BRATTON…Page Smith and Rebele Shelters are infested, Stop the Recall. GREENSITE…on Who Sets Policy at City Hall, and other corrections. KROHN…will return next week. STEINBRUNER…Water transfers begin, Steinbruner Supervisor signs available, hydrogen train coming to Santa Cruz, New Leaf now owned by South Korean Corp., Ellen Pirie and Aptos Village question, Aptos Library demolished. PATTON…vanishing animals EAGAN…Sub Comics plus Deep Cover. JENSEN…holiday distractions. BRATTON…I critique Richard Jewell and Frankie. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES… “HANNUKAH”
TAKING CARE OF JOHN, JESUS AND FRIENDS. This shows Kathleen Stubergh working on John, who sat to Jesus’ right. The Last Supper waxwork was created sometime in the late 1930’s by two Struberghs, a mother and daughter artist team from Los Angeles. The photo was taken April 23, 1954.
PAGE SMITH AND REBELE INFESTED SHELTERS. Alicia Kuhl, the president of the Santa Cruz chapter of the California Homeless Union, a homeless mother of three young children, was my guest (7:30-8 p.m.)on last week’s Universal Grapevine. Hear it here… and click on Universal Grapevine listen to and follow the Natural History Museum interview (7-7:30). I asked her to repeat her experiences with the Rebele Family Shelter and the Page Smith Community House at the Homeless Services Center. She sent this email…
“It’s my understanding, and people have reported bed bugs at the Page Smith and at the Rebele Family shelter.
There were reports of scabies several months ago at the 1220 River Street city-sanctioned camp run by the Salvation Army but the staff denied it. It was reported to environmental health. As well as people are vomiting due to the “shuttle drivers driving” there. People are not allowed to walk in and out of the camp they have to get on a shuttle.
And I hear stories of the Laurel Street Shelter almost always being full, taking hours to get into, you have to wait out in the cold for hours for the shuttle to come, and then you get a mat on the floor about 8 inches away from another person sleeping next to you. Keith McHenry (Food Not Bombs) has photos. Disabled people have a really hard time with mats on the floor.
People should know that the Page Smith shelter has a long waiting list and so does the Rebele shelter, so although the conditions are harsh it’s also extremely hard to even get in there Those places used to offer a lot more services at the Homeless Services Center now called Housing Matters. They used to offer daily meals, a clothing closet, and expanded shower service. It also never had a gate around it in the past; it’s more like a highly regulated hostile facility now, rather than a place for homeless people to seek services and refuge.
I have also received reports about people being kicked out for taking too long of a shower there. (Lucero Luna)
I also know that the people working at the Salvation Army operated 1220 River Street camp make good money $28 to $34 an hr. The camp costs nearly $80k monthly, yet the camp has almost no budget for helping it’s residents. All that money goes into paying the staff to micro manage 60 people sleeping in tents. It’s ridiculous”. These infectious and unclean charges have been made before but little or nothing has been done to change them.
It’s time for Santa Cruz to unite behind some solid homeless programs, forget the never ending committees assigned to investigate and do something even if it’s copying other cities that have made far more progress than our city by the bay.
STOP THE KROHN GLOVER RECALL…As most locals have figured out, the recall is the perfect example of class warfare. It’s the financially secure against the renters. It’s the “democrats” versus the Progressives. It’s the Democratic Women’s Club (supports the recall) versus the Peoples Democratic Club (opposes the recall). Bruce Van Allen of the Stop the Recalls Steering Committee sent an email. I’m re “printing” it here…
“Join Us in Defeating the Santa Cruz Recalls. The campaign to defeat the recalls of Drew Glover and Chris Krohn can only win with everyone’s help. The campaign is calling for volunteers – mostly for canvassing, plus some phoning and office work. Voting starts February 3rd, just 7 weeks from now. In that short period, every volunteer makes a difference as we contact voters citywide. To win, we want to match the amazing 2016 and 2018 campaigns for progressive change that put Chris and Drew in office.
You can be part of this short but crucial campaign. Here’s how you can get involved:
Sign up here (If you are already on our email list, you’re part way there: just click that link and then follow the instructions to update your profile to sign up for volunteer activities.)
Share this message with your friends, organizations, and social networks.
Let’s defeat this recall and keep our city moving forward!
Thanks, Bruce Van Allen, on behalf of the Stop the Recalls Steering Committee
Lee Brokaw
Sheila Carrillo
Jessica Chuidian-Ingersoll
Brett Garrett
John R. Hall
Shelley Hatch
Rick Longinotti
Micah Posner
Dawn Schott-Norris
Bruce Van Allen
Amy Lebichuck, Treasurer
Jeffrey Smedberg, Asst. Treasurer
Stop the Recalls of Councilmembers Glover and Krohn
FPPC ID #1419490 • PO Box 839, Santa Cruz CA 95061 • www.norecall.org
Our mailing address is: Stop the Recalls of Councilmembers Glover & Krohn
PO Box 839, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0839
Correcting the Record
A huge error leaped off the page from Stephen Kessler’s weekly opinion piece in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. An error so glaring it helps explain that writer’s frequent chastisement of the two council members facing a recall and indeed, the recall itself.
Kessler writes: “In our city manager form of government the mayor’s powers are limited to setting agendas and running council meetings. Policy, for better or worse, is largely driven by professional staff employees of the city based on their knowledge and experience.” Sentinel 12/14/19 (my emphasis)
Kessler is correct in the first sentence. Setting agendas and running meetings is the role of the mayor. He is incorrect in his second sentence. Policy is set by city council not by staff. Staff carries out the policy set by the elected officials. Or that is the way it is supposed to work. That Kessler got it wrong is probably because for the past few decades, policy has been staff-driven with council deferentially nibbling around the edges. Staff is not and should not be the policy-makers. Past councils have basically given over their power to the bureaucrats who have come to expect that role and who bristle at any challenges, which have been few and far between… until now.
Criticism is leveled that Glover and Krohn are too demanding of staff, not sufficiently cordial and horrors, one apparently “smirked” when a staff member began their presentation with “in my expert opinion” despite no smirk apparent in the video of the meeting. That such minor transgressions can be elevated to charges serious enough to warrant a motion to censure and fuel a recall is explainable only when power and a developer friendly status-quo is being challenged. This creates friction, which is personalized, misinterpreted and used as a means to get rid of the council members most critical of the status quo. Add a dose of misinformation such as the false claim by the recall backers that Glover wanted to put a homeless encampment in every neighborhood and friction fuels flames of anger and hostility. Calls to return to “civility” are calls to return to staff at the helm with council the obedient crew. “Civility” in this context means no challenge to “business-as –usual.” Is that what we really want from our elected officials? Is critical analysis spoken with vehemence unacceptable in politics? And if not there, where is it acceptable? To those who say, one can be civil and challenge staff, I say, that is not how the system works. I know, I’ve been there. As chair of the city Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women, when I challenged the SCPD, staff and council in 2005 to take more seriously the issue of rape in the city, I was swiftly labeled as disruptive, not a team-player, hostile to staff, a bully…you name it…and I was just as swiftly not re-appointed to the Commission. It is sad to see that the Commission has been invisible since then and is now being misused to vilify Glover and Krohn.
Another needed correction. This is in regards to the Sierra Club Santa Cruz Group ballot, which those of you who are current members will have recently received. This ballot is to choose members to fill 3 vacancies on the Group’s Executive Committee. The number of open seats is noted on the ballot as 4. There are in fact only 3 seats open. If you vote for 4 your votes are valid and will be counted. The top 3 vote getters will be seated at the February meeting. As a member of the Elections Committee I am unable to recommend candidates and am not doing so here. However I am concerned at the misinformation being circulated by the 3 males who are running as a slate against the two female incumbents. In the slate’s literature, which is posted on Next Door and being mailed to members, it incorrectly asserts that the Sierra Club is involved in “frivolous lawsuits” against the rail trail and by implication, that the incumbents support such efforts. That is untrue. The Sierra Club is not involved in any lawsuits against the rail trail. The incumbents have not taken a position against the rail trail but do want proper CEQA review of the environmental impacts involved. Rail trail supporters spreading this misinformation claim that exhaustive environmental review has already been done. Not true but just like the recall effort, distortions, untruths and misinformation feed the passions and sway the results. To read the 5 candidates’ full statements on the issues check out the Sierra Club website
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.
December 16, 2019
Chris will return next week.
(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and was on the Santa Cruz City Councilmember from 1998-2002. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 14 years. He was elected the the city council again in November of 2016, after his kids went off to college. His current term ends in 2020.
REGIONAL WATER TRANSFERS BEGAN
Thanks to the recent rains, the City of Santa Cruz gave the green light on December 6 to begin sending treated surface water to Soquel Creek Water District customers, allowing the District to stop pumping from the aquifer and thereby allow groundwater levels to rise naturally. Last year was the first year the Pilot Project actually transferred water, and would have been a good test had Soquel Creek Water District not decided to begin pumping from their large O’Neill Ranch Well only two weeks into the Water Transfer Pilot Project. That decreased the amount of water that the District could accept from the City.
It will be interesting to see what tricks the District uses this year to obfuscate any possible success and benefits of the conjunctive use. It is unclear if the District actually intends to expand the boundaries of the Pilot Project to include Service Area 2 as well as Area 1. The District only prepared the supply pipelines in Area #1, according to the November Operations & Maintenance Report.
CURIOUS WATER DISTRICT REPORTING
I have been watching Soquel Creek Water District for a few years, but never have seen their agenda include as many financial disclosure reports as what is on the December 17 Board Agenda. I think it is curious that the Water Demand Offset reports include NOTHING shown from Barry Swenson Builder for the Aptos Village Project.
Also, take a look at Item 6.6, page 230, where the District plans to pay the Raftelis rate consultants $32,838 to study whether or not to reduce customer rates now that the District got awarded the money from the State. Water sales revenue is down, and the cost of supplying water to customers is higher, due to the inclusion of the exorbitant costs of preliminary work for PureWater Soquel Project to inject treated sewage water into the drinking water supply for the MidCounty region. The poor ratepayers haven’t seen anything yet…let’s hope this unnecessary project just does not get built.
SUPERVISOR’S SIGNS UP!
I am running for Second District County Supervisor and will have signs ready to place in the next week. Please let me know if you would like one or more. I would also like to hear from you if you would like to host a neighborhood gathering to allow me the opportunity to meet your neighbors and friends. There may some candidate forums next month, but it seems that many political organizations have already held them and/or made their endorsements. Please respond to Becky Steinbruner vote4BeckySteinbruner@gmail.com > Thanks!
HYDROGEN FUEL CELL PASSENGER TRAIN COMING TO SANTA CRUZ IN FEBRUARY! Supervisor John Leopold told the Campaign for Sustainable Transportation Board last week that the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) will be bringing a hydrogen fuel cell passenger train to the rails of Santa Cruz County in February, lasting into March. It will come into Watsonville by rail, with a ceremony there, then placed on a flatbed truck to be ported to somewhere in the MidCounty area…maybe Live Oak… where there will then be a demonstration of passenger service to an undetermined location in Santa Cruz. The train cannot proceed north of Watsonville because the tracks along San Andreas Road that were washed out in the 2016-2017 rains have not been repaired.
NEW LEAF MARKET IS NOW OWNED BY SOUTH KOREAN CORPORATION
A friend sent me this interesting information about New Leaf Market and parent corporation New Horizons Market getting sold to a large South Korean corporation.
WHAT WAS COUNTY SUPERVISOR ELLEN PIRIE REALLY THINKING?
My friend also sent a link to a archived local news blog from May 8, 2015 where retired Second District County Supervisor Ellen Pirie discussed the background of the Aptos Village Project. This was just after the world-famous bike jumps had been illegally bulldozed, and the entire Project changed without proper California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review. I remember that time, because I paid dearly to appeal the major design approvals but the Board of Supervisors denied it with a sham of a hearing.
It is interesting to note that Ms. Pirie states the biggest obstacle to developing the Aptos Village Project was that developers did not want to have to pay to provide the infrastructure. What has in fact happened now is that the County taxpayers have paid for all of the infrastructure to support the Aptos Village Project. That included the County Public Works Aptos Village Traffic Improvement Phase 1 Project that installed the Trout Gulch Road and Soquel Drive traffic light and crossing, and moved the Metro bus stop for the developers in anticipation of their sought-after new Parade Street crossing to Soquel Drive. That Phase 1 publicly-funded project cost taxpayers about $3.5 million.
On December 10, the County Board of Supervisors approved $2.5 Million for the Aptos Village Traffic Improvement Project Phase 2 work that will add the second traffic light in the Village at Aptos Creek Road, and reconfigure Soquel Drive to accommodate the Aptos Village Project developers’ proposed new Parade Street railroad crossing to Soquel Drive. What no one is discussing is that the condition the Public Utility Commission (PUC) has required in order to grant the new Parade Street crossing is that there be two similar private crossings closed. County Public Works arbitrarily chose to close the crossing in front of the Bayview Hotel in Aptos Village, and also the Warrenella Road crossing in Davenport. While the Davenport community has begun promised improvements in the Cement Plant Road pedestrian and bicycle access as a mitigation, the property owners in Aptos Village are getting kicked in the teeth. What the County and PUC are ignoring is that the land under the railroad tracks is actually owned by the property owners adjacent…and the 1876 Easement Deed between Jose Arano and the Santa Cruz Railroad stipulates that the crossing must stay open and unobstructed in perpetuity.
Does the County care? NO. Public Works is adamant that the crossing is not being taken, but rather just moved. What?! The developers are silent, but are legally responsible.
Going back to the archived interview with Ms. Pirie, it is shocking to read that she assured the interviewer that Swenson got no favors….it just is not true. The County is leading the work on all the infrastructure improvements, waived encroachment permits for Phase 1 of the subdivision that connected into County road right-of-ways in multiple areas, waived the $1000/bedroom developer fee for parks, and waived the drainage easement costs to have all the storm water runoff from the Project dump into Aptos Village Park and Aptos Creek, a sensitive riparian habitat for Coho salmon. Also, the roads in the subdivision are not wide enough for trucks to park on the new streets…don’t even ask about safe thoroughfare widths for fire engines. The list of concessions goes on and on and on…and Supervisor Zach Friend is marching along in fine form to push the approval sometime next month of the Phase 2 Development Final Map that will intensify traffic even more with the solid three-story mixed use ghetto-ization of Aptos Village. It is disgusting.
To the right is a photo of a County-owned truck that is too wide to fit in the parking spaces on narrow Aptos Village Way. This photo was taken before the developers painted over both sets of parking space delineations to erase any sense of parking width or length restriction. Who knows how many parking spaces there really are in the development, when they are no longer marked and cannot be counted?
APTOS LIBRARY TO BE DEMOLISHED
The Behren-Kim consultants unveiled a nebulous plan last week for a full-house meeting at the Aptos Library, but had no real plans to show anyone, other than the bubble diagram that the Library will be demolished and rebuilt to be over 11,000SF. It is more cost-effective to remodel, but the consultant pointed up to the lovely large ceiling beams in the meeting room and said it would cost too much to try to enlarge the library and connect with those beams. Wouldn’t any expansion take place on the opposite side of the building, away from the busy Soquel Drive?
The consultant stated afterward that there will be CEQA review regarding traffic and subsurface water/storm water drainage. However, it seemed the RFP (Request For Proposals) will go out as soon as the Board approves the concept. What a lot of building material to send to the landfill when it could be saved and remodeled for less money.
At the meeting, Alysson Violante, the aide to County Supervisor Zach Friend, announced that the Supervisor had just approved an additional $1.5 Million for the Project at the December 10, 2019 Board of Supervisor meeting. Without this extra money, the library would not have been able to consider expansion. A lot of people in the audience clapped. I wondered where the extra $1.5 Million came from???
In looking at the item that had been buried in the Consent Agenda Item #33, the Library Director, Ms. Susan Nemitz, wrote to County Administrative Officer (CAO) Carlos Palacios to ask that an additional $1.4 Million be allowed to be taken from the Library Reserve Fund in order to have the revenue necessary to tear down the Aptos Library and rebuild an 11,700 SF structure. She explained that construction costs, due to County Public Works Dept. increased overhead charges, were now going up 20% every year. Because the Aptos Library project is the last one on the list of capital improvement projects, it is disadvantaged, and requires the extra $1.4 Million.
Apparently, the CAO agreed that Ms. Nemitz’s claim that because “property tax growth will remain strong for the next five years” and therefore the risk of depleting the Library Reserve Fund now (rather than postponing the Aptos Library project until the money is actually available) is a reasonable risk.
What I found interesting at the Aptos Library’s public meeting was the announcement that a “select committee” will decide what plan for the new library will actually be selected, as there is no plan at this point. The committee will select the three best proposals submitted by contractors, using guidelines for what is to be included in a “best-value design” process, and then the select committee will decide which of the three further proposals would be selected. “Unfortunately, there will not be any public input beyond tonight,” announced the consultant. He encouraged interested members of the public to sign up to be considered for inclusion of the small (“to facilitate decision-making”) select committee, but Ms. Nemitz stated that she had already been given a list of suggested members of the select committee. The consultant said the bubble-diagrams of general uses and requests for the design will become a public document after the Board of Supervisors approves it sometime next month.
A 6,000+ SQUARE FOOT HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN HISTORIC APPLE ORCHARD NEAR APTOS VILLAGE
If you enjoy traveling through the bucolic Valencia Valley in Aptos (once navigating the congested traffic in Aptos Village), and imagining the simpler life of the historic apple growing industry as you wind through apple orchards, you may be interested to know that the lovely little yellow house set back against the redwoods is about to explode into a very large structure. Hopefully, the historic barn adjacent will be spared damage. On December 20, at 9am, the Zoning Administrator will consider this project at 1400 Valencia Road that would remodel the roughly 2,500 SF house, rebuilt after the 1989 earthquake damaged the original farmstead, to instead make it a 6,154 SF two-story mansion with a swimming pool. Ten apple trees will be cut down to make room for the new pool and big house.
There was an archaeological survey conducted, but it determined the construction project would not disturb the site. The barn is the gem that needs to be saved. It is a likely historic and cultural resource that relates back to the Frederick Hihn apple magnate and Aptos Apple Warehouse business in the Village. It relates back to the farm life that was key to the post-lumbering era of Aptos.
Here is a link to the Zillow post when 1400 Valencia Road sold for $2.3 Million: 1400 Valencia Rd, APTOS, CA 95003 – 3 beds/3 baths
(MLSListings) 3 beds, 3 baths, 4184 sq. ft. house located at 1400 Valencia Rd, APTOS, CA 95003 sold for $2,300,0…
You can submit comment on this proposed Large Dwelling Project by writing Planner Evan Ditmars evan.ditmars@santacruzcounty.us by this Friday December 20.. Mr. Ditmars has been very responsive to questions. Here is one of the comments I have submitted regarding the historic preservation:
What is the historic significance of the house and barn? Will the County Historic Resources Commission review this project? One property description states the house was built in 1940. Valencia Valley was an historic apple growing area and was supported by Frederick Hihn. The Aptos History Museum website describes:
1945 – About this time the last two remaining Aptos Native Americans had a heated argument and one slew the other. The remaining Native American, Jimmie, worked on the Hihn Ranch and died about 1951.
In the book “Images of Aptos” by Kevin Newhouse and the Aptos History Museum, a photo of Jim shows him standing in front of a wooden barn in Valencia (page 98). Is the barn associated with the proposed large dwelling of possible historic significance and therefore to be protected during construction?
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING AND SPEAK UP. JUST DO SOMETHING THIS WEEK!
Cheers, Becky Steinbruner • 831-685-2915
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.
The image above came in an email asking me to subscribe to National Geographic. The text of the email told me that foxes are “vanishing before our eyes.”
I was somewhat taken aback by this news, though not exactly surprised. We are, as I hope we all realize, in the midst of a mass extinction event – the Sixth Mass Extinction in the history of the planet. You can click right here to get a brief summary of the five earlier mass extinction events. Unlike those events, the current mass extinction event is essentially human-caused. No asteroid from outer space has been needed to put most of the species of life on our planet in desperate peril. We are taking care of that ourselves!
You may remember (if you read this blog regularly) that I have been making reference to reindeer, as a way to talk about how our refusal to submit ourselves to the primacy of the Natural World is putting human civilization in danger. After I heard about the 200 dead reindeer, which starved to death, I heard about the insects; then I heard about the birds. Of course, birds and insects do go togehter. No insects, no birds. That’s pretty clear. Now, I am adding foxes to the list of species that we should be trying to keep around.
As our human activities take us toward a “collapse of nature,” it is always appropriate to realize that we’re next!
You could say that our commitment to human activities that help advance species extinction is a demonstration (smart as we think we are) that we are just outfoxing ourselves!
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
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. More inside views of our little movers and shakers….scroll downwards.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Eternal Truths” 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 with his thoughts on HOPE!!
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa’s reviews are at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ).” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
RICHARD JEWELL. Once again right-wing conservative Clint Eastwood directs a film with hidden political statements. This time it’s based on a true story about a security guard who discovers a bomb hidden in an Atlanta park in 1996. The FBI decides the guard planted the bomb himself. Jon Hamm, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell and Kathy Bates do super jobs in a totally exciting movie. Eastwood twisted the story to have reporter Olivia Wilde swap sex for a tip from FBI guy Jon Hamm. This wasn’t true, and folks are really upset that Eastwood made up this indignity. But it’s an exciting movie… go anyways. 96 audience score on RT. 73 RT from critics.
FRANKIE. Isabelle Huppert, Greg Kinnear, Marisa Tomei, Jérémie Renier. With a cast like that, it’s a shame that it’s tough to sit through a movie that is so complex. Huppert plays is a big-time movie star with cancer. It’s also about how three generations of family and lovers handle that news, all the while being in lovely Portugal. Not much will keep your attention. CLOSES THURSDAY DECEMBER 19.
HONEY BOY. This is Shia LaBeouf’s movie. Not only does he star, but he wrote the screenplay and plays his own father’s role. It’s about LaBeouf’s life in show biz and the bad and good influence his dad had, and has, on him. Very few, if any, laughs — but a well done search into what fame and no fortune can do to you. Go for it!
WAVES. A very dramatic, heart-breaker film about a Florida black family and its troubles. That includes a heavy father and children who want to escape something — and make mistakes. It’s got some very serious near-corny music that drowns out almost all of your built-up emotions, and some visual camera sweeps that don’t help much either. Go at your own risk. CLOSES THURSDAY DECEMBER 19.
DARK WATERS. You’ll never look at your Teflon or DuPont products the same way after seeing this fine film. Mark Ruffalo plays the real-life attorney who finally wins his case against DuPont, with the political and financial odds stacked 100% in favor of DuPont, the world’s largest chemical company. Just in case you want to stop supporting DuPont, stop using Kevlar, Styrofoam, Corian, Dow Corning, Great Stuff, Prima Green and many more names you can find on their website.
QUEEN & SLIM. Some character in this movie calls Queen and Slim the “Black Bonnie and Clyde”,and it fits. It’s a long chase featuring this mostly likable couple, caused by Slim killing an insane cop, and their adventures on the lam. There’s even some jokes and humor in it. But it’s really a vivid reminder of the police brutality, racism, and violence we read and hear about daily under the Trump administration. Go see it.
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I think Americans now regard Mr. Rogers as our own Dalai Lama. Tom Hanks is the only actor in the world who could take and do so well in this movie. But before you go, if you haven’t already, emember that this is not really about Mr. Rogers, but about an Esquire magazine writer who interviewed Rogers and his rigid, tormented life and choices. Chris Cooper is back as the writer’s father. It’s an oddly structured film, with many unusual directors’ touches. After skimming around the internet to see what the real Mr. Rogers was like, all I found was that he was an ordained Presbyterian minister, and went to Dartmouth. His mom knitted all his sweaters, he liked his wife’s dirty jokes, he had fun farting and he was a registered Republican.
JOJO RABBIT. Centered on Nazi Germany, this is very rare political comedy with funny scenes. A little boy has Adolf Hitler as an invisible buddy. Scarlett Johansson plays the little boy’s mom, and does one of very finest acting jobs, ever. Hitler and the screwed up political/ military scene will make you think of Trump and our own screwed up political/ military scene. A wonderful and rare film, do not miss it!!
JOKER. Joaquin Phoenix should just be given the Oscar now, instead of all that fuss in January. Yes this is the origin of why the Joker haunts Bruce Wayne (Batman) and it’s so much more than that. The film is deep, dark, brilliant, violent, clever, absorbing, haunting, and will move you into a different perspective. Forget the criticism about protesters; the Joker is insane and magnetic. See this film if you like films beyond what’s acceptable! It just became the biggest – money making attendance record R-rated film ever!!!. Now (11/18) it’s taken in over 1 billion dollars.
PARASITE. South Korean director Bong Joon-ho outdid his other international screen successes with Parasite. Wikipedia calls it a dark comedy thriller and so do I. It’s winning awards everywhere and deserves them all. There’s brain surgery, murder, basement dwellers, numerous surprises, even some shocks and well worth your seeing it ASAP.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. Sarah Mason brings us up to date on the UCSC Grad Students Strike on December 12. Then environmentalist Grey Hayes returns talking about saving our local environment. I’m taking Christmas Eve (12/24) off from G’vine . AND …if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kzsc You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye talks to Stephen Colbert. This is great.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur,The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
“Hannukah”
“Still ours the dance, the feast, the glorious psalm; the mystic lights of emblem, and the word”. Emma Lazaru
“Most Texans think Hanukkah is some sort of duck call”. Richard Lewis
“Let the straight flower bespeak its purpose in straightness – to seek the light.
Let the crooked flower bespeak its purpose in crookedness – to seek the light.
Let the crookedness and straightness bespeak the light”. Allen Ginsberg, “Psalm III”
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions:Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
BRATTON…UCSC Grad student strike, Annrae Angel for judge, Sierra Club elections, Errett Circle Church and the City Council. GREENSITE… on ADU’s and other matters. KROHN… Chris Krohn is off this week and will return next week. STEINBRUNER…running for County Supervisor, SEIU endorsements, recycled water and health , Soquel Water district lawsuit. Aptos Village bailout by us taxpayers, UCSC long range Development plan. PATTON…Young Republicans and democracy. EAGAN…Deep Cover and Subconscious Comics. JENSEN…reviews Waves. BRATTON…critiques Honey Boy, and Waves. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES… “Christmas trees”
TRADITIONAL WINTER HISTORICAL PHOTO. This was 7:46 am, in the winter of 1957. The Town Clock was in its original space. Leask’s on the right turned into Urban Outfitters. The Cooper House on the very left turned into stucco and temporary plaster.
UCSC GRADUATE STUDENTS ON STRIKE NOW. UCSC graduate student workers who are members of UAW 2865 began a strike Sunday (12/08). They want a cost of living adjustment (COLA) from the university administrators. It’s finals week, and the grad students aren’t going to submit grades until the COLA is met. They claim that the more than 1,400 graduate students will be more able to live with paying rent, and want wage parity with grad students at UC Riverside. Approximately 200 UCSC Faculty members have signed a supporting letter for a cost of living adjustment. Go to www.payusmoreucsc.org to stay in touch.
ANNRAE ANGEL IN, ARIADNE OUT. Now that Ari Symons said she isn’t running for re-election as Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge, which is only decent and smart for her to do, Anrae Angel has announced her candidacy. I started to write down the names of folks I’ve known and trusted who endorse Annrae. Names like Celia Scott, Sandy Brown, Stacey Falls, Chris Krohn, Tim Fitzmaurice, Ron Pomerantz and organizations like People’s Democratic Club and Santa Cruz for Bernie — the list goes on and on. Read her endorsements here, then read the rest of her website. To quote her website… “A Central Coast native, Annrae completed a double BA in Political Science and Business Management at Sonoma State University and a law degree from McGeorge University in Sacramento, before returning home 27 years ago to raise her two children here in Santa Cruz with her late husband, environmental attorney Keith Sugar“. We’re lucky to have the chance to vote for her.
SIERRA CLUB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.
The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here — but the Santa Cruz Sierra Club has probably contained more battles within its walls than the ones they fight in the surrounding environment. Executive Committee Elections are running now. Jane Mio, Erica Stanojevic are incredibly involved, devoted, and 100% perfect for Sierra Club Executive Committee. Be sure you vote for them before January 12TH. The Santa Cruz Bird Club also urges everyone to support Jane Mio.
ERRETT CIRCLE CHURCH. It’ll be too late by the time this gets online, but check out how the City Council voted on whether or not to save the historic Circle Church or let the developers have it. It’s been the spiritual and cultural center for the Circle community for decades, and still is.
December 9
HERE AND THERE
A three weeks absence from Santa Cruz politics is a blessing and a curse. The latter because there is no time to alert you of the item on the upcoming council agenda related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s). Whenever you are reading this, the votes will have been cast. At issue is whether to go further than the new state legislation abolishing the current requirement that property owners live in one of the two dwellings should an ADU be built in addition to a main house on a single-family lot. Besides relaxing all current criteria for ADU’s such as parking, size and number of additional units, the state is requiring the removal of owner-occupancy for all ADU’s built from 2020 until 2025. Bad enough but it gets worse. The city Planning Commission, displaying a complete disregard for the impact of this change on the sustainability of our neighborhoods, voted for the following:
In the interest of making as many units as possible available for rent, the Planning Commission passed a motion to recommend removing the owner occupancy requirement for all ADUs, not just those built within the next five years, as is required by the pending state legislation.
In case the impact of removing past or future owner-occupancy isn’t immediately obvious, consider that 56% of houses in the city of Santa Cruz are owned by absentee landlords and are rented. Until now, such property owners could not build an ADU since they do not live in the main house or the ADU. This restriction has resulted in a manageable increase in ADU’s so that their addition has not overwhelmed existing neighborhoods with problems that accompany increased density such as parking, loss of privacy, loss of sunlight, increased noise, light pollution, dogs barking etc. Lift that restriction in an era of sky high rents, and why wouldn’t every absentee landlord opt to build one or two ADU’s in addition to the main house, all market rate rentals? Consider also how this change will raise property values, making it harder for first-time homebuyers to afford a down payment while speculators with ready money buy up all available housing stock to turn into ADU land. Exploiting this bonanza, how many will soon become short-term rentals?
City Planning staff does see a problem with extending the state requirement and is not supporting the Planning Commission recommendation. Instead, staff is recommending conducting community outreach to get input into whether to lift past and future owner-occupancy requirement beyond the state mandate. In the past, council member Mathews has been a reliable supporter of owner-occupancy. This should be an easy one for council members who profess to care about existing neighborhoods but one never knows. To me, it is inconceivable to go beyond what the state is forcing us to endure. More market rate housing will not solve a housing cost crisis. It will change the character of Santa Cruz, leading to transitory, overcrowded neighborhoods while the underlying causes of ballooning housing costs remain solidly in place and unexamined.
By contrast, growth in the northern beaches of Sydney is better managed, as is transportation, even viewed through smoke-covered glasses. In areas similar to Santa Cruz, heights of apartments are capped at 3 stories and the number of units proposed even in controversial developments is around 20 not 100 + as is being proposed and built in Santa Cruz. Size and scale matter.
Since my last visit 3 years ago, a bus system called the B-line has been brought into service. With a dedicated lane, these new bright yellow double-decker buses are a joy to ride and all classes of people use them. Digital signs at brand new sheltered bus stops tell you exactly when the next bus will arrive. I missed the first one. The next one was due in 8 minutes. If I were a local senior, I could ride any bus or train within a 200-mile radius for a total of $2:50 a day. Not being a local, the cost for the 20-mile trip into Sydney was $4. I then caught a train for a 2-hour trip to visit my sister in the Blue Mountains at a cost of $7:50. The photo is taken from my seat at the front of the top deck of a B-line bus. When I asked the meaning of the name, locals shrugged. Took me a few seconds to realize…it makes a beeline for wherever you want to travel!
Transportation, like schools are funded by the state so there is no disparity between high and low-income communities with respect to school quality and resources, nor with transportation services. Gasoline is expensive (more than double) due mostly to gasoline taxes, which go towards funding the transportation infrastructure. A minimum wage above $20 an hour helps those on lower incomes. Still, the service is costly to run and there is a move to privatize the system, a big mistake in my view.
I found myself puzzling over our inadequate bus system. Some is due to our being a relatively small town although there seems no shortage of state money for the rail trail. Ten million dollars for a three quarter mile section anyone? Apart from the infrequent service and old buses it is impossible to know the schedule. The postings at bus stops, often without shelter, tell you only the estimated time a bus left a distant station. Absurd!
Lots of issues: good to be home.
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.
Good News:
20% Inclusionary Passed by City Council
This was a long day in coming. It was near the pinnacle, or THE pinnacle of concerns expressed by voters over the past two election cycles: how do we significantly raise the amount of affordable housing units that housing developers are required to build? The past city council hit a new low when they negotiated a less than 6% inclusionary agreement within a mammoth 205-unit housing project at the corner of Laurel and Pacific Avenue. The reason: requiring 15% would just not pencil out the developer said, which is a constant refrain we hear often from the developer class who are looking to cash in on the hot Santa Cruz housing market. In fact, the past city council accepted a property trade–the old Tampicos site in lieu of requiring Devcon to build even the meagre 10-12 units they should’ve at least built in this project. (Actually, if they adhered to the city’s 15% inclusionary ordinance, it would’ve been something like 32 units of affordable housing.) A law suit was subsequently filed by Shelley Hatch and Ron Pomerantz, and with legal help from Bill Parkin it resulted in the reincarnation of the 15% inclusionary ordinance, which by the way was passed by the people of Santa Cruz in 1979. While the settlement did not require Devcon to build the units at 208 Laurel Street, it restored the 15% inclusionary city-wide as it had been previously lowered to 10% by a former city council vote. The lowering of the inclusionary percentage should’ve been placed before voters, but wasn’t.
Heaven Sent
The 20% inclusionary housing ordinance passed on a 4-3 vote, BUT IT PASSED! It has not been easy getting here. I was elected advocating for 25%. Many in our community want 50% inclusionary. They ask why do we continue to build so many more unaffordable units.
Rick Martinez, Deputy Chief Advocates for Affordable Housing Too
Earlier in the day, Deputy Chief of Police Rick Martinez offered a tearful (for me) farewell after 30 years of service to the city. He said he lived in Section 8 housing with his single-mom while growing up in Surf City. Martinez is a home-boy and these personal aspects sound similar to Councilmember Drew Glover’s upbringing here. Martinez urged the city council to step it up in our efforts at creating more affordable units. He also strongly encouraged us to protect the most vulnerable in this community. Twenty-percent inclusionary is a big step in that direction. I believe the Deputy Chief might agree. (He did not say it officially, but he hinted at it.)
Don’t Pat Yourself on the Back Just Yet
The good news is that we voted to require 20% affordable on all new for-sale and rental units built in the city of Santa Cruz. The bad news is that this still means that 80% of all new construction will be unaffordable and out of reach for most teachers, nurses, mechanics, and librarians. Candace Brown, speaking to the city council, made it abundantly clear that the more market rate units that are built the more this drives even higher the area median income (AMI) needed to qualify for an affordable unit. Gary Patton the former 20-year 3rd District Supervisor wrote to the council: “More housing emphatically does not mean more “affordable” housing, but increasing the Citys inclusionary requirement will do that!” As stewards who are blessed to live in such an amazing city, councilmembers really have the duty to carefully shepherd our community resources and try even harder to ensure that there will be places for moderate and low income community members to live and thrive. That’s part of our job, isn’t it?
More Good News:
Circle Church Residents Will get their Day in Court
Neighbors from the westside have come to city council meetings several times during this past year advocating for the city council to direct the Historic Preservation Commission to review the developer-paid for historical report concerning the Circle Church. That report produced a this isnot a historical structure analysis. That report paved the way for possible demolition and a major development project to be built on the current 111 Errett Circle site. Councilmembers Sandy Brown, Drew Glover, and me placed an item on today’s city council agenda, which I thought was innocuous-enough to be placed on the “Consent Agenda,” which is the part of the city council agenda where usually uncontested items land. Well, this item became if not a brawl, then an engaged and perhaps unwelcome robust civil discussion about whether to support the neighbors who reside in the Circles, or to assist the would-be developers who wanted to “continue” this item to another meeting because all their consultants could not make this meeting. I have been on the city council for almost seven years and these kinds of issues never cease to amaze me. What were we talking about? We were talking about having the Historic Preservation Commission, a commission under the city council’s authority, take up an issue that scores of neighbors are interested in, and that over 1000 signed a petition to get the city to consider granting historic status to this 130-year old site now known as the Circle Church. It came down to the 4-3 vote. Why? Call it politics or call it incomprehensible posturing, but at the end of the day this issue was sent to the commission’s agenda for their first meeting in January. Done. The community asked their council majority for a discussion, a potential for historic designation and the developers of the property cried foul, as did their three councilmembers.
Addendum
This my friends is what a council majority can do…20% inclusionary and also offer neighbors a fighting chance, a voice, to have input on decisions that affect their neighborhood. I call that letting the people lead and the leaders following, democracy in action. See you at the Historic Preservation Commission meeting in January, y’all. It’s days like this that being on the council is nothing short of joyful.
“I dont want us to just go back to where we were before Trump. I want us to ask some hard questions that we as a nation rarely do: How is health care not a right in the richest country in the world? Why do one in six of our children go hungry? Why are 500,000+ people homeless?” (Dec. 10)
(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and was on the Santa Cruz City Councilmember from 1998-2002. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. Hes been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 14 years. He was elected the the city council again in November of 2016, after his kids went off to college. His current term ends in 2020.
RUNNING!
In the space of 24 hours, I pulled nomination papers, gathered 25 qualified signatures, wrote a Candidate Statement, and filed to run for Santa Cruz County Supervisor in the Second District. As I read the oath to protect the Constitution, I was near tears. I felt the enormity of the spirit, intention and dedication of those who founded this marvelous country and significance of the moment as I stepped up to place my name on the ballot. My platform is not quite complete, but below is my Campaign Statement. I was limited to 200 words…mine is 199! Next week, I will write more fully about issues. Huzzah!
My family and I have lived in rural Aptos for 35 years. I would be honored to be your elected public servant, representing your voice in local issues. I am fully capable. I understand equally the issues of rural residents, urban residents and businesses. I am a voice of reason and integrity. I am a leader that will be responsive to your concerns and ideas. I will accomplish solutions, without interest in climbing “political ladders”. I ran for this office in 2016, earning nearly 20% of the votes. I understand many local issues, attending and speaking at nearly every Board of Supervisor meeting for the past four years, and Commission meetings regarding water, fire, housing, transportation, and historic preservation, and report weekly on “Bratton Online”. I actively participated in MidCounty Groundwater planning. Recently, I acted as my own attorney in action insisting Soquel Creek Water District conduct environmental analysis. I criticized associated rate increases. I successfully defended my community against fraudulent utility practices via formal Public Utilities Commission complaint. I have organized my rural neighborhood’s road repairs, and lead fire clearance projects. I currently serve on the FireSafe Council Board and Education Committee, and President of the local amateur radio club.
Please vote for me to improve government transparency and responsiveness.
WHAT VALUE ARE POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS WHEN THEY ARE NOT FAIR?
As I was filing my papers for candidacy, I recognized a fellow who heads up the local labor union policies and actions. He had arranged the candidate forum in 2016 that I participated in when I ran for Supervisor in 2016. Friday, he let me know that the local labor unions had already made their candidate endorsements, and done so a long time ago.
I asked him why the unions had taken the action so early, before the close of candidate filing? He admitted it was a controversial action among the membership, but the leaders felt they needed to get ahead of the election schedule, especially since primary elections are in March instead of June.
I feel this is not a fair practice. If you are a member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), I hope you will ask that this policy be revisited before future elections.
DRINKING RECYCLED WATER COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH
Recent studies show that drinking water standards may not be adequately protecting your health when recycled water is injected in the source of your water supply. Soquel Creek Water District Board and staff always tout the established practice of Orange County water municipalities injecting the recycled water into the aquifer when trying their best to alleviate public concerns about their risky PureWater Soquel Project process. “Legal does not necessarily equal safe“ said the researcher.
MY LAWSUIT AGAINST SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT
I was contacted by the Times Publishing Group about my lawsuit against Soquel Creek Water District. The editor requested I write a letter to be included in a future edition that would also be featuring information about the recent grant the District received for their project to inject millions of gallons of treated sewage water into the local drinking water supply.
I did so, and it was printed in entirety December 1 in the Aptos Times. However, the copies of this free paper that are usually available at the library and other public places disappeared after a few of days.
I have copied the text below, as the Aptos Times website does not seem to yet include the full content of the paper. I think it is very interesting that the Aptos Times is suddenly in short supply, when usually readily available.
Dear Editor,
I am the person who has taken legal action against Soquel Creek Water District regarding the shameful excuse of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that the District paid a consultant hundreds of thousands of dollars to create as a perfunctory gesture regarding the PureWater Soquel Project. This expensive Project would treat and inject 1.3 million gallons of sewage water into the aquifer daily, requiring massive amounts of electricity, potentially contaminate many local streams if the system malfunctions or pipes leak, and possibly cause irreversible pollution of local groundwater drinking supplies with pharmaceuticals and other contaminants for which there are no state drinking water limits yet established. The negative impacts of the Project are significant enough that the District had to approve a Statement of Overriding Consideration, claiming that the benefits of the Project outweigh the significant negative environmental damages it will cause. It would increase concentrations of contaminants released at the City’s wastewater treatment plant outfall pipe, which is ruptured and allows effluent release much closer to shore than should be happening. The District has no final analysis proving that this Project will not adversely affect the water quality of the local streams and aquifer, even though such analysis is required by the State.
I took the legal action as the only way available to the public to call into question the actions of the Soquel Creek Water District Board and staff, and what they have been willing to do to approve the PureWater Soquel Project on a fast-track construction scheme and thereby get money from the State Water Resources Control Board. Clearly, their focus has been on getting the money for the Project they desire, at the great expense of placing an unmerciful financial burden on their ratepayers in order to present a favorable picture to the State grantors. The Board approved this calculated action on November 6, 2018, before they even approved the Project and certified the faux-EIR on December 18, 2018. Tier 2 rates, at nearly $30/unit, were designed solely to pay for the PureWater Soquel Project matching funds required to get government funding. The Board approved steep 9% annual rate increases that will continue for the next five years, causing tremendous punitive financial gouging to families, and cause those on fixed incomes great hardship.
Because I care deeply about my Community, I chose to take the legal action for the Public Benefit against the District, to demand they re-do the EIR with thorough and meaningful analysis. I have asked that the District present meaningful information for the public regarding true energy costs, environmental damages, impacts of removing a significant barrier to future unfettered urban growth, and perhaps most importantly, if the Project is even necessary.
I and many others hold that this Project is not necessary. Many water experts have clearly stated that Santa Cruz County has no real water supply problem, but rather a true water storage problem. The issue can be readily and relatively inexpensively addressed with regional cooperative water management, and has begun in a limited way with existing water supply pipeline inter-ties and agreements between Santa Cruz City and Soquel Creek Water District. However, this approach was not thoroughly analyzed in the EIR. Soquel Creek Water District lacks the political will to pursue this cooperative scenario, and instead has plunged forward in the misguided PureWater Soquel Project effort that would forever burden ratepayers and the environment.
I have asked the District for no money, only that a meaningful EIR be conducted and include thorough public process, which has completely left out the disadvantaged Live Oak community where the District wants to construct a large treatment plant that would house many hazardous chemicals. The District instead has sought to spend nearly a half million dollars to hire a legal team from Riverside, Ca. to fight my challenge. These attorneys have flown from southern California each time to represent the District, but sometimes say nothing at all in the court room, and allow local attorney Mr. Robert Bosso to speak.
I have had to work very hard to get an impartial judge to hear my case. I have done all my own legal work. The case schedule was put on a very quick timeline by Judge Gallagher, who later disqualified himself only when I discovered and raised the issue that he had been a trial attorney for Soquel Creek Water District for 23 years. His order for a quick timeline gave me insufficient time to prepare complete documents, or to prepare for the final hearing held on November 8 before Judge Timothy Schmal, a misdemeanor court judge who was not seemingly familiar with environmental law.
Judge Schmal denied my request to move the case to Sacramento County where there are four such environmental judges that could review my case with seasoned knowledge of the laws. Judge Schmal denied my request to be allowed to amend my complaint to correct mistakes, include critical information that would support my arguments, and add a ninth cause of action that pointed out the District violated the law by failing to notify any schools within a quarter mile of the Project where there would be hazardous chemicals used or unhealthy levels of diesel fumes from large equipment during construction. Judge Schmal denied my request to extend time on the Hearing date so that I could get critical information from the State Dept. Water Resources that has been delayed three times regarding the criteria used to claim the MidCounty Groundwater Basin is in “critical overdraft”, when the scientific data being collected show it is not. Judge Schmal ultimately denied my complaint altogether in a poorly-reasoned and vague document that he released one day before the Soquel Creek Water District entourage went to Sacramento to accept their $50 million State grant award and $36 million low-cost 20-year loan for the Project. Included in this entourage was the lobbyist for which the District customers have paid over $100,000.
I will appeal Judge Schmal’s Order that denied me the ability to take my case to the well-seasoned environmental judges in Sacramento County Superior Court. I will appeal Judge Schmal’s judgement denying my complaint and the ability to amend it, merely asking that Soquel Creek Water District do a better job on the environmental analysis of the Project and reasonably examine the regional management scenario alternatives. These could include consolidation with the City of Santa Cruz, which some ratepayers have requested.
I do not intend to give up. This is too important to the health and well-being of those in my Community who have been ignored and dismissed by the Soquel Creek Water District Board and staff, and for the environment that has no voice at all.
Sincerely,
Becky Steinbruner,
Petitioner, in Pro Per for the Public Benefit
Case #19CV00181
COUNTY TAX PAYERS WILL BAIL OUT APTOS VILLAGE PROJECT DEVELOPERS
The Board of Supervisors will most likely approve spending $2.5 Million for a traffic light at Aptos Creek Road, and literally pave the way for the Aptos Village Project developers’ Phase 2 subdivision. Amazingly, putting this project out to bid is on the Consent Agenda Item as item #77 on the December 10 Board meeting.
The bike lane on westbound Soquel Drive between Trout Gulch Road and the new Parade Street crossing will disappear in order to make room for a dedicated turn lane for the disgusting subdivision. The taxpayers will fund the trenching along Soquel Drive from the Village to State Park Drive, and fiber optic cable will be installed to supposedly coordinate the five traffic lights in that short stretch of congested road.
The taxpayers will pay to pave the parking lot for the Parish Publik House as a mitigation for removing seven of their parking spaces in order to make a dedicated turn lane to Aptos Creek Road. These publicly-funded road improvements are required to be done before the Aptos Village Project Phase 2 mess will be allowed to be occupied, as per the subdivision Conditions of Approval.
All of this public money is being spent…just to bail out the financially-underwater development in the hopes that the County will somehow be able to rake in more tax dollars.
TRADITIONAL APTOS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY MOVED TO FAVOR APTOS VILLAGE PROJECT
For as long as I can remember, the Aptos Community has gathered at the beautiful redwood tree at Aptos Creek Road and Soquel Drive for the public celebration and tree lighting. Sadly, this year’s Community tree lighting was moved to a newly-transplanted pitiful tree within the Aptos Village Project.
Gone are the hand-made decorations that kids would hang on the tree and be viewed by motorists chugging through the Village. Gone is the sense of tradition and meaning for the families of Aptos. The Aptos Chamber of Commerce, along with the Aptos Village Project developers, have stomped on the Community in order to favor the profits of the struggling subdivision. The only bright spot is that the developers finally cut the tall weeds along the railroad tracks in front of the area where the pitiful Chamber of Commerce tree is visible from Soquel Drive.
The traditional redwood tree that has for years created a beautiful and festive sight with colorful lights and decorations for all to enjoy was dark Sunday night.
WHAT THOSE LEGISLATORS SAID
Last week, I reported here a bit about the special Board of Supervisor meeting that featured surprise guests (at least no one from the public could have possibly known they would be there) Congressman Jimmy Panetta, State Senator Bill Monning, Assemblyman Mark Stone and Assemblyman Robert Rivas. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported on the meeting, as it was seemingly spoon-fed to reporter Nicholas Ibarra, but the article neglected to report any of the thoughtful discussion at all that Supervisor Greg Caput presented, or what the distinguished guests had to say.
Supervisor Caput’s discussion was the only one of the five given by Supervisors that elicited a hearty round of applause from the audience. He discussed the real need for flood control in the Watsonville City areas where some of the most vulnerable population lives. He talked about how the County needs to work cooperatively with the cities of Watsonville, Capitola, Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley to increase recycling efforts and require that all fast food venues have recycle/trash pre-sort facilities to encourage the customers to recycle rather than send everything to the nearly-full landfill. He discussed the significance of Watsonville’s soon-to-end Measure G Public Safety half-cent sales tax that has improved fire dept. and police staffing. Supervisor Caput reminded everyone that this 2014 measure very narrowly passed because of public mistrust in government spending.
Supervisor Caput pointed out that since public schools now are walled off from the public with fences and are closed to public use during weekends and summer hours, communities have lost valuable park and recreation spaces. He lamented the politics of fear.
He asked that there be equitable allocations throughout the County, and discussed the need for affordable housing in all Districts, not just Watsonville’s area. He asked that there be an immigration office established in South County. “I support DACA, but is has been stuck in 25 years of talk.” he said.
He praised County Public Works engineer Mark Strudley for his excellent work that recently prompted the Director of the Army Corps of Engineers to move forward on a $114 Million project for the Pajaro River Flood Control. He discussed that he had worked with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo to secure Federal Highway Administration grant money to fund road repairs in Santa Cruz County after the 2017 winter storm damage. He also discussed a bill that would provide funding low income housing and another that would be aimed at fixing the 2017 tax bill regarding small business depreciation rates.
Senator Bill Monning stated that the California State 2019/2020 budget passed with the largest surplus in history. There is now a reserve account of $1 billion for a safety net to provide for social services during the next economic down turn. He mentioned that the budget also advanced CalPERS loans to County and school districts in order to pay retirement costs. He discussed that the General Fund money will be used to extend free health care to 26 years of age, and the age will be extended by one year annually. He stated that he is worried that CalFresh benefits will be soon changed, making a new requirement that recipients be employed 20% of the time. He talked about the PG&E problems but cautioned that making the utility publicly-owned would meant that the public would assume the $30 billion liability that PG&E currently faces. Instead, he recommended that micro-grids would be a better approach. Fire risk is being addressed most aggressively, he said, by San Diego utilities, leading the state in hardening the grid. Housing issues are forefront in the legislature, and many bills are in committee to streamline the permitting process as well as enable work force housing with on-site school housing for teachers and staff. On a final note, he cautioned County Supervisors about fighting UCSC for a moratorium on admission because the state has imposed a requirement to increase admission rates with prioritization on California residents being able to access higher education.
Assemblyman Mark Stone discussed his child welfare system work, early child care and the health care system. Of note, in discussing the PG&E Public Safety Power Shutdowns (PSPS), the State will NOT BE FUNDING LOCAL LOSSES ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE EVENTS because the payouts to help the Paradise Fire community rebuild have taken priority for funding. The State is insisting that people rebuild with better fire protection materials and methods. He discussed that breaking PG&E into smaller utility companies would hurt Santa Cruz County because doing so would cause the Bay Area’s funding that currently subsidizes the infrastructure maintenance here to disappear. In the end, he said, “Governor Newsom will have to deal with this.” One issue he said being discussed is to create a separate agency to oversee power utility operations and maintenance. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) currently has been given that task “but has NOT done a good job.” He also mentioned the Pajaro River flooding problem and that the State will fund some of the work. He mentioned the recent flooding in Aptos due to old infrastructure and because of prjected sea level rise, the State will increase money to help with improvements. He said there are three or four Bond measures in process that would help fund planning for sea level rise issues. Housing issues have garnered $2.7 billion for programs this year but “it is not clear how it will be spent.” Hmmmm….
He likewise cautioned the Supervisors about demanding UCSC impose a moratorium on student enrollment. “Be careful with this message. The State won’t like messages that say ‘Don’t Grow’. because the state has been pushing the UC system to in fact grow.” UC Berkeley depends on the increased out-of-state tuition fees to balance their budget, but the State is now requiring priority for California student applicants. He said there will be a Facilities Bond Measure on the March 3, 2020 ballot to send money to schools but most of it will already be earmarked for higher education facilities, even though the language will include K-14…none would be used for pre-schools.
Assemblyman Robert Rivas from San Benito County and elected last year, described being very new to the State legislature. He discussed how the battles to accomplish problem-solving are usually within and among the Democrats. He talked about how making decisions often seems to succumb to the pressure of the lobbyists seeking favors for their clients. He discussed that of 20 bills he supported, seven were signed into law. His bill, AB 1783, regarding farmworker housing and families is the only housing bill signed into law that addresses rural affordable housing needs. He toured San Benito High School to showcase the result of two bonds ($100 million total) passed to create a high-tech school known known throughout the state for excellence in engineering and robotics career pathways curriculum.
He discussed his AB 936 bill that was signed into law regarding oil spills and transport. This law will now make non-floating oils reportable so that the public will know what petrochemicals are being transported on highways in the County.
Assemblyman Rivas is going to Madrid for the International Climate Change Conference.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR UCSC LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT?
I attended the December 3 Public meeting in Capitola to see what UCSC plans to do to house its students. It was interesting to see that the population will grow to 28,000 in the not-too-distant future but the Long Range Development Plan intends to house on campus 100% of new enrollment and 25% of new staff. The Plan also includes developing the large marine research facility on Delaware Avenue, on the Westside. How the University would accommodate water and transportation is a bit vague, but the breakout area for “circulation” and “sustainability” had lively discussion.
Look for public scoping sessions soon, and an EIR to follow. This Plan is separate from the Plan that is currently in litigation that would build 3,000 more beds for existing students in the area known as “The Great Meadow”. This Plan seems to make the assumption that the Meadow project is done. One member of the public wanted to know about classroom additions to handle the new enrollment…students are now crammed into the classrooms, sitting on the floor. Another member of the public wanted to know if the employee and staff housing would be priced commensurate with pay levels? “Hmmm, that’s a good question.” said the staff person, and wrote it on the comment tablet.
GOOD NEWS FOR RURAL PROPERTY OWNERS FACING INSURANCE CANCELLATIONS
Last week State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara imposed a one-year moratorium on insurance policy cancellations in zip codes in and adjacent to the hard-hit wildland fire areas. He also asked insurance companies to voluntarily halt cancellations in all areas for one year for fire risk reasons. This action came about due Governor Newsom’s declaration of a statewide emergency in October of this year that enabled Commissioner Lara to take action under SB 824, authored by Lara and signed in 2018 when he was in the legislature. His office worked with CalFire to identify zip codes of fire-ravaged areas and areas on the perimeter of those damaged areas.
Hopefully the legislature will get busy during the one-year moratorium now imposed and offer long-term relief to rural and urban property owners. Write your elected representatives to encourage them to take meaningful action.
TOO MUCH TO EFFECTIVELY HANDLE?
The December 10, 2019 County Board of Supervisor agenda is jam-packed with development approvals, project approvals, and resolutions. Do you think the Board really reads everything before voting on it? Watch it on video here and stay tuned for next week’s report.
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING. BUT JUST DO SOMETHING. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Cheers, Becky Steinbruner
Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Taylor is a young activist filmmaker who has recently directed a documentary film, “What is Democracy?” The film is based on conversations that Taylor had, on camera, with all sorts of people, from throughout the United States. The article in The Sun is a transcript of a conversation between Taylor and Finn Cohen, who is a Professor in the Journalism department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. If you check out Finn on “Rate My Professors,” you find that Finn is “caring,” a “tough grader,” “inspirational,” and that if you “skip class you won’t pass.” Sounds like my kind of a guy!
The picture above, from the article, is supposed to illustrate the “democracy” part of “democracy versus capitalism.” In The Sun, the pictures are always pretty extraordinary. You get the feeling with this one that “democracy” is kind of isolated, forgottten, and alone – but still made out of solid brick!
Here is a quote from the Cohen-Taylor conversation that made me scared. Taylor said it made her scared, too:
When I was making What Is Democracy? I interviewed some young Republicans. I don’t normally talk to twenty-two-year-old Trump supporters, and I assumed that they were going to give me the conservative spiel that democracy is free markets and everyone having a chance to duke it out in the marketplace and trickle-down economics and blah, blah, blah. Instead they told me they don’t like democracy, because democracy is about the majority wanting to improve their situation, and they, the young Republicans, are part of a minority of affluent white people. They literally mocked democracy on camera; that scared me.
They see capitalism as more valuable than democracy, because capitalism benefits them. And if the masses are empowered, they’re going to want to take rich white people down a peg. These young Republicans recognize that their status is dependent on others being impoverished. They recognize that if we had a popular vote in this country, and not the Electoral College, Republicans would not win the presidency. They recognize that controlling a majority of seats on the Supreme Court is essential to imposing their agenda. It’s not going to happen through mobilizing voters, because the policies they support are genuinely not popular.
What’s increasingly clear is that the far Right is abandoning democracy. It sees democracy as the enemy. It is a politics of aristocracy, a politics of hierarchy. I have gone on deep dives into far-Right subcultures online, and what they hate about democracy is the idea of equality at the center of it.
I do not see the problem of our time as one of populism and an overly passionate majority. I see the problem as an affluent minority who are tired of democracy and the equality that it demands. You find this in the bowels of the Internet, but you also find it in mainstream conservative thinkers like George Will. On the surface his new book looks like a standard-issue political treatise, but he’s basically saying that democracy has gone too far and is at odds with American conservatism. During the Cold War it was easy for conservatives to promote U.S. democracy over Soviet communism, but now that democracy means including all these groups and sharing resources and expanding the government, conservatives are going back to their roots and saying democracy is a problem.
“Democracy” is premised on the proposition that we are “all in this life together,” and that this existential reality is the basis for the need to provide equal treatment to all.
The corrosive nature of “individualism,” of an analysis that seeks to understand all things from an “individual” perspective, and that rejects the idea that we are “in this together,” is a prescription for the end of the human world.
And why is that? Because some things are true and other things are false. It is false to believe that we can survive if we act only on the basis of what gains we might make individually, failing to notice that we all, as individuals, will survive or perish only as we can act in ways that provide common benefit.
And what’s the proof that I am right?
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you global warming (covered at length in The Sun’s October 2019 issue, from which the picture below is taken).
We will either find ways to cooperate, and change what we are doing, collectively, on a worldwide basis, or we will all perish in the aftermath of heat waves and fire, hurricanes and floods!
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
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Scroll below for yet another Sub Con and a peek way inside our driving forces.
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. Especially check out …”Don’t tempt me” with a deep nod near Satan.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “If you blink, you might miss it, so better rush out and see the intense, but exceptional family drama Waves while it’s still here — by Friday it might be gone! If not, my review should run in this week’s Good Times; otherwise, look for it at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ).” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
HONEY BOY. This is Shia LaBeouf’s movie. Not only does he star, but he wrote the screenplay and plays his own father’s role. It’s about LaBeouf’s life in show biz and the bad and good influence his dad had, and has, on him. Very few, if any, laughs — but a well done search into what fame and no fortune can do to you. Go for it!
WAVES. A very dramatic, heart-breaker film about a Florida black family and its troubles. That includes a heavy father and children who want to escape something — and make mistakes. It’s got some very serious near-corny music that drowns out almost all of your built-up emotions, and some visual camera sweeps that don’t help much either. Go at your own risk.
DARK WATERS. You’ll never look at your Teflon or DuPont products the same way after seeing this fine film. Mark Ruffalo plays the real-life attorney who finally wins his case against DuPont, with the political and financial odds stacked 100% in favor of DuPont, the world’s largest chemical company. Just in case you want to stop supporting DuPont, stop using Kevlar, Styrofoam, Corian, Dow Corning, Great Stuff, Prima Green and many more names you can find on their website.
QUEEN & SLIM. Some character in this movie calls Queen and Slim the “Black Bonnie and Clyde”,and it fits. It’s a long chase featuring this mostly likable couple, caused by Slim killing an insane cop, and their adventures on the lam. There’s even some jokes and humor in it. But it’s really a vivid reminder of the police brutality, racism, and violence we read and hear about daily under the Trump administration. Go see it.
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I think Americans now regard Mr. Rogers as our own Dalai Lama. Tom Hanks is the only actor in the world who could take and do so well in this movie. But before you go, if you haven’t already, emember that this is not really about Mr. Rogers, but about an Esquire magazine writer who interviewed Rogers and his rigid, tormented life and choices. Chris Cooper is back as the writer’s father. It’s an oddly structured film, with many unusual directors’ touches. After skimming around the internet to see what the real Mr. Rogers was like, all I found was that he was an ordained Presbyterian minister, and went to Dartmouth. His mom knitted all his sweaters, he liked his wife’s dirty jokes, he had fun farting and he was a registered Republican.
JOJO RABBIT. Centered on Nazi Germany, this is very rare political comedy with funny scenes. A little boy has Adolf Hitler as an invisible buddy. Scarlett Johansson plays the little boy’s mom, and does one of very finest acting jobs, ever. Hitler and the screwed up political/ military scene will make you think of Trump and our own screwed up political/ military scene. A wonderful and rare film, do not miss it!!
JOKER. Joaquin Phoenix should just be given the Oscar now, instead of all that fuss in January. Yes this is the origin of why the Joker haunts Bruce Wayne (Batman) and it’s so much more than that. The film is deep, dark, brilliant, violent, clever, absorbing, haunting, and will move you into a different perspective. Forget the criticism about protesters; the Joker is insane and magnetic. See this film if you like films beyond what’s acceptable! It just became the biggest – money making attendance record R-rated film ever!!!. Now (11/18) it’s taken in over 1 billion dollars.
THE GOOD LIAR. Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen two of the finest actors in contemporary films had never made a movie together. It’s too bad that this one wasn’t the predictable, slow moving cute product that it is. It is a treat to watch these pros work together; they are as great as almost every movie goer knows but the script is a poor copy of a plot that deserved to be better. But, in spite of all that, go see it…they are perfect in their parts. CLOSES THURSDAY DECEMBER 12
PARASITE. South Korean director Bong Joon-ho outdid his other international screen successes with Parasite. Wikipedia calls it a dark comedy thriller and so do I. It’s winning awards everywhere and deserves them all. There’s brain surgery, murder, basement dwellers, numerous surprises, even some shocks and well worth your seeing it ASAP.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. Alicia Kuhl from the Santa Cruz Homeless Union opens the December 10 program. She’s followed by Felicia Van Stolk, executive Director of the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum, talking about their new exhibits and some exciting changes. Environmentalist Grey Hayes returns December 17 talking about saving our local environment. OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kzsc You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
Standup comedy, this woman is great 🙂
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur,The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
“CHRISTMAS TREES”
“Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard or too sad when you’ve got a Christmas tree in the living room. All those presents under it, all that anticipation. Just a way of saying there’s always light and hope in the world”. Nora Roberts
“If my Valentine you won’t be,
I’ll hang myself on your Christmas tree.”
– Ernest Hemingway, 88 Poems
“I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph.” – Shirley Temple
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions:Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
BRATTON…Update on UCSC’s East Meadow plans, Chip visits from Boulder. GREENSITE…“Only one more week without a piece from Greensite”. KROHN…about weather, and water, the March 3rd primary, recall notes and fact-checking. STEINBRUNER…Her own Supervisor campaign news, Soquel Creek Water District plans and plots. PATTON…why he’s voting for Bernie. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover. JENSEN…Me and My Girl. BRATTON…I critique Dark Waters, Queen & Slim, A Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…”RAIN”
GALA CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, PACIFIC AVENUE DECEMBER 2 P.M. 1946. Don’t overlook the “majestic” St. George Hotel and the “Monkey Ward” catalog store. I think Bookshop Santa Cruz is where we see the Beauty Salon Sign. Any additional info would be appreciated.
KPIX NEWS AND HOMELESS ON THE BEACH. This is from Sept.1, 2019.
DATELINE December 2
UPDATE ON UCSC’S EAST MEADOW DEVELOPMENT. The East Meadow Action Committee or (EMAC) issued an email last Friday (11/29). It talks about a lawsuit, the Long Range Development plan, and because they are talking about the next 20 years they ask for our financial help. Read the complete email…
“Thanks to all who have worked to protect it, the East Meadow is still undeveloped, a year and a half beyond its originally scheduled destruction. We can be grateful for this. But the struggle continues. Last August, a group from EMAC met with UCSC’s new Chancellor Cynthia Larive and new acting Vice Chancellor Lori Kletzer. Its administration might be open to a reconsideration of its plans for Student Housing West. It was also clear, however, that the presence of a lawsuit has been an important factor in keeping alternate possibilities alive.
Now, several months after that meeting, with no word from the administration, it seems clear that litigation is probably the only way to spare the meadow. We and our attorneys believe that we have a strong case that will prove the university violated California environmental law when it rushed to put prefab sprawl in the meadow. We are now preparing our legal brief, due in mid-January. The court date is scheduled for May 1, and we anticipate a ruling later that month.
The upcoming phase of the process will be costly, and we are therefore asking for your further support. The fight could have implications beyond the meadow itself. The university has been holding discussions on its new Long-Range Development Plan, to guide campus growth for the next twenty years. By continuing to hold the administration to account we help ensure that further development will adhere to environmental law and good planning principles. Saving the East Meadow is a victory for the campus, for what makes UCSC special. Your support will be decisive.
CHIP AND BOULDER THAN EVER.
Chip, our dedicated and devoted executive director of the Downtown Association, moved on to become chief executive officer (CEO) of the Downtown Boulder Partnership, in Boulder, Colorado. I bumped into him and his family when they were visiting here last Friday. I asked for a quote re his new job. He said, “Boulder is like Santa Cruz with a budget”. Now we know.
GREENSITE’S INSIGHT. She’s still in Australia but says, “Only one more week without a piece from Greensite”. (ie. Dec. 9)
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.
December 2
Winter of Our Content
Now, it is suddenly winter. The rain is here and we are so luxuriantly content, at least if it does not all fall at once. It certainly has been coming down. Nothing for months and then an avalanche of water. I’m loving it so far because it means the wildfire effect is minimized and things begin to turn green and greener. Life is a bit slower. Getting around is slightly impaired by all this water that is replenishing Loch Lomond Reservoir (that needed only a bit of replenishing), groundwater aquifers, and rainwater run-off systems are all revived. Lying in bed listening to the thud, thud, thudding of rain is so glorious that rest itself increases.
Politics of Water
The good news is we won’t be talking about drought for a while and the Fire Department just might get a deserved rest after fighting the blazes of autumn. The bad news is the Water Department infrastructure has to be maintained and Santa Cruzans have become so adept at conserving water, the same water that the system sells less of and therefore has to contemplate raising fees even with all this water around. We have entered a decade-long upgrade of city water infrastructure and over $100 million is planned to be spent on improving the system. So, water bills are not going down anytime soon.
March 3rd Primary
CA is in play! The California primary is now March 3rd and it could be a bell-weather state for Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, or Elizabeth Warren. It appears that Joe Biden has given up on the Golden State for now having chosen to skip two Democratic Party conventions this year. His handlers generally keep him away from any direct policy questions. Biden is likely banking on prevailing in two or three of the first primaries–New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada–building his Joe-mentum thing and then asking California voters: who has the best chance of beating Trump? Harris is not doing so well in state polls and is likely banking on second or third place finishes in Iowa and South Carolina in order to get some traction in CA. Pete Buttigieg is seeking to do an Obama and be so many things to so many people and it just might work. His resume–military, mayor of small American city, boy-genius– is still pretty slim. He’s probably thinking if only I was a billionaire…
Santa Cruz, March 3, 2019
There will be local issues too on the primary ballot, the Recall being most close-up and personal to me. How it got this far is quite the discussion, but how to run and defend my record while combating many of the lies told to petition-signers is what is now most important. Here is a three-parter, number one is my record, number two is a plan for the rest of this year, and number three, is a way to disseminate the facts from the fiction and ultimately create more openness and transparency in local government.
Record
More general fund money went to projects and programs supporting kids, workers, and tenants than would have otherwise if the four-person majority had not been elected;
The Service Employee International Union (SEIU) received one of their largest raises in years–10% over three years;
All downtown employees now have access to free Metro bus passes;
Kaiser-Permanente’s 13 doctors and their staff now have a home in downtown Santa Cruz at the Cooper House;
Tenant Sanctuary received funding to work with struggling renters when they have disputes with landlords;
This council recently passed the state’s rent control and just cause eviction legislation, several weeks earlier than it would have taken effect otherwise throughout the state
on (Jan. 1);
Two new pro-affordable housing Planning Commissioners were appointed by our majority;
A climate emergency was passed;
stopped the Corridors Plan and redirected staff’s work;
Oral Communication was moved to the 7pm session so more residents could have access to the city council.
Plans for 2020
Direct Economic Development and Planning staff to begin negotiating with non-profit housing providers to initiate affordable housing projects on three city-owned downtown parcels;
Renovate the Downtown Library;
Go forward with plans to acquire a much needed 24/7 emergency homeless shelter;
Form a resident Climate and Bio-diversity Commission to help assist and plan for climate change;
Bring together all city commissioners for a retreat on how commissions can integrate their work with each other, and with the city council;
Continue working on Traffic Demand Management strategies to bring traffic relief to neighborhoods while offering alternatives to resident’s use of single-occupancy vehicles;
And of course, BEAT this recall through vigorous discussion, debate, and information-sharing.
This is a fact sheet prepared by the Stop Santa Cruz Recalls group. It is on their web site at stopsantacruzrecalls.org
The California Constitution does not provide a legal remedy for false claims in recall petitions. Hence the voters need to educate themselves about the facts.
Allegation: “[Councilmembers Krohn and Glover] repeatedly voted against closing the Ross Camp, while failing to pursue legal, realistic, and humane solutions to homelessness in the City of Santa Cruz. By opposing the closure of the Ross Camp, he contradicted the recommendations of Fire Chief Hajduk and County Health Officer Leff, and endangered the health and safety of Santa Cruz residents, both housed and unhoused.”
Fact Check.
Councilmembers Krohn and Glover:
voted with the Council majority not to close Ross Camp until other locations were in place for residents to go. When other locations were identified, the Ross Camp was closed.
sought increased health and safety measures at the Ross Camp pending its closure.
Allegation: “[Councilmembers Krohn and Glover] attempted to establish permanent RV parking sites and permanent homeless encampments in residential neighborhoods and city parks in Santa Cruz, without regard for public safety or potential damage to local businesses, and without consulting neighborhood residents, the Fire Department, or the Police Department.”
Fact Check: At Council request, City staff presented several possible alternative locations to shelter Ross camp residents. Many members of the public expressed concerns about all the locations. As a result, the Council, including Krohn and Glover, dropped consideration of all locations other than re-opening the Salvation Army camp on upper River St.
Allegation: “Councilmember Krohn betrayed public trust and violated the Brown Act by requesting closed city council sessions to discuss relocation of the Ross Camp.”
Fact Check: The minutes and video of the City Council meeting on April 23, 2019, record Councilmember Krohn voting against a motion to go into closed session to discuss the Ross Camp closure.
Allegation: “Council member Glover participated on behalf of the plaintiffs in a federal suit against the City to keep the Ross Camp open. In a sworn declaration, Glover falsely claimed that there was no health and safety risk at the Ross Camp, contradicting the Fire Chief and County Health Officer.”
Fact Check
Freedom of speech and public trust in government requires that elected officials be permitted to testify when called in a lawsuit, even when it is against their City.
Glover did not deny health and safety risks at Ross Camp. He testified that those risks could be corrected in order to avoid dispersing hundreds of people back onto the streets and into parks and open spaces.
Allegation: “Councilmember Glover has introduced a culture of chaos, bullying and disruption to public meetings and general City business.”
“Councilmember Krohn… has failed to abide by the Rules of Procedure for Conduct of City Council Business by refusing to treat his fellow Councilmembers with respect.”
Fact Check: The City hired an investigator to study allegations of misconduct against Krohn and Glover. The investigator’s report found:
The sole substantiated allegation against Krohn was that he uttered a sarcastic laugh during a staff person’s presentation to the Council.
The sole substantiated allegation against Glover is that he got angry with a fellow Council member over the scheduling of a conference room.
There is no evidence to substantiate that these incidents were motivated by gender.
The investigator recommended that, “Councilmembers should avoid making public accusations of misconduct or bad faith against one another and against City staff without first privately and internally addressing these concerns and attempting conflict resolution and rectification when possible.”
Conclusion:Our community needs to come together to solve our challenging problems. The diversity of representation on the Council may be the best way to solve our problems in a way that the needs of all people are addressed. Diverse points of view can sometimes lead to conflicts around policy. Factual distortions and groundless accusations damage the community’s ability to successfully resolve difficult problems.
Look out for those in politics who like to label themselves “fiscally responsible,” yet only seem to care about the price of justice – not the cost of oppression. Everything has a price. And an unjust society is far costlier than one that invests in & values all people. (Nov. 27)
(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and was on the Santa Cruz City Councilmember from 1998-2002. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 14 years. He was elected the the city council again in November of 2016, after his kids went off to college. His current term ends in 2020.
READY TO RUN!
Many thanks to all who donated money and good wishes for my campaign to become the County Supervisor in the Second District. I will have enough money to take out nomination papers and will officially be a candidate by Friday, December 6. I look forward to working with those interested in supporting my campaign and intend to run with a serious intent of winning. There are big problems not only in the Second District, but throughout the County that I feel need better leadership that represents and is responsive to the concerns and needs of the people in rural areas as well as the urban parts of the County. You can look forward to reading more about who I am and what I stand for in next week’s column.
GAVIN NEWSOM RELATED TO NANCY PELOSI?
In doing more research about political process, and listening to some excellent radio programs, I learned an odd bit of trivia…Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi are related. While it may not affect Santa Cruz County infrastructure and housing problems, I think it is interesting to ponder.
CHANGING THE CITY’S CHARTER TO ACCOMMODATE SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT’S TIME CONSTRAINT FOR CONSTRUCTION?
This week’s City of Santa Cruz Water Commission agenda included the informational item 6.6 that would place on the March, 2020 ballot the initiative to change the City’s Charter regarding how Public Works projects are handled. It would allow the City to no longer be required to put projects out to bid and accept the lowest bidder. as is the current language in Section 1415. It would instead allow the City Manager to approve a public works project contract using vaguely-defined “best alternative delivery model”, that would seemingly cater to Soquel Creek Water District’s recently-funded project to inject treated sewage water into the drinking water supply of the MidCounty.
Governor Brown signed SB 785 five years ago to allow cities to use this alternative bidding method. Why would the City just now decide to change the City Charter to be able to use this method? In my opinion, it’s all because of Soquel Creek Water District, and the agreement the City has with them to build the tertiary treatment plant for the PureWater Soquel Project on the premises of the City’s wastewater treatment facility. The $50 Million state grant that the District just got requires that they MUST have their Project online by 2022.
The District has also have issued an RFQ for the company that would manage the very risky business of making sure the treatment processes work properly and not inject contamination into the aquifer….what a tragic and irreversible disaster it would be to inject treated sewage into the aquifer.
Now, it seems the City of Santa Cruz is willing to change the City’s Charter, just to accommodate the Soquel Creek Water District’s misguided focus to inject treated sewage water, using vast amounts of energy, cause significant negative damage to the environment during construction, and potentially causing irreversible contamination of the aquifer if there were system malfunctions. Doing so, however, would allow the City to keep it’s agreement with the District, approved by the City Council on June 27, 2019, to share the tertiary treatment facility at the City’s wastewater treatment plant. The District would build the plant, the City would operate it (unless some design-build-operate model were used, but is currently not allowed by the City’s Charter), and the City would provide the sewage water to the District for free.
Look at page 140 of the City Water Commission December 2, 2019 agenda packet. It is nearly the exact same slide as was shown to the Soquel Creek Water District Board in July, 2018 when they were considering how to build the PureWater Soquel Project by 2022 and thereby get the State to help pay for it:
Take a look at page 13 of the Soquel Creek Water District Special Board Meeting held on July 24, 2018 agenda when the Board met with a consultant to outline the various “fast-track construction” options the District could take in order to get the PureWater Soquel Project online by 2022. https://www.soquelcreekwater.org/sites/default/files/documents/board-meeting/meeting-minutes/07-24-18%20Special%20Meeting%20Minutes_final.pdf We should also note that the Board was considering all this at a time when they were telling the public that they had not made any decisions about action on the PureWater Soquel Project, which was still undergoing environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process.
Write the Santa Cruz City Council and ask for justification of this proposed City Charter amendment Section 1415 that would, in my opinion, not encourage a level playing field for local construction contractors, and would remove the transparency of the public works bidding process. You can compare the new language with the existing on page 144 of the Water Commission agenda packet: http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/Home/ShowDocument?id=78246
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HOLD SPECIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
The Board of Supervisors scheduled a Special Meeting on Monday, December 2, at the County Sheriff Center in Live Oak. The agenda posted was rather vague, but I attended as well as submitting written comment in advance. I was surprised to see a full house…mostly County staff. Congressman Jimmy Panetta, State Senator Bill Monning, State Assemblyman Robert Rivas, and State Assemblyman Mark Stone all spoke about legislative priorities that affect our area. County Supervisors then each spoke. I will report more about this next week….it was audio recorded by CTV.
As usual, Chairman Ryan Coonerty would not grant me an extra minute to speak when I asked. He wanted to give everyone a chance to speak; he said…all four of us.
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. ATTEND ONE PUBLIC MEETING. DO SOMETHING! Cheers, Becky
Becky Steinbruner is NOW running for Second District County Supervisor. She 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.
Bernie Sanders, in Burlington, Vermont, from an article in The New York Times
Today’s blog posting is a kind of “follow-up” to my blog posting yesterday. In that Friday blog post, I suggested that our political system (at the national and state levels, though not at the local level, of course) operates as if we had a “parliamentary” system of government. And we don’t have a parliamentary system of government; at least, that is not the way the United States Constitution indicates that our governmental system is supposed to work.
When I read The New York Times on Thanksgiving, I was struck by an article on Bernie Sanders’ first successful political campaign, as Sanders ran for Mayor in Burlington, Vermont, and won. Here is a link to the article, which is titled “Sanders Forged Idea of Change Inside City Hall.” Actually, that is the title I found in the hard-copy edition that showed up on my front walkway. Online, the article is called, “Bernie Sanders vs. The Machine.” The article focused on Sanders’ campaign for Mayor, outlines a theory of political change that is most definitely not “parlimentary,” or “partisan.” I think it has a lot to tell us about how we could change our politics today – and how that would be a huge improvement.
I have some positive feelings about the presidency of Barack Obama, but anyone who cares about putting the “people” over “party,” in the politics of our nation, probably understands the following comment by Sanders, which indicates why he regards the Obama presidency as a lost opportunity for the restoration of democracy in our country:
Throughout the 2020 campaign, Mr. Sanders has sounded like an echo of his younger self … He has pledged to campaign in even the reddest of states against lawmakers who oppose his ideas, including against conservative Democrats. It is a method of governing untested in the modern presidency.
Mr. Sanders suggested in the interview that the last Democratic president, Mr. Obama, would have done well to apply relentless pressure of the kind he envisions, rather than seeking “middle ground” with Republicans.
“Obama ran one of the great campaigns in American history — a brilliant campaign,” Mr. Sanders said. “Do I think he should have maintained that grass roots support and activism in his first term, in a way he did not do? Yeah, I do.”
Mr. Sanders said he had discussed the subject with Mr. Obama in a private meeting. “He will tell you that it’s harder than it looks, which it is,” he said.
He declined to elaborate on the details of their discussion. But asked whether Mr. Obama had raised any doubts in his mind about his theory of power, Mr. Sanders answered in a word — “No” — and pointed to Burlington.
“At the end of a few years,” he said, “a sleepy political city became one of the most politically conscious and progressive cities in America.”
I was a Sanders’ delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2016, and I am supporting his presidential candidacy this year, too. The Times’ article outlines why. I believe that the kind of politics that is described in this article can work, even on the national level. I hope those reading this will review the article, and consider its argument as they cast their votes in the California Presidential Primary election on March 3rd. Incidentally, since The New York Times maintains a “paywall,” and that may prevent some or even all persons reading this blog posting from clicking through to the online version of the article, I have not only included a significant quote, above, but have also downloaded the article as a PDF. No pictures, but you can click right here to read the text if The Time’s paywall prevents you from reading the article on The Times’ website.
I formed my own idea of how politics works (or can work) in local politics in Santa Cruz County during the 1970s and 1980s. I know what happened here, and it was very much like what happened in Burlington, Vermont. Our experience in Santa Cruz County indicates that politics can produce truly “revolutionary” changes in the way our communities operate. Measure J, the Growth Management Referendum Measure enacted by the people of Santa Cruz County in 1978, fundamentally changed land use policy in our local community.
I agree with Sanders that we need to try to bring the techniques that worked in Burlington (and in Santa Cruz County in the 1970s and 1980s) to the national level.
President Obama is right, as Sanders says, that this is “harder than it looks.” Admitted. But the stakes are pretty high. For instance, this upcoming presidential election may well determine the possibility of a continued commitment to democracy in the United States of America. This, also, may be an election that will decide the fate of human civilization, given the reality of global warming, and the fact that the United States must radically change what it does, and lead the world in making comparable changes, if we wish to stave off the growing likelihood of a civilization-ending environmental disaster.
To be successful with the kind of politics that Sanders is advocating is definitely “harder than it looks.” But I think it’s worth a try. Think about that. Without going too “religious” on you, and with the recognition that Sanders is Jewish, consider this timeless observation, from Rabbi Hillel, as you cast your vote:
“If I am not for myself, then who is for me? If I am for myself alone, then what am I? If not now, when?”
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
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Just a peek at what makes everything so obvious and confusing. scroll downwards.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Classic Covers ” down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Hands up, everybody who remembers Fat Freddy’s Cat! Why am I hanging on to this recently unearthed relic of hippie nostalgia? It’s a souvenir of the day I first walked into Atlantis Fantasyworld and met my future. Read all about it this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Also: only one more weekend to catch Me And My Girl, the cornball but lavishly entertaining holiday musical from Jewel Theatre Company!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
DARK WATERS. You’ll never look at your Teflon or DuPont products the same way after seeing this fine film. Mark Ruffalo plays the real-life attorney who finally wins his case against DuPont, with the political and financial odds stacked 100% in favor of DuPont, the world’s largest chemical company. Just in case you want to stop supporting DuPont, stop using Kevlar, Styrofoam, Corian, Dow Corning, Great Stuff, Prima Green and many more names you can find on their website.
QUEEN & SLIM. Some character in this movie calls Queen and Slim the “Black Bonnie and Clyde”,and it fits. It’s a long chase featuring this mostly likable couple, caused by Slim killing an insane cop, and their adventures on the lam. There’s even some jokes and humor in it. But it’s really a vivid reminder of the police brutality, racism, and violence we read and hear about daily under the Trump administration. Go see it.
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I think Americans now regard Mr. Rogers as our own Dalai Lama. Tom Hanks is the only actor in the world who could take and do so well in this movie. But before you go, if you haven’t already, emember that this is not really about Mr. Rogers, but about an Esquire magazine writer who interviewed Rogers and his rigid, tormented life and choices. Chris Cooper is back as the writer’s father. It’s an oddly structured film, with many unusual directors’ touches. After skimming around the internet to see what the real Mr. Rogers was like, all I found was that he was an ordained Presbyterian minister, and went to Dartmouth. His mom knitted all his sweaters, he liked his wife’s dirty jokes, he had fun farting and he was a registered Republican.
JOJO RABBIT. Centered on Nazi Germany, this is very rare political comedy with funny scenes. A little boy has Adolf Hitler as an invisible buddy. Scarlett Johansson plays the little boy’s mom, and does one of very finest acting jobs, ever. Hitler and the screwed up political/ military scene will make you think of Trump and our own screwed up political/ military scene. A wonderful and rare film, do not miss it!!
JOKER. Joaquin Phoenix should just be given the Oscar now, instead of all that fuss in January. Yes this is the origin of why the Joker haunts Bruce Wayne (Batman) and it’s so much more than that. The film is deep, dark, brilliant, violent, clever, absorbing, haunting, and will move you into a different perspective. Forget the criticism about protesters; the Joker is insane and magnetic. See this film if you like films beyond what’s acceptable! It just became the biggest – money making attendance record R-rated film ever!!!. Now (11/18) it’s taken in over 1 billion dollars.
THE IRISHMAN. When you have Robert De Niro , Al Pacino , and Joe Pesci in a mobster film directed by Martin Scorsese you have a monumental achievement in motion pictures. Yes it’s 3 ½ hours long and you’ll love every minute of it. It’s a gang driven recalling of their past by these masters, all in their 70’s. Al Pacino plays Jimmy Hoffa and at long last we find out what happened to Hoffa’s body (at least according to this film adaption from a book) when he disappeared in 1975. Go online now and see that people are still today wondering and predicting where Hoffa’s body is, but see the movie first. 96 on RT. (CLOSES THURSDAY December 5)
THE GOOD LIAR. Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen two of the finest actors in contemporary films had never made a movie together. It’s too bad that this one wasn’t the predictable, slow moving cute product that it is. It is a treat to watch these pros work together; they are as great as almost every movie goer knows but the script is a poor copy of a plot that deserved to be better. But, in spite of all that, go see it…they are perfect in their parts.
PARASITE. South Korean director Bong Joon-ho outdid his other international screen successes with Parasite. Wikipedia calls it a dark comedy thriller and so do I. It’s winning awards everywhere and deserves them all. There’s brain surgery, murder, basement dwellers, numerous surprises, even some shocks and well worth your seeing it ASAP.
MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN. Actor Edward Norton not only plays the Tourette syndrome plagued detective posing as a reporter but he directed the movie too. It takes place in NYC in the 1950’s . Alec Baldwin plays a character based on Robert Moses the evil developer of NYC. Willem Dafoe and Bruce Willis have small parts. The movie is not only confusing, but it drags on and on with little if any conclusion. And no, you won’t believe Norton’s actors version of faked Tourette’s either. (CLOSES THURSDAY December 5)
HARRIET. A real Hollywood tear jerker of Harriet Tubman’s amazing life and what she accomplished fighting slavery. Cynthia Erivo is excellent as Harriet and even looks like her. However the crashing crescendos of sobbing music, the homey corniness of so much of the plot and much of the acting makes this look and feel like a 1940’s Hollywood soap opera.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. Winners from Bookshop Santa Cruz’s Young Writers program read their entries on December 3. Alicia Kuhl from the Santa Cruz Homeless Union opens the December 10 program. She’s followed by Felicia Van Stolk, executive Director of the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum, talking about their new exhibits and some exciting changes. Environmentalist Grey Hayes returns December 17 talking about saving our local environment. OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kzsc You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
I love her accent so much…
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur,The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourneon Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
“RAIN”
“A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain” Robert Frost
“I always like walking in the rain, so no one can see me crying.” Charlie Chaplin
“Being soaked alone is cold. Being soaked with your best friend is an adventure.” Emily Wing Smith, Back When You Were Easier to Love
“It was a rainy night. It was the myth of a rainy night”. JACK KEROUAC, On the Road
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions:Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
BRATTON…Saving the historic Merriman House from the Fire Department.GREENSITE…Still in Australia…still no internet. Next week for sure! KROHN…Letter to Justin Cummings and Sandy Brown for Vice Mayor. STEINBRUNER…Announcing her new run for County Supervisor, Aptos Village and Zach Friend, Zach’s trash talk, UCSC’s LRDP. PATTON…Politics and power and Fun! EAGAN…Deep Cover, Subconscious ComicsJENSEN…Reviews the Good Liar and Pain and Glory. BRATTON…no new ones and some critiques of excellent “old ones”. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…”COLLEGE”
SANTA CRUZ’S HISTORIC MERRIMAN HOUSE. Robert Merriman lived here on Capitola Road. He was a Spanish Civil War (Lincoln Brigade) hero, and an inspiration to Ernest Hemingway for the hero and lead in “For Whom The Bell Tolls”. Developers and our fire department want to destroy/burn the house down.
ORIGINAL VIDEO: WILSON, KEPPEL & BETTY, Sand Dance 1933.
DATELINE November 25
FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BURN HISTORIC MERRIMAN HOUSE! Joe Michalak, the Commissioner of our Santa Cruz County Historic Preservation Commission,
has been working and researching hard for years now to save the Robert Merriman House. Last week he wrote to BrattonOnline… “Thanks for your mention of the Merriman House. After we lost the battle with the County, I received a call from the Planning Department informing me that I could have the house if I’d be willing to move it at my own expense. She even gave me the name of a house-moving company. That possibility wasn’t in the cards. If I didn’t want the house, she informed me that the Fire District wanted to use it for a “burn” exercise. I told her that burning down the Merriman House would not be a good look. Just to clarify, the Merriman House came under County jurisdiction, and is not regulated by the City of Santa Cruz. The County Historic Resources Commission had oversight”.
Joe Michalak continued… “here is the document that Judy Steen and I researched and wrote to County Supervisor John Leopold and county staff, regarding our rationale for saving the house and turning it into a community resource that could be integrated into the Dientes Health project. It is a little detailed, but contains a history of Robert Hale Merriman and his subsequent impact. John Kenneth Galbraith praised his heroism and character. John McCain, looked to Robert Jordan (the fictional character based on the life of Merriman), the hero of For Whom the Bell Tolls as his lodestone. After reading the Hemingway novel at the age of twelve, McCain was inspired by Jordan’s deeds and dedication to “a cause greater than oneself.” McCain asserted in his biography that the Jordan character inspired him during the most horrific moments of his captivity in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp.
One of the best books on the Spanish Civil War is the one written by Adam Hochschild, Spain in Our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939 (Houghton Miffline, 2016). You must also read Marion Merriman and Warren Lerude, American Commander in Spain: Rober Hale Merriman and the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, (U. Nevada, 1986). Marion, Bob Merriman’s widow recounts their life together in Berkeley and the battlefields of Spain”.
Santa Cruzans who care about tradition, honor, and community should care about this fatal attack on our history. From what I surmise the best action we can take is to write, email, call County Supervisor John Leopold and let him know how disappointed we are in his actions. It was more than kind of John Laird to send BrattonOnline this note last Thursday. “Bruce You mentioned Robert Merriman in your column. There’s a great book – Spain in Our Hearts – 2016, by Adam Hochschild (involved with Mother Jones – his wife Arlie Hochschild taught at UCSC in the early years). The book is about Americans in the Spanish Civil War, and has great info on Robert Merriman, including the end”. John is of course running for 17th district California State Senate. Bill Monning is termed out. Our bizarre district includes Atascadero, Pismo beach and 11.7% of Santa Clara County.
GREENSITE’S INSIGHT. Skips a week. She’s in Australia and not near a computer.
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.
Nov. 24, 2019
AN OPEN LETTER TO JUSTIN CUMMINGS.
Dear Justin,
Thank you for allowing me to join you today. I appreciated seeing everyone, and I am glad you are meeting regularly with these folks. I regret that my passion is likely to have made you uncomfortable.
Giving Thanks
A lot has happened this year. We have made some terrific strides in what I call, “the progressive project.”
More general fund money went to projects and programs supporting kids, workers, and tenants than would have if the four of us had not been elected.
The Service Employee International Union (SEIU)received one of their largest raises in years–10% over three years;
all downtown employees are now eligible for Metro bus passes;
Kaiser-Permanente’s 13 doctors and their staff now have a home in downtown Santa Cruz at the Cooper House;
Tenant Sanctuary received funding to work with struggling renters;
we passed the state’s rent control and just cause eviction legislation several weeks earlier than it would have taken effect otherwise;
two new pro-affordable housing Planning Commissioners were appointed by our majority;
a climate emergency was passed;
stopped the Corridors Plan and redirected staff’s work;
and Oral Communication was moved to the 7pm session so more residents could have access to the city council.
Further, plans are afoot to go forward with a very needed 24/7 emergency homeless shelter.
There was, of course, more, but in the history of the Santa Cruz City Council these accomplishments will be considered significant progressive gains, ones not seen in more than a decade. Of course, it does take a village of organizers, some prodding and others pushing, to make such strides, because four councilmembers alone cannot do it.
Issues on the Progressive Table this Thanksgiving
The Harvey West Pool, the Delaveaga Golf Course, 20% inclusionary ordinance, transparency in the way city council agendas are put together, appointments to seats on the Metro and other boards, the city manager’s job status, 0% carbon emissions by 2030, and run-away executive pay are all issues where many residents still seek relief. Many are calling for a different path, a politically progressive path, one that re-orients the old ways of doing the city’s business and makes amends for previous one-sided policies that favor a minority. These issues all involve choices. They are most often political choices, not choices limited to staff expertise.
Politics is About Making Choices
We have a choice before us on Tuesday night. It’s about who will lead the city of Santa Cruz. Will it be just another rubber-stamping experience? Or will it be a Mayor and Vice-Mayor leading a solid progressive majority trying to help our city hold back some pretty powerful players from the real estate and developer sectors? Yes, things have been stirred up, because that is what voters were looking for both in the national and local 2016 election and again in 2018. This past November, to the north of us, a solid progressive city attorney was elected against the wishes of an entrenched mainstream, and the SF Board of Supervisors now has a left-of-center majority. There is a trend here. We can be part of that trend, or not. We make choices. We can choose a Mayor and Vice-Mayor that will lead our progressive coalition, first to a recall victory then to a strong majority in the November 2020 elections. I believe you and Sandy can do that.
Sandy Brown for Vice-Mayor
If we back off now, we will lose ground. Supporting a hostile Vice-Mayor now would not bode well for the recall election or for a progressive victory in November. We have made gains this year, but many more can be made in the year to come if we progressives take and exercise the power voters have given us. In contrast, 2020 will be a rocky year if it is marked by this division. We need to hang on to our tenuous majority of 4 and strengthen it. Sandy as Vice-Mayor will help do that.
Why Sandy?
I take the time to write to you on this spectacularly beautiful Sunday afternoon because I care about this city, about the progressive legacy of this town, about your mayoral year, and about moving the ball up-field and accomplishing what we are capable of this coming year.
Starting off by selecting for the Vice-Mayor’s seat someone who has voted against almost every significant progressive issue we have been able to pass, who has not stood up for workers or renters when given the legislative opportunities, who I am convinced was not completely honest about my so-called “sarcastic laugh,” and who also has deep tentacles inside the recall camp would be a bad omen. Choosing this candidate over our reliable colleague would signal that we are not only giving up our power, but that their recall strategy is working. Our opponents will not take their foot off the recall gas pedal. They will not stop with the constant stream of untruths. They will continue to seed the undermining of our agenda. There is even an announced candidate for council who wants to reinstate the old wildly unpopular Corridors Plan. It would be too much of a minefield to allow her to be in the position of Vice-Mayor.
In Closing–City Council Will Select Mayor and Vice Mayor Tues. Nov. 26 at 8p
Yes, my comments here are filled with “inside baseball,” but that is what we all play, as councilmembers. We must let people outside of the stadium know what is going down inside.
The progressives should accept our power now, and exercise it with great care, justice, equity, and fairness.I look forward to working with you this year as Mayor and Sandy Brown as Vice-Mayor. It should be a great year!
Sincerely,
Chris Krohn
Public education, libraries, & infrastructure policies (which we‘ve had before in America and elsewhere in the world!) are not “free stuff.” They are PUBLIC GOODS. And they are worth investing in, protecting, & advancing for all society and future generations. (Nov. 25)
(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and was on the Santa Cruz City Councilmember from 1998-2002. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 14 years. He was elected the the city council again in November of 2016, after his kids went off to college. His current term ends in 2020.
STEINBRUNER FOR COUNTY SUPERVISOR !
I have been watching the County election website to see what choices voters will have at the polls next March. There is no choice for County District Supervisor in the Second District, other than a trash-talking incumbent whose primary interest seems to be climbing the political ladder. That is no choice.
Because I feel the people in the Second District deserve a choice, I have decided to run for Second District County Supervisor. Unfortunately, in order to even take out nomination papers to have the necessary 20 supporters for my candidacy sign for me to submit by December 6, and therefore officially declare my candidacy, I have to pay $1232.38, non-refundable.
I do not have that money. If you would like to help me scrape that together and give the Second District voters a choice at the polls next March, and support having someone in the office who will listen to what all constituents say, try to honestly help, and not spew vulgar language back at them….I would welcome any and all monetary donations.
Please send checks made out to “Becky Steinbruner” with a notation of “political donation” and mail to 3441 Redwood Drive, Aptos, CA 95003. If you are good at creating websites, I would welcome your help.
I am honest, polite, and sincere. I really care about the people and the environment in this County…and I am worried. I ran for this office in 2016 and was terrified. This time, I am not afraid.
TRASH-TALK BY A COUNTY SUPERVISOR IS FUNNY?
Last week’s Good Times reporter Jake Pierce wrote a glowing report about how funny it is to hear County Supervisor Zach Friend pretend to be a comedian by using foul language and piercing criticism. Is that supposed to be funny? Maybe for some, but many of Supervisor Friend’s constituents have reported he uses the same trash-talk to them when they bring concerns before him and ask for his help.
I think it is odd that Friend was recently featured on Fox News TV discussing the impeachment proceedings. I could not get my old computer system to play the audio…It is probably just as well because I find vulgar language offensive. What a carpetbagger.
WILL SUPERVISOR FRIEND VOTE AGAINST APTOS VILLAGE PROJECT’S PHASE 2?
Recently, Supervisor Zach Friend voted against the Nissan auto dealership in Soquel because, he said, he could not support building something on the site that could not be torn down 15 years from now when the County wants to build something differently there. His words and logic were shocking (luckily, he did not use vulgar language that day).
So, as the Aptos Village Project’s Phase 2 monstrous development nears coming before the Board of Supervisors for approval, will Supervisor Friend vote against it with the same logic as he used regarding another inappropriate and massive project? Will he take into account all the common people who have voiced protest over the disastrous traffic congestion that Phase 1 has imposed, or the outrageous amount of money that the County has paid to put in one (soon to be two) traffic lights in the Village to mitigate the traffic disaster of the subdivision?
It likely comes down to how much the Aptos Village Project developers and Aptos Chamber of Commerce members donate to his 2020 re-election campaign. Stay tuned…the matter may be before the Board of Supervisors as early as December 10. Do you think it will be on the Consent Agenda?
You might find the 2003 Market and Financial Issues of Aptos Village Project of interest especially the discussion on page 8 about it being a mistake to try to work with State Parks to supply 100 parking places for Nisene Marks State Park visitor overflow, and to instead build an overpass to the Cabrillo area on the Kock/Carmichael Property. Also of interest is the economic need to have a mini-anchor store…the space that was to be used for that has now been taken over by the MidCounty Safety Center and Supervisor Zach Friend’s office (3220 SF). Some mini-anchor, don’t you think?
Also on page 8 is the opinion that “The development should preserve and expand on the local, small town flavor and quaintness that currently differentiate the Village from other retail centers in the trade area…” Take another look at page 3 on the Phase 2 proposal documents above and tell me that the developers have or will accomplish any of that.
SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT GETS LOTS OF MONEY TO HELP YOU DRINK EXPENSIVE SEWAGE WATER
I think it is no coincidence that immediately after Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Timothy Schmal denied my legal environmental action against Soquel Creek Water District, the State Water Resources Control Board granted them lots of money to fund their treated sewage water injection project. Soquel Creek Water District was awarded the last of the Prop. 1 grant money, $50 million, and the remainder of teh low-cost 20-year loan money pot: $36 Million. The State had been holding off on awarding them the money because, as Director Bruce Daniels stated, they were very concerned by the legal action and the project being controversial. Hmmmm…. I have alerted the State that I am appealing Judge Schmal’s ruling.
Soquel Creek Water District convinced the State that people just love the idea of drinking expensive treated sewage water, and got 100 of their friends to write letters of support to the State claiming such. I wonder how many of those supporters are paying the exorbitant water bills the District now imposes?
The group photo shown at last Tuesday’s Board meeting showed the entourage that had been to Sacramento that day to testify before the State Water Resources Board and accept the golden ticket. Among them was the $325/hour attorney from Best, Best & Krieger who flew up from Riverside. Also included was Robert Singleton, Director of the Santa Cruz Business Council. He ran unsuccessfully for the Santa Cruz City Council…so he does NOT pay Soquel Creek Water District’s financially punitive and unfair water rates. I wonder why he was invited to join their party bus to Sacramento? Maybe he helped get all those 100 letters of support? Hmmmm….
CONNECTING THE DOTS…..
If think about this, and consider the massive growth the City wants to pound in, you too will see that the PureWater Soquel Project to inject treated sewage water into the MidCounty aquifer is being supported and fast-tracked to remove barriers to increased development in the MidCounty area, and perhaps beyond.
Read what the County 2020 Growth Goal Report states on page 2:
Potential Impacts from Population Growth
“The growth management system was instituted to address resource and public services impacts of growth in the County. The most significant concern regarding resources and infrastructure has been the potential and actual water supply shortfall.”
Now, review what County Planners submitted in a federal grant application for the Aptos Village Project area to fund traffic lights to mitigate the congestion caused by the development:
“Aptos Village will be the first segment of the Soquel Drive corridor to implement sustainable transit options in advance of new development, and in this way will serve as a model for the rest of the 7-mile corridor.” (page 4 of the 2012 TigerIII grant application)
So, now it becomes clearer why they Soquel Creek Water District is pushing this project to inject 1.3 million gallons/day of treated sewage water into the aquifer for local residents to drink after it sits there for two months. Never mind the huge energy demands and healthy risks…
COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS UCSC 2040 DRAFT PROPOSED LAND USE MAP
There are big plans afoot for UCSC, but will they take the load off the strained housing market? What about environmental impacts? There are three community meetings planned with the goal “to collaborate with the campus and local community to address issues of mutual importance.” Here they are:
1) Monday, Dec. 2, noon-2pm Stevenson Event Center, 1156 High Street
2) Monday, Dec. 2, 6pm-8pm Seymour Marine Center, 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz
3) Tuesday, Dec. 3, 6pm-8pm Capitola Community Center, 4400 Jade Street, Capitola
What do you suppose it would take to get the UC leadership to sit down at the mediation table with the local City and County leaders and work out something amazing such as what happened in Davis last year? Not only did the University agree to house 100% of all new students and make up for some of the back-log, but also agreed to contribute $2.3 Million to infrastructure improvements near the campus!
Attend the meetings next month, but in the meantime, insist that City and County leaders to step up and follow the good example that the City of Davis and County of Yolo leaders provided. Do we really want to just make the lawyers richer???
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING. MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. BUT JUST DO SOMETHING THIS WEEK! Cheers, Becky Steinbruner 831-685-2915
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.
A friend recently sent me an excellent article published in the Boston Review, “Politics is For Power, Not Consumption.” I have a feeling that if you read the article you won’t need to buy and read the book shown to the right. I haven’t read the book, but I am definitely recommending the article!
Eitan Hersh, who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Tufts University, says that when people engage in genuine political work there is only one reason they do that: they want power. If you aren’t trying to obtain political power then you are not really engaged in politics, according to Hersh. Instead, you’re a “political hobbyist.” Hersh thinks that this is not a good thing. His article explains why.
I tend to think that those engaged in what Hersh would call “genuine,” non-hobbyist political work are not so much seeking out power as they are exercising power they already have. If we want to take self-government seriously, then we need to understand that we (both individually and collectively) have power already. One person’s power is relatively small, of course, but in the course of political organizing, as we combine our individual political power to achieve a particular political purpose, we increase our power. In other words, I basically agree with Hersh, but I want to start from an acknowledgement that we are not “lacking” power which we want to acquire; instead, we are mobilizing the power we already have.
At any rate, my main point in publishing this blog posting is to encourage anyone reading my blog to read Hersh’s Boston Review article, too. Here is a small sample from the article, which I particularly liked:
Each vote may seem like an insignificant drop in a 135-million-vote bucket, but the group labors with the knowledge that it is working in concert with like-minded organizations across the state and country each doing its part. The group also knows, and sees, that opposing groups, with very different values, are also getting supporters for the other side. They are in a pitched battle with one another, each seeking political control.
What they’re all doing, that’s politics.
I often think of groups like this during evenings I spend on my couch. As I fold laundry half-heartedly, I watch TV and clutch my phone. I refresh my Twitter feed to keep up on the latest political crisis, then toggle over to Facebook to read clickbait news stories, then over to YouTube to see a montage of juicy clips from the latest congressional hearing. I then complain to my family about all the things I don’t like that I have seen.
What I’m doing, that isn’t politics.
Most of us are engaging with politics to satisfy our own emotional needs and intellectual curiosities. That’s political hobbyism.
What I’m doing I call political hobbyism, a catchall phrase for consuming and participating in politics by obsessive news-following and online “slacktivism,” by feeling the need to offer a hot take for each daily political flare-up, by emoting and arguing and debating, almost all of this from behind screens or with earphones on. I am in good company: these behaviors represent how most “politically engaged” Americans spend their time on politics.
I think Hersh’s analysis is right. If you are truly politically “engaged,” that means that you are in actual, personal contact with other real people, working together to accomplish a political goal.
Would you believe me if I told you that real politics, as Hersh defines it, is lots of fun?
I’m telling you! It is!!! Better than a hobby!
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
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s classic 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.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “With the names Helen Mirren and Ian McKellan above the title, who cares about the rest of the movie? Only us pesky critics. Dame Helen and Sir Ian are delightful, of course, but find out why their towering performances are built on an increasingly unstable story in my review of The Good Liar in this week’s Good Times. Also, since my review of the marvelous Pain And Glory didn’t make it into print last week, it’s going up in its entirety this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ).” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
PAIN AND GLORY. This is probably my favorite film of 2019. I do not state that lightly, I mean it. It was directed and written by Pedro Almodóvar and stars Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz and Julieta Serrano. It’s about a film director who has lost his energy and drive to make films. He gets into heroin, same sex love, booze and ultimately back into film making. The acting is perfect, directing is shockingly tight, and a masterpiece. See it as soon as possible.
JOJO RABBIT. A very rare political comedy with numerous funny scenes centered on Nazi Germany,. A little boy has Adolf Hitler as an invisible buddy. Scarlett Johansson plays the little boy’s mom and does one of very finest acting jobs, ever. Hitler and the screwed up political/ military scene will make you think of Trump and our own screwed up political/ military scene. A wonderful and rare film, do not miss it!!
JOKER. Joaquin Phoenix should just be given the Oscar now, instead of all that fuss in January. Yes this is the origin of why the Joker haunts Bruce Wayne (Batman) and it’s so much more than that. The film is deep, dark, brilliant, violent, clever, absorbing, haunting, and will move you into a different perspective. Forget the criticism about protesters; the Joker is insane and magnetic. See this film if you like films beyond what’s acceptable! It just became the biggest – money making attendance record R-rated film ever!!!. Now (11/18) it’s taken in over 1 billion dollars.
THE IRISHMAN. When you have Robert De Niro , Al Pacino , and Joe Pesci in a mobster film directed by Martin Scorsese you have a monumental achievement in motion pictures. Yes it’s 3 ½ hours long and you’ll love every minute of it. It’s a gang driven recalling of their past by these masters, all in their 70’s. Al Pacino plays Jimmy Hoffa and at long last we find out what happened to Hoffa’s body (at least according to this film adaption from a book) when he disappeared in 1975. Go online now and see that people are still today wondering and predicting where Hoffa’s body is, but see the movie first. 96 on RT.
THE GOOD LIAR. Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen two of the finest actors in contemporary films had never made a movie together. It’s too bad that this one wasn’t the predictable, slow moving cute product that it is. It is a treat to watch these pros work together; they are as great as almost every movie goer knows but the script is a poor copy of a plot that deserved to be better. But, in spite of all that, go see it…they are perfect in their parts.
PARASITE. South Korean director Bong Joon-ho outdid his other international screen successes with Parasite. Wikipedia calls it a dark comedy thriller and so do I. It’s winning awards everywhere and deserves them all. There’s brain surgery, murder, basement dwellers, numerous surprises, even some shocks and well worth your seeing it ASAP.
MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN. Actor Edward Norton not only plays the Tourette syndrome plagued detective posing as a reporter but he directed the movie too. It takes place in NYC in the 1950’s . Alec Baldwin plays a character based on Robert Moses the evil developer of NYC. Willem Dafoe and Bruce Willis have small parts. The movie is not only confusing, but it drags on and on with little if any conclusion. And no, you won’t believe Norton’s actors version of faked Tourette’s either.
HARRIET. A real Hollywood tear jerker of Harriet Tubman’s amazing life and what she accomplished fighting slavery. Cynthia Erivo is excellent as Harriet and even looks like her. However the crashing crescendos of sobbing music, the homey corniness of so much of the plot and much of the acting makes this look and feel like a 1940’s Hollywood soap opera.
THE LIGHTHOUSE. Robert Pattinson plays the young, innocent, naïve and new lighthouse keeper wannabe. Willem Defoe works very hard to be the ancient, hard to understand keeper from the old days. Neither of them are likable, and they don’t like each other. And I didn’t like this movie because they were so unlikable. It doesn’t matter much but it’s set in the 1890’s in New England. It’s screened in black and white and in a small square frame.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. November 26 has Rick Longinotti for the full hour. Rick is with Stop The Recalls and Campaign for Sustainable Transportation. We’ll talk about Highway One and the library garage proposal. Winners from Bookshop Santa Cruz’s Young Writers program read their entries on December 3. Alicia Kuhl from the Santa Cruz Homeless Union opens the December 10 program. She’s followed by Jane Mio talking about The San Lorenzo River and related topics. Environmentalist Grey Hayes returns December 17 talking about saving our local environment. OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kzsc You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
I don’t understand a word being spoken, but this is the cutest thing ever! Wait for it… 🙂
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur,The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
COLLEGE
“Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college.” Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country
“But if you tell folks you’re a college student, folks are so impressed. You can be a student in anything and not have to know anything. Just say toxicology or marine biokinesis, and the person you’re talking to will change the subject to himself. If this doesn’t work, mention the neural synapses of embryonic pigeons.” Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters
“Usually when you ask somebody in college why they are there, they’ll tell you it’s to get an education. The truth of it is, they are there to get the degree so that they can get ahead in the rat race. Too many college radicals are two-timing punks. The only reason you should be in college is to destroy it.” Abbie Hoffman, Steal This Book
“I was not a good student. I did not spend much time at college; I was too busy enjoying myself”. Stephen Hawking
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions:Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
BRATTON…Camp Ross and Phoenix destroyed, Top Ramen and real danger, saving Mauna Kea from UC, Merriman and Pitt’s Houses. GREENSITE…No dispatch this week from Australia. Greensite out of Internet range. STEINBRUNER…Soquel Creek request denied, City Council and water commission, fire tax and our schools. PATTON…Attorneys and Land Use battles. EAGAN…classic Sub Con and Deep Cover comics. JENSEN…reviews Pain and Glory. BRATTON…critiques The Irishman and The Good Liar. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES… “Thanksgiving”
BEFORE THE DREAM INN. 1955. Long regarded as the biggest loss to our community by environmentalists, you can see what our beachfront looked like before the developers got here. Notice all the trees on Lighthouse Point, and the undeveloped lands surrounding West Cliff Drive.
PROFESSOR PREDICTS LAST 9 AND THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, SORT OF. Candace Brown was kind to send this one…
MONTY PYTHON COMMUNIST QUIZ SKETCH.
DATELINE November 18
CAMP ROSS & PHOENIX DESCENDING. The self-appointed directors/managers of the return to Camp Ross last week (Nov. 10-13) created a genuine and positive concept for solving the homeless problem: not just for Santa Cruz, but with worldwide potential. They established ground space rules, entry regulations, were bringing in toilets, creating food sources, and all of it on territory that was — and is — of no use to anyone. Santa Cruz police entered and ended Camp Ross last Friday morning (Nov. 26), saying it was all about trespassing. It was agreed by an unanimous vote that the City Council will take up this homeless matter again on Tuesday Nov. 26. The council hopefully will at least copy or use the plans from Camp Phoenix as a near-perfect model for a homeless camp. Many have suggested that they use property that is further from the public eye, which seems halfway cruel and a little illogical.
RAMEN WARNING!! I bought a chicken and a beef ramen last week. It had been ages since I depended on them to get me through UCBerkeley. For some reason I looked up ramen on the internet. I guarantee if you read anything online about ramen you’ll never touch it again. It’s chemically dangerous. Look it up…please.
PROTECTING MAUNA KEA FROM UC. We need to consider what our reaction would be if Tesla or Apple or CalTech wanted to build on Our National Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, or Gettysberg. Those are special places for US Citizens, just like Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii is to the locals living there. I got an email stating…Come listen to indigenous elders and cultural practitioners of Hawai’i and learn why they are calling on the UC to withdraw from plans to construct the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) atop Mauna Kea.
The event happens Monday, November 25th, 2019 5:00pm—8:00pm @ College 9 & 10 Multipurpose Room UC Santa Cruz/Free admission
Free dinner, live music & speakers: * Liko Martin— elder songwriter & storyteller of Hawai’I, and 50-year veteran of Hawaiian resistance movements. * Kealoha Pisciotta— Mauna Kea Hui spokesperson, cultural practitioner & former telescope systems specialist. * Laulani Teale— frontline Kanaka Maoli activist, musician, traditional herbalist and peacemaker. * Valentin Lopez— Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, whose tribal territory encompasses Santa Cruz. Chairman Lopez will speak about the Amah Mutsun struggle to protect Juristac, the tribe’s sacred grounds currently threatened by a proposed sand and gravel mine.
This event was organized in response to an urgent request for support issued by Hawaiian cultural practitioners to University of California students. UC provides funding and key leadership in the TMT project as a founding partner. [see GSA resolution link below for more details]
Kia’i (protectors) of Mauna Kea have maintained a peaceful camp at the base of the mountain since July 15, preventing construction of the TMT from proceeding. Tensions are high, winter is coming, and the State of Hawai’i is threatening to use police or National Guard to remove Hawaiian elders and kia’i by force.
Check it out on Facebook…https://www.facebook.com/events/460236838177382/
EVENT SPONSORED BY: Mauna Kea Protectors at UCSC • Pepper-Giberson Endowed Chair • Colleges 9 & 10 • Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center • Environmental Studies Department • Community Studies Department • History of Consciousness Department • Feminist Studies Department • People of Color Sustainability Collective • Student-Worker Union UAW 2865 • Center for Political Ecology • Everett Program • Roots & Routes Intercultural Collaborations • Amah Mutsun Land Trust • Cantu Queer Center
DESTROY MERRIMAN HOUSE & REVERE ZASU PITTS HOUSE??
Robert Merriman according to Wikipedia…Robert Hale Merriman (November 17, 1908 – c. April 2, 1938) was an American doctoral student who fought with the Republican forces in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. He was killed while commanding the Abraham Lincoln Battalion of the International Brigades. He grew up in Santa Cruz, and graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1925. “Because he was so talented, and because he died so young, and because Hemingway immortalized him, Merriman must be given the first position in any roll call of Californians in battle against the ultra-Right,” California historian Kenneth Starr later wrote.
According to our Historic Resources Commission notes…This house (at 1938 Capitola Road) was the boyhood home of Robert Merriman, who was involved in organizing anti-Franco forces and fighting in the Spanish Civil War, and who was the model for a character in Ernest Hemingway’s novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. Now, as of last week developers have won the battle. The house will be destroyed and the developers really, really promise to erect a plaque with Merriman’s name on it. We have to wonder how and why Cynthia Mathews’ owning of house that movie star Zasu Pitts lived in is so carefully treated. Zasu was born in Parsons, Kansas and went to high school here.
November 18.
No dispatch this week from Greensite in Australia. Greensite out of Internet range.
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 18
Explaining The Donald
Is Trump a Phenomena?
There is no way to explain the “Trump Phenomenon.” Or, is it a phenomenon? It seems there are multiple parts to the definition of the word, “phenomenon.” One is, in a scientific context, something that is observed to occur or to exist. Of course, in this context since Trump is real and can be observed, he becomes a phenomenon. The Cambridge Dictionary also offers this: “someone or something that is extremely successful, often because of special qualities or abilities.” The Beatles were a music phenomenon, Mohandas K. Gandhi was a political phenomenon, and Mother Teresa was a humanitarian phenomenon. A reasonable person could observe that each had special qualities and all possessed exceptional abilities. The latter definition is clearly not the case when judging one Donald J. Trump as a phenomenon. But the former? Well, he can be observed and he does exist so how does one explain his behavior, which is ultimately the key take-away for any observer of this man? Especially, how would you explain Trump to people in another country? How would Hungarians explain Viktor Orban, or Philippine’s, Rodrigo Duterte, or if the Russians were asked to explain Vladimir Putin? It could be a national quandary for each country’s paisanos, but still, it would seem more difficult to explicate very clearly how Trump rose to the presidency.
Scientific Phenomena?
Explaining the Trump Phenomenon in the scientific context, one which he himself would be loath to consider simply because science does not come up very often on “Fox and Friends,” is a kind of predicament most would rather not take on. Explaining Trump is more akin to cleaning a cat box, or perhaps, scrubbing the area just below the kitchen sink where the compost bucket sits, a place that has not been attended to in years. How The Donald arrived to the white house is a subject that has mere mortals gasping for breath, as if dissecting a flat worm in a Petri dish without the aid of a respirator. The stench of formaldehyde just might be suffocating. As you sliced and diced what in observing Trump might be like, unlike the flat worm’s gastrovascular cavity with one opening, Trump’s single orifice is really his mouth. To fathom the utterances coming out of this cavity is to be present immediately after the second plane has struck the South Tower and the many victims are anxiously hurling themselves out of windows from the upper stories. Trump’s verbal detritus is unlike any sensory phenomenon that humans might encounter except for maybe outside of a pub filled with soccer hooligans.
Trumping La Virgen
Mexicans are used to explaining all manner of phenomena, including how the Virgin Mary, La Virgin de Guadalupe, was able to leave her imprint on Juan Diego’s atilmàtli (cloak) in 1531. It would likely be too difficult to explain this president to a Mexican audience. That piece of clothing and imprint of La Virgin exists today and is daily viewed by thousands of observers from the moving sidewalk at the Basilica on the outskirts of Mexico City. Trump has labeled Mexicans as “rapists” and “drug addicts,” and he still expects them to pay for his dream of a wall of separation. Come again? At this moment in history both Americans and Mexicans would have an easier time explaining how the virgin’s image actually came to be imprinted onto Don Diego’s cream-colored cloak than they would in throwing any light on the Trump Presidency.
Out-Frenching the French
The French might have an easier time persuading Americans of the “French Phenomenon,” namely that all manner of French behavior–philosophy, food, and political values–are somehow the pinnacle of human existence, than Americans would in explaining away how Trump arrived to the White House. Even the Joan of Arc story becomes a metaphor for truth when laid alongside trying to explain, without twitching, how this reality TV Grinch ascended the steps of American power. Of course, with his first $100 million securely stashed in a Fifth Avenue vault, the reception of a low draft number and a failed draft physical during the Vietnam War didn’t hurt. This was followed by a series of Studio 54 visits only to arrive at his peak performance: the quest to find Obama’s Kenyan birth certificate. The average American could explain, even to the French, the French phenomenon with a straight and unhinged face, much more readily than they could offer a competent reason, even with the aid of several bottles of run of the mill French wine, as to what gave rise to the Trump Presidency.
Boris Can Explain Trump?
Now perhaps, someone from this side of the Atlantic would have an easier time explaining how the 45th President could have given Britain its own Boris Johnson Phenomenon. Frankly, we should know. It is clear that a role reversal has occurred here and the US has become perhaps a political mother country to Britain. It is in Johnson where an American can possibly settle on equal footing. We just might grasp the Johnson phenomenon as progeny of Trump. The American people are likely aware of the fact that the US has a President who does not read much, seems to be informed only through Fox News and other authoritarian state leaders, authors daily baby-nuke pronouncements the length and depth of a fortune cookie, and according to the Washington Post, has uttered a total of 13,435 “false or misleading statements” by Oct. 9, 2019, his 993rd day in office. Possibly Johnson’s thoughts on Libya, voting Tory, and Hillary Clinton are reflective of a Trump afterbirth. I offer three examples from Johnson: 1) The Libyan city of Sirte would have a more robust future as a luxury resort once investors “cleared the dead bodies away.” 2) “Voting Tory will cause your wife to have bigger breasts and increase your chances of owning a BMW M3.” and 3) “She’s (Clinton) got dyed blonde hair and pouty lips, and a steely blue stare, like a sadistic nurse in a mental hospital.” Clearly, if the Trump Phenomenon is to be comprehended by anyone outside the US, the Brits are the most likely patsies.
“Over and over, the corporate establishment has tried to convince people that we have no chance. Well, we just passed 4 million individual contributions—faster than any campaign in history. That’s a pretty powerful movement and we are ready to take on the billionaire class.” (Nov. 19)
(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and was on the Santa Cruz City Councilmember from 1998-2002. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 14 years. He was elected the the city council again in November of 2016, after his kids went off to college. His current term ends in 2020.
JUDGE DENIED MY REQUEST THAT SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT JUST FOLLOW ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
Judge Timothy Schmal denied my request and complaint that Soquel Creek Water District’s environmental impact report for their project to inject millions of gallons of treated sewage water into the MidCounty area drinking water. I do not feel I got a fair trial on November 8, for many reasons. Therefore, I will appeal this judgment. Stay tuned.
SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL AND WATER COMMISSION APPROVE REVISED WATER PLANS
In a joint meeting held last Tuesday, the Council adopted the City Water Director’s updated version of the Water Supply Advisory Committee (WSAC) plans for solving the water storage problem. The Plan still includes regional surface water transfers from the City to Soquel Creek Water District that would allow the later to just stop pumping so much from the aquifer, but also would inject potable water into the aquifer via City wells in the Capitola area. It is unknown when the water transfer phase 2 pilot program will begin…it depends on when the rain comes to increase water flows in the streams north of the City.
MIDCOUNTY GROUNDWATER AGENCY BOARD WILL APPROVE THE PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT
This Thursday (11/21) the MidCounty Groundwater Agency (MGA) will approve the Plan to manage the groundwater supplies in the MidCounty area. The MGA is a consortium of representatives from all water providers in the MidCounty area, and also has reps for private wells and small water companies. The Plan will next go to the State Dept. of Water Resources, and hopefully be approved next year. You can read the Board agenda packet and the Sustainability Plan here
What concerns me is that it appears that the MGA is one and the same as Soquel Creek Water District, even though the other three main water providers are supposedly equally represented. The Plan is also, in my opinion, very biased toward reliance on the District’s plan to inject millions of gallons of treated sewage water into the aquifer for all of us to drink and to financially burden their ratepayers, causing great hardship to many.
WHAT WILL THE PROPOSED NEW COUNTY FIRE TAX MEAN FOR NON-PROFITS AND RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS?
The County Board of Supervisors want to levy yet another tax on rural property owners to pay for emergency response. They continue to refuse to allocate any of the $18 Million the County receives every year from a statewide sales tax for Public Safety Support (Prop. 172). Instead, they hand it all over to the Sheriff, Probation and District Attorney, and are now prodding property owners for more tax money to fund County Fire services.
This assessment would be in addition to what is already being paid in County Service Area (CSA) 48 taxes, and will really hit rural school districts and non-profit camps hard:
Bosch Baha’i School $3,054.06
Bonny Doon Elementary School District $2,340.02
Central Cal. Conf. Assn Seventh Day Adventists $16,828.17
Camping Unlimited for Retarded Children $3,101.38
Corralitos Union School District $3,120.03
Loma Prieta Joint Union School District $4,985.26
Pacific School Trustees $2,527.23
Roman Catholic Bishop of Monterey $5,647.24
Poor Clares of California $3,120.03
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians $2,620.82
Corp. Pros. JC of LDS Saratoga Ca Stake $2,578.63 (actually higher, if you add in the 13 other parcels assessed at $5-$33 each)
Skyland Community Church $1,460.85
First Free Methodist Society of Corralitos $1,599.96
Vajrayana Foundation $2,651.93 (and more with other parcels assessed smaller amounts)
Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council Inc. Boy Scouts $1,595.29
Girl Scouts of Northern California $2,280.57
And then there is:
Westcoast Pre-Cooling Watsonville LLC $2,919.37
Bonny Doon Airport LLC $18,720.22
Lonestar California $24,501.96
Lockheed $58,104.39
The Loma Prieta Defense Fire Team will have to pay $780.01 for their fire station protection!
The Corralitos Grange (barely able to hang on) $780.01
City of Watsonville (I think this is the Padres Community Center) $657.92
If County Supervisors would allocate even just 8% of what the State spends annually from the Prop. 172 money, it would provide the $1.5 Million that they are asking rural property owners to pay. The excuse is always that law enforcement needs it more….
Contact the Supervisors and ask them if they will be liable for lack of funding basic medical and fire response to rural constituents? Call 454-2200 or email…
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. ATTEND ONE PUBLIC MEETING. JUST DO SOMETHING THIS WEEK! Cheers, Becky Steinbruner
Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
I was asked, recently, about what local groups and individuals facing an upcoming land use battle should know, as they think about getting help from an attorney. Here are some thoughts.
If an individual or group learns about a potential land use “battle,” that usually means that there is likely going to be a major disagreement about some proposed action by a governmental entity that will probably have adverse impacts on a local neighborhood, or on a river or creek, or on a piece of natural land, or that might involve the use of toxics, or that might otherwise pose a potential public health danger. In general, such land use “battles” usually involve a proposed project that would adversely impact the natural environment.
Even “private” proposals – like the construction of a new home – almost always require governmental approvals of various kinds, so while it makes sense to approach and have discussions with the private parties involved in a proposed project, it is most important to understand what governmental approvals will be necessary, and to focus on affecting those. A local City Council, or a Board of Supervisors, or the Coastal Commission, or a host of other governmental agencies, including state and sometimes even federal agencies, are almost always going to play a central role. The “battle” will be fought out on the terrain established by the governmental rules and regulations that apply to the proposed project. When you first conclude that you are going to be facing such a “battle,” it is most important to “get organized” as soon as possible. “Groups,” not individuals, do better in such battles. So, step one is to form a group, and to learn in great detail what the rules will be. Know in detail just how the process will move forward.
Decisions made by governmental bodies are, by definition, “political.” Thus, garnering widespread support from those who will be affected by the proposed project, or who share a common appreciation of the environmental dangers or community impacts involved in the proposed project, is absolutely key. One person who raises legitimate concerns is good. A well-organized group of ten, or twenty-five, or fifty persons or more will have a much greater “political” impact, and elected officials will pay much more attention to the concerns advanced by such a group than it will pay to the very same concerns when expressed by a single individual.
“Legal” issues, while they will play a role in the decision-making process, are almost always less important, in the end, than the political decisions made by elected officials. This is not only pragmatic “political advice,” it is also pragmatic “legal” advice. Those opposing proposed projects should NEVER assume that the courts will correct bad decisions made by elected officials. In our system of government, we expect disputed and “tough” decisions to be made by our elected representatives. Thus, the courts will almost always “defer” to elected officials, and the courts will uphold a governmental decision if there is “any” substantial evidence in favor of the decision. Again, the courts “defer” to the decisions made by elected officials, and a mistake often made by those opposing a destructive project is to suppose that the courts will “correct” a decision made by an elected body, or by some non-elected governmental agency that approved the project. Is that true? Not usually!
I encourage all those facing land use “battles” to review my earlier blog posting on “Deference.” That blog posting makes clear just why the courts will, in most cases, be willing to uphold governmental decisions (even when the courts think that the governmental decisions were “wrong”).
Let me speak, specifically, about the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA. This is California’s most important environmental protection law, and many people think that CEQA will make it impossible for governmental entities to approve “bad” projects. That is not, in fact, generally the case. CEQA requires that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be prepared for any project that “might” have a significant adverse impact on the natural environment. Governmental agencies and project proponents will often try to avoid the preparation of an EIR, and unless a project opponent is well organized and well-prepared it is often possible to avoid the EIR requirement. Let’s assume, though, that the group facing an environmental battle has prepared well and is able to make sure that an EIR is prepared. CEQA requires a three-step process.
First, the governmental agency that is going to carry out or approve the project prepares a “Draft EIR. Then, that Draft is circulated for public comment (and opponents need to submit very strong and legally significant comments). Then, the governmental agency must respond substantively and in detail to each comment received on the Draft. The Draft, plus the comments received, plus the responses to those comments is the “Final” EIR. Before acting on the proposed project, the decision-making body must “consider” the Final EIR. The agency, however, in most cases, does NOT have to do what the Final EIR might recommend.
The EIR is an “informational” document. So, the whole idea of CEQA is that the governmental officials making decisions should be “informed” about the possible impacts of a proposed project before approving it. The process is sometimes called a “Stop and Think” process. If the governmental agency does “stop and think,” by properly undertaking a CEQA review, and if those officials who will make the decision are properly “informed,” according to the procedures specified in CEQA, then the officials can generally approve a project despite the fact that it will have lots of negative environmental impacts. Again, the courts will generally not tell a City Council, for instance, that they must do everything that the EIR recommends. The courts will defer to the governmental officials. The courts will reverse a governmental decision, generally, ONLY when the procedures specified by CEQA have not been properly followed. If they haven’t been, then, the governmental agency simply has to go back and correct those procedural errors specified by the courts. So, delay but not denial. That is the best that CEQA usually has to offer.
Short summary: These land use battles are “political” battles; the laws are important – and CEQA is very important – but the ultimate decisions are “political.” You might want to think about that, by the way, when you go to the voting booth.
As you can see from what I have written so far, the sooner you organize, the better. The sooner you contact and then hire a lawyer is also better. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until the week before the public hearing! Lawyers who know their way around land use law will have lots of good ideas about organizing, and about how to develop evidence that can support a decision against a destructive project. Of course, getting in touch with such an attorney may not be all that easy. Ask around in the community. Go online and search for “environmental attorneys,” but be aware that lots of so-called “environmental attorneys,” who are familiar with environmental rules and regulations, may mainly or exclusively work for project proponents and developers, helping them to comply with environmental regulations. Sometimes, there are local groups that know attorneys who are experienced in the political/legal issues involved in land use decision-making. Ask them!
How much will an attorney charge? You will have to work it out with the attorney you would like to have representing you, but it could be a lot. Attorneys, these days, often charge fees of $300/hour or more. But there are some attorneys who will charge less, or who will take cases on “contingency.” Usually, that happens when the attorney believes that he or she will be able to win a lawsuit, if the applicable governmental agencies approve the proposed project. Typically, in that situation, the attorney will ask for a contribution up front, capping the legal fees of the project opponents at that amount. In that situation, the attorney will almost always require his or her client to make a commitment to pay for any court costs, etc., which tend to be rather minor. In a “contingency case” situation, along with this promise by the attorney to represent the opponents for a “capped” amount, the attorney will almost always want a commitment by the project opponents that if the attorney ultimately goes to court, and wins, the group or individual hiring the attorney will allow the attorney to collect and keep all the attorneys fees that the court may award the attorney, who will ask for those fees because the attorney was acting as a “private attorney general.” In California, the law is clear that when someone goes to court to enforce the laws that protect the public from environmental harm, they are entitled to reasonable attorneys fees if they win. Usually, there will be a proviso in the contract between the group and the attorney that provides that if the attorney receives such a private attorney general award of attorneys fees, the attorney will pay back the initial amount and the court costs contributed by his or her clients. Again, you need to ask around, and negotiate.
The most important thing to decide, when you think you may be facing a land use “battle,” is whether or not you really want to get into the “fight.” You need to be “serious.” A lot of time and money may well have to be spent. It is NOT easy to stop proposed projects, but such projects absolutely can be stopped, and environmental and neighborhood battles can be won. But let me say it again, you do need to be “serious.” Many assume that because a proposed project is pretty clearly a “bad” idea no governmental agency, in the end, will approve it. Such people think they shouldn’t really have to spend their own money, or spend a lot of time in opposing what is clearly a bad idea.
Big mistake!
Get organized. Get an attorney. Win. And keep this in mind: You can’t win a “battle” unless you fight!
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
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Classic time tested views of Eagan’s and our Subsconscious…scroll below.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s Vintage 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 with the slightly slanted “DEAR HILLARY.
SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER PLAYERS. Their second concert this season is titled “Virtuosity Defined” or Musical Creativity and Artistic Expression Beyond the Flying Fingers. Thery’ll be music by Bach, Paganini, Javier Contreras, Piazzolla, and Justin Hurwitz. Featuring Kris Palmer, Concert Director and flute; Steve Lin, guitar; Isaac Pastor-Chermak, cello. They are the Black Cedar Trio. The Black Cedar Trio brings their award-winning blend of flute, cello, and guitar with “Virtuosity Defined.” The program includes music of Bach, Paganini, and Piazzolla, plus new music by San Jose composer Andre Gueziec and Chilean composer Javier Contreras. After the trio’s recent San Francisco concert, The Rehearsal Studio blog wrote, “Contreras’ music was an examination of not only the unique sonorities of each of the three instruments but also a rich study of how those sonorities could be blended in different combinations…clearly a major undertaking; but those willing to listen to it attentively were richly rewarded.” The concerts happen in the Christ Lutheran Church in Aptos, near the freedom Boulevard turnoff. The concerts are Saturday, November 23, 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 24, 3:00 pm.
Lisa writes: ” Don’t look now, but I may have just discovered my favorite movie of the year: Pain And Glory, by the ever-intriguing Pedro Almodovar. Find out all the reasons why, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Also, an impromptu tribute to one of the most prized (if unexpected) possessions James Aschbacher brought across the Rockies to Santa Cruz with him, once upon a time. And if you feel like a few laughs (and who doesn’t these days?) consider the Jewel Theatre Company’s tuneful production of Me And My Girl, reviewed in this week’s Good Times!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
THE IRISHMAN. When you have Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci in a mobster film directed by Martin Scorsese, you have a monumental achievement in motion pictures. Yes, it’s 3 ½ hours long — but you’ll love every minute of it. It’s a gang-driven recalling of their past by these masters, all in their 70’s. Al Pacino plays Jimmy Hoffa, and at long last we find out what happened to Hoffa’s body (at least according to this film adaption of a book) when he disappeared in 1975. Go online now and see how people are still today wondering and predicting where Hoffa’s body is, but see the movie first. 96 on RT.
THE GOOD LIAR. Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen, two of the finest actors in contemporary films, had never made a movie together. It’s too bad that this one is the predictable, slow-moving cute product that it is. It is a treat to watch these pros work together; they are as great as almost every movie-goer knows, but the script is a poor copy of a plot that deserved to be better. But, in spite of all that, go see it…they are perfect in their parts.
JOJO RABBIT. A very rare political comedy with numerous funny scenes centered on Nazi Germany,. A little boy has Adolf Hitler as an invisible buddy. Scarlett Johansson plays the little boy’s mom and does one of very finest acting jobs, ever. Hitler and the screwed up political/ military scene will make you think of Trump and our own screwed up political/ military scene. A wonderful and rare film, do not miss it!!
PAIN AND GLORY. This is probably my favorite film of 2019. I do not state that lightly, I mean it. It was directed and written by Pedro Almodóvar and stars Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz and Julieta Serrano. It’s about a film director who has lost his energy and drive to make films. He gets into heroin, same sex love, booze and ultimately back into film making. The acting is perfect, directing is shockingly tight, and a masterpiece. See it as soon as possible.
JOKER. Joaquin Phoenix should just be given the Oscar now, instead of all that fuss in January. Yes this is the origin of why the Joker haunts Bruce Wayne (Batman) and it’s so much more than that. The film is deep, dark, brilliant, violent, clever, absorbing, haunting, and will move you into a different perspective. Forget the criticism about protesters; the Joker is insane and magnetic. See this film if you like films beyond what’s acceptable! It just became the biggest – money making attendance record R-rated film ever!!!. Now (11/18) it’s taken in over 1 billion dollars.
PARASITE. South Korean director Bong Joon-ho outdid his other international screen successes with Parasite. Wikipedia calls it a dark comedy thriller and so do I. It’s winning awards everywhere and deserves them all. There’s brain surgery, murder, basement dwellers, numerous surprises, even some shocks and well worth your seeing it ASAP.
MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN. Actor Edward Norton not only plays the Tourette syndrome plagued detective posing as a reporter but he directed the movie too. It takes place in NYC in the 1950’s . Alec Baldwin plays a character based on Robert Moses the evil developer of NYC. Willem Dafoe and Bruce Willis have small parts. The movie is not only confusing, but it drags on and on with little if any conclusion. And no, you won’t believe Norton’s actors version of faked Tourette’s either.
HARRIET. A real Hollywood tear jerker of Harriet Tubman’s amazing life and what she accomplished fighting slavery. Cynthia Erivo is excellent as Harriet and even looks like her. However the crashing crescendos of sobbing music, the homey corniness of so much of the plot and much of the acting makes this look and feel like a 1940’s Hollywood soap opera.
THE LIGHTHOUSE. Robert Pattinson plays the young, innocent, naïve and new lighthouse keeper wannabe. Willem Defoe works very hard to be the ancient, hard to understand keeper from the old days. Neither of them are likable, and they don’t like each other. And I didn’t like this movie because they were so unlikable. It doesn’t matter much but it’s set in the 1890’s in New England. It’s screened in black and white and in a small square frame.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. On November 19 Kelly Damewood C.E.O. of the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) talks about local and national food issues. Then John Aird, local activist discusses UCSC growth and our water problems. Winners from Bookshop Santa Cruz’s Young Writers program read their entries on December 3. OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kzsc You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
Some food for thought from The Atlantic
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur,The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
“Thanksgiving”
“It’s not the minutes spent at the table that put on weight, it’s the seconds”. Author Unknown
“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations”. Oscar Wilde
(I’ve used this one before but it’s so good…)
“My cooking is so bad my kids thought Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor”. Phyllis Diller
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough”. Oprah Winfrey
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions:Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
BRATTON…Final word on “McPherson”, Ross camp revisited, No more MAH mummers, Annrae Angel for Judge. GREENSITE…on Australia, beaches, trees and Capitola Mall KROHN…the recall, California Apartment Association, Santa Cruz Together. STEINBRUNER…Court case and Soquel Creek Water District and Judge Schmal. Fleas and bio-hazards. Cal Fire tax ballots Aptos Village and second traffic light? PATTON…Gates And Rates: The “Perturbed Plutocrats” EAGAN…Sub Cons and Deep Cover. BRATTON…I critique “Jojo Rabbit” UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES… “Holidays”
SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL CARRIER FLEET. June 9, 1956. If you look closely you won’t see a lot of smiles, but they have jobs. Where are they now? What a difference 63 years can make!
RETURNING TO ROSS CAMP. As many have noticed, people are moving back into Camp Ross. The FB page quote from the camp says there’s nothing the police can do about it. Keith McHenry states, “This is a Santa Cruz Homeless Union authorized camp. That’s what we explained to the police”. So we’ll see toilets being set up, a solar charging station is on order, and there’ll be regular trash pickups. There’ll also be a first aid tent, and even weekly council meetings. Homelessness is an international problem. We send money and survival goods to other countries, and yet turn our backs and hatred to our local homeless community. We watch as our affordable way of life is taken over by the ongoing developer-promoted invasion of “Silly Cons”, and their millionaire weekend condos replace our once democratic and fair way of life. Open minds and hearts should be created.
NO ACTION TO/FROM MAH!! There’s been absolutely zero communication from either MAH supporters, MAH concerned Artists, Historians, or the county. We can only hope that their financial problems are being worked out. I’ll keep you informed when I hear anything.
JUDGE ARIADNE SYMONS QUIT THE RACE. We can be very glad that Ariadne quit before the rest of her story was revealed. We can also be very happy that Annrae Angel has now entered the Judge’s race. Email her at her website www.angel4judge2020.com where you can also make a donation.
NO FEAR IN BRUCE MCPHERSON!!! As a brief Santa Cruz County hobby I began trying to get folks to say and pronounce Supervisor Bruce McPherson’s name the way he does. Usually folks say “MC Fearson”, as if there’s an A in it. Not only was he my boss when I worked at the Sentinel, but I knew his Mom too, though our work on the Santa Cruz Historical Commission. So anyway, Supervisor McPherson was interviewed on our KZSC’s Bushwhackers Breakfast club last Friday. He was asked the correct way to say his name. He replied ON AIR “There’s no FEAR in McPherson”. So there you go. We stand (or possibly are seated) with this solution.
November 11
AUSSIE RULES
I’m looking forward to a trip to Australia for a number of reasons. I get to spend time with my friend and also visit my sister. My friend Edna and I met when we were 12 years old and beginning high school. There is no middle school in Australia, or at least there wasn’t back then. You went straight from primary school to high school. Our school was the last of the single gender schools in the public school system, which in many ways was a distinct advantage. As all girls, up to 40 in a class with no teacher’s aide, it was expected, even in 1961, that the top person in math and science was a girl. (Edna was top in math, or maths as it is called in Australia). We escaped the unconscious bias towards boys that teachers exhibit in a mixed gender classroom. (At University I did research in this field and found distinct gender bias on the part of teachers in secondary schools.) We were serious students and had good teachers. I credit my ability to write a decent essay to my high school teachers. On the social side of life we were probably naïve. Boys were foreign territory.
I am also looking forward to a meat pie. Don’t laugh (or grimace) Australian meat pies are one of life’s pleasures for non-vegetarians. Also on the gastronomic front are fish such as flathead that my Dad and I used to catch off West Head in a tiny boat that he built.
Then there are the beaches. The northern beaches of Sydney are stunning. Since I grew up there, I saw nothing remarkable about them at the time. Golden sand, sparkling waves, shore birds, and not an off-leash dog in sight. That’s right. Australians love their dogs as much as do folks in Santa Cruz but commonsense says that dogs running loose on beaches is anathema to bird life, children’s health and safety, marine mammal protection and the peace of a non-crowded beach. A simple sign, swift enforcement if needed, the provision of good dog parks away from beaches and the beaches are beautiful for all to enjoy.
In Santa Cruz as elsewhere in California, there seems to be a paralysis of action on the part of rangers and law enforcement. Couple that with a dog owner’s attitude of entitlement plus a general disregard for birds and marine mammals and the result is less than stellar. I wince when I see off-leash dogs chasing snowy egrets and other shore birds on our beaches. Researchers scratch their heads and cannot fathom why sea lions are beaching and dying with symptoms of leptospirosis, a bacterium carried in, among other things, dog urine, at beaches where scores of dogs run off-leash in violation of posted signs.
Then there are the trees. Even in the inner city suburbs of Sydney the trees dominate. It is rare to see a tree butchered by bad pruning. There is not the fear of big trees that seems to have gripped so many here. And woe-betide anyone who poisons a tree or cuts one down for a view. The council will erect a scaffold as large as the former tree in front of your view for as long as it takes for its replacement to grow as big as the original tree. Quite a deterrent!
So you may ask, why don’t I go back to where I came from? Because my life, my friends and my community are here. And the trees need me…and you, especially you.
If you love trees, write to the Capitola City Council at citycouncil@ci.capitola.ca.us and urge them to save all of the white gum trees currently growing in the parking lots at the Capitola Mall. They were planted when the Mall was built in the 1970’s. Their life span is in the hundreds of years. There used to be a beauty on Pacific Garden Mall before they cut it down to straighten the road. The Capitola Town Square Conceptual Review, a complete re-design of the Mall is on the council’s agenda for 11/14/19. While the Horticultural Report speaks to saving viable trees, building on the parking lots will put most of the trees into the “not viable” category. However, the trees can be re-located, by experts in the field. Rather than belabor the obvious regarding carbon sequestration and climate change I’ll leave you with a message from a young tree lover who joined our vigil to try to save the red horse chestnut on Broadway. Heed her words and act.
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 11
CONCERNING THE RECALL
A recall campaign is going on in Santa Cruz to oust Drew Glover, one of only two African-American men ever elected to the Santa Cruz City Council, and me. You might’ve heard about it. We’ve been outspoken on the need for rent control and just cause eviction, demanding developers build the legally required affordable housing units that were often negotiated away by previous councils, standing up to the UC Regents’ extreme growth plans for UCSC, and building a much-needed emergency shelter. This is what we campaigned on, me in 2016 and Glover in 2018, and it’s essentially why we are being recalled. These represent political differences. There have been no “high crimes and misdemeanors” that I am aware. Political differences ought to be dealt with in regularly scheduled elections. The recall petition signatures from registered voters are being counted now on the third floor of the county building at 701 Ocean Street. The County Clerk gets 30 days to validate them, but she says she may have them done by Nov. 18.
Deep Throat to Santa Cruz: Follow the $$$
Who’s funding this recall effort? The next 460 filings that detail campaign spending are not due until Jan. 31, but you may have guessed that real estate and developer money is helping back the recall. If you remember, the California Apartment Association contributed mightily to stopping rent control here and it is in the thick of trying to overturn the last SC candidate election as well. Over $1 million was raised to defeat Measure M, rent control, last November and there’s more $$$ where that comes from. Remember too, there is a bigger picture to this recall and having a statewide and federal political lens might help. Republicans are flailing electorally in California. Voter registration has hit all-time lows, so in order to hang onto power they’ve devised a three-pronged national strategy: 1) gerrymandered districts, which several states are currently fighting back on, 2) keep using the voter fraud allegation to make it as difficult for new voters and non-regular voters to actually vote, and 3) stop anyone who has served jail time from voting. In California, since these three no longer yield positive outcomes for the GOP in this overwhelming Democratic and “No Party Preference” state, they are resorting to recalls. If they don’t like the outcome of a local election, because rent control, affordable housing, or homeless advocates have been elected, then they use our state’s fairly liberal recall method. There are also recall efforts going on in Westminster and Chico. The Washington Post and FiveThirtyEight among other news outlets have reported that Republicans are using recalls in states like Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon to overturn elections that did not go their way. The Los Angeles Times has a bit of recall history here
Insightful Look at this Recall
I include this well-written analysis on the Santa Cruz recall by Paul Gratz. He originally submitted it to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, but it has not yet been published.
Don’t be Bamboozled by the Recallers!
Getting right to the point: Santa Cruz Together/United’s recall is all about disagreements with policy decisions and style. Clearly, it represents a brazen and well-funded assault on a democratically elected City Council majority. If successful, it would be a destructive and a precedent-setting development for the City of Santa Cruz. Last year’s City’s election broke the two decade-long hold by a business-as-usual council – a dynamic that reflected a significant swing leftward. No longer would we have an entrenched City Council cozy with the short-term interests of deep-pocketed developers, real estate speculators, investment firms, and landlord groups. Unquestionably, 2018 marked an enormous set back to those elites accustomed to maintaining their political hegemony.
In California, recalls were designed to unseat officials charged with maleficence, corruption, illicit activities, or misuse of power. Today, however, we live in a toxic society where facts often don’t matter. Most recalls have become an extreme means of political warfare — fueled by anger and waged through smear campaigns. Yet, the high cost of recall elections cannot be justified in an age of city budget deficits. One thing is certain: if conservatives want to derail the progressive agendas of local governments, then a recall machine spreading baseless allegations, disinformation, and discord is truly a powerful weapon. Statewide, housing industry groups have huge amounts of money available for mounting recall campaigns, including the funding of marketing, legal, and paid signature-gathering activities. Most notably, are the California Apartment Association (CAA) and the California Association of Realtors (CAR), the groups representing big landlords and property owners. Both are staunch opponents of rent control intended to keep living costs affordable for lower-income residents.
CAA and CAR regularly meddle in the affairs of area cities where renters, affordable housing advocates, and progressive councilmembers are pushing for modest renter protections, including Alameda, Concord, Healdsburg, Lafayette, Marin, Milpitas, Mountain View, Pacifica, San Jose, San Mateo, and Santa Rosa. They have a history of misleading and intimidating voters and often are allied with so-called grassroots organizations claiming to be speaking for mom-and-pop landlords, neighbors, and community leaders. Their aggressive tactics should not come as a big surprise — as the financial stakes are extraordinarily high. Central to their recall strategy is producing a fake narrative mantra containing denigrating allegations, falsehoods, and fear instilling propaganda.
Drew Glover and Chris Krohn, as well as any other targeted progressive officials, should expect to be out funded by the real estate industry and its conservative allies. It’s merely standard practice in such a lucrative housing market, especially when UCSC enrollment is exploding and where there are high home prices, egregious rent hikes, increasing levels of evictions, and swelling homelessness. Lacking any substantial evidence for removing two dedicated councilmembers, the recall effort amounts to an absolute attack on democratic election results and only fosters divisiveness within our community. Don’t be bamboozled by the recallers!
Paul Gratz is a 37-year Santa Cruz resident and a retired public health educator. He has extensive experience in organizing ballot initiatives and petition signature gathering, including the successful Measure P “Right to Vote on Desal” campaign.
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Tweet of the Week (July 18)
Another reminder of what people are calling the “radical, extreme-left agenda”:
Medicare for All
A Living Wage & Labor Rights
K-16 schooling, aka Public Colleges
100% Renewable Energy
Fixing the pipes in Flint
Not Hurting Immigrants
Holding Wall Street Accountable
(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and was on the Santa Cruz City Councilmember from 1998-2002. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 14 years. He was elected the the city council again in November of 2016, after his kids went off to college. His current term ends in 2020.
MY DAY IN COURT AGAINST THREE ATTORNEYS WHO RAKED IN NEARLY $1000 per HOUR
Soquel Creek Water District brought not one but three attorneys to the hearing last Friday before Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge Timothy Schmal, and two had flown in from Riverside, CA to be there…ker-ching! We had to wait nearly an hour to have our matter heard, due to the Judge’s busy misdemeanor court calendar. The judge considered three matters relevant to my legal complaint regarding the disastrous environmental damage of the $95 Million plan to inject 1.3 million gallons of treated sewage water daily into the drinking water supply for the MidCounty residents, aka, “Pure” Water Soquel Project.
He had already denied my request last Wednesday to move the case to another County in order to have the very complex case heard by a judge seasoned in environmental law and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements. He ordered me to remove bio-hazard from the County Court evidence room…more on that below.
Friday, Judge Schmal denied my request to amend my complaint to correct mistakes, add exhibits that I had not been able to include before, and to add a party to the case. He said I had delayed too long in asking to do so, even though I had asked to do this two months ago and he had set Friday’s date to consider it.
Judge Schmal then denied my request to continue the hearing of the main case, in order to obtain critical information from the State Dept. of Water Resources to verify that the Soquel Valley Basin (aka Mid County Basin) is in critical overdraft. That is the argument that Soquel Creek Water District is making to justify their urgent fast-track construction of the Project, and to get state and federal grant awards to build it. However, a professional hydrologist recently stated publicly that the reason the State determined the Basin to be in critical overdraft was because “Soquel Creek Water District had already determined that, so the State just went with it.” There is no data or analysis to justify the claims. Soquel Creek Water District declared a Groundwater Emergency on June 17, 2014….just a month after submitting an application to the State for their treated sewage water injection Project. Hmmm…..
A Dept. of Water Resources staff member who happened to be present at the recent meeting when the hydrologist explained the “critical overdraft” determination agreed that there was no basis for doing so. He advised me not to bother filing a Public Records Act request for any documentation. “It would be a quick turnaround on your request, because there is nothing to give you.” he said.
I filed a Public Records Act request on June 27, 2019. The Dept. of Water Resources has delayed the response date three times…the latest coming the week before the Hearing on the Merits of my case and a possible change of venue to Sacramento County, with an amended complaint explaining all of this. Hmmmm……..
However, the data from local groundwater monitoring reports shows the Basin to be recovering well, with groundwater levels rising, and no evidence of seawater intrusion.
On Friday, Judge Schmal heard oral argument of the Case 19CV00181. You can view all documents in this case from public computers at 701 Ocean Street, in the Viewing Room on the first floor near the traffic court payment area (8am-5pm) using the Court Portal for Case Inquiry. Judge Schmal’s ruling is due any time now…..stay tuned.
I was very glad he did NOT impose monetary sanctions upon me, as Soquel Creek Water District had asked him to do….nearly $40,000. By law, they are not allowed to seek their attorney fees if they prevail because they are a public agency.
FLEAS ARE NOT A BIO HAZARD
Fleas are not bio-hazard, but what the County authorized created a bio-hazard. On Wednesday, November 6, Judge Schmal ordered me to remove bio-hazard from the County Court evidence room by noon Friday. I am not licensed to do that, and later let the Court know I thought it would be a big liability problem for the County if I followed the Judge’s order. I worried, however, that I might be held in contempt of court, or be billed for the disposal costs if I did not follow his orders.
Luckily, Judge Schmal agreed to my request to not remove the bio-hazard.
You must be asking how I could be held responsible for bio-hazard in the Court’s evidence room? Here’s the scoop: Santa Cruz County policy is so backward in that local rules demand all administrative records of the proceedings of a case (i.e., all the documented history of the issues related to the case) be submitted (“lodged”) in hard copy in two-inch binders with no more that 400 sheets/ binder. Paper, paper, paper. Oh, but because this County is SO ENVIRONMENTALLY-CONSCIOUS, cases that are environmental are required to be printed double-sided. Isn’t that just ridiculous???
Because I knew that the administrative record for my case would be voluminous, having spanned five years of studies, meetings, reports, and correspondence, I wrote a letter to Judge John Gallagher, who was assigned to the case, and asked for an exception, to be able to lodge the voluminous administrative record in electronic form. HE REFUSED on the grounds that the Court could not risk computer viruses entering the system. That made no sense since this County requires all attorneys to file their documents electronically…surely the County has protective firewalls for such virus concerns. (Judge Gallagher later disqualified himself from my case.)
So, with the incredibly valiant and generous efforts of Mr. Jon Cole, who has helped me with IT work on my case, and is an experienced Pro Per litigant who successfully sued Soquel Creek Water District for their illegal rates, I was able to abide by Judge Gallagher’s demand to lodge 13 boxes filled with 87 two-inch binders full of paper with the Court on October 18, 2019. Box #1 contained the first eight binders of the materials I really used a lot as I wrote my court briefs, so I kept that one in the house next to my desk, but all the others were in the garage.
My sweet cat, Rosita, decided she loved sleeping on the Box #1 binders. On the day I met friends to haul the 13 boxes to the County, I cleaned out Box #1, and wrote a note on it to courteously alert any Court staff with cat allergies to be aware that there could be cat hair still in the binders.
Last Wednesday, Judge Schmal informed me in court that fleas from my case administrative record boxes had infested the entire evidence room. The County had a pest control company apply pesticide, but now there was a film over everything, and the County had determined the boxes were now bio-hazard that must be removed from the premises! That is when he ordered me to remove the bio-hazard from the evidence room by Friday, noon.
I would have willingly removed the 13 boxes that supposedly had fleas, but after researching the pesticide that had been applied without my permission or knowledge, did not want to risk my health or that of my family to be responsible for removing bio-hazard from the evidence room. Fleas are not bio-hazard, but what the County authorized created bio-hazard.
Luckily, on Friday, Judge Schmal agreed that I did not have to remove the bio-hazard from the premises, and would not be charged for the disposal.
What a disgusting waste of resources. Several Santa Cruz Superior Court judges are up for election in March 2020. We all need to insist that Santa Cruz County not require administrative records to be lodged in hard copy. We can do better than that, and must.
COUNTY FIRE CSA 48 TAX INCREASE BALLOTS ARE OUT
Come to the Town Hall meeting in Corralitos on Monday, November 18 at 6:30pm to learn more about the proposed Benefit Assessment tax for rural properties in the CalFire areas of the County. The meeting is free and will be at the Corralitos Padres Center (35 Browns Valley Rd.) near the Market.
This complex and rather mysterious tax is being handled as a Prop 218 matter, so there was no opportunity for opposing information to be included in the Voter Information Guide. There is no explanation of the calculation, or how the money will be used. The Board of Supervisors can increase the amount by up to 4% every year, provided there is a public hearing…which usually happens on a Tuesday morning without much notice other than “on the website”.
The real question that begs the Board of Supervisors to answer is WHY TAX PEOPLE MORE WHEN THE COUNTY HAS $18 MILLION AVAILABLE EVERY YEAR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY USES BUT CHOOSES TO GIVE IT ALL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT? The County Sheriff is also supported by a County Service Area (CSA) #38, and also gets money from the General Fund. County Fire volunteers get no money from the General Fund.
The second big question is WHY DID THE NEW COUNTYWIDE SALES TAX MEASURE G, PASSED LAST NOVEMBER WITH THE STATEMENT THAT IT WOULD SUPPORT “FIRE”, YET ZERO DOLLARS FROM THAT FUND WILL ACTUALLY BE GIVEN TO COUNTY FIRE DEPT. ???
This is, in my opinion, local government corruption and the Board of Supervisors must be held accountable. Other Town Hall meetings in the Davenport, Summit and Bonny Doon areas will soon be announced. Stay tuned, and please pass this information along to others affected.
ANOTHER HALF MILLION $ FOR A SECOND TRAFFIC LIGHT IN APTOS VILLAGE?
That is what the Board of Supervisors approved to ask of the Regional Transportation Commission in grant applications. Happily, there are other more-worthy projects on the table, such as the Pioneer/Varni Road areas in Watsonville that are in shambles. Notably, Lompico Road is NOT one of the projects submitted, which should cause concern, given that a national survey recently deemed that area as the #1 most hazardous fire evacuation route for residents in the entire Bay Area. Mercury News article
Where are our leaders?
You may be interested in knowing why the Aptos Creek Road and Soquel Drive intersection has required a seemingly endless pile of money vacuumed into the project of that second traffic light in Aptos Village. It is known as Aptos Village Traffic Improvement Phase 2B (Phase 2A is a plan to connect a new Parade Street to Soquel Drive and close the legal entry to the Bayview Hotel from Soquel Drive that is supposed to be paid for by the Aptos Village Project developers.). It is the traffic mitigation measure for the Aptos Village Project Phase 2 subdivision, and must be operational before the subdivision’s Phase 2 can be occupied.
The Aptos Creek Road traffic light has been awarded nearly $2 million in RTC grant money over the past few years. That grant source also helped pay for the Trout Gulch Road intersection traffic light and moved the bus stop out of the way for the new Parade Street intersection.
Part of why the traffic light projects are so expensive is because the railroad bed soils are highly contaminated and require special testing and handling to protect human and environmental health. I came upon the link to the letter below while researching the Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Data Files
I selected the “Hazardous Materials Documents” and typed in “Aptos Village”. Try it…you will be amazed at what you find.
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. ATTEND ONE PUBLIC MEETING. MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE…BUT JUST TO SOMETHING THIS WEEK! Cheers,
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.
Let me follow up my blog post yesterday, which I titled, “The Billionaire Boys Club.” On Sunday morning, when I picked up the papers, I was happy to find the following editorial in The New York Times. I have copied The Times’ editorial, in its entirety, below.
It seems that The Times has noticed that the billionaire class is getting just a little bit restless. I endorse the newspaper’s response to these “perturbed plutocrats!”
When Bill Gates founded Microsoft in 1975, the top marginal tax rate on personal income was 70 percent, tax rates on capital gains and corporate income were significantly higher than at present, and the estate tax was a much more formidable levy. None of that dissuaded Mr. Gates from pouring himself into his business, nor discouraged his investors from pouring in their money.
Yet he is now the latest affluent American to warn that Senator Elizabeth Warren’s plan for much higher taxes on the rich would be bad not just for the wealthy but for the rest of America, too.
Mr. Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, suggested on Wednesday that a big tax increase would result in less economic growth. “I do think if you tax too much you do risk the capital formation, innovation, U.S. as the desirable place to do innovative companies — I do think you risk that,” he said. Other perturbed plutocrats have made the same point with less finesse. The billionaire investor Leon Cooperman was downright crude when he declared that Ms. Warren was wrecking the American dream. Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, complained on CNBC that Ms. Warren “uses some pretty harsh words” about the rich. He added, “Some would say vilifiessuccessful people.”
Let’s get a few things straight.
The wealthiest Americans are paying a much smaller share of income in taxes than they did a half-century ago. In 1961, Americans with the highest incomes paid an average of 51.5 percent of that income in federal, state and local taxes. In 2011, Americans with the highest incomes paid just 33.2 percent of their income in taxes, according to a study by Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman published last year. Data for the last few years is not yet available but would most likely show a relatively similar tax burden.
The federal government needs a lot more money. Decades of episodic tax cuts have left the government deeply in debt: The Treasury is on pace to borrow more than $1 trillion during the current fiscal year to meet its obligations. The government will need still more money for critical investments in infrastructure, education and the social safety net.
This is not an endorsement of the particulars of Ms. Warren’s tax plan. There is plenty of room to debate how much money the government needs, and how best to raise that money. The specific proposals by Ms. Warren and one of her rivals, Senator Bernie Sanders, to impose a new federal tax on wealth are innovations that require careful consideration.
But a necessary part of the solution is to collect more from those Americans who have the most.
And there is little evidence to justify Mr. Gates’s concern that tax increases of the magnitude proposed by Ms. Warren and other candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination would meaningfully discourage innovation, investment or economic growth.
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
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Just a thought below our deepest thinking…scroll down to check out Tim’s Subconscious Comics.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s Deep Cover classics 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 containing “Wrong and Wronger”
SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER PLAYERS. Their second concert this season is titled “Virtuosity Defined” or Musical Creativity and Artistic Expression Beyond the Flying Fingers. Thery’ll be music by Bach, Paganini, Javier Contreras, Piazzolla, and Justin Hurwitz. Featuring Kris Palmer, Concert Director and flute; Steve Lin, guitar; Isaac Pastor-Chermak, cello. They are the Black Cedar Trio. The Black Cedar Trio brings their award-winning blend of flute, cello, and guitar with “Virtuosity Defined.” The program includes music of Bach, Paganini, and Piazzolla, plus new music by San Jose composer Andre Gueziec and Chilean composer Javier Contreras. After the trio’s recent San Francisco concert, The Rehearsal Studio blog wrote, “Contreras’ music was an examination of not only the unique sonorities of each of the three instruments but also a rich study of how those sonorities could be blended in different combinations…clearly a major undertaking; but those willing to listen to it attentively were richly rewarded.” The concerts happen in the Christ Lutheran Church in Aptos, near the freedom Boulevard turnoff. the concerts are Saturday, November 23, 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 24, 3:00 pm.
JOJO RABBIT. A very rare political comedy with numerous scenes that are actually funny, centered on Nazi Germany. A little boy has Adolf Hitler as an invisible buddy. Scarlett Johansson plays the little boy’s mom, and does one of her very finest acting jobs, ever. Hitler and the screwed up political/military scene will make you think of Trump and our own screwed up political/military scene. A wonderful and rare film, do not miss it!!
PAIN AND GLORY. This is probably my favorite film of 2019. I do not state that lightly, I mean it. It was directed and written by Pedro Almodóvar and stars Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz and Julieta Serrano. It’s about a film director who has lost his energy and drive to make films. He gets into heroin, same sex love, booze and ultimately back into film making. The acting is perfect, directing is shockingly tight, and a masterpiece. See it as soon as possible.
JOKER. Joaquin Phoenix should just be given the Oscar now, instead of all that fuss in January. Yes this is the origin of why the Joker haunts Bruce Wayne (Batman) and it’s so much more than that. The film is deep, dark, brilliant, violent, clever, absorbing, haunting, and will move you into a different perspective. Forget the criticism about protesters; the Joker is insane and magnetic. See this film if you like films beyond what’s acceptable! It just became the biggest – money making attendance record R-rated film ever!!!
PARASITE. South Korean director Bong Joon-ho outdid his other international screen successes with Parasite. Wikipedia calls it a dark comedy thriller and so do I. It’s winning awards everywhere and deserves them all. There’s brain surgery, murder, basement dwellers, numerous surprises, even some shocks and well worth your seeing it ASAP.
MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN. Actor Edward Norton not only plays the Tourette syndrome plagued detective posing as a reporter but he directed the movie too. It takes place in NYC in the 1950’s . Alec Baldwin plays a character based on Robert Moses the evil developer of NYC. Willem Dafoe and Bruce Willis have small parts. The movie is not only confusing, but it drags on and on with little if any conclusion. And no, you won’t believe Norton’s actors version of faked Tourette’s either.
HARRIET. A real Hollywood tear jerker of Harriet Tubman’s amazing life and what she accomplished fighting slavery. Cynthia Erivo is excellent as Harriet and even looks like her. However the crashing crescendos of sobbing music, the homey corniness of so much of the plot and much of the acting makes this look and feel like a 1940’s Hollywood soap opera.
THE LIGHTHOUSE. Robert Pattinson plays the young, innocent, naïve and new lighthouse keeper wannabe. Willem Defoe works very hard to be the ancient, hard to understand keeper from the old days. Neither of them are likable, and they don’t like each other. And I didn’t like this movie because they were so unlikable. It doesn’t matter much but it’s set in the 1890’s in New England. It’s screened in black and white and in a small square frame.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. Keith McHenry from Food Not Bombs and Ross Camp activist opens then Paloma Curutenango from UCSC’s Common Ground Center discusses their goals, successes, and history on Nov.12. On November 19 Kelly Damewood from California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) talks about local and national food issues. Then John Aird, local activist discusses UCSC growth and our water problems. Winners from Bookshop Santa Cruz’s Young Writers program read their entries on December 3. OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kzsc You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
As much as I hate Christmas advertising too early, this is a damn good ad! 🙂
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur,The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
“HOLIDAYS”
“I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up – they have no holidays”. Henny Youngman
“Holidays are about experiences and people, and tuning into what you feel like doing at that moment. Enjoy not having to look at a watch”. Evelyn Glennie
“I need a six months holiday twice a year”. Anonymous
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions:Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
BRATTON…Justin Cummings and developers and “conscientious”, Bookshop Santa Cruz Birthday party. Hot Damn String Band plays, Bach is rated greatest composer. GREENSITE…Climate and Santa Cruz developments. KROHN… on Chile, uprisings, and PG&E STEINBRUNER…Removing local control over development, Soquel Water district and lawsuit and soaring rates. PATTON…end of human civilization. EAGAN…his art show and subconscious comics plus Deep Cover. JENSEN…reviews Harriet. BRATTON…I critique Pain and Glory, Parasite, Motherless Brooklyn and Harriet. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…”VOTING”
ESTHER AND CHUCK ABBOTT AND THEIR LIGHTHOUSE. October 27, 1967. The Abbotts arrived here in 1960, and created a lot of positive changes for our city. The lighthouse is of course only decorative, a dedicated gift to the city in honor of their son Mark who died surfing at Pleasure Point. The Abbotts were photographers, and also owned and operated a dance hall in Florida before coming here.
CUMMINGS AND CONSCIENTIOUS. Many thanks to the folks who emailed in asking why I called Justin Cummings “conscientious” in last week’s BrattonOnline. The most honest answer is… “I goofed”. Maybe it’s part of my curmudgeon stage… but no way is — or was — Justin Cummings “conscientious”. What’s even more telling about Cummings is that on my Universal Grapevine program last Tuesday night, Julie and Stu Phillips (two of the most active opponents against the Dream Inn expansion) told me and our listeners that immediately after Justin Cummings voted with the city council to allow that Dream Inn job ,they walked outside the city hall to see a happy group with Justin Cummings laughing and handshaking with not just the developers, but also with a bunch of the Santa Cruz City Planning Staff. Every Santa Cruzan knew about the City Planning crew and their support of Ensemble’s Dream development from the very beginning, but the surprise of Cumming’s vote will remain with us for a very long time.
BOOKSHOP SANTA CRUZ’S 53RD BIRTHDAY PARTY & HOT DAMN STRING BAND. Just so you know, the Almost Legendary Hot Damn String Band will be playing starting at 7:30 p.m. this Friday night Nov. 8th. There’s a Readers Club Member sale with 20% off storewide. There’s also cake and ice cream and just a grand get together. Our Hot Damn String Band has been playing for these parties since before the 1989 earthquake!!! The Hot Damn String Band contains; Jim Reynolds – Guitar, Annie Steinhart – Fiddle, Dave Magram – Banjo, Stewart Evans – Mandolin, Gary Cunningham – String Bass, and I’ll be playing the washboard and the Zayantephone..
J.S. BACH NAMED GREATEST COMPOSER OF ALL TIME. The October issue of the BBC Music magazine stated…Johann Sebastian Bach has been named the greatest composer of all time. The German Baroque figure has been voted top from a list of 50 musical masters for BBC Music Magazine. Bach was renowned for his organ playing, use of fugue, and works including The Well-Tempered Clavier and the Brandenburg Concertos. No British composers made the top 10 list in the poll, which ranked Igor Stravinsky and Ludwig van Beethoven in second and third place – ahead of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Composer Unsuk Chin said of the result: “Bach’s music displays great emotions and fiery temperament, while being the highest conceivable summit of composition as an intellectual art. “It is a synthesis of past music and the creations of his own time as well as a bold vision of the future. “Up to Bach, musical works disappeared after a premiere or, at least, after a composer’s death. Bach was too grand to be ignored.” Bach triumphed in a poll of 174 leading contemporary composers, who ranked their individual top five favourites based on originality, impact, craftsmanship, and enjoyability.
The result of the proposals from composers led to Bach coming out on top, and a list that spans musical history from the 12th century to the present day. Oliver Condy, BBC Music Magazine editor, said: “The sheer breadth and depth of our top 50 list proves that today’s composers look to all countries, styles and centuries for inspiration. “In gathering together 174 living composers for our poll, our Top 50 composer list turned out to be our most ambitious feature to date – and makes for fascinating reading.” British composer Benjamin Britten narrowly missed out on the top 10, voted in at 11th place in the rankings.
The top 10 composers are:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Igor Stravinsky
Ludwig van Beethoven
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Claude Debussy
Gyorgy Ligeti
Gustav Mahler
Richard Wagner
Maurice Ravel
Claudio Monteverdi
GREENSITE’S INSIGHT.
November 4.
CLIMATE AND SANTA CRUZ DEVELOPMENTS.
I’m a believer. I’m convinced. The science is in. The climate is rapidly changing towards extremes. The seas are rising. Species are collapsing. Disease and food scarcity are spreading. We have only a decade to act. So why is it that others, including city staff, four council members and public figures say they accept this climate reality and also cheer at the recent approval of a massive new structure of 79 luxury apartments and retail at 190 West Cliff Drive?
A tally of the carbon footprint for just this one project would be an eye-opener: the excavation and trucking away of thousands of cubic yards of soil and bedrock for a two story underground parking lot; the production of thousands of cubic yards of cement for concrete, (cement production is one of the most carbon intensive and polluting of products); the carpeting; the wood floors; the plastics; the steel; the removal of 51 trees: all this resource depletion and carbon production for the wealthy to secure a second home at the beach. Anyone serious about climate impacts would eschew such conspicuous consumption.
The contradiction between the climate-induced need to scale back our consumption and the market imperative to increase it can be seen across Santa Cruz. It is multiplied by millions of projects and products across the country. If you attend public meetings where new projects are approved and at the same time read any worthwhile Climate Action Plan you can see the disconnect. If your thinking stops at “it’s a Green Building” then you aren’t seeing the gap.
We are a throw away society. What we truck to the landfill every day, other countries would preserve or re-use, if not by custom then by regulation. The Family Student Apartments at UCSC, built in 1971 and soon to be bulldozed are described as “beyond their lifespan.” The historic La Bahia on Beach St. is deemed, by neglect, beyond preservation. The small local businesses along Front, Water, Ocean and Mission Streets, the so-called Corridors, are to be bulldozed to make way for glass and steel high-rises with the attendant rent increases that will drive the local businesses out of business. These will be replaced by high-end retailers catering to the new high-end residents whose carbon footprint via their consumption patterns exceeds any savings from the hoped-for reduction in automobile use as per the “smart-growth” paradigm.
Since we are immersed in a capitalist culture of consumption we rarely see it from the outside. And some consume a lot more than others. As a nation we emit twice the carbon as do folks living in Europe and for a variety of reasons, including the casual disposal of finite resources.
The photograph is of a house being built in the Rift Valley in Tanzania by a teacher who works at the nearby Maasai School for Girls. Such rare schools are important as an alternative for Maasai girls who otherwise would be married at a young age and lose any chance for an education. Being a product of western society I at first did not believe what he was building was a house. Where will you cook I asked? Outside, the teacher replied. It was a humbling experience.
The gulf between the Tanzanian hut and the West Cliff Drive luxury apartments is a measure of our disproportionate impact on the global climate scene. Such disparity will continue so long as we let the market and investors drive our choices. To those who supported the West Cliff Drive project as well as other projects in the works, I suggest you leave your climate hat at the door.
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 4
WHY A SANTA CRUZ FOREIGN POLICY?
Policy Perspectives
I have always encountered a strong sentiment in Santa Cruz for debate, discussion, and action around issues of both domestic and foreign policy. It’s an interest bordering on the severe in Santa Cruz. That is, residents here have always been involved in the larger issues of this state, the nation, and the world. Often, locals expect and demand that their elected public officials take stands against unjust national policies–not sending immigrants back to dangerous places as the council did in passing numerous resolutions to protect immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. The council often addresses and sometimes takes action on state issues such as housing, homelessness, and firearms. Why? Because the state’s policies often impact our spending and ultimate quality of life here in Surf City.
Santa Cruz Foreign Policy “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, and the hopes of its children”. –From (Dwight Eisenhower’s “Chance for Peace” speech soon after the death of Joseph Stalin)
In the area of “International Affairs” and “Foreign Policy,” the Santa Cruz city council has often put its collective toe, and sometimes foot, into the steamy and muddy waters of global concerns. We’ve demanded that Great Britain for example, hand over Augusto Pinochet to the Chilean people, proclaim our support for the Salvadoran people over the Reagan war machine in the 1980’s, as well as pronouncements in support of the rain forest, banning sex slavery, and upholding the MacBride principles of Northern Ireland. The city council has made statements, demands, and passed resolutions usually because our residents demanded discussion and action on these issues. So here is an update on international concerns I’ve been hearing from Santa Cruz residents recently.
Updates on Concerns Expressed by Residents
Russia and Trump and the Impending Impeachment
To sum it up, Donald Trump had a conversation with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, in which he asked, according to a transcript of the phone call, if the Ukraine would assist in investigating Trump’s rival, Joe Biden and his son Hunter. For most looking at this, it is likely not the worst thing Trump ever did and, the question really is, was it illegal? Can the President of the US make such requests and have it be legal because he is the President? I am not so sure there is a smoking gun here, but the Democrats are moving forward to impeach the SOB-in-chief anyway. Of course, many of us are relieved, some jubilant, but this move is sure to help energize The Donald’s base as we move toward the 2020 election and it may offer additional hope to this self-described Billionaire Underdog. Stay tuned, or perhaps not, since no Republican Senator (maybe Mitt) has changed his or her mind on the impeachment questions yet, which has left Santa Cruz and much of the country wondering what it will take for “his people” to admit this President’s time is over. He’s had his shot and clearly blown it, especially in the area of foreign policy.
Chile Again. An Uprising.
It is thirty years since General Augusto Pinochet was driven from power and Chile entered into a new democratic era. Many in Santa Cruz followed closely the life and times of former President Salvador Allende who was a long-time politician before ascending to the presidency in 1970. Allende was put out of power by a military coup backed by the US and ITT (International Telephone and Telegraph) in 1973. It was a short-lived socialist revolution and a bloody counter revolution, which yielded thousands of deaths and Chilean refugees and for that reason followed by many Santa Cruzans. Saul Landau the film-maker lived for a time in Santa Cruz and taught a summer film class for a few years. He wrote a book called, Assassination on Embassy Row, and former US Rep. George Miller told the Washington Post upon the death of Landau, “In a show of his persistence and tenacity…he helped bring Augusto Pinochet to justice more than 30 years later.” Now, in Chile many are chanting, No son 30 pesos, son 30 años. (“It’s not about 30 pesos, it’s about 30 years.”) It refers to the raising of subway fares, only about 4 cents US, but now they are among the highest fares in Latin America. Increasing subway fares set off a powder keg of popular dissent going back many years. There is a vast and increasing inequality among those who have in Chile, and those who have not. (Sound familiar?!) According to the New York Times, at least 19 have died and “hundreds more injured, though not all by security forces, while 20 people have been reported missing.” Below I offer the contents of an email from an old friend who teaches at the Universidad Catolica in Santiago and who received her Ph.D. from Berkeley in Entomology. She perhaps represents that gulf between the classes in Chile.
Letter from Santiago Things are a real mess at the moment, kind of reminds Pinochet…. But upside down? I am not sure what to think, a lot of conspiracy theories surfacing, from the right and also from the left!!! Piñera (and all his team) is an inept no doubt about it, but lots of very out of control youth and, for sure in between a few nasty people too. I would guess that much of what you see is out of context, although some intense encounters between police and people had happened. In theory police do not fire real bullets, but the military did shoot 2 people at 4am on Sunday (not dead, but had to have emergency surgery). Most dead people, I think 11 until this morning, were caught up in fires inside stores while taking away stuff in the middle of the night. This morning I was listening to a guy from the human rights movement, and he was very objective saying what is not acceptable in this situation, and that they had people in the streets and hospitals checking stuff out and helping people with legal actions. But he said that all together, until this morning, only 9 cases were put forward, mainly for excessive force. They are a lot of people detained though, but I think most are set free after they check their documents in the stations. Not sure how these numbers will change after today. We have curfew at night since Saturday, and I have not gone out of the house in the weekend or today (my campus is closed, although tomorrow we have to go to feed the insects). Is not that I feel insecure, but mostly because I don’t need to, and prefer not to add to the bad spirit. Maybe, I should have gone out and protest a little bit (I know you would have!!!!), but I am kind of in a state of shock, trying to process what the hell is going on. I agree with the demands, but setting fire to the subway, supermarkets and pharmacies is really upsetting. Not sure what is the way forward either, politicians in the last 30 years have not helped much, and the economic “model” is unfair for so many. I hate the fact that many of our basic services (water, buses, energy, roads, etc.) are owned by for-profit big transnational companies. On the other hand, I am doing really well. I guess I am upper middle class, I have had all the opportunities, but all what I have is from my work. I pay all my taxes, and try to be fair to those that work for me. More can be done, but I think the Chilean society is really not very together, and people feel “smart” when they legally cut corners with taxes for example. So then in practice you can’t really do more. I don’t know, maybe after this we could… as you see, I am processing all…(Oct. 21)
Uprising in Lebanon
Over what seemed to begin as protest against a government measure to tax WhatsApp, the people of Lebanon took to the streets for 13 consecutive days and forced Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign. It was “unprecedented” according to Al Jazeera. It is likely Hariri will return to power because he “is still the single most popular politician among Lebanon’s Sunnis, important in a country where the prime minister must be Sunni, the speaker of the parliament Shia, and the president a Maronite Christian.” It also looks like a financial crisis was really at the heart of the Lebanese uprising and that basic services such as electricity and water were increasingly unstable.
Trump and the World Rightwing-mania
It is perhaps no coincidence that the world is besieged by rightwing heads of state and Trump is seems to be a friend to most of them. Trigger warning: this scorecard of right-wingers is gruesome. In Hungary, Victor Orban has successfully kicked out Central European University from Budapest. It was founded by billionaire liberal, George Soros. Kim Jong Un of South Korea has an up and down bromance with President Trump as does Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump has said he admires Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for the way he goes after (and kills) drug dealers. Trump also seemed to be the choice for Russia’s Vladimir Putin in the 2016 elections. But perhaps most disturbing is Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia and his embrace of Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and this is despite all evidence that leads to Salman’s ordering the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. These foreign “entanglements” kind of relationships should be disturbing to most voters, but I would bet there is a larger percentage in Santa Cruzans who want to debate and discuss the current administration’s spiraling downward in the area of foreign policy.
Addendum: What to do About P.G.$ E?
Now, here we have a corporate investor-owned, for-profit utility that has shown more concern for its shareholders than the rate-payers of Northern California and Santa Cruz. What can our residents and ratepayers do to confront this out of control company and maybe help the push toward democratizing P.G.$ E’s future actions? What might residents want their city council to do? Something like making a demand that P.G.$ E not be allowed to get away with the past blackout or future ones as well? No other utility has thus far shut down the grid because of high winds; it is not an industry standard. Residents could demand that P.G.$ E’s people be present at the next city council meeting meeting and respond to the to the community’s questions. Or they could ask for a resolution to sever ties with P.G.$ E, or to buy out P.G.$ E assets as San Francisco and San Jose are asking to do. The least we can do is have the mayor write a letter expressing our community’s strong feelings about this issue. What do you think we should do?
“Won’t you look at that: turns out all the chicken littles on raising min wage were wrong! GOP said the sky would fall if we (New York) raised tipped wages to $15/hr w #TipsOnTop. Turns out both revenue & employment are UP since the #Fightfor15, & way more people are getting a fair shake.” (Nov. 3)
(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and was on the Santa Cruz City Councilmember from 1998-2002. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 14 years. He was elected the the city council again in November of 2016, after his kids went off to college. His current term ends in 2020.
COUNTY PLANNING DEPT. HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION TO REVIEW IMPENDING (AND FOREBODING) LEGISLATION
This Wednesday, the County Housing Advisory Commission will consider the many pieces of impending legislation regarding the heavy-fisted State mandates that would remove significant local control over dense development in the future. If you are able, attend this meeting: November 6, 1pm, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, 4th Floor large conference room. Here is a link to the agenda, which includes direct links to all legislative actions
These meetings are NOT audio or video recorded, but I will do my best to record it and post it as a YouTube in the near future. Of great concern is the SB 330 (Senator Nancy Skinner) is a re-hash of Senator Scott Wiener’s attempts to remove the ability of local planning agencies and the public to refuse large dense developments, but adds in language that any opposition must prove there is non-conformity with zoning and general plan language in place at the time this bill is approved. YIKES! Councilmember Chris Krohn wrote about this last week in BrattonOnline.
Read his thoughts, and read the legislative proposal yourself, then contact your local representatives about the status of zoning and general plan amendments. The County is in the middle of updating all of that language NOW. 831-454-2200
SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT RATE INCREASES ARE UNFAIR AND HURT FAMILIES
Join the 535+ ratepayers and sign the online protest and let Soquel Creek Water District Board know that their outrageous rate restructuring and 9% annual rate increase is really hurting families and those on fixed incomes.
Attend the District Board meeting Tuesday, November 5, 2019 in the Capitola City Council Chambers, 6pm and let them know your thoughts. In response to the many customers who testified at the last Board meeting in protest of the $100-$200 monthly increase in their water bills, Director Bruce Jaffe requested staff to return with information showing the true impacts of the new rate structuring, fee increases and 9% rate increase. He wanted to know how well the reality of what the District customers are experiencing matches with the model generated by the Raftelis rate consultant study used to calculate the new rates.
According to the Finance Dept. staff report in this week’s Board agenda packet, the Board will not see that information until “early 2020”. OUCH!! By then, customers will be facing YET ANOTHER 9% INCREASE, because the Board approved increases every year for FIVE YEARS in order to pay for their desired $95 Million plan to inject 1.3 million gallons/day treated sewage water into the drinking water supply of MidCounty residents (aka PureWater Soquel Project).
If that is not disgusting enough, consider that the Board approved all this on November 6, 2018, BEFORE even certifying that the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Project was complete, and before they accordingly approved the Project on December 18, 2018.
STATUS OF LEGAL ACTION AGAINST SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT FOR PUREWATER SOQUEL PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS
When the well-informed citizen and experts of Water for Santa Cruz County could not amass $100.000 last January to file legal action challenging Soquel Creek Water District regarding multiple violations of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regarding the PureWater Soquel Project, I chose to take action myself, as Pro Per, and have filed legal challenges. A group, such as Water for Santa Cruz County, by law is not allowed to do their own legal work, but I can, taking citizen duty for the Public Benefit. It has been a difficult journey, but I am resolved to vigorously pursue the Petition for Writ of Mandate action that I have filed in Santa Cruz Superior Court.
All I am asking is that Soquel Creek Water District comply with the CEQA laws which I allege they violated.
That action will be heard this week. Wednesday, November 6 at 10am, in Dept. 2, Judge Timothy Schmal (who presides over misdemeanor issues) will consider my motion to move my case out of Santa Cruz County. If he grants that request, the hearing of the matter will be postponed until all documents get transferred and a new hearing date set. If he denies my request, Judge Schmal will consider three motions on Friday, November 8, 9am, in Dept. 2.
The first motion is whether he will allow me to amend my complaint. If he does, the other two motions could be postponed, in order to allow me the legal time to file and serve the amended complaint. If he does not, the case will most likely be heard for its merits.
The second motion I have filed is for a continuance of the hearing on the merits of my complaint, which all really hinges on whether Judge Schmal allows me to amend my complaint, but I had to file the request in order to get a continued hearing date in the event he does allow me to amend my complaint.
The Hearing on the Merits is the main hearing to decide whether any of the complaints I have brought forth against the District have any merit. That is the big one. I have let the District know (not a threat, as their attorney has stated) that I will appeal if necessary.
What is most disturbing is that the District is asking the Court to punish me with sanctions for nearly $40.000, claiming that I am just trying to delay things because I just do not like the Project. It is called being vexatious, and in my case, nothing could be further from the truth. The District just is not used to having anyone challenge them, and they simply do not like it and want to punish me for doing my citizen duty on behalf of the public benefit, defending the Public Trust Doctrine.
I do not understand why the District has chosen to hire an attorney from Best, Best & Krieger in Riverside, CA, in addition to paying their regular attorney, Mr. Bob Bosso, $8000+/month for legal counsel. The Riverside attorney travels to Santa Cruz each and every time there is a legal action regarding the Case 19CV00181, at the rate of $325/hour, including travel time. Courts have the ability to allow out-of-town attorneys to participate remotely, but the District’s counsel from Riverside refuses to do so. KER-CHING! for the rate payers.
Because I have had to work so hard to just get a fair and impartial judge to hear my case, I have had to file a number of court documents and actions. I have learned a lot, but each time, the District customers get billed an outrageous amount of money. That is not my goal, but it is what the District chooses to do.
At the last Board meeting on October 15, Best, Best & Krieger submitted a request for an additional $193,500 for further legal action to fight my request that the District just follow CEQA law. Amazingly, the item was in the Consent Agenda, which would not have required any special discussion publicly. Luckily, Director Bruce Jaffe pulled the item for discussion. It was only then that General Ron Duncan showed the Board and the public the itemized Exhibit A that Best, Best & Krieger had sent and referred to in their request for more money. The Board amazingly approved the outrageous expense, after assurance from Mr. Bosso that it would not be violating the Brown Act to be voting on the material that was only made available to the Board and the public at that very moment!
You will now find that complete document on the November 5, 2019 agenda, pages 18-23. I think it is shocking that the Board was so willing to squander so much ratepayer money and to accept the questionable actions of General Manager Ron Duncan to attempt to hide critical financial information from them and the public that was very relevant to decision-making regarding the expense.
What amazed me at the October 15, 2019 Board meeting was Director Bruce Daniels’ angry retort to the ratepayers, stating (as you can read on page 6 in the Minutes):
“Vice-President Daniels responded to public comment, explaining that staff and the Board identified and evaluated a variety of water supply options, and there is no alternative to Pure Water Soquel”
WOW!
Please visit the Water for Santa Cruz County website and learn the truth. Santa Cruz County does not have a water supply problem, but rather a water STORAGE problem that can be regionally managed if only there is a political will from the Soquel Creek Water District Board and staff.
MAKE ONE CALL. WRITE ONE LETTER. ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING. MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. BUT JUST DO SOMETHING THIS WEEK! Cheers, Becky Steinbruner
Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
November 3 #307 2050 IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
2050 is “just around the corner.” At least, that is the perspective of someone like me, who has already lived for seventy-five years. 2050 is roughly thirty years away, so I have lived more than twice as long as the thirty years that now separate us from 2050. For someone who has lived thirty or fewer years, of course, thirty years is likely to appear to be a rather long time. It is a “lifetime,” in fact.
From whatever vantage point you consider the year 2050, and whether you think that thirty years is a “long” time or a “short” time, the following headline should make that 2050 date significant:
The Breakthrough Centre defines its mission as “the development and promotion of strategies, innovation and analysis which are required to restore the climate to a safe condition.” The Breakthrough report was written by David Spratt and Ian Dunlop, with a forward by Chris Barrie, the former chief of the Australian Defence Forces and a retired Admiral in the Royal Australian Navy.
Clicking this link will take you to the full report. The article already linked provides a good synopsis. The key point, and the reason for this blog post, is not just that we need to take very seriously the impacts that accelerating global warming is having on the natural environment. We do need to do that, of course, but we also need to think about what the impacts of the coming changes in the natural environment will mean for our human civilization. We need to think about those dangers and threats, in other words, the way Admirals and Generals have always thought about the threats and dangers posed by other nations, as nations skirmish for geopolitical advance and/or domination.
Human-caused global warming is initiating a Sixth Mass Extinction. That is horrible, but what the Breakthrough Report is trying to make clear is a point that I, too, try to make clear in the series of daily blog postings that I have been making on this website for almost ten years.
We live ultimately in the World of Nature, but we live most immediately in a Human World, a “Political World,” a world that we can properly call our human “civilization.” While we have the ability to undermine the integrity of the Natural World, and are doing so (witness that Sixth Mass Extinction) our own, human world is less resilient and more vulnerable than the World of Nature.
In other words, our human civilization will break down BEFORE the worst has happened in the Natural World. In fact, according to the Breakthrough report, we don’t have long to get ready and to do something about that. This is obviously very bad news, but is there an upside? Is there any good news?
Maybe there is! If we can truly understand that we live, most immediately, in a human world, and that all our lives depend on being able to maintain the viability of our human civilization, then the unity of human beings across all perceived boundaries and differences will melt away. We are in this together. All of us. Every single one of us. In our current situation, in our current crisis, it is only human empathy, love, and commitment to each other that can avert the end to the human civilization we have created and that makes it possible for our lives to continue.
Sooner or later, we are going to realize this. Young girls are sailing across the ocean to bring us this news. I think we’re going to figure this out, but we don’t have much time.
2050 is just around the corner!
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
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. More of the early years of Eagan’s subterranean sneaky looks into our other selves. Check them out below a few scrolls.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s sharp, poignant political plots 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.
TIM EAGAN SAYS…”Hi everybody. If you find yourself in Santa Cruz in the near future, please come take a look at my plein air oils at the Gabriella Cafe on Cedar St. It will be there until the end of December. Hope to see you there”. If you want to subscribe to Tim’s blog, go here
12×12 ARTWORK The Webmistress, Gunilla Leavitt, wants to let everyone know about an awesome local art tradition, the 12×12 exhibit at the Cabrillo Gallery. It’s open to anyone residing in California, pieces must be 12×12, and the show opened Monday and goes until December 6. There’s a reception on Saturday, November 9, 4:00–6:00, come see all the different ways you can make art in a 12×12 square! Most of the artwork is for sale, and the whole event is a fundraiser for the Gallery. Gunilla has three pieces in the show, woodworking and knitting! Come check them out and say hi at the reception!
LISA JENSEN LINKS. “Maybe now that we’re all so woke, the times have finally caught up to the amazing life of Harriet Tubman, a real-life superhero who fought for justice and won major victories against impossible odds in her lifelong battle to end slavery in the American South. In Harriet, filmmaker Kasi Lemmons explores the woman behind the historical footnote in a tribute that feels long overdue, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Also, some memories of Halloweens Past for this witching season. And if you were going to dress up as your favorite literary character, how would you choose? Your actual favorite character or the one with the coolest outfit? You’ll get your chance next week when Bookshop Santa Cruz hosts a Literary Masquerade in honor of author Erin Morgenstern (The Night Circus), and her new novel, The Starless Sea! ” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
SPECIAL BRATTONOTE. WHEN YOU CAN’T QUITE FIGURE OUT THE PLOTS TO ANY FILMS OR TV SERIES, GO TO WIKIPEDIA. For example the “Watchmen” series is/was completely beyond me to decipher. Go here if you too need explaining…
PAIN AND GLORY. This is probably my favorite film of 2019. I do not state that lightly It was directed and written by Pedro Almodóvar, and stars Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz and Julieta Serrano. It’s about a film director who has lost the energy and drive to make films. He gets into heroin, some sex love, booze — and ultimately back into film making. The acting is perfect, directing is shockingly tight, and a masterpiece. See it as soon as possible.
PARASITE. South Korean director Bong Joon-ho outdid his other international screen successes with Parasite. Wikipedia calls it a dark comedy thriller ,and so do I. It’s winning awards everywhere and deserves them all. There’s brain surgery, murder, basement dwellers, numerous surprises, even some shocks, and well worth your seeing it ASAP.
MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN. Actor Edward Norton not only plays the Tourette syndrome-plagued detective posing as a reporter, but he directed the movie too. It takes place in NYC in the 1950’s. Alec Baldwin plays a character based on Robert Moses, the evil developer of NYC. Willem Dafoe and Bruce Willis have small parts. The movie is not only confusing, but drags on and on with little if any conclusion. And no, you won’t believe Norton’s actor’s version of faked Tourette’s either.
HARRIET. A real Hollywood tear-jerker of Harriet Tubman’s amazing life, and what she accomplished fighting slavery. Cynthia Erivo is excellent as Harriet, and even looks like her. However the crashing crescendos of sobbing music, the homey corniness of so much of the plot, and much of the acting makes this look and feel like a 1940’s Hollywood soap opera.
JOKER. Joaquin Phoenix should just be given the Oscar now, instead of all that fuss in January. Yes this is the origin of why the Joker haunts Bruce Wayne (Batman) and it’s so much more than that. The film is deep, dark, brilliant, violent, clever, absorbing, haunting, and will move you into a different perspective. Forget the criticism about protesters; the Joker is insane and magnetic. See this film if you like films beyond what’s acceptable! It just became the biggest – money making attendance record R-rated film ever!!!
THE LIGHTHOUSE. Robert Pattinson plays the young, innocent, naïve and new lighthouse keeper wannabe. Willem Defoe works very hard to be the ancient, hard to understand keeper from the old days. Neither of them are likable, and they don’t like each other. And I didn’t like this movie because they were so unlikable. It doesn’t matter much but it’s set in the 1890’s in New England. It’s screened in black and white and in a small square frame.
CURRENT WAR. I thought at first this might be about today’s White House and foreign relations. Then I wondered maybe it’s about swimming against the currents. Could it possibly be about black versus yellow Currants? None of above, it’s really about George Westinghouse versus Thomas Alva Edison versus Nikolai Tesla. The war is about Direct Current or Alternating Current. Too bad we can’t raise hands and count how many folks care about the difference between the two currents. Worse than the boredom is watching and hearing Benedict Cummerbatch doing an American accent. For the first time on screen he is boring. This is the “director’s cut”, too bad he didn’t cut it much more!!!. CLOSES THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. . On November 5 Dean Kaufman Veterans Service Officer talks about the meaning and events happening on Veterans Day. Gail Pellerin Santa Cruz County Clerk talks about voting and elections after Dean on Nov. 5. Paloma Curutenango from UCSC’s Common Ground Center discusses their goals, successes, and history on Nov.12 OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kzsc You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
I was careening down a YouTube rabbithole of videos about drummers. There are several on what a fantastically talented and genius drummer Ringo Starr was, and how underappreciated his contributions have been. I meant to post one of those, but then I stumbled on this one about John Bonham, and so this is what you get this week. The death of John Bonham was a tragedy to music, and you wonder what he would have come up with had he been around.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur,The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
“VOTING”
“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” Thomas Jefferson
“Too many people fought too hard to make sure all citizens of all colors, races, ethnicities, genders, and abilities can vote to think that not voting somehow sends a message.”– Luis Gutierrez
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” Plato
“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” – Pericles
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions:Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
BRATTON…Justin Cummings, Dream Inn Expansion, Tim Eagan Show. GREENSITE…on the 190 West Cliff Drive decision. KROHN…General Plan & zoning, corridors plan, 190 West Cliff Development, Vacate and just cause issues. STEINBRUNER…Soquel treated Water rate increase, water storage problem, Nissan decision and John Leopold, rural Fire tax. PATTON…Trump the Underdog Billionaire EAGAN…Sub Comics and classics. JENSEN…reviews The Current War. BRATTON…I critique Where’s My Roy Cohn?, The Current War, and Lighthouse. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES… “FIRE”
DREAM INN CONSTRUCTION April 26, 1963. You can see the old Sisters Hospital halfway up on the left margin. After some moves, it became our Dominican Hospital. The hospital site became a parking lot for the Dream Inn
JUSTIN CUMMINGS, WHAT A GUY!!! It seems like only yesterday we thought we had a 4 to 3 progressive majority on our City Council. Then we watched and trembled as Justin Cummings flipped 4 or 5 votes to the Pro Development–Cynthia Mathew’s side. Last week was a pre-Halloween nightmare, as Cummings voted to support The Dream Inn-Ensemble 190 West Cliff expansion. From now on, Santa Cruz will be subject to a 3.5 vs. 3.5 City Council. Of course that places Cummings at the center of all the development pressure. He’s not only new to politics, but conscientious too. It is, as we say…anybody’s guess, as our Silicon Beach city continues to grow.
DREAM INN EXPANSION, MORE ABOUT. Despite the fact that 22,438 Santa Cruzans voted for Trump in 2016, it’s tough to believe that so many of our “City Institutions’ like the Chamber of Commerce and our Santa Cruz Business Council are so pro-development. Robert Singleton — the sexually-charged executive director of the Santa Cruz County Business Council — sent a report/reaction on their website. Read it all here…
Cutting to the core of his reaction to the Dream Inn victory, Singleton wrote…
“The Business Council has been working on this project with a myriad of other community partners, from MBEP (Monterey Bay Economic Partnership) to YIMBY (YES in My Backyard) and beyond, because of the precedent this project will set in a truly post-redevelopment world, where there exists very little local funding for affordable housing.
You really need two types of “political cover” in order to get our electeds to support what they all know deep down inside is a great project. The first one is obvious, in that you need a broad coalition of folks from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds to speak in favor of new housing. No ifs and or buts about it, no broad based coalition of more than just old white folks in the room? No housing for you. Said another way: the whole community needs to show up, and even then Chris Krohn is going to vote against it on some bogus environmental reason.
When people get emotionally invested in a project outcome, no amount of facts or studies are going to persuade them. Only those very few and disciplined decision makers seem to be able to rise above the constant back and forth and be able to genuinely synthesize information well into the evening. Obviously members of the public have no interest in overcoming their emotional stances, they came to the hearing to let their elected leaders have it, which doesn’t help frankly. But to constantly question the expert input of staff, lawyers, geologists, hydrologists, traffic engineers, etc.–all of who went to school for many years in order to qualify to give such testimony–is really hard to watch, and slightly demeaning. To take all of their information in and then dismiss it entirely, or nit pick it until you find a minor inconsistency that is usually one poignant question away, that’s just completely regressive”.
BrattonNote…Maybe we should name the new Dream Inn’s Sauna and Spa room The Cummings Cute Calorie Count Court. Plus we should all relax, since UCSC’s Gary Griggs also gave his approval.
TIM EAGAN SAYS… “Hi everybody. If you find yourself in Santa Cruz in the near future, please come take a look at my plein air oils at the Gabriella Cafe on Cedar St. I’ll be hanging the show on October 31st, and it will run until the end of December. There is also an opening from 3 to 5 on November 3rd. Hope to see you there” .If you want to subscribe to Tim’s blog go to.. http://www.timeagan.com/?subscribe&email=bratton@cruzio.com&code=0d8422df1273fe4dd17422347d63a7a8&action=unsubscribe
October 28
LET THEM EAT CAKE
We have only 3 city council members who genuinely represent the people and not the “stakeholders.” And two of them are facing a recall. This is not a good time for the common folk. It’s a great time for developers and those whom they suckle. This reality was in full display at the council meeting where the decision to approve the mammoth high-end development at 190 West Cliff Drive was made on a 4 to 3 vote.
Ensemble, the out of town big-scale developer and owner of the Dream Inn had assembled an impressive cast of actors in this high stakes drama. Union members were there in support, hitching their star to the rich. Various housing groups spoke, including the powerful MBEP (Monterey Bay Economic Partnership) and the Santa Cruz County Business Council. These interest groups remind me of the right to lifers who are so protective of the unborn but couldn’t give a damn about children. Who cares if Clearview Court, the adjacent community of 67 manufactured homes owned by long-time low-income seniors, many disabled, lose their sun, their privacy and in the long run even their homes as this area gentrifies, when what is gained is 79 luxury apartments for over the hill investors, plus a token smattering of minimally required low income units?
Those of us who spoke against the project were not asking for much. Just an EIR , (Environmental Impact Report) to better assess the traffic, pedestrian and geologic impacts which were understudied in the documents used to approve the project. Robert Singleton, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz County Business Council laments that those of us who oppose such projects just don’t trust the experts and that for us “to constantly question the expert input of staff, lawyers, geologists, hydrologists, traffic engineers, etc.–all of who went to school for many years in order to qualify to give such testimony–is really hard to watch, and slightly demeaning.” Gird your loins and read more here
If I’ve learned anything from the past 40 years it’s that “experts” make findings consistent with whom is paying their costs. It’s hard to find an expert who gives bad news to their boss. And sometimes they lie. That is not an opinion. It’s an observation from reading tons of “expert” opinion for myriad projects that I have opposed or appealed, usually involving trees and the environment.
Another clever gimmicky success noted by Singleton is to stack the meetings with people of color to support a development in order to contrast with the aging white folk who turn out to defend their long-time neighborhoods. Works every time. I wasn’t sure why the NAACP came out in support but there they were. This reminded me of the battle over Longs (now CVS) on Mission St. It was controversial so the meeting was held in the Civic. Neighbors came out in force. The argument in favor of the development was that the new Longs aimed to employ many African Americans in its new store so how could white folks stand in their way? CVS today is a shining example of what not to approve and I doubt there are many if any African American employees.
UCSC is adept at co-opting people of color to support their various plans. When we opposed the establishment of fraternities on campus the administration enlisted the support of a black Fraternity to effectively silence the largely white opposition. The same tactic was used with the first building on the Great Meadow, which was originally a Student Center. It failed as such since its location was absurd. The administration offered space for the African American Resource Center and dissent for the project dissolved.
Expect more of this well-organized seduction of people of color and trade unions to support the myriad city projects that are in the planning stage. What is being lost is any notion of class impacts. Research documents that the losers in this in-filling, high-rise, smart growth era are the low-income renters who include significant numbers of people of color. Council member Drew Glover captured this class affront in his pointed response to the Mayor’s suggestion that if shade from the 55 feet tall development means that the Clearview Court residents can no longer grow vegetables to augment their tiny incomes, then maybe they can be given left-over food from the retail businesses in the new luxury development. Let them eat cake!
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 28
PROGRESSIVES MUST FIND THEIR WAY
Progressive Tip-toe at the Edge of the Development Abyss
The Santa Cruz City Council continues on its unsettling “majority” tip-toe journey into charted and uncharted political territory. Two huge issues were decided by 4-3 votes last Tuesday, Oct. 22nd, and they did not have pretty progressive endings, unfortunately. The afternoon agenda had only one item of real significance. What was innocuously billed as, “Monthly Report on General Plan and Zoning Ordinance Reconciliation Effort” became a city staff recommendation to spend $300,000 to $450,000 to pay for “staff time” and an outside consultant. What’s at issue? From the city staff report:
The Housing Accountability Act and SB 330
The Housing Accountability Act (HAA)
The HAA expressly prohibits jurisdictions from requiring a rezoning when there is an inconsistency between the objective density standards allowed on the site under the GP land use designation and those allowed under the Zoning Ordinance. In short, for sites which permit housing development, if a proposed project is consistent with the objective density standards in the GP, but the zoning has not yet been updated to match, the jurisdiction must allow the applicant to utilize the GP’s objective density standards. Once the GP density standards are permitted, the jurisdiction can then require the applicant to meet the remaining objective standards found in the Zoning Ordinance. The HAA requires that, if a housing development conforms to specific objective general plan and zoning standards and a city seeks to deny the project or condition it in a manner that reduces the number of proposed dwelling units, that a decision-making body must make specific findings, supported by a preponderance of evidence in the record, that the project would have a specific, adverse effect on public health or safety.
Corridors Mistaking, Part II
My problem is that there weren’t any neighbors, or neighborhood groups involved in this rather dramatic action to invest a lot of money into a plan that staff is contending that the state is basically holding a planning gun to our head. If we do not have “objective density standards” in place then the state will impose them? This action flies in the face of what the city council had previously passed, that is, get neighbors and neighborhood groups involved in planning. At least in this case, put off a decision until the next community meeting on Oct. 28th with Save Santa Cruz and other interested parties is completed. But that did not happen. If the council does not allow neighbors and other parties who are not financially invested in how building takes place in our town to participate, then city staff will only replicate the past failed corridors plan. Yes, new state laws have somewhat constrained the power of the city council to decide many land-use decisions, but not totally, and this decision like most would’ve fared better with more input from the public. The message of the community leading the city council and city staff has not yet fully rooted in our local governance structure, but progressives must continue tending the garden. Let it alone for the upcoming election cycle and we will be back to square one with 1) more developer-friendly council-directed plans, 2) more BearCat Tanks, and 3) it is unlikely we will find that permanent home for the downtown Farmer’s Market on Cedar Street.
Then Came the Developers Is 190 West Cliff, the next phase of Neo-Liberal Development cutting up our town?
It was a pretty dramatic turn for a progressive council. Gone was the 1998 cautionary signal the electorate sent a past council concerning commercial development during the Beach and South of Laurel daze. In came three new councilmembers that year and out went the Seaside Dream Team plan for putting retail on steroids along Beach Street. Then, it happened again in 2005 when thousands of Santa Cruzans, and five former mayors, signed a petition. It never made it to the ballot, but the former Dream Inn (Coast Hotel) owner pulled out and went back to Idaho or wherever he had come from and the convention center plan died. Don’t mourn, organize is how the progressives usually roll in this town. The Ensemble developers hail from SoCal, and they know their retail. They call it the “Marketplace” and around it will huddle 89 condominium apartments with at least 27 having access to rooftop patios. This huddle of stucco will also dwarf the 68 single-story manufactured homes at the once Clearview Court. The Ensemble fellows came with lawyers and real estate people, developers and a dozen folks who argued for a spot in one of the 10 affordable units being touted by Dream Inn manager, Tyson Sales. (No, you can’t make this stuff up!) Ensemble’s Sales huffed and puffed and finally blew over, wolf-style, four councilmembers with threats of litigation, tales of affordable units, and a full-court public relations team worthy of a Ted Turner or Michael Bloomberg. Bill Brooks or Norman Schwartz local efforts it was not. These guys are corporate, but participating in their machine is local fixer Owen Lawlor, and they know their stuff. I just thought Santa Cruz was savvy enough to get a better deal while protecting Clearview Court and many of our fellow westsiders. Even minimal issues were sidelined like moving five heritage trees; guaranteeing that no stoplight would ever be at Bay and West Cliff; no noise or shadow study for Clearview Court will be done; there is no guarantee that these new market rate condos would not end up as short-term rentals; and finally, no stepping back upper stories either…rich folk need their view shed. To add insult to injury, the hours of literally hauling away our west cliff dirt to make way for a 2-story garage were increased from four hours a day to eight. Let them truckers roll, 10/4! The construction once it begins could last two years. I guess it costs a lot to rebuild paradise. You’re welcome neighbors! The big lost opportunity though was that the city council could have demanded 18 affordable units, but no, 10 was all there was at the bottom of Ensemble’s meager community benefit bag. Well, we learned something folks. It is hard ball and the city council can’t keep coming to each game with cajones de tenis. It’s game on Surf City, and the gloves are coming off! Don’t mourn, organize.
Did You Know There was an October 28th Special City Council Meeting?
There will be a special city council meeting on Monday, October 28th and I am writing this without the benefit of the usual 72-hour agenda packet. Special meetings do NOT require the three-day notice, only 24 hours. Who knew?
The ad hoc agenda may include, but yet to be posted as of this writing:
Should the city council enact the AB 1482 earlier than the Jan. 1, 2020 deadline? The state legislature passed legislation on just cause eviction and rent control, which LA just passed last week.
“The city of Los Angeles has had a rent control law in place for 40 years; it typically caps rent around 3 or 4 percent. AB 1482 would not override local rent control policies, but it would extend to apartments and other homes not already covered by them, including newer buildings.“
15% inclusionary—this is the culmination of the Hatch-Pomerantz law suit with the city over Devcon’s 205 units at 208 Laurel St’s failure to include the 32 units of inclusionary housing. Lots of questions on this one…is 15% enough? Should negotiations with developers be up to Planning and Economic development, or the city council? What should the in-lieu fee be…20%? 30%? SF’s is 33%. The in-lieu fee should be high enough that would encourage more building of the affordable inclusionary units into the project.
Should Housing Authority units be covered by this ordinance as many Santa Cruzans are being put out of their homes before the state law kicks in?
What’s at Stake?
Local housing activist Clayton Strawn explains the changes this way in an email:
“What this item is: will the City enact the just cause portion of AB 1482 early. That is, instead of waiting until January 1, have the “just cause” law take effect immediately, (and in LA, this extended to cancelling notices to vacate without cause that have already been issued, so long as an unlawful detainer has not yet been filed). This is absolutely necessary to prevent a large number of low-income people from being kicked out of their homes by landlords angry or fearful about AB 1482. The rent control portion of AB 1482 is already retroactive as of Jan 1, rolling rents back to rent of March 2019, so it is not as urgent as the just cause portion, though applying the rent caps early would also be a good thing. But in neither case is this as much of a heavy lift as “the council enacts rent control” (‘over the will of voters, measure M, blah blah’) because rent control will already become law no matter what the council does. This is why the LA city council enacted it as an emergency measure and unanimously.”
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you can’t fix a corrupt system if you’re taking its money.” (Oct. 28)
(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and was on the Santa Cruz City Councilmember from 1998-2002. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 14 years. He was elected the the city council again in November of 2016, after his kids went off to college. His current term ends in 2020.
JOIN OVER 500 SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT CUSTOMERS IN PROTESTING PUNITIVE RATE INCREASES TO FUND DRINKING TREATED SEWAGE WATER
The water bills for Soquel Creek Water District customers have jumped excessively since the Board approved a new punitive rate structure that charges anyone using more than their low 5.99 units/month FIVE TIMES the amount/unit that Tier 1 charges. Sign the online protest petition here and please share it with neighbors and friends who are affected by this Draconian rate and fee increase: Sign the Petition
The Board needs to rescind their rate and fee increase scheme that will raise rates AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN…four annual increases of 9%/year have already been approved.
All this is to rake in the $90 Million the District wants in order to build the expensive and unnecessary treated sewage water treatment plant in Live Oak and three injection wells in Aptos. The pipes bringing the effluent from Santa Cruz City Wastewater Treatment Plant will cross the San Lorenzo River and other streams a total of 18 times, and will have to cross under Highway One at least once. What could go wrong?!!
SENDING WATER FROM THE SKY INSTEAD
It is widely recognized (except by Soquel Creek Water District) that this County does not have a water supply problem, but rather a water storage problem. This can be addressed with a regional management approach, but the District lacks the will to pursue it. I am encouraged by the news that the water transfer pilot project will again happen this year, which is a start toward using existing infrastructure to send water from the sky to Soquel Creek Water District:
Learn more about this common-sense project and how it could be expanded…if only Soquel Creek Water District will agree to accept the water from Santa Cruz City sources: waterforsantacruz.com
WHY IS SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT FAST-TRACKING THE TREATED SEWAGE WATER PROJECT?
That is a question many have asked. District staff is quick to wave their arms and insist the aquifer is in such overdraft, the sky will fall tomorrow if the sewage water doesn’t get injected in the aquifer immediately. However, several reports show the groundwater levels have risen to historically high levels because of the conservation measures people took, thereby reducing pumping needs. Those conservative efforts have held, both in Santa Cruz City and in the District, and production demand continues to decrease.
Here is a good article in which District General Manager Ron Duncan discusses the high groundwater levels:
Interestingly, at a June, 2019 MidCounty Groundwater Agency Advisory Committee meeting, the expert hydrologist said that “the reason the Basin got determined to be in critical overdraft is that Soquel Creek had already determined that it was, so the State just went with that.” Wow. I confirmed that information with the State staff member who had attended the meeting. He advised me not to file a Public Records Act request for information to verify the State’s critical overdraft determination because “it would be a really quick turnaround, because there is nothing to give you.”
Well, I did file a Public Records Act request on June 27, 2019. The State has now three times postponed providing me with any information, each time sending the notice of postponement coinciding with significant action in the Petition for Writ of Mandate California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) law suit I have currently against the District for many alleged violations of the law relative to their expensive and unnecessary PureWater Soquel Project EIR sham as Civil Case 19CV00181 in Santa Cruz County Superior Court.
Here is what I think is driving the District’s frenzy (excerpt taken from Case 19CV00181 DECLARATION OF RONALD C. DUNCAN IN SUPPORT OF SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT’S OPPOSITION TO EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR ORDER REQUESTING PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIVE REVIEW, TEMPORARY RE[S]TRAINING ORDER AND STAY, filed in the court February 20, 2019, page 6):
“The District has applied for a Proposition 1 Groundwater (“Prop 1” Grant through the State Water Resources Control Board for up to $50 million to assist in funding the Project,which is estimated to cost $90 million, and has been invited to submit a full application for Round 2 of this Grant program. The bond requirement for liquidation of funds under Prop 1 is that qualified projects must be constructed and on-line by spring 2023. The last date for disbursement of Prop 1 grant monies is February 29, 2020, thus all Project work must be completed by February 29, 202 or the District would be required to surrender the $50 million.”
There is your answer….money. Also, as I reported last week here about the Santa Cruz County 2020 Growth Goal stating that the single-most limiting factor in County growth is water infrastructure is telling and, in my opinion, is definitely linked to the fast-track status of the District and possible back-room deals with developers. After all…if the District were to get this Project, the need for their expensive $55,000/Acre Foot new water service for new development would go away, wouldn’t it. Or would it? Soquel Creek Water District is greedy and would require an additional $2.5 Million in annual operating revenue just for their sewage water treatment plant in Live Oak, three injection wells in Aptos and the miles of double-direction pipelines crossing over the waterways and under the roads.
According to this hot-off-the-press article, the District is eligible low-cost LOAN from the EPA :
Write the Board and ask them what they are really thinking: Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors
PROMISES, PROMISES, PROMISES
I was really disappointed at last Tuesday’s County Board of Supervisor meeting when Supervisor John Leopoldvoted to support the Nissan Dealership Project at 41st Avenue and Soquel Drive and require County taxpayers to fund a new $1 Million traffic light at Robertson and Soquel Drive in Soquel Village. He promised his constituents a few years ago at a public meeting that there would not be a traffic light installed at Robertson when he and then-County Public Works Director John Presleigh asked residents if they would like to replace the three-way stop sign with a light. The residents rejected the idea of a light with a loud, clear and united voice. “All right, all right! We hear you! No light at Robertson!” is what Supervisor Leopold said back then.
Now, he supports it. Now he also supports removing the on-street parking at the Ugly Mug area at Porter and Soquel that is yet another traffic mitigation for the Nissan Dealership that County taxpayers would gift the developer. Supervisor Leopold said the Soquel Village Plan, developed with great community input, supported addition of such traffic improvements.
I have since read through the Soquel Village Plan, and wonder how Supervisor John Leopold could interpret it as he did upon his vote to support the extensive and expensive traffic mitigations for the Nissan dealer. Here is the link to the Plan
Page 5 recommends widening sidewalks in what is now the Ugly Mug area, not adding another lane for vehicle traffic. The Plan states future street designs should “limit traffic improvements to accommodate existing, not future regional traffic.”
Page 26 discusses Circulation and states “a) the importance of making the Village more pedestrian-oriented, b) to not accommodate regional automobile traffic at the expense of creating a pedestrian environment and a cohesive Village Character, and c) to provide adequate parking for existing and future needs.”
Page 26 continues with Goal #5 stated “Improving vehicular traffic circulation within the existing Village structure with minimal street widening or new construction.” and Goal #6 stated “Directing new development to accommodate and enhance these pedestrian circulation routes.”
Page 29 discusses placing pavers at Robertson and Soquel to enhance pedestrian crossings, but makes no mention at all of adding a traffic light.
Page 30-32 discusses design within the Village and illustrates widening the sidewalk at Porter and Soquel, and ensuring a continuous bike lane. It does not recommend adding a turn lane to mitigate vehicle traffic volumes for future development.
This is Ad Hoc Planning at it worst.
How can Supervisor Leopold defend destroying the Village, ignoring promises he made to constituents, and justifying a car dealership development because “nobody else has come forward to do anything with this dumpy lot.”?? It was quite a shock that Supervisor Zach Friend voted against the Project, saying that “it would be hard to tear it down in 15 years if we want to do something differently there.” I wonder if he can apply that same logic to the Aptos Village Project?
Contact Supervisor Zach Friend and ask him if he would consider applying his logic to the Phase 2 Aptos Village Project that has no Final Map approval…..yet.
SUPERVISORS APPROVE A COMPLEX AND VAGUE NEW RURAL FIRE TAX BALLOT MEASURE
I was glad that several members of the public attended the County Board of Supervisor hearing last Tuesday at 1pm to consider approval of the proposed County Service Area (CSA) 48 Benefit Assessment Tax. Sadly, the Board did not answer their questions raised during testimony, other than to assure that there would be no cost to appeal assessments.
The Board approved the special mail ballot measure for this complex and very vaguely-explained new tax that ON TOP OF THE CURRENT CSA 48 TAX would increase taxes for rural property owners by a complex method that will not allow clear understanding of the computation and will double-tax them for the public benefit portion of the proposed new tax.
Afterward, I asked Ms. Elissa Benson, Assistant to CAO Carlos Palacios who contrived this tax, if there will be further public town hall meeting s to educate the public about he complex ballot initiative before the question is called on January 15, 2020? She thought not, due to lack of resources.
Carlos Palacios and the Board of Supervisors continue to withhold any of the $18 Million this County receives annually from the State in a permanent 1/2 cent public safety sales tax. ZERO DOLLARS go to County Fire Department volunteers, their training, or the equipment they need to provide emergency response that is especially vital when CalFire crews are sent out of the area on large emergency events.
Contact Elissa Benson about holding educational town hall meetings for this complicated and vague CSA 48 Benefit Assessment ballot measure: 454-2100 or Elissa.Benson@santacruzcounty.us
Contact Mr. John Bliss, President of SCI Consulting Group who wrote the 44-page Engineer’s Report justifying the benefit assessment method that will be passed with a mere 51% of weighted votes, rather than the customary 2/3 requirement. 707-430-4300 John.Bliss@sci-cg.com
Here is the text of my letter to him (feel free to use it as your write yours):
Dear Mr. Bliss,
Thank you for staying after the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisor meeting last Tuesday to answer my questions. I still have other questions and hope you can provide answers.
Please explain the rational for the public benefit portion of the proposed CSA 48 benefit assessment fee. The Engineer’s Report discusses determining General Benefit that would be funded by some other means (Page 20). Page 23 states that 48% of the costs of the Services can be attributed to General Benefit, and therefore must be funded by a source other than the proposed Assessment. Where will that money come from? Page 24 states:
“The Assessment District’s total budget for 2020-21 is $5,303,336. Of this total assessment budget amount, the County will contribute at least $3,767,729 which is more than 71% of the total budget from sources other than this proposed assessment including dedicated property taxes and the existing benefit assessment. This contribution constitutes significantly more than the 48% general benefits estimated by the Assessment Engineer, which must be paid for by non-assessment sources. ”
Mr. Bliss, please explain this County funding source. The County General Fund does not provide any money to County Fire Department. This was itemized and explained to the Fire Dept. Advisory Commission last year. Is the $3,767,729 County contribution actually the current CSA 48 assessment amount that property owners are already paying? Please explain.
What would be the appeal process available to property owners? Would the fee collection be suspended during the appeal process?
Who has and will individually review “Special Properties” such as wineries located in the CSA 48 area that have commercial permits to hold several large and small special events and participate in regular “Passport Tour” tasting events throughout the year that bring substantial impacts to the rural areas?
How will publicly-owned lands be assessed? Some parks are heavily visited while others are not; will those be individually reviewed? What about utility companies such as PG&E, water companies, and the railroad owned by the Regional Transportation Commission?
How will voters be able to compare what they are assessed with neighboring property assessments? I looked at the APN lists available at Tuesday’s meeting showing proposed assessments in my area and found it impossible to determine what my neighborhood rates would be. Is it possible to make use of the County’s excellent GIS mapping overlays to better explain the assessment rates?
Would neighborhoods who become certified FireWise Communities be given any lower assessment rate if they maintain their certification?
I did not see any language on the proposed ballot the Board approved that makes it clear to voters that the proposed benefit assessment tax will be IN ADDITION to the current CSA 48 tax they are already paying. Will this be remedied before the ballots are mailed to increase transparency and meet legal requirements regarding truth in taxation?
Thank you for helping me understand this very complex issue.
Sincerely,
Becky Steinbruner
Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
My opinion is that our president inspires such fierce loyalty because he vividly portrays, in person and in everything he does, the resentment and sense of betrayal that many Americans feel about their lives in general, and about their government in particular. Whatever happens, Trump claims that some powerful person or agency has “framed him,” or has “betrayed” him, or has “misrepresented” him, or has “downrated” him, or has “ignored” him, or has, in some other way, treated him unfairly. Government employees are always in the wrong. Donald Trump’s sense of grievance is unending. He is truly an “underdog billionaire.”
Those who have no ability live out the “billionaire” part definitely identify with the “underdog” part. I think that this is key to Donald Trump’s political success (of course, the fact that he communicates, naturally, at a third-grade reading level also helps).
As I searched for an image to accompany this blog posting, I typed “underdog billionaire” into a search box, looking for images. What came up was the picture above, which accompanied an article from the Trump Times, titled, “Donald Trump, Billionaire Underdog.” It looks like the Trump campaign well understands the phenomenon I have identified as critical to his success. Here, for instance, is a comment from a Trump Times reader:
Yes.. I think that they the Elite are orchestrating and rigging everything and the average Joe Blow democrat has nothing to do with the corruption, they are guilty of being naive and believing the news without question.. Thank you so much …
Those who are not captured by the narcissistic, “I am abused” message of our current president, should understand that it nonetheless constitutes a powerful appeal to millions of ordinary Americans. Trump’s “underdog” appeal is so powerful because so many Americans are and have been mistreated by the realities of our economic, political, and social situation. In other words, many Americans have a very reasonable case to make, as Jennifer Sasser says, that our “elites” are “rigging every thing,” and rigging it against ordinary Americans.
Donald Trump seems authentically to be on the side of those who feel themselves abused – since the sincerity of Trump’s sense of being abused is beyond question. To beat Donald Trump, an opposing candidate needs to convince the Trump “base” that the opposing candidate is on the side of the millions of Americans who have been abused and ignored by our political system and our elected officials.
Who are the candidates most clearly trying to make that case, and showing some empathy for those who comprise the Trump “base?”
I would identify Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. I think that is why they are high in the polls.
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
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Diving into our psyche and bringing up details just for us…check out his Sub Cons just a scroll below.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Classic Deep Covers ” 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 and his “No One But You” poem.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. “Powerhouse stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon fuel his tale of the rivalry between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to electrify America in The Current War, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com). Not a lot of flash and dazzle, but plenty of imaginative onscreen storytelling to honor the most enduring by-product of Edison’s genius — the motion picture! ” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
WHERE’S MY ROY COHN? This documentary about Roy Cohn is a history lesson about how Donald Trump learned to become what he is today. Roy Cohn taught him everything crooked in politics and money. It’s important to see and learn from this film. You’ll learn just how loaded, money driven, and illegal our USA politics are now, and have been for generations. Go quickly; it is another Landmark 6 day showing. CLOSES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31.
CURRENT WAR. I thought at first this might be about today’s White House and foreign relations. Then I wondered — maybe it’s about swimming against the currents. Could it possibly be about black versus yellow currants? None of above, it’s really about George Westinghouse versus Thomas Alva Edison versus Nikolai Tesla. The war is about direct current or alternating current. Too bad we can’t raise hands to find out how many folks care about the difference between the two. Worse than the boredom is watching and hearing Benedict Cummerbatch doing an American accent. For the first time on screen he is boring. This is the “director’s cut” — too bad he didn’t cut it much more!!!
THE LIGHTHOUSE. Robert Pattinson plays the young, innocent, naïve new lighthouse keeper wannabe. Willem Defoe works very hard to be the ancient, hard to understand keeper from the old days. Neither are likable, and they don’t like each other either. And I didn’t like this movie, because… they were so unlikable. It doesn’t matter much, but it’s set in the 1890s in New England. It’s screened in black and white and in a small square frame.
JOKER. Joaquin Phoenix should just be given the Oscar now, instead of all that fuss in January. Yes this is the origin of why the Joker haunts Bruce Wayne (Batman) and it’s so much more than that. The film is deep, dark, brilliant, violent, clever, absorbing, haunting, and will move you into a different perspective. Forget the criticism about protesters; the Joker is insane and magnetic. See this film if you like films beyond what’s acceptable! It just became the biggest – money making attendance record R-rated film ever!!!
JUDY. Renee Zellweger does the best possible imitation of Judy Garland in this dramatic and still musical tribute. Garland transcended the usual fame and popularity and has become a legend. This film starts off in 1968 and ends with Judy’s last days and five husbands later plus drugs. It’s corny and hammy but so was Judy. For some reason Liza Minnelli isn’t in much of it.
You’ll almost cry at some scenes…so don’t miss it. CLOSES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
DOWNTOWN ABBEY. With an audience score of 96 you can’t go wrong. It topped Rambo and Ad Astra and earned $31 million in its’ opening weekend. I have no way of knowing if those few people who didn’t watch all or most of the Downton Abbey tv years will love as much as we devotees do the movie. Same cast and the plot is centered about the King and Queen of England coming to visit the Abbey. There’s a clash between the Abbey staff and the service crew that the Queen brings with her. It’s grand fun to see all our long time screen friends again. We know so much about each character. Don’t miss the big screen version it just ain’t the same. CLOSES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE. With an audience rating of 99 on Rotten Tomatoes it’s gotta be good…or great! Her politics, talent, integrity plus an amazing voice makes her truly unique in the field of music. She mastered many styles, never gave up and is dying of Parkinson’s right now! Her Mexican heritage, time with Gov. Jerry Brown and sheer guts will keep you surprised as you learn so much about her. CLOSES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. . Lisa Robinson president of the San Lorenzo Valley Museum details the events and news from the museum on October 29 then Julie Phillips and a friend from Clearview Court sum up what happened with that tragic decision on the Dream Inn expansion. On November 5 Dean Kaufman Veterans Service Officer talks about the meaning and events happening on Veterans Day. Gail Pellerin Santa Cruz County Clerk talks about voting and elections after Dean on Nov. 5. Paloma Curutenango from UCSC’s Common Ground Center discusses their goals, successes, and history on Nov.12. OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kzsc You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
Mmmm, art!
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur,The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
QUOTES. “FIRE”
“What fire does not destroy, it hardens” Oscar Wilde
“The difference between a good life and a bad life is how well you walk through the fire“. Carl Jung
“Build a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life”.Terry Pratchett
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions:Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
BRATTON…more facts and opinions on MAH, County reaction to MAH questions, earlier Earthquake preparedness. GREENSITE…defends low income ClearView court against luxury high- rise development at 190 West Cliff. KROHN…Q & A re Dream Inn 190 West Cliff Development. STEINBRUNER…Soquel Creek rate hike, double taxes for fire protection, Pure Water Soquel, Nissan Auto vs. Sustainable Soquel, Gov Newsom and voting transparency. PATTON…News from China. EAGAN…JENSEN…Earthquake memories and movies. BRATTON…I critique First Love UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…”TREES”
COUNTY BUILDING SITE AND SAN LORENZO RIVER. 1961. This photo bears a lot of studying. You can pick out the Hindquarter, Holy Cross Church, Outdoor World, County Jail and a lot more.
MORE NEWS AND VIEWS ON MAH. I sent County media rep Jason Hoppin’s reply to a very active MAH member . Here’s that member’s reaction . “Jason’s response is classic stonewalling. It is sham transparency and total bullshit! He’s describing the process without giving us any substantive details. One cannot make sense of this without the lease and financials. Percentages without whole numbers is useless information. Also, Wayne Palmer wrote a letter to Nina (and assume the Board) excoriating her lack of ethics and calling her a “public liar.” It is circulating but not everyone has seen it. One of the current board members (a big Nina supporter) is also in the running for the Executive Directorship. Doesn’t the institution need a clean slate—a start over with no partisans? It will be more of the same if the Board chooses an internal candidate and rejects an outsider”. Now read the letter to Jason…
COUNTY RESPONSE TO MAH QUESTIONS RE FINANCES.
I Sent this on Monday, October 7, 2019 12:18 PM to Jason Hoppin, County Communications manager stating “Here are some of the many MAH questions”. My questions from so many MAH board and regular members are in bold type.+
Jason, Here’s a compilation of what MAH board members and many readers want to know…
What are the specific provisions of the current lease agreement between the County and the MAH? The director renegotiated the agreement sometime after her arrival in 2011. The agreement involves some sort of financial payback to the County.
The original lease involved a number of financial provisions, including the MAH being responsible for paying off the debt used to refurbish the County-owned building, annual payments by the County to MAH and escalating percentages of gross rents to be paid to the County, among other provisions (we would gladly provide access to the lease itself). Under the original lease, the final percentage of the gross rents was to have been 40 percent.
In 2016, the lease was rewritten to reduce the MAH’s obligations to the County for gross rents to 10 percent, which will include percentages of the subleases (Abbott Square and offices) backed up by financial statements. This provision begins in September 2021. Under the agreement, the County forgave prior MAH indebtedness and the MAH chose to pay off the remainder of the bonds used to refurbish the County’s building (approximately $800,000). The MAH is responsible for all building, maintenance and improvement costs, though it must seek County approval for structural changes to the building. The County did not contribute toward the Abbott Square project.
Were any monies owed to the County forgiven based on the past or current agreement?
Yes, as part of the new lease agreement the County forgave outstanding indebtedness under the original lease. We do not know what the total amount is. As a matter of policy, the County sees the MAH primarily as a community benefit and not a profit center.
How is the revenue from leasing office space split? Is there an annual accounting of the expenditure of public funds and how does this translate into a public benefit? Does the full museum board have any idea?
The County will receive 10 percent of the gross rents beginning September 2021, which will be deposited into the general fund. We expect these amounts to be verified by audited financial statements; however, detail about how the MAH spends the balance of leasing revenues is between the MAH and its Board. We expect the rents will offset the costs of operations and help subsidize a community benefit.
Why is it so difficult to obtain this information and the perceived shroud of secrecy? Also, currently the MAH receives annually a grant of about $154K from the County Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services Department. What is the reporting mechanism for this expenditure and how is it evaluated?
The contribution to the MAH is accounted for the in the Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services budget to fund museum operations. Historically, this has been part of the County’s community program spending, but I don’t believe this amount has been increased in recent years. We would be happy to provide you the lease, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors. Going forward, the County is required to receive an annual report of activities and a copy of the financial statements.
thanks Jason, I hope we can get to the resolution of this ASAP. Concern keeps growing. Bruce Bratton
DUMBING DOWN MAH AND NEW YORK’S MUSEUM OF MODERN ART. Still another very active MAHmember sent the following email this week to BrattonOnline…
“Lisa Hochstein, a respected painter who has in past been featured in MAH exhibits, has sent a well-written and thought-provoking piece about the MoMA reopening by Philip Kennicott from Washington Post to the large number of individuals concerned about the MAH on Wayne Palmer’s list.
The last 8 paragraphs of the article say things that most likely apply to any museum experiencing tremendous growth by popularizing, — what some might call ‘dumbing the cultural significance or the art down’ by prioritizing crowd-pleasing over explaining the art in cultural context’. The critical text of the article has been edited into 5 paragraphs. The last sentence could certainly be applied to the GLOW Festival of MAH last weekend — a lot of fun to see and participate in, but not so different from almost any fire-themed carnival — varied sights, loud sounds and dramatic sensations, but no lasting lessons and absolutely no history” .
“The [MoMA] museum . . . is no longer teaching, but simply opening itself up to exploration and discovery . . . to abandon the idea that the museum serves an educational function would be a disaster. But, though such language may sound good to other museum professionals, the public generally does want a lesson. And despite efforts to abandon “grand narratives,” people generally revert to them, at least to provide a general intellectual skeleton on which to hang their observations and discoveries.”
“But there’s a difference between complicating narratives and abandoning them. MoMA seems to want to do the latter but can’t quite bring itself to do so. The rough narrative in the galleries remains broadly chronological, with the stars of its collections still pretty much where you expect to find them. . . . Even more worrisome is the stated goal of abandoning the didactic function. No one wants a cultural organization that hectors, but they do want to learn. It’s a question of tone.”
“And it’s not entirely clear at whom the new installation is aimed: the ordinary visitor who is supposedly demanding to see art without any supporting intellectual apparatus or the more sophisticated audience who will understand why it is interesting to, say, hang a 1967 Faith Ringgold painting near Picasso’s 1907 “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.” Some of these juxtapositions are telling and smart; others seem merely clever.
Now MoMA faces the same challenge it faced before: how to manage its own success. Like widening highways, which tends to simply induce more traffic, expanding MoMA will only make it more attractive to more people. The new building may handle the crowds well for a while. But MoMA has become one of the great “winner takes all” cultural institutions, and the more it grows, the more it will feel the need to keep growing. And, with that, the pressure to do the big, dumb, crowd-pleasing shows like the terrible 2015 Bjork exhibition will only increase.
At some point, if the institution is to remain genuinely relevant to the discourse of art, it will have to grapple with this cycle and interrupt it. That will mean recommitting to first principles, or at least some principles that reference not just access to art, but the actual experience of thinking about it. MoMA knows how to get people through the door, but no one seems terribly concerned with what happens when they leave. Did their eyeballs simply lounge over lots of intriguing things, or did they learn something?”.
The MAH Board member who sent this concludes by stating…
My opinion: the abandonment of learning, “the disaster” mentioned early in the quoted excerpt, seems to have already taken place, both at MoMA as described, and at MAH. Philip Kennicott, the author of the MoMA thought-piece, says it all in the final paragraph. Like MoMA, it’s time for the MAH Board, the donors, the volunteers and the staff, but most of all, to find a visionary new Director who actually loves art and history to begin to grapple with the unfortunate cycle, interrupt it, and to recommit to principles that emphasize not only access to art, but also to thinking deeply about art as a product of its time”.
12 YEARS BEFORE THE ’89 EARTHQUAKE WARNING!!! Jim Ellmore, Architect Retired (Ellmore /Titus Architects) sent the following email to BrattonOnline…”Interesting to read your input about the downtown merchants lack of action on earthquake preparedness two/three years before the big earthquake. In 1977, twelve years before the quake, we did a Feasibility Study of Upper Floor Renovations on the Pacific Garden Mall. Eleven building owners were contacted and of that number, seven agreed to be surveyed.
The first one analyzed was 1111 Pacific Avenue, the former Hotel Metropole, which was currently occupied on the ground floor by Plaza Books and Paper vision. “The biggest cost item is to bring the structure up to present seismic requirements. Because the building is totally open on the first floor, all seismic loads that occur during an earthquake would have to be taken by the outside walls which probably could not withstand the stress . . . .” This was typical. In doing the study, it was interesting to note how many of the upper floors were formerly hotels (Virginia, Alexander, & etc.) and lodge meeting places such as Elks, Moose, Odd Fellows and others”.
October 21
DAVID AND GOLIATH: 190 WEST CLIFF DRIVE. The decision whom to favor in this battle is determined by a city council vote at its October 22nd. meeting. On one side is Ensemble, owner of the Dream Inn, which self-describes as ” a versatile real estate company that envisions, manages, brokers and owns transformative projects in the health care, hospitality, commercial and urban multifamily/mixed use sectors.” On the other side is ClearView Court, a neighborhood of 68 single-story manufactured homes, whose residents are mostly seniors, many disabled and all low income. If the mammoth project of 55 feet tall, 79 luxury apartments and retail, across from the Dream Inn is approved, it surely will be “transformative.” The residents of ClearView Court, feet away from the project, lose their view, their sun, their privacy, their peace, their quality of life and in the long run, probably their homes since this is the thin end of the wedge of upscale development, sprouting all over Santa Cruz. In this battle, city Planning staff is on the side of Goliath. They deserve far more than an inaudible sarcastic laugh in my opinion.
Below is what I communicated to city council. Staff has clearly abandoned the neighborhoods. It will be instructive to see which council members follow suit.
Dear Mayor and City Council members,
Much appreciation for your careful review of the following concerns regarding this development. To cut to the chase, this project is massively out of scale for protection of the surrounding neighborhoods.
The introductory paragraph in the Agenda Report for this project states: “The purpose of the Motel Residential Performance Overlay District is to establish and control uses to ensure development which protects neighborhood integrity while supporting appropriate uses.” The following examples demonstrate the neglect for the protection of neighborhood integrity, which, in itself is grounds to send the project back for environmental review and downscaling.
The traffic and pedestrian studies are scant and inadequate. Conducting traffic studies in April is outside the busiest traffic season of June and July and lacks environmental review credibility. Vastly increased foot traffic crossing dangerous Beach St. (one death) to reach the retail aspect of the project is not adequately studied and thus not mitigated.
The 5 tall heritage trees (cedar, redwood and pine) on the west side of the site are among the most spectacular trees in the city of Santa Cruz. They deserve the labels “iconic, majestic, and unique”. They are a signature gateway to the Monterey Bay from the north. Only 3 out of these 5 beauties are to be retained. This is a violation of the Heritage Tree Ordinance, which states that (outside of disease or danger or impacting a current structure) a heritage tree can be removed only if a development cannot be altered to accommodate the tree. Clearly the project design, which is still only on paper, could (and should) be altered to protect all of the amazing trees along the western property boundary. The conclusion on p. 25 of the Environmental Check list that there is no conflict with the criteria, provisions and requirements of the local (Heritage Tree) ordinance is simply wrong.
The Environmental Checklist Review on p.12 is incorrect in concluding that the project would have no impact on: “substantially damage scenic resources, including but not limited to trees…” Removing two of these majestic, tall trees and squashing the rest against a 55 feet tall, massive structure will have a significant impact.
Although the Planning Commission’s approval included investigating the relocation of the two heritage redwoods growing in the interior of the site, the Agenda Report leaves that up to the developer if and after you approve the project. This guarantees that no relocation will be properly evaluated since the project arborist has already stated that relocation is rarely successful and he advises against it, despite experts in big tree relocation (Environmental Design Inc.) giving an over 90 percent success rate.
There is nothing specific in the General Plan EIR, nor the B/SOL plan that addresses this particular site. Tiering off those documents is inadequate to assess the impacts. The commercial beach area mapping may overlap this site but in reality this site is, apart from the Dream Inn, far more neighborhood than commercial in character. Bringing retail up the hill to West Cliff and Bay St area is a radical departure from what currently exists. Its impacts should be studied more closely or abandoned.
The Environmental Checklist states on p. 13 that this project is not visible from the wharf. Yes it is. The visuals provided by the applicant show it to be highly visible.
A project of this scale should require story poles so that the community can get a more accurate sense of the visual impact. Many other communities make this a practice with all new development. I provided the Planning Commission with examples from Half Moon Bay to show how important such tools are, especially as a counterpoint to developers’ routine use of visual distortion (people in foreground, project in background) to minimize the scale.
As a selling point, comments that the few low-income units included can be bought by workers at the Dream Inn show ignorance about those who work at the Dream Inn. I can attest that most of the Dream Inn lower income workers have families and are not single. The low- income units are not suitable for families.
The impact of this project on the adjacent ClearView Court of low income, many disabled, many senior, long-time homeowners and renters should be your highest concern. This proposed project, with its provision of 79 luxury apartments for wealthy, high-consuming new owners is not a plus for the city of Santa Cruz. Nibbling around the edges of this mammoth 55 feet tall structure as a response to the hugely negative impacts on the residents of ClearView Court is not even a token. It is injustice.
As one of your constituents and a neighbor to this project, I urge you to significantly downscale, remove the retail, protect all 5 heritage trees on the Bay St. side, relocate the two heritage redwoods in the interior and ensure that the impacts on ClearView Court residents are minimal, before approving this project .
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 21
190 WEST CLIFF DRIVE QUESTIONS.
The Santa Cruz City Council is set to discuss, dialogue, and likely decide upon a mixed development project that includes an 89-unit condominium project at the corner of Bay Street and West Cliff Drive. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 22nd at 730pm at city hall, 809 Center Street, downtown. It is a pretty big project and has some pretty big implications concerning growth, development, and housing in our community. I am devoting the column this week to a series of questions I posed to the SC Planning Director, Lee Butler. I sent him a list of questions and he emailed me back the following responses. I have edited some responses for brevity and bolded others because of their significance. And yes, while there are only 2500 words here, a lot, the documents for this project total over 1200 pages. Wow!
1) Traffic. The “peak” parking demand (TIR traffic impact report) was done in April and August, when it seems that actual peak demand would be in June and July. Is it because during those June and July months the traffic cannot be “mitigated?” Or are there other reasons? How can these measurements be deemed “Existing Peak Parking Demands” when they do not seem to be done during actual peak times?
Lee Butler (LB): Your questions here touch on both parking and traffic, which can be related but are typically treated separately for a variety of reasons. The CEQA Checklist removed references to parking impacts 10+ years ago, so we do not mitigate parking impacts from an official CEQA mitigation perspective. Instead, we have on-site parking standards in the Zoning Code that we apply. (See responses to your Question #2 below for more on that.) We do currently have CEQA mitigations for Level of Service (LOS) traffic impacts. (FYI, those too will be going away soon, as SB 743’s implementation deadline is 7/1/20, and vehicle miles travelled (VMT) will be the new CEQA transportation standard rather than LOS.
Though additional data was collected in August, it was deemed appropriate to analyze the project impacts using the April base-line data since local schools and UCSC were in session.
I believe that we do not mitigate for peak summer traffic for the same reason that we do not require on-site parking spaces for the demand that stores have the week before Christmas. Such measures would lead to excess capacity and would be counter to a number of our City’s goals – promotion of alternative modes of transportation, efficient use of land, reduction of impervious surface, etc.
2) Parking. Actual number of parking spaces (stalls). Is it true that 317 are required for the Dream Inn and their restaurant, but 299 are included in materials provided? Should I assume that there is some kind of “cooperative” parking facility or non-vehicle use program justifying this reduction? Is there off-site parking somewhere for employees? Then there seems to be another 8 spaces absent for residential parking. I assume that covers the 8 “low income” units? Looks like project is providing 152 spaces (not 167 required?) for residential use…which the total of “lost” parking spaces comes out to 32. There appears to be a possible double-dipping of sorts going on here to my untrained eye. Or, what would more specifically account for a reduction of 32 spaces? Also, how does Dream Inn/Ensemble mitigate for these seemingly lost required spaces? Will there be bus passes made available to all employees? Jump bikes? More shared shuttles? In addition, will construction workers also need parking spaces? Will they be made aware of any bus pass or jump or shuttle program put in place by Ensemble too?
LB: Below is an excerpt from the Planning Commission staff report. The paragraph under the table answers most of your questions, including some basic info about transportation demand management (TDM) strategies. If you’d like to dive deeper into the TDM measures for the project, a 212-page-long report is posted on the project website and on the Planning Commission website under the August 15, 2019 agenda. I’d recommend reading pages 13 to 20. A condition of approval requires that the applicants adhere to the TDM plan.
Off-Street Parking. A parking garage with three levels (one at grade and two below ground) will be located on site, providing parking for a total of 421 vehicles. The two below grade parking levels will have two access points, one from the northern perimeter driveway, and the other from the interior of the grade level lot. A total of 52 commercial/retail (i.e., short-term) parking stalls will be provided on the ground level, of which nine will be electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, well exceeding the four that would be required pursuant to the Parking Ordinance. Level P1 will contain 152 residential parking stalls, all of which will have the infrastructure to be EV-adaptable. On level P2, 217 total hotel and commercial overflow parking stalls will be provided, which will replace the existing 216 hotel parking spaces on the site and would be valet parking only. Pinnacle Traffic Engineering prepared a Project Parking Analysis Supplement that has been reviewed by staff. The following is a table that demonstrates that the project is meeting the parking requirements set by the Zoning Code: Under City parking requirements, without any credits for shared parking or implementation of auto reduction programs, the project would be required to provide 481 onsite parking spaces. The City’s Municipal Code allows a 10 percent reduction for Non-Automotive Use Programs (per section 24.12.290.7) and a 10 percent reduction for Cooperative Parking Facilities (per City Code 24.12.290.4). The parking demand accounts for all uses at the hotel as well as the residential units, which qualifies it for a reduction for cooperative parking. The shared use/cooperative parking facilities reduction accounts for the parking facilities at a single site being used for multipurpose trips being made to the site (i.e. visitors that stay at the hotel and attend a conference, visit the spa and/or eat at the restaurant), as well as trips being made to individual uses at different times of the day or week. The Applicant has submitted a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan (attached) that outlines measures to be implemented, including provision of onsite bicycle parking and free employee bus passes, among other strategies to be developed with the City. With implementation of this program and the shared parking provisions, a 20 percent reduction in required parking would result in a total of 385 spaces required for the project. With 421 spaces provided on the site, and 18 spaces existing on the Dream Inn Hotel site, the overall project has a surplus of 54 parking spaces. While not counted as part of the analysis, it should be noted that additional commercial valet spaces could be incorporated into the drive aisles on level P2.
A total of 347 bicycle parking spaces will be provided, including bike racks on grade with a capacity for 66 bicycles; the remaining bicycle parking (i.e., long-term bicycle spaces for residents and staff bicycle parking) will be located in a secure storage space on Parking Level P1. This exceeds the required amount of bicycle parking spaces (137 spaces) per Section 24.12.250 of the City’s Municipal Code.
3) Accurate noise analysis. Commissioner Schiffrin stated in his comments at the Planning Commission that “the only noise study done was at W. Cliff and Bay St. “and to be able to provide substantial evidence that there is not a need for an EIR, noise impacts must be looked at.” Was a noise impact study done to simulate traffic activity on the 20′ 2 lane road that will border the northern and western boundaries of the Clearview Court complex?
LB:Here’s an excerpt from the conclusion in the noise and vibration analysis that’s included in the Council packet. You can reference the full report for more information. Noise generated in association with the propose Project’s parking is anticipated to include noise both directly from
the parking activities and from mechanical ventilation equipment. Parking activities will be audible under certain conditions, however they are typically short term and sporadic in nature and, therefore, would not substantially contribute to the overall average acoustical environment.
4) Vibration impacts. There will be an 18-24-month construction phase…I have been heavily impacted (Green St.) by the noise emanating as early as 5:30 am at the 1547 Pacific condo project and I am 3 blocks away. a) what will hours of construction be? b) what is the exact plan to minimize decibel levels? c) will the 8-foot sound wall be constructed first in order to mitigate future construction sounds? It is acknowledged in vibration report that construction vibration, “at sufficiently high levels,” can also present building damage risk. Was Clearview Court’s adjacent location analyzed in this report? Would it be required if a full EIR were done?
LB: Noise and vibration were both studied. Here’s an excerpt from the conclusion in the noise and vibration analysis that’s included in the Council packet. You can reference the full report for more information.
Vibration:Construction vibration levels anticipated to be associated with the proposed Project were calculated to yield levels of 0.19 in./sec. PPV. Project-related construction vibration levels are predicted to be less than the Caltrans guidancelimit of 0.2 to 0.3 in./sec. PPV at the nearest sensitive receptors, located approximately 15 feet west and north ofthe proposed Project boundaries.
And another excerpt from the conclusion related to noise:
Construction activities associated with the proposed Project are expected to occur to varying levels for approximately two years. Construction activities are assumed to be limited to daytime hours and not occur during the more restrictive hours of 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
The project will undertake standard measures as part of their construction plan to address construction noise, such as including mufflers on equipment and locating noise-generating equipment away from sensitive receptors, whenever feasible. Section 9.36.010 of the SCMC states the following, though some limited exceptions are allowed such as for large concrete pours:
9.36.010 CURFEW – OFFENSIVE NOISE.
(a) No person shall between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. make, cause, suffer or permit to be made any offensive noise (1) which is made within one hundred feet of any building or place regularly used for sleeping purposes, or (2) which disturbs, or would tend to disturb, any person within hearing distance of such noise.
5) The staff report says there will be bicycle impacts with the installation of the round-about. Can you explain what those impacts will be? Right now, bicycles flow freely on the coast side of W. Cliff. Will that flow be affected by the roundabout or traffic signal? How?
LB:I’m not sure where you found that the report states there will be bicycle impacts. Here’s an excerpt from the report where a mini-roundabout is recommended:
“The mini-roundabout alternative provides improved corridor performance during nonpeak periods and less delay during peak periods as compared with traffic signal control. The mini-roundabout also provides less delay for bikes and pedestrians and slower vehicular speeds through the intersection, which is desirable in this corridor context.”
6) From your perspective, what would you say the “public benefits” are that the developer will be providing to the community and neighborhood if this project goes ahead as it is?
LB: While this project does not have any requisite public benefits, from my perspective, it does offer a number of them. Those that jump to mind are as follows:
-Very low income units. (We were only able to get 12 of those in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 combined. This would produce 8 by itself.)
-Wide range of pedestrian, bike, and vehicular improvements. (in addition to the roundabout – or signal, but roundabout is recommended, the project also proposes other improvements in the West Cliff Drive public right-of-way, including undergrounding of utilities, widening/improvement of bike lanes, and widening the sidewalks on both sides of West Cliff Drive. West Cliff Drive would be realigned to improve circulation and sightlines. Many of these, such as the undergrounding and sidewalk widening in front of the Dream Inn, are not along the project frontage and could not be required. The developer is offering to do them, and they are a public benefit. Personally, I run that stretch and bike it with my kids, and the narrow width of the sidewalk coupled with the utility poles regularly causes pedestrians to have to step into the bike lanes. The proposed improvements would be a nice improvement for the public who are travelling by foot or bike.)
-While the commercial is relatively small and ancillary to the hotel use, it will be open to the public and will offer nearby residents more commercial options within walking distance to their homes, such that they may be more likely to choose not to drive to meet their daily needs, e.g., to get a cup of coffee. That convenience can generally benefit our residents, and certainly a reduction in vehicle trips and associated greenhouse gas emissions is a benefit. On that note, many of the hotel guests would be less likely to drive elsewhere for commercial uses if they can access their needs at the new development.
8) Are saving the trees by moving them “feasible?” Or does project not pencil out and therefore it is infeasible to move trees? How many trees could be moved if they it is within the budget to move them?
LB:The following was added to the conditions and is included with the Council packet: “Prior to removal of any heritage tree, the applicant shall provide evidence to the Zoning Administrator and City Arborist that they have consulted with a tree moving expert to determine the feasibility of moving the trees, as long as the moving of the tree(s) does not affect the feasibility of the project. If it is determined that any heritage trees are feasible to relocate, relocation shall occur under the supervision of the project arborist and City Arborist.”
9) What discretion does the city council possess concerning this project, 190 W. Cliff?
LB:The request is for the following: Coastal Permit, Design Permit, Special Use Permit, Density Bonus Request to Exceed Height, Encroachment Permit for Street and Intersection Improvements, and Tentative Map. The application requests are discretionary in nature and require Council approval. However, according to our analysis, we believe the project meets all objective standards, so this puts some limits on the Council’s actions. (The height increase and additional story must be allowed under the density bonus. The agenda report speaks to why we believe the height for the stairwells and railings is consistent with the Zoning Ordinance regulations.) Many recent state bills have strengthened the Housing Accountability Act, such as AB 3194 that took effect on January 1, 2019. In particular, if a project meets all objective standards and we want to deny or reduce the number of units, the amendments through AB 3194 require that we make a finding of a specific, adverse public health and safety impact that’s supported by substantial evidence in the record. While the approval requests are discretionary, the State has limited our discretion in instances where a project meets all objective standards of the zoning and GP.
“We will not stand idly by and allow three people in this country to own more wealth than the bottom half of America, while at the same time, nearly 20% of our children live in poverty, veterans sleep out on the streets and seniors cannot afford their prescription drugs”. (Oct. 21)
(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and was on the Santa Cruz City Councilmember from 1998-2002. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 14 years. He was elected the the city council again in November of 2016, after his kids went off to college. His current term ends in 2020.
SIGN THIS PETITION AGAINST SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT’S UNFAIR AND ADVERSE RATE INCREASES
If you are one of the hundreds of Soquel Creek Water District customers whose water bills have increased by over $200/month, even though you are working hard to conserve water, you need to sign this online protest petition! Nearly 520 people have signed it since it was recently launched by customer Kris Kirby…and the numbers increase daily.
Soquel Creek Water District Rate Increases Are Unfair and Hurt Families!
Is the District Board listening? Who knows, but when the customers upset with their outrageous bills filled the District Board meeting audience and spoke out, Director Bruce Jaffe asked staff to return at a future meeting with some real data on what the effects of the recent rate and fee increases have brought about. “It’s one thing to have a model, but what is really happening?” he asked.
…. Stay tuned.
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WANT TO DOUBLE TAXES FOR RURAL FIRE PROTECTION
This Tuesday, October 22, the County Supervisors will consider (and most likely approve) a very confusing and complex fire protection tax increase that will be handled in a special mail-out ballot that will give more weight to votes from very high-value properties than it would to votes of common folks. Item #12 will be heard at 1pm…and a public hearing scheduled in January when the voting period closes.
The County General Service Dept. finally finished their 44-page Engineer’s Report that no one from the citizen-based Fire Dept. Advisory Commission (FDAC) has seen or discussed publicly. The Staff Report claims there were 10 in attendance at the last FDAC meeting and that the Commission made the recommendation to move forward on a ballot measure. That is not true. There were only three of the five Commissioners there, and they only voted to support some sort of supplemental funding “in concept”. There were other people at the meeting, but they could not vote.
Take a look in the Engineer’s Report at the part about determining General Benefit that would be funded by some other means (Page 20) and let me know what you think. Page 23 states that 48% of the costs of the Services can be attributed to General Benefit, and therefore must be funded by a source other than the proposed Assessment….where do you think that money will come from? Prop 172? Measure G sales tax passed last year that stated it would fund “Fire” response? The County General Fund? No…page 24 states that:
“The Assessment District’s total budget for 2020-21 is $5,303,336. Of this total assessment budget amount, the County will contribute at least $3,767,729 which is more than 71% of the total budget from sources other than this proposed assessment including dedicated property taxes and the existing benefit assessment. This contribution constitutes significantly more than the 48% general benefits estimated by the Assessment Engineer, which must be paid for by non-assessment sources. ”
“How much do I pay for current services in CSA 48?
$79.78 per fire flow unit, per year. The average single-family resident pays for two fire flow units per year. ”
“Will the current CSA 48 fee go away if the new one passes?
If the measure is passed, the new special benefit will be in addition to the current CSA 48 fee. The new fee would be for additional services not currently covered under the current fee. As an example, for an average single family home (see Case #2 above) this would be two fire flow units at $79.78 each, plus the average new fee of $151.78 for a total of $311.34. As noted previously, the actual amount for the new assessment will differ for each property and will be shown clearly on each ballot.”
*****The Staff Report on Tuesday’s Board of Supervisor agenda does not discuss this at all.
The benefit assessment calculation is really complicated. Will we be able to see what our neighbors are paying, in order to make sure our assessment is comparable, fair and correct? Page 30 describes agricultural lands…will cannabis be treated differently if they have greenhouses that are more flammable than open grows?
Would accessory dwelling units be charged another assessment or would that change the assessment over to the multi-family rate? Who will check all this?
What about the “Special Benefits” of Other Properties that have supposedly been individually reviewed and calculated…who did the reviewing, what criteria did they use to calculate the “special benefit”, and does this include the wineries that have multiple large and small special events? (page 30) What about Costanoa Resort up on the North Coast…?
It says public lands are not exempt…so will those areas be included in the calculation of “general benefit”, based on acreage and amount of public use?
Page 31 describes the fire risk factor that would increase the cost to those in higher fire risk areas…what about it you do good fire defensible space work with you neighbors, or even become a certified FireWise Community?
Page 33 discusses appeals. Will there be a fee to appeal? The County charges hefty appeal fees for everything else ($1200 to appeal to the Planning Commission and $1800 to appeal to the Board of Supervisors) Currently, the Board of Supervisors acts as the Fire Code Appeals Board. What would be the process?
I wonder about the Cost of Administration, claimed to be 1% annually for this assessment increase..is that total administration of CSA 48, or just this proposed slice of it? (he administration fee for CSA collections is typically quite high for road maintenance groups…usually near 30% or more.) The Supervisors can raise this new assessment fee annually by up to 4% for CPI….what is the annual expected increase for that to the budget?
Going back to that FAQ that County Fire Dept. distributed earlier this year:
“Don’t we receive Measure G and Prop 172 funds?
No. Unfortunately, Santa Cruz County Fire – CSA 48 does not receive any funds from Measure G or Prop 172. All funding generated by the Prop 218 benefit assessment under consideration would go directly to Santa Cruz County Fire – CSA 48. No funds from this assessment can go to the County’s General Fund. The State cannot take this funding away.”
But the question that begs an answer is: Why doesn’t County Fire receive any Measure G and Prop 172 funds?????
*******I think the General Services Director, not Chief Larkin, needs to go back to the communities and hold more town hall meetings, don’t you?
Please feel free to share this information with others. People need to know about this, and ask questions. Why is the County using such a complicated way of calculating a new tax? Because doing so will allow a weighted voter approval and will be easier to pass than a 2/3 voter approval of a flat rate assessment increase.
Don’t you wonder how much this study and Engineer Report has cost the taxpayers? The County Fire Budget contracted the consultant for $50,000…and that had to come out of County Fire money, not the General Fund, and NOT Measure G sales tax money that supposedly was to help fund fire protection.
COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER HOUSING ON SCHOOL PROPERTY AND GROWTH GOAL FOR 2020
The County Planning Commissioners are thoughtful people, and I am glad for their careful scrutiny on development issues. This Wednesday, they will consider changes to the County Code that would allow public institutions, such as schools and hospitals, to build housing on-site for employees. They will also consider allowing farmers to build on-site housing for agricultural workers, but possibly require that non-profits administer and manage them. How does that comport with Measure J requirements to preserve prime agricultural lands? Hmmmm…. Of course, like everything the County is doing these days, it is exempt from any California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis.
The 2020 Growth Goal is an interesting report, and the Commissioners will make recommendations about housing densities and the number of building permits allowed to be issued in the County next year. I think it is interesting that the report states population is decreasing in the County by -0.62%, according to the State Dept. of Finance, at a higher rate than the state average of -0.47%. The report attributes this to people moving away, but also a decline in birth rates. The report recommends keeping the County Growth Goal at 0.5%, in keeping with Measure J that was passed by the voters in 1978 to preserve the beautiful place and quality of life in the County.
Maybe you are wondering how this growth would affect infrastructure, and will developers be required to pay for those impacts? This is once again, exempt from CEQA analysis. Well, take a look at this snippet from page 2:
“Potential Impacts from Population Growth
The growth management system was instituted to address resource and public services impacts of growth in the County. The most significant concern regarding resources and infrastructure has been the potential and actual water supply shortfall. However, as discussed in Section IV of the attached report, water agencies countywide are addressing this concern, including the water districts and groundwater agencies for the Santa Margarita, Mid-County and Pajaro Valley groundwater basins.
Urban service impacts of existing and new development are also being addressed by a number of County initiatives to plan, finance, and construct capital improvements, particularly transportation improvements. Traffic congestion is a very significant concern facing residents throughout the County and a number of efforts are underway to address this issue, including regional highway plans and improvements and a County traffic study that will support an update of the General Plan Circulation Element.”
When I read that, I understood what the driver for the Soquel Creek Water District’s insanely expensive and energy-hog PureWater Soquel Project is all about….supporting dense infill growth in the County that will no longer be limited by water availability. That Project EIR, sham that it is, barely touches on growth-inducing impacts of the Project. However, the Project description states that after the anticipated 20-year period of injecting 1.3 million gallons/day of treated sewage water into the drinking water supply of the MidCounty residents, the treatment facility could be operated to supply water for future planned County growth. And because the District has linked arms with the City of Santa Cruz to build part of the treatment system at the City’s wastewater treatment facility on Bay Avenue, the City will also have access to the treated sewage water.
So, there you go…those 500-700 new residential units that City Economic Development Director Bonnie Lipscomb stated publicly two years ago that the City has already promised to the Big Tech companies over the hill will have all the water they need. This also fits in with the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) that has forecast area populations will increase…based on planned economic development.
AD HOC PLANNING AT IT’S WORST…COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONSIDER APPROVAL OF NISSAN AUTO DEALERSHIP IN SOQUEL
This Tuesday, October 22, the County Board of Supervisors will decide (Item #9) whether to approve the Nissan auto dealership to be built in a spot that the Sustainable Santa Cruz County Plan had determined should be reserved for affordable housing and shops to support the neighborhood. The Plan was to place the housing on the major transportation lines of Soquel Drive and 41st Avenue, and thereby encourage the use of public transportation.
So, how come the Planning Dept. has insisted a car dealership and repair service for it should be built there instead? Lots of back-room deals…and a developer willing to wave money under the nose of the County Administrative Officer, Carlos Palacios, and the County Economic Development Director, Barbara Mason. Even though this disaster has been slowed by the brave and principled Sustainable Soquel neighbors scraping together enough money to hire an excellent attorney from San Luis Obispo to successfully demand the County follow their own rules, the money-driven County machine is moving forward to approve this stupid project.
Suddenly, the County Public Works Dept. has money to pay for most of the traffic congestion mitigations that supposedly will address some but not all of the anticipated traffic problems this dealership would bring. What happened to the promise Supervisor John Leopold made to his constituents when they protested his suggestion to put a traffic light in at Soquel Drive and Robertson? “Okay!” he said, “I’ve heard you, and I promise no light will go there.” That was about three years ago, maybe as the Planning Dept. was promising the auto dealership developer that everything would get shoved through to support his project.
Contact Supervisor John Leopold and let him know what you think about Ad Hoc planning like this. Ask that the Sustainable Santa Cruz County Plan, currently under environmental review, be followed. Ask that the Board direct this auto dealership debacle to the thoughtful Planning Commission.
More Ad Hoc planning is on the way with the massive five-story Kaiser Medical facility and detached 730-car parking garage making its way to the Soquel Avenue frontage road…where there currently is no Metro bus service. What happened to the 100+ affordable residential units that were supposed to be put there? What about the claim of an “affordable housing crisis”?
THANK GOVERNOR NEWSOM FOR SUPPORTING TRANSPARENCY FOR VOTERS
Many thanks to Governor Newsom for his veto of AB 168 that would have effectively hidden critical information about proposed tax and bond measure on the ballot. It would have forced voters to dig through the tiny volumes of print in the Voter Pamphlets to find out the truth about bond and tax measures. Written by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and our own Assemblyman Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley), this was a real sneaky attempt to trick voters by just not telling the entire truth about proposed tax and bond matters on the actual ballots.
It was also one of those “gut-and-amend” bills that allow the bill’s authors to strip out the original language of the bill that has been approved by various committees, and put in whatever they want before the final frenzy of floor voting takes place, and on to the Governor’s desk. I think gut-and-amend should be made illegal…Mark Stone should have more principle than to resort to such trickery.
While I am not sure I support everything that Governor Newsom is doing, I wrote him and thanked him for standing up to support voter transparency. You can, too! https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/
THANK YOU TO THE KIND ANONYMOUS BENEFACTOR
Last week, I discussed why I am worried about the future of this beautiful County, and mentioned the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) conference coming up. Some very kind and generous reader paid for my ticket to attend that nefarious group’s State of the Region conference this Friday! Many thanks, whoever you are! I will report next week about what I learned.
In the meantime, take a look at MBEP’s free events during “Santa Cruz Affordable Housing Month”. October 30 features a tour of the Mid-County affordable housing subdivisions in Aptos. I cannot help but notice that the tour DOES NOT INCLUDE the Aptos Village Project’s supposedly five affordable Measure J units in Phase 1 of the subdivision. I wonder why none of those units has been occupied yet when the building was completed last May??? Hmmmm…..
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. ATTEND ONE PUBLIC MEETING. MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. BUT JUST DO SOMETHING THIS WEEK!
Cheers, Becky Steinbruner
Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
On Saturday, October 12, 2019, I found that China was in the news. The picture above, from a New York Times article titled, “One Country, No Arguments,” made clear how successful China has been in propagandizing its own population. It’s an article worth reading.
You might also like to read an article in the edition of The Wall Street Journal that showed up on my front lawn on that Saturday, along with my New York Times. The Journal’s article is titled, “America Is Losing the Chinese Shopper.” The picture below illustrates the article. The point of the article is that Chinese consumers have now become patriotic when it comes to purchasing. One can’t help but believe that propaganda has played its part in that! Popular American brands are losing out, and Chinese shoppers (like Chinese army cadets) are getting into line and getting with the program.
And how about the NBA – the National Basketball Association? Also in my newspaper on that Saturday was an article about Steve Kerr, the coach of the Warriors. Kerr has refused to be drawn into a dispute in which the Chinese government has threatened to cut the NBA out of the Chinese market (which is a big market, of course) if any NBA player, coach, or franchise owner dares to criticize the Chinese government over its treatment of Hong Kong protesters. As already noted in an earlier blog post, the NBA has yet not kissed China’s ring (nor has it kissed anything else, at least so far). Some sportswriters, though, are predicting that this might not last, and that the League will hew to the requirements of the Chinese government. There is so much money involved; that counts for a lot (and maybe for everything)!
Nationalism (sometimes called patriotism) is like a virus. It can spread, and we are not immune. In fact, the United States is infected, too. It’s not just China.
But the right freely to express oneself, in both public and private settings, is still cherished here, and the right of free expression is one of the main things that the Hong Kong protesters are trying to protect.
Free expression is like a political immune system; it helps protect us against a deadly political disease.
Let’s not forget it. Speak out!
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
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS.Be here now with “Buddha and enlightenment”. Check out the classic Sub Con just below.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Vows and Pledges” at Eaganblog down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “It’s been 30 years this month since the notorious Loma Prieta earthquake. The shouting and the shaking are all over, but find out how my personal quake story had an unexpected upside this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ).” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
FIRST LOVE. Takashi Miike has made more than 100 films. (104) This one has violence, laughs, tension, and blood and guts, plus more laughs, tenderness and it all happens in one night in Tokyo. A young would be boxer gets a life ending message and with help from a beautiful prostitute they face a drug loaded bunch of gangsters. The black and white film is outrageous, inventive, and you’ll never take your eyes off the screen. It’s a very foreign film and not just the subtitles!! CLOSES THURSDAY OCTOBER 24.
LUCY IN THE SKY. Natalie Portman is almost always near great in her movies. She seems to be trying extra hard to make this movie work, but fails. Based on a sad but true story she’s an astronaut who has extra earth visions as she floats through space. Jon Hamm is in it too but he too can’t make a meaningful story from this dull plot. 23 Critics, 28 Audiences on RT. CLOSES THURSDAY OCTOBER 24
MONOS. An award winning film about a bunch of young Columbian boys in an organization who are assigned to guard a young woman Doctor. Like “Lord of the Flies” they have shocking fights among themselves as they roam and roam some more through some beautiful jungle scenes. I didn’t enjoy any two minutes of the film and was sorry I saw it. 92 Critics , 81 Audiences on RT. CLOSES THURSDAY OCTOBER 24
JOKER. Joaquin Phoenix should just be given the Oscar now, instead of all that fuss in January. Yes this is the origin of why the Joker haunts Bruce Wayne (Batman) and it’s so much more than that. The film is deep, dark, brilliant, violent, clever, absorbing, haunting, and will move you into a different perspective. Forget the criticism about protesters; the Joker is insane and magnetic. See this film if you like films beyond what’s acceptable!
JUDY. Renee Zellweger does the best possible imitation of Judy Garland in this dramatic and still musical tribute. Garland transcended the usual fame and popularity and has become a legend. This film starts off in 1968 and ends with Judy’s last days and five husbands later plus drugs. It’s corny and hammy but so was Judy. For some reason Liza Minnelli isn’t in much of it.
You’ll almost cry at some scenes…so don’t miss it.
DOWNTOWN ABBEY. With an audience score of 96 you can’t go wrong. It topped Rambo and Ad Astra and earned $31 million in its’ opening weekend. I have no way of knowing if those few people who didn’t watch all or most of the Downton Abbey tv years will love as much as we devotees do the movie. Same cast and the plot is centered about the King and Queen of England coming to visit the Abbey. There’s a clash between the Abbey staff and the service crew that the Queen brings with her. It’s grand fun to see all our long time screen friends again. We know so much about each character. Don’t miss the big screen version it just ain’t the same.
AD ASTRA. Brad Pitt is much more than his usual cute self in this 2001 type space adventure. Shocking but it’s true that film critics liked it more than “audience” on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics gave it 83, audience gave it 45!! Tommy Lee Jones plays Brad’s mysterious and missing father, and Donald Sutherland has a bit part. It’s a serious film about humans, genetics, space, dying, and it’s worth every bit of admission. See it soon. CLOSES THURSDAY OCTOBER 24
LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE. With an audience rating of 99 on Rotten Tomatoes it’s gotta be good…or great! Her politics, talent, integrity plus an amazing voice makes her truly unique in the field of music. She mastered many styles, never gave up and is dying of Parkinson’s right now! Her Mexican heritage, time with Gov. Jerry Brown and sheer guts will keep you surprised as you learn so much about her.
BRITTANY RUNS THE MARATHON. Actress Jillian Bell plays Brittany and I could not like Jillian Bell no matter how hard I tried. In real life Jillian even lost a lot of weight so she could give a better performance, I didn’t care. As promised she doe run the NY marathon …no she doesn’t win it. The movie is supposed to be a comedy I didn’t laugh once. CLOSES THURSDAY OCTOBER 24
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. October 22 has Jim Coffis co-founder and deputy director of Green Trade talking about marijuana business. Then Phillippe Habib manager of Common Roots Farm discusses their aims and growth issues. Lisa Robinson president of the San Lorenzo Valley Museum details the events and news from the museum on October 29. On November 5 Dean Kaufman Veterans Service Officer talks about the meaning and events happening on Veterans Day. OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kzsc You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
I love me some Golden Girls! The snark level is out of this world! 😀
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur,The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
“TREES”
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” Martin Luther
“Trees exhale for us so that we can inhale them to stay alive. Can we ever forget that? Let us love trees with every breath we take until we perish.” Munia Khan
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” ? Chinese proverb
“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” Franklin D. Roosevelt
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions:Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
BRATTON…My earthquake story, Downtown Merchants’ stupid mistake, MAH report waiting, Tushar Atre, CVS response. GREENSITE…“Due to technical problems on her end, there will be no Greensite Insight this week. Apologies.” KROHN…Thanks supporters. STEINBRUNER …Big Change in Santa Cruz, developers’ plans, Newsom’s rent control.PATTON…on Trump’s mental health. EAGAN…Classic Sub Cons and Deep Cover. JENSEN…reviews Lucy In The Sky. BRATTON…I critique Monos and Lucy In The Sky UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…”Earthquakes“
COOPER STREET OCTOBER 17, 1989. The real reason I’m using this photo is that I was exactly upstairs above Snandrydan when that BIG ONE hit those 30 years ago. Read more about it just below. Logos books started out in the Shandrydan Store, as a matter of fact.
DON’T BLAME PG&E PAL. I wrote and recorded this song along with Dick Fagerstrom and Wayne Pope, aka The Goodtime Washboard 3. The video shows Diablo Canyon as our point of protest, but we wrote and were very active in stopping their Bodega Bay nuclear power plant.
SANTA CRUZ 1955. Vintage film sent to us by Chris Krohn
Santa Cruz from 1955…and “the progressive spirit of its citizens,”
SANTA CRUZ POST-EARTHQUAKE FOOTAGE 1989.
DATELINE October 14
MY EARTHQUAKE STORY. I was genuinely surprised to see the Good Times cover photo last week. It was the exact spot I was in before, during and about two minute after the 1989 quake — right upstairs over the Shandrydan Shop in the Hihn Building at 110 Cooper Street. I was the promotions director for the Downtown Association, and along with the effervescent and incredibly talented Mimi Paulsen, we were working on some Halloween plans for Downtown. The quake hit, and we rumbled and almost got under tables but it stopped, and through a very thick cloud of dust we started for the stairway to get downstairs. We met Cynthia Mathews who was up there too, probably working on Planned Parenthood stuff, and Karla Krebs Hutton, songstress and former Good Times sales person. Blindly we walked downstairs and miraculously Karla was only hit on her heel by a large piece of brick façade that fell milliseconds after we excited the building. Cooper Street and Pacific Avenue were nearly lost in clouds of red and orange dust from the brick and stucco and cement collapsing buildings. My first instinct was to find my good buddy Charles Hilger, who was directing and managing our Art museum in a little store behind Weber’s Photo Shop on Pacific. Together Charles and I made our way back onto Pacific and demanded popsicles from the poor guy who was selling them at a stand at Pacific and Cooper. We needed them because of nearly choking from that dust.
There was so much confusion and erratic happenings I headed over to City Hall to see what our Downtown Association could do to help. Our Mayor and mu friend Mardi Wormhoudt was just exiting the hall and grabbed me, saying let’s go check out the Bookshop Santa Cruz’s collapse and the search for bodies. We watched a while and tried to figure our next best move. The earthquake story goes on… Mardi told President George Bush he couldn’t just walk down Pacific Avenue on an inspection when he was here; she had to be with him. He and his team agreed, and she was 100% instrumental in getting us the governmental help we needed. Later on I was more than happy to emcee the special earthquake dedication at the Town Clock with Mardi, Gary Patton and Sam Farr.
As the promotions person with the DTA I staged a “Secret Parade” through the Pavilions (tents) led by the Flying Karamazov Brother,s ending up at the Civic where we had a huge stage show as a benefit for the downtown. The Earthquake story goes on and on. That’s enough for now.
WAITING FOR MAH REPORT. Here’s how Jason Hoppin, communications manager for the County, replied to our questions on determining MAH’s financial status. “Thank you, Bruce. I haven’t read the lease so I’ll work with folks here in the office to get answers back to you shortly. We’re about to head into a PG&E power shutoff event, so it may be a few days.”
DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS STUPID EARTHQUAKE DECISION. Three years BEFORE the ’89 quake, the downtown merchants hired an expert to advise them on earthquake preparedness. He did and told them to retro-fit ASAP. They said it would cost too much…and ignored it. Max Walden, who owned the Cooperhouse, had Michael Bates Construction retrofit it completely. But Jay Paul who owned the Cooperhouse then — and still owns O’Neill’s now — had it torn down to collect the FEMA money. Watch more about all this below:
TONY RUSSOMANNO AND THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR EARTHQUAKE DEVASTATION.
TUSHAR ATRE MURDER. I knew and saw Tushar Atre many times back around 1987. He was one of my more than 200 clients when I was a marketing consultant for Cabrillo’s Small Business Development Center. We worked on promoting his Atrenet business. I met his folks, and we met at his Yacht Harbor office quite a few times. Nice guy. His money must have come from his folks. He was intelligent, friendly, sharp and obviously naïve…as we read in the press.
WHAT CVS STANDS FOR? Big thanks to all those folks who sent me the translation of CVS. What I was trying to get at was to ask their employees the next time you are there…few if any I’ve met know what it stands for. But in looking up CVS I found… Consumer Value Stores CVS Pharmacy is currently the largest pharmacy chain in the United States by number of locations (over 9,600 as of 2016) In early 1972, CVS introduced America’s first refillable plastic bottle. But yet CVS CEO Tom Ryan has said he considers “CVS” to stand for “Convenience, Value, and Service”.
October 14.
Gillian says, “Due to technical problems on her end there will be no Greensite Insight this week. Apologies.”
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 14
AND NOW, LET US PRAISE GREAT SUPPORTERS
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who showed up at last Tuesday night’s city council meeting. It cannot be said enough times that it is the people of Santa Cruz, when they participate; they drive the narrative and ultimately write the history of our town. This history is made only because it is the residents marching–two large support for women’s marches, the Martin Luther King march last January, and the Global Climate Strike march last month are examples of taking it to the streets; knocking on doors and talking with neighbors, especially during the past two election cycles, and advocating for the environment over rampant development–Lighthouse Field, Wilder Ranch, Moore Creek Uplands and the Pogonip–has made a great impact on our quality of life here. Of course, attending neighborhood meetings, serving on city commissions, and showing up to city council meetings are all vital constituent parts of the democratic process. Last Tuesday evening’s city council crowd not only felt comforting to this councilmember, but it sent a clear signal that votes count and we will not allow our democracy to be compromised by taunts, misperceptions, or misinformation. Keep on keeping on my friends, the people will win and the community will determine what kind of community we will have!
The People’s Bully Pulpit
Appearing at the podium to address the city council was an array of straight-shooters, poets, community activists, and many others concerned about the future of the city and wanting to lend their voice as we proceed into the future, hopefully on a calmer, more measured, but truly principled path. I offer an amalgam of eloquent and energizing voices here. It is a tribute to why so many of us have found a true home here in Santa Cruz among what some used to call, Fellow Travelers.
Out of their Mouths & Straight from the hip Please, don’t kick off reconciliation with punishment. (Brett Garrett) This censure is a misuse of feminism. (Katherine Herndon) This is a #MeToo town, the city manager should’ve fixed this before it turned into a civil war. (Ed Porter) The CPVAW by-laws were not adhered to. (Ann Simonton) This is all about the recall. (Drew Lewis) The city should not have spent $29,000. (Shelley Hatch) The person punking all of you is the City Manager. (Nora Hochman)
The Philosophers From the Merchant of Venice, “The quality of mercy is not strained.” (Darrell Darling) Yom Kippur is a day of atonement, but you must first go to the person and ask for forgiveness. (Rabbi Posner) Donna and Martine, perhaps your deepest need is to be completely heard and understood. (Satya Orion) I’m sorry to everyone. The censure, nor mediation will work. (Pat Mahlo) Conflict is not abuse. (Alicia Kuhl)
The Realists Censure is just more shaming. (Rick Longinotti) Censure is a political tactic to reinforce the recall. It’s a Republican tactic in many states to overturn elections. (Eric Ericsson) You can still be a lesbian and still be a racist. (Anon.) What happened to mediation and conflict resolution? (Alex King) We have NVC (Nonviolent Communication) in this town you know. (Jackie Griffith) Reject this censure as antithetical to the path of reconciliation. (John Hall) The City Manager should’ve intervened. (Jane Doyle)
Card-Carrying Supporters These same councilmembers are the ones who most represent the people, yes, I support Drew Glover and Chris Krohn. (Marilyn Garrett) You unfairly shut down Sandy Brown! (Shalom Compost) I campaigned for them, I never saw anything. (Sally Gwin-Satterly) Rodney King and Aretha, ‘can’t we all just get along,’ and ‘Respect’ (Scott Graham)
Passed, 4-3 MOTION:
Councilmember Sandy Brown moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Justin Cummings, that the Council finds that the censuring of two of its members is inadequate based on the findings of the Rose report as it relates to Administrative Procedure Order II-1B regarding respectful workplace conduct, which states, “A single act shall not constitute disrespectful conduct unless especially severe and egregious.” (‘Nuf said.)
“For working people.
For the poor.
For jobs.
For justice.
For peace.
For prosperity.
For economic mobility.
For society.
For our planet.
We fight for a #GreenNewDeal.”
(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and was on the Santa Cruz City Councilmember from 1998-2002. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 14 years. He was elected the the city council again in November of 2016, after his kids went off to college. His current term ends in 2020.
THIS IS WHAT I THINK, AND WHY I AM WORRIED
For quite some time, I have had a “gut-sense” that the quality of life in beautiful Santa Cruz County is on the cusp of big change and it is approaching with the largess of a steam roller. I am worried. Over the past four years, I have been delving into how and why local government works the way it does. Speaking as an ordinary citizen, it has been truly eye-opening. I remember County Traffic Engineer Jack Sohriakoff telling me in 2015, as I was asking multiple questions about the approvals of the Aptos Village Project, that “for a long time, we haven’t been able to build big projects like this one, but things are about to change.”
I have lived in rural Aptos for 35 years, and was semi-active in local politics in the late ’80’s and early ’90’s, attending critical community meetings and occasional Board of Supervisor meetings. However, let me tell you right now, the general attitudes of the local political landscape have changed for the worse, both in how the public is treated, and certainly in the City of Santa Cruz, respect given to colleagues. By and large, elected officials, especially at the County level, now regard members of the public with a dismissive and sometimes arrogant attitude. People who take time off work to attend public hearings and ask thoughtful, well-informed questions get absolutely no answer. Many give up out of disgust, and do not return.
The Brown Act encourages public participation and requires elected officials to take one of three actions when the public brings forth concerns and questions: briefly clarify issues brought up, direct staff to look into the matter and contact the person, or direct that the matter be placed on a future agenda for thorough public discussion. Instead, the standard response of County Supervisors is silence, but if pressed, answers “we can have no dialogue”. Such is the case when scores of neighborhood residents fill the Board chamber, yet leave feeling the Board paid them no attention, and what got decided was a “done deal”. As I have learned, that is usually true.
The County Administrative Officer (CAO) is the real wizard behind the curtain that runs the County government show, dictating in tandem with the County Economic Development Director, what will happen to bring in more money to fund the tsunami of debt this and all government agencies now face due to CalPERS employee pension funding debt in the next couple of years. And of course, the CAO has favorite projects and responsive developers.
What happens then is Ad Hoc Planning, such as what is happening with the Nissan auto dealership at 41st Avenue and Soquel, the Mid-Pen Housing project that includes a large medical clinic and a large dental clinic at 1520 Capitola Road, the five-story Kaiser medical clinic and detached five-story 730-car parking garage at 5490 Soquel Avenue, the two large and very dense developments on Portola Drive (which somehow got reduced to half the number of traffic lanes, despite strong public resistance to do so), and even more larger, dense developments in the City of Santa Cruz. How could City Director of Economic Development, Bonnie Lipscomb, make the statement in September, 2017 on KION that “the City of Santa Cruz has already promised 500-700 new residential units to high-tech employers” for their workers here?
What worries me is the rising tide of developer clamor to streamline the project approval process so that their projects will “pencil-out.” Santa Cruz County Housing Planner Julie Conway seems all too happy to accommodate the plaintive cries of these developers and has actually dissuaded the County Housing Advisory Commission from recommending the County require 15% of rental housing developments be set aside for affordable housing because developers have told her it just wouldn’t “pencil-out” for them. We are seeing the same actions in the City of Santa Cruz, where new large rental housing developments are not required to include 15% of the units for affordable housing.
State Senator Scott Wiener is working hard to pass SB 50 that would be a real boon for developers and remove any opportunity for local residents to refuse massive developments. It would make all such projects exempt from any environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) which has been the only opportunity for environmental scrutiny and public interest participation. Therefore, all analysis and methods of redress of adverse ENVIRONMENTAL concerns and protections would vanish. Senator Wiener’s bill would give local government only 60 days to review any developer’s large project application, and unless it can be proven that the project would cause a specific adverse impact to public HEALTH AND SAFETY, there would be nothing to stop the ministerial approval of the project.
*****If the County did nothing within the 60-day window, the project application would automatically be approved.
Do you think members of the public who may live near these proposed developments even KNOW about them within the 60-day window? Doubtful, because unlike neighboring Monterey County, this County does not require developers to “stake and flag” the height and boundaries of proposed developments. Would it matter anyway, since Senator Wiener’s bill would recognize specific adverse health and safety impacts only. What about preserving your ocean view or winter sunlight? GONE. What about adverse traffic increases that developers might have to pay to mitigate? GONE. What about saving significant trees and preserving important historic and cultural resources? GONE.
Senator Wiener’s SB 50 would remove local control of development, but would not address any infrastructure necessary to support new large subdivisions that his bill would force local officials to rubber-stamp if the project were within a 1/2 or 1/4 mile radius of a transit stop. It would virtually remove parking requirements for projects. It would pay no attention to water supply availability. When asked about this issue at a Monterey Bay Economic Partnership conference in November, 2018 when he was a guest speaker, Senator Wiener’s reply was essentially that when conditions get so bad, people will be more likely to agree to tax increases to fix things. It was shocking. If you take a moment to read what Senator Wiener is relentlessly pushing through, I think you will be worried too.
What also worries me is the State Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA 1) to allow a lower voter approval threshold (55%) to pass new or increased special purpose taxes, instead of the now-required 2/3 approval. It narrowly missed getting enough votes to get to the Governor’s desk. You can be sure the proponents will re-work the language and keep trying. Advocates already had the publicity engines humming for what was to be called the “Community Say for Community Needs” ballot measure.
As the good article describes, ACA 1 would have finished ripping the hole in your wallet that people such as the Santa Cruz County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios would love to have passed, making it much easier to impose new taxes to pay for basic public services that the General Fund should cover and that developer impact fees should supplement. You may be interested in knowing that local State Assemblyman Mark Stone SUPPORTED ACA 1.
GOVERNOR NEWSOM IS HAPPY TO IMPOSE STATE-MANDATED LOCAL PROGRAMS
He just signed two bills that mandate the City of Oakland build the new sports coliseum and large mixed-use development at Jack London Square. AB 1191, authored by Rob Banta (D-Alameda) took away local control of the Oakland City Planning Dept. and handed it to the State Land Authority to decide whether building a large development adjacent to wetlands is a proper thing to do.
Governor Newsom also signed SB 293, authored by Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) that streamlines the process to finance the infrastructure necessary for this new large development. Usually, the public debt incurred by sales of bonds would have to be put to ballot and get a 2/3 voter approval. However, Governor Newsom has just mandated that NOT HAPPEN, but instead, mandate the City of Oakland for a special taxation board, hold three meetings, and unless 50% of the affected agencies and people who would be taxed to pay for the development protest, the massive development will be funded by widespread taxation burden. Wow.
GOVERNOR NEWSOM JUST MANDATED STATEWIDE RENT CONTROL
Yet another significant state level action that takes away local control of critical issues just happened with the Governor signing AB 1482 to impose rent control statewide. Although the October 9, 2019 Santa Cruz Sentinel had barely a couple of paragraphs buried on page 6, it was front page Local News in the Mercury News on October 9, with a prominent photo of the Governor signing the bill. Effective January 1, 2020, the bill caps rent increases to 5% retroactive to March 1, 2019 and would require landlords to pay for tenant relocation in certain instances. Here is an interesting analysis of why landlord lobbyists did not fight this state action
When WILL a local leader sit down at the table with UCSC leaders and negotiate the University to become a responsible partner in the County and provide housing for its students in an ecological way, and help will the infrastructure to support it? The City of Davis and County of Yolo did just that with UC Davis, and successfully negotiated that the University would house 100% of increased student enrollment as well as contributing $2.3 million to local infrastructure. Wow, why can’t we do that here???
What can you and I do? We have a lot of work to do, but I still believe in the power of people who join together, get scrappy, and fight to protect what they believe in and value.
Start talking with your neighbors. Maybe we all need to unite and move to put some issues on the local ballot to protect our beautiful Santa Cruz County, just like then County Supervisor Gary Patton and other did in the 1970’s when Measure J put the brakes on frenzied development that at the time had this County as the fastest-growing in the state. Measure J required developers include 15% affordable housing in their subdivisions because there was an “affordable housing crisis”. Measure J protected prime agricultural land from development, but that is now being chipped away by new state laws mandating on-site farm worker housing, maybe run by non-profits but paid for by farmers.
MAKE ONE CALL. WRITE ONE LETTER. ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING. MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. BUT GET SCRAPPY, AND JUST DO SOMETHING THIS WEEK!
Cheers, Becky Steinbruner
(831) 685-2915
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.
“As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!)…”
I read the paper each day with interest, but I almost always read it with a good deal of trepidation, too. What bad news will the paper bring today? I am almost always assuming the worst. I don’t think I am alone in this.
Whatever the merits may be of the president’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria – and there is a good argument to be made that this is a completely justifiable decision – the statement quoted at the beginning of this blog post sure makes me nervous.
In fact, the president’s statement above, quoted in a recent news story in The New York Times, chilled me. I had a hard time accepting that this could be a real quote. The picture I have put on top of today’s blog posting is from a July 2016 story in The Star. That story was headlined, “Is Donald Trump OK? Erratic behaviour raises mental health questions.” Writing in today’s New York Times, Jennifer Senior puts a name to the disease: pathological narcissism.
People have been concerned about our president’s mental health from the beginning, from before he was president. And the statement above, in which our president asserts his “great and unmatched wisdom,” appears to qualify as a reason for all of us to have great concern about the president’s mental state. At least, that is what this statement would indicate if the person who says it means it.
He means it!
Trepidation doesn’t even begin to describe what to feel about a nuclear-capable president who claims “great and unmatched wisdom,” and suggests that he intends to use that wisdom totally to destroy and obliterate the economy of another nation.
Jennifer Senior’s article argues that is is hard to figure out what to do (“We are all at the mercy of the Narcissist in Chief …You can no sooner quit your President than you can quit your family”). There are, however, remedies found in the Constitution.
It’s time for the Vice-President and others to start reading up on the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.
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
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Look back just a few years and check out our darkest and funniest thoughts. Scroll below.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “classic” view down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog with his power outage advice.
MUNCHING WITH MOZART. Every third Thursday of almost every month there is a free concert held in the upstairs meeting room of the threatened Santa Cruz Public Library. This month the musicians are Tatyana Rekow, saxophone and Marina Thomas, piano. They’ll be playing works by Tchaikovsky, Bozza, Planel, Debussy,Albeniz, and Piazzolla plus Ellington and Joe Garland. It happens Thursday October 17 from 12:10-12:50 p.m.
Remember…it’s free and at the Santa Cruz Library, Thursday October 17, 2019 12:10-1:00 Central Branch Meeting Room upstairs.
SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER PLAYERS. The first concert in their 2019-2020 season is titled… “BLOWING IN THE WIND”. It’ll be at Christ Lutheran Church in Aptos. That’s Saturday October 19th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday October 20 at 3 p.m. Music by Carl Maria Von Weber, Glinka, Villa-Lobos and D’Rivera and others. Aude Castagna is the director and cello player. Lars Johannesson, flute. Jeff Gallagher clarinet and VladaVolkova-Moran on piano. For cost, tickets and other information, go to http://www.scchamberplayers.org There’s two performances Saturday, April 27, 7:30 pm and Sunday, April 28, 3:00 pm. The Chamber Players concerts are all at …Christ Lutheran Church 10707 Soquel Drive, Aptos (Off Highway 1 at Freedom Blvd.)
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Turn off the damn TV and tag along on my ongoing trek into the deeply human fantasy realm of Robin Hobb, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). And find out why walking in space is like having sex with Jon Hamm in my review of Lucy In the Sky, in this week’s Good Times!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
LUCY IN THE SKY. Natalie Portman is almost always near-great in her movies. She seems to be trying extra hard to make this movie work, but fails. Based on a sad but true story, she’s an astronaut who has extra earth visions as she floats through space. Jon Hamm is in it too, but he too can’t make a meaningful story from this dull plot. 23 Critics, 28 Audiences on RT.
MONOS. An award-winning film about a bunch of young Columbian boys in an organization assigned to guard a young woman Doctor. Like “Lord of the Flies”, they have shocking fights among themselves as they roam, and roam some more, through beautiful jungle scenes. I didn’t enjoy any two minutes of the film and was sorry I saw it. 92 Critics , 81 Audiences on RT.
JOKER. Joaquin Phoenix should just be given the Oscar now, instead of all that fuss in January. Yes this is the origin of why the Joker haunts Bruce Wayne (Batman) and it’s so much more than that. The film is deep, dark, brilliant, violent, clever, absorbing, haunting, and will move you into a different perspective. Forget the criticism about protesters; the Joker is insane and magnetic. See this film if you like films beyond what’s acceptable!
JUDY. Renee Zellweger does the best possible imitation of Judy Garland in this dramatic and still musical tribute. Garland transcended the usual fame and popularity and has become a legend. This film starts off in 1968 and ends with Judy’s last days and five husbands later plus drugs. It’s corny and hammy but so was Judy. For some reason Liza Minnelli isn’t in much of it. You’ll almost cry at some scenes…so don’t miss it.
DOWNTOWN ABBEY. With an audience score of 96 you can’t go wrong. It topped Rambo and Ad Astra and earned $31 million in its’ opening weekend. I have no way of knowing if those few people who didn’t watch all or most of the Downton Abbey tv years will love as much as we devotees do the movie. Same cast and the plot is centered about the King and Queen of England coming to visit the Abbey. There’s a clash between the Abbey staff and the service crew that the Queen brings with her. It’s grand fun to see all our long time screen friends again. We know so much about each character. Don’t miss the big screen version it just ain’t the same.
AD ASTRA. Brad Pitt is much more than his usual cute self in this 2001 type space adventure. Shocking but it’s true that film critics liked it more than “audience” on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics gave it 83, audience gave it 45!! Tommy Lee Jones plays Brad’s mysterious and missing father, and Donald Sutherland has a bit part. It’s a serious film about humans, genetics, space, dying, and it’s worth every bit of admission. See it soon.
LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE. With an audience rating of 99 on Rotten Tomatoes it’s gotta be good…or great! Her politics, talent, integrity plus an amazing voice makes her truly unique in the field of music. She mastered many styles, never gave up and is dying of Parkinson’s right now! Her Mexican heritage, time with Gov. Jerry Brown and sheer guts will keep you surprised as you learn so much about her.
BRITTANY RUNS THE MARATHON. Actress Jillian Bell plays Brittany and I could not like Jillian Bell no matter how hard I tried. In real life Jillian even lost a lot of weight so she could give a better performance, I didn’t care. As promised she doe run the NY marathon …no she doesn’t win it. The movie is supposed to be a comedy I didn’t laugh once.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. . Mariam Gafforio from Extinction Rebellion will talk about XRSC and their goals and accomplishments on October 15., followed by former County Supervisor and Land Use Attorney Gary Patton talking about many of our local issues.
OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kzsc You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
I love Emma Thompson!
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur,The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
“EARTHQUAKES”
“I noticed that volcanoes, earthquakes and floods, though are not good events, they are better than the silence of good people when bad people take the podium. The latter are to an extent uncontrollable, but the former can be stopped.” Israelmore Ayivor,
“Stupidity is an elemental force for which no earthquake is a match”. Karl Kraus
“I live a half mile from the San Andreas fault – a fact that bubbles up into my consciousness every time some other part of the world experiences an earthquake. I sometimes wonder whether this subterranean sense of impending disaster is at least partly responsible for Silicon Valley’s feverish, get-it-done-yesterday work norms”. Gary Hamel
“The safest place to be during an earthquake would be in a stationary store.” George Carlin
“The earthquake, however, must be to everyone a most impressive event: the earth, considered from our earliest childhood as the type of solidity, has oscillated like a thin crust beneath our feet; and in seeing the laboured works of man in a moment overthrown, we feel the insignificance of his boasted power.” Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions:Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
“CHRISTMAS TREES”
(Edna was top in math, or maths as it is called in Australia). We escaped the unconscious bias towards boys that teachers exhibit in a mixed gender classroom. (At University I did research in this field and found distinct gender bias on the part of teachers in secondary schools.) We were serious students and had good teachers. I credit my ability to write a decent essay to my high school teachers. On the social side of life we were probably naïve. Boys were foreign territory.
with symptoms of leptospirosis, a bacterium carried in, among other things, dog urine, at beaches where scores of dogs run off-leash in violation of posted signs. 
The decision whom to favor in this battle is determined by a city council vote at its October 22nd. meeting. On one side is Ensemble, owner of the Dream Inn, which self-describes as ” a versatile real estate company that envisions, manages, brokers and owns transformative projects in the health care, hospitality, commercial and urban multifamily/mixed use sectors.” On the other side is ClearView Court, a neighborhood of 68 single-story manufactured homes, whose residents are mostly seniors, many disabled and all low income. If the mammoth project of 55 feet tall, 79 luxury apartments and retail, across from the Dream Inn is approved, it surely will be “transformative.” The residents of ClearView Court, feet away from the project, lose their view, their sun, their privacy, their peace, their quality of life and in the long run, probably their homes since this is the thin end of the wedge of upscale development, sprouting all over Santa Cruz. In this battle, city Planning staff is on the side of Goliath. They deserve far more than an inaudible sarcastic laugh in my opinion. 
