “No.”
The proposed seventeen-story tower, or towers, are far taller than any building in the current downtown – or anywhere else in the city, for that matter. These towers would be almost twice as tall as the ten-story Dream Inn, which is pictured below. I think that this picture of the Dream Inn can give us all an idea of just how gigantic those 17-story towers would be, in what is now a neighborhood mainly comprised of one or two-story buildings.
I have noted before, in my blog posting on October 20th, that the City Council vote on this skyscraper proposal is a good way to distinguish between the candidates running for Third District County Supervisor. The candidate whom I have endorsed, Justin Cummings, was a “No” vote on the skyscraper plan. Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, his opponent in the current supervisorial election, was a “Yes” vote.
For me, of course, the future of our city ought to be determined by ALL OF US, and so far, this proposal for a “Downtown Expansion Plan,” including the 17-story skyscraper idea, comes out of closed door dealings between the City’s Planning Director, the City Manager, the City’s Economic Development Director, and wealthy property owners and developers based in Santa Cruz, which include both the Seaside Company and Ow Commercial. The billionaire owners of the Golden State Warriors also appear to be involved in this plan, since it includes a new basketball arena.
You might think that the wealthy property owners whose land values would skyrocket if the “skyscraper plan” is ultimately approved would be able to pay for the required planning procedures. However, public funds are being used to prepare and promote this development scheme. This plan for the skyscrapers is the city’s gift to the developers (ratified by an official City Council vote)!
Again, what happens in our city really should be determined by ALL OF US. That means, if we do care about what happens, that we need to get informed, and get involved, and participate! An environmental impact review process is just now getting underway, and it’s what happens AFTER the public gets involved that will determine whether or not this skyscraper caper moves forward.
And let’s not forget that the public, ultimately, can use the initiative power to set the rules that the public believes are best!
Here’s a reference, right out of the California Constitution [Article 2, Section 11 (a)] to make clear that these initiative powers are fundamental to our system of democratic government:
Initiative and referendum powers may be exercised by the electors of each city or county….
That initiative power is in our State Constitution, and it can’t be taken away from us.
In 1973, I wrote a City of Santa Cruz initiative measure that stopped another city-sponsored development project (the proposed development of a massive Convention Center, shopping center, high-rise hotel, and luxury condominium complex on Lighthouse Field – along with seven acres of blacktopped parking, too). That initiative measure was approved by the voters in June 1974, and the passage of that initiative changed the course of history in both the City and in the County.
It is good to remind our elected officials (and ourselves) that we are ultimately in charge of what happens. We are ultimately in charge of what kind of land use and development we will permit.
If the system were working properly, the City Council would not approve a plan for massive new skyscrapers without being quite sure, in advance, that this is what the community wants. Good old fashioned politics, in which the public does make its elected officials do what the community wants, can still prevail.
But if the City Council doesn’t pay attention (and I don’t think it is paying attention, right at the moment), then the community can “Stop The Skyscrapers” by qualifying an initiative measure – and then passing it. That is definitely one option. The initiative is always available as a mechanism by which we can demonstrate that we do have a system of self-government, as long as we are willing to get involved ourselves!
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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 |
October 30
EVANGELICALS RUNNING AMOK IN THE TOWN SQUARE
One of the week’s biggest events was the attack early Friday morning, on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, in their San Francisco home, accentuating the growing violence and threats of violence in our deteriorating domestic political scene. Treatment of the incident by the various media sources was as wide-ranging as the political spectrum itself. Jesse Waters on Fox News ‘Primetime‘ show dismissed the attack as an unremarkable event. “People are being hit with hammers every day. People are being pushed into subways, slashed, shot in cold blood, but the media focuses on this one single crime to pin it on Republicans?” No mention that the assailant is a QAnon adherent, a Trump fanatic, and a follower of any deranged internet posting that he stumbles upon. Also, no mention by Waters that one of the main campaign thrusts by his party against Democrats is “being too soft on violent crime.”
Even Elon Musk, who after months of on-again-off-again maneuvers to take over Twitter, has finally done so with great fanfare by firing the top echelon of executives, and entering the Pelosi-attack fray of commentary. “There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye,” he tweeted in reply to a Hillary Clinton tweet. She called the attack “shocking” but “not surprising.” In Musk’s tweet, he referenced a link to the news website of the Santa Monica Observer, a site with a reputation of publishing false news articles. The tweet was later deleted, but not after garnering a raft of criticisms, one of which was posted by Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who said, “Your town square is going to become the town garbage dump if you don’t recant this reprehensible, untrue post.”
“It took only 72 hours for Elon Musk, as Twitter CEO, to start posting conspiracy theories,” tweeted state Senator Scott Wiener. “I wonder how long it’ll take him to reactivate Kanye, Trump and other toxic accounts.” Though Musk had made comments such as “The Bird is Freed,” he has attempted to quash concerns that it will be a free-wheeling site where anything goes. His statement that it will “have a common digital town square” with a “wide range of beliefs” being debated, is being viewed with vigilance by many. It’s difficult to see him allowing one or two more egotistical blowhards to hog his space, so Trump may be stuck at Truth Social, with Ye being closely monitored.
According to the Daily Beast, immediately after Musk’s ‘freed bird’ post, he pledged to assist an account named @catturd2, which claimed to have previously been “shadowbanned, ghostbanned and searchbanned.” Catturd2, whose profile photo is a white cat and whose bio simply reads “Chief Turd,” formerly made news after Trump retweeted that poster, who tweeted in favor of him and his election lies. The Beast goes on to say, “Catturd did not immediately respond to a request for comment; must’ve been busy in the litter box.”
Ye, the rapper/designer formerly known variously as Yeezy, Yeezus, Saint Pablo, and Kanye West, joined The Former Guy, and assorted other far-right pit-bullish-pols, with a stream of derogatory commentary about Jews. His threat to go “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE” broke the dam for him. Experts are seeing this criticism as blatant as it has been since the ’70s, with the ongoing harassment, vandalism and violence. This climate results from the digital culture of misinformation and hate, with right-wing political organizations bent on protecting the White-Christian status quo, and many attempting to downplay it as simply an inter-religious issue, having nothing to do with racism. The deadliest attack on Jews in this country occurred in 2018 at Pittsburg’s Tree of Life synagogue, with eleven killed and six wounded, but it is now dimming in prominence among all the mass killings since that time.
Tree of Life member, Barton Schachter, fears that it will fade in our memories. “I don’t know how to save it,” he laments. He called Ye “an idiot…but eventually he’ll be gone. Another person will take his place. The question is: How do we continue keeping the good stuff alive? That’s the hard part. The memory of these seven who died here and the six million of the Holocaust, that’s the hard part.” A 2019 survey by the Anti-Defamation League indicates that American attitudes toward Jews, though complex, are less antisemitic than those of sixty years ago, though incidents have risen to a high level. “People feel that can say and do anything,” says Jonathan Greenblatt of the ADL. The MAGATs boundaries of real, authentic Americanhood has shifted, making the future very unpredictable.
The Mar-a-Lago Orange has attacked American Jewry on Truth Social, telling Jews to “get their act together” and show more appreciation for the Israeli state “before it is too late.” His belief that US Jews have a secret duality toward Israel over the USA, while posting that he sees evangelicals as being “far more appreciative” of actions on Israel than Jews, a comment ignored by Republicans overall. Trump and other conservatives rallied to Ye’s defense after his comments, and after an interview with Tucker Carlson, when he said that today’s Jews aren’t the legitimate Jews of the Bible…it’s the Black Hebrew Israelites, the African-Americans, who are the true descendants of the ancient Israelites. Ye-West has lost many sponsorships and business relationships as a result of his outspokenness, along with the discontinuation of his school after the staff resigned in protest.
Dana Milbank of The Washington Post writes that his rabbi looked up from his Kol Nidre sermon, a homily about protecting America’s liberal democracy, and posed a question, apart from his prepared text: “How many people in the last few years have been at a dining room conversation where talk turned to where we might move? How many of us?” An unthinkable question poised to those who felt they might need to flee the US…and he got a show of many hands! The sermon included a quotation from Jewish scholar Michael Holzman: “For American Jews, the disappearance of liberal democracy would be a disaster…We have flourished under the shelter of the principles behind the First Amendment, and we have been protected by the absolute belief in the rule of law. Without these, Jews, start packing suitcases.” Jonathan Greenblatt says, “As Jews, we know at some point the music stops. This is burned into the collective consciousness of every Jewish person.” But, “if it isn’t safe here, it won’t be safe anywhere,” Milbank concludes.
And, former Hero of January 6, Mike Pence, continues his political/religious lies, during an interview on Fox Business, when he said, “The radical left believes that the freedom of religion is the freedom from religion.” Going on to say, “The First Amendment of the Constitution doesn’t give anyone protections against having “other peoples’ faiths forced upon them.” Evidently, Mr. P believes the Founders were fine with religious fanatics running amok. Pence continues with his charge that the Left wants to scrap religion, one of the freedoms for which many have died in battle. He believes the Supreme Court has the duty to favor Christianity over other faiths…a sacred responsibility! “I’m confident that we have a pro-religious freedom majority on the Court. Help is on the way,” he maintains to interviewer Larry Kudlow. And there you have it…two Republicans telling you their preferred religion outranks yours and much of America. Should go swimmingly with that new gabardine suit and spiffy red tie you’ll need! The shock of shimmering white hair will come automatically, and soon enough!
Noteworthy is a ProPublica and Texas Tribune story that the IRS has its blinders on with regard to evangelical churches in Texas and elsewhere disregarding a federal law prohibiting the endorsement of political candidates. At least eighteen congregations in Texas, Alaska and California have advocated for their favorite candidates, and call those candidates in disfavor ‘demonic‘ as a favored term. The Former Guy urged the IRS to abolish the regulation completely, and with no comment from the department about investigations into violations, it is claimed more violations have turned up in the past two years than in the last ten.
And, we have Dan Foster on Medium to thank for this astonishing entry: Helgard Müller, the author responsible for ‘The Five Gods of the Bible’ (one star on Amazon.com), brings us this classic: ‘President Donald J. Trump, The Son of Man – The Christ.’ Dan thought the introduction worthy of a rundown: “President Donald J. Trump is the King of Kings, And Lord of Lords! The Son of Man who will be seen seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven. You have read that correctly! Donald Trump is the Christ for this age! The Son of King David! The prophecies of Jesus and all the prophets point to President Donald Trump as the Son of Man, the Christ.” Müller links Biblical prophecy to Trump, claiming there are two Christs, with the original being the son of God who was betrayed by Judas, and Trump being the son of man who was betrayed by former US VP Mike Pence. For seventeen Washington’s the book is yours, with freebies at Trump rallies…please spare me! Without doubt, there are those who fully endorse this concept, because of course a god would send an entitled, morally corrupt billionaire in a private jet as a second Jesus! The donkey bit, and clearing the temple of money lenders has been so overdone!
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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.
“November”“The house was very quiet, and the fog—we are in November now—pressed against the windows like an excluded ghost.”
~E.M. Forster, Howards End
“This November there seems to be nothing to say.” Anne Sexton,
~Anne Sexton: A Self-Portrait in Letters
“It was November. The trees were full with smells of oncoming smoke.”
~Sneha Subramanian Kanta
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Jordan Klepper of the Daily Show needs no introduction. It’s one of those “you gotta laugh, or you’ll cry” kinda things… |
BRATTON…measures and candidates to vote for, YES on measure O, Tim Eagan’s new book GREENSITE…on Rape Awareness and Anniversaries. KROHN…Students interests, past and present. STEINBRUNER…County Fair Board firings and issues, Soquel Creek Board to Denmark?, County Supes and their commissions, Laurel Street bridge, county not flying the flag, electric rail Watsonville and Aptos. HAYES…Voting for the environment. PATTON…Please vote YES on measure O. MATLOCK…Pillow-talk reigns supreme(s) in basketful of deplorables. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover. WEBMISTRESS’…pick of the week – 30 years, and what has changed? QUOTES…”Halloween Quotes, part 2″.
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DATELINE October 24
MORE ABOUT VOTING.
Just a bit contrary to what you might have read I’m urging a YES vote on Measure K and Measure L the bond issues to improve Santa Cruz schools and also YES on Measure N the Empty Homes tax. That’s a definite and necessary YES on Measure O the Library Garage/Save the trees and Farmers Market issue. A definite support vote for Gail Pellerin for State Assembly and be very sure to vote for Joy Schendledecker for our new Mayor. Fred Keeley continues to be the slick, non-committal pro politician with too many ties to development money. These huge growing differences between Justin Cummings and Shebreh and Justin will do a much better job especially in and for the complicated 3rd District.
YES ON MEASURE O FORUM.
The Santa Cruz Sentinel photo caption error last week didn’t help clear the details about the Library and Farmers Market future, especially the threatened trees. All the facts and details will be discussed at this Thursday’s October 27 forum titled “Yes on Measure O!” It’s odd that former Santa Cruz mayor Don Lane should be so against Measure O. He was the mayor that brought the armor bearing Bear Cat vehicle to Santa Cruz. It’s also quite obvious the Nesh Dhillon the manager of the Farmer’s Market isn’t taking sides on this issue…he wants the market to succeed no matter where it’s located. We just need to get out and vote YES ON O and preserve what we have.
Save the date, hope to see you there!
Thursday, October 27, 7pm
London Nelson Center, room 3
301 Center Street
Join your neighbors! Learn about the measure! Get on the list for a yard sign! The Pro Measure O people meet every Saturday at London Nelson at 9:30a.m. until November 5th. It’s a great way to meet more of the team, learn the message, and gather materials for walking with flyers.
TIM EAGAN’S NEW BOOK. “HEAD FIRST”. It would be too easy to say Tim Eagan’s new book “Head First” has finally hit the ground. Readers of Eagan’s Subconscious Comics will love this piece of art immediately. Unlike most books Head First is at least three or four dimensional as it follows a guy falling through space through almost all of its journey. It is a beauty and even the cover has a special fourth dimension. Tim drew it based on a fall he actually experienced many years ago. See and buy it now at Bookshop Santa Cruz and there will also be a book signing set for Wednesday, Nov. 2 from noon till 3 at Atlantis Fantasyworld.
I search and critique a variety of movies only from those that are newly released. Choosing from the thousands of classics and older releases would take way too long. And be sure to tune in to those very newest movie reviews live on KZSC 88.1 fm every Friday from about 8:10 – 8:30 am. on the Bushwhackers Breakfast Club program hosted by Dangerous Dan Orange.
THE LOST CITY. (PRIME MOVIE) (6.1 IMDB). Sandra Bullock is back and takes the lead in this supposedly comic movie. The world seems very serious to me right now and I think we need better fun movies than this big budget half laugh. Daniel Radcliffe plays the evil zillionaire searching for a lost city and Channing Tatum is Bullock’s leading man. Brad Pitt has about 6minutes on screen but that’s about enough. It’s gross, not clever but mildly absorbing.
AMBULANCE. (PRIME MOVIE) (6.1IMDB). Jake Gyllenhaal has about the only role that speaks or actually shouts in the 99% truck and ambulance chase movie. It’s a crude action and digitally enhanced vehicle chase all around and around downtown Los Angeles. There’s a bank robbery gone wrong, then there’s the FBI, the Los Angeles police, etc.,etc. It makes no sense and Gyllenhaal is the bad guy for a change.
RAYMOND & RAY. (PRIME MOVIE) (6.4 IMDB). They’ve marketed this as a dark comedy and while it is dark there’s not much comedy. Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor are brothers from a different mother and probably from many different fathers too! It’s quirky, weird, lots of mugging but it’s creative in plot. It just takes more to be truly funny nowadays.
THE STRANGER. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.6 IMDB). Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris play two guys who meet on an airplane trip. It’s all in Australia and while their friendship gets deeper and deeper there’s some secrets they both let out very slowly and carefully. There was a young boy who was murdered and it all becomes more and more complex. Go for it, you’ll become glued.
THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (5.7 IMDB). Definitely a fairy tale movie for kids up to about age 10. Huge budget, great special effects, plus witches, cyclops, King Arthur’s round table and Charlize Theron as a witch in charge. Laurence Fishburne and Cate Blanchett mug their ways through it too. Not for viewers past 10 years old.
DOLL HOUSE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.9 IMDB). A film in the Filipino tradition unfortunately. Poor acting, simple plot, predictable story. There’s a rock band and the lead singer has a daughter and they go to Amsterdam and I stopped watching after 42 minutes.
SPECIAL NOTE….Don’t forget that when you’re not too sure of a plot or need any info on a movie to go to Wikipedia. It lays out the straight/non hype story plus all the details you’ll need including which server (Netflix, Hulu, or PBS) you can find it on. You can also go to Brattononline.com and punch in the movie title and read my take on the much more than 100 movies.
ROSALINE. (HULU MOVIE) (6.4 IMDB). Rosaline was Juliet’s cousin from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This comedy is based/stolen from that classic and the gimmick is that they mostly use modern English slang when they speak. Minnie Driver gets a chance at movies again but can’t do much here. Romeo is a doofus and when you are using a master Like Shakespeare to steal from you need more of his brilliance to pull it off. If you’re wondering like I was/am it may be possible that William Shakespeare actually had a woman in his life named Rosalind or Rosaline according to scholars.
THE WATCHER. (NETFLIX SERIES) (6.9 IMDB). An unlikely couple Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale buy a mansion with a history and a serious mystery. Some dis embodied voice sends letters and all kind of messages to Naomi and bobby about their being watched. It’s slow moving, and not at all exciting. Neighbors seem to be involved and so does Mia Farrow (from Woody Allen) and Jennifer Coolidge (from White Lotus) but no reason to get excited or involved.
BLACKOUT. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (3.9 IMDB). This absolutely miserable attempt at a mystery has Josh Duhamel waking up in a hospital and not knowing how and why he got there. An old Nick Nolte (81) does his best to learn Josh’s secret and that’s about all of the plot. It’s Mexico and the cartel is involved but I stopped watching after 30 minutes…let me know if it got any better.
OLD PEOPLE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (5.0 IMDB). This German horror movie uses every trick in the cinema world to make us believe that old people in their 70’s and above have some sort of haunting evil ghost thing inside their bent bodies. For an obvious reason old people don’t scare me at all. This plodding, slow moving is brutal, boring and just isn’t scary. There’s no tension, no danger, no threats just plodding. I won’t reveal the ending because I couldn’t watch anymore and didn’t care what happened.
DAHMER. (NETFLIX SERIES) (8.2 IMDB). What is/was a surprise to me is that this movie is the second most viewed English language movie in Netflix history. Like so many other hit movies nowadays this too is very deep into violence. It’s the true story of Jeffrey Dahmer the serial killer from Milwaukee who brutally murdered 17 teen age boys. Evan Peters does a very good job as Dahmer and it’s a well-produced movie. It is however extremely violent, full of gay tragedy, cannibalism and how Dahmer would keep his victims hearts in special bags. Richard Jenkins plays Dahmer’s father as the drama tries to expose all the problems that Dahmer had while growing up. Only watch it after careful thinking.
GIRL IN THE SHED. THE KIDNAPPING OF ABBY HERNANDEZ (HULU MOVIE) (5.7 IMDB). A genuinely deep and twisted apparently true story of the kidnapping of a 14 year old girl by a right wing militia member. He tries his best to be kind to her and she works very hard to become his friend so she can escape. The FBI gets involved and we find out that he got sentenced to a 45 year sentence in prison.
October 24
RAPE AWARENESS & ANNIVERSARIES
This year is the 40th anniversary of the City of Santa Cruz Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women and the 10th anniversary of my introducing rape awareness and prevention to teachers’ colleges in Tanzania and Malawi. The photo was taken at the end of the three-day training in Tanzania in 2012. Pictured besides myself are two teachers from Monduli Teachers’ College and a representative from the Ministry of Education. The event was coordinated by my friend and colleague, Dr. James Lees from South Africa who invited me to conduct the trainings. I had to go to sub-Saharan Africa to have my rape prevention work embraced by those in positions of power sufficient to make a difference. Santa Cruz is a long story of city leaders marginalizing and burying the issue of rape, along with the messenger.
Last Tuesday, as an afterthought, I was asked to give a five-minute history of the Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women at their kick-off event. This I did, before the film screening at the Del Mar and after Mayor Brunner had read the city Proclamation commemorating the Commission’s 40th anniversary. Below is what I shared, a tempered down version of the actual history for the occasion, which after all was a celebration.
Brief History of the Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women
I’ve been invited to share a very brief history of the Commission. I was a founder of the Commission and its first chair from 1982 until 1984 and again in 2003 until 2006.
It has authority to call upon members of the SCPD to offer full and open communication to the Commission. It requires an annual report to council from both the Commission and the SCPD.
Nobody ever said working against rape would be easy. Every one of you can get involved, support the Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women, hold it accountable to follow and enact the Ordinance that made its existence possible, and make a difference.
| 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. |
October 24
STUDENTS INTERESTS, PAST AND PRESENT
UCSC student politics have changed markedly since I was an undergraduate back in the mid-1980’s. While the US proxy wars still abound—Nicaragua, Grenada, El Salvador, Iraq they have been exchanged Yemen, Korea, and Ukraine today—and apartheid and US out of Central America have been replaced by climate change politics and serious gender and race identity discussions. Local political issues important on campus back in the ‘80’s were electing a progressive slate, following strict environmental protocols, and rent control. While rent control has been defeated four times, 1978, 1979, 1982, and again more recently in 2018, perhaps it is a focus on housing issues that unites students, past and present because the landlord class is still having its way with students.
Past as Prologue
The housing market that students are facing today is nothing like the 1980’s, ‘90’s, or early 2000’s. Back then few students that I knew, who lived off campus, felt like they had to share a bedroom. Now, three students sometimes share one bedroom and to avoid it, they turn the living room into a bedroom too. In 2002, the city issued a “community profile.” In chapter two on page 14 is a table in which rents are detailed. A studio rented for $743 a month; a one-bedroom, $980; two-room, $1,384; and a three-bedroom rented for $1,983 per month. Today, at Five55 Pacific Avenue there are only studios and one-bedrooms for rent and on their main web site it no longer lists prices, but says to call instead. On the site, Apartments.com, it states that there are no apartments available at Five55 Pacific Avenue. On Rentable, it lists studios and one-bedrooms there going for $2,065-$2,715. At Hidden Creek Apartments at 200 Button Street, a place that would not even return calls from my doctor when she was looking for a place, a “1-Bed Loft” is going for $2,850 and a one-bedroom is $3,105. Apartment.com says rents at Pacific Shores, on Shaffer Road for “1-2 bd” goes $3,134-$5,783, while at Cypress Point on Felix Street, monthly rents for “Studio-2 bd” are $2,745-$5,161. But topping all of these outlandish prices are the UC Regents’ recently-acquired Hilltop Apartments on Western Drive. A one-bedroom apartment currently rents for $4,045 according to the Hilltop website. Shame on the UC Regents!
Campus Politics
As a result of these sky-high prices, students at UC Santa Cruz have become a grizzled and roughhewn bunch when it comes to housing issues. Groups on campus such as Yimby (Yes in My Backyard), the YDSA (Young Democratic Socialist of America), and the Student Housing Coalition seem to agree on one thing: this town needs more housing. I believe there has never been this amount of organizing around the housing issue, even in the heady days of the first progressive city council and an early rent control movement that barely lost at the ballot box. The collective belief among these student groups seems to be that all housing is equal and that if you build more, the price will come down. But as recent housing market additions, Five555 and Nanda on Pacific Avenue reflect, housing prices have only gone up. Nanda actually tops the UC Regents’ Hilltop Apartments by a few dollars, $4,166 for a “1 bed, 1 bath, 506 sq. ft.” rental. In recent years these student groups have ramped up pressure on a tin-ear UCSC administration, mostly because of the lack of housing on campus, but they do not usually protest over the high dorm rents charged to students. Only those qualifying for full financial aid packages along with the very rich can afford campus housing, while the financially-strapped middle-class students have to endure the stress of the community rental market. Of course, local landlords generally see what campus charges and sets their rates a bit lower. A single dorm room in a university apartment can cost almost $2,000. And some students cram so many of their fellow colleagues into collective off campus housing that those individual rents can be as low as $600 per head.
Student Wisdom
For years I have been asking UCSC Environmental Studies interns a couple of questions each year. First, where do you get your news from, how do you get your news? Second, do you have an environmental hero? Every year I learn of new and unique sources of news and also about people I previously knew anything about. So, beyond the usual National Geographic, New York Times, Democracy Now, Guardian, NPR, Tik Tok, Trevor Noah, Radio Lab, and This American Life sources, I learned about Ad News, Today Explained on Vox, @theprogressivists on Instagram, @uksruna an indigenous activist, site and Hasan Piker. The “favorite environmentalist” question was interesting this year too. Of course, Rachel Carson, Sylvia Earle, John Muir, Alice Waters, Jane Goodall, and Greta Thunberg were mentioned often, but I also got introduced to Lawrence Anthony, Amelia Fortgang, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Paul Nicklen and Jane Jacobs. Surprisingly, out of the 100 or so students who responded, more than 50% did not have an environmental hero.
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A densely-packed camp formed in the Benchlands along the San Lorenzo River as more and more people arrived. Now, the city says everyone must vacate. Where will the houseless migrate to next? We know there were at least 400 homeless people who were camping here and the city acknowledges it has space for only 150. Where will everyone else go?
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Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and a Santa Cruz City Council member from 1998-2002 and from 2017-2020. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 16 years. On Tuesday evenings at 5pm, Krohn hosts of “Talk of the Bay,” on KSQD 90.7 and KSQD.org His Twitter handle at SCpolitics is @ChrisKrohnSC Chris can be reached at ckrohn@cruzio.com
Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com |
October 24
PAJARO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT CANCELLED BUS TRANSPORTATION
How can kids get to school if their bus is cancelled? The answer is simple…someone drives them if there is a vehicle and driver available, or they just don’t go. How can the Pajaro Valley Unified School District allow this to happen?
Pajaro Valley Unified School District cancels bus routes Monday
SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT TOP DOGS GET FREE TRIP TO DENMARK…BUT WHY?
Why would the Danish Government Consulate provide Soquel Creek Water District General Manager Ron Duncan and Board President Tom LaHue an all-expenses-paid vacation to Denmark? Buried in last Tuesday’s Soquel Creek Water District Board packet, the claim is that it will be a “fact finding and knowledge exchange mission regarding water resources” and will be a week-long trip (November 12-19, 2022). The General Manager and the Board President will be participating on behalf of the District and provide an update in a future meeting.
I asked at the Board meeting for public discussion of what knowledge the two District representatives might hope to gain and when the public might learn about this beneficial exchange? NO answer. None of the Directors asked either. Hmmm….
ARE COUNTY SUPERVISORS DOUBLE-DIPPING WITH PAID SERVICE ON COMMISSIONS?
In the recent edition of the Aptos Times, County Supervisor Zach Friend featured a list of all the public commissions on which he serves.
All of the Supervisors serve on all sorts of Commissions, but how much do they really know about the subject matter? They do get paid for being on some of them; the Santa Cruz Metro Commission and Regional Transportation Commission being some examples.
Take a look here for a partial list: ‘zachariah friend’ search results | Transparent California
I don’t think these public servants should be paid twice for their work, do you? All of these Commission meetings happen during business hours.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR ELECTRIC RAIL TRANSIT CONNECTING WATSONVILLE AND APTOS
I happened to see an ad in the Sentinel that a Public Hearing will happen on November 3 at 9am for the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) to consider environmental and design analysis for electric rail transit and trail for Segments 13-20, connecting Watsonville with Aptos. Wow.
The Public Hearing also includes Rail and Trail Segment 12 in Aptos Village, Highway One Bus-on-shoulder/auxiliary lanes between State Park Drive and Freedom Boulevard, as well as San Lorenzo Valley and Boulder Creek Complete Streets considerations.
The Hearing will be part of the RTC hybrid meeting, held in the County Board of Supervisor Chambers (5th floor of the County Gov’t Bldg. at 701 Ocean Street).
There is nothing on the RTC website to alert people to this important Public Hearing, but you can find the virtual access information for the Commission meeting here:
Commission Meeting (2022-11-03)
This is a big step to get things moving for relief to South County commuters. It involves changing two train overcrossings in the Aptos Village area as well as constructing the pedestrian overcrossing at Mar Vista Drive.
Make sure you participate in this important Public Hearing and make your thoughts known.
CONNECTING THE DOTS
At the October 6 Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) approved revised plans, specifications, and Engineer’s estimates for the Pajaro River Bridge Rehabilitation Project. The Pajaro River Bridge at Mile Post (MP) 1.06 connects the track portion of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line in Watsonville active with freight to the main line in Pajaro, providing freight customers access to the national rail network.
In May, the Commission rejected a construction bid for the Pajaro River Bridge Rehabilitation Project as unreasonable.
This project, as I understand it, would help support connected passenger rail in the County to the main rail line…maybe someday, a CalTrain station in Pajaro? Wouldn’t that be nice?
In 2016, when the RTC was deliberating how to place the new Measure D sales tax on the ballot, dividing the money pot, renovation of the Pajaro Train Station was included. However, with a mysteriously quick change of plans, that project was dropped in favor of giving more money to Metro and ParaCruz. I remember being amazed that Fourth District Supervisor Greg Caput seemed absolutely unconcerned and not surprised at the action that obviously deprived benefit to his constituents.
I later asked him if he knew that change was going to happen? “Yes” he said.
So much for the Brown Act prohibition of back door meetings.
A LANDSCAPE BUILT TO BURN
The Santa Cruz Public Libraries are offering some interesting programs this month, focusing on fire issues. This Thursday, 5:30pm-6:30pm at the Felton Library Community Room, Mr. Tim Hyland will speak about the impacts of the CZU Fire and the future of State Parks. He is the Natural Resource Program Manager for the Santa Cruz District of California State Parks.
Attend if you can. Request the program be recorded: (831) 427-7708
6121 Gushee St.
Felton, CA
DRILLING A SYSTEM OF NINE NEW MONITORING WELLS TO CHECK GROUNDWATER LEVELS
This week, crews are working at Aptos Village Park to drill and develop a new 80′ deep groundwater monitoring well that will provide information about groundwater levels for the MidCounty Groundwater Agency into the future. The crew had planned to drill down to 150′, but was suddenly asked to change to a more shallow monitoring well.
Another similar monitoring well has been installed near Spreckels Drive and Highway One, and there are others along upper Soquel Creek.
The monitoring wells will be equipped with electronic devices to send information on groundwater depths near streams to correlate data between stream flows and groundwater status.
Here is a map of the geologic structuring in our area. The crew working at Aptos Village Park said the 80′ deep well can help monitor the F layer of the Purisima Aquifer.
The soil samples taken at various boring depths are laid out on the tarp in the fore ground. I was surprised that the contractor had not been told the site is an archaeologically sensitive site, and in fact, a potential Native American gravesite. All of the Aptos Village Project is also a known archaeologic site.
SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT PROJECT CHANGES THE LAUREL STREET BRIDGE
| Take a look at how the Laurel Street Bridge has been altered, in order to accommodate the 14″ blue pipe and 6″ purple pipe the Soquel Creek Water District plans to attach as part of the PureWater Soquel Project. | ||
| Here is what the light post attachments looked like before. |  |
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And here is what they look like now. |
| Notice that the lower concrete pillars of the light posts have been removed in order to make space for a 14″ blue PVC pipe with purple tape spirals do denote recycled water, and a 6″ pipe that could be either purple or green, depending on how Soquel Creek Water District decides to claim the concentrated contaminated “brine” really is. | ||
| You can see here just how much of the thick concrete element was removed from beneath all light posts on both sides of the Laurel Street Bridge. |  |
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According to the Soquel Creek Water District PureWater Soquel Project update for the week;
Laurel Street Bridge
“Crews are now laying out anchor points, conducting rebar scan, drilling anchors, and installing back framing and supports. It’s anticipated that this work will continue through November 3, with pipe installation on the bridge expected to start on November 4. Overall work on the bridge is expected to continue into December.”
None of this major concrete removal work was ever analyzed or even mentioned in the Project EIR, certified December 18, 2018. The plan then was to tunnel under the San Lorenzo River but the District changed course when the State Regional Water Quality Control Board denied the permit application, but contingent upon the District providing further information. Instead, the District decided to attach the pipes to the Laurel Street Bridge, and somehow, that mollified the Water Board.
But where was the legally-required collaboration with California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife? That agency, according to Public Records Act requests, was never consulted.
It was only due to the good work of private citizen Ms. Jane Mio that the work was delayed over the summer so as not to harm the Cliff Swallows who fly here all the way from Argentina to build mud nests on that bridge and raise their young. Good work, Citizen Jane!
THREE Santa Cruz COUNTY FAIR BOARD DIRECTORS NOW GONE
Three of the nine Directors of the Santa Cruz County Fair Board are now gone, following the termination of former Fair Manager Dave Kegebein by the Board on October 4. In my opinion, this is an improvement and here is why.
Last week, former Directors Ms. Loretta Estrada and Ms. Jody Belgard received notice from the Governor’s Office that their appointments to the 14th District Agricultural Association (DAA) would not be renewed. Also, former Director Bill Barton is no longer included in the Fair Board of Directors information:
Santa Cruz County Fair Board of Directors
These three Directors had chronically failed to do their jobs to provide oversight of the Fairgrounds financial operations and Livestock Committee operations, which included oversight of the Fairgrounds Manager, Dave Kegebein. Director Barton and Director Belgard chaired the Financial Oversight Committee, but never presented a report of their oversight work…because there was none.
Director Barton publicly admitted he never bothered to look at the financial reports that Manager Kegebein included in the Fair Board packets, and never even checked to see if there were receipts to verify Mr. Kegebein’s claimed expenses. Director Belgard was always silent.
Had these two professionals taken the time to examine checks being written, they might have questioned Mr. Kegebein’s untethered use of the 14th DAA credit and debit card for personal gasoline, food and unexplained personal purchases over the course of many years.
They could have, and should have questioned Mr. Kegebein’s contracts, especially the one he made with the Ocean Speedway race track on fairgrounds property, wherein he required the race track owner to pay nearly half of the contract rental amount directly to the Fairgrounds Foundation, a non-profit run by Jeannie Kegebein, and thereby directed rental money away from the 14th DAA bank accounts.
They could have, and most certainly should have questioned why the Fairgrounds Foundation suddenly took over all beer sales at all events at the fairgrounds, including at the race track, even though it violated Fairgrounds Policy. This is a very lucrative matter, yet the Fairgrounds Foundation failed to report their profits to the Board, and did not pay the required commission to the 14th DAA.
But Directors Barton and Belgard questioned nothing.
Director Estrada served on the Livestock Committee, along with Director Stephanie Fontana. Both were well-aware of the fact that Fairgrounds Manager Dave Kegebein directed volunteers to make major structural changes to the two livestock barns, using $33,000 funding given by the Fairgrounds Foundation (run by Jeannie Kegebein) but never brought before the Fair Board of Directors for approval or public discussion of the design. The State requires all building improvement and demolition plans to be reviewed by the California Construction Authority (CCA) prior to action.
Director Estrada was well aware of Mr. Kegebein’s actions, but responded to members of the public questions about the structural integrity only with anger that we would dare question anything that Mr. Kegebein would do. Mr. Kegebein was equally arrogant, and chose to not answer questions if asked.
That left the public no choice but to file Public Records Act requests in order to learn the truth. Sometimes those answers took over a year to get, but it was that level of public questioning that caused the California Dept. of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) legal staff to pay closer attention to the red flags raised.
Mr. Kegebein’s cavalier actions, funded by the Fairgrounds Foundation without Fair Board review, resulted in the CCA declaring the two livestock barns “Unstable and Unsafe” in early 2022, only after allowing use of the barns for the 2021 Fair with special conditions. Mr. Kegebein failed to share the special conditions with any of the youth, their project leaders, the Board, or the public in advance of the 2021 Fair. One of those special conditions was to evacuate the barns if it became windy.
He failed to take timely action as directed by the CCA to correct the structural problems before the 2022 Fair arrived, thereby causing the goat and sheep exhibits to be under large, very expensive tents.
For over six months, high-level State officials have been driving from Sacramento to attend the Santa Cruz County Fair Board meetings, participating in Closed Session with the Board each time. The Board would receive instructions as to what improvements were necessary, and how to accomplish them.
With the exception of Director Don Dietrich, none of the Directors seemed to make any effort to improve, and continued their failure to question Mr. Kegebein about anything.
Early this year, the CDFA conducted a Performance Audit of the 14th DAA operational procedures and finances for years 2017-2019. The results were shocking, and led to the State requesting the Board call a meeting on October 4, after the Performance Audit became public. The CDFA Legal staff sent the Final Audit to all Fair Board Directors on September 30.
At the October 4 Board meeting, it was very clear that none of them, except Director /President Dietrich, even opened their Fair Board e-mails in advance of the meeting, but argued anyway that they had not seen the Final Audit.
During Closed Session, after reviewing the Final Audit, the Board voted to terminate Mr. Kegebein as 14th DAA Fairgrounds Manager. The vote was 7:2, with Director Estrada and Director Belgard voting no.
Read about what happened here: Aptos Times: October 15, 2022 — Times Publishing Group, Inc.
After President Dietrich announced the Closed Session action upon reconvening, these two were overheard amongst the crowd later to angrily state they would resign.
However, they did not. It was said they “wanted to stay on and fight.” Fight? Not work to improve things? Not acknowledge that Mr. Kegebein had acted improperly and that they had not performed their responsibilities to see that and right the ship before it crashed? Not work to recover the more than $200,000 in public funds the Final Audit found in question?
That is why, in my opinion, it was a good thing that last week the Governor’s Office notified Loretta Estrada and Jody Belgard that their appointments to the 14th DAA were terminated.
State fires two Santa Cruz County Fair Board members – The Pajaronian
It was necessary. Maybe there should be more relieved of their appointments, but it remains to be seen what will happen.
With President Don Dietrich now acting as Interim Fairgrounds Manager of the 14th DAA, I am confident that this valuable community resource is in good hands. The Fair Board meets Tuesday, October 25, and will discuss many things, including recruitment of a new Fairgrounds Manager.
Things are already improving, with the Board packet inclusion of complete public correspondence. That has not been happening for a long time.
Some Community members have questioned the involvement of the State in this matter. The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds is actually owned by the State, along with about 57 others throughout California:
List of State-Designated Fairs
WHERE IS THE CALIFORNIA STATE FLAG AT THE COURT AND COUNTY BUILDING IN SANTA CRUZ?
For several months, I have asked the Board of Supervisors to explain why the flag of the State of California no longer flies in front of the County’s State Superior Courthouse and the County Government Building? NO answer.
Last week, I decided to try asking General Services Dept., which oversees the operation and maintenance of the facility. Staff there sent me to State Senator Laird’s office, down a few doors, in the collection of offices for state and federal representatives, as well as LAFCO. Even though well after the lunch hour, all doors were closed, and no one responded to my knock on their door.
However, Mr. Emmanuel Garcia, an analyst for Congressman Panetta happened to exit his office, so I asked him why there continues to be no California State flag flying, having recently been replaced with the black Prisoner of War flag.
He told me that after the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision, people protested in front of the County Courthouse. Some decided to cut down the flag pole ropes, and shred the flags. Mr. Garcia said that when the angry mob moved over to begin spray painting “All Cops Are Pigs” on the Courthouse, he ran down from his office to retrieve the shredded flags. He told me he surrendered them to the District Attorney, who may be prosecuting some of the protesters for the vandalism and injury to one man who tried to stop them.
I wrote to Senator Laird about replacing the California State flag on this pole. No answer yet, but maybe you can write him, too. Contact him here.
Flag pole in front of California Superior Court in Santa Cruz County last week…the California Stat Flag has not flown for months.
What about the black and white POW/MIA flag now flying there? You may be interested to know this: “President Donald J. Trump expanded where and when the POW/MIA flag would fly by signing new legislation into law in November of 2019. Before 2019, the flag was flown only at select federal sites or on certain days like Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, or POW/MIA Remembrance Day.
But the 2019 law expanded the continuous flying of the POW/MIA Flag at a majority of federal sites, including VA hospitals, post offices, cemeteries, and national parks.
Veterans groups across the country backed the bipartisan measure. “This is a historic victory for every man and woman who courageously defended this nation and remain unaccounted for,” said VFW National Commander William “Doc” Schmitz at the time of the signing.”
The history and meaning behind the POW/MIA flag
SAVE THE HERITAGE TREES DOWNTOWN
Please share with your friends and neighbors who are registered to vote in the City of Santa Cruz that they need to tune in this Thursday at 7pm to hear the TRUTH about Measure O and how it will SAVE THE HERITAGE TREES in Lot 4 if passed.
The Santa Cruz Sentinel committed an outrageous mistake on the front page of last Sunday’s paper by erroneously claiming under the photo of a heritage tree that if Measure O passes, the heritage trees in Lot 4 will be cut down. The truth is exactly OPPOSITE! Although the new Editor Thomas Wright, responded that the online paper was corrected, and Monday’s Sentinel featured a correction on page A1, it was an unacceptable and gross error that potentially influenced voters.
Please share the information below, and ask the Sentinel to feature a Notice of this event, as well as a front page story about it as a follow-up:
Editor Thomas Wright twright@santacruzsentinel.com
SAVE THE HERITAGE TREES DOWNTOWN
Thursday, October 27, 7pm
London Nelson Center, room 3
301 Center Street
Or Zoom!
MAKE ONE CALL. WRITE ONE LETTER. GO TO A POLITICAL FORUM AND LEARN MORE ABOUT CANDIDATES AND ISSUES BEFORE YOU VOTE. VOTE IN PERSON, BUT VOTE.
JUST DO SOMETHING THIS WEEK AND MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
Cheers, Becky
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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. She ran again in 2020 on a slightly bigger shoestring and got 1/3 of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
VOTING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Isn’t it interesting what political candidates are willing to say about their environmental platforms? If they are good at running for office, they gauge what they say carefully in reflection of what they think will be supported by the majority of voters. So, what political candidates are saying is as much a reflection of who we are as who they are. Let’s look at some of the things that District 3 Supervisorial candidates have been saying about how they will conserve wildlife and protect parks in northern Santa Cruz County. And, let’s reflect about how what they say reflects on Santa Cruz County residents.
Wildlife Protection and Parks Conservation
Let me start by outlining the main threats to the County’s wildlife and parks so that it is easier to put candidates’ positions into context. The main threats to wildlife and parks are as follows: loss of social support for wildlife conservation, loss of habitat, loss of landscape-level habitat connectivity, mismanagement of recreation on conservation lands, mismanagement of disturbance regimes on conservation lands, and invasive species. County Supervisors have the capacity to influence all of these threats, some more than others. It is important that anyone elected to office in our region understand these threats and have well-formed ideas about how they can help.
I have yet to meet anyone in District 3 who does not hold wildlife conservation and parks protections as among their highest level of concerns. And yet, for many years they did not reflect those concerns in their support for a Supervisor to represent them. Let’s consider the present two District 3 Supervisorial candidates’ recent statements and what that says about District 3 voters.
Social Support
I cannot find any mention from either candidate that they recognize the peril that lack of social support is creating for protecting wildlife and parks in the County. In their positions as elected officials, they have had the opportunity to use their positions as megaphones for the importance of wildlife conservation. During their campaigns, they could mention the importance of healthy wildlife populations to County residents’ quality of life. Instead, Shebreh’s campaign notes that she will create a very mysterious ‘conservation academy,’ but no description of this academy is anywhere to be found. So I’m not sure of what problem will be solved through this effort. It has been a long time since any County Supervisor has championed wildlife conservation: why are they embarrassed to do so?
Habitat Loss and Habitat Connectivity
I cannot find any mention that loss of habitat in the County or habitat connectivity within and around the County are things that either candidate is concerned about. County Supervisors can influence these issues by working with the Planning Department to assure enforcement of existing sensitive habitat and open space ordinances and by pushing for General Plan amendments/updates to bring the County up to modern standards to address these critical issues. Supervisors have been remiss about these issues for years, resulting in widespread loss of sensitive habitats and loss of habitat throughout the County.
Poor Recreational Management in Parks
Parks recreation is the one area that both candidates have something to say. Shebreh mysteriously notes that she will “prioritize safe and accessible parks and beaches for everyone to enjoy.” What the heck does that mean? But it sounds good, right? Justin has said will “work on infrastructure issues related to beach access”…”bathroom facilities and adequate trash collection.” Both candidates have a lot of media about their strong support for keeping parks free of litter.
Neither of the candidates’ statements come anywhere close to addressing the grave situation facing conservation lands due to poorly managed recreation. Business interests and recreational off road biking coalitions have been important forces in creating a wildlife habitat crisis due to overuse and degradation of conservation lands. County Supervisors could broadly galvanize support to better protect conservation lands while alleviating traffic, safety, fire and other impacts related to poor parks recreation management. Supervisors could also help County Parks to better manage beaches to protect endangered beach-dependent wildlife, something that is dearly needed.
Poor Habitat Management
Mismanagement of disturbance regimes on conservation lands and invasive species are the last two major threats facing wildlife in the County. For these, only Justin has anything to say: he supports creating a “countywide vegetation management program” so that fires “serve their role in the ecosystem.” How Justin could do that as Supervisor is not clear. But, if you can ignore that detail, his statement shows some wisdom and a nod to the importance of managing intentional fires. Shebreh has nothing to say about how she can help better manage habitats and invasive species in the County.
There is a lot that County Supervisors can do to help to better manage wildlife habitat in the County. They can fund and otherwise incentivize County Parks to better manage habitats and control invasive species. They can also work with County Public Works to better manage invasive species along roadsides. And, they can provide leadership to work with the State and County Agricultural Commissioner to ban the sale of invasive species at nurseries. And, they can work with fire response agencies to do more intentional burning to reduce fuels. No Supervisor has been leading in these ways recently.
What Candidates Are Saying Says About Us
For wildlife conservation and protection of open space, is it true that all we really care about is trash and restrooms in parks? It seems so, because that’s all our District 3 Supervisorial candidates think they need to address in their political messages! What does that say about how vocal we are about these issues? Can we do better?
Look Around You
If you examine our success with wildlife conservation and open space protection, what the candidates are saying seems to be enough to get them elected.
Lots of people volunteer for beach cleanup: so, that seems like a good group of constituents to speak to. County residents have worked hard to protect open space, to create and make accessible our beautiful parks, another thing to mention that garners votes. The successful politician knows to focus on these two non-controversial and positive environmental areas.
What’s Missing
The problem is, once parks are “protected,” open space advocates disappear and there aren’t many conversations about how to manage parks so that wildlife remain in those spaces for generations to come. In that vacuum steps in business and recreational interests that commodify nature and destroy wildlife values. No number of toilets or bags of trash collected on beaches will mitigate those impacts.
I believe that Justin knows about all the threats to wildlife and open space conservation I outline above. Maybe he feels he would lose support if he mentioned the things that he could do as supervisor to address them. However, he has said some critical things that show that he understands at least some of the issues. He also has the training needed to understand all the issues. Shebreh could likewise be in a position of not seeing any advantage of a more nuanced platform for addressing environmental threats. But, Shebreh does not have any training in environmental conservation, and she has chosen not to say anything about any environmental action she could take to address the threats to wildlife conservation and open space degradation in the County. The contrasts I’ve drawn between the two candidates should be enough for those of you vote for the environment to make an informed decision for this election.
Voting is probably the easiest way to let our concerns be known that wildlife conservation and open space protection are our priorities for elected officials. You get few chances to vote for Supervisor. Once this is done, I’ll outline next steps for your political actions to help make our County a better place for wildlife conservation and open space protection.
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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 |
October 24
#298 / Please Vote “Yes” On Measure O
I am feeling pretty “political,” nowadays. Not only am I worrying about what is going to happen on the national level, and on the state level, I am worrying about what is going to happen, politically, right here in my own hometown.
I have already used one of my daily blog postings to provide advice on the Santa Cruz County Third District Supervisor race. In case you missed it, I am strongly and unequivocally urging Third District voters to elect Justin Cummings to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.
I represented the Third Supervisorial District on the Board of Supervisors for twenty years, from 1975 to 1995. The Third District includes most of the City of Santa Cruz (Prospect Heights and Carbonero excluded), most of the UCSC Campus, Bonny Doon, Davenport, and the North Coast. If you are a voter in the Third District, I hope you will take my advice, and vote to elect Justin Cummings to the Board of Supervisors. It would be pretty hard to overstate how strongly I feel about this upcoming supervisorial election.
My concern about local political issues, however, goes beyond this upcoming vote on the Third District Supervisor seat. I am also urging voters in the City of Santa Cruz to vote “Yes” on Measure O. I am not alone in making this recommendation. The Santa Cruz Sentinel is also asking for a “Yes” vote on Measure O. And so is poet and journalist Stephen Kessler.
Measure O is an initiative measure, put on the ballot by city voters. A “Yes” vote on Measure O will reverse a City Council decision to build a parking garage, and then a new library, and then an affordable housing development, and then (most recently) a childcare center on what is called “Parking Lot 4,” the current location of the Santa Cruz Farmer’s Market, at the intersection of Cedar and Lincoln Streets.
Here is a link to the ballot argument in favor of Measure O, which I have personally signed, along with former Mayor (and former librarian) Katherine Beiers. If you click right here, you can get all the official documents.
The picture I have placed at the top of this blog posting, as far as I am concerned, illuminates one of the main reasons that a “Yes” vote on Measure O is so important.
The picture shows a city notice, recently posted, announcing that the city has issued a permit to cut down nine heritage trees on “Parking Lot 4,” effective October 28, 2022. That means that the City is notifying the public that those trees will be cut down even before the November 8th election, in which the voters have an opportunity to turn down the proposed development on “Parking Lot 4.” Of course, if Measure O fails, and the city’s plan for a massive new development on that “Parking Lot 4” goes ahead, those trees will certainly be cut down, so saving the trees is certainly one good reason to vote “Yes” on Measure “O.”
Saving those trees, though, isn’t really what I am mainly thinking about when I say that the city’s recent posting of the tree removal notice “illuminates one of the main reasons to vote ‘Yes’ on Measure O.” My main point is truly a “political” one – it’s about how community decisions are currently being made in the City of Santa Cruz, and what we need to do about it. Hang on to the end, and let me address that point last. Before I do that, however, let me list what might be called some “substantive” reasons to vote “Yes” on Measure O.
THE LIBRARY: If you would like to have a newly-renovated Main Library located where our current Main Library is located, across the street from City Hall, and kitty-corner from the Civic Auditorium, in what is our current “Civic Center,” then you should vote “Yes” on Measure O. This is, incidentally, what voters said they wanted when they voted in 2016 to approve Measure S, a bond measure to renovate and upgrade libraries, throughout the county. That bond measure provided money to renovate our current Main Library, in its current location – the place where our Main Library has been for the last 100 years or so. The funds authorized by that bond measure, to renovate our existing Main Library right where it is, are now being deployed to carry out a new plan, with the current Library abandoned, and a new library being added on to a Parking Garage on “Parking Lot 4.” No vote of the people authorized that!
THE PARKING GARAGE: If you don’t think the city should be borrowing money for a new parking garage to provide parking spaces for the developers of a proposed luxury hotel on Front Street (largely without any parking at all), or to provide public parking to serve the massive new residential buildings either approved or in the wings that the City is allowing to move ahead without having to provide adequate parking (and in some cases “any” parking) then you should vote “Yes” on Measure O.
THE FARMER’S MARKET / A PUBLIC PLAZA: If you don’t want the City to move the existing Farmer’s Market from “Parking Lot 4,” which is a sunny, south-facing, congenial and successful spot for the Farmer’s Market, in order to place the Farmer’s Market in a north-facing parking lot on Front Street, which has lots of traffic and access issues, not found at the current location, AND if you would like to have south-facing “Parking Lot 4” officially designated for future public uses, then you should vote “Yes” on Measure O.
FUTURE USE OF THE CURRENT LIBRARY SITE: If you are concerned that the city wants to move the Main Library to “Parking Lot 4,” with no plan whatsoever (or no plan that has been disclosed to city residents, at least) about what will happen to that key site, right in the heart of the city’s “Civic Center,” then you will want to vote “Yes” on Measure O.
FUTURE USE OF OTHER CITY PARKING LOTS: If you want to make sure that the city will be required to use other city parking lots for affordable housing (not luxury hotels or residential towers for mostly wealthy investors) then you should vote “Yes” on Measure O.
SAVING HERITAGE TREES: Of course, if you don’t want those heritage trees cut down, you are definitely going to want to vote “Yes” on Measure O.
Now that we have returned to the trees (and that tree removal notice pictured at the top of this posting), let’s talk about what I think is perhaps the most important reason to vote “Yes” on Measure O.
A “YES” VOTE ON MEASURE “O” WILL MAKE CLEAR THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, NOT CITY INSIDERS, BUREAUCRATS, AND WEALTHY DEVELOPERS, GET TO MAKE THE KEY DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR CITY!
Here is the chain of events that has gotten us to where we are:
#1 – The public voted to renovate the existing library. That was a VOTE, and we put ourselves in debt to raise the money to do the renovations. Suddenly, that money is now proposed to be diverted to a whole new idea, discarding the current library, which has been in the same spot for something like 100 years. But WHY is this suddenly being proposed? It certainly wasn’t mentioned when Measure S was passed.
#2 – WHY? Because the City Manager and the Planning Director and the Economic Development Director want a big, new parking structure. Before there was any talk of moving the Main Library, the City Manager had proposed a huge (and perhaps unnecessary) PARKING GARAGE on our “Parking Lot 4” site. THE PARKING GARAGE IS WHERE THIS ALL STARTS. The original proposal was to convert “Parking Lot 4” into a large parking structure, which would allow developers to omit any parking in the buildings they are proposing on our downtown area. BUT… the city needed money to do that, so the City Manager came up with the idea to move the Main Library to “Parking Lot 4,” to help build the parking garage for the developers. The PEOPLE voted to renovate the existing library. The city staff came up with the Parking Garage-Library plan. What happened then?
#3 – The public did not much like this Parking Garage – Library plan. So, the city retreated into “study mode,” and the City insiders then suddenly decided that adding on an affordable housing proposal might be able to put this Parking Garage, then Library, then Affordable Housing combination over the hump, in terms of political acceptability. That’s when the affordable housing got added.
#4 – However, lots of members of the public still didn’t like this plan and began work on an initiative measure (the initiative being the way the public could express its own views of what it wants for the future of development downtown). The initiative is not called the “Our Downtown/Our Future” initiative for nothing. That is really what this is all about, in the end – who makes the big decisions about the future of our city.
#5 – The clear signs that city residents were not sold on this Parking Garage + amenities plan did not cause the City Manager, Planning Director, and Economic Development Director to take a pause. Instead, they spent lots of money to do a near final design on the library, as a way of showing those members of the public who don’t like the plan that the city bureaucrats are unwilling to wait to hear from the voters. City officials added in a childcare center, too, since both affordable housing and a childcare center are wonderful. Wonderful – but they don’t, of course, have to be placed on “Parking Lot 4,”and the Main Library can stay right where it is!
#6 – Let’s get back to those signs about the tree removals. Our elected officials did not vote to have the city issue those permits. The city officials who issued those permits, and directed that they be posted, were essentially telling the residents of the city, and specifically city voters, who are right now in the process of deciding whether or not they want this Parking Garage-Library-Affordable Housing conglomeration, that they weren’t going to wait for the vote, they were going to allow the developers who are part of the plan to chop down those trees right now. [They won’t get to, prior to the vote on Measure O, only because an appeal has or will be filed]. This tells me that what this whole project is ultimately about is who runs this city. Is it the public, the voters, or it is the city bureaucrats, who are responding, as is ever more clear, to the desires of the developers (with the current City Council – Council Members Cummings and Brown excepted – going along for the ride).
#7 – Check out who is funding the “NO” on Measure O campaign. The “NO” campaign is massively funded by wealthy property owners and developers, including the Seaside Company, Barry Swenson Builder, Devcon, the Dream Inn, and Owen Lawlor – the developer of the massive new residential project under construction at the corner of Front and Laurel.
I, personally, think that the opposition of the developers to Measure O is related to those provisions in Measure O that require existing city parking lots to be used for affordable housing projects (because developers would like the city to be able to build projects on our city lands that cater to the high-end market). Whatever the reason, though, it’s very clear that a “No” vote on Measure O is a vote in support of city bureaucrats and the developers that are receiving such a warm welcome at City Hall these days.
Your “Yes” vote on Measure O tells city officials – and specifically including our Mayor and Council Members – that the city needs to get public support for development proposals, before they start allocating time, money, and resources to projects that the public may well not support at all.
I am strongly recommending your “Yes” vote on Measure O.
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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 |
October 24
PILLOW-TALK REIGNS SUPREME(S) IN BASKETFUL OF DEPLORABLES
Regardless of the historicity of the current times, with the House J6 Committee perhaps attempting to have an even bigger consequence than were the Watergate/Nixon hearings of the seventies, in regard to the criminalities of Donald Trump’s presidency, it is hard for many to see whether any progress has been made…especially with the shortcomings of James Comey and Robert Mueller, and even with the later b.s. pronouncements of Attorney General Barr. If we were truly a democratic country, The Don’s demands that Georgia find him 11,000 votes to swing the 2020 election would have had him in an orange jumpsuit by now. Consequently, the J6 hearings are simply a diversion in our undemocratic and unequal system of governance. To the disappointment of many, the Former Guy will probably spend not one day behind bars, as we look to history and see that accountability did not fall on those responsible for crimes and shortcomings during the Korean and Vietnam wars, or to Nixon for Watergate, or to no one in the GWBush government for the short-sighted War on Terror with its torture of detainees. This same American affliction of short-sightedness will absolve Trump of his egotistical destruction of our political system for the present, and only historians will have the prevailing word amid the shifting opinions of the future. And we can only imagine how history will be altered, how the decisions of current legislators and judges will be degraded if Trump and his lackeys end up in the driver’s seat once again.
No matter how loudly the cries that the former prez is erratic, unprincipled, and contemptible, totally unfit to lead this country with two impeachments on his résumé, and even with Hilary Clinton’s “basketful of deplorables” warning in 2016, influence on the electorate was spotty and likely remains so, especially with his base. Is anybody really interested in a destructive insurrection in 2021 when inflationary forces are wreaking havoc on families and their lifestyle, or toward their very survival? It is unlikely that any opinions about DJT will be changed at this late date…he is either an angel/savior or a devil/destroyer, and who doesn’t like a good spectacle, whether it’s O.J. Simpson, Harvey Weinstein, Johnny Depp, Elon Musk, a school shooter, or Benedict Donald?
Bessner and Burgis of The Nation write that “liberals can continue to do what they did under President Trump and imagine themselves as a noble group fighting off a fascist threat. The reality is that Republicans aren’t going to overthrow our half–democratic institutions in some 21st-century re-enactment of Mussolini’s March on Rome. The threat they pose is that they’ll win elections – or sometimes steal them, as in Bush v. Gore – impose on the American people their agenda of deregulation, environmental devastation, union-busting, and cruel laws that target marginalized groups. And whatever liberals might want to believe, that threat isn’t going to be countered by appealing to establishment respectability or by conjuring notions of noble resistance. The only way to defeat reactionary populism is with a better appeal to the populace.”
While the J6 Committee drove home the strong evidence in the baseless assertion of ‘Trump’s Big Lie,’ the claim that the 2020 election was ‘stolen or rigged,’ and that his base refuses to drop, it felt at times that the House members were simply shouting into an echo chamber…nine hearings later. They presented evidence that our Blitzkrieg Bozo knew his charges were false, publicly insisting that he won, yet privately admitting he had lost, but finding a ready and willing audience that wanted to keep fighting to overturn the election results. The committee’s investigation may have changed some minds, but the Republican hierarchy has ignored the hearings or attempted to discredit them in favor of Trump, with a large percentage of the electorate falling in line behind them. “I think the truly lasting damage of the Big Lie is not January 6, as traumatic as January 6 is, but the loss of faith by a significant portion of Americans in the architecture of their democracy,” says Asher Hildebrand, a public policy professor at Duke University. “And it’s more than just a loss of trust — it’s an emerging belief that the election is only legitimate if their side wins.”
Many Americans now have little faith that their votes will be counted properly, with nearly a third of the electorate, and a majority of Republicans, not recognizing Biden as the winner of the 2020 election. ‘Election Integrity’ is a new buzzword in Republican circles as election deniers attempt to “ensure secure and legitimate election processes,”, a strategy headed by Trump attorney, Cleta Mitchell, who was instrumental in the scheme to overturn the presidential election. Their actions entail training poll observers who look for suspected election law violations, whereby they overwhelm local elections boards with requests that make it difficult for officials to carry out their normal responsibilities. The phrase, ‘Election Integrity,’ has been used in the past as Republican lawmakers attempt to justify suppressive legislation, evidenced by the restrictive voting bills that have recently been introduced since the 2020 election. So, it’s hardly a surprise that voters have less respect for the legitimacy of our elections with the baying of supposedly respectable officials telling them to be suspicious. While the J6 Committee has provided a mountain of evidence from which we might hope is a path to some accountability and much-needed reform, it hasn’t put a damper on ‘The Big Lie‘ as it seems to slide into commonness.
After January 6 and its destructive and deadly riot, Trump was suspended from Facebook and Twitter, but his own Truth Social presented his baseless claim of a rigged election to about 8000 followers, and from that it sped through other social media platforms, podcasts, talk radio and television, anyway. Within 48 hours of his false post, more than one million readers saw or heard of his claim according to The New York Times. Despite efforts by the media, academics and responsible social media companies to face the problem, it metastasized into a widespread and pervasive problem as we approached the mid-term election season, with many experts declaring it to be getting only worse. About 69 million have joined Parler, Gab, Truth Social, Gettr, Telegram, and Rumble which purport to be conservative alternatives to the better known ‘Big Tech‘ platforms from which many of the cross-over members had been shown the door because of their inflammatory views. “Nothing on the internet exists in a silo,” said Jared Holt, a senior manager on hate and extremism research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. “Whatever happens in alt platforms like Gab or Telegram or Truth makes its way back to Facebook and Twitter and others.”
The disinformation landscape which started in earnest during the 2016 election with Russia covertly spreading false and divisive posts seemed like an abnormality, a hiccup, in our election process; but, today we see that foreign interference is a regular attribute. Based on the conspiracy theories from the right-wing media, our state and county officials are imposing new restrictions for voting, with the electorate having to weed through the cascade of falsehoods and lies about the candidates and their platforms, but also, when, where and how to vote legally. And, even with that officials selected as fraud-fighters may refuse to recognize election results not to their desires. A case in point is Republican candidate for Arizona governor, Trump–Toady Kari Lake, who says she will not contest the election outcome “because I’m going to win.” When pressed about facing a loss, she has no comment, except to say that she has “detected some stealing” before the actual voting had started. A lesson from Agent Orange?
Chinese tech giant, ByteDance, through its TikTok video-hosting service, is another source of disinformation. NewsGard, an organization that tracks this problem online discovered about 20% of its videos contained false or misleading information on topics such as school shootings and the war in Ukraine. “People who do this know how to exploit the loopholes,” says Katie Harbath, a former director of public policy at Facebook, who now leads Anchor Change, a strategic consultancy. During the mid-term election season, the major platforms have all pledged to block, label, or marginalize violations of their company guidelines, to include disinformation, hate speech, or encouragement of violent acts. Even with these promises, most think these enterprises aren’t effectively controlling the problem, as many continue to undermine trust in our democratic system by intensifying ‘election denialism.’
For weeks now, Senator Lindsey Graham has been fighting a subpoena from Georgia’s Fulton County D.A. Willis, to appear for questioning in their investigation of DJT and his crime syndicate to disrupt the state’s 2020 election results. Graham’s legal team claims that a sitting senator is shielded from such common/lowly investigations, since his actions were legitimate legislative activity, but the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals said, “Nope, ya gotta come on down,” as they narrowed the range of questions that can be posed to Graham. Willis wants to hear Graham’s answers regarding calls to Georgia election officials following Trump’s election loss, not as an investigative target, but as a witness. Failure to demonstrate that this will violate his rights under the Speech and Debate Clause, led Graham to appeal to the Supreme Court, even though the lower court ruled that he may still assert his rights if there is a dispute about the questioning. Graham’s attempt to avoid having to testify in a case that has entangled cohorts and associates of the Former Guy, such as John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro, Pat Cipollone, and Rudy Giuliani, who faces possible criminal charges in the probe.
Now we learn that Justice Clarence Thomas dba Ginny Thomas (Big Lie & Affiliates), has just raised its ugly head to at least put a hold on Graham’s order to appear before the grand jury as his appeal to the high court proceeds. Prosecutors must respond to the senator’s request to abandon their subpoena by Thursday, with Justice Thomas being the designee to hear emergency requests from the 11th District. In typical fashion, his one-sentence hold against the lower court reads, “order is hereby stayed pending further order of the undersigned or of the Court,” to prevent further legal rulings, or maybe ‘liberal interference,’ before the Supremes can review the case; if indeed that happens…Thomas has the option to handle Graham’s petition himself or refer the proceeding to the full court. DA Willis had no comment regarding the Thomas hold, with the grand jury being inactive until the mid-term elections are over. Final decision will be made pending the Thomases pillow-talk.
But, the Grand Old Party rolls along, with the J6 Committee unanimously voting to subpoena Trump in order to finish up their work. They have outlined 19 areas of inquiry and are asking for relevant documents by November 4, summoning Trump to appear for a deposition beginning November 14. “The committee treats this matter with great seriousness,” Liz Cheney said on NBC. “And we are going to proceed in terms of the questioning of the former president under oath. It may take multiple days. And it will be done with a level of rigor and discipline and seriousness that it deserves.” As to be expected, Trump has persistently criticized the group of “pursuing political purposes,” and it remains to be seen if he resists the subpoena. “We have many, many alternatives that we will consider if the former president decides that he is not going to comply with his legal obligation, a legal obligation every American citizen has, to comply with a subpoena,” Cheney told NBC’s Chuck Todd on ‘Meet the Press.’ “He’s not going to turn this into a circus,” when he asked if Trump’s testimony would become a “television spectacle.” “This isn’t going to be his first debate against Joe Biden and the circus and the food fight that that became,” Cheney continued. “This is a far too serious set of issues, and we’ve made clear exactly what his obligations are. And we are proceeding with that set out.” Popcorn, peanuts, t-shirts, baseball caps and Trump University diplomas at the door!
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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.
“Halloween…part 2”“A mask tells us more than a face.”
~Oscar Wilde
“We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.”
~Stephen King
“Villainy wears many masks, none so dangerous as the mask of virtue”.
~Ichabod Crane
“There Is A Child In Every One Of Us Who Is Still A Trick-or-treater Looking For A Brightly-lit Front Porch.”
~Robert Brault
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It’s been 30 years since this interview with Tupac Shakur, and it’s only worse now… |
BRATTON…A Ballot rundown, every vote counts. GREENSITE…on the Wharf Master Plan revisited. KROHN…Keeley’s campaign “facts”, City workers strike, yes on N, yes on O. STEINBRUNER…Measure D, Swenson &Aptos Village, 908 Ocean Street development, lack of fire trucks, grand jury and you, No to measures K & L. HAYES…(More) Signs of fall. PATTON…Complications of the Ukraine War. MATLOCK…No pillow talk, ‘cuz here come the judge. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover WEBMISTRESS’…pick of the week. QUOTES…”Halloween-part 1″
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DATELINE October 17
AS PREVIOUSLY STATED. We’ve almost all received our ballots… now the task at hand is to make those conscientious and community minded decisions. As printed here last week I agree with Tony Russomano on voting NO on both Tribal gambling measures…26 and 27. Then there’s YES on Measure 28 the one that gives $ to schools for arts and music. There’s too many lives at stake to not have doctors and/or medical staff present at the money making dialysis clinics = YES on measure 29. YES again on 30, taxing the wealthy folk. YES even again on prohibiting flavored tobacco products. Too many of my young friends and relatives are hooked on Vaping. YES on K&L which would bring more money to our starving city school systems. YES on the Empty Homes Tax measure N, we’ve got to apply more attention and support to our homeless. YES on O and stop the money driven plot to build a new library and displace the center of our City. YES again on increasing the visitor tax by 1% for hotels and motels and by 3% for vacation rentals.
I search and critique a variety of movies only from those that are newly released. Choosing from the thousands of classics and older releases would take way too long. And be sure to tune in to those very newest movie reviews live on KZSC 88.1 fm every Friday from about 8:10 – 8:30 am. on the Bushwhackers Breakfast Club program hosted by Dangerous Dan Orange.
ROSALINE. (HULU MOVIE) (6.4 IMDB). Rosaline was Juliet’s cousin from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This comedy is based/stolen from that classic and the gimmick is that they mostly use modern English slang when they speak. Minnie Driver gets a chance at movies again but can’t do much here. Romeo is a doofus and when you are using a master Like Shakespeare to steal from you need more of his brilliance to pull it off. If you’re wondering like I was/am it may be possible that William Shakespeare actually had a woman in his life named Rosalind or Rosaline according to scholars.
THE WATCHER. (NETFLIX SERIES) (6.9 IMDB). An unlikely couple Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale buy a mansion with a history and a serious mystery. Some dis embodied voice sends letters and all kind of messages to Naomi and bobby about their being watched. It’s slow moving, and not at all exciting. Neighbors seem to be involved and so does Mia Farrow (from Woody Allen) and Jennifer Coolidge (from White Lotus) but no reason to get excited or involved.
BLACKOUT. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (3.9 IMDB). This absolutely miserable attempt at a mystery has Josh Duhamel waking up in a hospital and not knowing how and why he got there. An old Nick Nolte (81) does his best to learn Josh’s secret and that’s about all of the plot. It’s Mexico and the cartel is involved but I stopped watching after 30 minutes…let me know if it got any better.
OLD PEOPLE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (5.0 IMDB). This German horror movie uses every trick in the cinema world to make us believe that old people in their 70’s and above have some sort of haunting evil ghost thing inside their bent bodies. For an obvious reason old people don’t scare me at all. This plodding, slow moving is brutal, boring and just isn’t scary. There’s no tension, no danger, no threats just plodding. I won’t reveal the ending because I couldn’t watch anymore and didn’t care what happened.
DAHMER. (NETFLIX SERIES) (8.2 IMDB). What is/was a surprise to me is that this movie is the second most viewed English language movie in Netflix history. Like so many other hit movies nowadays this too is very deep into violence. It’s the true story of Jeffrey Dahmer the serial killer from Milwaukee who brutally murdered 17 teen age boys. Evan Peters does a very good job as Dahmer and it’s a well-produced movie. It is however extremely violent, full of gay tragedy, cannibalism and how Dahmer would keep his victims hearts in special bags. Richard Jenkins plays Dahmer’s father as the drama tries to expose all the problems that Dahmer had while growing up. Only watch it after careful thinking.
GIRL IN THE SHED. THE KIDNAPPING OF ABBY HERNANDEZ (HULU MOVIE) (5.7 IMDB). A genuinely deep and twisted apparently true story of the kidnapping of a 14 year old girl by a right wing militia member. He tries his best to be kind to her and she works very hard to become his friend so she can escape. The FBI gets involved and we find out that he got sentenced to a 45 year sentence in prison.
SPECIAL NOTE….Don’t forget that when you’re not too sure of a plot or need any info on a movie to go to Wikipedia. It lays out the straight/non hype story plus all the details you’ll need including which server (Netflix, Hulu, or PBS) you can find it on. You can also go to Brattononline.com and punch in the movie title and read my take on the much more than 100 movies.
LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.5 IMDB). Mila Kunis has created an excellent lead role in this deep, fascinating, complex story. Her history is a mystery that unfolds slowly and painfully. It’s about sexual abuse and the dangers in revealing the tragedy to the public. Her shame, her privacy, her civil rights and how we the public react are the chapters in this generational expose. An excellent movie.
HARRINGAN’S PHONE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.0 IMDB). It’s usually a pleasure to watch Donald Sutherland starring in any movie or TV show. In this one he plays the part of a very rich old man who has retired in a mansion in Maine. He’s hired a young neighbor boy to read classic books to him once a week. The friendship they develop is deep and lasts until after he dies. It’s from a short story by Stephen King. Well worth watching.
LAST SEEN ALIVE. LAST SEEN ALIVE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (5.6 IMDB).The familiar face of Gerard Butler takes the lead in this tantalizing, puzzling tiresome chase movie. Butler who plays a wealthy real estate developer and his wife had an argument and she disappears soon afterwards. The entire movie is about his chasing and gunning for her kidnapper.
The Santa Cruz Chamber Players present Women’s Words and Music
Music by women composers and poets of the 19th, 20th, and 21st century. This concert highlights women composers and poets of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, using the deeply resonant and rare combination of soprano, viola, and piano. The first half premieres a new piece by Chris Pratorius-Gomez based on a text by Mary Oliver, followed by several of Clara Schumann’s lieder and Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata. The second half begins with a recently discovered cycle by Margaret Bonds. It also features Caroline Shaw’s beautiful In manus tuas for solo viola and concludes with William Bolcom’s epic work exploring life and death using the poetry of Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, and Jane Kenyon.
The concert features Emily Sinclair, Concert Director and Soprano Polly Malan, Viola and
Josiah Stocker at the Piano.
Saturday, October 22 2022, 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 23 2022, 3:00 pm
Learn More the concerts will be at Christ Lutheran Church
10707 Soquel Drive, Aptos (Off Highway 1 at Freedom Blvd.)
THE MUNICIPAL WHARF: BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT
This photo of the end of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf with the sea-lion viewing holes to the east, the Dolphin restaurant in the middle, fisherfolk to the west and Monterey to the south would look unrecognizable today if the city had not been challenged by the Don’t Morph the Wharf! vs. City of Santa Cruz lawsuit.
As some well remember, the city’s Wharf Master Plan (WMP) included, among other unpopular make-overs, demolishing this restaurant and erecting in its place a 40 feet tall empty shell of a building covering the current sea lion viewing holes and replacing them to an undefined “somewhere,” reducing the linear space for fishing and terminating the ability of fisherfolk to have easy access to their vehicles, a popular activity for lower-income people from a wide spectrum of immigrant communities.
On February 18, 2022, the city’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Plan was ruled by Judge Paul Burdick to have violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the city was commanded to void its prior approvals for the Wharf Master Plan and its certification of the EIR. A case management conference was set for October 7 before Judge Burdick to determine that these requirements had been met. As October 7 drew near, upon enquiry by attorney Susan Brandt-Hawley, it was learned that the city had failed to void the WMP and EIR and staff was busy revising the EIR which should follow not precede council action.
Not that there was a dearth of Wharf work that couldn’t be done in the meantime. The Writ allows, at our suggestion, that the city could proceed with specific projects without further CEQA review, including fixing the Wharf Road and its substrate, replacing the 5% of pilings that are unsound, replacing the oversized dumpsters and dump trucks with a system less injurious to the Wharf’s structure and providing new accessible bathrooms. That and a coat of paint is really all the historic Wharf needs to continue through its second century. However, the city apparently has its eyes on the gentrified, unpopular parts of the Wharf Master Plan, which to repeat, was required to be voided by council action.
The item was finally on city council’s agenda for Tuesday October 11th with the case management conference postponed by the court until early November. The item consisted of a Resolution on the consent agenda. That seemed straightforward enough. I shared it with Don’t Morph the Wharf! attorney the morning of the council meeting since the city had neglected to send her a copy. She immediately noted that the Resolution was inaccurate. Its wording included only a partial decertification of the WMP and EIR which was not the ruling from Judge Burdick. The city attorney agreed to correct the error and have the corrected version available for the afternoon’s council agenda.
Two of us attended the council meeting in person, representing Don’t Morph the Wharf! Our intent was to request a scoping meeting which usually precedes the preparation of a draft EIR. While not mandated, it allows for public input into what topics an environmental review should include. It is clear the city wants to have another go at morphing the wharf and the community deserves to weigh in on what should be studied in a revised EIR for such a significant, controversial project before the preparation of said environmental document.
We were dismayed by the comments of the city attorney, the city manager, and the director of Economic Development (ED) who misled the council into believing that a scoping meeting would necessitate “starting a new EIR from square one, take a year and cost $100,000.” They contrasted that daunting scenario with just revising a few sections or in their words, “the court only identified a couple of minor issues to be addressed in the revisions. This is not a completely new ballgame. It’s just fixing what was found defective.” Except that it’s not. The Writ commands the city to void the entire EIR and the entire WMP. A revised EIR is the full document. Councilmembers Sandy Brown and Justin Cummings tried hard to get support for the more open process that a scoping meeting would afford but without success. Cummings then tried to get a meeting on the council agenda so the public could comment on what they do and don’t like about the WMP. In this he was supported by Mayor Brunner and councilmember Brown, but the motion failed, opposed by councilmembers Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Martine Watkins, Donna Meyers and Renee Golder. In the final vote council did include a community meeting but only after the draft EIR is released, probably later this year. Input at that stage is far less impactful that input before they start work on a revised EIR. Although all questions on a draft EIR must by law be addressed, unfortunately experience shows that input at that stage rarely changes the document.
The value of a scoping meeting is that it would allow the community to let staff and consultants know what it wants studied in the revised draft EIR. For example, maybe this time around they should study the impact of the 40-foot building blocking views from that end of the Wharf and the open-air feeling of being at sea? The voided EIR failed to adequately address this issue. Then there’s the issue of access for migratory birds to their nests under the Wharf, not studied in the past EIR. And yes, it may take a while longer than just cutting and pasting from the old, voided document but what price democracy?
| 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. |
“SHORT – TAKES”
Fact-Checking the Mayoral Campaign of One Frederick Keeley
Fact Check: On Monday, Lookout Santa Cruz reported, “Fred Keeley, one of Santa Cruz’s preeminent local politicos and mayor hopeful, might be looking at only one term as mayor if elected. However, the former state assembly member and county supervisor would not commit, at this point, to not running again in 2026.”
Fact Check: He’s donated to No on Measure O and said recently in Lookout Santa Cruz that he will vote against both initiatives. I wonder what “public” really means?
Fact Check: As recently as last week he has evidently de-endorsed both candidates. Why?
Fact Checking in Progress: Fred Keeley’s campaign, in his last filing on Sept. 24th is at $39,100 in reported donations. Will he respect the voluntary campaign spending limit? He said in August he would. When it came time to file as a candidate his opponent signed the pledge, but he did not.
And, a Rather Strange Quote: Recently, Fred Keeley told Lookout Santa Cruz reporter, Christopher Neely, “[A double endorsement] is not unusual for me,” Keeley said. “I’m with my friends and I’ve got friends on both sides. This is part of me not wanting to bigfoot my way into the mayor’s race.”
City Workers On-Strike
They get up early to pick up our garbage and stay late to make sure the sewage flows away from our homes. Many got sick from Covid-19 during the 2-year pandemic because they stayed on the job for us. They are some of our community’s “essential” workers. They are the members of Service Employees International Union, SEIU Local 521, and they are now officially on-strike. That’s right, for at least five days there will be no garbage pick-up, no parking passes sold, no building permits approved, and no parks and recreation events scheduled. The workers walked off their jobs in the city of Santa Cruz at 7am this past Monday and they say they aren’t coming back without a contract. This kind of strike has never occurred before in Santa Cruz according to SEIU officials. This week on Talk of the Bay, I will take a deep dive into what is on the table between city workers and City Manager, Matt Huffaker’s, office. It’s some in-depth coverage of union solidarity vs. a city administration slowly melting down because of dissatisfied employees who no longer can afford to live in Surf City on slum city wages. Listen to the show on KSQD 90.7 and KSQD.org Tuesday from 5-6pm. If you miss it, just go HERE to listen to it and all past “Talk of the Bay” shows.
David Candidates vs. Goliath’s Money
Shebreh Kalantari -Johnson’s “received a whopping $118,525.29 in donations to her campaign, and more than 40% of that money, according the SC Good Times, is from donors who reside outside of Santa Cruz. That 40% I believe is unprecedented in local elections.
Justin Cummings’ money raised: $57,940.23
*Note, these figures are as of the Sept. 29th financial disclosure statement. Candidates and measures’ next statement is due Oct. 27th.
Measure N, Yes on Affordable Housing, money raised: $35,166
No on Measure N, “No on affordable housing,” money raised: $133,538
Measure O, Our Downtown, Our Future money raised: $30,872.22
No on O, (No downtown, no future?) money raised: $110,056
What’s wrong with these numbers? For these two initiatives to pass, they both have to rely on people power and not realtors, developers, and wealthy friends.
Voting Has Begun
We have six, yes 6 campaigns that are endorsed by labor, SC4Bernie, the People’s Democratic Club, and the environmental community. All of these candidates and measures are being heavily outspent by their opponents. For example, No on Measure N has already raised more the $200,000. The No on O group is closing in on $150,000. (see city clerk web site on Oct. 27th when next campaign financial disclosures are due.) Our folks are doing what we always do against the predatory forces of real estate and market-rate housing builders. We are busy walking precincts and talking to voters, putting up yard signs, flyering, and posting on social media in order to even the playing field and reach voters. All that these campaigns need are a few more dollars to help pay for yard signs and get out the final mailing. Here are the campaign donation buttons below…please give generously.
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Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and a Santa Cruz City Council member from 1998-2002 and from 2017-2020. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 16 years. On Tuesday evenings at 5pm, Krohn hosts of “Talk of the Bay,” on KSQD 90.7 and KSQD.org His Twitter handle at SCpolitics is @ChrisKrohnSC Chris can be reached at ckrohn@cruzio.com
Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com |
MEASURE D ADJUSTMENTS TO LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
Last week, I attended the Elderly & Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee (E&D TAC) meeting, affiliated with the County’s Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). This is a great group of people who are independent, astute, and want to work together in a cooperative way to improve the transportation options and public safety in our County for everyone, but especially those who are blind, low-vision, or with mobility challenges. They are kind, reasonable, respectful, and have a wonderful sense of humor.
The Committee had a full agenda, including the review of how the Measure D sales tax money will be spent.
Here are my notes:
Spend about 1/4 of money on Highway 9 in Boulder Creek to improve sidewalks Anna Eshoo got the County $3.4 million in federal money.
PAGE 148: Agenda-October
Highway Corridors get 25% of revenues.
Continue implementation of previously approved projects. Includes funding and financing plans approved by the RTC in Spring 2022 to leverage federal, state, and other grants. The proposed Highway Corridors 5-Year Plan updates include:
Total Measure D programmed: $5 million
Total Measure D programmed: $18 million
Total Measure D programmed: $123 million
The RTC is applying for a $100 million grant and will know next spring if they get it.
PAGE 149:
Active Transportation/MBSST-Coastal Rail Trail (17% of revenues)
Work on passenger rail transit will be funded by Measure D-Rail category funding.
In another item on the E&D TAC, a fellow from AMBAG wanted suggestions for funding pedestrian-friendly projects that would connect dense housing areas. I suggested the Kaiser Medical Project area that currently has no public transportation and no sidewalks.
WHY DID OVER $12,000 IN MEASURE D FUNDS GET SPENT TO HELP SWENSON IN APTOS VILLAGE?
Last July, County Public Works abruptly closed Soquel Drive in Aptos Village without notifying the business owners or public. Why? Because someone high up in Dept. of Public Works made a decision to help Swenson again by using Measure D funds to pay for slurry seal on Soquel Drive and paint new markings to accommodate Swenson’s Parade Street entrance to the Aptos Village Project, but the slurry contractor was ready to go back home to Sacramento.
Poof! Close the main road and coat the road.
I filed a Public Records Act request to find out how much this favor to Swenson cost the taxpayers. I learned that the rapid decision came at the last minute, using about $12,000 in Measure D Resurfacing funds that had not been approved publicly by the Board of Supervisors or budgeted.
Take a look at these responsive public documents
I have been able to successfully open and review them.
However, it is still unclear who caused Mr. Nguyen to issue the initial Change Work Order in early June to Mr. Orozco (not Ms. Duran) for the Measure D re-surfacing to include the area of Soquel Drive accommodating Phase 2A for Swenson Builders.
This work cost the taxpayers nearly $11,000 and caused a closure on Soquel Drive that was not properly noticed to the local merchants or the public.
I have written the County to ask for those pieces of correspondence, but have received no response.
This reminds me of what former County Public Works Dept. Traffic Engineer Jack Sohriakoff told me about the Aptos Village Project agreements….”There are written agreements, and there are unwritten agreements.”
That definitely seems to be the case.
IMPROVING OCEAN STREET…TO BENEFIT DEVELOPERS?
City of Santa Cruz staff announced at last week’s RTC Elderly & Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee meeting that next year, it will spend $1.5 million to improve Ocean Street with resurfacing and pedestrian safety improvements between Water Street and Plymouth Avenue, near Highway One. (SEE PAGE 167): https://sccrtc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/01_Agenda-October.pdf It struck me that this is the same general location of a mammoth development at 908 Ocean Street. Sure enough, the Project is under pre-application review with a new developer applying. 908 Ocean Street *New Pre-Application | City of Santa Cruz
When I inquired about why the City would spend $1.5 million to improve Ocean Street and quickly have the developer’s construction tear it up, the staff replied, somewhat irritated, that “we don’t know when this project will be built, but the City has a grant for $1.5 million that has to be spent now to improve Ocean Street. The developer will be required to restore any damage caused during construction, but most of the utility work will happen on May Avenue, not Ocean Street.”
Hmmm… a developer would normally be required to improve the streets impacted by their development. So, why is the City of Santa Cruz using public grant money to do it for this large 908 Ocean Street developer?
When I phoned the Planner reviewing the Pre-Application, I learned the new developer is High No. Cal Development, Inc., with the parent company of Trammell Crow
Here is what Trammell Crow has asked to do, even before the property transaction is complete:
Pre-application for the demolition of commercial and residential buildings, the combination of 20 parcels and the construction of a mixed-use development with 351 dwelling units (requesting a 35% density bonus from a base density project of 260 units) and 7,850 square feet of commercial space.
Is the City Public Works Dept. working to accommodate this new developer? Ask Curtis Busenhart 420-5175
WHY WASN’T THE DRAFT COUNTYWIDE FIRE CODE INCLUDED IN CENTRAL FIRE DISTRICT BOARD AGENDA PACKET?
Last Thursday’s Central Fire Board Meeting agenda packet failed to include a copy of the Draft Fire Code of Santa Cruz County, which will update regulations Countywide in a uniform manner, seemingly with no oversight or review by individual fire agencies. Fire Marshal DeMars explained this year, things are being done differently, and only the County Board of Supervisors will have jurisdiction on the approval of the updated Fire Code.
The curious thing is that Fire Marshal DeMars did not include the Draft Countywide Fire Code in the Central Fire Board agenda packet in Item 11, the final item on the agenda. There is only a one-page vague timeline of approvals on page 210 (the last page) but with the definite date of January 1, 2023 when the new rules take affect.
Fire Marshal DeMars did say that the Draft Countywide Fire Code will be reviewed and possibly adopted by the Board of Supervisors on November 15.
The Board did not seem interested in this, even when I spoke up that the public will not know of these potentially sweeping and strict regulations until 72 hours before the Board of Supervisor meeting to consider the matter. The Board did not seem to care that the Draft regulations were not included in their agenda packet for them to see.
“You can find it in our packet from last month,” said one Director. I had to remind him that last month’s document for the item was incomplete, including only the final page of what was obviously a larger document.
‘Oh. Well, you know more about this than I do.” the Director said. YIKES!
Fire Marshal DeMars reminded me that he had handed me a hard copy of the Draft at the last Board meeting, when the matter had been postponed for the Board to review Central Fire District’s Fire Code updates for 2023. That document was clearly a work in progress, and he had informed the Board that the Fire Code Committee was going to review it the following day.
“There were no changes to that document,” he assured me, as I stood in front of the Fire Board asking for more public transparency of the proposed rules.
I left the meeting feeling very troubled, and at the same time incredulous, that the Central Fire Board members seemed so uninterested in such a potentially influential document that will affect the entire County, and did not seem bothered that they were not allowed to see it.
A kind staff member followed me out into the parking lot, and informed me that there was a Draft hard copy of the Santa Cruz County Fire Code in the lobby. It is 21 pages of serious stuff. She kindly made a copy upon my request.
I have scanned and attached it to this Blog, because I feel the public needs time to read this and contact your Supervisor. It seems the fire agencies are now completely out of the loop, as is the County Fire Dept. Advisory Commission, a liaison to the Board.
There are significant changes to regulations relating to buildings, roads (Chapter 7.92.503 adds “Fire Apparatus Access Roads”), bridges, abatement and enforcement. Of note is the amended creation of the “Board of Appeals”. (Chapter 7.93.111.1) This will change the composition to include members of the various fire jurisdiction boards to serve as the Appeal Board. Currently, the Board of Supervisors holds that power for the County. However, it used to be a Committee of local industry people that would consider all such fire and building appeals, but then-CAO Susan Mauriello changed the rules to do away with that in about 2009, essentially stripping any hope of a reasonable or fair hearing away from the people aggrieved.
At the time of this writing, the document is still not provided on the Central Fire Dept. website, however, upon a call to Central Fire District (685-6690), I am assured it will be soon found on the Community Risk Reduction webpage for the District.
Please read all 21 pages carefully and contact your County Supervisor with your thoughts. They will review this document on November 15.
SEND FIREFIGHTERS HOME FOR LACK OF HAVING ENGINES FOR RESPONSE?
Another shocking bit of news came from last Thursday’s Central Fire District Board meeting in that it was revealed the City of Santa Cruz Fire Dept. has had to borrow a fire engine from Central Fire District because there weren’t enough to cover shift personnel needs.
Central Fire Board approved a first-ever policy to charge rental fees on borrowed equipment after three days. Staff regretted having to charge the City of Santa Cruz for what would usually be a Good Neighbor agreement, but it has become clear that the City has long-term problems with its equipment.
At one point, Chief Nee stated, the City Fire Dept. had five engines out of service.
The 2021 Santa Cruz County LAFCO Countywide Service and Sphere Review had this to report about Santa Cruz City Fire Dept.:
Here is a link to the newly-approved Central Fire District’s Fee Assessment Schedule and Agreement, Item 10.9, beginning on page 197
Does this worry you, too?
Contact the City Council <citycouncil@cityofsantacruz.com>
GRAND JURY INVESTIGATIONS NEED YOU
The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury has been doing some excellent investigations and publishing reports that are meaningful. Although they have no enforcement power, the Grand Jury can bring to light findings, based on their unlimited ability to interview people and view documents.
I encourage you to file a Complaint with the Grand Jury if you feel there is really something amiss in local government. One good example might be this: Why didn’t Santa Cruz County Fire Dept. or CalFire conduct an After Action Review of the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire and include the volunteers in the process that will improve planning and response for the next disaster?
To date, the County Fire Dept. volunteers have not been involved in anything except dismissals because they stayed to defend their neighborhoods and witnessed questionable back-burns and non-response.
THIS COULD BE YOU
Think about this a moment: What have we learned in the last few years about fire defensible space, home hardening and what to do if a wildland fire happens? Can rural residents depend on emergency responders showing up? Maybe not. Do people still want to live in the rural areas? Yes.
Fire knows no jurisdictional boundaries, and people living in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) know that and have to accept the risk, while meanwhile appreciating and thriving in the peace of the rural communities, shared by deer, wild turkeys, bob cats, mountain lions and many, many birds and insects, breathing clean air amidst the woodland shade. Forcing these people to live in a 400SF “affordable by design” box in a concrete/pavement-ladened city is a recipe for unhappiness and an empty soul.
Opinion: Climate change puts these readers’ rural towns at risk. Why they want to rebuild
Many thanks to the leaders of two very active FireWise Communities for working together with local officials to recognized the issues of rural and semi-rural living:
Your local Firewise groups invite you to a Town Hall Community Meeting on fire and emergency preparedness Tuesday, October 18, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at DeLaveaga Elementary School.
Prospect Heights Firewise and Highland Firewise are hosting this event with the vision of creating a constructive dialogue with our public leaders on these important issues. We have invited City and County elected representatives and agency heads to give us status reports on the issues of fire preparedness, improved communications, homelessness response, and evacuation planning.
There will be time for questions and problem-solving about our shared concerns at the conclusion of the presentations.
Speakers will include: City Councilmembers Kalantari-Johnson, Meyers, Watkins,
First District Supervisor Manu Koenig, as well as representatives from the City Fire
Department, Police Department, Parks and Recreation, Office of Homelessness
Response, and local faith communities.
This is an opportunity to hear some encouraging updates, learn about the difficulties we face, and find ways to work on solutions together in an atmosphere of mutual respect. We thank City Councilmember Kalantari-Johnson for partnering with us in planning this event. This is an in-person meeting, however a recording will be available after the event for viewing online. For more information contact:
abby.young@firesafessantacruzcounty.org or info@highlandfirewise.org
JUST SAY NO TO MEASURE K & L – HERE IS WHY
How many additional taxes can any one property owner on a fixed income manage to pay, and still have money for food and water? Santa Cruz City School District is coming back for more…and more.. and more, without really making good on what they promised the voters they would do with the previous taxes.
I remember helping campaign for the last round of those school bonds, Measure A and Measure B. Our homeschool was promised nice permanent structures to replace the rotting wooden portables we could stick our finger through with ease. We all worked hard, and the Measures passed. Did our school get what was promised? NO. The bulk of the money went to Bayview Elementary, and to what turned out to be a needless excavation around Branciforte Grammar School for drainage when simply fixing a roof drain pipe would have fixed the lower level flooding problem.
The homeschoolers got more portables, and lost the school garden and many beloved trees in the process.
As parents, and former parents, we all know that saying NO is important to help kids learn many things. Likewise, saying NO to Measures K and L will be fiscally responsible for those who are barely making ends meet now, and to teach those in charge of the school budgets that they have to be accountable and responsible for how they spend public tax dollars, and to stop being so ridiculously wasteful.
Measure K Argument Against
Measure K Argument For Rebuttal
Measure L Argument Against
Measure L Argument For Rebuttal
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. VOTE IN PERSON, BUT VOTE.
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK BY JUST DOING SOMETHING.
Cheers, Becky
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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. She ran again in 2020 on a slightly bigger shoestring and got 1/3 of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
October 16
(MORE!) SIGNS OF FALL
Out of doors, in Nature, all around us wildlife, plants, and all manner of living things in transition between the warm, dry summer and the cold wet winter. Some critters are fleeing south, others excited for what the rain promises. Some plants are slowing down, others preparing to greet the rains with flowers.
Seed Fall
Coyote bush is getting its fur and oaks are raining acorns.
The most common shrub in our area: coyote bush. There are male and female coyote bushes, and females just got ‘hairy.’ This shrub grows well in full sun, invading grasslands or holding its own side-by-side with sagebrush and poison oak in shrubby areas, especially near the coast. Like dandelions, this species is in the aster family. And, like dandelions, the female bushes produce fluffy seeds that are blown about on the wind. Right now, there are so many seeds on the bushes that they appear to be hairy. When we get bigger breezes, the bushes release so many seeds that it can seem like snow. Piles of tiny seeds enmeshed in that fluffy stuff roll around on bare soil, down sidewalks, or along the road.
Meanwhile, much larger seeds are dropping with solid thuds from various species of oak trees. For the coast live oaks on the North Coast, it is quite a year for acorn production. California scrub jays, Steller’s jays, and acorn woodpeckers are very busy carrying acorns one-by-one to their favorite storage spots. The jays bury the acorns. Scientists note that a jay can bury 1200 acorns in a season and recall where 80% of them were stored, another remarkable trait of the bird brain. The 20% that they forget become the next generation of oak trees.
Acorn woodpeckers are communists on paleo diets. These woodpeckers store acorns in “granaries” way off the ground. First, some of the woodpeckers carve acorn sized holes in live tree bark or into the wood of dead trees. And, whoever gets the job of gathering nuts flies off to gather individual acorns, returning with one acorn jutting out from its beak, which gets packed into the best fitting drilled out hole. Big woodpecker groups tend and guard their collectively gathered cache, eating the acorn stash for carbohydrates when they get hungry. Otherwise, they get their protein from eating bugs. They get just a couple of months to gather a year’s worth of acorns and it is game on right now.
Pollen Prep
Meanwhile, conifers are preparing to fill the air with sneezy pollen.
Concentrated on ridges in the chaparral, in deep sandy areas, in a big patch near Año Nuevo or across most of our forests, six types of local conifers are forming miniature male and female cones right now. Knobcone and ponderosa pines are in the chaparral, the first in rocky places and the second on deep sands. On those same deep sands is also an extremely endangered cypress: the Santa Cruz Cypress. The also endangered Monterey pine grows in one of its 5 stands near Año Nuevo, including along Swanton Road, where thousands of seedlings are regenerating after the 2020 wildfire. The more widespread redwoods and Douglas firs are also preparing to flower.
The male cones of these six species of conifers will open in January and many people will suffer. When it is rainy, the pollen gets washed out of the air, yellowing puddles and streaking car finishes. When it dries out, the first breeze of the day can carry what looks like clouds of smoke from coniferous forests.
It takes quite a sleuth to find tiny male conifer cones as they form: why not try to spot them?
More That the Rains Promise
The first flower show of winter is in stands of manzanitas, and their buds are forming right now. We have nine species in Santa Cruz County, and the first one to flower is the most widespread: brittle leaf manzanita.
Non-flowering species are also budding up: the fungi. The early equinox rain triggered mushrooms to emerge. I’ve seen tasty, fresh oyster mushrooms erupting from alder wood near local streams. And, someone was showing me photos of porcini from Monterey County. Time to get out in the duff!
Whales!
Whales are moving toward their winter season spots. There are lots of humpback whales in the Monterey Bay right now, but they will soon move to warmer waters. And, there are good reports of a pod of orcas in the Bay – also a transient species. Around the corner, starting in December…gray whale migration.
Birds on the Move
People are seeing various species of warblers that aren’t supposed to be around here- waifs that were headed south with the rest of the neotropical migratory songbirds but got off course and ended up here. The summer resident neotropical migratory songbirds that are normally here mostly have taken off for their southern haunts.
I was pleased to see and hear a few flocks of geese headed south recently. A hundred geese were flying in their characteristic V shape, a fluid ribbon hundreds of feet overhead at dusk. Local experts say there were cackling and white fronted geese headed through our area at that time. I visit big flocks of white fronted geese in nature preserves in the Central Valley, so was wondering why they were headed south along the coast. Apparently some go as far south as Mexico from their summer homes in Alaska! Good luck long distance flyers!
I previously wrote in this column (reprinted here) and on my website about the bird species that migrates to here from the North, and stays the winter with us…the golden crowned sparrow.
In Conclusion
I recommend that you take the time to watch the remarkable film Winged Migration, which does an epic job of capturing the remarkable journeys of birds.
And…I hope you will get outside, maybe even out on the Bay, and enjoy all that is unfolding in the fast-changing times of this seasonal transition.
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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 |
October 15
#289 / Complications Of The Ukraine War
As I have revealed in previous blog postings, I am quite nervous about what flows from our sense that Ukraine is in the “right,” with respect to the current and ongoing war, and that Russia is in the “wrong.” However true that may be (and to be clear, I do think that is largely true), the sense that Ukraine is “good,” and that Russia is “bad,” may be stifling what could be a more vigorous effort to terminate the current war in Ukraine.
I think we ought to be trying to do that – to terminate the war – which might well mean that we should be less zealous about provisioning its continuance. The fact that Vladimir Putin, pictured above, has threatened to use nuclear weapons in the war (which no one denies he could do) has fueled my discomfort and concern. Our own president, Joe Biden, has candidly said that if Putin does use nuclear weapons that the world will then face “Armageddon.”
I am unequivocally against Armageddon, which is a shorthand expression for “end of the world.” I think the United States government should be against that, too. That means, from my perspective, that there should be a real, grassroots demand that our leaders start working to solve the problems that led to the current war between Russia and Ukraine, and to bring the war in Ukraine to an end, rather than simply continuing to help Ukraine “win” the war.
We need, in my view, to be at least somewhat skeptical of our own government, and not just assume, since we don’t like what Russia and Mr. Putin are doing, that whatever our government says is the right reaction, and the right thing to do, is in fact the right reaction and the right thing to do. At the very least, we ought to be having a very spirited and public debate about what’s going on, and what the United States should be doing about it.
Hillsdale College is a small, Christian, classical liberal arts college in southern Michigan. The college puts out a periodic newsletter, called Imprimis, which is unfailingly “conservative” in its political perspective. Imprimis has recently published an essay by Christopher Caldwell, which is titled, “Complications of the Ukraine War.”
Below, I am providing an excerpt from this article, the text with which Caldwell begins it. I encourage you to read the whole thing.
According to what we hear from the White House and from the television networks, the issues at stake in the Ukraine War are simple. They concern the evil of Vladimir Putin, who woke up one morning and chose, whether out of sadism or insanity, to wreak unspeakable violence on his neighbors. Putin’s actions are described as an “unprovoked invasion” of a noble democracy by a corrupt autocracy. How we ought to respond is assumed to be a no-brainer. The United States has pledged vast quantities of its deadliest weaponry, along with aid that is likely to run into the hundreds of billions of dollars, and has brought large parts of the world economy—particularly in Europe—to a standstill.
Now, whenever people in power tell you something is a no-brainer, there’s a good chance that it’s a brainer. And the Ukraine War is more complicated than we’ve been led to assume….
Besides reading this article, it probably also makes sense to read Mr. Putin’s latest speech, which he gave at a ceremony welcoming new territories to Russia, such territories supposedly having voted overwhelmingly to leave Ukraine and join Russia.
Caldwell contends that “the Ukraine conflict is full of paradoxes and optical illusions, and that the theater we are entering has been, over the past 150 years, the single most violent corner of the planet…. Unless we learn to respect the complexity of the situation [he says], we risk turning it into something more dangerous, both for Europeans and for ourselves.”
I tend to think that Caldwell is giving us some pretty good advice, here, but those reading this blog posting should realize that I long ago took a position on war in general, which definitely affects my current views on the war in Ukraine. From way back when (back when I resisted the draft, and refused to go into the United States Armed Forces to fight what the government claimed was a justified war in Vietnam), I have pretty much been “against war,” period, and I am not much disposed to believe that we should all support our government, whenever it wants us to go to war.
And just to say it once again, I am against Armageddon, too! If you happen to share that view, consider letting other members of the public, and your federal representatives (from the President on down), know that you think our government should be trying to reconcile the parties and resolve the conflict,* not just push on, further, towards “Armageddon,” because we know we’re “right.”
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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 |
NO PILLOW TALK, ‘CUZ HERE COMES THE JUDGE!
It was hardly a quiet week in Mar–a–Woebegone for the Former Guy, DJT, as the Supreme Team he appointed to the high court let him down by rejecting his plea for rescue from the Justice Department as they investigate his heisted documents caper. There was no mention of any dissent from the nine justices on the unsigned order which basically denied the former prez’s contention that the 11,000 FBI-removed documents belonged to him and not the government. We can bet that Justice Clarence Thomas got an ear-pulling, and maybe a jackboot up his rear when he arrived home that evening, courtesy of Consort and Election Denier Ginny. No supper for a week…go straight to bed, and no pillow talk until this dreadful vote is fully explained!
The Justice Department wasted no time in asking the appeals court to overturn the ruling appointing a Special Master to review the documents taken from Trump’s Florida home in August, tearing asunder the lower court’s ruling favoring Trump, as well as the Orange One’s argument that a third-party review of the collected evidence was needed. “The uncontested record demonstrates that the search was conducted in full accordance with a judicially authorized warrant, and there has been no violation of Plaintiff’s rights — let alone a ‘callous disregard’ for them. Plaintiff has failed to meet his burden in establishing any need for the seized records — indeed, a substantial number of them are not even his—or in establishing any irreparable injury in their absence,” said DOJ in their brief. The Department won a previous filing with the 11th Circuit Court which seemed to suggest that federal district court Judge Aileen Cannon erred by initially appointing a Special Master. DOJ’s filing said that Trump had failed to demonstrate, and Cannon failed to weigh fully each aspect of needed legal tests before a court can impose limits on a federal investigation. Repeating many of their arguments to the district court, they claim that Trump cannot use executive privilege to block functions of the current executive and that he has no claims on presidential records as personal property.
DOJ maintains that it needs all records removed, both classified and unclassified, to aid in their investigation. The fact that both types were commingled provides evidence that the records were accessed after being removed from the White House, and possibly, who may have had access to them or seen them. Trump has attempted to minimize the severity of the charges by claiming he had declassified the docs, being unable to back up his claim, while continuing to say, “Mine, mine, mine.” The Donald is persistent with his claim that some files could be considered his personal property under the Presidential Records Act, to which the DOJ responds, “That claim is dubious, not least because the entire purpose of the PRA would be defeated if a President could simply designate all of his official records as ‘personal’ ones. Plaintiff plainly would not be entitled to the return of evidence solely on the ground that the evidence belonged to him when it was seized. If that were the case, evidence rooms nationwide would soon be emptied.”
The House Select Committee may have wrapped up its final public hearing on Thursday, sending a loud and clear message to the Justice Department – pursue charges against former president Donald J. Trump! “I think they were trying to hand the Justice Department all the evidence on a silver platter,” said Ryan Goodman, co-director of the Reiss Center on Law and Security at the New York University School of Law. “I do think that it’s very significant information for a Justice Department with much more powerful tools to pursue a full-blown investigation. I do think that they did a very good job of handing that off, and, in a certain sense, showing what a closing argument can look like in a powerful way.” Committee vice chairwoman, Liz Cheney, noted that while it was up to the Department of Justice to make prosecutorial calls, the panel “may ultimately decide to make a series of criminal referrals” to them. “We have sufficient information to consider criminal referrals for multiple individuals and to recommend a range of legislative proposals to guard against another January 6,” she said.
The panel presented previously shown interviews, along with new footage, tying it all together to make a tight case, the connective tissue necessary to take actions against issues as seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the US government with false slates of electors, and conspiracies to obstruct an official proceeding of the Congress. One bit of evidence presented, several times over actually, was Trump’s acknowledgement to staff that he had been defeated by Biden, but being prompted by several to simply claim he had won…even before the votes were counted. For this we can point to Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, and Tom Fitton, president of the conservative Judicial Watch group. In his October 31 email to Trump – sent four days before the election – Fitton included language encouraging Trump to say, “We had an election today — and I won.” The email also fixates on a faulty deadline, suggesting that Trump say “according to the ballots counted by the Election Day deadline.” This would obviously eliminate any ballots counted after the election date, a procedure which has always been accepted as legal, which plays into the GOP’s urging voters to go to the polls to cast ballots. The J6 Committee revealed plans were in the works to falsely claim victory as far back as July, verified by Brad Parscale, a former Trump campaign manager. David Laufman, who worked in leadership roles in the National Security Division in the Department of Justice and also represented two Capitol police officers who testified before the January 6 panel, thinks the evidence could be used to pursue charges tied to financial crimes. But in any case, it’s all a premeditation toward proving a conspiracy.
The preponderance of evidence that The Don knew the election was lost, through his comments to others, brings up whether he can possibly be charged with wire fraud for the tens of millions of dollars collected through his various website appeals, all echoing “Stop the Steal,” or “Make America Great Again,” or “Trump 2024.” Ryan Goodman says, “For prosecutors to bring a case, it’s not like they just want one witness. So the ability to layer many of these evidentiary claims with additional witness testimony or additional pieces of documentary evidence builds a stronger and stronger case and a very meaningful way for prosecutors,” he said. And, of course, the DOJ has assembled a grand jury to hear evidence related to those efforts to overturn the election of 2020. Former US attorney, Barbara McQuade, believes prosecutors have a burdensome task ahead as they ferret out evidence in this unprecedented case against a former US president. “It is not necessary to show that Trump planned the physical violence on the capital on January 6, only that he agreed with others to use fraud to interfere with the lawful transition of presidential power. DOJ’s task is larger, of course, than just showing some evidence,” she said. “They have to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt, and anticipate any potential defenses. That means they need to talk with every witness who may have information about Trump’s knowledge, intent and statements, and review every document that might turn to show that he did, or did not have this intent.”
As a prelude for moving this process along, the Committee voted unanimously to subpoena Trump to testify. As Cheney said, “the panel is ‘obligated to seek answers directly from the man who set this all in motion.” “On a day-to-day level the investigation has been conducted by former Department of Justice prosecutors. That has a lot to do with the professionalism and accomplishments of this investigation,” David Laufman said. “Among the best decisions that [Chairman] Bennie Thompson and Liz Cheney made was to facilitate the hiring of former prosecutors who, while dedicated to supporting the committee and its interests, surely, in the back of their minds, in the back of the Select Committee’s minds, are trying to ensure that everything they do could be a potential value to the Department of Justice, and from time to time to maybe gently put their finger in the department’s eyes to try to goad them into at least pursuing logical investigative steps to consider ultimately whether to bring charges against Trump.”
True to form, the Former Guy responded quickly to Chairman Thompson with a 14-page diatribe, avoiding the question of responding to the subpoena, instead regurgitating his disproven claims of a stolen election. Trump chastised the committee’s expenditure, of “millions of dollars spent” in a “Charade and Witch Hunt,” instead of investigating the “Fraud that took place during the 2020 election.” He included photos showing the crowd size on the day of the riot, as he whined in his state-by-state breakdown of election irregularities. Even though Trump’s campaign found no evidence of fraud, nor did 62 courts which chose to throw out his filings, he goes on to say, “The people of this Country will not stand for unequal justice under the law, or Liberty and Justice for some. Election Day is coming. We demand answers on the Crime of the Century.” Ignoring the fact that many from the insurrection have been charged, arrested and convicted, Agent Orange defends those “great American patriots,” who questioned the election results. Tell it to the judge, Donny-boy…just like the ones you led astray had to do!!
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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.
“Halloween”“If human beings had genuine courage, they’d wear their costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween. Wouldn’t life be more interesting that way? And now that I think about it, why the heck don’t they? Who made the rule that everybody has to dress like sheep 364 days of the year? Think of all the people you’d meet if they were in costume every day. People would be so much easier to talk to – like talking to dogs. ”
~ Douglas Coupland, The Gum Thief
“The farther we’ve gotten from the magic and mystery of our past, the more we’ve come to need Halloween”.
~Paula Curan
“Halloween is not ‘a yankee holiday’ celebrated only by gigantic toddlers wearing baseball caps back to front and spraying ‘automobiles’ with eggs. This is ignorance. Halloween is an ancient druidic holiday, one the Celtic peoples have celebrated for millennia. It is the crack between the last golden rays of summer and the dark of winter; the delicately balanced tweak of the year before it is given over entirely to the dark; a time for the souls of the departed to squint, to peek and perhaps to travel through the gap. What could be more thrilling and worthy of celebration than that? It is a time to celebrate sweet bounty, as the harvest is brought in. It is a time of excitement and pleasure for children before the dark sets in. We should all celebrate that.
~Jenny Colgan,
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Some of these are just great 🙂 |
BRATTON…still another voice on measures 26 and 27, Fred Keeley is where?, David Kegebein deserves it, J.M. Brown and Bruce McPherson help? GREENSITE…Will be back next week. KROHN…more about money, money on measure O and N. STEINBRUNER…City water issues, local coho salmon, charging station locations, Last Chance road future, helicopter flights, Mill Creek Dam removal. HAYES…Managing Pogonip. PATTON…A Relentless Western Narrative. MATLOCK…bowling,Tony Szechuan, and a perfect call. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover. WEBMISTRESS…pick of the week is comedian Leanne Morgan QUOTES…”EARTHQUAKES” (our local 33rd anniversary is Oct.17!)
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Dateline October 10
TRIBAL PROPOSITIONS…MORE ABOUT.
I’ve written and included even more than two sides to voting on Measures 26 and 27. After last week I figured we’d heard and read it all, then Tony Russomanno sent an email. “Who’s Tony?” some newcomers might ask… well, Tony Russomanno was a radio and TV news reporter for 40 years until his retirement in 2007. Aside from being an early member of the Gay Liberation Front following the Stonewall riots while he was in college, Tony abstained from all political activity until after he retired from journalism. Since then, he joined the Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee, served as vice chair, was a California delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, and was recently reelected to the committee’s executive board as well as a delegate to the state Democratic Party. He has lived in Santa Cruz since 1982.
Tony writes…”Regarding the two gambling initiatives, Proposition 26 is only marginally better than Prop 27, but they should both be defeated. Under the 2018 US Supreme Court decision, states may legalize sports betting. They are not required to do so.
Prop 26 permits sports betting and other gambling only in-person, and only in casinos on tribal land. Prop 27 permits online and mobile phone gambling. 26 is mainly supported by tribes; 27 is mainly supported by card rooms and out of state gambling interests.
However, sponsors of 26 and 27 are disingenuous in how much of the gambling money goes to good causes. In both 26 and 27, about 90% (or a little less) goes to the house. State Senator John Laird told a meeting of the Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County that if both 26 and 27 are defeated, it would probably then fall to the legislature to write a bill. In that case, Laird said the bill could specify, for example, no more than 50% going to the house.
It is a measure of the corporate interest in expanded California gambling, especially Prop 27’s online and mobile gambling provisions, that long-time news and talk radio leader KGO abruptly dropped their news/talk format this week and teased a switch to programs focused on sports gambling”. Tony Russomanno
WHAT AND WHERE IS FRED KEELEY UP TO?
Gave $500 to support the “New” library, $500 against Measure O, he supports the Warriors new stadium along with George Ow and The Seaside Company. Hard to support him as a mayor candidate when his interests are so varying.
FIRING DAVID KEGEBEIN. It’s been reported that David Kegebein the “Santa Cruz County” Fair Grounds manager has been fired. As I’ve stated before it’s not the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds it’s the State Of California’s 14th district agricultural association’s fairgrounds and it’s really controlled by the State, not the County. As a former treasurer of the Fair Grounds I can tell you, and so will another former member of the Fair board, that David Kegebein most certainly is guilty of all the illegal money ($38,000) misused, $6000 in food purchases $4671 at stores plus travel expenses. David’s dad, John Kegebein, was the Fair manager for many years and David grew up fighting him and trying to take over the Fairgrounds. He was arrogant, controlling, greedy, loud, and obnoxious and a problem to all of us on the board as well as his handling of family issues.
AIDE TO BRUCE McPHERSON? If you try to stay on top of local issues you’ll know that the presence/attendance of our County Board of supervisors in person at so many meetings has become an issue. I just learned that J.M. Brown, County Supervisor McPherson’s assistant actually lives in Sacramento! What kind and how much aid and research can he be doing from Sacramento? Be sure and ask him IF he ever comes to town anymore!
I search and critique a variety of movies only from those that are newly released. Choosing from the thousands of classics and older releases would take way too long. And be sure to tune in to those very newest movie reviews live on KZSC 88.1 fm every Friday from about 8:10 – 8:30 am. on the Bushwhackers Breakfast Club program hosted by Dangerous Dan Orange.
LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.5 IMDB). Mila Kunis has created an excellent lead role in this deep, fascinating, complex story. Her history is a mystery that unfolds slowly and painfully. It’s about sexual abuse and the dangers in revealing the tragedy to the public. Her shame, her privacy, her civil rights and how we the public react are the chapters in this generational expose. An excellent movie.
HARRINGAN’S PHONE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.0 IMDB). It’s usually a pleasure to watch Donald Sutherland starring in any movie or TV show. In this one he plays the part of a very rich old man who has retired in a mansion in Maine. He’s hired a young neighbor boy to read classic books to him once a week. The friendship they develop is deep and lasts until after he dies. It’s from a short story by Stephen King. Well worth watching.
LAST SEEN ALIVE. LAST SEEN ALIVE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (5.6 IMDB).The familiar face of Gerard Butler takes the lead in this tantalizing, puzzling tiresome chase movie. Butler who plays a wealthy real estate developer and his wife had an argument and she disappears soon afterwards. The entire movie is about his chasing and gunning for her kidnapper.
SPECIAL NOTE….Don’t forget that when you’re not too sure of a plot or need any info on a movie to go to Wikipedia. It lays out the straight/non hype story plus all the details you’ll need including which server (Netflix, Hulu, or PBS) you can find it on. You can also go to Brattononline.com and punch in the movie title and read my take on the much more than 100 movies.
THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER. (APPLE MOVIE) (6.7 IMDB). Familiar faces such as Bill Murray and Russell Crowe back up Zac Efron in this simply foolish film. It’s a true story about a guy (Zefron) decides to actually go to Vietnam while the war is very much happening and deliver some beer to his former neighbors who are fighting there. It’s not funny, not serious, and it does cast the CIA in a very doubtful role. A pointless movie.
LOU. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.1 IMDB). Allison Janney is onscreen full time as the secret CIA agent with a history. Grim, and taking place during Regan’s reign it tells the very bitter story of a family gone bad and how they implicate each other. It remains tight, curious, involving and worth watching.
NITRAM (HULU MOVIE) (7.2 IMDB). A very Australian movie with familiar faced Judy Davis doing her best as the mother of a mass murderer. It’s the entire life story of this guy who plots and plans the largest mass murder in Port Arthur. Well done, and allows us into what could be the cause of so many mass murderings we experience today.
BLONDE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (5.9 IMDB). Ana de Armas from movies such as Knives Out, and No Time To Die plays Marilyn Monroe and Adrien Brody acts nicely as Arthur Miller, Bobby Cannavale grumps his way as Joe DiMaggio. Then there’s actual footage of Tony Curtis, George Sanders and many more actors from Norma Jeane’s original films. It’s a very dramatic version taken from Joyce Carol Oates book. Oates says that it shouldn’t be taken as an accurate biography and the movie shouldn’t be taken too seriously either.
Go here quickly to get details on an appearance by Qwanqwa on this Thursday October 13 that features Santa Cruz’s own Kaethe Hostetter. The site says, “QWANQWA is a supergroup of musicians from the baddest ensembles of Addis Ababa. Brought together by a shared passion for the power of Ethiopian music, this group shines an experimentalism based in the virtuosity of rooted traditions. With swirling masinko (one-stringed fiddle), wah-wah-violin, bass krar boom, and the unstoppable rhythm of heavy kebero (goat-skin drum) beats, powerful traditional lead African diva vocals, QWANQWA keeps the people wrapped in celebratory attention. After making a splash at world-renowned festivals Roskilde and WOMEX, and after three European tours, this world-traveling ensemble is hitting the road for a MacArthur Foundation backed Debut US tour in 2022. The ensemble was founded in 2012 by American violinist Kaethe Hostetter, who first worked in Ethiopian music as a founding member of critically-acclaimed Debo Band. Since relocating to Addis in 2009, she has participated in numerous exploratory and professional projects, as she honed her sound and immersed herself further into the culture of her surroundings. In this sense, QWANQWA, the Amharic word for “language,” is a project creating dialogues between cultures. Current members of QWANQWA are Endris Hassen (masinko), Kaethe Hostetter (violin), Bubu Teklemariam (bass krar), Selamnesh Zemene (vocalist), and Misale Legesse (kebero)”.
SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER PLAYERS. The Nisene Ensemble:
Kristin Garbeff, Concert Director and Cello will be performing their Music From Leipzig: Works by Bach and Schumann concerts on Sat, Oct 15, 7:30 PM and Sunday October 16 at the Christ Lutheran Church • Aptos, CA. Leipzig, Germany has been the center for Western art music for over 800 years. This concert features music composed in Leipzig by two composers who spent much of their life in the city, Johann Sebastian Bach and Robert Schumann. The program opens with Bach’s Goldberg Variations beautifully arranged for string trio by Dmitry Sitkovetsky, followed by Bach’s late solo keyboard work, Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major, BWV 825. Closing the program is Robert Schumann’s intimate Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 47, and the last work written during his “Year of Chamber Music” in 1842.
Goldberg Variations for String Trio (abridged), BWV 988
Partita No. 1 in B-Flat Major, BWV 825 J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 47 Robert Schumann (1810-1856) For tickets and more info
October 10
Gillian will be back next week!
| 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. |
October 10
MORE MONEY WOES
More Money
Today’s column is devoted to the continuing uneven and unequal trail of campaign cash being donated to candidates and Measures on this November’s ballot. The city is awash in money emanating from the many places that have a stake in making sure maximum development takes place with minimum governmental oversite. As I write these words, the Santa Cruz County elections office is busy organizing and sending out our ballots. You should be receiving one this week. If you are in doubt of where your ballot is, please consult this site. Then, after you have cast your mail-in ballot, you can track it here and see when it is actually counted.
Candidate and Measure Financial Statements
If you would like to see all of the financial statements from all candidates and Measures go HERE. The site is arcane and difficult to maneuver around on. When you land on the site, scroll down to the bottom of the page, past all the “search” BS, which is not helpful at all. Start with the “General Election 11/08/2022” page and click on it. A drop-down menu will appear for “Candidates,” “Measures,” “Independent Expenditures,” and “FPPC 497 Contributions.” When you click on each one, there are other choices for city council, board of supervisors, and Mayor, as well as for Measures N and O. When you get to the measures pages, you have to scroll down to “Filings by Opponents,” and then you will arrive at those donations against the measure. All of these make for interesting reading if you want to know who is paying for the best government money can buy. I have bolded the names of people who appear on the two measures, No on N and No on O, as well as on mayoral candidate Fred Keeley’s financial disclosure statement.
Donations to DEFEAT Measure O, “Our Downtown, Our Future.” So far, $99,056 has been contributed. Here is a list of donations:
According to financial statement filed with the city clerk, the No on O group spent $16,750 on polling to see which anti-O message was stronger; $18,000 was paid to Terris and Barnes a San Francisco political consultant; and $15,000 more went to a Santa Cruz consulting group, Miller-Maxfield.
Donations to No on Measure N, Tax Empty Houses to fund affordable housing, as of Oct. 5th were $133,538. The donors were mostly from real estate:
Fred Keeley for Mayor. My mother always talked about “the company you keep.” Although $100, or $250, or even $400 is unlikely to buy a candidate, this candidate for mayor seems to hang with a lot of realtors and developers. At this critical moment in Santa Cruz history, do we want someone who is taking collectively, a lot of money from people who are looking to make some gold off of Surf City?
According to California Form 460, Keeley for Mayor has paid Miller-Maxfield $9,100 and Henderson Promotions of Red Bank, New Jersey, $5,994.
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Bonus Bernie…as he discusses midterm elections, think about upcoming Santa Cruz elections too how we are facing very significant watershed moment here, in Surf City. “The midterm election in just a few weeks will, to a significant degree, determine the future of the United States of America. I’d like to talk to you for a few minutes about why.” Go here to listen to Bernie.
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Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and a Santa Cruz City Council member from 1998-2002 and from 2017-2020. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 16 years. On Tuesday evenings at 5pm, Krohn hosts of “Talk of the Bay,” on KSQD 90.7 and KSQD.org His Twitter handle at SCpolitics is @ChrisKrohnSC Chris can be reached at ckrohn@cruzio.com
Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com |
October 10
COUNTY DROUGHT PLAN THAT INCLUDES POTENTIAL CONSOLIDATIONS FOR SMALL WATER SYSTEMS AND PRIVATE WELL OWNERS IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ONLY THIS WEEK
Last week, the County Water Advisory Commission approved the County’s Draft Drought Response and Outreach Plan that could affect many small water systems and private domestic wells. Public Comment will close THIS Friday, October 14.
This has come about in response to the State law, known as SB 552 that requires all counties to submit a plan for drought preparedness, and includes recommendations for consolidations and metering requirements.
The Plan must include a discussion of the following:
Oddly, the video recordings of the Working Group meetings, wherein the good discussions of what the recommendations should be, have all been removed from the SB 552 Working Group website.
I had asked for the recordings to be posted for public benefit. They were. But now are gone.
The Draft Plan has some issues that concern me.
I really worry about the County forcing consolidations of small water systems that do not meet the State’s criteria for “troubled” to mean not having a lot of cash banked ahead in reserves. The Working Group discussed this issue thoroughly, but the Draft DROP plan does not really address it.
The Working Group’s frank discussion that the State SB 552 one-size-fits-all requirements does not fit Santa Cruz County is missing from the recommendations. Also missing is language reflecting the repeated request by some of the Working Group members and small water system operators who participated that consolidation of small water systems and private domestic wells is not a goal here or to be necessarily encouraged.
And now that the video recordings have been removed from the Working Group’s website, no one can know what really was said or recommended for this final Plan.
The map on page 11, showing areas of the county most vulnerable to wells going dry or suffering contamination during drought includes Bonny Doon, Summit, Harmon Gulch, Lockhart Gulch and Casserly Road areas, although there is no source given for this information. The map does not show areas of Soquel Creek Water District where there are problems with toxic Chromium 6 and 1, 2, 3 -TCP, or the ammonia contamination in the Soquel area’s O’Neill Ranch Well.
The figure on page 13 showing indicators of Disadvantaged Communities that would be most adversely affected by long-term drought is impossible to read, however, the accompanying text on the preceding page explains:
” …the staff referenced DWR maps (2018) showing locations of Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) within the County. DACs are defined in Water Code 79505.5 as a community with an annual median household income (MHI) that is less than 80% of the statewide annual median household income, or $56,982. A severely disadvantaged community is defined by MHI below 60% of the statewide average, or $43,737 (2022). As shown in Figure 3, the DAC communities that are dependent on domestic wells are mostly in South County, including many of the areas surrounding the City of Watsonville such as Interlaken, Freedom, Corralitos, La Selva Beach, Larkin Valley and other rural neighborhoods. These areas also coincide with areas of high risk to water supply and water quality impacts (Due to high risk of impacts to water supply and water quality, and socioeconomic vulnerability, these communities are likely among the most vulnerable to drought-related impacts to domestic wells in Santa Cruz County. “
I really don’t understand how anyone could consider Larkin Valley a Disadvantaged Community, with all the large mansions and horse farms there, and this does not exactly comport with the State Water Quality Control Board’s designation of Disadvantage Communities, issued on January 29, 2021:
The list of Santa Cruz Disadvantaged Communities listed in Item 7, Attachment #1.
Santa Cruz County Specific Census Tract or Block Group Areas:
It also differs from information presented in documentation for the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board on the Agenda for this Friday, October 14 regarding the Pajaro Basin
Please read the Draft Plan that will affect many small water systems and private domestic wells in the County, and submit your comments by 5PM on October 14th. Comments can be sent to Denice Barnes Denice.Barnes@santacruzcounty.us
HELICOPTER FLIGHTS NEXT MONTH TO ASSESS GROUNDWATER LEVELS
Last week’s County Water Advisory Commission learned that the State-funded helicopter flight surveys to determine groundwater levels will happen in this area next month. The study will include the Pajaro Valley Basin, Mid County Basin and the Santa Margarita Basin, but will not fly over residential areas.
It will be very interesting to see how the groundwater levels have changed in the Mid
County Basin since 2017, when the MidCounty Groundwater Agency hired the Danish Rambol consultants to do this work.
Curious about this technology and the State’s program? Take a look here and keep your eye to the skies next month.
SANTA CRUZ CITY WATER PROJECTS
Last Monday (10/3), the Santa Cruz City Water Commission heard a lengthy report about drought and the economics of possible supply sources. I was shocked to hear potential revenues of over $1million due to penalties the City would impose for using more water than allotted and for customers who might not be able to pay their water bills.
See the documentation beginning on page 13 of the Agenda Packet, item #3. The public was not allowed to speak until the very end of the two and a half hour item in which multiple consultants presented information. Commissioners were allowed to ask questions and posit comments without any restriction, after which the consultants were excused and logged off the meeting.
There were only two members of the public who waited and wanted to speak. I was one of them, and quickly used up my 3 minutes with many more questions unanswered. No extra time allowed.
Of interest was the presenter who lumped desalination project data along with direct potable reuse DPR) data. The other public member who waited about 150 minutes to ask one question wanted to know what “DPR” meant and why it was combined with Desal? Water Director Ms. Menard answered the question because the consultant who had presented the information was long gone. She said it was because the two use similar technology: Desal has to remove salt and DPR has to remove many contaminants found in the sewage water that is the supply source.
Take a look at the Agenda Packet and let me know your thoughts.
Unfortunately, none of the slide presentations used by the many consultants is posted on the City Water Commission website.
Please write and ask that they be posted this week. The Commission will meet again on the first Monday of November via Zoom. Wouldn’t it be nice if all slide presentations on the continued topic of City Water Supply projects were posted in advance of that meeting? Contact Katy Fitzgerald<kfitzgerald@cityofsantacruz.com>
GOOD NEWS FOR COHO SALMON IN LOCAL CREEKS
Staff members from Santa Cruz City Water Dept. who attended last week’s County Water Advisory Commission stated that recently, young Coho Salmon fry have been found in Laguna Creek (for the third year) and surprisingly, in Majors Creek. These two North Coast Santa Cruz County streams are doing well, even in the drought. Hooray!
CENTRAL FIRE HAS FIRST-EVER DISTRICT-BASED ELECTIONS
Earlier this year, Central Fire District Board voted to change over to district-based elections, having always had at-large Board elections before. The newly-created District 5 includes everyone on the ocean-side of Highway One from New Brighton Beach to south of La Selva Beach. Here is the map for the new District #5, currently up for election with two candidates
Watch for a Candidate Forum for Denise Miller and Michael Hushaw.
What do they think about vegetation management projects in their areas to reduce fire risks? What about the AMR contract and staffing problems?
WHERE DO YOU THINK CHARGING STATIONS SHOULD BE?
Do you drive an electric car and have thoughts about where charging stations are needed? Weigh in with your thoughts here. I would like to see some in the Aptos Village Project, and the Aptos Post Office.
REMOVING THE MILL CREEK DAM IN SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
One of the oldest dams in the Santa Cruz Mountains was removed, with consent of CEMEX, and perhaps Lockheed Martin. After the CZU Fire destroyed the water supply line on Mills Creek, CEMEX agreed to pay for restoring the water line, and agreed to allow the Sempervirens Fund to remove the historic Mills Creek Dam.
Sempervirens got a $550,000 grant to demolish the dam, and it was done last year.
Now, the area will be managed by five California tribes, with a $3.6 million state grant. According to Yahoo News:
“The tribes will rely on their traditional knowledge to protect more than 200 miles of coastline in the state, as climate change and human activity have impacted the vast area.
Some of the tribes’ work will include monitoring salmon after the removal of a century-old defunct dam in the redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains and testing for toxins in shellfish, while also educating future generations on traditional practices.”
California tribes will manage, protect state coastal areas Five California tribes will reclaim their right to manage coastal land significant to their history under a first-in-the-nation program backed with $3.6 million in state money.
The dam has already been removed: NEWS: Mill Creek Dam Removed in Santa Cruz Mountains – Sempervirens Fund
Here is a link to the 1889 dam’s information, showing Lockheed-Martin’s involvement
What lingers in my mind is the Sempervirens Fund push in 2015 for “The Great Park”. At the time, private land was circled in red. Now, following the CZU Fire, whose boundaries closely match that of the CZU Fire, many whose homes were destroyed are being told by CalFire and the County that they will never be allowed to rebuild.
It seems the Sempervirens Fund group is getting their Great Park after all.
CLEARING MORE IN LAST CHANCE FOR FIRE PROTECTION
This Wednesday, the Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District (RCD) will likely approve a contract for $398,585.09 with Steve Barnes Excavation for implementation of the Last Chance Road Forest Health Project.
Residents struggling to rebuild after the CZU Fire tore through their community are delighted that Steve Barnes got this contract to do work on the lands to improve forest rehabilitation while mindfully not ruining the fragile Last Chance Road.
Board Meeting Documents | RCD of Santa Cruz County There is a public meeting of the Board of Directors on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm, unless otherwise posted.
Tune in this Wednesday evening and ask!
October 12, 2022
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: Online. Launch web meeting.
By phone 1-(669)-900-6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 708-386-048, Meeting Password: 599600
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CALIFORNIA HOUSING MARKET TRENDS? BUILD, BABY, BUILD.
Here are two interesting pieces of information:
Infrastructure? What infrastructure?
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. TAKE A HEALTHY MEAL AND FLOWERS TO SOMEONE WHO REALLY WORRIES WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL HAVE A NUCLEAR WAR ON OUR HANDS.
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK AND JUST DO SOMETHING.
Cheers, Becky
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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. She ran again in 2020 on a slightly bigger shoestring and got 1/3 of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
MANAGING POGONIP
I recently came across my 1998 copy of the Pogonip Master Plan and was inspired to share with you some inspiration and interesting tidbits. I find Santa Cruz’ Pogonip Greenbelt an amazingly beautiful place that renews my energy, fuels my curiosity, and, each visit, shows me something new. It is so nice to keep going back to the same places for the last 33 years…to check out favorite trees, familiar meadows, patches of fleeting wildflowers that return each spring, and ancient woodrat houses. Behind this natural beauty is a web of relationships mediated by the City of Santa Cruz Parks Department and guided by the Pogonip Master Plan.
Our Pogonip Vision
In 1991, the Pogonip Task Force formulated the following vision statement for the Pogonip Greenbelt:
Pogonip is a place to be appreciated for its natural beauty, habitat value and serenity, in contrast to the built environment. Pogonip should provide the community with education and recreation opportunities that are environmentally and economically sustainable.
Weighing the Vision
Since 1991 and the subsequent adoption of the Pogonip Master Plan, how have we done with stewardship of this amazing 640-acre greenbelt? In short, we don’t know. There are publicly available monitoring reports for anyone to understand how ‘habitat value’ has fared or whether people find ‘serenity’ by visiting there. The City’s Pogonip webpage for some reason posts a link to a private recreational organization’s article on the property, which suggests avoiding areas due to dangerous heroin dealers- that doesn’t sound serene to me. We do know that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” so judging whether or not that part of the vision statement has been realized is too subjective.
The second part of the vision statement emphasizes sustainability, but nowhere in the document are there any metrics for judging how sustainability might be monitored. One would assume that environmental sustainability metrics for recreational opportunities would include at least soil erosion, wildlife disturbance, and invasive species or pathogen spread.
Updating the Vision
Nearly 30 years later, in 2020 the City created the more recent and very poorly done “Santa Cruz Parks Master Plan 2030” which well reflects the changing nature of City politics…to business-minded anti-environmental politicians. This plan emphasizes Park ‘assets’ – trails other types of development potential of the property – somehow overlooking sensitive habitats that were clearly delineated in the Pogonip Master Plan. It does not provide an updated vision or any new data to help us understand how well Pogonip is faring.
Don’t Yell ‘FIRE!’
The Pogonip Master Plan rightly acknowledges the importance of managing the property for wildfire, prescribing an array of management activities. Search “Pogonip Fire” on the internet and you’ll be able to peruse the many recent fires in that greenbelt. Here’s a list of the 9 easy to find ones:
| · July 14, 2009 – unknown acres | · July 23, 2021 – ½ acre |
| · July 13, 2015 – 3 acres | · October 15, 2021 – 2 acres |
| · November 7, 2018 – ? acres | · October 16, 2021 – 2 fires, ? acres |
| · June 20, 2020 – 2 acres | · June 4, 2022 – ½ acre |
| · November 8, 2020 – 1 acre |
Pretty Neat Map
Here’s a map of from the 1998 Master Plan – it has a lot of interesting things on it. First, it illustrates the ways the City was planning on managing the property for fire. Along fire roads, every 10 years the City was going to thin and prune limbs. They were also going to do prescribed burns, mow and graze. They haven’t grazed or done any prescribed fire…and the mowing hasn’t been nearly that extensive.
It is also interesting to note that there are wetlands mapped in the Upper Main Meadow…right where leaders of the Homeless Garden Project have said that there weren’t any wetlands.
Pogonip and You
This greenbelt property deserves your attention. I advise you to visit and enjoy it – there is a lot going on with wildlife, views, and amazing smells of autumn. You can join the occasional volunteer days to help do restoration- one is coming up on October 29 (email me if you’re interested)! Also, why not ask your City Council members what’s going on with the studies in the Lower Main Meadow- the area slated for the Homeless Garden Project; there were going to be lead contamination studies and a development plan by the Garden folks. Also, you might ask the City what they are doing to assure that the property is safer for fire: why don’t they graze or do prescribed fire…what about more mowing? Finally, wouldn’t it be nice to get periodic updates from Parks on the state of our Greenbelt, including how environmentally sustainable recreation is being managed…and whether the habitat values are improving or degrading?
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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 |
October 7
#281/ A Relentless Western Narrative
The world is on the edge of nuclear catastrophe in no small part because of the failure of Western political leaders to be forthright about the causes of the escalating global conflicts. The relentless Western narrative that the West is noble while Russia and China are evil is simple-minded and extraordinarily dangerous. It is an attempt to manipulate public opinion, not to deal with very real and pressing diplomacy.
The essential narrative of the West is built into U.S. national security strategy. The core U.S. idea is that China and Russia are implacable foes that are “attempting to erode American security and prosperity.” These countries are, according to the U.S., “determined to make economies less free and less fair, to grow their militaries, and to control information and data to repress their societies and expand their influence.”
The quotation above comes from an article first published in Common Dreams, and then republished by Consortium News on August 24, 2022. As it appeared in Common Dreams, the article, by Jeffrey Sachs, was titled, “The West’s Dangerously Simple-Minded Narrative About Russia and China.” What Sachs is saying is not unrelated to what I said in my blog posting published yesterday.
My attention was particularly attracted to Sachs’ article because I recently attended a terrific dinner party – getting together with some old friends – but a dinner party that was marred, in my estimation, when one of the old friends launched into an unrestrained denunciation of China, asserting that China is, truly, an Evil Empire, outrageously and unscrupulously dedicated to one thing only, achieving total world domination, and replacing the United States as the world’s protector and advocate for freedom and prosperity for everyone.
Many were the claims made against China, in this denunciation by my friend, but the one that seemed most extreme, at least to me, was the assertion by my friend that the fentanyl/opioid crisis in our country was, actually, the result of a series of evil actions by China, intended to undermine the social integrity of our nation, and to kill Americans.
Really, I had never heard this theory before, but it turns out that this is an explanation of our drug crisis that has attracted significant support in the United State Congress. My research revealed that on September 6, 2018, the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, by way of its Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held a meeting that began with the following introductory remarks by Congress Member Christopher H. Smith, Chair of the Subcommittee. (You can click right here for a transcript of the entire hearing.)
I want to, first of all, thank all of our witnesses including our very distinguished witnesses from the administration, one, for your tremendous work that you are doing in this opioid crisis, and secondly, for taking the time out here to provide expert testimony. We do have a second panel of experts who will follow, so this, I think, will be a very enlightening and hopefully motivating hearing on what do we do next, and of course to go very deeply into the nature of the problem and how it has been exacerbated almost from month to month it is getting worse as we all know. Chinese made fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is killing Americans, more than 29,000 in 2017 alone. We must hold the Chinese Government accountable. Kirsten Madison, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs will testify today that China is a, quote, “primary source of illicit synthetic drugs coming to the United States” (emphasis added).
I love my friend, who I think is a very good person, but I don’t agree with the perspective on China that he propounded at that dinner party. I think Sachs has a better handle on how we ought to view our relationship with both Russia and China. There is, indeed, a “relentless” narrative (clearly one that is persuasive to my friend) that suggests that both Russia and China are implacable foes of our country, and that both nations are “attempting to erode American security and prosperity…”
Instead of buying into this “relentless narrative,” I suggest that we pay attention to Sachs’ observation that:
It’s past time that the U.S. recognized the true sources of security: internal social cohesion and responsible cooperation with the rest of the world.
Since developing internal social cohesion and establishing responsible cooperation with the rest of the world is the only way we have any chance of being successful in preventing nuclear holocaust, and in overcoming the destruction that global warming and climate change are wreaking upon the world, I think it is pretty important that we get with this program soon.
Like, immediately!
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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 |
BOWLING, SZECHUAN, AND A PERFECT CALL
He just can’t let it go! Former Guy Trump in Nevada on Sunday bragged to the crowd that the largest rally he’s ever seen was when he spoke to the assembled mob on January 6, 2021…and the media never acknowledges it, or the devotion shown to him. Of course, “they were only there to protest a rigged and stolen election” Yadda-yadda-yadda! He went on to defend his “perfect call” to the Secretary of State in Georgia, urging him to look into voting irregularities and to come up with enough votes to throw the state’s electoral votes into his column. “It was perfect, with six or seven or eight lawyers present…no sign of anger or outrage expressed…I assumed it was taped. Everybody was happy, but long afterwards the subject came up”…with tape being exposed, along with accusations of election interference.
This “perfect call” tirade then led to his redundant fulminations against Bill Clinton and Hillary, Barack HUSSEIN Obama and… wait for it…President George Herbert Walker Bush! Trump claims that Bush took “millions of documents, storing them in a former bowling alley/Chinese restaurant, with broken windows and a broken front door…other than that, it was secure.” Asking why GHWB was not prosecuted, he offered no other basis for this accusation. He is likely referencing a 1994 report that a future site at the University of Texas for a Presidential Library and Museum was being considered. And yes, it was an old bowling alley with some part of a Chinese kitchen being considered.
Trump’s harangue produced a stinging response via Twitter from former presidential wannabe and Bush’s son, Jeb Bush. “I am so confused,” he said. “My dad enjoyed a good Chinese meal and enjoyed the challenge of a 7/10 split. What the heck is up with you?”
Despite his being able to hold regular rallies around the country in support of MAGA candidates, his legal woes are nipping at his heels. The fraud lawsuit announced by State of New York AG Letitia James against the Trump Crime Family was the climax of a civil investigation beginning in 2019. Financial data filings reveal that over $1M has been spent this year fighting the charges. Those dollars have come from Trump’s ‘Save America PAC’ which takes in donations from MAGATs across the nation according to the Federal Election Commission. Designated a ‘Leadership PAC’, it can use money to pay expenses that may not be funded by campaign committees, primarily personal travel or leadership expenses. Leadership? They need to look a little deeper on that!
The website called ‘Save America’s Joint Fundraising Committee’ contributes to both ‘Save America’ and a second Trump PAC, ‘Make America Great Again,’ with no mention of legal bills, saying only that “the future of our country is at stake and President Trump is calling on all Patriots to join his fight to Save America.” Of the $1.12M spent, more than $942,000 has been paid to the legal firm of Alina Habba, a New Jersey based attorney and spokesperson for DJT. New York attorney, Alan Fuertas, was paid almost $185,000 for representing Don, Jr., Ivanka, and Eric in the fraud case. An Arizona contributing donor says the use of money to fund lawsuits is no big deal. “In my opinion, he can do whatever he wants with the money. The non-stop nonsense and antics being conducted by the Democrats on a man who no longer holds political office shows the extent to which the Democrats are willing to go to persecute a political opponent. Not to mention, it shows how much the Democrats and other Washington insiders fear Mr. Trump”
Trump racked up over $3.8M in legal fees following the FBI search of his Mar–a-Lago, most going to a nearby legal firm. Lesser amounts were paid to lawyers dealing with his many legal problems, including the aforementioned Georgia investigation into election tampering. The legality of these expenditures is left up to the Electoral Commission to decide if the expense is ‘personal’ or whether it would exist ‘irrespective of a person’s status as a candidate or officeholder, in which case the money can be used.”
A campaign finance expert at DC-based non-profit Campaign Legal Center says that a real problem with campaign law is that some expenses fall into a grey area, allowing personal usage, such as personal travel, dining out or staying in expensive hotels. And, in the case of The Former Guy, his assortment of legal complications only clutter the gray area even more. And we all know how rich he is…“I’m really rich!” he says as he avoids his debts and obligations. You pay for it, suckers! The Republican National Committee has stepped up to fund some of those legal obligations, even in the NY AG’s investigation, but after the Mar–a–Lago ‘raid’, the RNC stepped back on forking out on his bills, and went on to say it would completely discontinue doing so should he make a formal announcement regarding his 2024 presidential candidacy, even though the committee is free to use its funds as it chooses.
Recently the National Republican Senatorial Committee has cut TV budgets in some of the most prominent US Senate races, due to the fact that a terrible crop of candidates aren’t pulling their weight in fundraising, with some blame laid at Trump’s toxic feet. Cutting ad buys is not something one would expect to see at this juncture in campaign season, especially in high-profile races. Belt tightening and doling out stingy amounts is causing some GOP strategists to demand an audit according to the Washington Post. Accumulating $12M in American Express credit card debt, and spending only $23M on TV ads shows that a huge dollar amount being collected is flying out the door. Heading the NRSC is Republican Senator Rick Scott, who notoriously defrauded Medicaid out of a few billion when he was a health care industry CEO at Columbia/HCA in 1997. That didn’t seem to dissuade Florida voters from selecting him as their governor from 2011 to 2019, after which he ran for US Senator when term limits pushed him out of state office, allowing Ron DeSantis to fill that seat. Florida! Florida! Florida! Will you ever learn? Anyway, has DJT been raiding that piggy-bank as well?
The Orange One can’t seem to keep his hands off things that are, “Mine, mine, mine.” Jimmy Kimmel had a great comment lately about the Ex–Prez, joking, “It’s weird that a person who barely reads would even want (to steal) documents. It’s like finding out your dog collects stamps.”
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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.
“EARTHQUAKES”October 17 is the 33rd anniversary of our very own Santa Cruz Earthquake!
“I was awakened by a tremendous earthquake, and though I had never before enjoyed a storm of this sort, the strange thrilling motion could not be mistaken, and I ran out of my cabin, both glad and frightened, shouting, “A noble earthquake! A noble earthquake” feeling sure I was going to learn something.”
~John Muir, The Wild Muir: Twenty-Two of John Muir’s Greatest Adventures
“Once you have been in an earthquake you know, even if you survive without a scratch, that like a stroke in the heart, it remains in the earth’s breast, horribly potential, always promising to return, to hit you again, with an even more devastating force.”
~Salman Rushdie
“Nature has a myriad of weapons to combat human arrogance.”
~Wayne Gerard Trotman
“Earth is saving itself from humans.
Have you noticed it’s been fighting back with earthquakes?”
~Nitya Prakash
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Leanne is one of my favorite current comedians. You can find tons of her videos on YouTube, but here’s one to start you off. Watch her full special on daughters, it’s hysterical!
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BRATTON…tribal gambling measures, another local star, dialysis clinics proposition. GREENSITE…on Measure O and Downtown Expansion. KROHN… a follow-up on following the money. STEINBRUNER…city sewage plant and UV treatment, city water needs study and maybe desal, CZU fire issues remain, county land use policies, grand jury and Live Oak library, church receives free water. HAYES… comparing District 3 north county supervisor candidate’s platforms on the environment. PATTON…a new world begins. MATLOCK…fear factor for the fidos. EAGAN… Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover. WEBMISTRESS’ pick of the week takes us back to the 70s QUOTES…”FULL MOON”
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THOSE TRIBAL GAMBLING MEASURES. I wrote in this very space last week…”Its mind boggling to have to watch so many of the very expensive TV ads for measures 26 and 27. After much debating and seeking of the truth behind their promises I’m voting NO on 26 and YES on 27″. Then Nanlouise Wolfe sent this note…
“Hi Bruce,
Not sure how you decided which measure to vote for but the Friends (Quaker) Committee on Legislation 0f California suggests the opposite and explains in detail why:
(they also go into detail on the other ballot issues)
Proposition 26: Allows In-Person Roulette, Dice Games, Sports Wagering on Tribal Lands. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute. Recommendation: YES.
Proposition 27: Allows Online and Mobile Sports Wagering Outside Tribal Lands. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute. Recommendation: NO.
Big gambling interests are competing on the ballot this year following a 2018 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down a federal prohibition on sports betting. The stakes are high. As of this writing, the campaigns have spent a record $350 million to blanket the airwaves with ads both for and against Propositions 26 and 27. Propositions 26 and 27 are competing with one another. If both initiatives pass, the one that receives more votes would become law and the courts would have to sort out which pieces would prevail. Proposition 26 would allow federally recognized Native American tribes to operate roulette, dice games and sports wagering on tribal lands. It also allows on-site sports wagering at four privately operated horse-racing tracks. Proposition 27 would allow the larger gambling companies and tribes with state compacts to offer online and mobile sports betting. It also creates a new state trust fund based on 10 percent of sports bets less certain expenses, with 85 percent of the fund’s revenues to address homelessness, mental health and gambling addiction and 15 percent to tribes that do not participate in online sports betting. A new regulatory agency would be created within the state Department of Justice.
FCLCA’s position regarding tribal gaming is complex. FCLCA endorses Friends’ traditional opposition to gambling on moral grounds. Gambling is addictive to some, and families may become destitute because of gambling. While we continue to bear testimony against gambling, we do not feel it is right to impose our will on sovereign Native American nations. We recognize that legalized sports betting is now an inevitable reality.
Under Proposition 26, it would be regulated by compacts between Native American tribes and the State of California, and it would only be conducted in person at facilities where gambling already occurs.
Proposition 27 has the potential to turn every online gadget into a gambling device, which would entice more people to gamble and would be harder to regulate. While it would be great to have to have additional funds to address homelessness and mental health, Friends have never believed it is right to fund other programs with gambling revenues. The real winners under Proposition 27 are the large gaming interests.
FCLCA is taking a harm reduction approach. If Proposition 26 receives more votes than Proposition 27, it could prevent the worst elements of Proposition 27 from taking effect. FCLCA recommends a YES vote on Proposition 26 and a NO vote on Proposition 27″. ~Nanlouise Wolfe
She has presented a deep and dividing difference….any other opinions? Go here to read Cal Matters points of view.
ANOTHER LOCAL HOLLYWOOD STAR. As per usual I love and even like to receive your comments, corrections and news. Just email bratton@cruzio.com. A long time reader sent this last week…. “The costumes for the current hit movie Don’t Worry Darling, directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, were done by Arianne Phillips, who grew up in Santa Cruz and has become a powerhouse costume designer and stylist in Hollywood and beyond”. She was born in NYC.
DIALYSIS CLINICS –YES on PROP 29. The California Democratic Party and The California Labor Foundation support a YES vote on Prop. 29. It’s about requiring dialysis clinics to have a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on site. . Go here to read why we should vote YES on 29
I search and critique a variety of movies only from those that are newly released. Choosing from the thousands of classics and older releases would take way too long. And be sure to tune in to those very newest movie reviews live on KZSC 88.1 fm every Friday from about 8:10 – 8:30 am. on the Bushwhackers Breakfast Club program hosted by Dangerous Dan Orange.
THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER. (APPLE MOVIE) (6.7 IMDB). Familiar faces such as Bill Murray and Russell Crowe back up Zac Efron in this simply foolish film. It’s a true story about a guy (Zefron) decides to actually go to Vietnam while the war is very much happening and deliver some beer to his former neighbors who are fighting there. It’s not funny, not serious, and it does cast the CIA in a very doubtful role. A pointless movie.
LOU. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.1 IMDB). Allison Janney is onscreen full time as the secret CIA agent with a history. Grim, and taking place during Regan’s reign it tells the very bitter story of a family gone bad and how they implicate each other. It remains tight, curious, involving and worth watching.
NITRAM (HULU MOVIE) (7.2 IMDB). A very Australian movie with familiar faced Judy Davis doing her best as the mother of a mass murderer. It’s the entire life story of this guy who plots and plans the largest mass murder in Port Arthur. Well done, and allows us into what could be the cause of so many mass murdering’s we experience today.
BLONDE. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (5.9 IMDB). Ana de Armas from movies such as Knives Out, and No Time To Die plays Marilyn Monroe and Adrien Brody acts nicely as Arthur Miller, Bobby Cannavale grumps his way as Joe DiMaggio. Then there’s actual footage of Tony Curtis, George Sanders and many more actors from Norma Jeane’s original films. It’s a very dramatic version taken from Joyce Carol Oates book. Oates says that it shouldn’t be taken as an accurate biography and the movie shouldn’t be taken too seriously either.
SPECIAL NOTE….Don’t forget that when you’re not too sure of a plot or need any info on a movie to go to Wikipedia. It lays out the straight/non hype story plus all the details you’ll need including which server (Netflix, Hulu, or PBS) you can find it on. You can also go to Brattononline.com and punch in the movie title and read my take on the much more than 100 movies.
THE OUTFIT. (AMAZON PRIME MOVIE) (7.1 IMDB). It’s a delight to critique a movie as good as this one. Mark Rylance (a familiar British face) is the very serious lead in this 1956 Chicago mob war movie. He’s become a tailor/cutter and allows his shop to be shared with the local mob members. The pacing is good the acting is superb, and it’s all done within the tailors shop. Download this by all means.
GOODNIGHT MOMMY. (AMAZON PRIME MOVIE) (5.6 IMDB). Naomi Watts wears a complete head mask through almost all of this mystery. She has twin sons (actually played by twins) and they too want to see why she’s wearing that coverage. They begin to doubt that she’s their real mom and the plot thins not thickens here. The ending might just surprise you if you haven’t seen the other movies based on the same script. Watch it with care and patience.
DON’T WORRY DARLING. (DEL MAR THEATRE). (6.2 IMDB). This much hyped movie directed by and starring Olivia Wilde is a less than wonderful mix of Stepford Wives and The Truman Show. There’s a super tight and isolated “perfect community” where the husbands all drive to some secret work while the wives maintain a forced happiness. Florence Pugh does a superior job of acting while Olivia mugs her way through the faked image. You’ll stay glued to it just to see what the mystery is/was all about…but few if any awards will be given here.
FATHER STU. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.5 IMDB). Mark Wahlberg grins and mugs his way through this true to life story of a boxer named Stuart Long who decides to not just give up women and his life as usual to become a Roman Catholic priest. Mel Gibson plays his drunken, mean father and Malcolm McDowell from Clockwork Orange is Wahlberg’s spiritual teacher! Even if it’s true his saga is difficult to believe. Yet the closing credits have photos and statements from the real life of the hero. Be very aware, it’s hammy and very religious.
PLAZA CATEDRAL. (NETFLIX MOVIE). (7.1IMDB). A well to do Mexican architect/saleswoman gets very involved with a street kid who teases and begs her for money. She lost her own child years ago and has trouble adjusting to her husband and life in general. It’s near perfect acting by these two leads and the photography is excellent too. In very real life the young star who plays the kid was murdered just days after the film was finished.
TURLOUGH O’CAROLAN CELTIC MUSIC CONCERT.
Turlough O’Carolan was a contemporary of J.S. Bach, O’Carolan (1670-1738) was Ireland’s most famous harper. Though blinded by smallpox at age 18, a patron gave him a harp, a horse and a guide, and he supported himself for 50 years as an itinerant harpist, becoming the most famous of all Celtic composers. Many members of the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival will be performing. Linda Burman-Hall, Director, harpsichord, virginal. Shelley Phillips, harp, Baroque oboes, folk flutes. William Coulter, guitar, bodhran. Robin Petrie, hammered dulcimer Deby Benton Grosjean, traditional fiddle, Baroque violin. John Weed, fiddle and Barry Phillips, on ‘cello. The concert is FREE and will be at 3pm October 9 Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Hall. The link to obtain free tickets is here.
SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER PLAYERS. The Nisene Ensemble:
Kristin Garbeff, Concert Director and Cello will be performing their Music From Leipzig: Works by Bach and Schumann concerts on Sat, Oct 15, 7:30 PM And Sunday October 16 at the Christ Lutheran Church • Aptos, CA. Leipzig, Germany has been the center for Western art music for over 800 years. This concert features music composed in Leipzig by two composers who spent much of their life in the city, Johann Sebastian Bach and Robert Schumann. The program opens with Bach’s Goldberg Variations beautifully arranged for string trio by Dmitry Sitkovetsky, followed by Bach’s late solo keyboard work, Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major, BWV 825. Closing the program is Robert Schumann’s intimate Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 47, and the last work written during his “Year of Chamber Music” in 1842.
Goldberg Variations for String Trio (abridged), BWV 988
Partita No. 1 in B-Flat Major, BWV 825 J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 47 Robert Schumann (1810-1856) For tickets and more info …
October 3
CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF SANTA CRUZ: ON STEROIDS
Last week I wrote on the proposed library/parking garage/housing project that, if it comes to pass, will dramatically change the character of Santa Cruz with building heights and mass way out of scale, with the library ripped from its historic location, forever losing a sense of place, with the loss of the last bit of open space downtown that if saved has enormous potential for a public plaza. I referred to Measure O in passing and may have inadvertently left an incorrect impression of who supports which side. Measure O, which I strongly, actively support is a yes vote to keep the library in its current location and spend the millions raised from us taxpayers on what we thought we were voting for in Measure S, namely the library’s renovation in its current location. It is hypocritical for the opponents of Measure O to have as their tag line, “Don’t be Fooled” when it was we who were fooled to vote for a library renovation measure while the hidden agenda was to move it. So Yes! on Measure O. The website is full of excellent information on the Measure, and you can find it here.
The pace with which our city’s current Planning and Economic Development Departments are pushing significant project after project onto the community is unprecedented in my 47 years in Santa Cruz. While some projects are driven by new state housing laws, many appear driven by a new planning direction in which upper- level management dismiss as quaint nostalgia what many of us love about Santa Cruz; view the small- scale businesses and cottages as “underutilized space” and regard anything older than 50 years as “past its useful life.” Out of this context emerged the Downtown Expansion Project, the boundaries of which are depicted above in red. This newly imagined downtown extension will dwarf the 8-story height of a relocated library project with building heights proposed in the 15 to 17 story range!
When projects are simply lines on paper it is difficult to imagine their visual impact. Unhelpfully, our Planning Department has balked at repeated requests to use story poles which outline height and mass of proposed projects and are used by many city Planning Departments, but not ours, to give some measure of what is being proposed. To get a sense of scale, go look at the new building under construction at Laurel, Front and Pacific which is still going up in height. At completion it will be six stories. By comparison the tallest building in the Downtown Expansion area will be three times as high. A new Warriors Arena is part of the project, to be funded out of profits from the skyscrapers. You can bet that any below market rate housing will be a small fraction of the 1600 units planned. That number of units will translate into at least 4000 new residents, squeezed into a bottleneck between Laurel Street and the beach area, the main tourist thoroughfare to the Boardwalk and the beach. To make matters worse, new state law no longer requires traffic congestion to be studied as an impact. A perfect storm in the making.
Most residents of Santa Cruz are probably unaware of the scope and scale of this project. We are at the relative beginning of the process. The step currently being taken by the city is to evaluate the legally required environmental impacts under CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act). This link describes the project and if you scroll to the bottom, it gives all you need to submit a comment on what should be included in a draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report). It is not the occasion to express your feelings about the project. Of course, you can, but the response will be “not relevant.” That opportunity will come later. So, Aesthetics, Biological Resources, Transportation, Emergency Response, Soils and Geology are some of the categories that are relevant. This is spelled out in the link. October 17th is the deadline for comments about what should be included in the draft EIR. Also look at the Project Objectives. One glaring omission is that of preserving existing neighborhoods which are predominantly low-income renters. That objective needs inclusion and study. Another is congestion, which must be studied in this local context despite the shift in emphasis to VMT, Vehicle Miles Travelled.
One objective that is always on the city’s playbook is “to connect the downtown to the beach.” You don’t need a deep class analysis to recognize that the folks who go to the beach are a different demographic from those who go downtown. Just take a walk on the beach! Chasing that pie in the sky has been codified into the city’s General Plan and it has resulted only in creating gridlock at both roundabouts on summer weekends. I doubt it has lured even one beachgoer to say to the kids, “Hey, look, there’s downtown. Let’s go to Abbott Square!
| 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. |
October 3
A FOLLOW-UP ON FOLLOWING THE MONEY
How to Buy an Election
I am updating my past two columns in the discussion around money in the Measures O, “Our Downtown, Our Future,” and Measure N, tax empty homes to create more affordable housing, races. The money trail took another turn for the worse this past week as the “No on O” contingent of real estate and corporate developer money pushed their totals closer to the $100,000 mark with more than a month to go, while “Yes on O” team raised around $30,000, mostly from grass roots contributors. The high rollers in the bid to defeat a measure that will develop a town commons and build significantly more affordable housing, are generally those who have a financial stake in several downtown building sites. And by the way, the No on O campaign has so far has spent a bundle of money on consulting, almost as much as Yes on O has raised, $29,300 on consulting fees. No on O paid San Francisco consultant “Clean Sweep Campaigns, Inc.,” a total of $18,000; local consultant Miller Maxfield, $15,000; former Lookout reporter turned “Campaign Coordinator,” Grace Stetson, $2.450; and a polling firm in Oakland, $2,375. This can all be accessed here at the Santa Cruz City Clerk’s website if you want to see for yourself.
Who’s Who Shelling Out $Dough$ Against Measure O
Folks who would like to remain nameless are:
Some individuals representing No on O:
Brother, Can You Spare An Empty Home?
That’s quite a chunk of change. It wasn’t long ago that the No on the Our Downtown, Our Future Measure was far out in front in the campaign cash race, but No on the affordable housing tax has picked up steam and jetted ahead. One developer-real estate grouping trying to see who can say the louder NO, I guess.
OMG, Somebody Sound the Alarm!
Twenty-nine thousand and nine hundred dollars. $29,900. It was reported on October 3, 2022 and it’s likely one of the largest single donations that has ever been recorded in Santa Cruz campaign history. This big check came into the “No on the Empty Homes Tax” coffers, you guessed right again, from the uber-deep-pocket cash caves of the California Association of Realtors. The capitalist money spigot is turning into a firehouse of campaign cash to defeat the reasonable Measure N, the affordable housing tax on homes that sit empty in the city of Santa Cruz. All this money seems to go through the group, Santa Cruz Together. Their treasurer Brad Brereton appears to administer the fund along with Renshaw. As of September 30, the No on N campaign had raised $98,638, but with the additional $29,900 reported a couple of days later, that figure balloons to $128,538 raised to do the unthinkable, defeat a rather meagre, but sensible, affordable housing ballot measure. This money by the California Association of Realtors is in addition to an earlier money-dump they made of $20,000. So far, No on N has spent much less than No on O on consultants. No on N is clocking in at $10,428 given to another SF campaign consulting firm called “Rally Campaigns.”
Who Wants to Defeat Measure N?
The corporate interests:
Individuals
Some Simple Ways We Can Fix Our Political System
–Bernie Sanders platform for getting $money$ out of politics
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A real David staring down Goliath story…
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Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and a Santa Cruz City Council member from 1998-2002 and from 2017-2020. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 16 years. On Tuesday evenings at 5pm, Krohn hosts of “Talk of the Bay,” on KSQD 90.7 and KSQD.org His Twitter handle at SCpolitics is @ChrisKrohnSC Chris can be reached at ckrohn@cruzio.com
Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com |
NEW UV TREATMENT FOR SANTA CRUZ CITY SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT SHOULD HELP THE HEALTH OF OUR OCEAN AND SURFERS
I happened to see that the Santa Cruz City Council accepted a Report of Completion for the new Ultra Violet (UV) Treatment facility at the sewage treatment plant at 110 California Street, next to Neary Lagoon. That is really good news. The Regional Water Quality Control Board had been waving a stick at the City for problems with the old UV disinfection system, leading to higher than allowed contamination levels dumping into the Pacific Ocean outfall pipe (which has a leak).
The project cost?
FISCAL IMPACT: The total project cost was $3,597,524. This project was funded a Capital Investment Program (CIP) project (WWTF – Ultraviolet Disinfection System Replacement (c401504). There is no impact to the General Fund.
This was all presented in the September 13, 2022 Santa Cruz City Council Consent Agenda Item #23
CITY OF SANTA CRUZ WILL STUDY RECYCLED WATER FEASIBILITY AS PART OF WATER SUPPLY PROJECT PLAN COMING IN NOVEMBER
The drought has revived discussion about water supplies, and I hear desalination mentioned more. The Santa Cruz City Council received an update on the blueprint for projects to fund that will address the City’s water needs on September 13, approving a fourth change order to the analysis being done by Kennedy Jenks consultants to help steer the City’s efforts and money toward what will be the best water supply sources for the future.
What might they consider? Desalination is still on the board, but not a priority.
Stay tuned for this November when the Council will hear the final version of the Water Future Initiative, currently being vetted by the City Water Commission, setting the foundation for long-term water supply projects to get started and comply with the citizen-based Water Supply Advisory Committee (WSAC) recommendations made in 2014 after the people just said NO to desalination’s energy hog technology in favor of focused conservation and water sharing with neighboring water agencies.
WHAT WENT WRONG AND WHY?
There are still so many unanswered questions about how and why the CZU Lightning Complex Fire went awry to destroy over 900 homes, claim a life, and forever traumatize thousands of people in our County, and now the County refusing to issue permits and barring the majority of these people any ability to rebuild.
CalFire refused to do an After Action Review to examine anything, or benefit by recognizing mistakes as well as successes that would help improve training and operations for the next disaster.
This is not the only case of a large government agency that is broken and dysfunctional but refuses to address actions in disasters that did not work for the benefit of the people and the environment. Take a look at this recent 60-Minutes interview regarding the Caldor Fire:
Evidence shows U.S. Forest Service mismanagement contributed to California wildfire | 60 Minutes
Why are these large government agencies refusing to be accountable? Their actions are arguably criminal.
What is an After Action Review? Take a look at what the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has to say
In this reference listed, the author includes Tips for Conducting Effective After Action Reviews, defining it as a “simple powerful tool enabling them [emergency response agencies] to continuously learn from their daily experiences”. At the conclusion of the article, there are Tips for Conducting AARS (After Action Reviews).
The question remains: Why has CalFire refused to do this and rejected any involvement by the well-trained and competent Santa Cruz County Fire Department volunteers who possess valuable local knowledge? At this point, our only hope for an effective Review and improved emergency response is the County Civil Grand Jury.
MAJOR CHANGES TO COUNTY LAND USE POLICIES SCHEDULED NOVEMBER 15 FOR BOARD OF SUPERVISOR CONSIDERATION
Coming our way on November 15, the Board of Supervisors will take a first look at the major land use policies and County General Plan Update that will guide what our communities look and feel like for decades to come.
The County Planning Commissioners were under pressure to work feverishly and complete their review of the County Sustainability Update, General Plan Update, and the Draft EIR for it all. They crossed that finish line on September 21, but we have yet to see their many recommendations in print. You can listen to the audio recording of that long meeting here, and have some idea, although staff had discretion on a number of items.
This is a big deal.
Please take time to listen to the September 21 Planning Commission recording. Contact the Supervisors with your thoughts at: boardofsupervisors@santacruzcounty.us
You can find the original documents here.
Choose a topic that interests you most and read it. Talk with your friends and neighbors about their thoughts.
We cannot be silent on this critical issue that will affect us all for generations to come.
This is a current photo of downtown Santa Cruz, but would be common in Pleasure Point under the current proposed County General Plan Update to allow 45-80 units / acre.
GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION AND THE LIVE OAK “LIBRARY” ANNEX
The Grand Jury released some excellent reports, including results of investigating misrepresentation and use of Measure S Library funds: “How a Community Center Became a Library”. 2022-3 Measure S Report
“The Annex (currently being constructed) is about one mile from the existing Live Oak Branch Library. The Annex is, in essence, a collection of study and education spaces with publicly available computers and internet that will be managed by County Parks staff. Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL) will not have librarians or books for loan at this location.“
The Grand Jury has concluded that the Annex is an expansion of the Live Oak Community Center and not an expansion of the Live Oak Branch Library. Following the State’s elimination of redevelopment agencies, County Parks was left without a ready source of capital funds needed to complete the vision of the Community Center. Measure S filled the void. The Grand Jury recommends that the County Board of Supervisors reassess its decision to use Measure S funds to improve the Live Oak Community Center and restore the voters’ trust.
Remember this problem as you consider how to vote on bond measures this November.
| Here are some photos of the “Library” construction happening right now to enlarge the Simpkins Swim Center Community Center: | |
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| The entrance to Simpkins Swim Center. | Entrance to existing Community Center and construction of new “Library” that will have no books or library staff. |
WILL THESE STRUCTURES BE SAFE FOR THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK THERE?
Great progress has been made at the 1500 Capitola Road Dientes and Medical Clinics, and now the multiple three-story apartments are under construction where 57 affordable units will be. The question is: Will the Vapor Intrusion Mitigation System (VIMS) that requires constant pressure at the foundation and utility ports work when the electricity goes out, or in a seismic disaster?
Will the tenants even know about all this?
The County does not seem to care, and did not want to do any real remediation to remove the source of the PCE contamination at the former dry cleaning business adjacent. The plume of contamination is also in the groundwater and should be at least monitored…but is it? Nope.
| Take a look at the photos below. Note the large fan in operation with an open door, after all work crews had left the site. This is likely necessary for the safety of the workers. | |
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| This photo is taken from the highly-contaminated side of the parcel, showing Dientes Clinic and apartments under construction. | Here is the other side of that Dientes Clinic and the quad where three interpretive panels will go, recognizing the historic Merriman House and Robert Merriman’s importance as the key character in ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ by Ernest Hemingway. |
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| This high-volume fan was operating at high speed with the door ajar, long after crews had left. | The Community Garden space on the side of the parcel opposite the PCE contamination. Will it be healthy for kids and their families to grow food here? |
FREE WATER FOR 50 YEARS WHILE COUNTY PARKS LAWNS ARE BROWN
The Soquel Creek Water District ratepayers are gifting FREE water for 50 years to irrigate athletic fields at Twin Lakes Baptist Church in Aptos, where the District Manager is a member of the congregation. Meanwhile, Anna Jean Cummings Park play areas are parched and brown because the water is just too expensive.
Is Soquel Creek Water District planning to provide any irrigation uses for the recycled water project currently under construction? NOPE.
Does any of this seem right to you?
The photo on the right: Crews are working to significantly expand the Twin Lakes Baptist Church private school athletic fields that will benefit by having FREE water for 50 years, thanks to Soquel Creek Water District ratepayers and public tax monies building the PureWater Soquel Project.
MOVING AHEAD TO ATTACH LARGE PRESSURIZED PIPES OF CONTAMINATED EFFLUENT
The Soquel Creek Water District has resumed work on the Laurel Street Bridge crossing the San Lorenzo River to attach a 14″ pipe that will contain pressurized treated sewage water that will have high levels of chloramine, toxic to all aquatic life. There will also be a 6″ pipe attached that will contain pressurized concentrated waste “brine” returning from the PureWater Soquel treatment plant in Live Oak, and will contain toxic disinfection byproducts in addition to the contaminants removed from the treated sewage water.
The work was delayed last spring, thanks to the excellent work by Ms. Jane Mio, who pointed out to California Fish & Wildlife biologists that the construction on the Laurel Street Bridge would disrupt the migratory Cliff Swallows nesting there. Thankfully, the District had to halt their work. None of this was ever evaluated in the Project EIR certified by the District in December, 2018 or addressed in either the 2020 or 2021 Environmental Addendums, neither of which was released for public comment.
Many thanks to Good Citizen Ms. Jane Mio for protecting the migratory Cliff Swallows who come every year from Argentina to raise their young under the Laurel Street Bridge in Santa Cruz.
MAKE ONE CALL. WRITE ONE LETTER. LISTEN TO THE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION HEARINGS ABOUT THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATES. ATTEND A CANDIDATE FORUM.
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK BY JUST DOING SOMETHING.
Cheers, Becky
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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. She ran again in 2020 on a slightly bigger shoestring and got 1/3 of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
COMPARING DISTRICT 3 COUNTY SUPERVISORIAL CANDIDATES’ PLATFORMS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
In the past, you may recall I urged you to vote for the environment…first and foremost. We are soon to be faced with a vote for District 3 Supervisor between Justin Cummings and Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson: what are we to do if we vote primarily for the environment?
Published Platforms
You might turn to the candidates’ webpages for what they suggest are their environmental platforms.
Shebreh’s website has a single note about her environmental stance: “As a Santa Cruz City Councilmember, Shebreh is a leading voice for today’s most pressing needs” and then a list of those ‘pressing needs’ that includes the phrase “environmental stewardship.” That’s it!
Justin’s website has a lot more mention of the environment including:
Endorsements
It is worth perusing the candidates’ websites for endorsements by leaders in activism for local environmental protections. On the whole, it appears that Justin wins strongly.
Peter Scott as well as Alec and Claudia Webster endorse Justin; there are just a couple of names that stand out on Justin’s endorsement list as having been on the wrong side of environmental issues. On the other hand, there are no local environmental activist leaders on the list endorsing Shebreh…but, there are quite a few names that have been strongly on the wrong side of environmental issues. For what it’s worth, according to Justin’s website the Sierra Club has apparently endorsed him, though their website has no confirmation as such. Curiously, Sam Farr who accomplished so much for the local environment as congressman, has endorsed both Shebreh and Justin. None of the board members of local environmental activist organizations (Sierra Club, California Native Plant Society, Valley Women’s Club, and Save our Shores) endorsed either candidate except Alli Webster, Chair of the local Surfrider chapter who endorsed Justin.
Other Means of Vetting Environmental Records
We can sleuth a little about the candidates from things they’ve said or done. Here are some comparisons:
Housing
From what I can find published, Shebreh would represent a big change for what the District 3 Supervisorial representative has meant for supporting carefully planned development in the rural areas of Santa Cruz’ North County. Justin appears to represent more of the history of this position…proceeding cautiously and focusing growth closer to the already more densely built areas. Items that stand out are Shebreh’s worrisome stridency that you ‘can’t build anywhere’ and Justin’s ludicrous notion that the cement plant should/can support a significant amount of affordable housing. I do like Justin’s stance that we should fight the State’s efforts to override local control on development: not sure how that would work, though…and he doesn’t detail that.
| Shebreh | Justin |
| She describes the County Planning Department, thus: “entrenched culture that is very outdated” | He suggests that maybe we can redevelop the Davenport cement plant to include affordable housing |
| She wants to “Change Zoning ordinance” to allow “expediting and removing barriers to building backyard ADUs.” | He has said that we need to “protect our neighborhoods from over development, which means we will need to fight State efforts to strip local communities of land use planning decision making” |
| She has said that “we can’t do any kind of development anywhere.” | |
| She has defended her record by describing herself as a “100% yes” vote on housing projects that have come before the council. |
Climate Change
Both candidates have strong histories of supporting measures to address climate change. Shebreh has repeatedly noted her support for the local Climate Action Plan as well as specific support for renewable energy. Justin says that we need to put “climate change mitigation at the forefront, continue working to reach net zero CO2 emissions.”
UCSC
The candidates vary on addressing UCSC growth. You can find evidence that Shebreh has focused on reducing traffic to UCSC whereas Justin says he will “continue working to hold the University accountable for its growth and impact.”
Other Things
Cannabis Cultivation
I worked with a committee on the cannabis cultivation ordinance for the County and will emphasize for the record the importance of Shebreh’s support for that committee’s recommendations, which resulted in District 3 receiving the best controls for cannabis cultivation of anywhere in the County. She was articulate, hard-working, and a good listener during that process. Some of the concerns were environmental, so she scores well on this front.
Parks and Land Management
Justin has promised to work “to address the impacts of Cotoni Coast Dairies Monument,” an increasingly important issue, though one which is not isolated to that particular open space: given his education, it is surprising that he singles that one spot out when visitor use to parks and the associated issues are much broader. Shebreh then is perhaps better, though too vague, in saying she will focus on “maintaining our county beaches, parks and open spaces.”
I will note that both candidates cast very troubling votes in favor of developing the main meadow at the Pogonip greenbelt into a farm program, including parking lots and buildings – despite those developments being prohibited by a lengthy environmental review and related long term plans. This was particularly troubling coming from Justin, who should know better.
Now to November
Given my summary, I hope that you will help draw out more environmental platforms from these two candidates. There is scant information from either candidate- especially scant in the specifics of what they can and will do to protect species, wildlife habitats, clean water, and open space for future generations.
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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 |
September 28 #272 / A New World Begins
I picked up my copy of A New World Begins, authored by Jeremy Popkin, from one of the many “little free libraries” that I visit as I walk around Santa Cruz, California. If you want to read this book yourself (and particularly if you like to underline your books, as I do, so you can’t just take the book out from the library), you may have to buy it at a bookstore. Popkin’s book is long, at 561 pages before the Acknowledgments and the Index, and I thought it was quite a rewarding read.
Before I picked up the book and took it home with me, I more or less credited myself with knowing pretty much anything worth knowing about the French Revolution. After all, I was a history major in college, and I spent six months in France as an undergraduate student. I took a course touching on French history from Gavin Langmuir, a famous historian who taught at Stanford, and I have a book by Robert Fawtier on my bookshelves – The Capetian Kings of France. Besides, I read A Tale of Two Cities long ago, not to mention On Revolution, in which Hannah Arendt gives her take on the French Revolution. What more could you need?
Nonetheless, since the book was essentially brand new, and since I am a history student, I picked up the book and took it home. As it turns out, I didn’t know that much about the French Revolution.
Reading Popkin’s book made me think, a lot, about the state of our own government, society, economy, and politics, here in the United States. Contemplate this discussion, from Page 497 in Popkin’s book:
Where it faced defeat, the Directory told its supporters to claim that legal procedures were being violated; they were then to create a schism by walking out of the electoral assemblies and forming their own rival group. Even when the breakaway assembly had many fewer participants than the original one, the government’s loyalists in the councils would pronounce its candidates legally elected.
Does that ring a bell? Does the date, January 6, 2021, come to mind?
William Faulkner is famously known to have said, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”
Pick up Popkin’s book, and read all about it!
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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 |
FEAR FACTOR FOR THE FIDOS
As we belly up to the gas pump to face increases in price yet again, after experiencing a short span of reductions, Meidas Touch on YouTube has brought to our attention a bit of history about which we should be made aware, or reminded about if memories have faded. Looking back into the days of yesteryear, May of 2017 to be exact, it seems that a joint venture by Saudi Arabia’s Aramco and Royal Dutch Shell, dba Motiva Enterprises, was experiencing a bit of instability in their relationship at the Port Arthur, Texas refining plant. The refinery, the largest in the US was considered the crown jewel for domestic oil production, processing 600,000 barrels daily.
As reported by CNN Business at the time, the Aramco/Motiva breakup prompted Texas state regulators and the Trump administration to grant Aramco 100% ownership of the facility which went on to record a $48B profit in this year’s second quarter, boosted with tax breaks that average blue collar workers are suffering under to fill the pockets of Saudis and wheeling/dealing MAGATs. Along with its proprietary rights, Aramco was given 24 distribution terminals with an exclusive right to sell Shell-branded gasoline and diesel in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, the eastern half of Texas and a majority of Florida. It also allows Aramco to send more Saudi crude oil into the US for refining to serve domestic motorists.
CNN Business reported that the Saudi kingdom in that period was battered with a bloated budget and low oil prices, yet they slashed taxes for Aramco to arrest concern over the oil giant’s market evaluation. Donald Trump, during his 2016 presidential campaign trumpeted that this country should be more energy independent while threatening to halt imports from Arab countries over their lack of commitment in fighting ISIS. Soon after Trump was sworn in as president, relations improved after a visit from Saudi prince, Mohammed bin Salman. They must have kissed and made up, though The Don never mentioned an exchange of love letters. However, it should be kept in the mix that son-in-law, Jared Kushner, recently secured a $2B investment for his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, from the main Saudi wealth fund upon the prince’s insistence, and over the objections of the fund’s advisors. Nothing to see here, folks…move along!
The fund’s advisors objections included the inexperience of Jared’s firm, the possibility of the kingdom’s high risk of loss, a proposed asset fee that seemed excessive, and a public relations risk from Kushner’s ties to DJT. Many speculate the investment is payback for support given by the Trump administration, and Kushner, in the uproar precipitated by the murder of reporter Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, but a takeover of the Texas refinery and its billions in profits couldn’t have hurt. For certain there is no fear of Trump and his minions by the Prince who possesses his own fear factor.
And speaking of fear, we’ll go to the head groveler in the Trump universe, Senator Ted Cruz. When asked by a Texas reporter why Republicans are so hesitant to criticize the former president, he offered, “It’s a number of things. If someone criticizes him, he turns around and punches them in the face.” And, Ted and Heidi are both still suffering the after-effects of being punched during the lead-up to the 2016 election…and, he keeps asking for it, “Oh, please, I’ve turned the other cheek…may I bend over for you?!” George W. Bush maintained in his election speeches that he was “a uniter, not a divider.” Trump blatantly divides, humiliates, and conquers to thoroughly dominate as evidenced by the hush within Republican circles in criticisms of The Orange One. A prime example was prominent on the Sunday news shows, in the person of Senator Rick Scott of Florida when he was asked about comments Trump made in his Friday speech in Pennsylvania. Trump had suggested that “Mitch McConnell has a death wish for supporting Democrat-sponsored legislation,” as he went on to make derogatory statements about Elaine Chao, Mitch’s wife, who he referred to as “China-loving Coco Chow.” On his Truth Social website, the former prez referred to McConnell as a “broken down hack politician” and to Chao as “crazy.” News show moderators could never get a straight answer form Senator Scott as to whether those comments were inappropriate and dangerous, with racial overtones. He answered all the questions that he wished he were asked, never addressing Fear Leader’s indiscretions. Poor Rick, in attempting to ward off the monicker of RINO became a FIDO, asking for his squeaky toy.
Still up in the air is a merger between Trump’s Truth Social and Digital World Acquisition Corporation, with an upcoming stockholder vote on October 10 to approve an extension of the merger deadline. A similar vote in September failed to amass the required 65% investor support. The CEO of the shell company set to take Trump Media and Technology Group public than invested $2.8M from his company, Arc Global Investments II to prevent liquidation for the moment. Mr. T had threatened to squelch the deal to go public, while using his own money to finance the venture. “Who knows? In any event, I don’t need financing, I’m really rich! Private company anyone??,” he wrote in a post to his site. Currently, the deal must take place by December, but a successful shareholder vote would extend it by a year. One problem is that committed investors are no longer contractually obliged to provide the money with the passing of the September deadline, and $138M has already been withdrawn by nervous investors. Plus, the two companies are under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for possible communications violations prior to the merger, and who can predict where the legal troubles and investigation against Trump himself will lead? However, if anyone cares to invest, Devin Nunes will be glad to assist. Let us know how that goes!
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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.
“FULL MOON”There’s a full moon on Sunday Oct.9. Take note…
“If you can, get rid of all your stupid money and career ambitions and sit on the beach on a quiet night and watch the full moon! You’ve been running around all your life and you missed the real beauties of this world! Now focus on these true treasures of life!”
~Mehmet Murat ildan
“In the night when the moon is large, the world spreads blue in every direction.”
~Lynda Barr
“In my darkness you appeared like a full moon with silvery lights of love.”
~Debasish Mridha
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Back to…simpler times? I have to say, I love it ALL… the outfits, the music, the set pieces… After watching this, I fell into a massive rabbit hole of old Osmonds videos, and now I know more Osmond history than you can shake a stick at. The Osmonds were huge in Sweden when I was a kid in the 70s, so that was fun 🙂
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BRATTON…Santa Cruz for Bernie, Measure O movie, tribal propositions vote. GREENSITE…on the Library and Affordable Housing. KROHN…measure O, measure N, People Power. STEINBRUNER…Coonerty and Zach are no shows, Pleasure Point re-zoning, new library parking problems, live Oak Senior Center closing? fire advisory commission jobs. HAYES…Golden crowned sparrow and germinating. PATTON…An important article (but hard to read). MATLOCK… struggles with reality and a very stable genius. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover. WEBMISTRESS PICK OF THE WEEK…America’s Got Talented Swedes?…QUOTES…”FALL”
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DATELINE September 26
SANTA CRUZ FOR BERNIE. I don’t remember ever disagreeing with Santa Cruz for Bernie endorsements. Go here… then go here to see and learn more about all the local issues and also about Sean Maxwell and who endorses him… . You’ll read names like Sandy Brown, Katherine Beiers, Felipe Hernandez and many more.
EASY VIEWING RE…MEASURE O. Russell Brutsche created another of his you tube movies and this time it focuses on the library and a sense of scale. Look closely and you’ll see his amazing scale model of our downtown.
THOSE TRIBAL GAMBLING MEASURES. It’s mind boggling to have to watch so many of the very expensive TV ads for measures 26 and 27. After much debating and seeking of the truth behind their promises I’m voting NO on 26 and YES on 27.
I search and critique a variety of movies only from those that are newly released. Choosing from the thousands of classics and older releases would take way too long. And be sure to tune in to those very newest movie reviews live on KZSC 88.1 fm every Friday from about 8:10 – 8:30 am. on the Bushwhackers Breakfast Club program hosted by Dangerous Dan Orange.
THE OUTFIT. (AMAZON PRIME MOVIE) (7.1 IMDB). It’s a delight to critique a movie as good as this one. Mark Rylance (a familiar British face) is the very serious lead in this 1956 Chicago mob war movie. He’s become a tailor/cutter and allows his shop to be shared with the local mob members. The pacing is good the acting is superb, and it’s all done within the tailors shop. Download this by all means.
GOODNIGHT MOMMY. (AMAZON PRIME MOVIE) (5.6 IMDB). Naomi Watts wears a complete head mask through almost all of this mystery. She has twin sons (actually played by twins) and they too want to see why she’s wearing that coverage. They begin to doubt that she’s their real mom and the plot thins not thickens here. The ending might just surprise you if you haven’t seen the other movies based on the same script. Watch it with care and patience.
DON’T WORRY DARLING. (DEL MAR THEATRE). (6.2 IMDB). This much hyped movie directed by and starring Olivia Wilde is a less than wonderful mix of Stepford Wives and The Truman Show. There’s a super tight and isolated “perfect community” where the husbands all drive to some secret work while the wives maintain a forced happiness. Florence Pugh does a superior job of acting while Olivia mugs her way through the faked image. You’ll stay glued to it just to see what the mystery is/was all about…but few if any awards will be given here.
FATHER STU. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (6.5 IMDB). Mark Wahlberg grins and mugs his way through this true to life story of a boxer named Stuart Long who decides to not just give up women and his life as usual to become a Roman Catholic priest. Mel Gibson plays his drunken, mean father and Malcolm McDowell from Clockwork Orange is Wahlberg’s spiritual teacher! Even if it’s true his saga is difficult to believe. Yet the closing credits have photos and statements from the real life of the hero. Be very aware, it’s hammy and very religious.
PLAZA CATEDRAL. (NETFLIX MOVIE). (7.1IMDB). A well to do Mexican architect/saleswoman gets very involved with a street kid who teases and begs her for money. She lost her own child years ago and has trouble adjusting to her husband and life in general. It’s near perfect acting by these two leads and the photography is excellent too. In very real life the young star who plays the kid was murdered just days after the film was finished.
SPECIAL NOTE….Don’t forget that when you’re not too sure of a plot or need any info on a movie to go to Wikipedia. It lays out the straight/non hype story plus all the details you’ll need including which server (Netflix, Hulu, or PBS) you can find it on. You can also go to Brattononline.com and punch in the movie title and read my take on the much more than 100 movies.
SEE HOW THEY RUN. (DEL MAR THEATRE).Sam Rockwell (from Daly City) created a fine British accent and leads this absolutely wonderful comedy thriller. Saoirse Ronan is his accompaniment in this excellent spinoff from the play by Agatha Christie “The Mousetrap” which is still the world’s longest running play. I haven’t laughed so much at a movie in many years. It’s clever, perfectly acted and just good fun.
THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL. (NETFLIX MOVIE). (5.9 IMDB). Set in Rome, Italy in 1975 this tragedy/almost documentary is based on a real happening. Some very rich private school boys play with death and exhibit very dark humor throughout the film. It all leads up to the final minutes of a horrific sex driven act. Absorbing, detailed, it’s slow at times and you’ll almost feel like some peeping tom but it’s difficult to stop watching.
THE U.S. AND THE HOLOCAUST. (PBS 3 PART SERIES). Another Ken Burns masterpiece documentary. This time it uncovers the very embarrassing US history of immigration beginning with the Jews and leading all the way to January 6 and our present day immigrant issues. Hitler, FDR, Lindberg, Hollywood, Henry Ford, are all included and involved. It’s a part of our history and today’s politics that we never hear or talk about. Don’t miss it…it’s available at PBS.org.
GOLD. (HULU MOVIE) (5.4 IMDB). Zac Efron has never worn such tortured, hard bitten makeup in any movie. He plays one of two guys who accidently find a huge gold boulder in the Australian outback. How they work at trusting and betraying each other is the entire saga. It’s grim, dirty, vicious, and even boring about half way through. You will never guess the ending it’s a complete surprise and watching Zac Efron disintegrate becomes a habit for one and a half hours.
END OF THE ROAD. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (4.7 IMDB). Queen Latifah is the very serious mother who takes her kids from California and hopes to get them to Houston, Texas. On the way they encounter dangerous drug dealers and tons of money. The evil forces are led by a double dealing sheriff played by Beau Bridges (Lloyd Bridges son). Plenty of plot holes and not a very new plot but it does keep you glued just watching for the next hunk of violence.
UNDER HER CONTROL. (NETFLIX MOVIE) (4.8 IMDB). This Spanish thriller has a very domineering woman fashion director who controls and ruins the life of a beautiful and talented girl employee who trusts her. It reaches total melodrama status and has an ending that will make you re-think what motherhood is all about. Be very aware.
TURLOUGH O’CAROLAN CELTIC MUSIC CONCERT.
Turlough O’Carolan was a contemporary of J.S. Bach, O’Carolan (1670-1738) was Ireland’s most famous harper. Though blinded by smallpox at age 18, a patron gave him a harp, a horse and a guide, and he supported himself for 50 years as an itinerant harpist, becoming the most famous of all Celtic composers. Many members of the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival will be performing. Linda Burman-Hall, Director, harpsichord, virginal. Shelley Phillips, harp, Baroque oboes, folk flutes. William Coulter, guitar, bodhran. Robin Petrie, hammered dulcimer Deby Benton Grosjean, traditional fiddle, Baroque violin. John Weed, fiddle and Barry Phillips, on ‘cello. The concert is FREE and will be at 3pm October 9 Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Hall.
September 26
HOW A TOWN LOSES ITS CHARACTER
The rendition above, from city files, is a small section of the controversial (Measure O) proposed mixed-use project which includes a new downtown library (the glass front section), the 3 stories of parking garage behind, with 5 stories of affordable housing behind and above the garage, making the overall structure 8 stories tall. For comparison, the new project under construction at Laurel, Front and Pacific is 6 stories tall, with 5 stories framed at time of writing.
When we were misled into voting for Measure S, the library renovation tax, we sure didn’t know that the mammoth structure above was in the minds-eye of those who fooled the public. The affordable housing was added to sweeten the deal only after community outcry greeted the news that the plan was to relocate and build a new library attached to a large new parking structure.
So, let’s take a closer look at the housing element of this project. Proponents keep saying the housing is for our very low-income families. “Families” is the term used in their promotional op-eds. A roof-top garden for families to grow vegetables was suggested by one council member supportive of the project, and of course the child-care center will be ideal for all the low-income families’ children, they say. Except, there are only 26 three-bedroom apartments in this 125-apartment housing project with an additional 28 two-bedroom apartments, which, together, is less than half the total. The rest are one-bedroom units plus a few studios, all around 450 square feet in size. Yes, this appears better than the numerous other multi-family (that word again) big projects approved, and, in the works, which are predominantly SRO’s (single-room occupancy) or one -bedroom projects but it is far less than the hype would have you believe.
Who in fact will end up living in this library/cum parking garage/cum housing project if Measure O fails? The proponents want you to believe (and some may believe themselves) it will be local “workforce” families who are currently being forced out of existing housing due to ever-increasing rents. Leaving aside the issue of apartment size, the zoom presentation last week from the city’s consulting team for the project, Eden Housing and for the future Housing and Ten Over Studio, Inc. in response to questions posed by the public in the Q&A on this issue made it clear that the housing cannot be earmarked for local workers. To do so would violate Fair Housing laws. So, anyone living anywhere in the state, at qualifying income levels will be able to apply and get on the list for the lottery from which will be drawn the lucky few. In response to the question of whether students can apply, the consultant fudged the answer (which is yes) by saying that there is a lot of paperwork involved and the need to be low-income (neither of which disqualifies students.) Others may disagree, and I love our students, however I do not agree that we should forever change the character of our town to cater to the growth machine of the UC system which has failed to plan and failed to direct prospective students to UC campus communities not experiencing an affordable housing shortage as drastic as ours. Nor do I agree that students are as an important constituency as are our local working families who have lived in town for decades, who keep this town running and who are fast losing their rental housing. If you want proof about which constituency has benefitted from past affordable housing units, demand that the city gather and make public that data. I’ll lay bets it is predominantly UCSC students.
The consultant-run zoom presentations on this library/parking garage/housing project are slick and well manipulated. If city management staff was really working for the city, that is the public, one might expect that since an Initiative has qualified for the ballot, Measure O, that they would acknowledge the public is wanting a referendum on this issue and call a halt to spending more millions on consultants prior to a vote of the people. On the contrary, the number of consultants appears to have quadrupled since the last presentation. Their method of obtaining public input via zoom surveys is geared towards a pre-determined answer. Their responses to Q&A are cherry-picked. I wrote four times, my question regarding the heritage trees, namely why isn’t the building design preserving some of the heritage trees onsite, as is required by city law? Never answered. The closest to an answer was management staff saying there would be an arborist report accompanying the staff report when this project goes to council. That is doublespeak for, we have determined that none of the existing heritage trees will be incorporated into the design despite city heritage tree law requiring just that.
As if confirming that outcome, one of the consultants shared that “12 new street trees will be planted and will give scale to the building over time.” Yes, I noticed that phrase “over time.” Rip out century-old magnolias, plant saplings and just wait….
| 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. |
September 26
FOLLOW THE MONEY, Part II
Two weeks ago I wrote in this column about the money coming after Measure O, the Our Downtown, Our Future November ballot initiative. (See below for a re-print) Measure O seeks to remodel the downtown library where it now sits, on Church Street, and it creates a permanent home for the Farmer’s Market at its current location, the place most Santa Cruzans want it to be, while also preserving the heritage trees. This initiative also designates eight downtown lots as affordable housing sites. Well, there’s big money coming in to defeat Measure O and it has only gotten worse since the column I wrote. According to mandatory financial disclosure form 497, the Seaside Company, aka the Boardwalk, aka Charlie Canfield and Karl Rice, have all jumped on the “No on O” campaign train with a hefty admission fee of $10,000. Now, as promised, a look at the “No on N,” a campaign to defeat the affordable housing measure, “Yes on N,” or the Empty Homes Tax.
What is Measure N?
Placing a tax on Empty Homes to fund affordable housing, Measure N, is likely one of the best ideas in a long time that has dropped right into our community lap. Measure N essentially puts into law a serious question many of us have been asking for years. If you do not live, or rent out, a dwelling for at least four months per year, then why aren’t you taxed? If Measure N passes each vacant home property owner will pay a $6,000 tax, or $3k for an empty apartment in complexes of 8 or more units. Oh, by the way, you can sell the property too and not pay any empty home tax. But of course, there is stiff opposition to this measure, which begs the question, how many people can afford to have two or three homes and leave them empty? It is estimated by the city of Santa Cruz that there are roughly 1000 empty homes out of 23,600 plus homes in the city. Santa Cruz Local reported last August that “[A] vacancy tax started in 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia has raised $105.6 million, according to a Vancouver city report. Vacant properties have decreased by 26%, according to the report.” This measure would affect less than 4% of the homes in Santa Cruz and many of these owners possess multiple houses. It is fairly safe to say that Measure N will effect less than 1% of the people who currently reside in the city.
The Nasties Trying to Defeat Affordable Housing
Here is a list of only those who have contributed more than $1,000 as of September 21 to defeat Measure N, the affordable housing initiative that is on this November’s ballot. Some of the same anguished corporate real estate and for-profit housing developers who do not look favorably on Measure O, are also frantically trying to defeat Measure N. Santa Cruz Together (SCT) [article behind a paywall] seems to be rounding up donations and SCT’s treasurer is attorney Brad Brereton, located at 1362 Pacific Avenue. On the clerk’s page it lists these individuals and entities as having made donations, but through SCT. And don’t forget, these are only the donations they have had to report because they are over one thousand dollars. It is likely the largesse is much greater and will be known when the regular report for all donations is filed in October. So, who’s against it?
Will People-Power Save Us?
I certainly hope so. People-power is what won us Lighthouse Field, Wilder Ranch, the Del Mar Theater, the Pogonip, Moore Creek Uplands, 60% of the Beach Flats Community Garden (we are still working on getting back the other 40%), and also put a stop to off-shore oil drilling, fracking, Boardwalk expansion, and multiple incarnations of a convention hotel. But why do realtors oppose Measure N? Wouldn’t you think that if real estate is changing hands, being rented or sold, that realtors would be in favor of this measure? Nope. Their big fear is the “R-word,” registry. Well, a tax registry already exists at the county’s accessor’s office. The city has a registry of landlords set up by the rental inspection ordinance. The city’s finance department has a registry of all vacation rentals. And now, a registry for empty homes is proposed. Once Santa Cruz voters know the facts, I doubt many will reject this novel idea. Some voters will likely be propagandized into voting against affordable housing, as a result of all the money being spent against N, but not too many.
[Click here to read Follow the Money, Part I]
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Good signs of the times as seen on Chestnut Street in Santa Cruz.
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Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and a Santa Cruz City Council member from 1998-2002 and from 2017-2020. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 16 years. On Tuesday evenings at 5pm, Krohn hosts of “Talk of the Bay,” on KSQD 90.7 and KSQD.org His Twitter handle at SCpolitics is @ChrisKrohnSC Chris can be reached at ckrohn@cruzio.com
Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com |
September 26
DESTROYING THE PLEASURE POINT COMMUNITY WITH ULTRA-DENSE RE-ZONING
Last Wednesday (9/21), the County Planning Commission met virtually to continue review of the County Draft Sustainability Plan, Draft General Plan Update, and Draft EIR. A few members of the public were in attendance. Several people spoke out to protest and question why Pleasure Point has been targeted to have all of the new Ultra High Flex (UHF) zoning that would allow 45-80 units/acre all on Portola Drive.
Commissioner Shepherd revealed that Planning Staff had answered her question about what appeals might cost for zoning appeals to the Planning Commission…$199/hour with a likely minimum of 10 staff hours…and up. That means any of the business owners who will be obliterated with this dense 45-80 units/acre in the concentrated area will have to pay over $2000 to appeal and try to save their businesses.
Commissioners Rachel Dann and Allyson Violante (both are analyst aides to County Supervisors) had worked together to present a comprehensive list of questions for staff. Some questioned why public notice was being reduced or eliminated for project applications in their rural neighborhoods and why notices would be sent out for a vacation rental permit application, no notice would be sent for a B&B that could host up to 25 guests.
Commissioner Lazenby felt that projects in neighborhoods with small parcels should get a higher level of review when project heights are a consideration. Bravo. Hopefully this will be reflected in how staff amends Code 13.10.323(F)(6)(a) regarding noticing.
Commissioners also discussed Code Chapter 18.10 and 18.62 regarding on-site notice posting and insisted such notices are clearly accessible and visible to the average person. [I wanted to tell them the story of Barry Swenson posting the Aptos Village Project change hearing notices that were mostly hidden behind the chain link fencing and a portable toilet.]
Commissioner Shepherd agreed that there should be good public notice of all such projects because it would “save misery if the neighbors know what’s happening.” Bravo. Hopefully, their suggested changes will show up in the Board’s copy of Code Section 13.10.322 and chapter BE-24 in the Sustainable Plan Guidelines.
Commissioner Dann felt the Draft Plan to reduce the amount of open space required for large dense developments from 15% down to 10% area was not a good idea. She felt all units should have decks that could be counted as Open Space. Commissioner Shepherd agreed, stating that corridors within a building should not be allowed to be counted as “Common Open Space”. Bravo, again!
Well, all that good discussion took nearly three hours, and continued into the afternoon following a lunch break. I could not stay to listen, but am grateful that the recording for the Sept. 21, 2022 meeting is available here
It appears the Commission completed their assigned task of reviewing the entire massive documentation that will create new land use policies and truly change the quality of life in our County
The next opportunity for public participation will be the Board of Supervisors and likely soon. I encourage you to listen to the Planning Commission discussion recordings, read what you can about what you care most about, and contact your Supervisor.
This is a big deal.
NEW BIKE LANES FOR WATSONVILLE WILL CONNECT TO FAIRGROUNDS AREA AND LIKELY HELP THE PROPOSED NEW COUNTY PARK ADJACENT
Watsonville City Council approved partnering with CalTrans to reconfigure Main Street and Highway 152 through the City, beginning at Highway One and traveling out past the County Fairgrounds to within 0.5 mile of Carlton Road, adding sidewalks and Class 4 protected bike lanes within the City Limits.
Focusing on “Re-imagining Downtown”, the project will reduce the number of traffic lanes within the downtown areas (termed a “road diet”) and add bulb-out sidewalk planters to slow traffic, hopefully reducing the existing pedestrian hazards.
CalTrans will pay 100% of the project costs.
Mayor Ari Parker and Councilwoman Rebecca Garcia expressed their thanks to CalTrans for the financial help but relayed constituent concerns about how putting the downtown thoroughfare on a diet would cause bloated congestion on auxiliary neighborhood routes. Staff assured them the traffic will be monitored and flexible for change to accommodate problems. One mitigation could be converting two-way traffic to one-way travel.
You can review the documents and listen to the Council audio recording of this Sept. 13 item 8a in New Business, Complete Streets:
Take a look at the span of the project, due to begin construction in 2031
Will the sections of Highway 152 in the County Unincorporated Area also include a Class 4 protected bike land and sidewalks? I hope so. Besides improving safety for Lakeview Middle School and St. Francis High School students and staff, this would significantly aid safe public access to the proposed new County Park at 188 Whiting Road, for which the County has secured a Purchase Agreement to buy and plans a new sports complex.
No County staff has yet responded to my message inquiries regarding what the bike lanes and sidewalks will look like along Highway 152 in the Unincorporated Area. I was surprised to learn that the Watsonville City Limits in that area do not include or even come near the major Holohan Road intersection. Take a look!
Contact County Public Works to find out about the portions of this large project in the Unincorporated Area, and ask for Class 4 Protected Bike Lanes and sidewalks. 831-454-2160 or Director Matt Machadomatt.machado@santacruzcounty.us
UGLY RENDERING OF PROPOSED NEW DOWNTOWN LIBRARY BURIED IN PARKING TO BENEFIT OTHER DEVELOPERS
Take a look at the slide presentation renderings for the proposed new Downtown Library. Boy, is it ever ugly!
What gets buried in all this, in addition to a library suffering misrepresentational use of Measure S funds, is that the parking garage will greatly benefit other large developers who may not want to have to build parking for their towers. Think about that. It is all coming our way soon but could be halted with a YES vote on Measure O this November.
COUNTY COMMISSIONS REALLY NEED WORK
The Commissions appointed by County Supervisors are supposed to be advisory groups acting as liaisons between the public and the Board. However, some are so dysfunctional, they are worthless.
One example is the County Fire Advisory Commission (FDAC). This group’s purpose is to make recommendations to the Board on matters related to wildland fire and emergency response in the areas of the County not served by any other fire district. Here is their Mission, taken from the website:
The County Fire Department Advisory Commission exercises the following responsibilities in its efforts to ensure that the interests of the County Fire Department, career and volunteer fire companies, and citizens residing within the County Fire Department jurisdiction are protected and promoted by monitoring, studying, and advising the County Fire Chief and Board of Supervisors on the following:
However, last Wednesday’s FDAC agenda packet did not include any of the five e-mails I had sent to the Commission as input on important fire-related issues affecting residents in the Wildland Urban Interface. That is a Brown Act violation.
Because many people, including myself, were unable to join the July 20 FDAC hybrid meeting due to the inaccurate remote access information on the website, I decided to attend last week’s meeting in person.
“The draft minutes for the July 20 meeting are not accurate. They are missing the presentation by Commissioner Pico…I was there in person at that meeting.” Said the only other member of the public attending in person.
“You can’t speak!” barked Chair Aumack. “You’ll get your chance during Public Comment!” The Board proceeded to approve the Draft Minutes that failed to include documentation that a significant report had been presented about the imminent consolidations being driven by LAFCO and also failed to record any members of the public having attended the meeting.
When I asked why NONE of my correspondence had been included in the agenda packet, Chairman Aumack did not answer, but Administrative Clerk Scalia admitted that she had contacted County Counsel to ask if she should include my correspondence? Counsel told her it was up to the FDAC Chair. “Yes,” said Chair Aumack, “I own the agenda.”
“How can I get my correspondence included on the FDAC Agenda?” I asked.
“Write me.” he said.
“I did that, and it was not included.” I responded.
Clerk Scalia replied, “Well, I didn’t have permission to include it.”
At that point, Chair Aumack said he would have to go back and look at things, and proceeded with the agenda.
Never again were members of the public allowed to speak during the meeting. Period.
The FDAC is not the only dysfunctional citizen advisory Commission. I have likewise heard similar stories from people who left the County Parks & Recreation Commission meetings because the Director Jeff Gaffney instructed the Commissioners that members of the public could only speak on an issue after the vote had been taken on the issue. Imagine that being compliant with the Brown Act requirements!
The County Arts Commission also fails to post their agendas on the website for public access.
Please contact the County Board of Supervisors and request a County Commission Policy Handbook be developed and approved so that these well-meaning appointees understand what they should be doing and make our Commissions meaningful.
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisorsboardofsupervisors@santacruzcounty.us and contact the Chair of the Board Manu Koenigmanu.koenig@santacruzcounty.us 831-454-2200.
SOON THERE MUST BE AN IN-PERSON QUORUM
Come January 1, 2023, all governing agencies, including special districts, must have a quorum in-person at meetings, and members will only be allowed a limited number of teleconference appearances. This comes along with the Governor signing AB 2449 into law.
Do you think that will mean Second District County Supervisors Zach Friend and Ryan Coonerty will actually have to show up in the Board chambers? NO one has actually seen them at a meeting since the pandemic began two and a half years ago.
At least this year, they have made their images public during important Board meetings and budget hearings, rather than a blank screen with a voice that may or may not have been theirs making decisions affecting the communities throughout the County.
Governor Signs AB 2449: The Latest Development to the Brown Act in a Post-Pandemic World
LIVE OAK SENIOR CENTER CLOSING?
Last Tuesday, a member of the public let it be known that the Live Oak School District intends to close down the Live Oak Senior Center at 1777 Capitola Road by the end of this year. He was very concerned about what the Board could do to help the senior citizens who have relied on this facility for a number of services. No one answered him or directed him to any staff that could help him.
[(Public Comment…man in lime green shirt at about minute 16:00)]
The parcel of land on which the Live Oak Senior Center sits is indeed owned by the Live Oak School District, according to the County Assessor database: Home Page
The Live Oak Senior Center was established in 1974 by a group of Live Oak residents committed to providing a place for resources for seniors. Today many of the original non-profits continue to provide services to seniors in the Santa Cruz community….but apparently not at 1777 Capitola Road. It seems the phone has been disconnected.
The question is…what will be built there instead? Maybe work force housing?
Contact Supervisor Manu Koenig and ask: 454-2200 or Manu Koenig manu.koenig@santacruzcounty.us The Live Oak School District website is difficult to access for researching the School Board meeting agenda documents.
A POWERFUL PAPER MICROSCOPE?
A Stanford University student reportedly got tired of lugging heavy and expensive microscopes into the field for research, and developed this amazing paper microscope that costs about 50 cents. Wow. Let’s hope they are recyclable!
MAKE ONE CALL. WRITE ONE LETTER. LISTEN TO ONE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION RECORDING AND LEARN ONE MORE THING ABOUT WHAT THE COUNTY GENERAL PLAN CHANGE WILL DO IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
JUST DO ONE THING THIS WEEK, AND MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
Cheers, and Happy Autumn,
Becky
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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. She ran again in 2020 on a slightly bigger shoestring and got 1/3 of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
September 25
GOLDEN CROWNED SPARROW AND GERMINATING
Last week brought the Fall Equinox, a surprising germinating rain, and the return of golden crowned sparrows. In a short time, the season has shifted between summer and fall and all around us nature is transforming accordingly.
Fall Equinox
In case you don’t follow such things…a little about the significance of Fall Equinox. The first day of Fall was September 22, 2022. The very moment that the sun was shining directly above the Earth’s equator was at 6:04 pm that day. After that, the sun has moved south of the equator, and the days have become shorter than the nights. This week, daylight is shortening 2 minutes and 11 seconds each day. Here are sunrise and sunset times for Wednesday the 28th through Sunday October 1st, so you can see what’s going on:
| Day | Sunrise | Sunset |
| Wednesday 28th | 6:44 am | 6:39 pm |
| Thursday 29th | 6:45 am | 6:38 pm |
| Friday 30th | 6:46 am | 6:36 pm |
| Saturday 1st | 6:46 am | 6:35 pm |
Germinating Rain
Last week, an unusual storm brought much of our area enough rain to germinate annual grassland plants. Three-quarters to an inch of rain is all it takes to green up the grasslands. In the forest, redwood sorrel perked up, a newly lush green carpet under the towering redwoods. Curiously, I didn’t catch the ‘petrichor’ smell this round.
First Rains – What Next?
The shift to the rainy season demands attention. Our rainy season coincides with shorter days and a decline in average daily temperature. Cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers are what typify the rare Mediterranean climate regions like where we live. The wisdom of this area suggests that we must be prepared for the onset of stronger rains by October 15th, the average date of the first rainy storms.
Slow it Sink it Spread it
We prepare by making sure that things don’t runoff. “Slow it, sink it, spread it” is the rainfall mantra for our dry climate. Our job is to slow down rainfall so that it has time to infiltrate into the soil. We build raingardens to help sink the rain into the soil. Where we can’t sink it in small areas, we spread the flow out onto larger areas to give it more chance to slow and sink…and less chance to erode the precious soil which is impossible to replace, and which can pollute streams.
First Flush
Rain isn’t the only thing that runs off with the advent of the rainy season: the first flush of rain carries with it a whole summer’s worth of accumulated pollution. The first flush, as the runoff from the first rainfall is called, is the most polluting runoff event of the year.
A Legacy of Runoff Monitoring, Disappearing
There used to be a program led by the Coastal Watershed Council that organized volunteers to sample the first flush runoff from municipal drainages from many cities around the Central Coast, including Santa Cruz. That ‘First Flush‘ program gradually degraded and then apparently disappeared – one wonders if the very concerning data were the reason.
In the early years, the program actually sampled the first flush, but it later curiously shifted to sampling in summer months. What continued was something the group calls ‘Snapshot Day‘ in early summer, after one would expect that rains had cleansed drainages and runoff declined; curiously, even that program found many areas of polluted runoff concern.
The First Flush monitoring program highlighted high concentrations of pollutants, especially phosphorous but also zinc and copper, which are toxic at the concentrations they documented. In 2003, the First Flush monitoring report suggested that all the sites had runoff that was toxic to mussels, the indicator species used to assess water quality. In subsequent years, that measure was excluded, and the reports became more and more difficult to interpret. Then, the program gradually declined in scope, and reports after 2016 are not in evidence on the Coastal Watershed Council’s website.
The Return of the Golden Crowned Sparrow
I have written another essay about golden crowned sparrows, but want to give you a synopsis and a few more interesting facts. I also hope that you will welcome the return of this species to your neighborhood. This species has a very distinct call that will help you to recognize them. I woke last Wednesday morning to the smell of fresh rain and to that distinct song. Flocks of golden crowned sparrows had returned to my yard! They had flown all the way from Alaska. Bruce Lyon at UCSC has shown that the birds have a good survival rate to return to the same shrub patches that they occupied the prior winter. I keep hoping that I can find the time to get to know the behavior and color patterns of enough of the 40 or so birds that flock around my house to recognize them when they return.
These sparrows are grazers, though when they arrive from their journey south they mainly eat seeds for a bit. Their grazing helps to create big barren areas at the edges of shrubs adjoining grasslands; the taller the adjoining bush, the farther out the bare patch extends. Golden crowned sparrows also graze my vegetable garden: soon, I will have to cover up anything they like, a drastic switch from the summer. I will guard my winter greens crop – kale, collards, chard, arugula, and lettuce – until early April when they depart.
For a while, I thought the golden crowned sparrows would leave at Spring Equinox just to keep things simple. After all, if they always arrive at Fall Equinox, why wouldn’t they leave at a similar time? I haven’t kept a good logbook of their departures, but I’ve been tricked several times when they stopped calling right around my house. It turned out that the flocks move out to graze the deep lush cover crops in the farm fields nearby before taking off for Alaska and British Columbia where they spend their summers.
In Closing
Although we’ve had a germinating rain, we don’t know what the future holds…the past 2 years have had curious weather phenomena: rain followed by hot drought, grasslands drying out and then regreening. This year, there is a strong La Niña in effect – in recent years, this meant drought. The last two years had heavy duty heat waves right up to Thanksgiving when the first big rain occurred.
So, we may get some more time to prepare for the First Flush and the onset of the rains. Do what you can…create or maintain your raingardens – water them if you can to prepare them to filter runoff.
While the golden crowned sparrow friends are around, I hope you will say hi to them and appreciate their rainy season song.
Welcome the Fall!
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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 |
September 26
#270 / An Important Article (But Hard To Read)
N.J. (Nate) Hagens has written an article I would like to recommend. I think the article is important. I didn’t find the article easy to read, however, and I doubt you will, either.
Here is a link to the article I am talking about. It is titled, “Economics for the future – Beyond the superorganism.” Hagens’ article was published in Ecological Economics in 2020 [169 (2020) 106520].
Scholarly articles are often hard to read. All those footnotes! The academic nature of the article is one of the difficulties with “Economics for the Future.”
But there is another reason, too, that this article is hard to read. As the point Hagens is making in the article begins to sink in, the article illuminates the reality that underlies the palpable sense of discouragement and doom that hangs over all of us who are alive today. Our worst fears are being confirmed, in rather neutral, scientific language.
So, be advised.
Hagens is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota, and he teaches an Honors Seminar titled: “Reality 101 – A Survey of the Human Predicament.” Hagens describes the class as “an interdisciplinary overview of: anthropology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, energy, economics, population, ecology, systems thinking, [and] environmental science.” The objective of the class, according to Hagens, is for “students to see through the cultural blindspots on energy, behavior and the future, [and thus] to see the general shape of the 21st century. This allows for greater personal clarity for future decisions, and insights into the leverage points to be effective at larger scales.”
Hagens lists three “main conclusions” that he hopes his students will take away from his class. They are:
1) That human population combined with our aspirations and consumption function akin to a giant superorganism, and that our aggregate actions are directly causing the 6th great extinction.
2) That nature – and human systems – are based on quality energy and natural resources, 98% of ‘labor’ in human economies is now done by machines, with 85% of that via fossil slaves (coal, oil and natural gas) – the cost of finding, extracting and delivering these -in addition to rebuildable tech like PV/wind to a complex societal infrastructure is so high as to limit further growth.
3) Most importantly, [that] we don’t have an energy or environmental problem so much as a human brain mismatch – we evolved to be ‘wrong’, and our reflexive responses to our problems are really responses that were formed in the Pleistocene. Until we acknowledge who we are, where we came from, what we’re doing and what really motivates us/makes us happy etc, we will continue on current trajectory. But…we are the first generation of our species – of any species to know these things, and our neural plasticity + cultural evolution gives reason for hope.
This three-point list, which comes from Hagens’ self-description on his LinkedIn profile, is pretty much the message of the article I am recommending. Read the article and you won’t have to take Hagens’ course. In essence, Hagens is advising us – in fact, he is demonstrating to us – that the social, political, and economic realities that define our current world are profoundly unsustainable, and that the world in which we live, and which most of us take for granted, and which we want to continue to take for granted, is (to use that word again) “doomed.”
The last point in Hagens’ three-point list is a rather general message of hope, offered to offset that sense of “doom” that might otherwise prevail. We are smart, says Hagens, and our reasons for hope are not just “wishful thinking.” Human beings have overcome many past difficulties, and we can do that again. In providing this counsel, Hagens is agreeing with my friend Richard Charter, whose recent book outlines the same kind of problems Hagens discusses, and concludes that “hope is our most promising antidote.”
I would like to take just one step beyond “hope,” though, and make two specific points.
First, the “superorganism” that Hagens describes makes that “superorganism” sound like some kind of “blob.” In fact, the way I’d put it, Hagens is really claiming (in using that “superorganism” description) that we are all “in this life together,” and on a global scale. That is one of my consistent contentions, as those who read my blog on a regular basis certainly know. Becoming aware of our ultimate connection, beyond all the boundaries and divisions that seem more “real” than the actual reality of our interconnection, is critically important. If we don’t embrace our global interconnection, then the “doom” that we can see coming becomes a near certainty. Division and difference, as problems arise (as they certainly will, if Hagens is correct), leads us directly into conflicts and contentions that will destroy the world. Frequent readers of my blog postings will remember my not infrequent introduction of pictures like the one below, to underscore this point:
The other thing to say in response to Hagens’ three-point list – my “second” point – is that we are not simply the objects of our own observation. We are “actors,” too, not simply observers, and nothing that exists in the human world that we have constructed, from neolithic times till now, makes that world inevitable, or impossible to change. In fact, hard to read though it is, Hagens is telling us that the time in which we live is a time in which we will (because we must) create a giant transformation of the world we currently inhabit. Everything can be changed.
And that’s not impossible, either. My favorite Bob Dylan song, Mississippi, puts it poetically:
Everybody movin’ if they ain’t already there
Everybody got to move somewhere
Stick with me baby, stick with me anyhow
Things should start to get interesting right about now
“Where are we going?” Nate Hagens asks. We’re moving. We have “got to move.” We have got to move, “somewhere.” Hagens’ paper makes that very, very clear. That’s “Reality 101.”
So where are we going? We can hope it will be good, but I am talking about something different from hope. Let’s not discount “hope,” but we should be shooting for “joy.”
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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 |
STRUGGLES WITH REALITY AND A VERY STABLE GENIUS
Donald Trump continues in his struggles with reality as exhibited on numerous occasions this past week. With a shot across the bow by New York Attorney General Letitia James unveiled a long-expected civil suit against The Don, three of his adult children, and his Trump Organization executives, as she seeks $250-million to settle the 222-page complaint in the alleged fraudulent practices against the state of New York. James alleges the Trump Mafia falsely inflated their net worth by billions of dollars to secure loans, getting favorable terms and gaining tax benefits. The complaint says Trump and co-conspirators “knowingly and intentionally created more than 200 false and misleading valuations of assets” from 2011 to 2021. Of course, scuttlebutt has it that the ten year period in question, could actually extend into another lifetime of criminality should a prosecutor choose to pursue it.
In addition to the monetary settlement, James‘ punishment would include a five-year ban on Trump acquiring commercial real estate in New York, or applying for loans, along with a lifetime ban on Trump and progeny, Ivanka, Eric, and Don, Jr., from serving on the board of any New York business. In The Don’s best-selling book, ‘The Art of the Deal,’ the supposed author makes himself out to be an energetic, clever, and prosperous native of his city, so it is fitting that the AG threw it back in his face with, “Claiming to have money that you do not have does not amount to the art of the deal. It is the art of the steal.” By fraudulently presenting to banks that the company had more assets than in actuality, he was able to obtain loans at a lower interest rate, and insurance at a lower premium. The savings in unwarranted benefits for the ten-year period is estimated to be $250-million, thus the basis for the penalty amount.
Trump and his legal team immediately launched an attack on James, who had jeopardized the existence of the Trump Organization and drew blood from the delicate sensitivities of the Orangeman. The ex-prez vented that James is a “racist on a witch hunt, and a fraud,” while his attorney charged Democrat James as a politician looking to flesh out her political future. James pointed out that Trump contends his apartment in Trump Tower encompasses 30,000 square feet, being worth $327-million…far more value than any New York apartment has ever been sold for. She cuts it down to reveal the actual size at around 11,000 square feet instead of 30,000, an easily provable lie. Additionally, AG James disclosed that several rent-stabilized apartments were valued 65 times the actual value, and that Trump’s tower was worth only $200-million instead of $524-million as evaluated by Trump. She also discounted the claims of cash-on-hand as non-existent, and that the application of a 14-karat gold-plated nameplate does not jump the evaluation of any property.
Trump’s contentious defense of his supposed wealth, marked by his well-known complaints directed at Forbes magazine which ignored his desire to be rated higher on their list of the wealthy, now has a civil lawsuit further fracturing his fragile ego. The GOP, in defense of Trump, is touting James‘ 2018 campaign during which she vowed to hold him accountable for his transgressions while calling him an illegitimate president. The party is saying since her move is a political one, there will be no political danger to Trump’s future should he choose to run for a second presidential term as the lawsuit only verifies the DEMs hostility toward their Bully Boy. Even former AG Barr, a staunch defender of Trump during his tenure, but who has been relatively outspoken of late regarding the Mar-a-Lago classified documents fiasco, said on Fox News, “It’s hard for me not to conclude that this is a political hit job. I’m not even sure that she has a good case against Trump himself, but what ultimately persuades me that this is a political hit job is that she grossly overreaches when she tries to drag the children into this.” A case of ‘the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree,’ Bill. C’mon!
With Trump’s growing legal challenges, his status within the GOP is being challenged, in particular by Florida governor DeSantis. The governor has made efforts to be more newsworthy by holding events outside his state in recent weeks, and his sending planeloads of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard have perked up the ears of the right-wing populist base of the GOP, though his scheme is not finding favor with the general public. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has commented about “candidate quality” with Trump’s backing of Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania and Herschel Walker in Georgia, and by inference are we to conclude this encompasses the ex-president? The Don’s NBC News poll ratings have held reasonably steady since April of ’21, but with the new outcrops of troubles, a shift shows a drop to 34 percent of voters holding a positive outlook of the former-guy. Many pollsters believe the electorate have grown tired of the constant election-denying, that it is no longer a normal or rational stance, a reality Trump can’t get past, and with evidence that voters are beginning to examine the possible 2024 candidates with more diligence. A former Trump campaign aide offered, “Elections are business decisions at the end of the day,” recognizing the investigations will become too burdensome for acceptance of a third Trump candidacy.
In their new book, ‘The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2027-2021,’ Peter Baker and Susan Glasser reveal that Trump Chief of Staff John Kelly, successor to Reince Priebus, secretly bought ‘The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump,’ a 2017 best seller by psychiatrist Bandy Lee. Lee’s book includes the warnings of 27 mental health professionals, that the newly elected president was psychologically unfit for the office, which Kelly used as a guide in attempting to manage, and survive, Trump’s irrationality, and his distinct psychoses. Kelly’s reference to the White House as ‘Crazytown‘ is fitting, in light of the fact that he failed miserably at imposing order on the prez and his lackeys, which understandably led to a vitriolic parting of the ways. The views of the chief of staff were shared by others who saw Trump as a pathological liar having an oversized ego, with profound insecurities. One senior official is quoted as saying, “I think there’s something wrong with him. He doesn’t listen to anybody, and he feels like he shouldn’t. He just doesn’t care what other people say and think. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Use of the 25th Amendment in replacing a president was seriously discussed by cabinet members within a few months of the inauguration, but to ward off challenges and disruption, attempting to control Trump was erroneously decided upon. The amendment was again debated following the Trump-inspired J6 attack on the Capitol, which led to no action. John Kelly continues to criticize his former boss, telling friends, “Trump’s dishonesty is astounding…more pathetic than anything else,” calling him, “the most flawed person he ever met.” To be expected, Trump claims “Kelly didn’t do a good job, had no temperament and ultimately he was petered out. He got eaten alive. He was unable to handle the pressure of this job.” Trump doggedly disregarded assertions about is mental health and staff concerns, memorably telling the press in 2018 that he was “a very stable genius,” after the release of Michael Wolff’s book, ‘Fire and Fury.’
This ‘stable genius’ has disturbingly, and embarrassingly, adopted the support of political conspiracy movement QAnon, as he flagrantly wears the ‘Q’ pin on his lapel. He recently posted a photoshopped image of him with the catchphrase, ‘The Storm Is Coming,‘ along with the abbreviation, ‘WWG1WGA‘, for ‘Where We Go One, We Go All.’ His insanity prompted him to send posts on ‘Truth Social‘ with QAnon references, and in an appearance at a rally in Ohio, the background music sounded much like the ‘Q’ theme song, prompting supporters to raise hands while pointing a finger, alluding to the ‘Q’ slogan. Trump had always pretended obliviousness to the group who regards him as their central figure, their ‘savior,’ even though the FBI has warned they are a growing domestic terrorism threat.
Robert Brecker, on Nation of Change website, writes that no one can “love one’s country” without loving its core institutions, like fair elections, the law, and the Constitution; that no one loves America by seditiously poisoning majority rule; no one loves America by aligning it with predatory tyrants while ignoring historic democratic allies; no one loves America without knowing, then respecting American history. Knowing that Trump revels in his egotistical self-love, while ignoring or breaking all the legal, party or political rules as he tries to establish ‘the Era of Trump,’ only points to his ‘politics of revenge‘ tactics. In the end, Brecker maintains, MAGA will be seen as the greatest fraud of all, renamed by historians as MTGA, Make Trump Great Again, led by a con-man who cares not a whit about the destruction left in his wake.
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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.
“FALL”“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
~Albert Camus
“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”
~Henry David Thoreau
“But when fall comes, kicking summer out on its treacherous ass as it always does one day sometime after the midpoint of September, it stays awhile like an old friend that you have missed. It settles in the way an old friend will settle into your favorite chair and take out his pipe and light it and then fill the afternoon with stories of places he has been and things he has done since last he saw you.”
~Stephen King, ‘Salem’s Lot
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You don’t see many Swedes on America’s Got Talent, but here is one 🙂
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