CAPITOLA May 15, 1956.   The big building next to the water is the Saba Club. Owned by the Brad McDonald family. It was built on the site of the Hotel Capitola, and burned down. Snuggled back behind the parking lot is the grand Theater Capitola. Do note that this is May and note all the parking spaces!                                        photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE May 20

GROUP THERAPY FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL! Almost since the very first week our new 4-3 city council has exhibited some painful actions…and votes. We’ve watched and heard some of the most nasty, personal moves any of us can remember from our elected group. We watch their smiling, polite faces as they plan and plot and again react to their fellow councilmembers. It’s got to be extra painful to each of them every meeting, every week, every decision. Their personal lives must be paying a terrific price for this forced civility. Given the wide diversity of their personal politics it’s only near-natural that they have to deal with such pressure.

I think, and I’m serious, I wish we could help our City council by getting them into some group therapy!! They’d probably have to have a judge in the room (Brown Act) and commit to just being alone with a well trained, credentialed, (probably from out of town) Group therapist.  Put yourself into any of the council’s seats and imagine how you’d be reacting to the internal and huge external battles-divisions each meeting. I know this is an unusual and impossible idea but once in awhile it occurs to me that it wouldn’t be just their lives that would change for the better but the lives of our city too. These are some very tough times…think about it.

TRADER JOE’S (ALDI’s) BEATING AMAZON AND WALMART!! I happened across a newsy, surprising article about ALDI the German food chain that is beating all competition around the world. You probably remember that ALDI bought out Trader Joe’s back in 1979. The link here will take you to some reading that will revise much of what you think you know about buying groceries. You’ll read that Aldi/TJoe’s stocks only about 1400 items while traditional stores go for 40,000 items or more. Aldi’s Facebook page has 50,000. TJoe’s/Aldi prices run anywhere from 50 to 15 % less than the other grocery outlets. Trader Joe’s now has 484 stores in the USA. Also hidden in the article is the news that Trader Joe’s/ALDI customers make more money and have more education than other grocery stores!!

CYNTHIA MATHEWS TERMED OUT! Two weeks ago (May 6) I wrote…” BEAT ME TO IT! I had intended to predict that our local political, habitual, driven, predictable, candidates would be starting to do their campaigning about now. Cynthia Mathews is the champ of this group. We see her photos at dozens of community functions just a short time before she actually announces. But Mike Rotkin jumped the gun and got his photo in today’s (Sunday, May 5) Sentinel. Watch for the Santa Cruz Business Council’s Robert Singleton’s name and photo soon. Most poll predictors are betting that unsuccessful City Council candidate Greg Larson’s name will pop up. New surprises await both Larson’s and Singleton’s campaigns!  Big thanks to all the folks who wrote telling us that Cynthia Mathews is termed out and won’t be running for mayor this next time. It certainly helps to remember these “little” things. Never mind that I knew that and mis-syped but I wanted to get across that she is the champ at joining each and every photo op just before any time that she does run…just not this time. So NOW watch and keep a lookout for Greg Larson and Robert Singleton’s names creeping into Sentinel articles. Por ejemplo… Singleton’s name has been in about three times recently.

CABRILLO FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC. This world –wide famous Festival runs July 28-August 11 this year. One of the many extra grand experiences of the festival has always been when locals make room for a musician or two in their homes. The Festival website says…

“An essential part of the Festival’s existence is the generosity of 80 local families who volunteer housing for our orchestra members, composers, guest artists, and technical staff. While most of our hosts stay in the program for many years, there are the inevitable shifts that make finding new host families a constant need! If you have a spare bedroom, guest house, or granny unit that you can offer for one to two weeks during the Festival, please use the interest form provided on this page or phone us at 831.426.6966. Our Housing Coordinator Valerie Hayes will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Housing an orchestra musician is truly one of the most rewarding aspects of the Cabrillo Festival experience!

May 20

NEWS FLASHES
Only Twenty-Four hours in a Day and Approximately 10-12 years to do Right by Our Climate
The pace of city council life is hectic right now. Too many meetings…? Just this past week the city council cut the cord on the downtown library-5-story parking garage.  (Hip, hip, hurray!) Meaning, it’s starting to look like they are no longer umbilically linked, i.e. cars and books. A subcommittee will meet with the library director, community members, architects, and hopefully, all other concerned parties interested in putting together the best project possible. The subcommittee–Sandy Brown, Justin Cummings, Donna Meyers–is to report back to the city council no later than the October 8th city council meeting, as I understood the motion. But first, they are also to come back to the council on May 28th with a game plan on how to get to a community-infused yes.

Then, seemingly all of a sudden, the Deputy City attorney was let go for indiscreet remarks (questioning of a witness) in a San Jose Federal court room where he unknowingly (?) maligned a current councilmember’s past. This came on the heels of the city council receiving word that this same Deputy City Attorney had been involved in a drug case of his own back in 2012, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. I have not seen the document referred to in the newspaper article that was “hand-delivered to the city council.” It was apparently sent to the council anonymously. Continuing with the pace of events, the Water Department will spend many millions of dollars upgrading our community’s water delivery system and rate-payer bills are already reflecting the cost of these infrastructure improvements; Public Works announced that the sewer rates are set to jump dramatically over the next few years; and the 5G cell ordinance that was on last week’s council agenda was “continued” so that the council could get additional information about what has been done in Sebastopol and Portland to combat the onslaught of electromagnetic and radiation exposure.

Budget Opportunities

Don’t you just love these headlines juxtaposed on this version of the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Somewhere there is a subversive headline writer who enjoys making social commentary.

I am told by the city manager that the council will hold at least two more budget sessions, one on May 28th and the other on June 11th. This will be to finalize the city manager’s $262.6 million proposed budget. The question is, at the end of the day will it be a “city manager budget” or a “city council budget?” Stay tuned! I met with a dozen community members to talk about the budget and I came away with a list of requests that include: 1) the age-old question of how will the golf course balance its budget? (another $5-$6 water charge per round might do it…who knew their H2O budget for the next fiscal year would come in at $750k!), 2) How do we express the community desire to reign in UCSC growth in the city budget? We are hiring an analyst to turn up the heat in Oakland (Regents) and Sacramento (lawmakers). And, what to do about plans for an overbuilt round-about at the base of campus, which is in the 2019-2020 capital improvement project (CIP) budget? 3) How do we not fund the widening of the bridge over the river San Lorenzo between Hwy. 17 and River Street? 4) How do we inject, infuse, and enshrine climate disruption and our changing climate into every program, land-use decision, and purchased product the city undertakes? How do we get to the “carbon neutral” budget that people are pleading for? 5) Can we place a moratorium on the purchase of non-emergency gasoline and diesel vehicles in favor of acquiring more electric and hybrid ones? 6) What about that River Coordinator position that the council approved back in 2017? Isn’t it time to fill this hire? And, 7) What should be the right dollar amount for a placeholder to fund the future Housing Task Force that is to take up the extreme costs of housing and all of its collateral damages?

Yes, there Still is a Public Safety Committee
The bad news is that the Public Safety Committee (PSC) last met on October 15, 2018, and it has not convened a meeting since. The good news is that the PSC is going to actually meet on Tuesday, May 21st, a mere seven months after its last go-round. Why hasn’t the committee met? It’s not clear. One, wouldn’t you think we need a PSC meeting regularly after the million dollar-plus payout to the family of Sean Arlt who was killed by Santa Cruz police after he charged them with a garden rake? Or two, a former officer, David Gunther, was fired by SCPD according to the SC Sentinel for several unwanted sexual advances; or three, that homelessness camping and trespassing fine discrepancies, and some mighty justified neighborhood outrage continues oozing in Surf City like a festering sore; or four, that the current city council has not been privy to a BearCat tank incident report that I am aware of for many months. But, more bad news: the upcoming PSC meeting will be a “closed session” affair. The PSC is now comprised of councilmembers Drew Glover, Donna Meyers, and me. Formerly, then-Mayor Terrazas and councilmembers Chase and Noroyan held forth during this committee’s five meetings last year. The agenda for the meeting states that we will convene in the “city manager’s conference room” (I always call it the city hall conference room) and perform a “Review of Police Auditor Written Evaluations and Police Files.” My hope is to have an open session meeting sometime soon and report back to the public, to the extent we are allowed by current law, what happened at this meeting, and also to hear from the public on public safety issues they believe the council should address more vigorously, or less vigorously, in 2019.

Community-Council Network Continues to Meet
The Community-Council Network met for the fourth time since the Brand-New Council, Part II was seated. And I tell you what; it is so nice to be around folks who have your back on NextDoor, with the Sentinel, at city council meetings, and on the phone late at night for a therapy session. Why? Because I believe the current political project being undertaken by this council has not been seen since the early chapters of Santa Cruz progressivism. Remember? In the late-70’s people demanded local government protect and fund the Westside health clinic? Or when the city council jumped into the business of funding social service programs because that’s what constituents were asking for? Or when issues like curbside recycling, affordable housing (Nueva Vista and Sycamore Commons), municipal protests against Reagan’s war on Nicaragua and El Salvador, or the ballot initiative opposing the ridiculous notion that we somehow needed oil off the Santa Cruz coastline? I remember. These were all pursued with the same zeal, community debate, and organizing that our locals now engage in. The early progressives were our models. Environmental protection, the end of city purchases of gasoline and diesel vehicles, real affordable housing while holding developers in check, a remodeled downtown library, a permanent home for the Farmer’s Market, holding the line at 19,500 students at UCSC, and perhaps the issue that locals keep revisiting like any healthy democracy, the call for transparency and accountability of our local government and its spending habits. We are all indebted to [St.]Gary Patton…Mike Rotkin and Bruce Van Allen…and then Mardi Wormhoudt and John Laird…and later Celia Scott, Katherine Beiers, Ed Porter, Tim Fitzmaurice, Keith Sugar and Micah Posner. And let’s not forget those progressives who sacrificed and lost at the ballot box: Eleanor Eisenberg, Scott Bugental, Bonnie Moore, Simba Kenyatta, Ron Pomerantz, Leonie Sherman and Steve Schnaar. These are the giants whose shoulders this council is now standing upon. Enter the Community-Council Network, stage left. The group is filled with folks who are part of the political dreamers and part of the political do-ers. We need both. These people are working towards, and pushing councilmembers to pursue a downtown commons area sans a 5-story parking garage; support for Metro bus drivers in their upcoming contract negotiations; realizing a community land trust; opening more rest rooms around town; worker-owned businesses and support for a cooperative future; intense advocacy for scrutinizing the city budget and making it into a climate and global warming mitigations document; and of course, looking towards 2020 and how to bring the Green New Deal home to Santa Cruz. The Council-Community Network is the closest thing I’ve seen to the SCAN, the Santa Cruz Action Network, of yester-year. But, it is perhaps even more active as it is much broader with at least seven different groups that were represented: CFST, BAC, SC CAN, Sierra Club, DSA, Organizing Circle, and the PDC Wow, Qué vivala revolución local! Viva!(Google those acronyms if you want to know the group names).

Et cetera…Extinction is Forever
So many issues we are all talking about, and still they remain on the drawing board, or the cutting room floor. This list might be a bit like the $300 million city CIP–capital improvement plan–list at the back of the city budget. The only difference is, many of those projects, although put on the list in earnest, should be taken off, mostly because of global warming and climate change concerns. But here is a list I’ve gathered from community meetings, which I think are worthy of continued interest and thought. They are: public banking; building a community land trust for affordable housing; continuing to step up protection for immigrants vs. ICE-HSI attacks (Sherriff Jim Hart stated emphatically at a People’s Democratic Club meeting, “They’re (ICE and HSI) not allowed in any Santa Cruz County facility anymore.”); allowing the public to speak without fear of being cut off at the city hall podium; a 24/7 emergency homeless shelter with an active day center; supporting “Co-op Santa Cruz” and the flourishing of worker-owned businesses (meeting May 30th, 7pm at the RCNV); bringing the Green New Deal to the city council for approval, and because of the acknowledged “collapse of the recycling market,” let’s ban single-use plastic bottles while we’re at it…

“I was proud to stand with those marching in Birmingham today against the outrageous and unconstitutional abortion ban passed in Alabama. We will fight back and protect a woman’s right to control her own body.” (May 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. Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com

EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Journey into our sublime and substitute world at Eagan’s Subsconscious Comics…just a drop below!!

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Trade War ” 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: “George R. R. Martin hasn’t even finished writing his last book in the series begun with Game of Thrones, but the writers on the TV show have already wrapped up the whole story. Does he wonder: Who’s writing this thing anyway? Some thoughts, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Also, for an antidote to sweeping, epic drama, read my review of the small-scale romance Photograph in this week’s Good Times!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

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.  May 21st has concertmaster Roy Malan discussing the Hidden Valley String Orchestra concert occurring on June 2nd. Then Scott McGilvray from Water For Santa Cruz talks about our water issues and solutions. Winners from Bookshop Santa Cruz’s annual Short Story Contest read their works on May 28. No BrattonOnline issued the week of June 3…my birthday and a trip to Mar Vista instead. Julie Phillips will be telling us about threats to the Tule Elk on June 11. Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter from “Santa Cruz Local” news organization are guests on June 14. 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

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.  “Measles”
“Like the measles, love is most dangerous when it comes late in life”. Lord Byron
“Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind”. Albert Einstein
“I just want people to know the facts and science and the information… measles is preventable”. Barack Obama

1111 PACIFIC AVENUE. Built in 1908, converted in 1989.  Once upon a time it was this Hotel Metropole, then later it was Hal Morris’ Plaza Books — and then Logos Books. Now it’s been empty for months, waiting for that non-profit brewery to open. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE May 13, 2019

HAIL SATAN? The movie (FULL DISCLOSURE) I’ll admit that it’s rare (if ever) that I open with a movie review but Hail Satan! really got to me. I’ve been looking for at least three weeks for my own Anton La Vey personally-signed membership card to his Satanic Church in San Francisco. I’ll post it when I find it. I knew Anton for years through my producer/director days at KCBS (CBS) and at KGO (ABC). My Goodtime Washboard 3 Trio even played at one of his Black Masses. Anton was a very funny guy, full of fun and with a super sense of humor! It’s not too widely-known but one of his jobs was playing the organ at the Long Beach Pike (Boardwalk/amusement park). He’s only given a few seconds in this documentary about some activists who use Satan to help break the religious stranglehold that Christianity has on our government. These Satanists mostly want equal time or equal display of symbols beside the Christian one. GO SEE THIS FILM… you’ll think about the message for at least days on end! Yes. There’s a Santa Cruz Satanic Chapter that gets brief screen time. It has a 96 on RT!!! It’s also an excellent example of the power of the people when they organize!!!

• KZSC PLEDGE DRIVE. Next Tuesday May 21st is the KZSC Pledge Drive. One way or the other it’s the way they judge popularity of the programs. Please, if I’ve ever interviewed you or friends of yours, consider donating some cash to the drive. It is of course my “Universal Grapevine” program at 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday nights. Call 459-2811 to talk to somebody and be sure to give my program UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE name…otherwise the pledge goes to general funds. You also can go online, but I’m not sure how to direct the pledge to Universal Grapevine. I wouldn’t be asking if it didn’t matter, and thank you so very much. There’s a message on their website… KZSC is a student-run, community-based, non-commercial, educational public radio station teaches media making and non-profit management.
• The University of California does not fund KZSC; KZSC receives 32% of our support from student donations; another 32% comes from renting out space on our broadcast tower to other radio stations and cell phone companies; the rest comes from our semiannual on-air fundraiser, local businesses underwriting, and, of course, You! (the listener).
• KZSC airs alternative viewpoints to those found on commercial/mainstream stations. Honesty, balance, and sensitivity fuels our creative and educational endeavors.
• KZSC strives for completeness in news coverage, conscientiously providing unbiased and fair reporting on all events and topics. We have a newsroom covering the Monterey Bay–made by locals for locals!
• KZSC provides access in a non-discriminatory, progressive fashion to those traditionally underrepresented in the media, including but not limited to women, cultural, ethnic, and racial minorities, people of various sexual orientations, seniors, youth, children, and the disabled.
• KZSC is dedicated to serving the public interest, serving as a mouthpiece on air for the community it serves and represents.
• KZSC does not sell promotional advertising spots or accept payola of any kind. Anything you hear on-air is curated content by our lovely disc-jockeys and fiercely independent, local news editors.
• KZSC was first known as KRUZ.  Forty-nine years later, KZSC broadcasts at 20,000 watts, reaching 3 million people in Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties!

#Give2KZSC today – or you can call 831-459 2811to make your donation by phone!  

MAY 13

FILL ‘ER UP

It’s no secret that Santa Cruz is a lucrative market for housing speculators. Despite rising building and material costs, current artificially high land values are a developers’ dream.  Shedding crocodile tears over the “housing crisis, “self-interested stakeholders urge approval of all manner of new large developments that are rapidly changing the character of Santa Cruz while paradoxically worsening the housing cost crisis.

It is not too late to weigh in on the latest of these out of scale developments. Thursday, May 16th, the city Planning Commission will discuss and vote on a proposed 9-unit development at 916 Seabright Avenue. A duplex and one single family home currently on the site are proposed to be demolished to make way for 9 three story townhouses with an average height of 30 feet (mid-way roofline, actual height 36 feet). This row of nine 2000 square foot units stretches almost the length of a football field. Nearby neighbors are rightfully disturbed at the scale of the development that will loom over nearby small cottages, taking away privacy and the small- scale character of the Seabright area. Their flyer summarizes the impact and concerns.

For those who profess to a belief that we need “lots more housing” which includes the Sentinel editorial board, the YIMBY group, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, local Chamber of Commerce and SC County Business Council, there’s no downside to such developments. If we had a map of where they all live its likely none is impacted by this or the many other large-scale recent housing developments already approved or in the works. It’s also likely they are positioned to make money from an influx of well-off newcomers, either directly or indirectly.

Let’s put to rest once and for all the notion that “lots more housing” will lead to lower rents and/or housing costs. That model may work in some contexts but not in 2019 Santa Cruz.  We are in a housing vice-grip between the wealth of Silicon Valley and an expanding UCSC. Both represent essentially unlimited demand. Were there a moratorium on UCSC growth with a scale back to ten thousand students plus a downturn in the economy impacting the high tech Bay area industry then maybe supply and demand might become a relevant model but that is not in the foreseeable future. Unless we don’t care if our established neighborhoods are morphed into rows of expensive high-rise apartment buildings (the YIMBY goal), our only option is to organize and demand that the General Plan goal of protecting the character of established neighborhoods be followed.  Such efforts will be decried by the stakeholders and mischaracterized as catering to NIMBY types, usually described as old, white, elitists standing in the way of progress and affordable housing. That description does not match the demographics of our long-time neighborhoods. Well, maybe old and white is descriptive but not pejorative. Apart from higher income areas such as the upper westside, most of the lower westside and eastside neighborhoods are still comprised of lower and moderate- income families. While gentrification is rapidly changing these demographics with small cottages torn down and replaced with large expensive houses marketed as second homes for the wealthy, these newcomers are not the neighbors getting organized. The folks getting organized are long-term residents, mostly working or middle-class, or now retired who refuse to let their neighborhoods be lost to such out of scale developments that do nothing to alleviate the housing cost crisis and in fact tend to make it worse.

One of the nine units proposed for 916 Seabright will be “affordable” under the city’s Inclusionary Ordinance. The rest will be market rate. “Affordable” here is defined as 80% of the area medium income, which for a family of four is $98,000. I don’t profess to know all current income scales but that still seems unaffordable for the city’s janitors, cooks, cleaners and perhaps even teachers. The rents for the other eight units are likely to be comparable to other units recently built on Seabright, which rent for $4,600 a month.

Worse than simply being expensive, such new dense developments have been shown to displace lower income rental families by raising the value of nearby properties, putting pressure on the owners to sell, bulldoze and capitalize on the high income demand for infill housing in Santa Cruz. So the very people we pay lip service to wanting to protect are the first to be sacrificed. Make no mistake, such density and scale will soon be coming to your neighborhood should Senator Scott Wiener’s bills pass the state legislature.  In the meantime, show some solidarity by supporting the neighbors’ efforts to keep the scale, character and whatever’s left of the affordability of the Seabright neighborhood. When it’s your turn, they will be there.

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.

May 13

THE CITY BUDGET, PART ii

OMG, We’re Going Back to the City Budget

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to speak about the budget. You were terrific! There will be a couple more days to come out and advocate too, possibly May 28 and June 11. I will let you know. The bureaucrats with their large bureaucrat bats sought to lure, then herd, the city council cats into a kind of budgetary compliance. Fire and brimstone PERS payment schedules surround Surf City like fun-loving bands of wanna-be surfers camped on the outskirts of town. They’re just waiting to invade Steamer Lane once locals let down their guard. These retirement benefit payments represent a deep abyss where the city shovels in millions each year, and nothing grows but the budget hole. With this in mind the current council is keenly aware of city staff concerns and priorities. I wondered if there was any room for the council to offer alternatives to staff’s budget, which as filled with more code enforcers, images of widened bridges over the San Lorenzo, more low-paid First Alarm guards, and hardly a word about climate mitigations, or even climate change. (BTW, the Parks Master Plan, which appears to be a blue print for damn the climate change pabulum, full steam ahead with more mountain bike paths and $750k worth of water for the golf course (I kid you not) was sent back to look at the environmental effects of the plan’s actions, i.e. carry out an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), or be sued. (This was a win for the environment and at least one positive outcome that occurred this past week. In politics you have to celebrate the wins!)

Progressive City Budget
Yes, you heard that right, the city council pushed back on the staff budget and made some suggestions of their own.  Councilmember Sandy Brown passed around a list of funding priorities to be included: Women’s Self-Defense classes: $20k; Tenant legal services: $60k; Project Homeless Connect: $5k; Janus: $5,400; Foster Grandparents program: $5k; Meals on Wheels: $12k; funding for aUCSC-LRDP advocate position to help enforce the results of voter-approved Measure U: $60k; opening the Harvey West Pool year-round: $400k; and a long-awaited item, budgeting for City Council Assistants: $175k. Now that’s starting to look like a progressive city budget! I would like to say all of these items were embraced unanimously by a progressive council, andflew through on a 7-0 vote. But instead I will say, it sailed through on a 4-3 vote. (Surprise!) Another thorny issue discussed was the future of the brutish, nasty, mean, and short Rental Inspection Ordinance (RIO), which did result in a 7-0 vote. Similar to the now discredited Library-Garage fiasco, el RIO was also never fully vetted by the community and it has left a trail of disaffected and disempowered renters as well as irate landlords along the now long Santa Cruz housing trail of tears.(Apologies here to our Native American brothers and sisters.) The council voted unanimously to have the Planning Director, Lee Butler, bring back information on what a revamped and reformed ordinance might look like, one that puts the needs of tenants first.

Now You see it….now you don’t. Ross Camp Before and after…is it really better this way?

In Other Budget Issues…questions were raised with Police, Parks and Rec., and Public Works over their vehicle purchases and gasoline/diesel budgets. You could hear a pin drop shortly after a Public Works spokesperson lauded the department’s efforts at buying Nissan Leafs (6) and Toyota Priuses (12). Why? He was asked, how many vehicles does the Santa Cruz Public Works Department operate? Oh, around 800, he said. (pin drop time) EIGHT HUNDRED vehicles?!? That means around 2.5% of Public Work’s entire city fleet is electric or hybrid. Almost 11% of all vehicles purchased in California last year were EVs. Wow. Upon further inquiry, the council found that the police department has zero electric cars, and Parks and Rec. possesses far too many monster F-150 pickup trucks. Where does the climate change buck stop I wonder? The recent UN report that was issued last week on potential species loss was being chilled by the whirring new air conditioning system down at city hall council chambers. A wake-up call that the ice caps are melting and the ocean is knocking at the Santa Cruz door has already been issued, and it is certainly within our means to do more mitigating now with respect to the impending future effects of climate disruption. And vehicle purchases are just the tip of this melting iceberg. Where in the city budget is the city council owning up to the awesome responsibility of confronting climate change? There is still time for this council to look at its budget and perform a climate analysis and audit…i.e. identify the low hanging fruit like vehicle purchases, not installing any more air conditioning in city buildings, putting a hold on building more parking garages, and we could plant 2019 trees in 2019. Putting solar on the roof of every new home and every city-owned building, installing electric charging stations throughout the city, and revamping building codes so that all new construction is Leeds certified might take a bit longer, but we desperately need a plan, now. Kyoto, Paris, last week’s UN report, the time to act it now. How is Santa Cruz doing?

Wait, There’s Time
During the course of this Wednesday’s 10am-6:30pm budget deliberations, if I have this right, the deficit went from $1.9 million to $3.2 million then back down to $1.6 million even with the council ad-ons. But, as Yogi Berra might’ve put it, the budget “ain’t over ’til it’s over.” The extremely narrow window to pass the budget that the Finance Director and City Manager built appeared to grow wider throughout the day. At first, some councilmembers thought Wednesday’s meeting would be the only forum to intensely parse the budget, but it turns out May 14th, May 28th, and June 11th could all be additional sessions to discuss city finances. We have more breathing space to receive public input, have councilmember conversations, and put forward additional motions to discuss and debate. There’s time.

What’s on the City Council Meeting Agenda This Week

Four significant issues are of note on this week’s city council agenda:

1. From the city council’s closed session agenda, it appears that a discussion will take place under “Real Property Negotiations.” Under negotiation: Skypark sale.” This property, located inside the city of Scotts Valley, was once the Santa Cruz Airport.
2. “Climate Action Plan Annual Report” will be issued by Climate Action Task Force Coordinator, Dr. Tiffany Wise-West. This couldn’t come to the council too soon given the UN report referred to above and our torpid budget considerations in the area of climate mitigation. Tiffany, help us, guide us, tell us what to do.
3. Proposal by the Transportation and Public Works Commission to extend their yearly meeting schedule from six meetings per year to ten. Wow, am I impressed that a group of commissioners voted on a measure to have more meetings. How commendable is that! This is an especially important resolution since this group was once two commissions and each commission had 10-12 meetings each year. So, for the commission to go to 10 meetings, it’s still only half the amount from pre-recession days, a time when the city had to cut back because of less resources. I applaud these commissioners. Unfortunately, our city staff recommendation is to not have more meetings and stay with the current six meetings per year. I look forward to a robust council discussion on this one.
4. Surprise! Library-Garage is back on the agenda. The item suggests that three councilmembers form a subcommittee and come up with a recommendation that might jump start this project, or shelve the garage, or create a permanent home for the Farmer’s Market where it is, and/or remodel the current library using both the Measure S voter-approved funds of around $28 million and supplementing that money with another $10 million from the city’s Parking Fund. Now that would be progress.

“Nearly half a million-people sitting in jail haven’t been convicted of any crime—simply because many accused of a crime can’t afford bail. We must end cash bail as part of reforming our entire criminal justice system.” (May 13)

(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. Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com

SEND ME NEAT AND FUNNY THINGS FROM AROUND THE WEB. Ralph Davila sent this beautiful creation… You can too, email me at bratton@cruzio.com

EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Note the invasion & revelation of your inner self at Tim’s Subconscious Comics.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Our species with mustard” 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.

Munching With Mozart presents Pirates of Penzance at the Santa Cruz Library, May 16, 2019 12:10-1:00 in the Central Branch threatened Downtown Library’s upstairs `Meeting Room. Students in the UCSC music department will perform excerpts from UCSC Opera’s spring production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance.  They’ll be accompanied by Michael Blackburn, the assistant music director. 

THE MIRIAM ELLIS INTERNATIONAL PLAYHOUSE (MEIP).
The 19th season of the Miriam Ellis International Playhouse (MEIP) will feature short, fully-staged theater pieces in 4 languages, with English super-titles, on May 17, 18, 19, at 8:00 PM at the Stevenson Event Center, UCSC. In Japanese, Tales of the Service Industry will be directed by Sakae Fujita; Spanish will offer El delental blanco (The White Apron), Carolina Castillo-Trelles directing. Chinese will present Butterfly Lovers, directed by Ting-Ting Wu, while French students will perform On fait le marché avec Papa (Shopping with Papa), directed by Miriam Ellis and Renée Cailloux. Free admission; parking is $5.00. The public is cordially invited to attend. More at language.ucsc.edu.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “It’s not a portrait of the artist writing in a fever of inspiration. Instead, the beloved fantasy author is depicted as a man of very methodical, intersecting obsessions in Tolkien, 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.

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. Dr. Shawna Riddle (PAMF) returns to discuss vaccinations plus many current health issues in our community on May 14 and she’s followed by Sarah Leonard from MHCAN Mental Health Client Action Network center..  May 21st has concertmaster Roy Malan discussing the Hidden Valley String Orchestra concert occurring on June 2nd. Then Scott McGilvray from Water For Santa Cruz talks about our water issues and solutions.Winners from Bookshop Santa Cruz’s annual Short Story Contest read their works on May 28. Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter from “Santa Cruz Local” are guests on June 14. 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

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. “MONKEYS”

“If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys“. James Goldsmith
“When you’re dealing with monkeys, you’ve got to expect some wrenches”. Alvah Bessie
“There’s a statistical theory that if you gave a million monkeys typewriters and set them to work, they’d eventually come up with the complete works of Shakespeare. Thanks to the Internet, we now know this isn’t true” Ian Hart

OUR TOWN 1957. Santa Cruz, of course. Do note the four piers, or wharves. Then notice too the lack of a lighthouse, the island in the San Lorenzo, and all the available real estate on the Westside of town!!!                                                        photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE May 6,2019

BEAT ME TO IT! I had intended to predict that our local political, habitual, driven,  predictable, candidates would be starting to do their campaigning about now. Cynthia Mathews is the champ of this group. We see her photos at dozens of community functions just a short time before she actually announces. But Mike Rotkin jumped the gun and got his photo in today’s (Sunday, May 5) Sentinel. Watch for the Santa Cruz Business Council’s Robert Singleton’s name and photo soon. Most poll predictors are betting that unsuccessful City Council candidate Greg Larson’s name will pop up. New surprises await both Larson’s and Singleton’s campaigns!

PROTECT JURISTAC.  (Huris-tak) Greg Sea Lion Cotton will be talking about protecting Juristic lands on my Universal Grapevine program Tuesday night May 7 from 7-7:30 p.m. If you miss it, it’ll be archived for two weeks at Radio Free America. The cultural landscape encompassing Juristac is known today as the Sargent Ranch. It’s just a few feet from highway 101. The proposed Quarry measures 320 acres of the 6200 acre Sargent Ranch. An investor group based in San Diego purchased the land at a bankruptcy auction, and is seeking to develop a 320-acre open pit sand and gravel mining operation on the property.

These lands are sacred to the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, and are also vital both to maintaining the genetic diversity of wildlife in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and to acting as a linkage passage for animals in our Santa Cruz mountains. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band vehemently opposes the proposed mining project, and are asking the public to join them in standing for the protection of their sacred grounds. The website for donations, information and participation is here.

The Amah Mutsun say: “Our Tribe is comprised of the descendants of the indigenous peoples that were taken to missions San Juan Bautista and Mission Santa Cruz on the central coast of California. These are our ancestral lands of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band near Gilroy, California. For thousands of years, our Mutsun ancestors lived and held sacred ceremonies at this location in the southern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, above the confluence of the Pajaro and San Benito rivers.

UCSC STUDENT BUS FARE HIKE. The transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) at UCSC wants to increase the student bus fees in increments, from the present $111.66 per year to $191.00 by 2029. It’s the contract with our Metro Bus system, plus their own fleet of buses is getting old and plans are underway to change to electric buses. Go here for details… https://taps.ucsc.edu/pdf/student-transportation-fee-2019.pdf  Student voting takes place from May 13 to May 22. Also on their ballot are Career Center Platforms, an amendment to College Student Government Fees, and something titled Student Success Hub Facility Fee.

GOODBYE UCSC’S ADLAI STEVENSON COLLEGE. A group of students proposed last week that Stevenson College be re-named after UCSC professor emeriti Angela Davis. Angela taught at UCSC from 1991. If I remember correctly, they named it Stevenson because UCSC powers believed the Stevenson family was going to become big UCSC $$$ supporters. Adlai Stevenson was the two-time unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Presidency (against Dwight D. Eisenhower). The City on a Hill Press also notes that Stevenson was in favor of the Vietnam War and had “lukewarm positions” on civil rights.

SAVE THE CHURCH PROGRESSES!!! John Sears, Sue Powell and a very dedicated bunch of Circle Church Errett Circle supporters are doing an amazing job of uniting their community to save the Circle Church. As most westsiders know, the church is now — and has been for decades — a genuine community center. Dozens of groups and congregations of hundreds use the church every single day. The historic building, and the unique circle grounds around it, are being threatened by a group of seven “Circle of Friends” who are trying to develop the property and make thousands of dollars for their own selfish aims. Here’s a couple of re-written emails and Facebook messages I received, just to keep us all informed.

John Sears says, “610 signed supporters…and the next batch of door hangers are going out! It is really gratifying to know that so many others share our vision. If you haven’t seen Mark Lakeman’s inspiring Ted Talk, here it is again.

After watching Mark’s Ted Talk sign the petition here!

John continues..It is now possible to look at some of the plans for the proposed development if the Circle Church is demolished. Until May 1st only a plot plan for the second option (townhouses at the end of California Avenue) was available, so now it is possible to consider the visual impacts in more detail and imagine traffic impacts at that intersection.

If you follow the link below and scroll down you will find links to elevations, plot, and landscape plans.

These are just plan pages and do not include other documentation like the DPR 523 Historical report, letter of deficiencies, traffic analysis, water and sewer impacts etc. that constitute a full public record.

I hope all of you will take some time to look at these plans and visualize how this project will impact our neighborhood life. Then it seems appropriate to come together and share our thoughts. Those of you who can help plan that party,… please contact us. All ideas about how, when, and where will be gladly entertained. friendsofthecircles@gmail.com

SANTA CRUZ DEVELOPMENTS. Go here to check up on some (NOT ALL) present huge developments now happening in our city.

WHAT FARTS, WHAT DOESN’T? In another small way to improve the health, language and our state of being in our small non-sceptered isle, here’s the entirety of what Ralph Davila sent last week…

“Does It Fart?” a book by Dani Rabaiotti of the Zoological Society of London and Virginia Tech conservationist Nick Caruso, answers the question it poses about dozens of species.

Millipedes fart, no doubt discreetly.

Several species of herring communicate with each other that way. If you startle a zebra, says the book, it will fart with each stride as it runs away. Flatulence signals a baboon is ready to mate.

For the Bolson pupfish, found in Mexico, it’s fart or die. They feed on algae that make them buoyant, easy prey near the surface. Farts sink them to safety. Similarly, manatees may let loose when it’s time to dive deeply.

Whale farts are, of course, epic. Birds and most sea creatures don’t. Clams clam up, though they’ve been known to throw up.

The jury is out on spiders: More research is needed.

From London, Rabaiotti said methane emissions from cattle are belch-focused because the gas is produced near the start of their digestive system and comes up when they regurgitate their food to chew the cud.

One answer, she says: “Just cut down beef to, say, once a week or once a month and replace it with chicken or pork or options without meat. Emissions from dairy are lower per food serving than emissions from beef so cutting down dairy will reduce your carbon footprint less but it’s another area where people can easily lower their emissions, particularly for people that are already vegetarian.”

And for the record, says this authority on the animal kingdom’s ruder moments, “Yes, cows do fart.”

May 6

BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET
Follow the Money

The city’s 500-page draft 2019-2020 budget appeared this week. Finally. After two or three false alarms (…this Thursday, I mean Friday, I mean next Monday…) it came out May 2nd. The city’s ONE DAY budget hearing is set for Wed., May 8th. This budget document contains nice pictures of city employees helping, and that is good. It also contains columns and charts and graphs that paint a picture of what looks to be a financially healthy city until you begin reading between the lines…and the lines are plenty, so I grabbed a better pair of reading glasses.

The Budget Numbers
The proposed city budget is $262.6 million according to our city manager. The city council is directly responsible for the General Fund. It comes in at $106.4 million. This includes the big three: Police 35%, Fire (16.6%), and Parks and Recreation (13.6%) Since the Public Works department has other revenue generators–Enterprise Funds–such as the “refuse fund” and “storm water fund” in which residents pay direct fees to Public Works, this department makes up only 6.7% of the general fund. It is still interesting to note that Public Works has the largest work force (252) and essentially largest budget of any department, around $54 million, right before the Water Department’s $47 million budget. (Eyes glazing over yet?!?)

If you want to take a look at the budget numbers and read brief narratives about how each department seems to be doing, go here.

Rounding out the budget, other top spenders are the city manager’s office at $5.7 million, Planning Department spending $7.1 million, but recouping $3.8 million in fees, and Economic Development (Gotta spend money to make money!?) at $4.1 million. Yep, this is a lot to take in I know, and like any inquisitive reader you would want to make comparisons of what other cities are doing. There is not always time to do this prudent and useful footwork, but the city finance office has made some comparisons with Berkeley, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Watsonville. So, if you contact Finance Director Marcus Pimenthal’s office at 831-420-5029, they can direct you to that comparisons document. By the way, some may be surprised to know that the City Council itself costs a whopping 0.3% of the budget; that’s equal to only $222,000 in general fund money, and $428,000 overall. I will be calling for more clerical and analyst assistance and support for councilmembers, so that might bring our share of city budget up to 0.5%.

Questions?
Drew Glover is fond of quoting MLK. “Budgets are moral documents,” Glover often intones. So how are Santa Cruz morals reflected in the 2019-2020 city budget? The police still maintain, and use, Homeland Security’s gift of a BearCat Tank from 2015. Where in the budget is the line item for maintenance and usage fees? I could not find it. Also, the super-size-me SUVs that have now come to double as police cars in Santa Cruz and much of the state (Are they Ford Explorers?).As these gas-guzzlers ply their way across our city streets somebody has to be asking, ‘How much does the gas cost?’ I could not find it in the budget. Where is the line item in the budget for gasoline purchases (especially now that petrol is way north of $4 bucks a gallon), not just in the police budget but for the entire city? Maybe by purchasing more electric cars (we have some Nissan Leaf electrics and Prius hybrids) we could lower fossil fuel costs and save money on vehicle purchases overall. Also, how do fuel costs this year compare with last year? What about purchasing an electric police car? LA did. Basel, Switzerland now only uses Tesla cars. You can see it here

Other questions would be about the high cost of police and fire department overtime. Can you show the city council the numbers of overtime vs. hiring an additional officer, or for example, investing more in the Community Service Officer Program (CSO) where PERS pension rates would not be such a deal-killer…And what about the Planning Department? Why are we spending so much money on code enforcement when it is leading to the closing down of safe housing units? City council frequently hears from tenants and landlords about how the original UCSC-backed code enforcement program has put dozens of units across the city out of commission. Back a decade ago, UCSC officials made a deal with the city to go after so-called “illegal” units, many where tenants have been living happily for years, in order for the university to maintain higher dormitory occupancy rates. Well, the chicken coming home to roost now is the estimated 300-plus students living in their vehicles in Santa Cruz County. This situation is shameful by any social justice yardstick. Check out City on a Hill’s story about the new “Snail Movement.”

Because so many affordable units have vanished under the “Rental Inspection Ordinance,” students live 5 and 6 to a two-bedroom apartment, or in their vehicle to save money for books and food. The university only has loans to offer, ones that students will be saddled with paying off for many years long after their slug days have ended. There is currently a backlog according to city planners of some 400-500 units operating illegally in the city. Some have been “abated,” while many landlords once informed that they have a permit issue simplystop renting the unit. (The craziest story concerning overzealous code enforcement is this one )

The current mantra I hear from both renters and landlords is that the city should act only on renter complaints and not send their people out looking for code violations if health and safety concerns are not a threat. Protecting renters at all costs should be our number one priority. Make it so that renters can complain without experiencing retaliation in the form of rent increases or eviction for simply reporting plumbing and electrical problems. If renters have to leave the unit while it is being fixed then the landlord should provide a suitable place. If the landlord reneges on fixing a real health and safety issue then the city ought to help the tenant(s) find housing and then go after the landlord for the expenses. Because of $2k, $3k, and $4k rents in this town, the vulnerable are a lot more vulnerable here than they might be at other communities, including ones that host a UC campus.

And What About the Golf Course
The city-owned golf course in DeLaveaga Park runs over a $300,000 deficit. This is money that could go to teen programs, Meals-on-Wheels for seniors, legal aid to help tenants fight unscrupulous landlords, or into the various childcare programs the city supports. All of these programs need more money. Therefore, it is incumbent on the council to figure out how to balance the golf course’s budget. Raising fees a few dollars on the 40-50,000 rounds of golf played annually is likely not going to discourage golfers from playing. Since this falls under the Parks and Recreation department it is imperative that the golf course at least balance this part of the budget (some people even think the golf course should be underwriting other Parks and Rec. programs…) this year and not wait until next year. The city budget should reflect our community’s morals and values there are several places where this city council can have a real impact on putting community values first, the golf course is one place and Rental Inspection ordinance is another.

“Our extractive, wasteful, fossil fuel economy is posing a direct threat to our own lives. There is a better way: one that’s conscious, just + prosperous. We will not be able to save our planet without first changing ourselves. That is the task before us.” (May 6)

(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. Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com

May 6 #126 / In The Ecotone

James Clifford, Emeritus Professor in the History of Consciousness Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has written a beautiful book, In The Ecotone, available from the Bay Tree Bookstore at UCSC, and from Bookshop Santa Cruz, and probably from elsewhere, too. 

Clifford’s book is an impassioned song of love to the UCSC campus, and particularly to its both stunning and subtle physical beauty. The book celebrates everything that makes the campus such a special place. Clifford’s book has been published as the campus teeters on the brink of a repudiation of one of the central commitments made by the University in the very early 1960s, when the Cowell Ranch was initially selected and then developed as the site of the University’s then-new campus. 

As Clifford explains in the book, “the earliest plans for the university placed it in the meadow. Construction there would probably have been simpler and less expensive … Initial sketches show a rather conventional campus …” A picture of the meadow appears above. Renowned landscape architect “Thomas Church argued against building in the meadow, a perspective quickly accepted by the planning team, and after some debate, by the Regents. The whole operation was moved uphill, into the ecotone and the forest.”

As Robert Frost might have said, “and that has made all the difference.”

A little over fifty years after the decision to reject filling the meadow with buildings, retiring Chancellor George Blumenthal has done everything he can to reverse the commitment insisted upon by the founders. Instead of celebrating the splendor of the campus, which the preservation of the open meadow as its entryway accomplishes automatically, Blumenthal has decided that a rather conventional and undistinguished residential development should be the first view that most visitors will have of the campus as they come through the Main Gate.

Those who use the West Gate entry will see, perhaps even worse, high-rise apartment buildings that conjure up a vision of a dense, urban downtown. 

The “Blumenthal blunder,” as it will surely always be remembered, if construction moves ahead, is being challenged in court. You can get more information by clicking this link for a news story about the lawsuits. 

If you would like to join in the fight to protect and preserve the meadow (and to maintain the vision that has defined the physical development of the UCSC campus from its very beginnings), you can click the link for a connection to the East Meadow Action Committee. More stunning pictures are available from the EMAC website. 

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

EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Learn the secret deep inside moves to keep us going at Subconscious Comics…skip below.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Barr None” 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.

MIRIAM ELLIS INTERNATIONAL PLAYHOUSE (MEIP).
The 19th season of the Miriam Ellis International Playhouse (MEIP) will feature short, fully-staged theater pieces in 4 languages, with English super-titles, on May 17, 18, 19, at 8:00 PM at the Stevenson Event Center, UCSC. In Japanese, Tales of the Service Industry will be directed by Sakae Fujita; Spanish will offer El delental blanco (The White Apron), Carolina Castillo-Trelles directing. Chinese will present Butterfly Lovers, directed by Ting-Ting Wu, while French students will perform On fait le marché avec Papa (Shopping with Papa), directed by Miriam Ellis and Renée Cailloux. Free admission; parking is $5.00. The public is cordially invited to attend. More at language.ucsc.edu.

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. Greg Sea Lion Cotton from Protect Juristac, a group fighting to save tribal lands from oil and other development talks on May 7th. Juristac will be followed by Keith McHenry discussing Food Not Bombs and the Camp Ross closing. Dr. Shawna Riddle returns to discuss many current health issues in our community on May 14 and she’s followed by Sarah Leonard from MHCAN Mental Health Client Action center..  May 21st has concertmaster Roy Malan discussing the Hidden Valley String Orchestra concert occurring on June 2nd. Winners from Bookshop Santa Cruz’s annual Short Story Contest read their works on May 28. 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

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. “BOMBS”

“Terrorists are not following Islam. Killing people and blowing up people and dropping bombs in places and all this is not the way to spread the word of Islam. So people realize now that all Muslims are not terrorists”. Muhammad Ali

“How do we prevent Iran developing an atomic bomb, when, on the American side, dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is not recognised as a war crime?”  Gunter Grass

“The guns and the bombs, the rockets and the warships, are all symbols of human failure”. Lyndon B. Johnson

COWELL RANCH and BLACKSMITH SHOP AND QUARRY WORK. This was 1855. The oxen team was hauling rock from the quarry.  Now it’s UCSC and Sarah Cowell (ranch owner Henry Cowell’s daughter) haunts the entire area after her mysterious death in 1903. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE April 29, 2019

Here is last week’s complete press release from the East Meadow Action Committee. There is no need to change a word. On Last Tuesday’s Universal Grapevine EMAC’s lead organizer Jim Clifford talked about this. We also talked about his sensitive, surprising and unique book. “In The Ecotone”. He wrote it in 2015 and it’s around and at Amazon too. The book relates some of the many unique natural havens on the UCSC Campus, and more about the”hidden” reasons why the campus should be preserved.

UCSC’S EAST MEADOW ACTION COMMITTEE SUES THE UNIVERSITY TO PROTECT THE EAST MEADOW.
The East Meadow Action Committee (EMAC) filed suit against the University of California on Thursday April 25.  The lawsuit challenges the University administration’s decision to put prefab sprawl development in the East Meadow, the iconic gateway to the University.

In making that decision, the University violated its own long-standing design principles that protected the Meadow.  In its proposed 3000-plus bed student housing project, the University would develop the East Meadow for only 140 beds, less than 5% of the total project.  EMAC has argued for more than a year that while there is an unmet need for additional on-campus student housing, there are alternative sites on campus for those 140 beds.

The lawsuit alleges that the University violated the California Environmental Quality Act by failing to objectively and fairly evaluate those alternative sites.  Even Hadi Makarechian, the UC Regent most knowledgeable about building projects (and a developer himself), expressed strong skepticism concerning the administration’s rationale for rejecting all the alternative sites. However, the administration would not budge from its decision to back a plan originally proposed by their chosen Alabama-based for-profit developer.

EMAC today made the following statement: “We are gratified and encouraged by all the support we have had from the University’s own Design Advisory Board, faculty, alumni, Trustees of the UCSC Foundation, former Trustees, former Regents, the Student Union Assembly, past Campus Architects, the community, and over 80,000 petition signers.  We look forward to getting this needed housing built in a way that is consistent with the long-standing values of UCSC. We are taking this stand now, and forcefully, not only to protect the East Meadow, but to serve notice to the University administration, as it contemplates further development, that it must do so in an environmentally sound, socially responsible way.”

For further information, go to www.eastmeadowaction.org   

UCSC NAMED AGAIN IN LAWSUIT FILED THE NEXT DAY. A group named Habitat and Watershed Caretakers also sued UCSC and the regents over the proposal to develop the East Meadow into a bedsite for 3000 new students. It was filed Friday, April 26.

MARY KELLY KONTRIBUTIONS. Mary has a rare condition…she not only sees funny stuff everywhere she looks….she also sends it to her friends. Por ejemplo…

The meaning of opaque is unclear.
I wasn’t going to get a brain transplant, but then I changed my mind.
Have you ever tried to eat a clock?  It’s very time consuming.
A man tried to assault me with milk, cream and butter.  How dairy!
I’m reading a book about anti-gravity.  I can’t put it down.
If there was someone selling marijuana in our neighbourhood, weed know about it.
It’s a lengthy article about ancient Japanese sword fighters, but I can Sumurais it for you.
It’s not that the man couldn’t juggle, he just didn’t have the balls to do it.
So, what if I don’t know the meaning of the word ‘apocalypse’?  It’s not the end of the world.
Police were called to the daycare centre.  A 3-year old was resisting a rest.
The other day I held the door open for a clown.  I thought it was a nice jester.

If you see Mary be sure to smile!!!

April 24, 2019

HOUSELESS HOLD-ONS AND HOLDOVERS.
Wow, it was another historic Santa Cruz city council meeting last Tuesday night (April 22)! As the “closing” of the Ross Camp discussion ambled along, suddenly, a bomb shell meeting-stopper occurred. It slowly seeped into council chambers that a San Jose judge had just issued a TRO–Temporary Restraining Order–that would effectively keep the city from moving Ross campers out until last Friday’s 9am court hearing. Then, as the news was registering in the minds of councilmembers there was a 4-3 city vote to keep the camp open. Take a deep breath…Next, Justin Cummings made a motion for the council to recess and go into closed session, immediately.

Dynamic Camping Situation
Coming out of the closed session meeting Cummings reversed himself and voted to proceed to order the closing of the camp, albeit after the camper’s court case is resolved in San Jose. (How easily will it be resolved?) Earlier in the city council meeting, Susie O’Hara who works in the Santa Cruz city manager’s office, informed the council that at least 88 current Ross Camp residents had already accepted a voucher to move over to the San Lorenzo Park Bench lands where city workers and Salvation Army personnel were preparing tent platforms, setting up bathrooms and hand-washing stations, all inside a secure (?) chain-link fence at the base of county building at 701 Ocean Street. The city had previously contracted with the Salvation Army to run this proposed 5-day encampment before the TRO threw caution to the wind. Upon hearing the news that the Ross Camp would stay open longer perhaps Bench lands voucher-holders might have a change of heart and decide to stay at the Ross Camp. They were scheduled to begin moving their possessions out of The Gateway-Ross Camp last Wednesday morning. Talk about a fluid situation.

Back and Forth and Back
Through much back and forth conversation on the dais, before the final 4-3 vote, Justin seemed to indicate he would consider the Ross Camp location as a backup to 1220 River Street if after it was cleaned, a census of homeless individuals conducted, and there was no more room at any other shelters then yes, a move back to Ross site would be appropriate. He went ahead and voted with Mathews, Meyers, and Watkins (MMW) on this most crucial of votes to close the camp. Perhaps he is trying to finesse it? Buy time? Has alternative master plan? But given what I will report below, I don’t believe he’s gone over to any “other side.” He has though, positioned himself to become the Anthony Kennedy of the Santa Cruz City Council.

Ninth Circuit Ruling
When the parties met in San Jose, Michael Sweat, et. al. v. the City of Santa Cruz represented by the Police Chief, Fire Chief, City Manager, Mayor, and three lawyers (how much does this cost $?), it was a hearing to determine the rights of the Ross Campers to occupy the current space at Highway 1 and River Street, a property owned in part by the City of Santa Cruz and another part by Caltrans, in the face of a US Federal court ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in a now famous case, Martin v. Boise. The court essentially directed municipalities not to levy fines on people camping on public property when not enough shelter beds exist in a given community. The ruling does not appear to order cities to provide a bed, just not to criminalize the act of sleeping. When the parties arrived to court in San Jose, US District Court Judge Edward Davila worked out an arrangement with US Magistrate Judge Nathan Cousins to work to mediate a solution, a future or a dissolving, of the now 5-month-long encampment. As of 5pm last Friday no settlement between the parties had been reached and apparently, the result was at least three more days of camping for Ross denizens. All parties were scheduled to be back in court today, Monday, the same day as the BrattonOnLine deadline, so stay tuned for a result.

Camping Addendum
By the way, yesterday, a partly-cloudy and partly-sunny weather-tranquil day in Santa Cruz, Councilmember Drew Glover and I met with Ross Camp liaisons. We also walked the one-half mile-long river levy path separating Ross from the recently revived Bench lands Camp. The Ross Camp spokespeople reiterated their original deal to the city: relocate campers to the Bench lands, clean the Ross Camp area, work with campers and the city Fire Chief to safely set up a revised camp structure to be managed by both campers and an outside non-profit, while also relocating anyone who wanted to go to the 1220 River Street camp site. This process would also permit time for a houseless census, the weeding out of drug dealers, and the separation of campers into the basic needs categories (addiction program, job training, abuse counseling) while lending integrity to the process by involving campers and restoring some of their trust in local government. Councilmember Glover and I were informed by the six Bench lands Salvation Army employees (two were First Alarm guards) that at first several of the 88-voucher holders arrived and were offered tent spaces, but after the TRO was issued, many returned to the looser structure of Ross. Currently, they said 28 campers remain at the Bench lands, but they will all be required to move to 1220 River Street come Tuesday (April 30) when the temporary camp is set to close.

City v. UCSC
Earlier in the meeting, councilmembers were asked to report on what has been happening on the committees we were appointed to in representing the city of Santa Cruz. I reported on the remarkable results of a CAG–Community Advisory Group–meeting that took place last Monday. This is a group that is advising the University administration on how to best move forward vis -a-vis the Santa Cruz community on formulating the next Long Range Development Plan (LRDP). In a unanimous vote of those present concerning a 7-point statement of principles the group committed to, and challenged UCSC also to “commit consistently to advocate with Legislators, the Regents, and the Office of the President to secure resources needed to provide the infrastructure required to support any new growth, ideally prior to that growth occurring, and the local campus will not support additional enrollment growth when the needed infrastructure is not provided,” and to “[F]ully mitigating adverse off-campus impacts of University growth authorized by the LRDP and recognizing the profound effects of this growth on the almost fully built out Santa Cruz community, is a critical outcome of the LRDP process.”This group is made up of Ryan Coonerty, Cynthia Mathews, Chris Krohn, Lee Butler, Ceil Cirillo, Don Lane, Ted Benhari, John Aird, Bill Tysseling, Robert Orrizzi, Gary Patton, and Andrew Schiffrin (Schiffrin and Butler did not vote, but participated in the discussion). This is a clear sign of the city and county moving forward to confront future university growth as asked for by voters in the 2016 Measure U vote. Almost 80% voted to stop any more UCSC growth.

Wait, There’s More
The Four (Brown, Glover, Krohn, Cummings) seemed to prevail in a big-time battle with the MMW Three (Mathews, Meyers, Watkins) on how to best spend almost half a million dollars in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. The Four voted to double the amount suggested by the Community Programs Committee(CPC)–Watkins, Mathews, Glover–for the Nueva Vista and Beach Flats Community Center, as well as for the Homeless Garden Project (HGP), which is set to move to the Pogonip this summer. Both Nueva Vista and HGP’s total went from $50,000 to $100,000, a sea virtual change considering last year’s council majority did not wish to fund either request. The most consequential news here is where some of the funding was transferred from counter to the CPC majority’s wishes. Some of it came out of the Planning Department’s Rental Inspection-Code Enforcement bureaucratic fiefdom. The CPC’s recommendation was $95,000 for code enforcement, but the council shaved that back to $40k. If folks remember, the rental inspection ordinance and arbitrary code enforcement has pitted neighbor against neighbor and basically has eliminated many safe but unpermitted units throughout the city in recent years. So, in keeping with a campaign promise to scale back this city “service” and focus on tenants, the council made a powerful statement. The city council also funded the California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) request of $20k. CRLA assists low-income people and tenants with legal advice and representation, another council-majority focus.

Climate change is here + we’ve got a deadline: 12 years left to cut emissions in half. A #GreenNewDeal is our plan for a world and a future worth fighting for. How did we get here? What is at stake? And where are we going?(April 17) Watch the video, wow! https://twitter.com/RepAOC?lang=en

(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. Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com

EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS.Look in at Eagan’s Self-Discipline lesson to see if the shoe fits!!!

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” A game for the whole nation” 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.

SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL. Their concert number 5. “Bach’s Coffeehouse”

Will be performed Saturday, May 4, 2019 at  7:30pm at UCSC Recital Hall. They’re playing Bach’s hilarious Coffee-Cantata. Featuring…Sheila Willey, Soprano as Lieschen, a young coffee-addict, Jonathan Schmucker, Tenor as the Narrator, Ben Brady, Bass-Baritone as Herr Schlendrian, the vengeful father, and Lars Johannesson, Baroque Flute, with The Festival Baroque Strings with Linda Burman-Hall, Director and Harpsichord. Also on the Baroque Festival docket for May 12 is.. Flamenco presented by aficionado vocalist Carlitos de Santa Cruz and guitarist Erik Jarmie. This will be a day to delight all the senses, in the company of fellow musicians and music lovers. Santa Cruz Baroque Festival presents Music In The Garden. May 12, 2019, 1-5pm. $45 presale, $50 at the door Tickets available at scbaroque.org

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Some random thoughts after the first year without my Art Boy, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express ( http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). When is it all right for those left behind to survive? Also, we knew the clothes would be fabulous, but read my review of the rest of The Chaperone — the first feature film from the folks at PBS Masterpiece — in this week’s Good Times.” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

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. . April 30 has land use attorney and former S.Cruz county Supervisor Gary Patton discussing the “Save Santa Cruz” organization. Then Rachel Kippen the new ex.dir of the O’Neill Sea Odyssey talks about her job and the Monterey Bay. Greg Cotton from Protect Juristac, a group fighting to save tribal lands from oil and other development talks on May 7th. Juristac will be followed by Jean Marie Scott UCSC’s associate vice chancellor speaking about an increase in UCSC student’s bus fares. Dr. Shawna Riddle returns to discuss many current health issues in our community on May 14.  May 21st has concertmaster Roy Malan discussing the Hidden Valley String Orchestra concert occurring on June 2nd. 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

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.   “MAY”

“In the deepening spring of May, I had no choice but to recognize the trembling of my heart. It usually happened as the sun was going down. In the pale evening gloom, when the soft fragrance of magnolias hung in the air, my heart would swell without warning, and tremble, and lurch with a stab of pain. I would try clamping my eyes shut and gritting my teeth, and wait for it to pass. And it would pass –but slowly, taking its own time, and leaving a dull ache behind.” Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood

“Spring is nature‘s way of saying, “Let’s party!” Robin Williams

“As full of spirit as the month of May, and as gorgeous as the sun in Midsummer.”                              William Shakespeare

41st and CAPITOLA ROAD 1967. This was before all of us got here and developed everything. That was the Ow family’s King’s Plaza Shopping Center. Then it was Orchard Supply Hardware. Now it’s empty.                                                          photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE April 22, 2019

SAVING OUR CIRCLE CHURCH. John Sears, one of the organizing activists working to Save the Errett Circle Community Church, added a newsletter to their members. You can and should go to their Facebook group. John states, “The Santa Cruz City Planning Department website still shows only a plot plan and they only report on project status at the end of the month so the application process and progress remain opaque. It might be interesting if we organized a field trip to Planning to exercise our rights to view the documents and be informed. If you are interested, let me know.

Our online petition is approaching 250 signatures. Be sure to consider signing it . Search “Change.org Circle Church Santa Cruz CA.” Over the weekend we distributed 500 door hangers in and around the Circles.

Something each of us can do is to talk about Saving the Circle Church property with other folks, comment online, write to the newspapers, release your creative talents towards our goal in poems? songs? paintings?..I posted a comment when asked for our thoughts about this on Nextdoor that read:

“For most of my 42+ years in the Circles 111 Errett Circle has quietly done its job at the heart of the neighborhood. Most of us do not give our own pulsing hearts much thought when she is quietly doing her job but do when she is in trouble. Few people stop to think about, much less articulate what pleasantness and sense of well-being is contributed to our lives in the Circles by having a place that serves as open space, as a Commons, a community center, a place of worship, a place grounding us in history and identity, a monument at the end of our beckoning streets.  In a dense neighborhood of small lots these are not trivial functions.

Until recently it was owned outright by a Church and though ministers came and went exhibiting their stewardship according to their strengths or limitations, the place itself help her steady purpose for the most part, dogs chased balls, kids ran and shouted, once upon a time a bell called, voices raised in song were heard, and freely passing through one might stand a moment gazing from the center down the boulevard to the sea and sky beyond. Much of this location’s nurturing effect is subliminal, like the valuable human thing that draws people to see a sunset from West Cliff. 

Now the property has been, commodified, monetized, sold for a relatively few pieces of silver, and its fate is uncertain. After the awful “outreach” meeting in November in order to deal with my feelings I began to write. I started with a title, “Requiem for a Neighborhood.” It started with a Joni Mitchell lyric…” Don’t it always seem to go, you don’t know what you got till it’s gone.” I hope I never have to finish it.  I do recommend this Ted talk by Mark Lakeman of City Repair in Portland, Oregon to better understand the importance of community sites  such as this one.

Sue Powell, another chief organizer of the Friends of the church, adds “PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION – by clicking on the link below. Neighbors and friends are organizing to preserve the property at 111 Errett Circle as a community center, a spiritual space, and neighborhood commons. Instead of demolition, our vision is to beautify, enliven, and foster this historic space at the heart of our Circles Neighborhood so that it continues to be used for a variety of activities for all generations.

KZSC AND PUBLIC SERVICE SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS. KZSC hasn’t been getting very many PSA’s — i.e. Public Service Announcements. Tell every well-intentioned nonprofit group you know to go to the KZSC website, read the easy PSA rules, and send them in. They are free, and are read many, many times.

RALPH DAVILA’S OWN PRIVATE OXFORD DICTIONARY.

Purloin – an amorous cat
Haiku – doves singing in treetops
Hydrangea – the act of concealing a parks employee
Algorithm – the pulse of he who almost became president.
Harlequin – one of 5 siblings of the same age riding an American motor-cycle. 

EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Eagan’s weekly visit behind our scenes….scroll below.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Sanctuary City Transit” 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.

SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER PLAYERS. Santa Cruz Chamber Players presents “Madness and Music: from Concert to Cabaret” at Christ Lutheran Church in Aptos. That’s Saturday April 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday April 28 at 3 p.m. Music by Bach, Schumann, St. Saens, Maconchy and more. Ivan Rosenblum, director and piano. For cost and other information, go to http://www.scchamberplayers.org/

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Nurturing fond memories this holiday week of all the Easter Sundays I spent with Art Boy prepping walls for the kids to paint during the 10 years he created murals with 4th and 5th-graders at elementary schools across the county. Read all about it this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). No baskets full of chocolate bunnies for us — but, boy was it worth it!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

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. Jane Mio from City Parks & Rec., Sierra Club, Valley Women’s Club talks about the San Lorenzo River issues and survival on April 23. She’s followed by James Clifford organizer & member of the East Meadow Action Committee at UCSC. April 30 has land use attorney Gary Patton discussing the “Save Santa Cruz” organization. Then Rachel Kippen the new ex.dir of the O’Neill Sea Odyssey talks about her job and the Monterey Bay. May 21st has concertmaster Roy Malan discussing the Hidden Valley String Orchestra concert occurring on June 2nd. 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

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. “BLACK HOLES”

“Do you realize that if you fall into a black hole, you will see the entire future of the Universe unfold in front of you in a matter of moments and you will emerge into another space-time created by the singularity of the black hole you just fell into?” Neil deGrasse Tyson

“The internet to me is kind of like a black hole, and I never really go on it”. Jennifer Lawrence

“Look at the universe! What do you see? An order? Tranquillity? A divine peace? You fool! You ignorant! Over there, galaxies are colliding, suns are exploding, black holes swallowing stars! Now look at the universe again! What do you see? A disorder? Chaos? Anything savage? You see a hell? Now, you see the truth!” . Mehmet Murat ildan

SEA BEACH HOTEL (behind the 2 story house in front). Sea Beach opened in 1888.  Freight car lower right is a narrow gauge South Pacific Coast rail car which was sold in 1887 to Southern Pacific.                                                     photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE APRIL 15, 2019

HISTORICAL PHOTO NEWS. If you scroll down to last week’s BrattonOnline, you’ll see I asked for help on identifying the other two guys in the 1950 photo of Richard Nixon in Santa Cruz . Ever alert and well informed author and historian  Stan Stevens provided me with a photo of the Sentinel’s front page of October 4, 1950. It says that it’s F.H. Lakey on the left he was from Huntington Park. Then there’s Nixon who was the main speaker at this gathering of the California Real Estate Association. He talked about Korea and Alger Hiss to the 1500 delegates. On the right is California Assemblyman Glenn E. Coolidge the official host of the convention. UCSC’s Coolidge Drive and the bridge by Murray Street are named after him. Thanks too for more info from another reader on this… and I lost his name.

REGAL 9 THEATRE HISTORY. Whether you go there or not, the Regal Cinema 9 movie theatre is a big part of our community. Because folks ask about it, here’s a bit of history and facts about Regal Santa Cruz 9. The Regal 9 opened as a Theatre owned by the Signature chain on May 19, 1995. It was designed by Uesugi & Associates from San Francisco.  Regal bought it and re-opened it September of 2004. It has 704 seats. Their largest theatres, #3 and #4, have 115 seats and 147 seats respectively. The now defunct Riverfront theater opened in July 1970 and Regal shut it down in July 2018. It had two theaters with a total of 750 seats.

NICKELODEON & DEL MAR THEATRE HISTORY. Bill Raney and his wife JoAnne Walker Raney opened the Nick in 1969. He owned and operated it with his second wife, Nancy, until selling it to Jim Schwenterley in 1992. Jim and then partner Chuck Volwiler undertook the huge operation of restoring and reopening the historic Del Mar (opened in 1936). Chris Krohn was our mayor at the time of the Del Mar’s re-opening and presided over the festivities. The Del Mar’s three theaters have 288 seats, 138 seats and 138 seats, The Nick has four theaters  Nick 1- 177seats, Nick 2-110 seats, Nick 3-68 seats, and Nick 4 with 39 seats. That’s 564 seats for the Del Mar and 394 for the Nick. Jim and partner Paul Gottlober added the Aptos Cinema, now torn down to the dismay of Aptosians. In 2015 Landmark bought the Del Mar and the Nick and are trying to sell them right now.

MOVIES ON WIKIPEDIA.  I had no idea that we could and should look up movies on Wikipedia…even the newest of films. It seems to me that there are more plot holes or unclear plot twists than ever. Checking them out on Rotten Tomatoes or the movies own website is rarely much help. And in addition Wikipedia gives you/us the genuine “reception” the film received. In addition to all of above I learned this when I looked up Rotten Tomatoes:

FROM Wikipedia.. Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang.[4][5][6][7] The name “Rotten Tomatoes” derives from the practice of audiences throwing rotten tomatoes when disapproving of a poor stage performance.  Since January 2010, Rotten Tomatoes has been owned by Flixster, which was in turn acquired by Warner Bros. in 2011. In February 2016, Rotten Tomatoes and its parent site Flixster were sold to Comcast‘s Fandango.[8] Warner Bros. retained a minority stake in the merged entities, including Fandango.[2] It just proves that college students should go to movies more.

EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Eagan takes us strolling through that unknown , funny and forbidden territory…scroll below.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Market Forces ” 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.

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 theme is “Celebrating Russian Music” and it happens April 18 12:10-1 p.m. The program contains…

Russian Folk Songs Michael Glinka (1804-1857) , Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)  Alexander Skryabin (1871-1915) Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)   Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Sofia Gubaidulina (b.1931) and good old Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). Remember…it’s free and at the Santa Cruz Library, April 18, 2019 12:10-1:00

Central Branch Meeting Room upstairs.

FIRST ANNUAL VETERANS CHILI COOK-OFF!!!  More than 17 Santa Cruz county Veterans organizations are gathering together Saturday, April 20 at 1960 Freedom Boulevard for this monumental celebration. Experts, award winners, chefs, and a huge amount of friends will enjoy this great fun event. It starts at 11:30 am and will run at least to 4 p.m. It’s hosted by VFW 1716. Tickets and info at (Santa Cruz County Veterans Advocate) Dean Kaufman 831-420-7348 or at the Santa Cruz County Veterans Office 842 Front Street (by the post office).

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Fasten your seatbelt and snuggle up to your favorite direwolf for the launch of the long-awaited eighth and final season of Game of Thrones, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express http://ljo-express.blogspot.com . What can we expect from the most notorious perpetrator of fan abuse in the history of entertainment?  No doubt, there will be blood. Also, prepare to be surprised as the Chinese gangster epic, Ash Is the Purest White, evolves into something entirely else. Catch up with my review in this week’s Good Times!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

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. Kristin Brownstone and Jerry Lloyd discuss the Santa Cruz Actors Theater  “Looking For Normal” play on April 16th. They’re followed by Jeffery Smedberg and Franco Picarella from the Reel Work Film Festival listing the screenings around the county and Bay. May 21st has concertmaster Roy Malan discussing the Hidden Valley String Orchestra concert occurring on June 2nd. 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

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.”BRIDGES”

“We build too many walls and not enough bridges”. Isaac Newton
“If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live on after he’s dead, then maybe he was a great man”. James Dean
“Never burn bridges. If it’s a faulty bridge then close it off and let it fall on its own”. Gregor Collins
“A bridge can still be built, while the bitter waters are flowing beneath”. Anthony Liccione  

TRICKY DICK NIXON, COCOANUT GROVE, SANTA CRUZ October 3, 1950. This was the year Nixon got elected to the U.S. Senate, and went on to handle the Alger Hiss debacle. Anyone have clues to the other two guys in the photo? photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE April 8

BURNING OF 86,000 BOOKS AT UCSC. Yes it’s old news that the Science and Engineering library at UCSC — under the direction of its librarian Elizabeth Cowell — burned, destroyed, or got rid of 86,000 books (that’s eighty six thousand books). It was the summer of 2016 and somehow, even though the San Jose Mercury reported it, little note or reactions were made in public.. Go here to read the Mercury. The books were destroyed to make room for more study space. That is for more tables and chair footage. The value of those books was between two and six million dollars. In hindsight it was a symbol of “who needs books when we have the internet?” More than that, it’s still being argued that it was done in secret with no faculty or staff being notified. The Santa Cruz Sentinel stated on September 11, 2018, in a letter from Michael Nauemberg … “In his Sentinel commentary on drafting a blueprint for UCSC’s future, Chancellor Blumenthal enthused about its importance as a planning tool for the development of our campus. But at the time that we are celebrating the value of science, Blumenthal’s administration demolished our Science and Engineering Library collection, withdrawing about 80,000 volumes without any consultation whatsoever with our faculty and students. And in spite of a formal request by the faculty to stop further withdrawals of the remaining volumes, his administration is blatantly ignoring it, announcing instead plans for the future withdrawal of most of the remaining volumes from our library”.Michael Nauenberg, Santa Cruz.

More than that,  City on a Hill stated…

“Research professor Michael Nauenberg said the administration failed to adequately communicate the drastic changes to the library collection. While the administration did inform faculty the collection would be consolidated, Nauenberg said there was miscommunication and that the faculty did not understand the project’s gravity”.

But in spite of this resolution, on Feb 10, 2017, Chancellor Blumenthal signed a Science and Engineering Library Renovation, Business Case Analysis (BCA), without consulting any faculty or department chairs. Moreover, the author of this BCA, University Librarian Elizabeth Cowel, refused to release it to the faculty. For example, the Academic Senate Committee on Library and Scholarly Communication (COLASC) was not allowed to see the secret plan. The Chair of Physics requested a copy from Dean Koch, but was refused. Finally Professor Emeritus Michael Nauenberg made a California Public Records Act request to obtain a copy.

For his actions Michael Nauenberg had every one of his campus and teaching privileges and rights taken away. Campus parking, use of any UC facilities other than what the public is entitled to, his UC email address, everything.

To bring this up to date, the Chancellor has restored Mike’s emeritus status, pending the results of an academic senate Privilege and Tenure committee hearing. There are pages of facts, opinions, notes and details I could have linked. Let me know if you want more on this. As one of the ten chancellors who have run UCSC, we can only guess how Chancellor Blumenthal will be remembered.

April 8,YOU SAY YIMBY, I SAY NIMBY: LET’S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF.
It was a who’s who of housing developers at the Why Say Yes To Housing event with State Senator Scott Wiener as keynote to promote his Senate Bill 50, the one that wrests zoning from local control and punts it to the state.

The event, moderated by Robert Singleton, Executive Director of the County Business Council and a city Planning commissioner, was tightly scripted. It allowed no questions from the floor and only 3 selected written questions.

The evening was kicked off with a slide presentation from YIMBY member and founder of Santa Cruz Workbench, Jamileh Cannon. It was all generic pro-development rationale until a comment caught my attention. According to Jamileh, “our housing stock is old, tired and dilapidated” and we need to, “re-imagine the type of city we want Santa Cruz to become.” Somewhat presumptuous for a newbie, I thought.

Wiener’s presentation was compelling if you accept his assumptions and premises which I don’t. He blamed the housing shortage on local control of zoning, which since the 1960’s has favored down zoning and single family homes. According to Wiener, such zoning has created a housing shortage since the state’s population has tripled and housing has not kept pace. There are 80,000 housing units built in CA each year, a far smaller number than in earlier decades. Much was said about density reducing carbon emissions but nothing about density displacing low- income workers and high tech workers’ lifestyles producing carbon gentrification.

City Plans for Urban Density Should Address Affordable Housing

The scale was weighted on the supply side as the source of the problem. Nothing about speculation or the demographic impact of building expensive high-rise units for hundreds of newly arrived single, high paid tech workers who in ten years may want one of those single family homes for their growing single family. Nor was water or traffic a problem according to Wiener since, “building housing does not increase the population.” This, despite the central question he posed: “Do we have enough housing for the people who live here now and who are coming here?” I may be overly logical but if people are here now they have some form of a house, unless they are houseless and let’s be real…all this development is not for them. No-where is it written that a town has to provide housing for people who are coming. I love that image: “we’re coming! start building!”

John Laird was in the audience and Wiener paid tribute to John, referring to him as a “friend.” It might be worthwhile asking John where he stands on SB50. The SF Board of Supervisors has voted against SB50 as currently written, citing the displacement of low- income workers among other concerns.

The evening ended with a panel of three, including the aforementioned Jamileh Cannon of YIMBY, Sibley Simon of Homeless Services and Kate Roberts, head of Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP).  Of the three, Simon seemed the only one aware of the contradictions involved. The well-endowed, well-connected, powerful MBEP is going to be a familiar presence at all upcoming hearings on development projects in Santa Cruz, as is the motivated local YIMBY chapter upon which Wiener heaped praise. This is a new ball game with well-funded outside backers heavily involved. We have our work cut out for us if we want to save what’s left of small-scale working class Santa Cruz.

“Awesome!” was the word used by the YIMBY representative to describe the proposed expensive Front Street/Riverfront apartments plus retail pictured here.  She added, “it’s going to be a fun five years.”

Rendition of the proposed Front Street/Riverfront mixed-use retail plus apartments.

Up to seventy feet tall.

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.

April 8.LAST WEEK ON THE COUNCIL THIS WEEK

“A Taking?”
I missed last week’s city council meeting, but I am including the Cliff Notes version summary here. In “closed” then “open” session the city council voted to acquire by eminent domain part of the property where Central Home Supply now has its business. The idea is to widen the Highway 1 and 9 intersection, which is arguably one of the most chaotic in Santa Cruz. City Council adopted a resolution that made the finding “that public necessity requires the acquisition by eminent domain of the real property…” owned by the Santee family at 744 River Street and 708 River Street. I am not sure I would’ve voted to acquire by eminent domain this property, for two reasons: 1) I do not believe we need more asphalt at that intersection, and 2) it is a very significant action on the part of government, any government, to force a property owner to sell against their will. There must be a clear “public benefit.” Perhaps legally, the case for a “public benefit” can be made, but for me Central Home Supply is business Santa Cruz needs and benefits from and this forced property sale may very well cause them to leave town. They have another similar business in Scotts Valley, but…it’s in Scotts Valley.

Damn Cell Towers, Boxes, Small Devices, Conduits, and Polls
Verizon Wireless finally got their encroachment permit “for the installation and maintenance of underground conduits, vaults, at grade cabinets and wireless canister antennas mounted on utility pole at 117 Morrissey Blvd. within the City’s right-of-way.” This permit was turned down twice before by the city council, but a letter was recently received by the council from a Verizon suit threatening legal action. And, like most city councils around the state, we rolled over with the threat of costly litigation being the dagger hanging perilously over the head of our local government. At least Councilmember Sandy Brown stuck in a “friendly amendment” “regarding efforts by cities to modify regulations to make it difficult for Verizon and other telecom companies to install cell towers. ” Go Sandy!

Health-in-All?
Just the facts ‘mam…From the minutes of March 26th meeting: “Councilmember Mathews moved, seconded by Mayor Watkins, to approve the Health in All Policies Work Plan and $20,000 budget for consultants and materials.” Just sayin’! As Deep Throat advised Bob Woodward back in the summer of 1974: follow the money.

Lot 24
The evening meeting saw many dozens of neighbors fill council chambers to say NO to the use of the staff inspired Lot 24 for a homeless transitional camp. It is a parking lot near the end of Chestnut Street adjacent to Depot Park. I believe the council heard neighbors loud and clear. Personally, I am not sure I would’ve voted for it (and certainly NOT the other staff suggestion of putting an encampment in the Jessie Street Marsh!?! Not sure what the thought was there.) How about this as a tentative plan: 1) clean up Ross Camp using state money (part of the $10 million that came to Santa Cruz to address homelessness), 2) have a non-profit group come in and manage the camp, 3) hire social workers to perform a needs census, 4) open 1220 River Street campsite and find out who would move over to that camp, and at the same time keep a managed Ross Camp open with a reduced number of tent sites. What if we disbanded the Ross Camp immediately as some of my council colleagues wish to do (it’s also on the April 9th agenda)? Campers will move back to the site alongside Holy Cross, to the Pogonip, to DeLaveaga Park, and to other neighborhoods that have since seen their campers move to the Ross site. This item segue-ways into this week’s agenda…

This Week on the City Council
Item #7 SB 1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account, FY 2019-20. Senate Bill 1 was the 12-cents per gallon gas tax that passed in 2016 and had to be re-passed in 2018. Santa Cruz receives between $1-2 million per year from this tax. The council was sent a list of Public Works projects. It was their list and not the city council’s list. I have been asking for a while for a comprehensive list of what SB 1 funds can be used for. I have not yet received that list. I will ask again.

Item #10 (UBER) Jump Bike Contract Amendment #2.
These bright red bikes seem to be everywhere. People are using them. Is this program the unmitigated grand slam hit and sexy alternative to the gasoline engine vehicle that some are saying? We would like to think so; myself included, but like a certain policy pop culture buzzy-fuzzy word suggests, are these Jump Bikes feelings data driven? What are the numbers…of users, injuries, bikes left in the right-of-way, satisfied customers, where people are leaving bikes, i.e. most popular places to ride to…we want to see all of it? City Council needs to look at the data before approving any more contract amendments, electric outlets, or dedications of more SC public real estate to this endeavor. Many questions concerning this program need answers. Please, show the city council and the community the numbers.

Item #14 City of Santa Cruz Commitment for Civility Proclamation.
Sure, as long as it does not interfere with people’s First Amendment rights. I urge everyone to listen to this NPR piece “Charlottesville Debates Civility.”

It’s about the Charlottesville, Va. city council. Seems that two African Americans were elected after a white supremacist killed activist Heather Hyer with his car in 2017 in a tragic political (madman) act. The radio piece concerns establishment politicians railing against the “incivility” of the new councilmembers.

Item # 15 Homelessness and the Gateway Encampment.
(see “Lot 24” above.)

P.S. I believe this item will allow members of the community who brought forward issues about possible location of homeless-houseless transitional encampments to see that their voices were heard by the city council. They perhaps changed the course of history in their neighborhood(s). It is a good feeling when as a member of the public you try and fight city hall and you end up feeling like someone in local government listened.

Item #1 City Council Work Plan and Strategic Planning.
As I mentioned last week, this council is coming up on five months being in office and still no “strategic” plan for the next couple of years. So, council will have the opportunity to plan to have a planning meeting. This agenda item is only to schedule a “strategic” planning session. Contact city councilmembers and let them know what they should be planning for…Affordable housing? An emergency homeless shelter and day-use facility? Enacting mitigations to climate change? A permanent home for the Farmer’s Market? A new downtown library which might crown a real civic plaza at Church and Center Streets? A city-wide composting program? A Human Rights Commission? Buying the Beach Flats Community Garden? Let the city council know what you would like to see…this is your government.

“The DCCC’s new rule to blacklist + boycott anyone who does business w/ primary challengers is extremely divisive & harmful to the party. My recommendation, if you’re a small-dollar donor: pause your donations to DCCC & give directly to swing candidates instead.”(March 30). (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee =DCCC)

(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.Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com

April 5 #95 / Combat Without Risk

On Sunday, March 31, 2019, The New York Times ran an editorial titled, “The Secret Death Toll of America’s Drones.” So far, the United States has an “exclusive” on the use of military drones. It is unlikely that this death-dealing monopoly will continue forever. In the meantime, however, drones operated by the United States are killing lots of people, including people classified as “civilians,” and the United States government is suppressing the evidence. That was the main point of the editorial:A lack of transparency and accountability for civilian deaths helps enemies spin false narratives, makes it harder for allies to defend American actions and sets a bad example for other countries that are rapidly adding drones to their arsenals. It could also result in war crimes, as some critics have claimed.

I was struck by a sentence right at the end of The Times‘ editorial:

“There is no such thing as combat without risk”.

I found this sentence singularly inappropriate with respect to the phenomenon being discussed; namely, the military use of drones by the United States.

“Combat,” it seems to me, is properly defined as a “fight.” This is the definition supplied by Merriam-Webster. In a fight, the “combatants” put each other at risk. The word “combat” shouldn’t be used if that isn’t the case.

The military use of drones is not a “fight,” or a “combat,” because the so-called “combatants” do not each have an equal ability to damage each other – or actually any ability to damage each other, to be more accurate. A sentence talking about an “unequal combat,” could be a valid use of the word “combat.” Take the example of how the U.S. Cavalry, with guns, matched off against Indian tribes equipped with bows and arrows. This is an example of an unequal combat. Still, in that kind of case, there is at least some chance that an Indian warrior could do damage to a soldier. Indeed, we know that the Indians won, sometimes, as in the case of Custer’s last battle at the Little Bighorn.

The military use of drones is not a “combat.” A drone operator, located just outside Las Vegas, Nevada, perhaps, steers a drone airplane over Afghanistan, with the plane operating three miles above the ground. Using modern technology, the drone operator pushes the button to kill people whom someone has told the operator are people who ought to be killed. Others in the vicinity are killed, too. Those are the “civilian” casualties The Times is talking about.

Think about it, though. What sort of “combat” is this? There is no risk whatsoever to the drone operator. There is no “combat.” Let’s call it what it is. The military use of drones by the United States government is murder, albeit murder that is sanctioned by military or intelligence authorities. There isn’t any “combat” involved. These are “executions,” and nothing else – and executions that often wind up killing other people, who weren’t specifically designated to die.

A nation that thinks it can sail around the world executing people whom it has decided ought to die is inviting people around the world to try to figure out some way to even the odds, and to turn these executions into a genuine “combat.”

We do know some ways that those who take the side of those being executed are trying to turn the military use of drones into an actual “combat,” where there is, indeed, “risk” on both sides.

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.netEmail Gary at gapatton@mac.com

EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Check below for those inimitable interior peeks.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Brexit briefly” 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.

SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL. Their concert number IV: ‘Bach & the Virtuoso Violin’. Featuring Edwin Huizinga, Baroque violin, Lynn Tetenbaum, Viola da Gamba and

Linda Burman-Hall, Harpsichord. Join us for a walk through the dark and secret heart of the Baroque. Keep your mind balanced on that daring knife-edge of unaccompanied violin tone ~ Heinrich von Biber in his Passacaglia in the 1670s and half a century later J. S Bach in his Chaconne take innumerable risks in building thrilling chords and counter-melodies for a single brave player to deliver. After all the solo miracles, we’ll conclude the evening with buoyantly optimistic mid-Baroque trios for violin, harpsichord and obbligato viol by Bach’s Danish-German hero, Dietrich Buxtehude. presented by the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival Sunday April 14, 2019 –  3:00 pm at the UCSC Recital Hall.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “I was in the room where it happened! When the national touring company brought the blockbuster musical Hamilton to the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco, that is! Read all about it this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/). Also, catch up with my review of the thoughtfully profound tone poem, The Mustang, in this week’s Good Times!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

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. . April 9 has Lisa Sheridan and Robert Morgan discussing the Nissan Dealership in Soquel and Sustainable Soquel plans. Then Julie Phillips and Stu Phillips talk about the proposed Bay and Cliff development across from the Dream Inn. Kristin Brownstone and Jerry Lloyd discuss the Actors Theater  “Looking For Normal” play on April 16th. They’re followed by Jeffery Smedberg  and Franco Picarella  from the Reel Work Film Festival listing the screenings around the county and Bay. May 21st has concertmaster Roy Malan discussing the Hidden Valley String Orchestra concert occurring on June 2nd. 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

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. “Boardwalks”
“I love an arcade. I love a boardwalk game. But I also love a rollercoaster. Though I think the rollercoaster love comes from the fact that it took a really long time for me to reach the height requirement, so I promised myself very early on that when I reach that, I will not take it for granted”.  Melissa Rauch
“I remember riding my bike down the boardwalk with nowhere to go and looking at the girls. It was really innocent”.  Mark Ruffalo
“We must take down the carnies. I think we need to start a campaign to defeat their scamming ways. I never win the boardwalk basketball game”. Melissa Rauch

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. Once upon a time I was treasurer of the Santa Cruz County Fair (really!) This photo from 1956 used to drive me crazier until I figured out it was reversed. It’s from Webber’s Photo Shop that used to be at 1374 Pacific Avenue. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE April 1, 2019

REGENTS OK UCSC TO DEMOLISH AND ADD 3000 BEDS. The following is an “official announcement” from University of California Physical & Environmental Planning in Oakland.

The Regents of the University of California approved the UC Santa Cruz Student Housing West Project on March 29, 2019. The University has issued the attached Notice of Determination for this approval, in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

The Environmental Impact Report as well as all of the CEQA notifications for the project are available online. (Go here to figure out the rest of this.)

UCSC CEQA Notice of Determination. Project Description: The Project consists of the construction of housing for approximately 3,000 students at two sites on the UC Santa Cruz main campus. The project will demolish the existing 200-unit family student housing complex and child care center west of Heller Drive, and redevelop the 13-acres site with approximately 2,900 student beds in six apartment buildings. The project will develop approximately 140 units of housing for student families, and a childcare center on a 17-acre site at the intersection of Glenn Coolidge and Hagar Drives. The project includes an amendment to the UC Santa Cruz 2005 Long Range Development Plan to change the land use designation of 17 acres from Campus Resource Land to Colleges and Student Housing.

SAVE HISTORIC CIRCLE CHURCH. The Wilkes Circle or Errett Circle community arms are up and waving, because their historic Garfield Park church is in danger of being torn down and replaced by some possibly 30 very unaffordable housing units. Check out last week’s BrattonOnline and see the many disputes between the present church owners (Circle of Friends) and the community. More than that, there are serious differences between the City’s Historic Preservation and City planning. Also do check out the “SAVE THE CIRCLE CHURCH” Facebook Page . Organizing a neighborhood isn’t easy. How organized is your neighborhood, for example? I attended a meeting of the Friends of The Circle Church last Sunday (3/31). Their petitions are out, around and being signed rapidly. A member/leader of the newest church “The Greater Purpose Community Church” was at the meeting. He said we could see that the church is drawing great-sized congregations there every Sunday, and yet the Circle of Friends wants to destroy all of this. The Circle of Friends consists of Bret Packer, Mark Thomas and spouse, Joe Combs and Tad and Caitlin Davies who are living in the RV on the church property. If you know any/all of this circle of friends, ask them if the money they are investing is worth destroying the church and circle community?

April 1, 2019

LOSING CONTROL.

Ever since UCSC’s expansion plans turned an asset into a liability, Santa Cruz city residents have understood that we have little say over UC decisions that affect our town. Despite the fact that a third of the population growth of the town over the past 20 years is a result of UCSC growth and skyrocketing rents, a result of fifty per cent of an ever increasing student body seeking off-campus housing, local voices of protest have largely fallen on deaf state ears. We have consoled ourselves that at least we have some control over local zoning and planning decisions. All that is about to change if Senate Bill 50 passes the state legislature. Local control over land use decisions and especially zoning will pass to the state, which will dictate where dense, high rise housing is mandated to be built.

The Senate bill, authored by state Senator Scott Wiener, is ostensibly aimed at “solving” the housing “crisis” by building more, especially in communities which are viewed as having dragged their feet in approving denser, infill housing. If you believe pro-growth folks who post on Next Door or speak at public hearings, Santa Cruz is a NIMBY outpost where nothing gets built due to draconian zoning ordinances and stubborn locals who yearn for a former small town era. This, despite the fact that new developments are popping up like mushrooms after rain.

You can get a jaw-dropping preview of what has already been council approved to be built in our 13 square mile city by checking out the city website.

The rendition included here is of the already approved Front St./Riverfront Apartments. They will be built adjacent to the river levee, along with the bulldozing of all the small businesses located there, and you can guarantee that rents will start around $2700 for a one-bedroom unit. Call me a stubborn local but I find such developments out of scale, out of character and out of sight in terms of affordability.  Welcome to Palo Alto by the Sea, minus the majestic trees.

The belief that building more and more and more will translate into lower costs for a commodity, housing, is a pipe dream unless speculation is curbed by legislation. That is unlikely given the influence of financial institutions and business councils on the local and state levels.

If you want to hear what the state has in mind for us, attend the heavily promoted forum entitled “Why Say Yes To Housing” on Friday April 5th, 6-8 pm at Peace United Church, 900 High St. You will notice that the topic is posed as a rhetorical question.  The forum features Senator Scott Wiener as well as a rep from Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP), which I wrote about last week. SB50 has already been endorsed by Santa Cruz County Business Council, whose Executive Director is a city Planning Commissioner. The Council’s Board of Directors includes such entities as UCSC, Bay Federal Credit Union, Driscoll’s, Shadowbrook, Sentinel, Kind Peoples among others. Are you feeling a little bit like David facing Goliath? Just don’t forget who prevailed.

Front St. /  Riverfront Apartments.

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.

April 1, 2019

SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLANNING? NOT YET

The new council is entering its fifth month and still no Strategic Plan in site. It has been a “Waiting for Godot” chess match with the current city manager, Martin Bernal, when and if a council strategic planning session will be held. This council-manager form of government can be tricky. I believe the city council wants to go forward with this session asap, but the city manager needs to be in the room too. The city council hires and fires the city manager and city attorney, but the city manager hires and fires the rest of the 800-plus city work force. The absence of a strategic planning session is not because there is a lack of will on the part of councilmembers. I believe we want to craft a two-year plan now and we are already a half year behind. The traditional “Two-year Strategic Plan” is now looking like a 1.5-year project instead. The clock is ticking and the “other side” knows it. The previous city council’s two-year-old plan is over. The Corridors Plan, Wharf Master Plan, Library-in-a-Garage plan and homeless services non-plan are all either on hold or on life-support. When will a new two-year strategic plan be implemented? The community must be heard from.

New Council, New Plan?
A group of Santa Cruz activists, homeowners, renters, volunteers, and students have now met three times since last November’s election in order to come up with a community strategic plan, or perhaps a People’s Plan. More than 60 people have attended these people’s planning meetings, and a broad range of topics have been discussed including council communication, the Brown Act, rent control, raising the minimum wage, separating the library from the garage, a permanent site for the downtown Farmer’s Market coupled with a community town commons, halting UCSC student growth, implementing effective police review, and how to best address our homeless and houseless crisis. Topics also included how to best spend the gas tax money to support alternative transportation, formation of a people’s budget committee, and how best to allocate parking fund revenue in the pursuit of affordable housing. A single issue kept coming up again and again: if Santa Cruz has a “15% inclusionary” to create more affordable housing then why aren’t we raising more concerns about the “85% unaffordable housing” that is currently being proposed?

A People’s Strategic Plan
What’s possible over the next year and six months? This Community-Council group met three times for a total of 9 hours. Here is a brief summary of issues which might be a part of a city council Two-year Strategic Plan:

• Separating the Library-in-a-Garage Concept
• creating a “town commons-plaza” and permanent farmer’s market space if that is where constituents want to go
• remodeling the current library (pretty big constituency for this, far larger than city manager-staff constituency)
• Homeless Shelter—city put a bid in on Seaborg property next to the current Homeless Services Center…how to get this up and running once the escrow period is over?
• Housing and Rent Stablization Task Force—how do we light a fire and get people moving on this…David Ceppos is the consultant from the Sacramento-based Center for Collaborative Policy (CCP) who interviewed the entire council and now will choose 20 community members to interview to determine make-up of task force.
• Climate and Bio-Diversity Commission—begin with a city council subcommittee and work with current Climate Action Taskforce coordinator, Tiffany Wise-West.

Other honorable mentions
There are so many good ideas out there in our community. At some point, we will have to decide what does a one-year, two-year, three-year, and four-year strategic plan look like. Then, a tentative calendar for moving agenda items forward from the community onto the city council agenda needs to be formed and out of this process it could be determined which issues might be placed before voters. The following is a list of issues under discussion by the Community-Council group, ones that could also go onto the city council Two-Year Strategic Plan agenda if that meeting ever occurs. If not, the community will continue to carry on with its own strategic planning.

• Form a Human Rights Commission and a Youth Commission
• Buy the Beach Flats Garden
• Reform the Rental Inspection Ordinance to favor tenants and keep safe but unpermitted properties in the housing pipeline
• Institute a police review board (“Cop Watch”)
• Pass a $15 an hour minimum wage ordinance
• Pass a “public banking” ordinance
• Write a General Plan amendment restoring urban-rural transition to Golf Club Drive area
• Build a minimum of 200 units of affordable housing on parcels that the city currently owns. These include the NYAC building (between bus station and old Tampicos) and the former thrift store site on Front Street. The city should be receiving some $8.4 million coming into its coffers from the recent sale of the Sky Park property in Scotts Valley.

“How do we have trillions of dollars to spend on endless wars, but we don’t have the money for education and health care? How do we have money for tax breaks for billionaires, but not to feed hungry children? Together we are going to change those priorities.” (April 1)

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

April 1, 2019

WHY SAY YES TO HOUSING (BROUGHT TO YOU BY ONE WHO IS STAMPING OUT LOCAL CONTROL OVER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS)
This Friday, April 5, State Senator Scott Wiener will part of a panel discussion at Peace United Church (900 High Street, Santa Cruz) with representatives of groups who want development to boom in Santa Cruz County. Senator Wiener has led the charge to push through legislation to force cities and counties to approve developments under state mandates, regardless of whether there exists the infrastructure to support it.  The event is co-hosted by Santa Cruz YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard), the Santa Cruz County Business Council, and the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) and begins at 6pm.

The panel will include Senator Wiener, Business Council Member and President of New Way Homes, Mr. Sibley Simon (he wrote the enhanced density bonus regulations that many local jurisdictions have since adopted), MBEP President Ms. Kate Roberts, YIMBY Board Member and Co-Founder of Work Bench, Ms. Jamileh Cannon (Work Bench is an architectural/developer company based in Santa Cruz and whose star project is “The Dwellings” in Soquel).

Senator Wiener will be talking about the need for more housing throughout California, and what he hopes to work on as the Chair of the Senate Housing committee this year  He will also be providing an overview of his highest legislative priority, Senate Bill 50, the More HOMES Act, which is an amendment to the State Density Bonus Law that allows for greater densities for more affordable housing.  If the proposed development is within a “job-rich” area (which will be mapped and listed effective January 1. 2020 by the State Dept. of Housing and Community Development) and within a “transit-rich” area, jurisdictional shall waive control over height restrictions, density maximums, floor area ratios, and parking requirements. Here is the text of proposed SB 50 (please note Section 6518.53(a)(1) and (c).

In my humble opinion, this event this Friday is meant to begin beating the drum for SB 50 and the ballot measure that could be on the November 2020 election to make it easier to get the necessary voter approval to fund bonds for single purposes (read more about that below), but   I encourage you to attend this Friday and see what you think.

Take a look at who is behind the Monterey Bay Economic Partnerships, the group who wanted to shove Measure H, a poorly-written and illegal property tax bond measure on all parcels in Santa Cruz County last November, but thankfully, the voters read the measure and rejected it:

SO, JUST MAKE IT EASIER TO PASS BOND MEASURES AND INCREASE DEBT BURDEN ON THE PUBLIC…
That is just what is in the works with a proposed constitutional amendment that would lower how much voter support communities need to get at the polls in order to pass single-purpose bond and tax measures.  Currently, a single-purpose bond or tax measure must get 2/3 voter approval to pass, whereas multiple-purpose tax increases only require 51% (that is how the County slipped the Measure G 1/2-cent sales tax increase through last November).  However, this constitutional amendment, proposed by Assemblyman Todd Gloria (Dem-San Diego) and sponsored by Assemblywoman Cecelia Aguiar-Curry, would lower the required threshold of approval for single-purpose NEW DEBT to 55%.  

“These two-thirds thresholds are meant to enable a boisterous minority to impede progress,” said Assemblyman Todd Gloria.  Sponsors hope to gain the necessary 2/3 legislative approval for this constitutional amendment and place it on the November 2020 ballot, where it would require a simple majority of 51% of the voters to pass.   It would apply to projects including affordable housing, wastewater treatment, fire and police buildings, parks, public libraries, broadband expansion, hospitals and more.  Local governments typically fund those projects through bonds or special taxes, like the parcel ta or a dedicated sales tax.

The Santa Cruz Sentinel featured this information on page A3 on March 28, 2019, but no link for it comes up with a search, so here is a link to another source that seems to have used the same AP report

I suggest you write your representatives now with your thoughts on the matter:

Assemblyman Mark Stone: https://a29.asmdc.org/
State Senator Bill Monning: https://sd17.senate.ca.gov/

“THAT WOULD JUST OVERCHARGE THE AQUIFER”
Amazingly, that is the essence of the report given the MidCounty Groundwater Agency Advisory Committee by consultant Mr. Cameron Tana of Montgomery & Associates (formerly HydroMetrics) last week.  This was part of the blatant commercial praising the virtues of Soquel Creek Water District’s proposed plan to inject millions of gallons of treated sewage water into the drinking water supply for the MidCounty area.  Mr. Tana explained that the hypothetical model he has created (largely paid for by Soquel Creek Water District) to show what would happen if the treated sewage water gets injected AND Santa Cruz City Water Dept. were to also inject de-chlorinated potable water in three possible new wells nearby, the aquifer level would rise to surface levels and become undesirable.  He stated, therefore, that Santa Cruz City’s location of the new injection wells is too close to the Soquel Creek Water District’s three planned treated sewage water injection sites associated with Pure Water Soquel Project.  

This information did not comport with that of other previous presentations where Mr. Tana’s hypothetical models showed increased surface stream flows with increased groundwater levels, and recharge impacts leveling off due to the water “leaking” into streams beds and flowing out under the Monterey Bay.    

I pointed this out to the Advisory Committee, and stated that it seemed the Pure Water Soquel Project was not necessary, given the existing infrastructure for the City to recharge the aquifer in troubled areas, but no one responded.  Members of the public are NOT ALLOWED to ask questions or expect any answers, only to register comment.  

The members of the Advisory Committee were selected to represent specific stakeholder groups who have interests in the MidCounty Groundwater Basin plan that the group is supposed to be formulating and submit to the State for approval in January, 2020.  There is no method for any such stakeholder to directly contact their liaison representative on this Committee, an issue that has been raised since the group formed over one year ago.  Even though the agency’s Board recently approved new policy that would allow such direct e-mail addresses to be issued and posted on the website, the matter was not even on the Advisory Committee’s agenda.  The Advisory Committee will be dissolved in June.  Policy changed a few months ago, such that this citizen-based group will NOT formulate the Plan for sustaining groundwater levels in the Basin, but rather they will only prioritize and rate those recommendations spoon-fed to them from the Executive Committee, which consists of a handful of people who manage the water agencies in the Basin, and whose meetings are never open to the public.

There are no public stakeholder meetings planned until July, after the Plan has been pretty much made a “Done Deal” and the Advisory Committee is gone.  Somehow, this just does not smell right to me.  How can private well and small water company owners and customers be expected to have any trust in this process, and walk smoothly along with the big pumpers like Soquel Creek Water District, whose Junior Water rights legally allow them only to excess water in the aquifer for their sales and distribution (and revenue)?  

If you have concerns about lack of public participation, Soquel Creek Water District’s plan to inject treated sewage water into the area’s drinking water, or the process the MidCounty Groundwater Agency is taking, contact Ms. Amanda Peisch-Derby at the State Water Board:

Amanda Peisch-Derby Amanda.Peisch@water.ca.gov   559-230-3307.

Here is the link for the MidCounty Groundwater Agency, where you can listen to audio recordings of the meetings, and find information about the proposed Plan:

SANTA CRUZ CITY WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT COASTAL RESILIENCE
The City of Santa Cruz is committed to “an inclusive, transparent, thorough, and equitable process” in completing the “Resilient Coast Santa Cruz” Initiative, which will commence community meetings this Spring.  According to information distributed at the recent “State of the San Lorenzo River Symposium”, the West Cliff Drive Adaptation and Management Plan will be available soon here as part of the Development of Local Coastal Program Strategies a& Policies to Support Beach and Public Access Protection.  At the County level, that has meant no new armoring of the eroding coastal areas, and possible sand loss mitigation fees to coastal property owners.  

The City intends to begin holding community meetings soon, and invites the public to also stop by for a once-a-month open office hour at the City Hall courtyard Conference room on the first Thursday of each month from 4pm-5pm to talk about the initiative with the City’s project managers.  You can e-mail climateaction@cityofsantacruz.com  and get on their mailing list.

REAL ALTERNATIVES TO THE FALSE PROMISE OF AUXILIARY LANES
If you are interested in learning more about the very complex problem of local traffic congestion, and to learn more about possible solutions, attend this free event at the Aptos Library, Saturday, April 13, 10:30am.

If you commute to or through the Watsonville-to-Capitola areas of the County, you know it is a nightmare.  Come listen to what local activist and sensible community leader, Mr. Rick Longinotti, has to say.

WHY DIDN’T THE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZ MAT TEAM GET NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECENT SUNKEN SHIPS AND FUEL SPILL ON THE BEACH?
Over a week ago, many people saw a sunken ship near the iconic Cement Ship at Seacliff State Beach, and wondered what was going to happen with it.  I asked the State Park ranger about it, and was told the Coast Guard was aware of it, but did not plan to take action.  I called the Harbor Patrol, and got a similarly vague answer.  

Last week, a private salvage company, Parker Diving & Salvage, showed up and pulled a sunken tri-maran and the sunken cabin cruiser to shore for demolition on the beach.  Wow, was the air heavy with diesel fumes from the leaking fuel on the beach by the 35-foot cabin cruiser languishing at the tide level.  Surfers were exiting the water, complaining of fuel on their skin.

I called 9-1-1 to report the fuel spill on the beach.   I received a call a couple of hours later, around 9pm, from the Harbor Patrol, thanking me for my call, and assuring me the Coast Guard would contact me shortly.  No call.  I phoned 9-1-1 again to check up on the progress of addressing what smelled like a major fuel spill.  The Harbor Patrol called back and said that I MIGHT receive a call from someone.  I did….at 2am, from the San Francisco Sector of the Coast Guard, letting me know they were aware of the problem.

The ship stayed on the beach, leaking fuel, and was finally demolished on the beach by the salvage company.  Because the smell of diesel was so unhealthy, yet no officials seemed to be monitoring the problem, I called County Environmental Health to ask about the monitoring.  NO ONE HAD CONTACTED COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH to assess the problem or to monitor the fuel leak, later estimated at over 200 gallons.  Wow.

The lesson here is, do not assume that officials charged with monitoring a problem have been contacted, or are even aware that a problem exists.

Here is a photo of the cabin cruiser, compliments of the Register-Pajaronian.   Oddly, Harbor Patrol has been mum, and the owners of the two ships seem unknown.

Cheers! Becky

Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes. Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com

April 1, 2019 #91 /Neighborhood Government

I have been a member of the Mono Lake Committee for many years – perhaps even from 1978, the year it was founded. That is Mono Lake that is pictured above, in a “Photo of the Day” from the National Wildlife Federation blog. 

As a member of the Mono Lake Committee, I receive its periodic newsletters, and I just received the Winter & Spring 2019 issue, which had an article on “Staff migrations.” I don’t know Lisa Cutting personally, but the description of her work with the Committee, presented below, made me think: 

After 17 years as Eastern Sierra Policy Director, Lisa Cutting is moving into a part-time role as Associate Policy Director. Lisa started with the Committee as an intern in 1999 and quickly developed a deep commitment to the protection of Mono Lake and restoration of the tributary streams. She then served as Environmental Resource Coordinator for two years before becoming Eastern Sierra Policy Director in 2002.

Lisa has seen many policy issues during her tenure — from shaping Caltrans projects to incorporate Mono Basin- specific revegetation techniques, to keeping the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve open, working with state and federal agencies to achieve goals in an era of diminishing resources, and accomplishing the daily work of implementing State Water Board-ordered mandates for Mono Lake and its tributary streams. But her passion has always been stream restoration—specifically bridging the gaps between restoration science, land management, and rules and regulations to achieve the most successful on-the-ground ecological health possible. 

Lisa’s calm and deft approach to complex water issues combined with her ability to bring often-polarized parties together to garner positive results for Mono Lake has set the bar for navigating future balanced solutions. She is excited to have more personal time for fishing, backpacking, and exploration, but fortunately for the Committee Lisa will also continue to put her skills to work on focused projects with the policy team.

Lisa Cutting is employed by the Committee, which is a non-profit corporation. The Committee, and Lisa, and other staff persons and many volunteers, have taken responsibility for the “neighborhood” in which Mono Lake is located. There are physical, social, economic, and governmental challenges that require attention, and the Committee, and its dedicated staff and volunteers, have taken responsibility for meeting those challenges, and for “maintaining, protecting, and improving the neighborhood.” 

Mono Lake, of course, is a rather remote, East of the Sierras environmental and wildlife wonderland. It is quite different from the neighborhoods that most of us inhabit, mostly located in cities or in unincorporated urban areas, but what this “Staff migrations” column got me to think about is the whole idea of “neighborhood government.” 

Almost every neighborhood is beloved by those who live there and know it best. Almost every one of our neighborhoods has some unique and wonderful feature that residents treasure. In the heyday of community-based politics in Santa Cruz, California, which is where I am from, neighborhood associations preserved and protected all that was best in the neighborhood, and the community-based involvement stemming from the neighborhoods is what sustained one of the healthiest and most vital examples of democratic self-government I have ever heard about. That was also, of course, a time in which I was privileged to be personally involved in that effort at self-government. I think the description of what Lisa Cutting has been doing for her neighborhood made such an impression on me because I was a kind of “Lisa Cutting” figure, for Santa Cruz County, from 1975 to 1995.

If government in the United States of America is in trouble (and it is), I think we should start looking  for solutions by developing ways to stimulate, fund, and sustain neighborhood-level community involvement. 

That could be done! No fooling!

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

EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Scroll below to peek inside that other scene of so much activity in our other lives.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Exonerated ” 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.

SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL. Their concert number IV: ‘Bach & the Virtuoso Violin’. Featuring Edwin Huizinga, Baroque violin, Lynn Tetenbaum, Viola da Gamba and

Linda Burman-Hall, Harpsichord. Join us for a walk through the dark and secret heart of the Baroque. Keep your mind balanced on that daring knife-edge of unaccompanied violin tone ~ Heinrich von Biber in his Passacaglia in the 1670s and half a century later J. S Bach in his Chaconne take innumerable risks in building thrilling chords and counter-melodies for a single brave player to deliver. After all the solo miracles, we’ll conclude the evening with buoyantly optimistic mid-Baroque trios for violin, harpsichord and obbligato viol by Bach’s Danish-German hero, Dietrich Buxtehude. presented by the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival Sunday April 14, 2019 –  3:00pm UCSC Recital Hall.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. No words from Lisa this week…must be either cooking or editing. Read her reviews at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com) Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

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. April 2 has Jena Casey from Africa Matters talking about their organization and goals. April 9 has Lisa Sheridan and Robert Morgan discussing the Nissan Dealership in Soquel and Sustainable Soquel plans. Then Julie Phillips talks about the proposed Bay and Cliff development across from the dream Inn. Kristin Brownstone and Jerry Lloyd discuss the Actors Theater  “Looking For Normal” play on April 16th. They’re followed by folks from the Reel Work Film Festival listing the screenings around the county and Bay. May 21st has concertmaster Roy Malan discussing the Hidden Valley String Orchestra concert occurring on June 2nd. 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

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. “Horror Movies”
“Some people ask why people would go into a dark room to be scared. I say they are already scared, and they need to have that fear manipulated and massaged. I think of horror movies as the disturbed dreams of a society”. Wes Craven
“Horror movies don’t exist unless you go and see them, and people always will”. Joss Whedon
“My adult life is filled with the things horror movies are made of“. Tim Kennedy

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ. FEB 2, 1949. This is the Southeast corner of Laurel and Pacific. Walgreens is there now, and still using parts of this building…from the looks of it.                                                        photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE: March 25, 2019

SAVE THE HISTORIC CIRCLE CHURCH. That is the Errett Circle neighborhood, or Garfield Park Circle Church community.

Sue Powell and her neighbor John Sears attended the Santa Cruz Historic Preservation Commission meeting on March 20. Sue sent BrattonOnline the following… “There were many issues that came up during the meeting that I think are important. Here is my one-sentence summary:

Because the Circle Church is “Unlisted” (not included in the City’s Historic Building Index) and because the history report commissioned by the property owners (DPR 523) incorrectly concluded that the Circle Church has “no historic value,” it is possible that the demolition permit application for the Circle Church could be approved without public review.

1. John Sears and I talked during Oral Communications about the many reasons that the Circle Church should not be demolished. One major concern that we have is that the Circle Church has not been listed by the City in the Historic Building Index. It has been continually overlooked, whereas churches in affluent neighborhoods that were built more recently – and without a depth of history on the site – are listed. This prejudicial omission means that the Circle Church does not have this designated protection that could save it from demolition.
2. We stayed for Agenda Item #8 – “Discuss the Current Process for the Review of Residential Demolition Authorization Permits for Unlisted Structures Over 50 Years Old.” The Circle Church is “Unlisted” and was built over 50 years ago, with a heritage going back to the 1880s, so we thought that this Review Process might apply to the Church.
3. Staff said that when demolition permit applications are received by the Planning Department, staff give them one of three designations: no historic value, questionable historic value, clear historic value. 
4. There was discussion among the Commissioners about the process by which decisions are made for questionable properties. Staff said that they are presently reviewed by the Planning Department, but that they could be reviewed by a HP Commission subcommittee. In my perspective, referring a questionable property in Subcommittee means that there would be no public discussion or input about saving buildings over 50 years old that the community sees as meaningful and important to the character of a neighborhood and a sense of place, such as the Circle Church. 
5. Commissioners asked about the category for the Circle Church. Staff said that a report commissioned by the property owners (DPR 523) showed that the Circle Church has “no historic value.” This DPR was commissioned in 2017 and completed in early 2018. Commissioners expressed concern that report was not provided to them until last month.
6.  We have heard from our historian friends in the community that the report, DPR 523, had incorrect information and faulty conclusions. Rebuttals to the report have been written.
7. Although the Commissioners said that they want the Circle Church to be included in their next agenda, staff did not respond. Staff discouraged holding a HP Commission meeting next month.
8. Historic Planning Commission meetings are often cancelled. In the last six months, four meetings have been cancelled. There were no meetings in October 2018, November 2018, January 2019, and February 2019”.

Sue Powell, John Sears and many community members believe that it is so important that we have full public process on the demolition permit application for the Circle Church.

SAVE SANTA CRUZ WESTSIDE. In my attempt last week to run a list of the huge developments that are in various stages in our end of the county, I missed what could be the most obvious of all — the proposed development at Cliff and Bay by the Dream Inn. Here’s a link and note from the Save Santa Cruz Westside group of concerned locals…and visitors.

“Join our efforts to protect the Westside and surrounding areas of Santa Cruz from this massive 4 story Cliff and Bay project proposed by the Southern California Company, Ensemble, owners of the Dream Inn! The proposed development could: increase traffic and emergency response times, destabilize surrounding hillsides, increase pollution, and does nothing to promote local affordable housing in an important Westside lifeline-corridor while negatively impacting local quality of life.

Check out our website at: SaveSantaCruzWestside.org
You can sign up for our newsletters with updates on critical upcoming meetings as well as donate to this effort! We are opposed to the over-development planned by the Dream Inn at West Cliff  and Bay, which has been submitted to the City of Santa Cruz Planning Department.

CLAIRE BRAZ-VALENTINE POEM. Long time friend Billie Harris sent us this heart-touching poem “Fire” by another long time friend poet and playwright,Claire Braz-Valentine. Claire has lived in Paradise, California for years. She read this poem at the last meeting of the   phren-Z literary magazine group. Click here…

EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Check out the perfect woman, in your dreams…!!! Scroll below.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Which Hunt” 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.

EVENTS

JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL.

The Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival is now in its 19th year. It presents films free to the public from Saturday, March 30 through Thursday, April 4. The festival opens at the Jewish Community Center in Aptos and continues at the Del Mar Theater in Santa Cruz, Aegis (EE-gis) of Aptos, and Samper Recital Hall at Cabrillo College. This year’s program focuses on love, reconciliation, and the pursuit of justice for the powerless. For the full schedule, please visit the Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival online at  https://santacruzjewishfilmfestival.coM

ESPRESSIVO ORCHESTRA.  Romanticism — Morning to Evening
Espressivo—a small, intense orchestra concludes its fourth season at Peace United Church 900 High Street in Santa Cruz on Sunday, March 31st, at 3 p.m. The program of late-Romantic music includes Richard Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll,” Arnold Schoenberg’s “Chamber Symphony,” and Antonin Dvorak’s “Serenade for Winds, Cello and Bass.” The professional orchestra will be conducted by Michel Singher, founder & Artistic Director. Tickets at www.EspressOrch.org, and at the box office.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “The big movie news for us locals this week is Us, the new fright-fest horror movie with a social conscience from Jordan Peele (Get Out). Santa Cruz co-stars as herself, and the Boardwalk has not been used so effectively as a movie prop since The Lost Boys. No, I don’t review it this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ), but check out Steve Palopoli’s review in this week’s Good Times.” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

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. . Sue Powell and John Sears tell us all about Saving the Circle Church (Errett Circle) on March 26. They’re followed by Gillian Greensite discussing city, county and University issues and trees. April 2 has Jena Casey from Africa Matters talking about their organization and golas.Lisa Sheridan and Robert Morgan discuss the Nissan Dealership in Soquel and Sustainable Soquel plans. Dean Kaufman from the Santa Cruz Vet’s Center talks about Vets benefits on April 16th. He’s followed by folks from the Reel Work Film Festival listing the screenings around the county and Bay. May 21st has concertmaster Roy Malan discussing the Hidden Valley String Orchestra concert occurring on June 2nd.  OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… http://www.radiofreeamerica.com/dj/bruce-bratton You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. 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

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. “RAIN”

“The rain is famous for falling on the just and unjust alike, but if I had the management of such affairs I would rain softly and sweetly on the just, but if I caught a sample of the unjust out doors I would drown him”.   Mark Twain
“The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain”. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“The nicest thing about the rain is that it always stops. Eventually”. Eeyore
“Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby”. Langston Hughes
“I always like walking in the rain, so no one can see me crying”. Charlie Chaplin

BANK OF ITALY – NEW LEAF BUILDING. Built in 1929 by architect Henry J. Minton, this grand edifice won a battle in 1977 against developers who wanted to tear it down. It became New Leaf Market way back in 1995!                                                       photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE March 18, 2019

“R.U.I.N.” REALESTATE UNDER INTENSE NEGOTIATION. I had a lofty plan for this week’s column. Due to our last Santa Cruz City Council majority, and a really permissive County Board of Supervisors, we now have more and larger developments being built and proposed than almost any time in our history. I planned to organize, list, and expose as many of these developments as possible — and then with your help keep tabs on them. It was too big a job to do in one week. So I’ve “printed” as many developments as I could get info together on while still meeting my DEADLINE, which is Monday afternoon.

Please read these over, send me any/all new news you have on each one (bratton@cruzio.com).

We need to realize the enormity and scope of what’s going on in our Town and County. More on this as soon as possible.

DOWNTOWN.

PACIFIC & FRONT PROJECT. Devcon Developers and contractors, with Owen Lawlor as the go between. It was approved in December at the old City Council’s last meeting. (Very careful plotting here). There will 205 Units. No “affordable” units. 2 Floors of  underground parking. Robert Singleton Planning Commissioner supports this one.

UPPER OCEAN STREET.

QUAIL TERRACE. OCEAN STREET EXTENSION.
40 apartments at 1930 Ocean St. across from the cemetery. Idaho Developer

GARFIELD PARK.

Errett Circle (Circle Church) aka. Garfield Park Church.
Preserve historic church and neighborhood. The church is has long been a very active community event center. We’ll have to watch Drew Glover’s vote on this one. He’s long time friends with Chris Drury, the property developer.

YACHT HARBOR.

HARBOR VILLAGE. 7th and Brommer streets.
8.3 ACRES. 40 room hotel. 35 residential units. 265 PARKING SPACES.
Harbor Neighbors vs. Swenson Builders Ryan Coonerty’s  District.

LIVE OAK.

KAISER PERMANENTE MEDICAL FACILITY.
5940 SOQUEL. Four stories high, 720 car parking. 50-60 Doctors. Getting water from Santa Cruz City. Supervisor John Leopold’s district. Leopold has said the traffic will be a problem, and that the frontage road doesn’t work. It’ll be a 150,000 sq.ft. building. John Swift is the local consultant. Pacific Medical Buildings of San Diego are the developers.

March 18

LAST WEEK THIS WEEK ON THE CITY COUNCIL
Closed Session and $ for Tenant Protection
There’s a lot going on this spring, I hope you are getting out to see the buds turn to flowers as you go from meeting to meeting. A friend recently mentioned, “Yeah, right after the clocks sprung ahead summer started, blue skies and seventy-five degree days, what’s not to like?” Well, the city council had another marathon session last week beginning closed session at 10:45am sharp, and ended a few minutes after midnight. Some of the highlights were that the council heard from our labor negotiators and then later that evening one of the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) bargainers, Ted, who negotiates for over 450 city workers who make up the largest part of the Santa Cruz workforce thanked the council for the offer. Now it goes out to the rank and file for ratification, or rejection. On the affordable housing front, we heard a bit about the Shelley Hatch-Ron Pomerantz law suit demanding “the city” enforce the popular 1979 Measure O vote that says all development should include a “15% inclusionary” (affordable) piece in every project. This case continues to unfold. Then, on a 7-0 vote the council decided to set aside $30,000 for legal services for Santa Cruz renters who may require legal assistance with their lease, an eviction notice, or getting stuff fixed in their apartment. It was a major victory for tenants, albeit relatively paltry in terms of real dollars, but it did catch a sometimes-divided council showing unanimity and acting in favor of tenant legal protections, walking the social justice walk and not just talking about sky-high rents.

“The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe,” also known as the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. Have we moved beyond these catostrophic events as a world culture? Or are we moving toward one with rightwing governments in Philipines, Brazil, and Hungry, all Friends of Trump?

The Role of City Commissions
Three actions by the council happened this week involving city commissions, Parks and Recreation and Planning, highlighting the potential role commissions can play in moving our city forward. When talk of eliminating Harvey West Pool positions, ones that had not been filled for 10 years, came up on the agenda, city councilmembers voted to preserve them and requested that the Parks and Recreation Commission weigh in on status of the Harvey West Pool. For years, the community has wondered why this resource, which sits inside of a beautiful park, is so severely underutilized and run by an outside vendor. I fully expect that parks commissioners will get to the bottom of it and perhaps send it back to the council with information and a budget that we can then chew on during our city council May budget deliberations. We also sent a request to the Planning Commission that they look into two planning issues: the status of the “corridors plan” (some days it is dead, other days it appears all but ready to come back to life…), and the Golf Club Drive “400 units per acre” General Plan amendment that so disturbs many of us who desperately wanted the preservation of an urban-rural transition and not luxury condos built right up against the Pogonip greenbelt. In addition, in a special meeting last Thursday night the Planning Commission took up the nasty, ugly, brutish, and short-sited implementation jiu-jitsu cell plan of corporate America, namely Verizon’s attempts to place cell phone boxes, towers, and fake antenna trees throughout Surf City. This particular case was the placement of one of their cell “radiation boxes” at 117 Morrissey Blvd. With 21 residents voicing opposition in the face of Federal Communications rules that virtually mandates city approval of all things Verizon. The commission at least recommended to the city council that these cell contraptions be placed at least 1500 feet apart instead of the city staff recommended 300 feet. With 5G on the way, cities across California must work through their Washington, D.C. elected representatives to stop telecom companies from having their merry way. This will truly be a David vs. Goliath struggle. But, we did prevail on seat belts, cigarettes, asbestos, and the 8-hour work day. This battle may be right up there for the real control of OUR airwaves. This week it will be the Transportation and Public Works Commission taking up lighted-up cross-walks (Branciforte near Berkeley Way). Not really spell-binding stuff, unless it is taking place in your neighborhood. Stay tuned.

Surf City Tries to Fight Back Against the Empire
To any reasonable mind, the attack that was carried out on the Seabright neighborhood on February 15th by agents from the Department of Homeland [In]-Security was suspicious, specious, and crude in its use of force: 12 vehicles, 20-plus agents and an MRAP tank to detain a couple and their two children. But what it has done is so incense an entire neighborhood that the neighbors want action to protect their ‘hood from future federal incursions. Many of these same neighbors came to speak at the city council meeting on March 12, and the council voted 6-1 to enact the following:

1. a) That the Council express dismay and denunciation concerning the overreaching approach and heavy-handed tactics used by the Federal Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agency on February 15, 2019 on the 500 Block of Windsor Street; and,
2. b) Authorize the Mayor to send a letter to our Federal representatives— Panetta, Rep. Eshoo, Sen. Feinstein, Sen. Harris – expressing grave concerns with the oppressive approach used and requesting oversight as to the appropriateness of the operation; and,
3. c) Request that our Federal representatives working in coordination with those neighbors affected by the raid, the Santa Cruz Police Chief, Santa Cruz County Sheriff, ACLU representative, civil rights attorney, Santa Cruz Community Liaison, US Congress member, US Attorney from San Francisco, and members of the Santa Cruz City Council and the Third District Supervisor, conduct a “Community Conversation,” open to all members of the public.

The mayor is now to appoint a city council subcommittee to work on putting this meeting together.

Houselessness, Camp Ross, and City Council Action(s)
The city council punted and placed any real action with respect to homeless services onto the March 19th special council meeting agenda. The big issues were whether to not declare, but extend, the current “shelter crisis” declaration along with finding a couple of alternative tent sites to the current Camp Ross, which is located near the intersection of Highway 9 and River Street. The houseless campers appear to be organizing. I hear there is a “Five-member Camp Council” negotiating with whoever will negotiate; and a lawyer came to the camp to let everyone know what their rights are vis-a-vis their impending displacement by the police through the actions of city and county electeds. I will report back more next week pending council action, or inaction, on this most pressing issue.

Don’t Mourn, Organize
And organize they did this past Sunday! More than forty activist-types gathered near downtown Santa Cruz to celebrate some of the early victories of this new city council–bus vouchers for all downtown workers, special session on downtown parking and housing, restoring oral communication to 7pm, a renewed conversation about the Harvey West Swimming pool, and the beginnings of a housing task force were a few of the issues cited along with other progressive changes. Planning for future initiatives was also on everyone’s mind. Present were members representing a variety of the Santa Cruz democratic left community: SC4Bernie, Sierra Club, YARR, CFST, Downtown Commons Advocates, DSA, SCCAN, SaveSC, and SanctuarySC. It was as much an informational share as it was a collective political brain storm. The three-hour session began with a local attorney’s tutorial on the Ralph M. Brown Act(California Government Code 54950) followed by report backs from four subcommittees of this group (this being the third “Community-Council” support meeting). The report-backs were from Save Santa Cruz, the Anti-Gentrification-Ordinance Drafting Group, the Downtown Commons Advocates, and the Democratizing and Expanding the Vote for non-citizens, 16 and up group. Other committees were organically forming during this session: a “Council Budget Committee,” a “Climate and Bio-Diversity Committee,” and a “Cop Watch Committee.” Public banking, a renter commission, and data collection committee were other topics broached during the session. These city council support committees will be getting together and reporting back to this larger group–Council Community Group–in at its next meeting in one month.

“Our campaign is about fundamentally ending the disparity of wealth, income and power in this country. But as we do that, we must also address the disparity within the disparity—the outrageous levels of racial disparity that currently exist.” (March 18)

P.S. The Bernie campaign is walking the walk. It’s the first ever Presidential campaign to unionize and this initiative calls on all political campaigns to unionize and pay a living wage to often over-worked (overtime?) campaign staff people. Do you think the others, at least the Dems Greens and Peace and Freedom, will do it?

(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. Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com

March 14, 2019
#73 / Irredeemable Capitalism

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, pictured, was recently elected to Congress, and she has got the old boys’ network running scared. In a recent news article, the Dallas Bureau Chief for the Bloomberg news service trumpets a statement by Ocasio-Cortez that capitalism is “irredeemable.” The headline on the article is as follows: “Ocasio-Cortez Blasts Capitalism as an ‘Irredeemable’ System.” Her actual statement is as follows: 

Capitalism is an ideology of capital –- the most important thing is the concentration of capital and to seek and maximize profit. And that comes at any cost to people and to the environment, so to me capitalism is irredeemable.

Ocasio-Cortez then goes on to say, according to the Bloomberg article, that she does not think all aspects of capitalism should be abandoned. The headline, in other words, is probably not a completely fair or accurate representation of what Ocasio-Cortez either thinks, or has said about issues related to capitalism.

I am also tempted to remind us all of the old joke, used when something that is supposed to be “outrageous” has been presented to us for its shock value. One very effective response (and I treasure the few times I have been able to do this), is to say, to whomever has tried to scare you with the horror of whatever outrage offends them: “Wow. You say that like you think it’s a bad thing.”

Trying to discuss politics in terms of “systems,” instead of specifics, can often lead us into fights on unfavorable terrain. I am betting that a lot of ordinary voters are not prepared to be against “capitalism.” They’ve been told for their entire lives that capitalism is what has made this country “great.”  But there are a lot of “not so great” things about our current economy and society that Ocasio-Cortez properly says need to be changed. And I think that there is a strong majority that wants to make those kind of changes. So, let’s talk about the “specifics” and not the “system.”

One way to look at it, in fact, is that we can only find out whether or not the current system is “irredeemable” by trying to redeem it – by trying to make those incremental, step by step, changes that people like Ocasio-Cortez, and Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren are advocating.

Let’s focus on the specifics, not on the “system,” and let’s get to work.

There is an awful lot of very specific work to do!

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

EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Tim’s weekly journey into our driving machine pulls your strings and all your other  parts. Scroll below.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Money Corrupts Everything” 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.

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 Join jazz quartet Persephone for lunchtime jazz at the library. They’ll explore songs from the history of jazz music that playfully integrate lyrics about music with musical expression. Songs by Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, George Shearing, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lionel Hampton and Sonny Burke, and the great Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. Learn more about Persephone at www.PersephoneBand.com. Persephone consists of Suki Wessling, guitar and vocals Jen Bruno, drums, David Guzman, bass and Brad Kava, harmonica. That’s Thursday, March 21, 2019, 12:10 – 12:50 Santa Cruz Public Library Downtown Branch – Meeting Room

JEWEL THEATRE’s production of…”Breaking The Code” runs March 20-April 14 at the Colligan Theatre in the Tannery. It’s the story of Alan Turing who broke the German Code during WWII. Part of his life was his homosexuality that brought him to court and was convicted. Last month  he was named (Feb 2019) ‘The Greatest Person of the 20th Century’ by the BBC. Go here for tickets and schedules. https://www.jeweltheatre.net

JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL.
The Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival is now in its 19th year. It presents films free to the public from Saturday, March 30 through Thursday, April 4. The festival opens at the Jewish Community Center in Aptos and continues at the Del Mar Theater in Santa Cruz, Aegis (EE-gis) of Aptos, and Samper Recital Hall at Cabrillo College. This year’s program focuses on love, reconciliation, and the pursuit of justice for the powerless. For the full schedule, please visit the Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival online at  https://santacruzjewishfilmfestival.coM

ESPRESSIVO ORCHESTRA. They are calling their next concert “Romanticism — Morning to Evening“. Espressivo is a small, intense orchestra that concludes its fourth season at Peace United Church in Santa Cruz on Sunday, March 31st, at 3 p.m. The program of late-Romantic music includes Richard Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll,” Arnold Schoenberg’s “Chamber Symphony,” and Antonin Dvorak’s “Serenade for Winds, Cello and Bass.” The professional orchestra will be conducted by Michel Singher, founder & Artistic Director. Tickets at www.EspressOrch.org, and at the box office.

SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL. “A” North German Abendmusik with Bach”
Is the third concert this season presented by the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival. It features  Margaret Martin Kvamme, and Vlada Moran, on the organ, Saturday, March 23, 2019, 7:30 pm Peace United Church of Christ,  900 High Street, Santa Cruz. A pre-concert talk begins 45 minutes before each concert.

LISA JENSEN LINKS.  Lisa writes: “Big thanks to everyone who turned out for my book talk last week at Porter Memorial Library. It was delightful to meet you all! In case you missed it, you can read all about it this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express ( http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Also, find out why Anglo-Indian actor Dev Patel is having a moment — even though his new movie, The Wedding Guest, doesn’t quite register. ” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

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 March 19 Maestro Michel Singher talks about the Espressivo Orchestra concert happening March 31st. Then Ellen Primack exec. dir of the Cabrillo Fest of Contemporary Music talks all about plans to upgrade the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. Sue Powell and John Sears tell us all about Saving the Circle Church (Errett Circle) on March 26. They’re followed by Don Stump president and CEO of CCH talking about senior housing and related issues. Lisa Sheridan and Robert Morgan discuss the Nissan Dealership in Soquel being turned down on April 9. Dean Kaufman from the Santa Cruz Vet’s Center talks about Vets benefits on April 16th. May 21st has concertmaster Roy Malan discussing the Hidden Valley String Orchestra concert occurring on June 2nd.  OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… http://www.radiofreeamerica.com/dj/bruce-bratton You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. 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

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. from Donald Trump !!
‘It’s freezing and snowing in New York – we need global warming!’
“Something very important, and indeed society-changing, may come out of the Ebola epidemic that will be a very good thing: NO SHAKING HANDS!’
‘I had some beautiful pictures taken in which I had a big smile on my face. I looked happy, I looked content, I looked like a very nice person, which in theory I am.’
‘I think I am actually humble. I think I’m much more humble than you would understand.’