BRATTON…Greg Larson buying endorsements, Kara Meyberg Guzman quitting, Octagon Sushi Bar someday, Dr. Millers Pizza Shop soon. GREENSITE…on ADU changes. KROHN…Campaign issues now and coming up. STEINBRUNER…Landscapes Book, Soquel Creek Water District secrets and Water Board forum, Historic Resources commissioners, PG&E trees. PATTON…Constitutional Dictatorship. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover. JENSEN…reviews Monsters and Men. BRATTON…critiques A Star is Born, Monsters and Men, A Simple Favor and Pick of the Litter. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…on “RENT”.
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JAMES BROWN & GREAT DANCER. Hillary Bratton found this grand version of HELL!! |
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SAN FRANCISCO, THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE and THE 1989 QUAKE. I think some of this is FX but watch it anyways. |
DATELINE Oct. 8, 2018
GREG LARSON GETTING DESPERATE. By now every Democrat in the city has received one of those 16 inch blue “Santa Cruz Voter Guide” doorhangers. It lists Donna Meyers, Greg Larson and Richelle Noroyan as being supported by Santa Cruz Democrat groups. Greg Larson was never and is NOT now supported by any Democrat groups. Meyers and Noroyan were endorsed by the Democratic Women’s Club and the Democratic Party of Santa Cruz, but NOT GREG LARSON!!! The People’s Democratic Club endorsed Justin Cummings and Drew Glover, but not Greg Larson. If you read the fine print on the back of that doorhanger you’ll see the doorhanger was paid for first by Greg Larson’s campaign committee…and others.
Looking at the campaign financial reports as officially filed you’ll also see that Larson’s campaign is one of the wealthiest, supported by the usual developers and big money investors. Isn’t there some way this Trump-like buying of politics can be stopped? Well, yes — by being very thoughtful on NOVEMBER 6th.
KARA MEYBERG GUZMAN QUITS…WHY? I think that many of us Santa Cruz Sentinel readers hoped that the changes, ideas, and some new directions of Kara Meyberg Guzman the new editor would expand, and give us a daily newspaper we could be proud of. But it was not to be, and just last week she stated…
“The decision to leave was difficult, but due to differences with this company’s management, it’s time for me to move on. I am sad to report that I am resigning from my role as managing editor of the Sentinel, effective Thursday night. The company is recruiting for my replacement…”
And so on. Let’s hope she shares exactly what her “differences” with management amounted to.
In case anyone has forgotten, Sentinel owner(s)? are ?Digital First Media and … Wikipedia says, “The MediaNews Group formed Digital First Media in 2013 when it merged with Journal Register Company. The company is controlled by the hedge fund Alden Global Capital.” Wikipedia also says… “MediaNews Group is known as a cost-cutter in the newspaper publishing industry. The company has a reputation for buying smaller daily newspapers in an area (examples include Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay) and consolidating their operations, including sharing staff writers and printing facilities”. As a result of the cost-cutting, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times,[30] some former employees say that the newspapers are focused on making a profit to the detriment of good journalism.
OCTAGON SUSHI BAR. On one of my weekly sits at the Octagon Platz I asked one of the owners/workers just how long they predict it’ll be before they’ll be opening their new sushi bar. Six months was the answer: six months!!! Then again, I guess you should look inside the Octagon and see just how complex and difficult it must be to figure out the angles inside an octagonal building.
Besides that, I hear that Dr. Millers Coffee House at Cedar and Elm Streets — complete with a new prison wall with eight foot spikes — will become a fancy Pizza Place.
ADU CHANGES: WHAT’S AT STAKE
The deadline for input on the proposed changes to the city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance came and went before last week’s BrattonOnline was published. The Planning Commission will vote on these changes on Thursday October 18th at 7pm in city council chambers. If adopted, the new ADU Ordinance will forever change the character and livability of our neighborhoods. Below are the comments that I submitted and which are a summary of the major changes proposed.
The counter argument is the ostensible need for more housing, a mantra that has been elevated to a status of apparent crisis. Dare to challenge that assumption and you are an elitist homeowner or worse, a NIMBY. There is much handwringing and exaggerated concern for our police, firefighters and teachers who apparently are out looking for a place to live and can’t find one since we don’t have enough housing. But is that accurate or just an emotional appeal that plays well? Examine the numbers. The total number of currently employed city police, firefighters and teachers is 874 individuals. Police: 94 sworn officers; firefighters: 60 (plus seasonal lifeguards); teachers: 420 certified city teachers plus 300 classified staff. Presumably many have families and presumably most have a place to live. New hires will probably find the cost of housing too high and will commute. However the numbers of new hires in all 3 categories is relatively modest compared to the elephant in the room, which is the approximately 9 thousand (and growing) UCSC student body looking for rental housing in town.
Cramming all this development into our town with its finite capacity to absorb it, whether it be the upcoming 7 story apartment buildings downtown and on the eastside or this ADU stimulus is about one thing only: accommodating the burgeoning UCSC student population. Opposing these ADU changes is not elitist or uncharitable; it is a clear-eyed challenge to a growth model that is out of scale with every measure of carrying capacity and neighborhood livability.
Comments on Proposed Changes to ADU’s
The 2030 General Plan contains language that aims to balance the need for additional housing with the need to protect the character and livability of established Santa Cruz city neighborhoods. The current Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance, which was crafted over many years and with many public hearings, has struck such a balance. These new proposed changes will significantly and negatively impact established neighborhoods, which seem to have been forgotten in the process.
In particular:
| 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. |
Oct. 8
Part II. CAMPAIGN ISSUES
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Santa Cruz City Council candidates, Drew Glover and Justin Cummings serve food at this year’s Labor Day Picnic at the Watsonville Plaza. Labor is supporting both candidates. They were endorsed by the Central Labor Council recently.
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Housing
A precarious, punishing, and close to near zero availability housing situation exists right now in Santa Cruz. A series of events has led to the ridiculous cost of renting in this town. Along with “short-term rentals”–550 is the cap right now–the explosive growth of the Silicon Valley (check out the Google buses every work day on Pacific Avenue), and the wicked price of owning a home all contribute to this community’s housing crisis. But perhaps, the number one reason for the loss of workforce and multi-family housing is the student, staff, and faculty growth of UC Santa Cruz. The next city council has to go back to basics and work on the following:
- Keep up demands on UCSC. The Chancellor is retiring. The next council has an opportunity to foster a clear, firm, amicable, but consistent relationship with the new Chancellor. No new student growth past 19,500 until students are housed on campus must be the continuous council mantra. The next council, from Day 1, has to be ready to work with state legislature and the UC regents in negotiating a deal that is based on the results of last June’s Measure U: 76% voted for no growth.
- Demand 25% Inclusionary! Renegotiate the developer-friendly “density bonus” and inclusionary housing regulations that the current council recently rammed through. We must ask more from developers, at least 25% inclusionary, if they want the right of building more market-rate housing in Santa Cruz. We must build housing for people who live here now.
- Look to… a.) housing land trusts, b.) no-interest accessory dwelling unit loans, c.) non-profit housing providers, and d.) buying up existing rental housing to keep affordable in perpetuity as all parts of a multifaceted solution.
Addressing Homelessness and Houselessness
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- Building a year-round, 24/7 shelter. Our county will be the recipients of more than $9 million in state money come January to address homelessness and our mental health crisis. The next council has to offer clear direction to city staff that this is a top priority, one we can get done within the next year.
- Identify and open a safe and secure vehicle parking area for up to 100 people now living in their cars. We can do this.
- Expand the number of social workers on Pacific Avenue and being paired with police officers. We already know that police, fire, and parks and recreation expend considerable portions of their budgets dealing with the consequences and collateral damages of people not housed and living on the streets. Our city council must confront this situation head-on and provide leadership.
- Raise the hotel tax by 3% to fund affordable housing and homeless services. The next council must place this on the 2020 ballot.
ELEPHANT-SIZED ISSUES LINGERING ABOUT THE ROOM IN THIS CITY COUNCIL RACE.
- Sticking the downtown main library at the bottom of a five-story parking garage on the current site of our enormously popular weekly Farmer’s Market is one BIG issue in this race. Drew Glover and Justin Cummings are opposed, while Greg Larson, Donna Meyers, and Richelle Noroyan are in favor of park baby park. The current city council voted in favor of the library-in-a-garage concept, but the next city council can overturn that decision by electing Glover and Cummings. The “threesome slate” above will leave the library-garage in place, but Glover and Cummings say they lean toward renovating and reusing the existing library ($28 million) right where it is, and not building the parking structure (save $41 million) until a traffic demand management strategy has been put into place. There is much at stake in this election.
- The relationship between the city council and the city manager has been fraught with contentiousness for many years now. The next council will have a chance to really make inroads into the way that power dynamic ensues over the next two years.
- The corridors plan, wharf master plan, renovating the civic auditorium, purchasing the Beach Flats Community Garden, and managing all that housing that’s coming downtown…look out. These will all be thrust onto the agenda of the next city council! And by the way, all city labor agreements will be expiring need to be negotiated again over the next two years.
- Of course, three large issues are on the ballot this fall that could really impact the way the next city council conducts its business: Measure M, a local rent control law; Proposition 10, the repeal of Costa Hawkins anti-rent control legislation of 1993; and Proposition 6, the repeal of the 12 cents gas tax for infrastructure improvements. May we all live in interesting times.
Analysis of Rent Control
The city of Santa Cruz paid a considerable amount of money, $18,500 so far, to a Grass Valley law firm to essentially, analyze the impacts that the Measure M rent control ballot initiative might bring to Santa Cruz. According to the city staff report, “The Council requested a general analysis of the operation and administration of the Act, including (1) rent control and just cause eviction policies, (2) separately elected Rent Board’s powers and duties, and (3) interaction with and obligations on City policy, operations and administration.”The results of that report are available here https://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/cache/2/bioiuo01woue4vd2uym1ycxs/476694710082018103256501.PDF
Besides the report being a hot political potato document that tries at many turns to discredit Measure M, it is an unnecessary intrusion really, coming 30 days before the general election. And guess what? No smoking gun here. Rent control, already in place in 15 other California cities, will not bring down our Surf City, with the exception of hopefully collectively stifling many real estate developers’ get-rich quick schemes. Can I get an ‘Amen’ to that! Here’s what’s in the conclusion of the consultant’s report: “In short, the Act will establish a rent control, just cause eviction, and rental housing regulation comparable to those in the 15 other California cities which regulate apartment rents…. City’s General Fund will be obligated to advance staff and funding to establish the Rent Board and its programs, to be repaid from Rental Housing Fees on landlords when those funds are available. The Rent Board will be an independent policy-maker with budget authority to the extent of its own resources and will have power to appoint some of its own staff.” If you think all that is a pretty good idea as I do, then vote Yes on Measure M.
Stay tuned. In the coming weeks of what’s been a grueling-dueling rent control campaign (this is Santa Cruz, would we have it any other way?) we will see just how “robust,” “mindful,” and downright “plucky” each side will be. As the Movement for Housing Justice gains steam with a broad endorsement list that includes labor, students, the People’s Democratic Club, former Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, and a long list of renters, homeowners and landlords, the Anti M’s are supported mostly by real estate and developer money that is fast approaching $800,000 and counting. This includes a mind-blowing $200k coming in from the likes of the Chicago Real Estate Ass., whatever that is. Much is at stake for some large corporations, remember, Goldman Sachs bought the Outlook, now Hilltop, Apartments last year for over $50 million. As Deep Throat often said to Bob Woodward as he was chasing down the sins of Richard Nixon, “Follow the money.”
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(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 |
Oct. 8
ACTIVISM THAT SHAPED SANTACRUZ COUNTY 1955-2005
On October 20, 2pm-4pm, Kelly’s Books in Watsonville will host Donna Bradford, Chris Johnson-Lyons and Robley Levy, three contributing authors to “Landscapes: Activism That Shaped Santa Cruz County 1955-2005”. This is the ninth book in the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History’s Journal Series. How did these activists organize the communities? Is local government less responsive to the public now? What are these activists doing now, and what words of wisdom might they have for the massive County Zoning code changes the Board of Supervisors will consider next month? I hope you will attend this event, and ask questions. Kelly’s Books is near the Nob Hill Store on Main Street, just across the street from where they used to be until Kaiser gave them and all businesses in the Crossroads Center a 30-day eviction notice a couple of years ago.
SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT NOT TRANSPARENT AGAIN
Soquel Creek Water District is planning to drill a 1000′-deep pilot injection well near Cabrillo College and not make it public. Public Comment closes on October 12, but the District has kept it secret. Despite releasing the Negative Declaration for public comment in early September, the notice was not published on the District website until just a couple of days ago, and was never disclosed in the customer newsletter “What’s On Tap”.
The Project is part of the expensive and risky PureWater Soquel Project to inject treated sewage water into the aquifer that supplies drinking water for the Mid County region. District consultants, ESA, awarded the Pilot Injection Well Project a Negative Declaration because they determined there will be NO significant impacts. The Initial Study fails to address the long term impacts of injecting millions of gallons of treated sewage water daily into the aquifer, instead focusing only on the short-term impacts of the pilot well study to determine if the soils will accept the water.
The Pilot Injection Well location is at the edge of the Twin Lakes Church parking lot, adjacent to Cabrillo College Drive. The 6-8 Million Gallons of water to be used for the test will come from a hydrant on Rose Marie Lane nearby. Here is a link to the Project information
Here are some questions that beg to be addressed:
VOTE ‘NO’ ON MEASURES G AND H….NEITHER IS WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE.
Cheers, Becky Steinbruner
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
Clinton Rossiter, who was an American historian, wrote The American Presidency (pictured above). I remember reading that book way back when. He also wrote another book, which I just came across in a giveaway book bin: Constitutional Dictatorship: Crisis Government in the Modern Democracies. That is a timely title, of course, so I picked up the book, which I had never heard of.
I have a generally positive recollection of The American Presidency, which I must have read over fifty years ago when I was an undergraduate student. I do not have a similar good feeling about this other book. I was genuinely disturbed and distressed by the edition of Constitutional Dictatorship that I fished out of the book bin. The original edition of the book was written in 1948, immediately after the Second World War. It seems it went out of print pretty quickly. A new edition of Rossiter’s book was then reissued in 2002, right after the terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States on September 11, 2001.
William J. “Bill” Quirk, who currently represents the 20th Assembly District in the California State Assembly, wrote an introduction for the new edition of Constitutional Dictatorship and indicates that he approves the idea that what America really needs right now, in the aftermath of the successful terrorist attacks on 9-ll, is nothing less than a dictatorship:
How shall we be governed during the War on Terrorism? Definitely not as we have in the past. Existing governing practices comprehensively failed to protect the people and cannot be continued. Since we have been forced to face the horrors of terror attacks on the United States we likewise need to consider the sort of government such a war will force us to adopt…
Rossiter’s book is premised on the idea that democratic societies, when they face crises, need to set democracy aside, so they can really get to work on the problems that confront them. Democracies are inevitably unable to deal with crisis. That’s what Rossiter argues, and that is what Quirk says, too.
May I politely and profoundly disagree?
I assume that Quirk’s introduction is, by now, an embarrassment to him. I surely hope so. Do we really want President Donald J. Trump to be our constitutional dictator? I am voting “NO.”
I would vote “NO” on making Barack Obama a constitutional dictator, too.
Please, people, let’s have a little bit of faith in our system of democratic self-government! We have faced a lot of crises, from wars to economic collapse. No dictatorships have been required.
Let’s not start now.
ESPECIALLY now!!
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Gary 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. From the Subconscious classics file see the real relationship between Hope and Fear just a bit more below.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Real men” 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.
West Coast Premiere of “Strange Window: The Turn of the Screw” will be presented Saturday and Sunday, October 14, 2018 at UCSC’s Experimental Theater, Theater Arts Center (UCSC). This imaginative and groundbreaking new interpretation of the gothic classic by Henry James is presented by the internationally celebrated, Obie Award-winning theater company, The Builders Association from New York. This new interpretation is directed by renowned stage director and UC Santa Cruz Professor of Theater Arts, Marianne Weems. Presented by the Arts Division in partnership with the Theater Arts Department. Strange Window: The Turn of the Screw provides audiences an exceptional opportunity to see this world-class production locally before it goes on to one of the most important performing arts venues in the world at its New York engagement and East Coast premiere at BAM, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, as part of its prestigious 2018 Next Wave Festival.
Tickets are on sale at ucsctickets.com. General adult: $25 evenings, $20 matinees Students: $10 UCSC Faculty/Staff w/ID: $10 UCSC Alumni w/ Alumni ID card: $10. It’s a small theater. Limited seating for each performance. Purchase tickets in advance to guarantee admission. Tickets are not guaranteed at the door. Performance runs approx 70 minutes. There is NO intermission.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – 3:00 PM matinee, Saturday, Oct. 13 – 7:30 pm, Sunday, Oct. 14 – 3:00 PM matinee. Doors open 30 minutes before curtain. General seating; first-come, first-served. Parking $5
NEW MUSIC WORKS PRESENTS “October Surprise” October ignites with a 40th Season send-off of passion, fearless virtuosities and abundant beauty…the guest artists include
Andy Strain, trombone and garden hose, Andrew Carter, tenor, Lori Rivera, vocalist,
Larry Polansky and Giacomo Fiore, electric guitars…NewMusicWorks Ensemble, with Phil Collins, conducting.They’ll be playing 22 American folk songs (1930-1940) – Ruth Crawford Seeger…Five Songs from Cold Mountain (2010) Bun-Ching Lam…Anagnorisis (1964) Bob Hughes…Coming Together (1971) Frederic Rzewski… and especially Ritmicas: Homago al Roldan (1965) Lou Harrison and Bob Hughes (world premiere).
That’s Saturday, October 13, 2018 | 7:30 p.m. UCSC Music Recital Hall, Meyer Drive | Santa Cruz
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Thumbs-up from an intrepid 9-year-old reader and book blogger (hint; she loves Beast!), this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Also, delve into the human stories behind the slogans of the Black Lives Matter era in the compelling Monsters and Men, reviewed in this week’s Good Times.” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
MONSTERS AND MEN. A well-deserved 83 on RT. But a extra foolish title — and NO advance promotion — has it closing this Thursday, Oct.11. Brooklyn police shoot an unarmed black man, and it’s photographed by a young black kid who has to decide whether or not to turn in the evidence. It’s exciting, depressing, painful, and excellent. It feels like it happened yesterday, and will bring out all those suppressed feelings we share over today’s street scenes.
A STAR IS BORN. Yes, the crowds are right: Lady Gaga is a genuine actor now. She takes almost all the movie away from Bradley Cooper. Cooper directed, financed most of it and plays and sings too. It’s a saga, a melodrama, and shares almost zero with any of the other 4 or 5 Star is Born flicks. Go see it, even if like me you’ve never seen or heard Lady Gaga before. According to Wikipedia… Lady Gaga is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986 in NYC)
A SIMPLE FAVOR. Anna Kendrick leads this half-funny tragi-comedy about the disappearance of her next best friend. There are a few (very few) laughs, a bunch of sex shots, and you’ll have a hard time explaining to anybody what this movie is about…or why they made it.
PICK OF THE LITTER. A very cute and cuddly documentary about how doggies are trained to be guide dogs for the blind. I liked it more than most folks, perhaps because I trained dogs in the army K9 corps. It did get 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Data and techniques are missing, and you won’t learn much, but you’ll be touched.
FAHRENHEIT 9-11. This is more than a movie critique, it’s a plea to you and everyone you know to see Michael Moore’s latest fling and sling against a lot more than just Trump. No matter where you think you are on the progressive scale, Moore shows us data and details on Hillary, Flint water, Democratic Party politics, Super delegates, Jeb Bush, and beyond. Go see it ASAP and remember November 6. That’s’ the most important date for many, many years!
THE WIFE. Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce and Christian Slater — along with a sensitive plot/script — make this another great 2018 film. Pryce wins the Nobel Prize; his wife Glen Close has a deeply involved and serious role as his lodestar. An excellent film, go see it. You’ll love it.
BLACKKKLANSMAN. Spike Lee’s newest and most effective critique on what’s happening in America. It’s the progressive Democrats best statement since Michael Moore’s last film. Not subtle, even funny, bitter, and painfully true. It’s based on the true story of a black police officer who finagles a way to get a white guy into the KuKluxKlan. More than that he has meetings with David Duke, head of the KKK. Alec Baldwin has an opening scene Adam Driver is the “hero” and you have to see it. It earned 97% on RT
JULIET, NAKED. Nope, it’s not reference to Shakespeare, darn it — but the title of a song that has been/legend Ethan Hawke recorded years ago. It’s got some laughs, many impossible plot twists, and you’ll have to be a full-time Hawke fan to sit through some very slow development. He’s done better…and so have you!!! Closes Tuesday Oct.9
BLAZE. Ethan Hawke is on his fourth director’s job for this bio-pic of the near-legendary country singer-songwriter Blaze Foley. In all fairness I’ll admit that it got a 98 on RT. I gave it about a 9! I didn’t like the acting, the plot, the music, or the arty-crafty directing. Foley’s real name was Michael David Fuller and he drank himself to death when he was 40. I’ve never heard of his biggest hit songs either: “If only I could Fly”, “Clay Pigeons”, and “Cold, Cold World”. Closes Thursday, Oct.11
THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS. A little 10 year old boy has to live with his creepy, trying to be funny uncle Jack Black. There is some story about the house and why it has so many clocks but I couldn’t stay awake long enough to find out the plot. Cate Blanchett is in it too, but she shouldn’t have been. Stay away. Even the kids probably won’t care for it. 68 on RT.
CRAZY RICH ASIANS. A Hollywood movie with an all Asian cast. It’s about the same as “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, except Asian Americans instead of Greeks. The plot, laughs, and acting are all typical Hollywood re-hash. It doesn’t need your ticket money…it’s breaking many, many box office records already. This means of course that there’ll be a dozen look a like sequels.
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Ewan McGregor does the best possible job he can with a boring, depressing, and very commercial attempt to make more money from A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh books. It isn’t even Disney cute or Pixar creative it’s simply not interesting. And old Christopher Robin is forced by animated versions of Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and other stuffed toys to remember how much fun he had as a boy. Don’t even send the kids.
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 October 9 Sean Van Sommeran talks about his Pelagic Shark Research Foundation. He’s followed by Hina Pendle discussing her “Power of the Heart” workshop. Rick Longinotti talks about the still controversial library garage first then Santa Cruz City Council person Sandy Brown discusses the elections and local politics on Oct.16th. October 22 has Ken Koenig and friend talking about communicating with your friends and relatives who like Trump. After that Candace Brown and Shelley Hatch talk about zoning, rent control and many hot voting issues. Jack Bowers and Dennis Morton describe their prison Art programs followed by City Councilmember Chris Krohn talking about voting and still more local issues on October 30. 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
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Fould language, but this is hilarious…. She couldn’t get the number for the Coast Guard? 😀 |
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. “RENT”
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth”. Muhammad Ali
“I figure if I have my health, can pay the rent and I have my friends, I call it ‘content.‘ ” Lauren Bacall
“I’ve had grand pianos that are more expensive than, like, a year’s worth of rent”. Lady Gaga
“You rarely pay the rent by doing Shakespeare or Ibsen”. Mandy Patinkin
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
Direct phone: 831 423-2468
All Technical & Web details: Gunilla Leavitt @ godmoma@gmail.com
October 2 – 8, 2018
BRATTON…money investors behind Donna Meyers, more about Senator Alan Cranston, those phony Measure M phone survey calls, Landmark theaters being sued, and remember October is earthquake month…we could all be homeless in less than 30 seconds! The two strongest recorded earthquakes in U.S. history occurred in this month…and so did Santa Cruz’s Loma Prieta quake in October, 1989. GREENSITE…on the Senate Hearings and Rape. KROHN…on Council Candidates slates and campaigns. STEINBRUNER…Supervisors and shelters, crisis money, when and why, Kaizen events, planning commission and code changes, Rancho Del Mar road hazard, No on Measure H & G. PATTON…about Local Control and Yes on prop. 10. EAGAN…a classic Subconscious Comic and “Those Hearings”. JENSEN…earnest, busy and involved. BRATTON…critiques Blaze. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…on “The Supreme Court”
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PACIFIC AVENUE RIGHT AFTER THE 1989 EARTHQUAKE. |
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SANTA CRUZ STORES AND VIEWS AFTER THE ’89 QUAKE |
DATELINE October 1, 2018
WHO & WHAT’S BEHIND COUNCIL HOPEFULS. The first financial statements have been filed. All of us can, and should, look to see who’s investing in these candidates. Looking at the backers for Donna Meyers (next week Greg Larson) we can predict where and how the candidates will pay back their investors. Developers Doug Ley and Craig Rowell. Real estate interests such as Peter Cook and Karon Properties and Ken Carlson. There’s William and Erica Ow, Geoffrey Dunn, Carol Fuller, Bill Kocher, Greg Pepping, Zach Friend, David Baskin and Marty Ackerman. The big Boardwalk/ Seaside threesome Charles Canfield, Tom Canfield and Karl Rice. Bigger investor/contributors include Reed Hastings and wife Patti Quillan and Julie Packard. Please check them out ASAP. See how similar the above list is to Greg Larson’s
When you open that link go to your candidate and begin checking at form 460 07/01.18 it takes some getting used to but it’s very worthwhile. Remember that we are deciding on the future of Santa Cruz — do we want more growth??? It’s never brought financial security or improvement to any city anywhere…and it won’t be here either. Think about it.
HISTORICAL PHOTO ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. Under the historical photo last week I stated that Alan Cranston was our U.S. State senator from 1969-1973. That was because the data on the photo was written in 1973. Chris Krohn wrote to remind/inform me that “Alan MacGregor Cranston was an American politician, journalist and world federalist who served as a United States Senator from California, from 1969 to 1993. Born in Palo Alto, California, Cranston worked as a journalist after graduating from Stanford University. He got a degree in English, and later on, according to Wikipedia… “Cranston was a correspondent for the International News Service for two years preceding World War II.[3] When an abridged English-language translation of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf was released, sanitized to exclude some of Hitler’s anti-semitism and militancy, Cranston published a different translation (with annotations) which he believed more accurately reflected the contents of the book. In 1939, Hitler’s publisher sued him for copyright violation in Connecticut; a judge ruled in Hitler’s favor and publication of the book was halted, but by then a half million copies had been sold, helping inform a wide audience about the threat Hitler posed”. Then just at this week’s deadline Eric Fingal photographer and historian at Covello & Covello wrote to tell me that Julian Camacho was running for U.S. Congress not the Senate and also that Eric was the private photographer who took this photo, before he went to work for C&C!!! Other than that I mean it was in front of the Cooper House I’m really sure about that.
PUSH POLL FOR RENT CONTROL. We’ve been seeing and hearing so many ways the National and California Association of Realtors have been spending huge amounts of money on full-page ads, TV spots, mailers, and more mailers, proving just how afraid they are that MEASURE M (the Rent Control Measure) will pass in the city of Santa Cruz. Last week I got a call (so did many, many friends) from Luce Research of Colorado Springs. The call starts out claiming it’s a survey about how I’ll vote on Measure M. IT IS NO SURVEY. It is, according to Wikipedia… “A push poll — an interactive marketing technique, most commonly employed during political campaigning, in which an individual or organization attempts to manipulate or alter prospective voters’ views/beliefs under the guise of conducting an opinion poll”. These push polls should be illegal. They began back in Nixon’s time. The poll people keep zinging you with lying “facts” to convince you to change your vote to NO on M. Realtors, developers, and The Democratic Women’s Club of Santa Cruz County all support this very expensive campaign technique…they should be ASHAMED.
Besides earthquakes being a danger this month and next, we must never forget that 22,438 voters in Santa Cruz County voted for TRUMP!!! The total county vote was 132,165.
LANDMARK THEATRE CHAIN LEGAL PROBLEMS. Joe Blackman sent this clipping from today’s (10/01) Hollywood Reporter… “A judge refuses to dismiss a complaint alleging distributors were coerced into exclusive licenses for specialty films. A federal judge in the District of Columbia won’t dismiss a lawsuit accusing Mark Cuban-owned Landmark Theatres of using its nationwide footprint to coerce film studios into exclusive licenses for specialty films. The lawsuit came a year ago from smaller exhibition outfits operating in D.C., Detroit and Denver. It also arrived in court after Landmark struck a settlement in its own antitrust lawsuit against Regal over so-called “clearance pacts” between studios and exhibitors in the movie industry”. There’s more and you can read it at https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/mark-cubans-landmark-theatres-face-antitrust-lawsuit-1148226 . It probably won’t affect our Nickelodeon and Del Mar operations, but I’ll bet it’ll cause Mark Cuban to want to sell them as fast as possible. On a related note, I hear every week from many Santa Cruz film fans about Landmark not showing any foreign (subtitled) films here anymore. It’s certainly true and extra frustrating, but after checking around like NYC and Los Angeles, Landmark isn’t screening foreign language films anywhere.
SOME THOUGHTS ON RAPE
If I was doing my job as your town crier for the latest city overdevelopment plans being rushed through for quick council approval, I’d be writing about the significant changes proposed by city Planning staff for ADU’s (removing any parking requirements for the first ADU for example and yes, they are recommending more than one). But I’m not going to do that. If you care about your neighborhood you might want to check out the link and get your comments in by Thursday October 4th (I said it was on the fast track)
I want to write about sexual assault and whether any progress has been made over the past 27 years since the Anita Hill hearings. At that time I was already 12 years into what was to be a 30-year career as founder and head of Rape Prevention Education at UCSC. Since leaving the campus in 2010 I continue to do rape prevention work in sub-Saharan African countries with colleagues based in South Africa. At UCSC, I listened to stories of rape from thousands of students, often being the first person they ever told. I defended male students if I judged that what happened did not rise to the charge of rape. I carefully observed male entitlement (the confident male students who rushed forward after a presentation to tell me why I was wrong) and defensiveness (the irrational fear that all males will be accused of rape if they even look at a woman) and ignorance (the male student who quietly shared that in high school he had crossed a line he didn’t know existed) and I tailored the education to try to lower the fears and raise awareness for the whole student body.
In 1991, like many others, I was glued to the television watching Dr. Hill be verbally attacked by the all male clueless Senators. This time around, Dr. Ford was spared that humiliation from the (still) all-male Republican Senators (due to a female stand-in) and the Democrats to a person were knowledgeable and kind. Other things were eerily similar, as if in a time warp. The poised and measured victims; (I dislike the word “accuser”. It’s the only time we allow for female subjectivity when in fact they have been used as objects); the angry, defiant perpetrators claiming victimhood; the chorus of outrage that a good man’s name has been destroyed; the incredulity about the fact that a person could remember vivid details of a long-ago attempted rape but couldn’t remember the date or place of the party; the ignorance of the fact that most of those who are raped, especially by someone they know, tell no-one… ever.
Much has been made of the fact that we are in the #MeToo era which many see as a game-changer. Rape crisis hotlines received a huge increase in calls following and during Dr. Blasey Ford’s testimony. There was however a similar reaction after the Anita Hill hearings and survivors of rape have been breaking their silence on college campuses ever since. Perhaps now in far greater numbers and once powerful public men have been toppled by women speaking out about their experiences of male sexual abuse in male dominated halls of power and the ability of social media to amplify the debate is undeniable. However the terms of the debate are troublingly unchanged. People vehemently support Brett Kavanaugh’s story despite his perfect fit as a textbook case of “undetected rapist” both in his outrage, his attitudes towards women and his denial of heavy drinking as likely to cause memory lapses. And that is being generous since I think he is lying just like his counterpart in the White House. Of course we need careful procedures to ascertain the truth but I haven’t noticed a groundswell of outrage when black men are falsely accused of rape and serve 20 years in prison before DNA and determined activists secure their release.
In some respects we have lost ground. A few examples: most states still lack good sex education (beyond disease and pregnancy) in their schools or teach only abstinence; the anti-rape movement has in my view become somewhat bureaucratic and rigid. True, in the 1970’s there was plenty of ideology thrown around and nuance was seen as a sell-out but consider the following: women’s self-defense has all but disappeared from college campuses and communities because it is not labeled as “primary prevention.” Primary prevention is that which stops men raping, so the story goes, and self-defense merely gives girls and women the skills to help avoid being raped. Not good enough apparently. Another example: UCSC has recently been heavily fined for its inadequate response to charges of sexual assault and harassment by a faculty member and the administration promises in future to publish an annual accounting of cases that are reported. What? When I was on campus that was standing operating procedure. Education for all students, staff and faculty was mandatory and dorms were plastered with posters clearly letting students know their rights and resources plus an annual listing of reported sexual assaults and sexual harassments without identifying details was readily available. I recently picked up a pamphlet at the campus bookstore. A professional job, it was all but impossible to know that it was a resource for rape. The very word “rape” has been erased from campus and most campuses. We now have the acronym, C.A.R.E, which includes the words advocacy, resources and education. Not a hint of sexual assault or rape to ruffle a University’s reputation. And despite the fact that over 30 sexual assaults are reported in the city of Santa Cruz each year, when did you last read of a reported rape in the local press?
I’m not trying to be depressing. I try to live by Gramsci’s “pessimism of the intellect: optimism of the will.” We make history in jumps and starts and retreats. However if we are going to make real progress in educating little boys to treat little girls as equals so the boys don’t grow up to rape, then we have to do a whole lot more than we are doing. Few rapes involve a witness. This one did. Unless the White House interferes, a good FBI interviewer will break down Mark Judge’s story and give him a chance to save his soul by telling what he saw.
| 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. |
THE CANDIDATES
To Slate or Not to Slate? Is that the right question?
The Santa Cruz City Council race is now officially on a slow boil, going right past the very hot setting on the political stove top. Are there “slates” in this race? I would say there are slates, duos, and loners. I will offer a perspective on at least four slates that now exist in this race. These configurations consist of The Institutionals, the Conservatives, The Wannabes, and the Superhero Progressives…and, I guess, there are also,The Outliers.
The Wannabes, Looking for a Place to Call Home
Follow the Money$
The yard sign war has No on M’s $half million dollars $ winning that war, but council candidate Greg Larson is likely the top sign-waver so far. Hand-in-hand with the candidate sign wars, Larson has the money advantage too. He’s already reached the agreed to $40.000 fundraising limit, according to the most recent filing. I guess those BIG signs cost a little bit more, but he seems to have enough to project his image around town, and Noroyan and Meyers are both at $26k on their latest financial disclosure Form 460.(See financial disclosure statements here.
Next week: The three hottest issues facing Santa Cruz City Council Candidates.
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(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 |
SUPERVISORS DECLARE COUNTY “SHELTER CRISIS” AS PART OF CONSENT AGENDA?
Last Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors declared our county to be in “Shelter Crisis” that waives all state and local health and safety codes for affordable housing. They took this action without any public discussion or staff report regarding the implications of the action. Why? Because a $10 Million State grant required them to declare the “Crisis” in order to receive the money. Why didn’t the Supervisors or staff discuss it publicly? Because it was on the Consent Agenda, and no member of the public was allowed to pull the item for Regular Agenda public discussion.
Two citizens took time off work to attend the meeting and speak to the issue. Both asked the Board to place the item on Regular Agenda or to postpone action to allow further consideration, due to concerns of building substandard affordable housing. Did the Board oblige? NO. Supervisor John Leopold did comment that he felt compelled to take action to help the thousands of homeless in the County. The staff documents stated there are about 580 homeless in the unincorporated area. The number is higher in Santa Cruz City. There was virtually no discussion on the matter as the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda.
The result is that the County now has $10 Million from the State to create affordable housing for the homeless. The County is required to remain in “Crisis” for the next three years, the life of the grant. What that will mean for the Communities will depend on how the money is used and how many actually benefit. How much will the County take in administrative fees? Will this be used to grant developers a gift of health and safety shortcuts and monetary bonuses so that their affordable units “pencil out”, when that really means they just won’t make AS MUCH profit as they would on market rate luxury unit housing? What health and safety codes will the County find are necessary to waive in order to move forward with these projects? Will there be government transparency? Hmmm……..
Contact your Supervisor and ask what projects are planned for your area. The Sustainable Soquel group just learned about a planned Homeless Safe Camp near the high school, possibly at the Seventh Day Adventist Camp on Old San Jose Road. I wonder if there will be public notice and community meetings? Here is the link to last Tuesday’s agenda; make sure you read the documentation for Consent Agenda Item #16.
VOTE NO ON MEASURES H AND G BECAUSE… NEITHER IS WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE.
Cheers, Becky Steinbruner
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
My hometown, Santa Cruz, California, is debating rent control in the context of a voter initiative, Measure M, qualified for a local vote by citizen action. It’s a fierce debate. The need for some sort of action to help ordinary and below average income people survive in the local housing market is undeniable. Even those who strongly oppose Measure M agree to that. Most of those who oppose Measure M are not contending that some sort of regulation of rents would not be justified. Their argument is that Measure M is “flawed.” Maybe a majority of city voters will conclude, as the opponents say, that Measure M is not going to have a positive impact because of problems with its exact language. Maybe they won’t, and a majority will support Measure M, alleged flaws and all.
The fact is, we are not going to know what the local community thinks about Measure M until election night, or even later, depending on how close the vote is.
Whatever happens with Measure M, it is also a fact, as I say above, that some sort of action is needed, to help ordinary and below average income people survive in the local housing market. Whatever a voter’s position is on the specifics of Measure M, that truth remains.
Therefore, this blog posting is my plea for a “YES” vote on Proposition 10. Proposition 10 is on the statewide ballot, and it will give local communities the ability to make local decisions on rent control issues.
When I first served in elected office, local governments at the city and county level did have that power. The State Legislature took away that local control option, providing only a very narrow area within which rent control could be enacted at the local level.
Let’s give ourselves, in our local communities, the right to allow our elected representatives to take the actions they decide are needed. If Proposition 10 is approved by the voters, statewide, our local governments can enact local ordinances that go through the regular legislative process.
If Proposition 10 is approved, local communities, acting through their elected local governments, can do something positive to provide help to those who are being driven out of this community by spiraling housing costs, driven by global speculation in California coastal real estate and by the demand associated with Silicon Valley workers, almost all of whom can “outbid” local working families for rental housing.
I believe in the ability of our local governments to find the right, “unflawed” approaches to our local problems.
Your “YES” vote on Proposition 10 will say that you agree!
| 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. |
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Down somebody’s memory lane…maybe yours? Check out SubconsciousComics a ways below.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” How’s your Hearing?” down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog with his poem “He said, She said They Said”.
EVENTS.
West Coast Premiere of “Strange Window: The Turn of the Screw” will be presented Friday, October 12, 2018 to Sunday, October 14, 2018 at UCSC’s Experimental Theater, Theater Arts Center (UCSC).
This imaginative and groundbreaking new interpretation of the gothic classic by Henry James is presented by the internationally celebrated, Obie Award-winning theater company, The Builders Association from New York. This new interpretation is directed by renowned stage director and UC Santa Cruz Professor of Theater Arts, Marianne Weems. Presented by the Arts Division in partnership with the Theater Arts Department.
Strange Window: The Turn of the Screw provides audiences an exceptional opportunity to see this world-class production locally before it goes on to one of the most important performing arts venues in the world at its New York engagement and East Coast premiere at BAM, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, as part of its prestigious 2018 Next Wave Festival.
Tickets are on sale at ucsctickets.com. General adult: $25 evenings, $20 matinees
Students: $10 UCSC Faculty/Staff w/ID: $10 UCSC Alumni w/ Alumni ID card: $10. It’s a small theater. Limited seating for each performance. Purchase tickets in advance to guarantee admission. Tickets are not guaranteed at the door. Performance runs approx 70 minutes.
There is NO intermission.
- Friday, Oct. 12 – PRIVATE EVENT, this performance is not open to the public
- Saturday, Oct. 13 – 3:00 PM matinee
- Saturday, Oct. 13 – 7:30 pm
- Sunday, Oct. 14 – 3:00 PM matinee
Doors open 30 minutes before curtain. General seating; first-come, first-served. Parking $5.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa is rounding up ideas, plans and projects…check out just which ones at her website at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com).” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
BLAZE. Ethan Hawke is on his fourth director’s job for this bio-pic of the near-legendary country singer-songwriter Blaze Foley. In all fairness I’ll admit that it got a 98 on RT. I gave it about a 9! I didn’t like the acting, the plot, the music, or the arty-crafty directing. Foley’s real name was Michael David Fuller and he drank himself to death when he was 40. I’ve never heard of his biggest hit songs either: “If only I could Fly”, “Clay Pigeons”, and “Cold, Cold World”.
FAHRENHEIT 9-11. This is more than a movie critique, it’s a plea to you and everyone you know to see Michael Moore’s latest fling and sling against a lot more than just Trump. No matter where you think you are on the progressive scale, Moore shows us data and details on Hillary, Flint water, Democratic Party politics, Super delegates, Jeb Bush, and beyond. Go see it ASAP and remember November 6. That’s’ the most important date for many, many years!
THE BOOKSHOP. (See this week’s “quotes” at the end of Bonline). If you like, love and use bookshops this film will make you appreciate your favorite bookshop all the more. Single woman Emily Mortimer (you’ll remember her once you see her) opens an independent, very independent bookshop in a small town in England. The acting by Bill Nighy and Patricia Clarkson is absolutely wonderful and this has to be one of my favorite 2018 films. CLOSES THURSDAY 10/04.
THE WIFE. Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce and Christian Slater — along with a sensitive plot/script — make this another great 2018 film. Pryce wins the Nobel Prize; his wife Glen Close has a deeply involved and serious role as his lodestar. An excellent film, go see it. You’ll love it.
BLACKKKLANSMAN. Spike Lee’s newest and most effective critique on what’s happening in America. It’s the progressive Democrats best statement since Michael Moore’s last film. Not subtle, even funny, bitter, and painfully true. It’s based on the true story of a black police officer who finagles a way to get a white guy into the KuKluxKlan. More than that he has meetings with David Duke, head of the KKK. Alec Baldwin has an opening scene Adam Driver is the “hero” and you have to see it. It earned 97% on RT
LIZZIE. We all know the story behind the Lizzie Borden took an axe but seeing it acted out by Chloe Sevigny and Kristen Stewart gives us thoughtful, new sensitive ideas. It’s a tragic true story, it’s beautifully acted and the direction/pacing gets dreary at times but it’s still a good movie.. CLOSES THURSDAY 10/04.
LIFE ITSELF. It got a miserable 12 on RT. I was mystified and bored at first but soon got into what the director was trying to say…and was engrossed. It’s a mite banal, then deeper and sentimental. It stars Oscar Isaac, Olivia Wilde, Antonio Banderas, and Annette Bening,. CLOSES THURSDAY 10/04.
SEARCHING. An nearly-all Asian cast makes this “disappearing child” thriller almost as unusual as does the fact that almost 90% of the movie is on computer and iPhone screens. Facebook, Google, and every contraption we use today is part of this hunt for the guy’s daughter. The ending is a letdown in more than one way. Wait and rent it.
JULIET, NAKED. Nope, it’s not reference to Shakespeare, darn it — but the title of a song that has been/legend Ethan Hawke recorded years ago. It’s got some laughs, many impossible plot twists, and you’ll have to be a full-time Hawke fan to sit through some very slow development. He’s done better…and so have you!!!
WHITE BOY RICK. Matthew McConaughey plays a low down lower-class father to Richie Merritt the teenager who gets into drugs. First he’s a user then he secretly becomes an FBI informer while underage. The true story and the movie fall apart when this scheme fails and Richie is sentenced to a long stretch. It’s dull and boring and almost impossible to like anybody in this saga.
THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS. A little 10 year old boy has to live with his creepy, trying to be funny uncle Jack Black. There is some story about the house and why it has so many clocks but I couldn’t stay awake long enough to find out the plot. Cate Blanchett is in it too, but she shouldn’t have been. Stay away. Even the kids probably won’t care for it. 68 on RT.
CRAZY RICH ASIANS. A Hollywood movie with an all Asian cast. It’s about the same as “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, except Asian Americans instead of Greeks. The plot, laughs, and acting are all typical Hollywood re-hash. It doesn’t need your ticket money…it’s breaking many, many box office records already. This means of course that there’ll be a dozen look a like sequels.
ALPHA. 88 on RT. A live action Ice Age cave man meets a dog for the first time. It does lack Raquel Welch or any cave babes in leather skimpys but it is fascinating….and you can take the kids. I’m serious about the man meets dog story. That’s the only plot it has.
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Ewan McGregor does the best possible job he can with a boring, depressing, and very commercial attempt to make more money from A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh books. It isn’t even Disney cute or Pixar creative it’s simply not interesting. And old Christopher Robin is forced by animated versions of Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and other stuffed toys to remember how much fun he had as a boy. Don’t even send the kids.
ASSASSINATION NATION. No stars that you’ve heard of and probably and hopefully never will. This bloody, corny, high school, sex-texting, supposedly scary flick isn’t worth talking about…and definitely not worth you spending your money on…avoid at all costs.
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. “Landscapes” the new book about historical & local land use battles will be covered by co-editors Elizabeth Schilling and Heather Stiles on October 2nd. Then Julie Phillips and George Lewis discuss the proposed Dream Inn development at West Cliff and Bay. On October 9 Sean Van Sommeran talks about his Pelagic Shark Research Foundation. He’s followed by Hina Pendle discussing her “Power of the Heart” workshop. Santa Cruz City Council person Sandy Brown discusses the elections and local politics on Oct.16th. October 22 has Ken Koenig and friend talking about communicating with your friends and relatives who like Trump. After that Candace Brown and Shelley Hatch talk about zoning, rent control and many hot voting issues. Jack Bowers and Dennis Morton describe their prison Art programs followed by City Councilmember Chris Krohn talking about voting and local issues on October 30. 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
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Some people are so smart, and when I see neat inventions I often think “Why didn’t I think of that?” 🙂 |
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. “SUPREME COURT”
“Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever“. William Howard Taft
“It’s hard not to have a big year at the Supreme Court“. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“Free speech has been used by the Supreme Court to give immense power to the wealthiest members of our society”. Noam Chomsky
“The Supreme Court needs jurists, not politicians”. Timothy Noah
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
Direct phone: 831 423-2468
All Technical & Web details: Gunilla Leavitt @ godmoma@gmail.com
September 24 – 30, 2018
BRATTON…PDC and City Council candidates, Fahrenheit 11/9 still a must see, UCSC Housing demands, Fed Ex scam happening, Another Wilder ranch? Sustainable Soquel Meeting GREENSITE…on Measure M. KROHN…defines city council job, about endorsements, about campaign managers. STEINBRUNER…Ryan Coonerty, Measure G, Board of Supes and ADU’s , developers bonuses, Nissan dealership lawsuit meeting. PATTON…our City Council and the library decision EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Slipped disc Trump. JENSEN…Fahrenheit 11/9. BRATTON…critiques Lizzie, Fahrenheit 11/9, life Itself, Assassination Nation, The House with a Clock in its Walls. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…on “VOTING”.
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HOVERBIKES. This is what Santa Cruz needs. Think about maybe 100 of them at our downtown Farmers Market!! |
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THE ANDREW SISTERS. I love them, and saw them perform many times and even got their autographs. |
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(Issues with this video last week means a re-run this week! -Webmistress)
UCSC’S BILL DOMHOFF ON HOW SANTA CRUZ CHANGED. |
DATELINE September 24, 2018
CITY COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT EVENING. Monday night September 17 was when our People’s Democratic Club held their endorsement meeting. Only Paige Concannon and Ashley Scontriano didn’t show and they were both invited. All eight of the other candidates were there and gave it their best shots. All eight did agree on Rail AND Trail co-existing in our future. Which reminds me that somehow a week or so ago, I linked Greg Larson with the trail only group Greenway. That was a mistake Larson is for Rail AND Trail. David Lane was good on Rail AND Trail but showed absolutely no promise as a city council person. He had few clues about any issue or question, except for pushing his beer making business! Cynthia Hawthorne came out as a developer’s dream and thinks the relationship of power between our City Staff and the council is just perfect. Just Donna Meyers did a cop out and votes yes while the rest of the candidates oppose the Dream Inn –West Cliff Development, and that’s good news. Myers also wants to attract more high paying jobs here. The People’s Democratic Club endorsed both Drew Glover and Justin Cummings. From the outbreaks of applause after many of Justin’s and Drew’s responses it’s obvious where the progressive-left leaning votes are going. They were better informed and had done a lot of homework in getting ready for the November 6th elections. One endorsement seeker that night even called it the People’s Democratic Coalition! Talk about not being prepared!!
FAHRENHEIT 11/9. This is more than a movie critique it’s a plea to see Michael Moore’s latest fling and sling against a lot more than just Trump. No matter where you think you are on the progressive scale Moore shows us data and details on Hillary, Flint water, Democratic party politics, and more. Santa Cruz County residents should never forget that 22,438 neighbors voted for Trump last time and will probably support all his supporters in these midterm elections.
SUSTAINABLE SOQUEL MEETING. Sustainable Soquel sent this… “Sustainable Soquel is a community group interested in fostering open and polite dialogue in order to stay informed about local issues. We encourage sharing and expression of all viewpoints as long as they are presented with respect and courtesy. You are invited….To a Soquel Community Presentation Sponsored by Sustainable Soquel. There will be Two topics affecting our Soquel Community
- Crime concerns and community challenges, including info about Neighborhood Watch. Presented by S.C. Sheriff Sergeant Shon Leonetti.
- Nissan Project Law Suit Status…and how proposed mitigations for 41st Avenue and impending traffic light at corner of Robertson and Soquel Drive could impact Soquel. Sustainable Soquel members Lisa Sheridan and Robert Morgan will give brief updates and answer questions.
Bring your questions, concerns and comments (Mingling after presentations will be possible)
Thursday, September 27 @ 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
Porter Memorial Library located at 3050 Porter Avenue, Soquel. phone (831) 475-3326,
Parking: Parking available behind library. Enter through Bagelry parking lot. Back door to library will be open. Email Sustainablesoquel@gmail.com with questions
UCSC HOUSING & ENROLLMENT. Satya Orion sent this note.
Reading the letter from Dave Keller, Executive Director, UCSC Housing Services (Renting room for a student) I felt stunned by his words that ” we currently have several hundred students without housing guarantees. . . .and not nearly enough rentals offered in our available Community Rentals listings to accommodate these students.” He goes on to say “you may wish to consider offering rental housing in your home for the academic year, or perhaps for a shorter period. The need is real and it is urgent, so I am reaching out to the faculty, staff, and community for help.” Words fail me! Is this the same UCSC that wants to add 10,000 more students? There seems to be a major disconnect from reality here in the UCSC system. We have Santa Cruz community members who cannot find housing as well. We are in a housing crisis!!
I’m wondering what it will take for UCSC to recognize that they need to not only halt additional enrollment, but decrease enrollment as well. It’s not fair to the students and it’s not fair to the community. This letter from Dave Keller should serve as a wakeup call to everyone still not aware of this issue.
ANOTHER WILDER RANCH? With so many of our local elected representatives being pro big business and so lovey-dovey with developers I created a very disturbing question. What if say Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg made a big pitch to build another “Wilder Ranch” size development of 10,000 homes somewhere near our city limits. Wanna bet whether our electeds would go for it? That would be nearly 30,000 more residents. I bet they’d go for it in a flash!!!
FED EX SCAM-BE AWARE!! Last week I received a very authentic looking notice from FED EX saying I owed $04.15 on a package that had been shipped to me. It said to open the tracking number that was displayed. It didn’t seem right so I went to Fed Ex. After much confusion the staffer finally told me that Fed Ex NEVER charges or bills the recipient! And it’s extremely rare that they would ever not bill the sender the correct amount when it’s being sent. SO beware of any bills from FED EX.
September 24
Measure M: A Class Act
My Yes on M sign is lonely. It stands out like a sore thumb in a fistful of No on M signs prominently displayed by those secure in their own homes. The opposition to Measure M is visceral. Friendships are challenged. Heated words exchanged. Yet if the haves changed shoes with the have-nots for a year, saw their incomes shrink to the medium income or less, worked two jobs to make ends meet and still handed over more than a third of their paychecks for rent with annual increases of up to 10%, perhaps their opposition might be tempered with a little more compassion or at least self-interest.
The claim of the prominent opponents to Measure M that they indeed “do support rent control but just not this one” rings hollow: easy to say, hard to prove. The pleas from “Mom and Pop” landlords that their future security is in jeopardy should Measure M pass, smacks of privilege not poverty. No one is taking away their right to rent or sell: both are lucrative investments. To someone who will never afford a house, those who do and who have an extra one or two or twenty others in order to make money off tenants are in a different class. And that is exactly what this rent control issue is about: class interest.
Students who rent, and that is almost all of them except a few whose wealthy parents buy a house in Santa Cruz as an investment and a place for their offspring to live while attending UCSC, are a divided class on this issue. Many come from families whose parents can afford to pay their rent even in expensive Santa Cruz: others work two part time jobs to afford rent and food as well as handle a full class load. And ironically, it is the ever-increasing UCSC student numbers that have created a rental housing shortage in the first place, with the high on-campus rents stoking the fires of rent increases in town. About fifty percent of the city of Santa Cruz’s population growth over the past 40 years is attributable to student growth at UCSC, with roughly half living off-campus. Half of 5 thousand (the student population when I started work at UCSC) is different from half of 19 thousand (the current student population). Yet the finger of blame is always pointed at slow growth activists who are charged with standing in the way of housing development, as if without rent control that would have solved the problem.
It is low-income, largely Latino workforce and families who rent who bear the brunt of the artificially created escalating property values that allow for ever-increasing rents. They do the work that allows the privileged among us (myself included) to enjoy a reasonably priced meal, enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables, stay in a clean hotel or keep our houses clean. Without rent control they are at the mercy of the market and will be forced to move further and further away from their jobs in Santa Cruz, ultimately moving away for good. Who will cook dinner for you at your favorite restaurant if that happens? Ultimately it is in all of our interests to pass Measure M even if it falls way short of keeping all rents in the affordable range.
Opponents raise the fear that Measure M will lead to less rental -housing availability. Perhaps yes but consider why: because rental property owners fearing they will make less money, threaten to sell their rental properties, which just proves the class nature of this struggle. There are other gripes about “just cause” evictions that on close examination are far less draconian than the opponents claim.
The Sentinel deserves congratulations for its in-depth coverage of the details of Measure M and research into the impacts of rent control in other communities. Sunday’s Sentinel (9/23/18) researched the issue of whether less rental units are a consequence of rent control. While the answer is a nuanced yes, meaning landlords made that decision, one conclusion stood out for me: in San Francisco “rent control lowered displacement (of renters) from San Francisco, especially for minorities.” Now that’s an impact worth voting for.
| 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. |
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This is the SC Neighbor’s forum compiled list of issues. “Y” is Yes, “N” is no, and “—“ means no opinion. Look closely on who is supporting the over $60 million+ parking garage atop the current site of the Farmer’s Market…and, only Councilmember Noroyan voted to keep the River Street Camp, while others seemed to believe that $80,000-$90,000 per month for 60 campers is exhorbitant to say the least.
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The Process
Wow, there’s already been at least six Santa Cruz City Council candidate forums–Labor (SEIU), Santa Cruz Neighbors, Peoples Democratic Club (PDC), Democratic Central Committee (DCC), Democratic Woman’s Club (DWC), and Campaign for Sensible Transportation (CFST). Candidates for city council not only have to attend these forums, and usually turn in responses to a lengthy questionnaire, but also have to find time to walk neighborhoods and meet voters. Throw in fundraising, keeping up with the FPPC form 460 filings, while a walking piece, and one or two targeted mailings, it becomes quite a rigorous vetting process that tends to draw out all the fortitude the candidate might possess. In fact, he or she usually comes to more than one soul-searching moments about both politics and people, while usually realizing they have stores of energy to call upon that they never knew they had previously. It is a marathon and not a sprint, a steady pace not a dash, but when vote by mail ballots go out, October 8th this year, the carefree and careful planning that took place back in early July or August is a distant rear view mirror memory. Now, it’s a mad dash up to the election day’s official day, November 6th. If you have a serious chance of being elected, and you usually have an inkling of where you fit in as November arrives, this process is nothing short of grueling. If a candidate tells you they are not tired most days, mixing up words at family meals, or late for at least a few of the fifty-plus meetings that dot your Google Calendar, then it’s usually because they are not yet aware of how all-consuming, or what’s expected in running a winning city council race in Surf City.
Do Endorsements Matter?
Well, yes, they do because the members of the community and community organizations who are able to endorse candidates because of their by-laws can lend a veneer of integrity and approval of each endorsed candidate. Can any one individual endorsement make or break a candidate? Likely not, unless it’s Barack Obama, Elizabeth Warren, or Bernie Sanders’ direct intercession on the candidate’s behalf with the electorate. The Dems and the Left-Dem Bernies endorse, but it’s not the actual celebrity coming and anointing the Santa Cruz City Council candidate. But if any of the three–Sanders, Obama, or Warren–actually came to Santa Cruz and campaigned for any council candidate, I’m fairly certain they would win. What about other endorsements? The statewide Democrats endorse both rent control and the repeal of the 1994 anti-rent control bill known as Costa-Hawkins, or Proposition 10, on the November ballot. Our notoriously middle-of-the-road (see Jim Hightower quote) local Dem establishment failed to endorse either Measure M or Proposition 10 at a recent forum. They did support the institutional (establishment?) slate of Greg Larson, Donna Meyers, and current councilmember, Richelle Noroyan.
(Next Week, “The Candidates: Slates, Sub-Slates, and Loners”)
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(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 |
SHOCKING BEHAVIOR FROM SUPERVISOR RYAN COONERTY REGARDING COUNTY REPRESENTATION AND JET NOISE
Residents of the Santa Cruz Mountains have been plagued for three years with deafening noise of jets flying at low altitudes and braking on approach to San Jose Airport at a rate of about one every minute, day and night. Supervisor John Leopold held meetings locally and travelled to the Bay Area, along with constituents, to discuss the problem with federal officials who had changed the flight path of incoming jets. Why on earth did Supervisor Ryan Coonerty fight so hard to not allow Supervisor John Leopold to represent the people at a newly-forming Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Roundtable Working Committee when it is so obvious that Supervisor Leopold is the best-qualified and has shown diligent leadership on the issue?
There were over 50 people who took time off work to attend the meeting to ask that Supervisor John Leopold represent the area, but Supervisor Coonerty refused to pay heed. Instead, he criticized the ability of Supervisor Leopold to effectively be able to represent the County’s interest: “If I had 100 constituents crying, I couldn’t be an effective leader.” Coonerty said.
Instead, he made the motion to have County Administrative Officer (CAO) serve as the Santa Cruz County representative on the Committee. That began an appalling series of actions that eventually led to the Supervisors voting in agreement with a ridiculous decision to send CAO Carlos Palacios to represent County residents, even though he will not be able to vote on anything. Supervisor John Leopold pointed out that the bylaws of the Working Committee stipulate that only elected officials from the various jurisdictions would be able to vote on any agreements, and that the CAO is not an elected official. “Well, that will probably change,” said Ryan Coonerty.
What needs to change is the leadership on the Board of Supervisors. I hope that Supervisor John Leopold will attend the FAA Roundtable Working Committee meetings despite the corrupt decision made by rest of the Board to send Carlos Palacios.
MEASURE G COUNTYWIDE SALES TAX SEEMS FRAUDULENT
Last week, County Fire and Emergency Response Directors were shocked to learn that the Board of Supervisors approved placing a half-cent sales tax increase on the November ballot and sell it by claiming it would fund fire and other emergency response. It was news to them because ZERO of the money would actually go to fund County Fire…it is not funded at all by General Fund money. Further, it recently was made known to them that Carlos Palacios, the County Administrative Officer who has written Measure G sales tax increase language, chose to postpone placing a measure on the ballot this fall that would have increased funding for County Fire via a property tax increase. This is the sole funding mechanism for County Fire.
What is really going on here???? It appears that Carlos Palacios, as County Administrative Officer (CAO) has willfully postponed placing a funding increase to support County Fire in order to opportunistically prey upon the public’s heightened concern about wildland fires in order to sell the half-cent sales tax increase to offset the looming $9-$15 Million debt the County will face next year to fund retirement pensions. That is exactly what he mentioned in his mid-year Budget Report last spring.
How would voters next spring view a tax increase for County Fire when they were told six months earlier that a sales tax increase would pay for fire and emergency response?
CHEERS,
BECKY
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
#261 / Rule #2: A Reconsideration
After serving in local government for twenty years, I retired. As I looked back at my time in elected office, I found there were Five Simple Things that an elected official needed to do, if that elected official wanted to do a good job. I usually call them my “Five Simple Rules.” Here is Rule #2:
Rule #2: “Remember You’re In Charge.” There is a bureaucratic momentum present in every institution (certainly including government). An elected official needs to remember that he or she was elected to run the bureaucracy not the other way around.
Unfortunately, I have to say that members of the Santa Cruz City Council don’t quite seem to understand this basic concept. Voters elect local officials to listen to them (the voters and residents), and then to try to operate their local government in ways that best respond to what the local voters want. City officials and consultants, of course, can provide invaluable assistance, and often have worthwhile suggestions, but who should be steering the ship?
Not the bureaucrats!
Recently, I watched the Santa Cruz City Council decide (with two dissents) to abandon its downtown library (pictured above). In 2016, voters passed a library bond issue to “support the modernizing, upgrading and repairing of the Aptos, Boulder Creek, Branciforte, Capitola, downtown Santa Cruz, Felton, Garfield Park, La Selva Beach, Live Oak and Scotts Valley library branches, as needed.” This description of the objectives of the bond issue comes from a pre-election article in the local newspaper, the Santa Cruz Sentinel. No mention of a new library was ever suggested, as the voters authorized money for needed “upgrading, repairing, and modernizing.”
After voter approval, with something like $23 million dollars made available from the bond issue, the City Manager suddenly decided that idea of “upgrading, repairing, and modernizing” our existing downtown library was not what should happen, at all. Instead, the City Manager decided that the city should build a brand-new new library, which would be located in, under, or in conjunction with a huge, multi-story parking garage.
This Garage/Library plan, if implemented, will completely abandon the current downtown library site (with no announced indication of what might happen to that site, located immediately across the street from City Hall). The plan would also require the destruction of an existing city-owned surface parking lot that has served as an informal “community plaza,” where an extremely popular weekly Farmers’ Market is held. Huge and beautiful heritage trees (a couple of hundred years old, by some estimates) will have to be destroyed to turn that informal plaza and surface parking lot into a multi-story parking garage.
The plan to “bury the library,” as opponents designated it, was wholly derived from ideas coming from the City bureaucracy, and most notably from the City Manager, who then enlisted a brand-new Library Director, the City’s Public Works Department, and the City’s Economic Development Director to say that this was a super good thing for the city, particularly because it would stimulate economic growth and (allegedly) provide assistance to affordable housing developments. Those with just the slightest degree of skepticism, despite bureaucratic claims to the contrary, looked upon this plan as the City Manager’s way to rip off library funds to help build a parking garage much needed by development interests, who didn’t want to pay for required new parking themselves.
In all fairness, there were some good arguments advanced by the staff, and there was some community support for this plan, too. What struck me, however, was the way that the Mayor and City Council rolled over and brushed aside heartfelt community objections. After giving the city staff a long opportunity to say why their idea was so good, individual members of the public were then each given 90 seconds to raise concerns. As soon as the public comment period was over, the Council quickly moved to adopt the City Manager’s plan.
Maybe the City Manager’s plan is a good plan (though I truly doubt it), but what was most disheartening to me was to see the way that the plans of the bureaucrats were elevated so much above the quite legitimate concerns voiced by members of the public (even though members of the public got only a 90-second snippet to make their points).
I keep a pretty close watch on what my local City Council does, and how it operates. Unfortunately, this recent decision is one of many in which I can’t help but conclude that the Mayor and Council Members (with a couple of dissents) essentially see their role as telling city voters how great the city is being managed by the city staff, instead of telling the city staff what the public wants.
I personally think that every one of my “Five Simple Rules” provides good advice for locally-elected officials. In terms of making democratic self-government work, however, with elected representatives making the key decisions on how the resources of local government should be used to achieve community objectives, Rule #2 should perhaps be reprioritized:
Rule #1:
“Remember You’re In Charge.” There is a bureaucratic momentum present in every institution (certainly including government). An elected official needs to remember that he or she was elected to run the bureaucracy not the other way around.
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Gary 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. View once again our weekly tripping inside our minds with our deeply attached friends.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Slipped disc Trump” 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.Don’t miss his “Wulf at The Door” it actually contains just a smidgen of hope during this political nightmare we’re all having!!
SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER PLAYERS. The first concert of their 2018-2019 season is… “Brahms, Beloved” Music by Brahms. The players will be Roy Malan, concert director and violin; Robin Sutherland, piano; Polly Malan, viola; Susan Freir, violin; Stephen Harrison, cello; Carlos Ortega, clarinet. There is no composer more beloved than Brahms! The concert season starts with his poignant melodies and rich textures to touch the heart. At this concert you will hear and enjoy three of the most profound masterpieces of the chamber music repertoire: Sonatensatz for piano and violin; Sonata in E Flat Major for Clarinet and piano; and Clarinet Quintet in B minor.It’s happening Saturday, September 29, 7:30 pm and Sunday, September 30, 3:00 pm. All their concerts are at Christ Lutheran Church Christ Lutheran Church 10707 Soquel Drive, Aptos (Off Highway 1 at Freedom Blvd.)
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Got some rabble to rouse? No matter what side of the political “aisle” you’re on, you’re bound to come away fighting mad from Fahrenheit 11/9, the latest plunge into the dark heart of American politics from documentary provocateur Michael Moore, 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.
FAHRENHEIT 11/9. Repeat from top page… FAHRENHEIT 11/9. This is more than a movie critique it’s a plea to you and everyone you know to see Michael Moore’s latest fling and sling against a lot more than just Trump. No matter where you think you are on the progressive scale, Moore shows us data and details on Hillary, Flint water, Democratic Party politics, Super delegates, Jeb Bush, and beyond. Go see it ASAP and remember November 6. That’s’ the most important date for many, many years!
LIZZIE. We all know the story behind the Lizzie Borden took an axe but seeing it acted out by Chloe Sevigny and Kristen Stewart gives us thoughtful, new sensitive ideas. It’s a tragic true story, it’s beautifully acted and the direction/pacing gets dreary at times but it’s still a good movie..
LIFE ITSELF. It got a miserable 12 on RT. I was mystified and bored at first but soon got into what the director was trying to say…and was engrossed. It’s a mite banal, then deeper and sentimental. It stars Oscar Isaac, Olivia Wilde, Antonio Banderas, and Annette Bening,.
ASSASSINATION NATION. No stars that you’ve heard of and probably and hopefully never will. This bloody, corny, high school, sex-texting, supposedly scary flick isn’t worth talking about…and definitely not worth you spending your money on…avoid at all costs.
THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS. A little 10 year old boy has to live with his creepy, trying to be funny uncle Jack Black. There is some story about the house and why it has so many clocks but I couldn’t stay awake long enough to find out the plot. Cate Blanchett is in it too, but she shouldn’t have been. Stay away. Even the kids probably won’t care for it. 68 on RT.
THE BOOKSHOP. (See this week’s “quotes” at the end of Bonline). If you like, love and use bookshops this film will make you appreciate your favorite bookshop all the more. Single woman Emily Mortimer (you’ll remember her once you see her) opens an independent, very independent bookshop in a small town in England. The acting by Bill Nighy and Patricia Clarkson is absolutely wonderful and this has to be one of my favorite 2018 films.
THE WIFE. Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce and Christian Slater — along with a sensitive plot/script — make this another great 2018 film. Pryce wins the Nobel Prize; his wife Glen Close has a deeply involved and serious role as his lodestar. An excellent film, go see it. You’ll love it.
BLACKKKLANSMAN. Spike Lee’s newest and most effective critique on what’s happening in America. It’s the progressive Democrats best statement since Michael Moore’s last film. Not subtle, even funny, bitter, and painfully true. It’s based on the true story of a black police officer who finagles a way to get a white guy into the KuKluxKlan. More than that he has meetings with David Duke, head of the KKK. Alec Baldwin has an opening scene Adam Driver is the “hero” and you have to see it. It earned 97% on RT
SEARCHING. An nearly-all Asian cast makes this “disappearing child” thriller almost as unusual as does the fact that almost 90% of the movie is on computer and iPhone screens. Facebook, Google, and every contraption we use today is part of this hunt for the guy’s daughter. The ending is a letdown in more than one way. Wait and rent it.
JULIET, NAKED. Nope, it’s not reference to Shakespeare, darn it — but the title of a song that has been/legend Ethan Hawke recorded years ago. It’s got some laughs, many impossible plot twists, and you’ll have to be a full-time Hawke fan to sit through some very slow development. He’s done better…and so have you!!!
WHITE BOY RICK. Matthew McConaughey plays a low down lower-class father to Richie Merritt the teenager who gets into drugs. First he’s a user then he secretly becomes an FBI informer while underage. The true story and the movie fall apart when this scheme fails and Richie is sentenced to a long stretch. It’s dull and boring and almost impossible to like anybody in this saga.
CRAZY RICH ASIANS. A Hollywood movie with an all Asian cast. It’s about the same as “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, except Asian Americans instead of Greeks. The plot, laughs, and acting are all typical Hollywood re-hash. It doesn’t need your ticket money…it’s breaking many, many box office records already. This means of course that there’ll be a dozen look a like sequels.
ALPHA. 88 on RT. A live action Ice Age cave man meets a dog for the first time. It does lack Raquel Welch or any cave babes in leather skimpys but it is fascinating….and you can take the kids. I’m serious about the man meets dog story. That’s the only plot it has.
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Ewan McGregor does the best possible job he can with a boring, depressing, and very commercial attempt to make more money from A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh books. It isn’t even Disney cute or Pixar creative it’s simply not interesting. And old Christopher Robin is forced by animated versions of Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and other stuffed toys to remember how much fun he had as a boy. Don’t even send the kids.
THE PREDATOR. It all started in 1987 with the first Predator starring Arnold “the Governor” Schwarzenegger. It took place in a jungle. It was quite good if you like that sort of thing. This re-make has Olivia Munn as a biology teacher traipsing along with army veterans trying to destroy another predator from outer space. Very much violence, terrible photography, and a plot that is completely unfathomable. Don’t go.
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. Stacey Falls and Tom Donahue are guests on September 25 to talk about rent control and Housing Justice. Then Sarah Mason and Julian Parayno-stoll from Democratic Socialists of Santa Cruz talk about their political views. “Landscapes” the new book about historical & local land use battles will be covered by editor Elizabeth Schilling and Heather Stiles on October 2nd. Then Julie Phillips and George Lewis discuss the proposed Dream Inn development at West Cliff and Bay. On October 9 Sean Van Sommeran talks about his Pelagic Shark Research Foundation. He’s followed by Hina Pendle discussing her “Power of the Heart” workshop. Santa Cruz City Council person Sandy Brown discusses the elections and local politics on Oct.16th. October 22 has Ken Koenig and friend talking about communicating with your friends and relatives who like Trump. Jack Bowers and Dennis Morton describe their prison Art programs followed by City Councilmember Chris Krohn talking about voting and local issues on October 30. 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
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Here’s the latest Randy Rainbow!
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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. “VOTING”
“Dear Jack: Don’t buy a single vote more than necessary. I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay for a landslide.” JFK reading a note from his father in 1958.
“Half the American people never read a newspaper. Half never vote for President — the same half?” — Gore Vidal
“Every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods.” H.L. Mencken
“A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user” President Theodore Roosevelt.
“It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” — Winston Churchill
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
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Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
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All Technical & Web details: Gunilla Leavitt @ godmoma@gmail.com
Column September 18 – 24, 2018
BRATTON…Council candidates capers and new endorsements , Circle Church territory and development, Ocean Extension news and plea, Thomas Pynchon’s Aptos house. GREENSITE…with alert on changes to ADU ordinance. KROHN…Takes a week off with just a few notes. STEINBRUNER…Santa Cruz zoning changes, County Planning dept and creating ghettoes (or ghetti), Aptos Village hole gone, Aptos’ Manresa restaurant to expect more fires? No on Measure H. PATTON…about how “we’re all going to die”. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover. JENSEN…reviews We The Animals. BRATTON…The Predator, White Boy Rick, We The Animals. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…on “Hurricanes”
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UCSC’S BILL DOMHOFF ON HOW SANTA CRUZ CHANGED. |
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28 MINUTES OF RARELY SEEN SANTA CRUZ. |
DATELINE September 17, 2018
FODDER FROM THE FORUMS. The Newest news is that both City Council member Martine Watkins and former mayor Celia Scott endorsed Justin Cummings. One (or many more) must wonder since Richelle Noroyan who was the Developer Relations Manager for Apple Computer,Inc and the long defunct SCO, Inc and is now an official employee with UCSC ie “Community Relations Representative” why she doesn’t recuse herself from voting on any item involving our shrinking campus and the city? Especially since she’s so happy supporting any and all the new buildings being built. NO on rent control folks and the millions of dollars behind their negative crusade have already placed more than 1200 No On M lawn signs. Donna Myers keeps parading around and about as an environmentalist. Ask her at the next forum if she wasn’t a strong supporter of De-Sal. Have you noticed how the NO On Measure M group mostly landlords and realtors keep repeating “it’s too expensive”. How can they ignore the increasing pleas from our renters who genuinely have larger problems with rentals being expensive? (from an avid reader…” Why would an environmentalist have supported desal for Santa Cruz? I was told that Donna Meyers supported it and I’m not sure that it makes sense. She also gave the thumbs up for support of the library/parking garage at the Elston forum. A good friend made an important point before that vote at the council, which is how can they be working toward a library/garage when the word garage was never included in measure S that was presented to the voters and we generously approved it .The word parking and the word garage did not appear in the text. How can an element that was not voted on become the major part of the plan ? I know Rick L. said a lawsuit is not out of the question, and I will contribute to that one”.
SQUARING THE CIRCLE (CHURCH). A long time and trusted friend sent this…“Circular rumors have it that no permits have been issued, or even applied for, for development of the “Circle Church”. As of this week one of the owners Chris Dreary the former pastor of the Circle Church is living in a mobile home on the premises. I believe London Nelson is so heavily booked that it’s almost impossible to rent space there. I’m wondering if there is any interest amongst the city council to purchase this property as a rented community center? Can this subject be up for public hearing/vote? I’m hearing that the entire structure may be demolished for so called co-housing. Very disturbing. Think we can start some movement in the city to have council purchase? I know it’s probably a long shot, but may be worth some effort Of course you’ve heard about the same Chris Dreary, now with a name change…hmmmmm, is leasing the former Logo’s to open another alcohol outlet called “faith on tap”. Another scam by this scumbag”.
STOP OVERBUILDING SANTA CRUZ. Ellen Aldridge who is a member of the Steering Committee of the Ocean Street Extension Neighborhood Association, and a native Santa Cruzian wrote this excellent plea to got our City Council to protect the Ocean Street Extension neighborhood. (OSX). It’s well worth reading ….and acting on it!
“Are you concerned about the development and overbuilding that is occurring in the City of Santa Cruz? The Ocean Street Extension (OSX) neighborhood on the City’s northerly boundary is experiencing it firsthand.
Developers Moe and Rowell are proposing a 40-unit apartment project, comprised of ten three story buildings on the steep 2.4-acre wooded parcel adjacent to the Santa Cruz Memorial Park located on OSX below Graham Hill Road. Many of you know OSX — it’s a rural, dead end road without streetlights or sidewalks that includes the cemetery, commercial and horse farms, and single family homes on large rural lots. The City Planning Staff have decided, despite uniform opposition from all surrounding neighborhoods, the Memorial Park, the Sierra Club, and other constituents, that it can disregard the City’s General Plan, and rezone this parcel which would allow 9 single family homes and quadruple the density to put in 40 units of San Francisco style apartments which will loom over the cemetery 26 feet from its hillside chapel where families go to pay last respects to their loved ones.
The City Planning Department is clearly determined to build more Google housing, as these two bed-room apartments will rent for $2800 or more per month if rented – although there will be a few affordable units. We all know that housing is a major concern to many — but building more commuter housing in rural neighborhoods would just feed the endless Silicon Valley need for housing and not solve the housing needs of local low income and working families. The City has repeatedly said that its development will be focused on transit corridors or in the downtown — but they are pushing this rezoning for a parcel at the City’s limits without regard to the neighborhood character, parking or traffic gridlock. Commuters from the San Lorenzo Valley will also be impacted as the turn lane onto OSX will have at least 266 more car trips a day turning at this unsafe intersection.
If you’re concerned that this trend will come to your neighborhood, there is still time to voice your opinion to the City Council. Check out www.osenasc.org for detailed information about the neighborhood’s concerns and sign our petition opposing the rezoning of this parcel. The development is scheduled to be considered by the City Council at its September 25th meeting, at a time to be determined. Please write to the Council or better yet — show up at the meeting and voice your concern about this development. Developers should follow existing zoning to keep neighborhood integrity”.
THOMAS PYNCHON & REAL FANS. I’ve written a few times about meeting Thomas Pynchon when he lived here. Here’s a new clue, or hint about his house in Aptos in the 1980’s. He was writing “Vineland” as I remember. If you do go to that site you can also scroll up and down and see the unbelievable search some folks have done just to track down the nearly invisible and illusive Pynchon.
ADU CHANGES THREATEN LIVABILITY.
If you’ve ever complained about traffic in Santa Cruz or noticed how permanently crowded the town has become, hold onto your hats. It’s about to become much worse.
City staff is working on revisions to their Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance. This time around there seems little interest in balancing the General Plan directive to preserve existing neighborhoods’ character and quality of life with the supposed need for extra housing stock. It’s all about increasing supply. Since the proponents of increasing supply, including city staff, have an economic interest in that goal, (permits, fees, and job security) it’s up to the rest of us to try to save the town from overbuilding and overcrowding, neither of which will make a dent in the cost of housing which is the only real crisis. Nor will it solve the dilemma of our town becoming the dumping ground for wealthy second homers from Silicon Valley and for a burgeoning UCSC student population at a time when the school cannot provide sufficient housing and is reduced to begging staff and faculty to take them in.
I attended the first workshop on proposed changes to the ADU Ordinance and summarized that experience in a BrattonOnline piece, which you can read here.
The city is holding a further workshop on Thursday September 27th at 6:00 PM in the Police Community Room to share the changes they are proposing in the Ordinance to “encourage the creation of more units to help meet the local need for rental and family housing.” It all sounds so positive and benign. However the local need is not for housing per se but is for housing that is far cheaper than market rate. If it’s market rate it is only meeting the need for folks who don’t yet live here but who have sufficient incomes to move here, impacting every available resource and service. None of the proposed changes listed below protect exiting neighborhoods but the elephant in the room is the one highlighted topic.
Topics to be discussed: Proposed Changes to ADU Ordinance
- Changing parking requirements
- Easing development standards
- Establishing the maximum size of a unit
- Considering changes to the owner-occupancy requirement
- Adjusting the qualifications for reduced fees
- Required changes to the thresholds for public hearings
Unless you’ve had an ADU take away your privacy, sun, peace, parking you might be inclined to not regard them as a big deal. And odds are you have not been impacted since the number of ADU’s has been modest…so far. The main restriction that has kept the numbers reasonable is the requirement that the property owner live in one of the dwellings, either the main house or the ADU. If you would like to make money off an ADU and many would, then you also will be sharing your property with others. That gives enough pause- for- thought so that the addition of ADU’s into single-family neighborhoods has been gradual …so far. If the owner-occupancy requirement is removed, then 56% of single- family homes within the city will suddenly become newly eligible to add an ADU. That is the number of non-owner occupied houses in the city: in other words, investment properties with no on-site owner. Under the current ADU ordinance, such owners are not eligible to add an ADU to the property since they live somewhere else. Living somewhere else they are not concerned with the impact to the neighborhood of adding another house full of people…it’s all about money. In a hot rental market, even with rent control, I predict most will add an ADU. With the other changes proposed in parking, setbacks and size, the impact to the town becomes suddenly significant and negative and does nothing to add to affordability.
The artist’s rendition of an ADU on the city’s website is deceptive. It shows a cute ADU with roof top garden, a couple enjoying a meal in their backyard open space with two high-end dogs inside their spacious ADU. With owner occupancy a requirement, such a scene may mirror reality although I doubt the unit is affordable. Without owner occupancy, reality is far more likely to be a dozen students in the ADU with even more in the main house. If you think I am exaggerating then read the article from Sunday’s Sentinel under the heading, “How many people can live in a unit?” Citing Section 503 (b) of the Uniform Housing Code, the author, attorney Melia Powell spells out the space requirements for each resident. A 600 square foot apartment, about the current size of an ADU may allow up to 12 people to live in it. Theoretically, if owner occupancy is removed as a requirement, many of you in single- family neighborhoods could have a couple of dozen new next- door student neighbors on the one lot. And if you live next to a two-story house, the ADU can also be two- story. Good-bye sun, goodbye privacy.
Probably a good idea to attend the meeting on September 27th IN THE Police Community Room.
| Gillian Greensite is a long time local activist, a member of Save Our Big Trees and the Santa Cruz chapter of IDA, International Dark Sky Association http://darksky.org Plus she’s an avid ocean swimmer, hiker and lover of all things wild. |
September 17, 2018.
Chris was away this week taking his daughter to college in Chicago..but he did have time to mention…
“The 1930 Ocean Street Extension development is coming to council next Tuesday. And the 40 market rate condos planned for that area will devastate it. Met with cemetery owner too and he is upset. He added that Bill Parkin is representing the Ocean Street Extension Neighborhood Association (OSX).
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(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 |
September 17, 2018
SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL APPROVES ZONING CHANGES TO CREATE GHETTOS
The Santa Cruz City Council last week swept approval of the major zoning changes in on the Consent Agenda, ignoring the well-documented presentation by residents of the Branciforte area and members of “Save Santa Cruz”. These changes would significantly and negatively change the quality of life for all in the County, while affording higher profits for developers who claim building affordable housing “just doesn’t pencil out”.
If you have not seen the documentary “Citizen Jane”, which describes the efforts of a neighborhood to fight back against this kind of local government disregard for community in the interest of partnering with developers, watch it here
Here is the slide presentation made to the Council by the Branciforte residents
Here are the approved Zoning Code changes that give developers lots of concessions, allow 35% reduction in green space and instead allow 35% increase in building footprints, reduce parking requirements without any documentation of public transportation availability or level of service, and more….
We have a battle for our neighborhoods before us.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER SIMILAR GHETTO-INDUCING CHANGES NEXT WEEK
Attend the PUBLIC HEARING before the County Planning Commission when they will hear these same recommendations. The Public Hearing will be Wednesday, September 26 at 9am in the County Building (701 Ocean Street, 5th floor). This is a continuation of the August 22 Public Hearing on the issue.
Here is a link to the audio recording of the August 22 presentation and public discussion
Here is a link to the documentation
One really has to wonder why the County and City of Santa Cruz are so willing to allow developers to dictate what we will all be expected to live with and pay for.
MEASURE H IS A NEBULOUS MONEY GRAB FOR WHOM?
Read the full text of Measure H, the Affordable Housing Bond Initiative on your November ballot. Ask yourself these questions:
- Can the County’s property owners already struggling to pay high property taxes now afford to take on an additional 35-year debt of nearly a quarter BILLION DOLLARS?
- Why are there no exemptions for seniors, disabled and fixed income property owners?
- The Property Tax Postponement Program is restrictive and costs 7% for those who are lucky to be approved, with an annual requirement to re-apply. Is that any relief for seniors and disabled property owners? Will the legislature again suspend the Program in the next 35 years, as was done 2009-2013?
- What would the administrative fees be for the four cities and County to handle this money?
- How would the Oversight Committee, which would have the power to approve changes to the distribution of the money, be chosen and be accountable to the property owners paying the taxes?
- How can we trust that this would all be administered with transparency and legally, when THE BALLOT LANGUAGE ITSELF VIOLATES AB 195 REQUIREMENTS TO STATE THE TERM OF THE DEBT?
Make no mistake, this is a money grab to benefit developers who claim that building affordable housing “just doesn’t pencil out”. That is why the County Board of Supervisors, since 2015, has allowed developers to decide whether or not to build affordable housing, or just pay a small fee. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU? Does this help the “affordable housing crisis” at all?
Vote NO on Measure H and give your Supervisor a call. 831-454-2200.
Cheers, Becky Steinbruner
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
September 13, 2018
Ok, Ok! My headline is wrong! We ARE all going to die, but not (as John Oliver seemed recently to announce) because our president is a “goddamn dumbbell.”
If you haven’t watched John Oliver discuss the anonymous New York Times Op-Ed, by someone deep inside the Trump White House, and if you haven’t yet heard what Oliver has to say about Fear, reporter Bob Woodward’s latest book, then by all means click on this link and watch the 2:26 minute segment from one of his recent shows. It’s funny, and it casts our president in a very bad light. The segment ends with this statement:
The president’s a disaster; we’re all going to die.
Let’s stipulate to that first assertion, but let’s remember, as well, that our government, in the end, is NOT some sort of monarchial state. That went out with Louis XIV of France. The president (disaster that he is) is only one person, and “we,” citizens of the United States of America, are going to be around a long time after he is gone (though not likely forgotten, I am afraid).
In other words, while our president is “a disaster,” that isn’t the reason that “we’re all going to die.” Could we take our eyes off that rubber balloon of a Chief Executive for a minute or two? We are all paying way too much attention to someone whose own lawyer calls him a “dumbbell.”
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Gary 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. Enjoy the weekly trip through only you know where when you see his classic inner trips.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “The Adults In The Room” 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 there’s a FREE concert up stairs at the threatened Santa Cruz Main Library. This month its.. Thursday, September 20, 2018 from 12:10 – 12:50 The performers will be Jeff Gallagher, clarinet , Carol Panofsky, piano. Laureen Herr, piano, Nicki Kerns, mezzo-soprano and Lynn Kidder, piano Robin Murray Charlotte McManus-Guthrie, clarinet and Lynn Kidder, piano.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “A boy on the brink of manhood tries to piece together his own identity in the lyrical We The Animals, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Meanwhile, my Art Boy is entered into the Congressional Record by Congressman Jimmy Panetta!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
WE THE ANIMALS. It has a 90 Rotten Tomatoes score and deserves every one of them. It’s a very sensitive, touching story of three young brothers coming of age. Sons of a sad, misguided, and maybe doomed marriage the boys face the real world with dreams, practicality, and hope. It’s very much worth seeing. One of my favorites. CLOSES THURSDAY SEPT.20
WHITE BOY RICK. Matthew McConaughey plays a low down lower- class father to Richie Merritt the teenager who gets into drugs. First he’s a user then he secretly becomes an FBI informer while underage. The true story and the movie fall apart when this scheme fails and Richie is sentenced to a long stretch. It’s dull and boring and almost impossible to like anybody in this saga.
THE PREDATOR. It all started in 1987 with the first Predator starring Arnold “the Governor” Schwarzenegger. It took place in a jungle. It was quite good if you like that sort of thing. This re-make has Olivia Munn as a biology teacher traipsing along with army veterans trying to destroy another predator from outer space. Very much violence, terrible photography, and a plot that is completely unfathomable. Don’t go.
THE WIFE. Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce and Christian Slater — along with a sensitive plot/script — make this another great 2018 film. Pryce wins the Nobel Prize; his wife Glen Close has a deeply involved and serious role as his lodestar. An excellent film, go see it. You’ll love it.
THE BOOKSHOP. (See this week’s “quotes” at the end of Bonline). If you like, love and use bookshops this film will make you appreciate your favorite bookshop all the more. Single woman Emily Mortimer (you’ll remember her once you see her) opens an independent, very independent bookshop in a small town in England. The acting by Bill Nighy and Patricia Clarkson is absolutely wonderful and this has to be one of my favorite 2018 films.
BLACKKKLANSMAN. Spike Lee’s newest and most effective critique on what’s happening in America. It’s the progressive Democrats best statement since Michael Moore’s last film. Not subtle, even funny, bitter, and painfully true. It’s based on the true story of a black police officer who finagles a way to get a white guy into the KuKluxKlan. More than that he has meetings with David Duke, head of the KKK. Alec Baldwin has an opening scene Adam Driver is the “hero” and you have to see it. It earned 97% on RT
EIGHTH GRADE. A 99 on RT and the lead actor Elsie Fisher deserves at least an Oscar for her role as a conflicted and nearly typical eighth grader. The incredibly talented, funny, and profound Bo Burnham directed it. (See his Comedy special on Netflix!). You’ll relive the anxiety, insecurity, and fears we all had in eighth grade. It’s billed as a comedy and some of the audience laughed when I was watching it…but see it for the insights, the reality, and the remembrances of those times.
OPERATION FINALE. Ben kingsley and Oscar Issacs head the cast of an almost documentary of how Adolf Eichmann was found in Argentina and brought to Israel to face an international exposure and jury for his role in Hitler’s extermination of the Jews. If you were of voting age back then 1960 you’ll remember almost all the details surrounding his capture and trial. But see this film by all means…it’s a lesson that still hasn’t been learned by enough humans. . CLOSES THURSDAY SEPT.20
SEARCHING. An nearly-all Asian cast makes this “disappearing child” thriller almost as unusual as does the fact that almost 90% of the movie is on computer and iPhone screens. Facebook, Google, and every contraption we use today is part of this hunt for the guy’s daughter. The ending is a letdown in more than one way. Wait and rent it. CLOSES THURSDAY SEPT.20
JULIET, NAKED. Nope, it’s not reference to Shakespeare, darn it — but the title of a song that has been/legend Ethan Hawke recorded years ago. It’s got some laughs, many impossible plot twists, and you’ll have to be a full-time Hawke fan to sit through some very slow development. He’s done better…and so have you!!!
CRAZY RICH ASIANS. A Hollywood movie with an all Asian cast. It’s about the same as “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, except Asian Americans instead of Greeks. The plot, laughs, and acting are all typical Hollywood re-hash. It doesn’t need your ticket money…it’s breaking many, many box office records already. This means of course that there’ll be a dozen look a like sequels.
ALPHA. 88 on RT. A live action Ice Age cave man meets a dog for the first time. It does lack Raquel Welch or any cave babes in leather skimpys but it is fascinating….and you can take the kids. I’m serious about the man meets dog story. That’s the only plot it has.
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Ewan McGregor does the best possible job he can with a boring, depressing, and very commercial attempt to make more money from A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh books. It isn’t even Disney cute or Pixar creative it’s simply not interesting. And old Christopher Robin is forced by animated versions of Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and other stuffed toys to remember how much fun he had as a boy. Don’t even send the kids.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT. Another Tom Cruise do it yourself stunt movie. Simon Pegg and Alec Baldwin are back again too. It has some wild and inventive stunt scenes that we’ve never seen before. Plus a music score that keeps almost all of the movie at a very intense level. It’s thrilling, mindless, pointless, but full of kicks. It’s made for the big screens.
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN. It’s all of the original cast (even Meryl Streep for two songs) and ABBA music. It’s mindless, pointless, meaningless, and lacks almost all of the charm or naiveté of the first one. If you wait until almost the end you can watch a 72 year old Cher in tights singing to her daughter Meryl Streep — who is 69 years old!!! You could also watch Stellan Skarsgård, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters embarrass themselves in this strictly for-the-money prequel. Or I could say, “here we go again… BUT you shouldn’t”.
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. Sept. 18 has Don Stump pres. and CEO of CCH housing returning to discuss HUD, affordable housing and senior issues for the full hour. Stacey Falls and Tom Donahue are guests on September 25 to talk about rent control and Housing Justice. Then Sarah Mason and Julian Parayno from Democratic Socialists of Santa Cruz talk about their political views. “Landscapes” the new book about historical & local land use battles will be talked about by Elizabeth Schilling and Heather Stiles on October 2nd. Then Julie Phillips and George Lewis discuss the proposed Dream Inn development at West Cliff and Bay. On October 9 Hina Pendle discusses her “Power of the Heart” workshop. October 22 has Ken Koenig and friend talking about communicating with your friends and relatives who like Trump. City Councilmember Chris Krohn talks about voting and local issues on October 30.
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I wonder if that lady held on to her opinion… |
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. “HURRICANES”
“I’d always thought hurricanes were romantic, with pretty feminine names like Celestine“. Mark Shand
“Everyone except the far right wing of the Republican Party realizes that oil, gas and coal burning are the main activities that have sent the climate into bigger floods, droughts, hurricanes, and El Niños”. Donella Meadows
“You can dance in a hurricane, but only if you’re standing in the eye”. Brandi Carlile
“Even in the middle of a hurricane, the bottom of the sea is calm. As the storm rages and the winds howl, the deep waters sway in gentle rhythm, a light movement of fish and plant life. Below there is no storm”. Wayne Mulle
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
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Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
Direct phone: 831 423-2468
All Technical & Web details: Gunilla Leavitt @ godmoma@gmail.com
September 10 – 16, 2018
BRATTON…Santa Cruz changes this week, Rent control, library Parking garage, Groppetti gives up and details, Pelagic shark research. John Sandidge and the Grand Ole Opry. GREENSITE…on the library/garage issue. KROHN…Rent Control, library parking garage STEINBRUNER…Soquel Water District’s false claims, Aptos Village’s illegal excavations plus their traffic problems, County Ballots M & G need examining, Cannabis Director changes. PATTON…Library/Parking garage and Democratic Socialists of America EAGAN… Subconscious Comics and Kavanaugh’s baggage. JENSEN…she’s back and reviewing Juliet, Naked. BRATTON…critiques The Wife, The Bookshop, and Skate Kitchen UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…about Bookshops.
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LIVE CAMERA IN VENICE. This is the first I’ve seen of live camera stuff on You tube. And Venice is/was one of my favorite visits. |
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UKUKELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN. There’s almost enough Ukukele players in Santa Cruz. This should provide new possibilities. |
DATELINE September 10, 2018
SANTA CRUZ IS CHANGING…THIS WEEK!!! Our city council handles two incredibly community-changing issues this Tuesday, Sept. 11. RENT CONTROL and MOVING THE LIBRARY. The Rent Control issue splits Santa Cruz into two groups…home owners vs. renters, rich vs. poor, and thinkers and community believers vs. the wealthy real estate corporation’s millions of dollars they are still spending to fool, lie and convince landlords to ignore the pleas and equal rights of renters. I hope everyone has seen the Sentinel column (9/9) by Rick Longinotti that points out — and proves in solid detail — the many City Staff errors that have been made in their push to move the library. Check it out…
Chris Krohn, Gillian Greensite and Gary Patton have all stated the issues clearly in their columns this week…check them out. AND attend the City Council meeting Tuesday night (9/11)at 7 p.m.
LIBRARY PARKING GARAGE & CITY COUNCIL MAYDAY. Tuesday (Sept. 11) is the deadline to get your emails to the City Council. The Don’t Bury The Library group has been strong, consistent, and unnerved in its opposition to this battle against the City Staff. It’s the City Staff that has been behind this wasteful plot all along. Here’s what Don’t Bury The Library sent out…
Keep the Downtown Library Branch in its current location — remodeled, renovated, revitalized, and renewed.
Please remind the Council in your own words why you are opposed to the abandonment and ultimate destruction of the historic, seismically sound downtown library building, be it environmentally destructive, civically destructive, culturally destructive, or financially destructive. It is a hugely wasteful example of city planning.
We’re down to the wire. Many of you responded to the plea for letters & emails to the City Council. Thanks to all who did! Although it may seem like a waste of time, and even if it does not change votes, the Council must be deluged with your individual emails. Otherwise it will be able to say that only a few residents were behind “Don’t Bury The Library” ( DBTL’s) goals.
Here’s their email: citycouncil@cityofsantacruz.com . Send emails by 7 pm on Tuesday.
From the beginning, Don’t Bury The Library had a mission. It has not changed: Our purpose is to unhinge the library from the proposed parking garage for all the right reasons; thus our campaign name Don’t Bury The Library (DBTL).
The Mayor has granted DBTL a 4 minute comment period. We’ll see you at the Santa Cruz City Council Meeting this Tuesday at 7 p.m”.
That’s from Jean Brocklebank, Judi Grunstra and Michael Lewis.
GROPPETTI NISSAN GIVES UP. I asked Lisa Sheridan and Robert Morgan — two important leaders from Sustainable Soquel — to bring us up to date on Groppetti not opening a new Nissan dealership at 41st and Soquel, and also giving up his older and smaller Nissan place on Soquel. Trent Dilfer must be very disconsolate. Here’s what Lisa and Robert reported.
“The Battle is not over, lawsuit against county continues. It’s a shame Groppetti feels he has to blame a local group of community-minded folks for his troubles. He should be mad as hell at the county for ignoring the sustainable plan and not telling him about it before his project was designed planed and approved. The county should have been informing him about the sustainable plan from day one. The Santa Cruz County administrative office and planning department clearly don’t care about long-range planning. They only care how to justify their salaries. Soquilian contributed to 18 months of public hearings and $600,000 of taxpayer money for a forward-thinking plan. The sustainable plan should not be squandered by our politicians or by a flawed interpretation of an environmental impact report.
It’s too bad the CAO’s office didn’t consider something like senior housing on a bus line, where cars are minimized or office space with needed community commercial which is badly needed. The sustainable plan premise was based on creating a walkable community, placing goods and services nearby residential areas, not to support regional business that attracts more traffic from throughout the region.
Local business and local needs were ignored over a sales pitch of bogus and inflated county tax benefits which were spun like a web by our county officials.
It’s time to hold our officials accountable. Groppetti will have great sales in Gilroy, and Santa Cruz residents have fantastic local mechanics to fix their Nissans. Sustainable Soquel needs your financial help to fund their lawsuit. Go to their goFundMe page, and also their email at susuainablesoquel@gmail.com
Robert Morgan adds… Summing up: Groppetti made a decision to leave his older and smaller 1605 Soquel address in Santa Cruz City. Groppetti still owns the parcels on the corner and is challenging our lawsuit to keep them zoned C-4 so he can develop. We think he’ll lose and not be able to develop — in which case he’ll sell. Someone can come in now with an offer to Groppetti — any development would need to conform to C-2 or go through the legal (county) process for an “overriding consideration” like Groppetti did. Doubt anybody’s gonna do that.
He abandoned his clients because he feels his bottom line is too thin — -he maintains his lease is too high (euphemism for he’s not making enough money). So, Groppetti closes and anybody who owns a Nissan drives to Gilroy to get it serviced. Now, that’s keeping the community’s interests in the forefront when deciding how he will serve residents!
At the same time Groppetti leaves the community, he wants to fight the lawsuit by Sustainable Soquel because he wants the space at the corner of 41st and Soquel — even though residents asked him to respect the Sustainable Plan and not build there. Again, he fights community well-being.
County Supervisors, the Planning Commission and Groppetti ignored residents’ wishes. Those wishes were expressed through the resident-generated process creating the Santa Cruz County Sustainable Plan; namely, intelligent, community-orientated land use in alignment with low-impact community development, sustainable transportation strategies and climate change goals set by the state. So, residents sued. The court will decide if the County and Groppetti will be able to ignore the wishes of the people and build a dealership on an impacted traffic corner in lieu of housing and retail. Sustainable Soquel believes the court will side with our arguments.
PELAGIC SHARK RESEARCH FOUNDATION & FUNDING.
Sean Van Sommeran and his Pelagic Shark Research Foundation group have given incredible support to the Ocean community…often against both natural and organizational odds. They are asking for just a few dollars to continue their work. They stated… “We are in need of funds to repair vehicles and acquire more supplies, plus recoup and bolster fuel and transportation costs. It’ll go toward phone and Communications costs, replacing worn out VHF marine radios and Rescue and our Specimen Collecting Unit equipment and supplies. We’ll also add photography and videography upgrades plus Additions.
We need public support and are hopeful that this request works. We’ve never “fundraised” before, but after three long and busy seasons we are experiencing logistical and financial difficulties and hope this plea may be a practical solution.
If you are interested in supporting our efforts by making a donation or contribution, please do not hesitate to respond to this request and/or contact us directly. Check our Facebook Page or via Email psrf@pelagic.org – or call us at 831 459 9346″.
JOHN SANDIDGE & THE GRAND OLE OPRY. John “Sleepy” Sandidge has been honored to be a guest host at the world famed Grand Ole’ Opry in Nashville Tennessee!! It’s happening either October 18 or 19. They’re even flying him back there! Steve Palopoli is going with him. Looks like Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers will be the headliners. That’s gotta be a once in a lifetime experience.
September 10, 2018
THE LIBRARY/PARKING GARAGE VOTE: A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR SANTA CRUZ
Tuesday night’s council decision on the library/parking garage issue will be a watershed moment in the history of Santa Cruz. Much like the tearing down of the Cooper House forecast a change in the character of Pacific Avenue, the tearing down of the city’s main library will forecast a decisive shift into a more modern, high-rise, glass and steel, car-centric built landscape for downtown. Given the vocal, widespread opposition to building a 5-story parking garage on top of a new library, the vote will also test the council’s ability to grasp the sentiment of the people it represents, rather than its select committees and upper management.
It’s hard to determine how everyone feels about this issue since the Downtown Library Advisory Committee went out of its way to avoid letting the community know it was considering getting rid of the library. When people did show up to testify, the Committee voted on their own recommendations first, then opened the floor for public comment. Not good democratic process. I know how specific groups and individuals feel. I listened to the testimony at the last council meeting. I know my gut wrenches at the thought of losing the downtown library and the vision of a new 5-story parking garage, with the attendant loss of some of the most beautiful downtown heritage trees evokes a string of adjectives. I also hated to lose the Card Room and the Broken Egg to the current 3-story parking garage on Front St. The former was the spirit of the town for me: the latter, no soul, no spirit. I guess I prefer small-scale, familiar, bit worn down at the heel human-sized places to that which replaces them. And it’s not a question of giving time for the new to acquire the feel of the old. They never can. Such sentiments are dismissed as nostalgia by the glass and steel people. Not so. It’s a legitimate sentiment to want to preserve what little remains of the old, the familiar, and the places full of character, which are on the chopping block all over town. Whether it’s bucolic Golf Club Drive, the historic Municipal Wharf, the funky retail and restaurants on Front St, all are slated for urban renewal. And this is the thin end of the wedge. Given current zoning, there’s a whole lot of the eastside to destroy with high- rise, dense development. And let’s not forget the plans for high-rise and retail for Bay and West Cliff Drive.
There’s something corrupt about changing the character and feel of a town to serve the interests of investors and the needs of people who don’t yet live here. If you’ve ever travelled to small, centuries-old European towns and villages, have you wondered how they have survived for so long? I guess because people treasured what they had and still have and their elected representatives respected their wishes.
Tuesday night we will get to see whom our council represents.
| 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. |
RENT CONTROL, “21ST CENTURY” LIBRARIES, AND FIVE STORY GARAGES.
Oh My!?!
There are two significant issues coming to the Santa Cruz city council this week. In the afternoon, “city staff” is returning to council with “a draft city ordinance stipulating that a rent increase of more than 10% in one year or more than 15% in any two consecutive years will trigger relocation assistance” from landlords…and they are calling this “assistance to tenants.” Well, with friends like these, tenants should be hunkered down into their housing bunkers (if they have housing) and get ready for the long march (slog, really) home to the November 6th election, which actually begins October 8th when the first absentee ballots will be received by city voters. This latest staff initiative appears to be an end-around Measure M, the rent control ballot initiative now being discussed and debated in our community. But the irony here is that the kind of rent increases allowed by this proposed “ordinance” will continue seeing most residents using over 50% of their incomes to pay the rent. This city council agenda item appears to subvert the will of the electorate. Why now? Because real estate $$cha-ching$$ interests are running scared and trying to convince a few more liberal voters who may be on the fence that they, the real estate community, has our community’s best interests in mind. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even with this initiative in place, market-rate rents will prevail and rents will continue their upward spiral. I have faith in voters, both on the council and in the community, that they will not be fooled by these kinds of cheap tricks that bring no relief to tenants, but seek to obfuscate the pocket-picking that’s gone on unabated for so many years.
Oh, Oh My!!!
The city council will devote an entire evening to discuss (and vote?) the proposed five-story garage atop a relocated library on the site of the current downtown Farmer’s Market. Many questions remain and are highlighted by two opinions in Monday’s Santa Cruz Sentinel. I suggest you take a look. But the questions that I am concerned about… 1) the use of consultant Nelson/Nygaard data that on one hand, city staff are using to justify a 600-space garage, but on another hand portray a scenario that the city could avoid building this garage by implementing real “traffic demand management” strategies such as offering parking passes to all downtown city workers which would be paid for by parking funds as the current proposed $41 million garage is to be financed; 2) does this now $68 million project make economic sense? 3) who is actually a “friend” of the library? and 4) What is a 21st century library, given that so many of us would like to bring back the downtown Carnegie Library structure that was torn down so many years ago? (See op-eds here )
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(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 |
September 10, 2018
“LET’S JUST GET THIS DONE BEFORE ANYONE ELSE SHOWS UP TO PUBLICLY QUESTION IT”.
That is how it seemed to me at last Tuesday’s Soquel Creek Water District Board meeting when I discovered that Chairman Bruce Daniels had re-arranged the order of items covered on the agenda so that the PureWater Soquel Project’s Public Benefit Report was presented first, rather than nearly last, as was listed on the public agenda. Silly me to think that I could arrive at a time that would correspond with an item scheduled to be heard near the end of the meeting.
Chairman Daniels did allow me to address the Board regarding my concerns about what I consider false claims in the Report when I was granted the opportunity at the end of the meeting during public comment regarding correspondence. The entire analysis was predicated on the claim that there is NO ALTERNATIVE to the PureWater Soquel Project. That is simply not true, with the District even planning to begin accepting water from Santa Cruz City’s North Coast sources this November, if the water is available. The agreement will be re-negotiated (hopefully) before December, 2020.
The Report also fails to address the health risks of injecting treated sewage water into the groundwater drinking supply for the MidCounty region. Carollo Engineering admitted in a report given the last year that there are contaminants such as some pharmaceuticals and carcinogenic nitrosamines (NDMA) that cannot be completely removed by the energy-intensive purification process. There are no State Safe Drinking Water Standards established for these contaminants. The absence of this public health and safety risk in the Report is unacceptable.
Did the Board respond to my comment? No.
Contact the Board with your thoughts about this seemingly false Public Benefit Analysis Report for PureWater Soquel Project. Here is a link to the September 4 Agenda Packet with the Report documentation beginning on Page 107
COURT ORDER TO REDUCE INVALID WATER RATES
Many thanks to Mr. Jon Cole, a Soquel Creek Water District ratepayer who sued the District on nine counts of invalid and illegal rate structuring and won. He could not afford legal counsel, so represented himself in Santa Cruz Superior Court before Judge Paul Burdick. As a result, the District must adjust rates to Tier 2 customers and cease charging all fire service connections an extra monthly fee. Send a wave of gratitude to Mr. Jon Cole for his persistence and hard work after the Board dismissed his plea for their consideration and investigation into the matters.
CLARIFICATION OF EARLIER CLAIM RE: NUMBER OF CANNABIS LICENSING DIRECTORS
I would like to correct information I wrote a couple of weeks ago regarding the turn-over rate of the Santa Cruz County Cannabis Licensing Directors. There have been only two official Directors, not three, as I had earlier understood and reported here. The first Director, Mr. Dan Petersen, was hired in October, 2016 and resigned nine months later for ethical reasons. I had understood, in talking with him, that his assistant Ms. Loretta Moreno would assume the job. She did, but as was pointed out to me, she served only as the Interim Cannabis Director. Ms. Robin Bolster-Grant was appointed as the Director in September, 2017. She resigned last month.
Here is a link to a good discussion of the inherent (unethical?) matters involved in the County collecting massive fees from the industry, possibly encouraging a black market trade and danger in the rural areas of our County.
The CAO is definitely hoping the revenues from this industry will bail the County out in the next year of CalPERS debt coming due. Here is the Job Recruitment Announcement
THANK YOU TO THE PAJARO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SUPPORTING CLIFF SWALLOW NESTING AT PAJARO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Last weekend, volunteers from Pajaro Valley Unified School District , Watsonville Wetlands Watch, and the community at large cleaned selected areas at Pajaro Valley High School where Cliff Swallows were allowed to successfully raise their young in mud nests under the building eaves. The birds, protected by the International Migratory Bird Act, have now left the School grounds and are heading back to Patagonia. They will return next spring to raise another clutch or two of young.
Many thanks to District Business Operations Director Mr. Joe Dominguez for his fabulous support of staff and student health and safety issues at the School while creatively supporting the Cliff Swallow nesting activity. He participated in the workday, as did District Trustee Ms. Leslie DeRose. Thanks to all students and staff who volunteered! (picture right)
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
#246 / DSA
Kate Aronoff has written a good story about the DSA (the Democratic Socialists of America). You can find a copy in the September 2018 edition of In These Times. The title of Aronoff’s article is, “Why the Democratic Socialists of America Won’t Stop Growing.” It is well worth reading.
A recent article in The Washington Post is also worth reading. It is titled, “Democratic socialists are conquering the left. But do they believe in democracy?”
Aronoff traces the history of the DSA, and reports on its latest political successes, most notably the primary victory of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who soundly defeated a high-ranking Democratic Party Member of Congress in a recent Democratic Party Congressional primary. Arnoff’s article reveals, among other things, that In These Times has been, from the start, closely allied with the two groups that merged their organizations in 1982 to found the DSA: the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) and the New American Movement (NAM).
I have been a longtime subscriber to In These Times, and I have probably always been a little “soft on socialism,” but I never joined up with DSOC, NAM, or the DSA, and I never much thought about why. The reason struck me as I read Aronoff’s article. She said this about how she went about reporting on the DSA:
For this story, I spoke with around two dozen DSA members from chapters around the country. The primary source of their excitement was that DSA chapters seemed to be actively working on something, not just sitting around reading Marx.
“Sitting around reading Marx” has never much appealed to me. If that is a fair characterization of how the membership of the various explicitly socialist groups have tended to spend their time (at least until recently), I can see why these organizations have never been that appealing. My brand of left-wing political activism has had me “sitting around reading the Constitution.”
My commitment to “revolution,” and it’s sincere, has much more to do with 1776 than with 1914, or even with 1789 (see Hannah Arendt’s book, On Revolution). The American version of revolution is not likely to be of great interest to those who “sit around reading Marx,” and that’s their loss, in my view.
My advice for the DSA is pretty simple (and it definitely includes a commitment to democracy). I suggest that if the DSA would like to keep growing, its members should start reading the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. If lots of people start doing that, I think the DSA will have a bright future.
In other words, in thinking about the future, I think that the DSA should not forget to put some emphasis on the “A.”
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Gary 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. Look below for Eagan’s visit and probing into our once upon a time mysteries…Hero, Boss and Ava are our long beloved guides.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “KAVANAUGH’S BAGGAGE” 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.
ESPRESSIVO. Presents their first concert of the season Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 3pm at the Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz, California
they’ll play/perform; J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concerto Nr. 3, Igor Stravinsky Dumbarton Oaks Concerto , Igor Stravinsky Concerto in D , J.S. Bach Suite Nr. 2 and with Lars Johannesson, playing flute.
PIVOT: The Art of Fashion presents “Hall of Fashion” – A Runway Show in collaboration with the R. Blitzer Gallery on Saturday, September 22, 2018. Hall of Fashion – A Runway Show begins at 7:30pm. Designer’s Market open to the public following the show. VIP Reception and Designer’s Market preview 6:00-7:30pm. The Blitzer Gallery is in the Old Wrigley Building.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “A obsessed music fan, his neglected girlfriend, and the has-been rocker he idolizes set the stage for wry comic turmoil in Juliet, Naked, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). And big thanks to everyone who turned out to honor my sweetie at the Celebrating James event a couple of weeks ago. The Rio was packed! Relive those moments of laughter and tears (but mostly laughter) with these new pics from the event. Thank you, Santa Cruz!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
THE WIFE. Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce and Christian Slater — along with a sensitive plot/script — make this another great 2018 film. Pryce wins the Nobel Prize; his wife Glen Close has a deeply involved and serious role as his lodestar. An excellent film, go see it. You’ll love it.
THE BOOKSHOP. (See this week’s “quotes” at the end of Bonline). If you like, love and use bookshops this film will make you appreciate your favorite bookshop all the more. Single woman Emily Mortimer (you’ll remember her once you see her) opens an independent, very independent bookshop in a small town in England. The acting by Bill Nighy and Patricia Clarkson is absolutely wonderful and this has to be one of my favorite 2018 films.
SKATE KITCHEN. A near-documentary focusing on a teenage skateboarders (who aren’t very good by Santa Cruz standards). The director gave a some New York City girls a bunch of lines to act out, and they tried, but it’s awful to listen to. It lacks plot, realism, and any reason to spend your ticket money. CLOSES THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13.
BLACKKKLANSMAN. Spike Lee’s newest and most effective critique on what’s happening in America. It’s the progressive Democrats best statement since Michael Moore’s last film. Not subtle, even funny, bitter, and painfully true. It’s based on the true story of a black police officer who finagles a way to get a white guy into the KuKluxKlan. More than that he has meetings with David Duke, head of the KKK. Alec Baldwin has an opening scene Adam Driver is the “hero” and you have to see it. It earned 97% on RT
EIGHTH GRADE. A 99 on RT and the lead actor Elsie Fisher deserves at least an Oscar for her role as a conflicted and nearly typical eighth grader. The incredibly talented, funny, and profound Bo Burnham directed it. (See his Comedy special on Netflix!). You’ll relive the anxiety, insecurity, and fears we all had in eighth grade. It’s billed as a comedy and some of the audience laughed when I was watching it…but see it for the insights, the reality, and the remembrances of those times.
SEARCHING. An nearly-all Asian cast makes this “disappearing child” thriller almost as unusual as does the fact that almost 90% of the movie is on computer and iPhone screens. Facebook, Google, and every contraption we use today is part of this hunt for the guy’s daughter. The ending is a letdown in more than one way. Wait and rent it.
JULIET, NAKED. Nope, it’s not reference to Shakespeare, darn it — but the title of a song that has been/legend Ethan Hawke recorded years ago. It’s got some laughs, many impossible plot twists, and you’ll have to be a full-time Hawke fan to sit through some very slow development. He’s done better…and so have you!!!
CRAZY RICH ASIANS. A Hollywood movie with an all Asian cast. It’s about the same as “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, except Asian Americans instead of Greeks. The plot, laughs, and acting are all typical Hollywood re-hash. It doesn’t need your ticket money…it’s breaking many, many box office records already. This means of course that there’ll be a dozen look a like sequels.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE :FALLOUT. Another Tom Cruise do it yourself stunt movie. Simon Pegg and Alec Baldwin are back again too. It has some wild and inventive stunt scenes that we’ve never seen before. Plus a music score that keeps almost all of the movie at a very intense level. It’s thrilling, mindless, pointless, but full of kicks. It’s made for the big screens.
INCREDIBLES 2. I liked Incredibles 1. Now Pixar/Disney has shifted to centering on Mrs. Incredible as a Wonder Woman who goes through numerous violent bloody battles against the one concept I thought was funny…the evil Screenslaver. Very little of the original charm, family stuff, human frailties, it’s another cutesy version of the Marvel Comics blockbusters. I’m guessing that these Marvel movies are best enjoyed by eight-year-olds. If you’re older than that, think at least twice before attending.
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN. It’s all of the original cast (even Meryl Streep for two songs) and ABBA music. It’s mindless, pointless, meaningless, and lacks almost all of the charm or naiveté of the first one. If you wait until almost the end you can watch a 72 year old Cher in tights singing to her daughter Meryl Streep — who is 69 years old!!! You could also watch Stellan Skarsgård, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters embarrass themselves in this strictly for-the-money prequel. Or I could say, “here we go again… BUT you shouldn’t”.
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. September 11 Michel Singher from the Espressivo Orchestra will describe their upcoming concerts. Then Julie James from The Jewel Theatre shares news of their new play season. Sept. 18 has Don Stump pres. and CEO of CCH housing returning to discuss affordable housing. Nora Hochman guests on September 25 to talk about rent control and Housing Justice. “Landscapes” the new book about historical & local land use battles will be talked about by Elizabeth Schilling and a friend on October 2nd. Then Julie Phillips and George Lewis discuss the proposed Dream Inn development at West Cliff and Bay. October 22 has Ken Koenig and friend talking about communicating you’re your friends and relatives who like Trump. 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
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Did you know…? 🙂 |
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 12 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. “BOOKSHOPS”
“What I say is, a town isn’t a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it’s got a bookstore, it knows it’s not foolin’ a soul.” Neil Gaiman, American Gods
“I love walking into a bookstore. It’s like all my friends are sitting on shelves, waving their pages at me.” Tahereh Mafi
“It is clear that the books owned the shop rather than the other way about. Everywhere they had run wild and taken possession of their habitat, breeding and multiplying, and clearly lacking any strong hand to keep them down.” Agatha Christie, The Clocks
“To walk into a modern-day bookstore is a little bit like studying a single photograph out of the infinite number of photographs that cold be taken of the world: It offers the reader a frame.” Nicole Krauss
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
Direct phone: 831 423-2468
All Technical & Web details: Gunilla Leavitt @ godmoma@gmail.com
September 3 – 9, 2018
BRATTON…Santa Cruz Indivisible event & open house, Greg Larson loses Democrat support, Dream Inn development battle just beginning, Save Scotts Valley event, Salmon fishing in Santa Cruz. GREENSITE…on Learning to love Trees. KROHN…City council biz, killing the giant Sequoia, water bonds, developers and $$Density Bonus$$, UCSC and no growth issue, Homeless housing debacle, vote on Library/garage on Sept.11. STEINBRUNER…Soquel’s drinking sewage water to save money? Soquel water Board shutting up citizen input, Monning’s Water Bill loses again — hooray!, County Supes stop public input. PATTON…on Presidential lying and honesty. EAGAN…classic Subconscious Comics and new Deep Cover. JENSEN…still has visitors and will return next week. BRATTON…critiques Little Stranger, Searching, and Juliet, NakedUNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…about September.
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Lincoln Taiz found this Trump tribute!!! |
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LU WATTERS AND HIS YERBA BUENA JAZZ BAND. Not enough people know that Lu Watters was born in Santa Cruz. He is solely responsible for the 1940’s-1960’s San Francisco revival of New Orleans jazz. He was also instrumental in the fight against PG& E’s Nuclear Power plant in Bodega Bay, which we won!! |
Photo Caption
(photo courtesy of Covello & Covello Historical photos)
DATELINE September 3, 2018
SANTA CRUZ INDIVISIBLE. Trying to find a way to get involved and help the battle against the Trump forces? Want to meet friends and neighbors who share your interests? Go to the Santa Cruz Indivisible Blue Wave Show at the Civic this Saturday. Here’s what they sent out…
“Can’t get involved during the summer? Don’t worry, on September 8th at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, SCI will be having a general meeting from 10-11:30am, followed by a day of Blue Wave volunteer recruitment from 1-5pm, where you will be able to take short training sessions about canvassing, phone and text banking, GOTV, and writing postcards to voters. Before you leave you will be able to sign up for any Blue Wave actions that fit your schedule and interests.
Feel intimidated about participating, or don’t know how to get involved? Don’t! To help guide you we will have continuous, revolving, 20 min. intro sessions to learn how to effectively connect with voters using various electoral tools like: canvassing, writing postcards to voters, phone and text banking. Attend for 20 minutes or two hours, whatever fits your schedule!”
This is the time to find folks and neighbors who share your concerns. S.C.I will have Active issue teams at the Civic representing Local politics, Freedom of the press, LGBTIQ, gun violence, Black lives matter, California single payer, common ground, climate solutions, public lands, water issues, wildlife, children and education, economic policy, voter suppression, and of course Trump politics. It’s a perfect way to get involved. That’s 10am to 5p.m. at the Civic. Go here to get the info and go there to help our country get back on track.
GREG LARSON’S CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN. Is anyone else surprised that Greg Larson got NO endorsements from both the Democratic Women’s Club and the Democratic Central Committee? What is equally surprising is that he’s pushing his endorsements from so many of the the police groups — such as Santa Cruz POLICE OFFICERS Association, Santa Cruz POLICE MANAGEMENT Association, Scott Seaman, Past President of CA Police Chiefs Assoc. Kevin Vogel, Past Police Chief, City of Santa Cruz. That puts him way into the Terrazas-Cynthia Mathews camp, instead of where so many of us hoped otherwise. At the next forum be sure to ask him where he stands on Rent Control or West Cliff Dream development. Don’t let him cop out like so many are doing by saying … “oh yes I’m for rent control, just not this measure”.
DREAM INN DEVELOPMENT DISASTER. Tourists are already trying to avoid the enormous traffic problem at West Cliff Drive/Dream Inn/ West Cliff Villas corner. Soon tourists will start avoiding that entire area of our fair city. Dream Inn owners are pushing developer Ensemble Real Estate to get this project moving ASAP. It’s the 4 story, 47 foot tall town house building with two underground parking levels. As Save Santa Cruz Westside’s website says, that’s… “89 Luxury Condos, Minimal Local Housing, and 15,790 square feet of commercial retail space at a critical intersection”. So many of these units will be escape destinations for wealthy Silicon Valley escapees… and won’t help our housing crisis at all. Many, many of the immediate neighbors are fighting this. For sure the trailer park folks behind the site are worried about it, but neighbors in the West Cliff Villas right there at that Dream Inn corner are fighting just as hard to prevent this destruction of our threatened environment. Join in… It’s our community.
SAVE SCOTTS VALLEY TOWN GREEN EVENT. This is from an email in this week’s mail bag. “Our invitation to one of the most important discussions in the history of Scotts Valley was buried on page 15 of the latest Press Banner. The city has known about this for weeks, yet has made minimal effort to spread the word. If you live in Scotts Valley or the San Lorenzo Valley, and are concerned about this high density housing mega-project which will crush the Mt. Hermon corridor and impact the safety of our Middle School kids, spread the word and attend the meeting Saturday September 8th from 11-2 at the SCOTTS Valley Community Center. The meeting coincides with the Farmers Market “Apple a Day” Festival, so bring a few extra bucks and plan to stick around after we tell the developers our downtown is the WORST LOCATION for hundreds of high-density housing units”.
SALMON FISHING IN SANTA CRUZ. Last week I ran a video clip of some guys just sweeping salmon out of the water somewhere in Santa Cruz. I asked if anyone knew where this bizarre event took place. I got much more than that from Jean Brocklebank. She wrote… “The video was taken a couple of years ago at the upper end of the harbor, where the once lovely Arana Creek fed a natural wetland/lagoon system. Nowadays, salmon are artificially raised at a hatchery, then released into harbor waters to head for the ocean and return for sport fishing. Thankfully, the Port District has since stopped the absurd practice of fishing off the end of the upper harbor, where — once the word got out — dozens of people showed up and did what the video shows so well. It became a human feeding frenzy and ruined the upper harbor. Landscaping was trampled. Guys were peeing into the water. There was trash left behind, including fishing line (of course). No fishing there for the past two years and that’s fine by me!”
LEARNING TO LOVE TREES.
I grew up around trees. Very tall trees. When I was about 8 years old my family moved from the state of Victoria to the state of New South Wales on Australia’s east coast. I recall my father telling us why he chose to buy the modest weatherboard two-bedroom house, which cost $2,000 at that time, sold for $20,000 in 1970 when my father moved to New Zealand and today the same house is worth well over a million dollars. Housing speculation has similar impacts on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.
The first house my father looked at was a well-made larger house that would have been ideal except for the fact that its spacious yard was full of mature trees. My father wanted a large vegetable garden, which required sun. He therefore chose instead the lesser house on the other side of the valley with only native brush, no trees and full sun. Cutting down the trees for more sun never entered his mind. That early lesson and countless others instilled in me a respect and love for trees that is deeply rooted. It has fuelled a passion to save trees from human selfishness and ignorance both of which abound in Santa Cruz, more so than in other places I’ve visited. When I revisit my hometown in Australia, the trees from my childhood are still there, only much bigger after 50 years. I joke with friends that after being away from Santa Cruz for a month, I expect to see any number of big trees gone on my return. Sadly that is often the case.
As properties change hands in Santa Cruz, as second units are approved on single-family lots, we are fast losing our mature trees, sometimes for frivolous reasons. Just two examples: one involves a house on my street where a heritage tree grew in the front yard of a house that recently sold. The tree, when just a six inch slip, was brought from Indiana in the back pocket of a man who loved trees and wanted to plant it as a reminder of his previous home. It was a mature tree when I moved to the lower Westside 40 years ago. The property has changed hands a few times and new owners cared for the tree until the present owner moved in. Within a few months, and conveniently when I was out of town, he cut down the tree without any permit, ripped out the landscaping to make room for another car, forever changing the look and feel of our street. The other example involves a large Sequoia tree growing in a private yard on King St. The new owners who purchased the house a year ago decided after buying that they wanted to get rid of the tree. The city’s urban forester denied them a tree removal permit since the tree is healthy, not a danger and not damaging a structure; all conditions that would warrant a tree removal permit. Contrary to popular belief, very few tree removal permits are ever denied by the city’s urban forester and there are hundreds of such requests each year. When one is denied, it’s a guarantee that the tree is worthy of saving. The property owners appealed the denial, won at the Parks and Recreation commission level and the issue headed to council on appeal for the August 28th meeting. The vote was split. With Mayor Terrazas absent, council members Krohn, Brown and Chase voted to save the tree while council members Mathews, Noroyan and Watkins voted to let the owners cut it down.
One expects property owners who wish to get rid of a heritage tree to use fear-based hyperbole and nasty personal attacks as their weapons and both were in no short supply in this particular presentation to council. One expects council members to understand that a Heritage Tree ordinance exists to protect trees, especially from those who hold no love of trees in their hearts; who find trees a nuisance, dirty, in the way, out of place. One expects that council would respect the expertise of their staff who had her decision peer reviewed and supported by one of the leading arborists in Santa Cruz. Not so for the council members who voted to take the tree down. Employing that trite expression, “it’s the wrong tree in the wrong place” council member Noroyan voted to end the life of this majestic tree as casually as if she were pulling a weed. Given a tie vote, the issue will return to council sometime in October.
Watching the council meeting online from Florida, I was reminded of my father’s example from long ago. If you are looking to buy a house and you don’t like trees or a particular tree is not what you want in your yard then don’t buy that house. Look for a different house. Trees are not objects to be disposed of as casually as a used tissue. They are living species. While worshiping trees was a hallmark of other cultures and times, the least we can do in our over-mechanized, increasingly warming world is to show them a bit of respect. Our future may depend on it.
| 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. |
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CITY COUNCIL BIZ-LAST WEEK’S VOTES
I told you I’d get back to you with news on various city council votes from our last meeting on August 28th. The Giant Sequoia tree appeal at 1420 King Street near the corner of Baldwin (Item #21) proved to be contentious and ended with at 3-3 vote. Mayor David Terrazas was absent, so it will be heard again on Oct. 23rd, according to city manager Martin Bernal. The three yes votes were cast by Sandy Brown, Cynthia Chase and me. There were moments during the discussion when I thought there would be four votes to maintain this grand tree. In fact, Councilmember Cynthia Mathews ambled on about how she too was a tree-lover and has shelled out a mountain of money to maintain her árboles. But, in the end she voted to cut it down. Now the fate of this beautiful and “healthy” specimen, according to city arborist Leslie Keedy, is up to the mayor, I guess, unless another councilmember changes her mind.
Proposition Political Posturing.
On item #21, no one had the stomach for taking on the staff recommendation of council-support for Proposition 3 water bonds, which both the Sierra Club and the League of Women Voters are firmly opposed to. I did get the council to agree to place Proposition 10, the repeal of the Costa-Hawkins bill that currently limits all rent control in the state after 1994, onto the next city council agenda for a discussion.
Developers Developing Santa Cruz for Developers
The big agenda item outcome–read $$$–of course, was council approval of item #20, the developer-friendly “density bonus” plan. The key provision for developers is ” Increasing the number of units (density bonus) up to 35% more units…”The reason it proved complicated was perhaps the “modifications to the minimum square footage,” or completely throwing out the “tier system” of incentives, but likely it was “Changes to the definition of transit stop…” Are your eyes glazing over yet? Well, most council eyes were possibly bored to tears on this one. The give-away passed by a 5-2 vote with councilmember Brown and me, the only ones to have posed questions for staff, and then we came out firmly opposed to gifts for developer.
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(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 |
SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT JUSTIFIES ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF INJECTING TREATED SEWAGE WATER INTO LOCAL DRINKING WATER SUPPLY
Why is Soquel Creek Water District working so hard to shove treated sewage water into the MidCounty drinking water supply and now using an erroneous report (my opinion) to justify the economics of doing so? Why does the District insist on burdening ratepayers with perhaps $200 MILLION IN DEBT and threaten the entire region’s drinking water supply with pharmaceuticals and unknown contaminants, including carcinogenic nitrosamines (NDMA)??? (There are no drinking water standards established for these toxins).
The District’s Cost Benefit Report, done to support their PureWater Soquel Project, is flawed because it assumes erroneously that “no readily available feasible alternatives” exist. “Several decades of alaysis and regional efforts at implementing other options have not resulted in a substantial water supply coming online.” (pg. 1 of the Report).
How can the District Board accept such false information when this November, Santa Cruz City will begin sending hundreds of thousands of gallons from North Coast sources to Soquel Creek Water District customers, allowing the over-pumped aquifer to recover? Further, the agreements between the two jurisdictions will be re-negotiated in 2020 and could allow for more water to be sent to the District during high-flow storm events. Also, other “place of use” water rights for the San Lorenzo River are currently being amended to allow Santa Cruz to send excess water to Soquel Creek Water District, allowing the over-pumped areas to recover. The pipelines needed for this are already in place, and are used during emergencies between the two jurisdictions.
The District already submitted this bogus Cost Benefit Report to the feds last July for a $20 Million grant application, two-thirds of which relies upon this type of information. The Board is only now being given the opportunity to review the Report at this Tuesday’s meeting (see Item 6.5 beginning on page 107)
The Report was created by Dr. Brent Haddad, Professor of Environmental Studies (NOT Economics) and graduate student Mr. Bryan Pratt (in Economics Dept.), both at UCSC, operating under the comparison of Orange County studies. The Report was reviewed by Mr. Cameron Tana, Hydro geologist (not an economist) for Montgomery and Associates, the company developing the models to support the PureWater Soquel Project. Doesn’t that seem odd to you?
Why does the Report claim an annual Operating & Maintenance Cost of $1.9 Million from figures supposedly given by Project consultants Brown and Caldwell, but never provides the actual document reference information? Why does the Soquel Creek Water District document presented to the Board at the August 21, 2018 by District Financial Manager Ms. Leslie Strohm at the Special Board Meeting (NOT video recorded for the public) state “Supplemental Supply operating costs beginning FY 2023-2024 estimated at $2,440,000 per year” (page 6 of 25)???
NO COOPERATION FROM COUNTY SUPERVISORS TO INCREASE PUBLIC INPUT AT BOARD MEETINGS
Last Tuesday’s (8/28)County Board of Supervisor meeting Consent Agenda #62 approved an exclusive contract with Swenson Builders to move forward on a hotel at the 7th Avenue and Brommer Redevelopment parcel above the Santa Cruz Harbor. Because I can no longer pull Consent Agenda items for better public discussion at Board meetings, I followed the newly-approved Board rule and wrote Supervisors Ryan Coonerty and John Leopold to ask that they pull the item for me. I got no response from either until they both responded via e-mails sent moments before the Board meeting began that they would NOT honor my request and pull the item.
Well, that action will help support County Administrative Officer (CAO) Carlos Palacios’ criteria for the success of the new Board policies regarding public input. According to his staff, the changes will be successful if there are fewer Consent Agenda items pulled. Does that seem like better public participation in local government to you? That was one of the features of the “Vision Santa Cruz Strategic Plan” approved by the Board last June.
I think the Grand Jury needs to hear about this, don’t you? What will be the next method of further stifling public participation? Contact your County Supervisor and ask.
Cheers,
Becky Steinbruner
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
September 2, 2018
The Saturday-Sunday, September 1-2, 2018, edition of The Wall Street Journal carried an excerpt from Kenneth Starr’s new book, which Starr has titled Contempt: A Memoir of the Clinton Investigation. The Journal called its piece, “The Impeached President.”
I have recently written in this blog about impeachment, and initially minimized the significance of the “high crimes and misdemeanors” with which President Bill Clinton was charged.
Almost immediately after writing a blog post to that effect, I had second thoughts, based on a column in The New York Times. I then restated my position, as follows:
I really believe I stand corrected. I don’t want to be associated with any claim that when the President of the United States lies (particularly under oath), that such lying is in any way “ok.” We can’t allow any of our elected officials to operate under a “truth-optional” standard.
Naturally, I was interested to see the article in The Wall Street Journal, which is essentially a justification by Starr of his pursuit of President Clinton on the basis of the president’s lies about his sexual contacts with Monica Lewinsky. For any who lived through that part of our history, I imagine that the Starr justification will be worth reading.
What I thought most noteworthy in the excerpt published in The Journal was the way it concluded. Starr says that he did not like the independent counsel law under which Starr’s investigation operated; he thinks the “special counsel” regulations under which Robert Mueller is operating are better. Nonetheless, Starr says:
Even with the reformed structure for appointing and overseeing special prosecutors, the cries are once again heard throughout the land: “Witch hunt!” The struggle for assuring integrity and honesty in government is being played out all over again.
The way I read this, Starr is legitimating the investigation of our current president, Donald J. Trump, and is saying that when the president violates standards of integrity and honesty it is perfectly appropriate to impeach the president on that basis.
I agree!
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Gary 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. Check out Nemo and Boss and especially Ava as they traipse through land that is all too familiar to most of us!!! Scroll down.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Bearing with the G.O.P.” down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog. Containing his new poem/saga “Them”.
SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE RETURNS. We are really fortunate that the San Francisco Mime Troupe continues to make Santa Cruz one of their traveling stops. They’ll be performing their original time – traveling musical “SEEING RED” twice in San Lorenzo Park for free. That’s Saturday/Sunday September 8th & 9th. The great Mime troupe band starts at 2:30 the play is at 3 p.m.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa’s taking another week off and enjoying a visit from her relatives. She says she’ll be back online and in print next week. See her blog at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
LITTLE STRANGER. A carefully, slowly paced, haunted version of “Downton Abbey”. A spirit haunts an old mansion, never really shocking anyone, but keeping the movie audience in quiet suspense. Charlotte Rampling provides her usual perfect acting, and you’ll leave the film remembering this plot for a very long time.
SEARCHING. An nearly-all Asian cast makes this “disappearing child” thriller almost as unusual as does the fact that almost 90% of the movie is on computer and iPhone screens. Facebook, Google, and every contraption we use today is part of this hunt for the guy’s daughter. The ending is a letdown in more than one way. Wait and rent it.
JULIET, NAKED. Nope, it’s not reference to Shakespeare, darn it — but the title of a song that has been/legend Ethan Hawke recorded years ago. It’s got some laughs, many impossible plot twists, and you’ll have to be a full-time Hawke fan to sit through some very slow development. He’s done better…and so have you!!!
BLACKKKLANSMAN. Spike Lee’s newest and most effective critique on what’s happening in America. It’s the progressive Democrats best statement since Michael Moore’s last film. Not subtle, even funny, bitter, and painfully true. It’s based on the true story of a black police officer who finagles a way to get a white guy into the KuKluxKlan. More than that he has meetings with David Duke, head of the KKK. Alec Baldwin has an opening scene Adam Driver is the “hero” and you have to see it. It earned 97% on RT
EIGHTH GRADE. A 99 on RT and the lead actor Elsie Fisher deserves at least an Oscar for her role as a conflicted and nearly typical eighth grader. The incredibly talented, funny, and profound Bo Burnham directed it. (See his Comedy special on Netflix!). You’ll relive the anxiety, insecurity, and fears we all had in eighth grade. It’s billed as a comedy and some of the audience laughed when I was watching it…but see it for the insights, the reality, and the remembrances of those times.
BLINDSPOTTING. Has a 93 on RT…and deserves it. A “blindspot” as we learn in the film, is when something is right in front of you and you can’t see it. In this case it’s the racial scene in Oakland and the rest of the USA. Violent, conflicted, heartwarming, well acted, and painful. It’ll leave an impression on you long after you leave the theatre.
PUZZLE. A perfectly acted, extra sensitive story of a woman finding her way to empowerment . It’s also a view into the little known world of Jigsaw Puzzle addicts and experts. Go see this quickly, it probably won’t last long on Santa Cruz screens.
ALPHA. 88 on RT. A live action Ice Age cave man meets a dog for the first time. It does lack Raquel Welch or any cave babes in leather skimpies but it is fascinating….and you can take the kids. I’m serious about the man meets dog story. That’s the only plot it has.
PAPILLON. This isn’t just a remake of the 1973 original starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman — the two new actors look just like them too! The acting is terrible, the camera work jarring, and it’s a very boring movie. I dozed several times. It’s all about Devil’s Island, prison life, and how to escape. Rent the original, which is a much better film.
CRAZY RICH ASIANS. A Hollywood movie with an all Asian cast. It’s about the same as “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, except Asian Americans instead of Greeks. The plot, laughs, and acting are all typical Hollywood re-hash. It doesn’t need your ticket money…it’s breaking many, many box office records already. This means of course that there’ll be a dozen look a like sequels.
EQUALIZER 2. Denzel Washington is back again as a vigilante. Unlike all the rest of the bloody, violent, killing, revenge movies, Denzel makes this one a little deeper, more thoughtful, and yet at the same time heavy-handed. There’s nothing new, imaginative or startling in it, but because it’s Denzel you’ll be able to sit through all of it.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE :FALLOUT. Another Tom Cruise do it yourself stunt movie. Simon Pegg and Alec Baldwin are back again too. It has some wild and inventive stunt scenes that we’ve never seen before. Plus a music score that keeps almost all of the movie at a very intense level. It’s thrilling, mindless, pointless, but full of kicks. It’s made for the big screens.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP. It’s embarrassing to watch Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne and especiallyMichelle Pfeiffer having to take roles in yet another factory-produced Marvel Comic mass-produced monster hit. (85 RT) Paul Rudd is back in this sequel, and does the best possible job as the Ant-Man. He shrinks; he grows, flies around on the Wasp’s back and does what little he can with this comic book movie. I’m guessing that these Marvel movies are best enjoyed by eight-year-olds. If you’re older than that, think at least twice before attending.
THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME. Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon play buddies from LA who for some kinky reason become involved with an international killers. The two of them go toHolland, Hungary, Berlin, Austria, Denmark and Atlanta, Georgia. After more than two hours those locations plus the foolish, overused dialogue between the two women aren’t enough to make this flick worth paying to see.
INCREDIBLES 2. I liked Incredibles 1. Now Pixar/Disney has shifted to centering on Mrs. Incredible as a Wonder Woman who goes through numerous violent bloody battles against the one concept I thought was funny…the evil Screenslaver. Very little of the original charm, family stuff, human frailties, it’s another cutesy version of the Marvel Comics blockbusters
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN. It’s all of the original cast (even Meryl Streep for two songs) and ABBA music. It’s mindless, pointless, meaningless, and lacks almost all of the charm or naiveté of the first one. If you wait until almost the end you can watch a 72 year old Cher in tights singing to her daughter Meryl Streep — who is 69 years old!!! You could also watch Stellan Skarsgård, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters embarrass themselves in this strictly for-the-money prequel. Or I could say, “here we go again… BUT you shouldn’t”.
A.X.L. This bizarre drivel didn’t deserve even the 22 it got on Rotten Tomatoes. The army developed a secret mechanical dog as a modernized K9 corps tracker and killer. In case you forgot, I was in the U.S. Army K9 corps as a dog trainer…seriously! So I’m an expert on K9 dogs! This movie wouldn’t be worth watching even if it was free. The plot is absolutely beyond understanding, the special effects are poorly carried out, and it’s a waste of your time and admission charges.
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 September 4 Rotimi Agbabiaka from The San Francisco Mime Troupe discuss their performances here on Sept. 8 & 9. Then Rose Sellery and Tina Brown share style scoops from their PIVOT: Art Of Fashion show happening 9/22. September 11 Michel Singher from the Espressivo Orchestra will describe their upcoming concerts. Then Julie James from The Jewel Theatre shares news of their new play season. Sept. 18 has Don Stump pres. and CEO of CCH housing returning to discuss affordable housing. Nora Hochman guests on September 25 to talk about rent control and Housing Justice. October 22 has Ken Koenig and friend talking about communicating you’re your friends and relatives who like Trump.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
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I love the stuff… 😀 |
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. ” SEPTEMBER”
“[T]hat old September feeling, left over from school days, of summer passing, vacation nearly done, obligations gathering, books and football in the air … Another fall, another turned page: there was something of jubilee in that annual autumnal beginning, as if last year’s mistakes had been wiped clean by summer.” Wallace Stegner, Angle of Repose
“The old summer’s-end melancholy nips at my heels. There’s no school to go back to; no detail of my life will change come the onset of September; yet still, I feel the old trepidation.” Sara Baume, A Line Made by Walking
“High up on Monte Salvatore the window of some shepherd’s hut opened a golden eye. The roses hung their heads and dreamed under the still September clouds, and the water plashed and murmured softly among the pebbles of the shore.” E.L. Voynich
“I used to love September, but now it just rhymes with remember.”Dominic Riccitello
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
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August 28 – September 3, 2018
BRATTON… report on City Council candidates forum at SEIU, Amazon, Landmark and subtitled movies, the next Amazon, Sustaining Soquel. GREENSITE…on the Wharf Master Plan. KROHN…City Council agendas, UCSC growth, conflicts of interest, developer favors, city manager issues. STEINBRUNER…a new hotel at 7th and Brommer?, Planning Commission favorites, Aptos Village project, Cannabis licensing manager quits, Soquel and smart Water Meters. PATTON…about impeachment. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics & Deep Cover. JENSEN…relaxes after James’ party and her birthday. BRATTON…critiques Papillon and A.X.L. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…about Earthquakes and Impeachment.
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WHAT DO YOU SEE? Be careful they get really, really difficult about half way through. |
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SALMON FISHING IN SANTA CRUZ? Can anyone tell where this was taken? |
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KIM NOVAK TALKS ABOUT MARILYN MONROE AND SEX. |
DATELINE August 27, 2018
THE VERY FIRST 2018 CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM.
Because the general public was not invited to this forum last Thursday night (8/23), I asked friends who did attend for a report, and their opinions of what went on. The following is that “report”…. “Out of a total of 10 registered candidates, 8 were present for the SEIU-Central Labor Council forum last Thursday night at their union hall on Mission Street. Candidates Paige Concannon and David Lane were absent. This was the first candidate face-off in what appears to be a grueling campaign schedule for candidates — likely 9 or 10 more of these will follow. It was clear that a real race for three council seats is officially on. All 8 candidates seemed ready and prepared to talk about city business, although there were of course varying perspectives. This is Santa Cruz.
Placing this group on spectrum…The far-right (for SC) definitely has a candidate. Perhaps it was the most newsworthy (in SC) story of the night, that is the Trumpian tendencies of one Ashley Scontriano—(“safety,” police, home-girl, police, terror on the streets, police) Rumor has it that she vied for a place on the Cynthia Mathews slate, but missed the cut as Greg Larson (who would not utter the words “Los Gatos,” but said he has the experience of being a city manager, at least five times, but just where was he the city manager? (answer: Los Gatos). (Do we want to be Los Gatos?) Also on the Mathews team is Donna “support-the-city-manager-council-institution-at-all-costs” Meyers, and incumbent Richelle “never met a market-rate unit I did not approve” (and TBSC stealth candidate) Noroyan. That appears to be the institutional-city staff slate as chosen by the Cynthia Mathews-Carol Fuller machine. I also heard that former SC school board member Cynthia Hawthorne was also bumped from the Mathew slate.
Candidates Justin Cummings and Drew Glover hit homeruns all over the place. They were both honest and had a firm grasp of the issues, clearly outpacing the rest of the pack at this first forum. Justin is basing his campaign on “community stability”, wanting to house the homeless, lower rents considerably, and make Santa Cruz a place where union families can afford to live and raise their children. Drew Glover, when asked if he would talk to unions during contract negotiations (every candidate responded “yes”) went beyond the usual programmatic yes, to outline a strategy of creating and fostering community—raising wages, lowering rents, taking care of the homeless, and meeting union members and their representatives anywhere and any time.
Perhaps what separated this group more than anything was when SEIU board member Matt Nathanson asked candidates to respond to the question: “Which city council candidate would they endorse?” Simple enough question. Justin and Drew were forthright: they endorsed each other and outlined what a council majority might look like if they are elected and how it would benefit Santa Cruz. The Cynthia Mathews slate—Greg Larson, Donna Meyers, and Richelle Noroyan—responded rather disingenuously, preferring not to endorse or support each other, much less even acknowledging that they perhaps even know each other. They just get along with everyone, they are ‘independent and will work with other councilmembers once they’re elected.
Of course, the path of what differentiates Justin Cummings and Drew Glover from the Mathews slate is clear: rent control. Glover and Cummings were clear, cogent and enthusiastic in supporting tenants and the most vulnerable in this community in standing up to landlords and addressing the dire housing crisis in this town. The Cynthia Mathews slate waffled from no support to ‘I support rent control just not this one,’ — to which Glover stated that over ten thousand had signed a petition to get it on the ballot, and it’s an issue people want addressed.
Grey pony-tailed candidate-lawyer, Phillip Crawford, besides being opposed to rent control, made a good case for being a friend of labor, but also it became clear as the night wore on that he is not tethered to anything Santa Cruz. All his good work took place on the other side of the hill, as did Greg Larson’s.
You can see information about all candidates on the city’s web page here
It is not clear once you arrive at this page, but just scroll down and click on each candidate’s name”.
End of report. Another attendee asked “when Santa Cruz is having so much trouble dealing with our city managers and their influence on the council, do we want Greg Larson with his long experience as a City Manager of Los Gatos actually on our Santa Cruz City Council?”
MORE ABOUT AMAZON, LANDMARK, DEL MAR AND OUR NICKELODEON. No more definite news about Amazon buying the Landmark 50 theatre chain (del Mar and Nickelodeon), but I sat with Bill Raney — who created/built/established The Nick back in 1969 at Jim Aschbacher’s tribute last Saturday night. I told him that cinema trade experts are predicting Amazon might be mainly interested in owning theatres where they can show their own Amazon-produced films. That just might bring a slightly better selection of movies. Bill Raney added the main concern …will they be bringing any more subtitled films? Landmark brings us very few…but at least only rarely do they show “dubbed” films.
MIND-BOGGLING AMAZON QUESTION. Amazon’s marketing techniques have shut down thousands of brick-and-mortar stores, such our Sears and Orchard Supply stores, Toys are Us, Circuit City, Sports Authority, Borders and plenty more. The challenge is to think who, what and how somebody will come up with the business that will ruin Amazon? This is America, so you know our great American tradition has it that somebody will invent, create some new cheaper product service (even beyond drone shipping) that will shutter Amazon…wait for it!!!
HELP OUR NEIGHBORS WITH THEIR LAWSUIT. “Sustainable Soquel” is a group of neighbors and residents of Soquel who care a lot about their community. Teachers, lawyers, clerks, birders, and students have joined together to protest the Countey’s not just allowing, but even pushing a new GROPETTI NISSAN DEALERSHIP to open on the corner of Soquel Drive and 41st. Avenue. There are many better uses for that almost 3 acre site, such as senior housing with a small locally-owned handy food store, or other retail and community business to fill in gaps that the neighborhood needs. Sustainable Soquel has hired an expert attorney from San Luis Obispo, and is taking Santa Cruz County to court for at least three pro-Auto Row actions they consider illegal. It costs lots of money to protect neighborhoods, and Sustainable Soquel needs your and my financial help. Being part of this Soquel community movement now will mean we all benefit from the legal changes it will bring…and your neighborhood could be next. Get in touch with Sustainable Soquel’s Go Fund account http://bit.ly/2MPIIm1stopautorow
DATELINE FLORIDA.
Two years ago almost to the day, the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf was saved from a morph-over by the timely birth of my only grandchild, Calliope. Had she been born on a Monday rather than a Tuesday, the historic wharf would now be unrecognizable. Forty foot tall buildings, three in all, one covering the sea lion viewing holes; landings on the east side for big boats, perhaps tenders for cruise ships; infill buildings for more retail shopping on the Westside; a lowered walk and bike way under the restaurants, facing the elements, blocking access for migratory birds that nest under the wharf; twelve automated pay machines spaced along the half mile wharf replacing the workers staffing the kiosks; reduced sized parking spaces. Just a sampling of the changes proposed by the SF urban design firm ROMA, who were paid a million dollars for the Plan alone, with most of the money coming from the federal government via the city’s dubious if not fraudulent claim of tsunami damage to the wharf, with the remainder of the money from city Parks and Recreation funds.
In Florida, August 22nd 2016, sitting, waiting for my grandchild’s birth, I decided to see what was on the Santa Cruz City Council agenda for the next day. I was shocked to see the Wharf Master Plan on the agenda. Shocked because it was unexpected; shocked because approval by council meant a green light for all of the above with only the funding to secure, a not insurmountable problem given the tourist industry and available grants. With limited time but with a 3 hour east coast advantage, I quickly read the agenda report and the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), spotted the lack of mention of the Puget Sound migratory birds annual spring nesting under the wharf, fired off emails to 7 of the most reliable environmentalists I could think of, all of whom wrote emails to council. At their meeting the next day and recognizing the MND’s omissions, council voted to continue the item for a month. In the meantime, a legal letter recommending the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and a petition drafted by a member of the Valley Women’s Club that garnered 2500 signatures under the title Don’t Morph The Wharf! was sent to council. Council member Richelle Noroyan dissed the petition for its inclusion of out of state signers, not reading in their comments that many were transplanted Santa Cruzans and out of state visitors who knew and loved the current wharf. Advised by the city attorney, council voted for the preparation of an EIR.
The EIR has apparently been long completed, reviewed by department heads but has not yet been released for public review. There is a temptation to hope that this widely unpopular project has been scrapped. Wish it were so. If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.
Writing from Florida, recalling that fateful day two years ago, I suggest if you care about saving the wharf from the changes proposed in the Wharf Master Plan that you ask the current city council candidates where they stand on this issue. And don’t accept weak, evasive responses. If they say they haven’t read it, ask them to do so and request a response within 3 days. If they say they are waiting for the EIR ask them to read the Plan and respond, irrespective of environmental impacts. If they say it may be good for the city’s economy, ask for proof (long time locals won’t support a morphed wharf) and take that as a yes. Then vote accordingly.
| 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. |
August 27, 2018
Making San Lorenzo Park Safe for Tequila (festival) Again! Pictures of the week—contrast the one from the homeless encampment last winter with this past Saturday’s Tequila festival
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LAST WEEK THIS WEEK ON THE CITY COUNCIL
Because of BrattonOnline deadlines, I often cannot relate to you, dear reader, what happened at the city council this week because the column sometimes comes out the same day as we have the council meeting. So, let me lay out what was on the meeting agenda this week. Every agenda has something of consequence. That is, the public’s money gets spent, decisions are made about various neighborhoods, downtown and the beach area, and an item, strange and interesting, often appears on the agenda, but shrouded in bureaucrat-ese.
The Hidden
Item #7 was a “Resolution amending the current “Conflict of Interest Code.” There are 10 pages of “disclosure categories,” 1 thru 4, but no real information or ways councilmembers might evaluate why a “Buyer” in the Finance department is now a “3” (“city/Department-Related Income”), and the “Sustainability and Climate Action Manager” will be in the “1” disclosure category (“Full Disclosure”).
The Staff Being Too Political?
Item #8, also on the “consent agenda,” (which usually indicates there will be no discussion and council likely all agree on passing the item) was a bunch of recommendations by the city manager that the council endorse certain state propositions, “1, 2 and 3,” and “oppose props 5 and 6 on the November 6, 2018 General Election Ballot.” Of course, I wanted to know why he wasn’t making a recommendation on Proposition 10, the repeal of the onerous Costa-Hawkins bill that prohibits any sort of rent control statewide on any units built after 1994? You can go to the League of Woman Voters recommendations: https://lwvc.org/news/our-voting-recommendations-november-ballot-measures And why did he recommend the council support Prop. 3 when the League of Women Voters is firmly opposed?
Developer-Friendly City Council?
Item #20 is the “Density Bonus Zoning Ordinance Amendments.” Folks, we have a Planning Director who receives his marching orders from a City Manager (who believes he has them from a council majority) to develop anywhere, anytime, and on almost any property in this city. Nothing seems to be sacred, or off-limits, whether they’re proposing to build 400 units on Golf Club Drive right up to the Pogonip, or Forty condos along Ocean Street Extension, which is currently more like a country road. Six-hundred units downtown, where many believe the bulk of any development should go, might be acceptable, but only if half of them were actually affordable. “Density Bonus” is a cha-ching, cha-chinging sell-out musical show for developers, but it’s likely to be “a hard rain that’s gonna fall” on the rest of us. There is much to be aware of with this developer-giveaway ordinance. Be warned, if voters wish to max out market-rate development in a once beautiful beach town, then vote for the incumbent and her slate running in the next election. But if you seek a council majority that will protect our environment, negotiate with developers for more affordable units, protect local business over corporate crap while standing up to city planning staff and soliciting neighborhood input, then check out council candidates, Justin Cummings and Drew Glover. If they win, they would help form a council majority come November to halt the current sell-off of Santa Cruz to out of town (and some local) developers.”Density bonuses” should ONLY be used to create more, not less affordable housing.
The OMG! Item
Another heritage tree (item # 21) will be felled if the city council takes the word of a 6-1 Parks and Recreation Commission vote over the advice of its own urban forester and allows this 50-foot Giant Sequoia with a 53-inch trunk to be cut down. It now stands tall, proud, and healthy in front of 1420 King Street near the corner of Baldwin. Here’s hoping for an 11th hour reprieve…
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(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 |
COUNTY WANTS TO LET SWENSON BUILD A HOTEL ABOVE THE HARBOR
The County Board of Supervisors are trying to sneak the contract with Barry Swenson Builders to build a HOTEL at 7th Avenue and Brommer, above the Harbor, even though the public was adamantly opposed to such a use when asked at the April 27, 2017 Public Meeting. Call Supervisor Ryan Coonerty and ask him who he is really representing here?
At the public meeting last year, people were clear they want the original open space and park agreements of the Redevelopment Land to be honored, to respect the neighborhood’s needs and complex issues of the property, and to accommodate the needs of the fishermen at the Harbor. THEY DID NOT WANT A HOTEL TO BE BUILT THERE! But that is exactly what the Board of Supervisors is shoving through under the cloak of this Consent Agenda item, which is supposed to be reserved for “non-controversial matters” and of insignificant dollar amounts.
Under the new rules imposed by Supervisors, citizens are no longer able to pull Consent Agenda items to be placed on the Regular Agenda for BETTER PUBLIC DISCUSSION. Now, people must rely on a Supervisor to accommodate their requests for such, which must be made in writing by 5pm the day before the meeting. As you read this, it may be too late to take that action (I have already done so within the required time limit) but our County Supervisors need to hear from you regarding this proposed Swenson Hotel at the Harbor.
Here is the link to the Consent Agenda Item #62
Here is a link to an excellent Letter to the Editor by Jean Brocklebank and Michael Lewis on the public’s input regarding the 7th & Brommer
Here is the information on the County website regarding the history of this Swenson-hugging deal
Call Ryan Coonerty at 831-454-2200 or write him at ryan.coonerty@santacruzcounty.us
Hold this elected official accountable!
Cheers,
Becky Steinbruner
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
# 238 / A Quick Reprise On Impeachment
In suggesting, yesterday, that we should not be clamoring for the impeachment of President Trump just quite yet, I made a passing comment about the impeachment of President Clinton, which I characterized as “nothing more than political gamesmanship.”
When I read yesterday’s edition of The New York Times (which I read after having posted to this blog), I felt like I received an instant, and condign, rebuke*. Bret Stephens, writing on “Sex, Lies and Presidents,” said this about the Clinton impeachment hearings (emphasis added):
Liberals now calling for Trump’s impeachment ought to rethink the excuses so many of them made for Clinton 20 years ago. That it was “just sex.” Or that “lying about sex” doesn’t rise to the level of an impeachable offense (even if it’s lying about sex under oath). Or that “character doesn’t matter” so long as the administration produces peace and prosperity. Or that the motivating animus of the president’s critics is reason enough to dismiss the criticism.
These excuses were toxic not because they had no merit, but because they sidestepped the core of the issue: that the survival and ennoblement of democracy depend on holding people in high office to higher, not lower, standards.
Clinton’s supposedly “small” lie about sex (like Trump’s “small” violation of campaign finance laws) was not so small coming from the one person uniquely entrusted to uphold and enforce the law. It sent a signal that lying would be politically acceptable and legally tolerated. Clinton’s lawyerly prevarications helped create the truth-optional standard by which the Trump presidency operates. The claim by Clinton’s defenders that his job performance immunized him from impeachment sowed the seed for Trump’s remark, in an interview with Fox News this week, that “I don’t know how you can impeach somebody who has done a great job.”
Then, too, the Clinton machine’s relentless efforts to delegitimize the independent counsel by claiming Starr had gone far beyond his original remit to investigate the Whitewater case mirror the Trump machine’s attacks on Robert Mueller today.
Yet what Starr did then is what Mueller and other prosecutors are doing now: uncovering wrongdoing where they find it. That Trump’s hush money to two women has nothing to do with Russia makes the wrongdoing no less contemptible, illegal — and, because it’s about the president, impeachable.
Because the Clinton impeachment saga is still relatively recent, it’s been depressing — and instructive — to watch the two sides in that drama conveniently adopt the other’s former rationale for their own partisan convenience. (Lindsey Graham, this means you.)
But anyone who now calls for Trump to be judged severely should acknowledge that we would have been in a better place today if Clinton hadn’t been so fervently defended back then. Among other things, it might have dissuaded other sexual predators and congenital liars from running for high office.
We can still get it right. Some intellectual consistency would go a long way.
I really believe I stand corrected. I don’t want to be associated with any claim that when the President of the United States lies (particularly under oath), that such lying is in any way “ok.” We can’t allow any of our elected officials to operate under a “truth-optional” standard.
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Gary 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. Carefully check out the latest re-issue of Tim’s Subconscious Comics…just below.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Deep Cover”down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog.
SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE. We are really fortunate that the San Francisco Mime Troupe continues to make Santa Cruz one of their traveling stops. They’ll be performing their original time – traveling musical “SEEING RED” twice in San Lorenzo Park for free. That’s Saturday/Sunday September 8th & 9th. The great Mime troupe band starts at 2:30 the play is at 3 p.m.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa’s taking a week off to just enjoy the experience of James Aschbacher’s tribute last Saturday and her own Birthday last Sunday!!! See her blog at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
PAPILLON. This isn’t just a remake of the 1973 original starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman — the two new actors look just like them too! The acting is terrible, the camera work jarring, and it’s a very boring movie. I dozed several times. It’s all about Devil’s Island, prison life, and how to escape. Rent the original, which is a much better film.
A.X.L. This bizarre drivel didn’t deserve even the 22 it got on Rotten Tomatoes. The army developed a secret mechanical dog as a modernized K9 corps tracker and killer. In case you forgot, I was in the U.S. Army K9 corps as a dog trainer…seriously! So I’m an expert on K9 dogs! This movie wouldn’t be worth watching even if it was free. The plot is absolutely beyond understanding, the special effects are poorly carried out, and it’s a waste of your time and admission charges.
BLACKKKLANSMAN. Spike Lee’s newest and most effective critique on what’s happening in America. It’s the progressive Democrats best statement since Michael Moore’s last film. Not subtle, even funny, bitter, and painfully true. It’s based on the true story of a black police officer who finagles a way to get a white guy into the KuKluxKlan. More than that he has meetings with David Duke, head of the KKK. Alec Baldwin has an opening scene Adam Driver is the “hero” and you have to see it. It earned 97% on RT
EIGHTH GRADE. A 99 on RT and the lead actor Elsie Fisher deserves at least an Oscar for her role as a conflicted and nearly typical eighth grader. The incredibly talented, funny, and profound Bo Burnham directed it. (See his Comedy special on Netflix!). You’ll relive the anxiety, insecurity, and fears we all had in eighth grade. It’s billed as a comedy and some of the audience laughed when I was watching it…but see it for the insights, the reality, and the remembrances of those times.
BLINDSPOTTING. Has a 93 on RT…and deserves it. A “blindspot” as we learn in the film, is when something is right in front of you and you can’t see it. In this case it’s the racial scene in Oakland and the rest of the USA. Violent, conflicted, heartwarming, well acted, and painful. It’ll leave an impression on you long after you leave the theatre.
PUZZLE. A perfectly acted, extra sensitive story of a woman finding her way to empowerment . It’s also a view into the little known world of Jigsaw Puzzle addicts and experts. Go see this quickly, it probably won’t last long on Santa Cruz screens.
ALPHA. 88 on RT. A live action Ice Age cave man meets a dog for the first time. It does lack Raquel Welch or any cave babes in leather skimpys but it is fascinating….and you can take the kids. I’m serious about the man meets dog story. That’s the only plot it has.
CRAZY RICH ASIANS. A Hollywood movie with an all Asian cast. It’s about the same as “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, except Asian Americans instead of Greeks. The plot, laughs, and acting are all typical Hollywood re-hash. It doesn’t need your ticket money…it’s breaking many, many box office records already. Which means of course that there’ll be a dozen look a like sequels.
EQUALIZER 2. Denzel Washington is back again as a vigilante. Unlike all the rest of the bloody, violent, killing, revenge movies, Denzel makes this one a little deeper, more thoughtful, and yet at the same time heavy-handed. There’s nothing new, imaginative or startling in it, but because it’s Denzel you’ll be able to sit through all of it.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE :FALLOUT. Another Tom Cruise do it yourself stunt movie. Simon Pegg and Alec Baldwin are back again too. It has some wild and inventive stunt scenes that we’ve never seen before. Plus a music score that keeps almost all of the movie at a very intense level. It’s thrilling, mindless, pointless, but full of kicks. It’s made for the big screens.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP. It’s embarrassing to watch Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne and especiallyMichelle Pfeiffer having to take roles in yet another factory-produced Marvel Comic mass-produced monster hit. (85 RT) Paul Rudd is back in this sequel, and does the best possible job as the Ant-Man. He shrinks; he grows, flies around on the Wasp’s back and does what little he can with this comic book movie. I’m guessing that these Marvel movies are best enjoyed by eight-year-olds. If you’re older than that, think at least twice before attending.
THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME. Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon play buddies from LA who for some kinky reason become involved with an international killers. The two of them go toHolland, Hungary, Berlin, Austria, Denmark and Atlanta, Georgia. After more than two hours those locations plus the foolish, overused dialogue between the two women aren’t enough to make this flick worth paying to see.
INCREDIBLES 2. I liked Incredibles 1. Now Pixar/Disney has shifted to centering on Mrs. Incredible as a Wonder Woman who goes through numerous violent bloody battles against the one concept I thought was funny…the evil Screenslaver. Very little of the original charm, family stuff, human frailties, it’s another cutesy version of the Marvel Comics blockbusters
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Ewan McGregor does the best possible job he can with a boring, depressing, and very commercial attempt to make more money from A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh books. It isn’t even Disney cute or Pixar creative it’s simply not interesting. And old Christopher Robin is forced by animated versions of Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and other stuffed toys to remember how much fun he had as a boy. Don’t even send the kids. CLOSES THURSDAY AUGUST 30
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN. It’s all of the original cast (even Meryl Streep for two songs) and ABBA music. It’s mindless, pointless, meaningless, and lacks almost all of the charm or naiveté of the first one. If you wait until almost the end you can watch a 72 year old Cher in tights singing to her daughter Meryl Streep — who is 69 years old!!! You could also watch Stellan Skarsgård, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters embarrass themselves in this strictly for-the-money prequel. Or I could say, “here we go again… BUT you shouldn’t”.
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. . Aug. 28 has Lisa Rose and Ken Koenig from Santa Cruz Indivisible talking about their latest plans and events. Then Phyllis Rosenblum president of the Santa Cruz Chamber Players talks about their new season (2018-2019) concerts. On September 4 Rotimi Agbabiaka from The San Francisco Mime Troupe discuss their performances here on Sept. 8 & 9. Then Rose Sellery and Tina Brown share style scoops from their PIVOT: Art Of Fashion show happening 9/22. September 11 Michel Singher from the Espressivo Orchestra will describe their upcoming concerts. Then Julie James from The Jewel Theatre shares news of their new play season. Sept. 18 has Don Stump pres. and CEO of CCH housing returning to discuss affordable housing. Nora Hochman guests on September 25 to talk about rent control and Housing Justice. 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
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Cutest photo-bomber ever! 😀 |
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. Earthquakes & Impeachment.
“Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes”. Voltaire
“How terribly downright must be the utterances of storms and earthquakes to those accustomed to the soft hypocrisies of society”. John Muir
“I think it absolutely necessary that the President should have the power of removing his subordinates from office; it will make him, in a peculiar manner, responsible for their conduct, and subject him to impeachment himself, if he suffers them to perpetrate with impunity high crimes or misdemeanors against the United States, or neglects to superintend their conduct, so as to check their excesses”. James Madison
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
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Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
Direct phone: 831 423-2468
All Technical & Web details: Gunilla Leavitt @ godmoma@gmail.com
August 21 – 27, 2018
BRATTON…Amazon buying Del Mar and The Nick?, Greg Larson supporters, West Cliff Drive & Bay street development, Monterey and De-Sal, Good Times apology, KSQD update. GREENSITE…Gillian is traveling. No piece this week. KROHN… is also “off this week, but he will be back with news and views from the Santa Cruz city council, next week”. STEINBRUNER…Planning dept. to increase dense developments, Public Works Director and disconnect, Soquel Water District and public comment time and being forced to reduce rates and to install Smart Meters. Gary Lindstrum a great candidate for Soquel Water Dist. PATTON…and Delegative Democracy. EAGAN…Subconscious Comics and Deep Cover.JENSEN…her secret and James Aschbacher’s event. BRATTON…critiques Puzzle, Alpha, Crazy Rich Asians and Never Goin’ Back. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…about BORDERS.
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MAJOR EARTHQUAKE FOOTAGE. |
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CURRENT VOLCANO NEWS |
DATELINE August 20, 2018
AMAZON BUYING OUR LANDMARK THEATRES? At first I was very worried to hear from Joe Blackman that Amazon was “thinking and not responding” to rumors that they might buy the Landmark theatre chain. We should remember that Jim Schwenterley and Bill and Nancy Raney lived here and had a wonderful and genuine ability to judge which films would “go over” in Santa Cruz. They ran our three independent movie theatres (Aptos included) with insight and concern. Landmark, with 52 theatres and 200 screens, books by numbers as we’ve experienced.. Read the Chronicle or any film online page and see just how many great independent, art and foreign films we have been missing since Landmark took over. So maybe Amazon would be different? Maybe even better? We really don’t get to say much…or even vote on it, but just maybe?
GREG LARSON AND SUPPORTERS. With high profiled Greg Larson entering the City Council race, naturally everyone wants to know where he stands on issues. Next time you see him, ask him how he’d vote on the West Cliff-Bay Street Development or how he’s going to vote on the Rent Control measure. I’d be very surprised if you get a straight answer on either one of those. Take a look at who we know supports him already: Hillary Bryant, David Terrazas, Fred Keeley, Richelle Naroyan.and Geoff Dunn. Most bets are saying he’ll be right in the middle of the Council and will support all the proposed development and growth, just like his friends and supporters.
WEST CLIFF DRIVE & BAY STREET DREAM INN DEVELOPMENT. Neighbors, environmentalists, hundreds of concerned citizens are gearing up for a genuine battle against the proposed development by Ensemble Real Estate Investments. They are going full steam on their huge commercial/residential development across the street from the Dream Inn. Traffic at that corner has always been a serious problem and with this four storied distraction it’ll be nearly permanently grid locked. They also plan on a two story underground parking lot. How tourists and residents will be able to drive into that underground space has yet to be determined. Stay tuned…and involved!!
MONTEREY, MARINA AND DE-SAL. If you want to bring back some de-sal memories read this article from the Monterey County Weekly… think about Bill Kocher and those days.
GOOD TIMES & APOLOGY. Dan Pulcrano the CEO and executive editor of Metro Newspapers emailed to tell me that I erred in stating that “Ownership” of Good Times had changed. I knew better, I was careless in using that word. Dan is now listed as publisher of Good Times. Metro Newspaper Group acquired Good Times in 2014. Dan tried to get a job with Jay Shore’s Good Times back in 1977 but was turned down. That was about the time that Jay Shore and Neil Coonerty co-owned Lulu Carpenter’s Café now a coffee house up there on Pacific avenue, next to Barry Swenson’s development.
KSQD UPDATE. I mentioned last week that KSQD fm would go on-air Sept. 1st. Nope, according to a press release they immediately sent out they’ll go on air and live “this October”. They also sent out a on air schedule listing some very familiar names of the new programmers. That includes Wallace Baine, Jim Emdy,Charlie Lange, Leigh Hill, Rachel Goodman and quite an impressive longer list. They are apparently still dealing with tower leasing problems with UCSC. Then they’ll purchase their license and start the building of their studios on Encinal Street.
BERKELEY’S BRENNAN’S TO CLOSE. Larry Peterson sent this one…Berkeley standby Brennan’s Irish Coffee & Restaurant is closing on September 15 after 60 years of business. I lived there and was going to U.C. Berkeley when Brennan’s first opened in 1958. Along with Larry Blake’s Rathskeller and Spenger’s those drinking establishments were an integral part of our lives. Read this …if Brennan’s rings your bells.
More of the story here…”Brennan’s, the decades-old family-owned Berkeley hangout, will close on Sept. 15. Brennan’s is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The hofbrau-style joint joins a growing list of East Bay landmarks that have shuttered over the last few months — Hs Lordship closed after 50 years in July, and Oakland’s Mexicali Rose lasted 91 years before bidding farewell in June. According to Margaret Wade, the granddaughter of John Brennan who built the Berkeley hangout in 1958, the closure is a sign of the times. “We have a 25 percent rent increase coming in October,” Wade said. “Everything when it comes to the expenses associated with running a business just goes up and up”.
SANTA CRUZ POTTERY TO CLOSE. Joel Magen opened the Santa Cruz Pottery in 1974. It’s that fine looking brick building at Mission and Olive streets (on the corner next to CVS). Rumors have it, and I’m still working on it, that Kevin and Nina Wahl the present owners are having problems with the lease. Stop by, buy some pottery and find out the real story.
Gillian is traveling. No piece this week.
| Gillian Greensite is a long time local activist, a member of Save Our Big Trees and the Santa Cruz chapter of IDA, International Dark Sky Association http://darksky.org Plus she’s an avid ocean swimmer, hiker and lover of all things wild. |
August 20
Chris Krohn is off this week, but he will be back with news and views from the Santa Cruz city council, next week.
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(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 |
THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY RESIDENTS IS BEFORE THE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION THIS WEDNESDAY 8/22.
The County Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing and consider the Planning Department’s proposed changes to County General Plan and Zoning Codes that will allow very dense developments throughout the County and change the way it may be processed. Please attend the Hearing Wednesday, August 22, 9am, in the 5th Floor Supervisor Chambers at 701 Ocean Street. The quality of life as we know it in Santa Cruz County will drastically change with what the developers have cooked up here with the Planning Department without regard to the necessary infrastructure to support such dense growth.
These significant changes, if approved by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, WOULD ALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PROCESS OF PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.
Note the reasons for CEQA exemption on pages 100-101: “There would be no potential to create a physical effect on the environment” with the proposed changes. What?!
The Planning Department is recommending the issues below be considered now by the Planning Commission in Public Hearing, but that other affordable housing issues (farm worker housing, permanent room housing in hotels & motels, and affordable housing projects on publicly-owned sites, i.e, the Consolidated Redevelopment Agency) require full environmental review and will be presented this winter.
Here is the essence of what is being proposed now:
- Allow up to 75% more units/acre if the development is 100% affordable. This exceeds the current State-required “Density Bonus” levels of a 35% density increase for affordable projects. The current County cap on density is 17.4 units/acre. The proposed 75% density increase would allow 31 units/acre. Wow.
- Change the process to initiate re-zoning for R-Combined Districts that can be even denser development with reduced setback requirements from neighboring property boundaries and possible parking reduction requirements. This would allow disgusting ghetto developments such as the Aptos Village Project to go up all over Santa Cruz County, with the ability of the developers to identify the locations for these new R-Combined Zones. This could be done, like the Aptos Village Project that Swenson has created, with a Planned Unit Development (PUD) agreement, which basically allows the developer to disregard most of the County Codes that specify setback, density, building footprint/lot size ratio (floor area ratio or FAR), parking requirements, and curb turning radius for emergency vehicles. According to the staff report, under these proposed developer-initiated actions, “it is anticipated that the areas will probably be smaller infill sites”, and not the larger subdivision sites the County apparently identified in 2007/2008 work. Hmmm…was that the pre-cursor of the Sustainable Santa Cruz County Plan that is still undergoing environmental review in the Planning Department?
- Change the inclusionary affordable housing requirements to require any development of seven or more units to get Board of Supervisor approval to pay the in lieu affordable housing fee instead of actually building it in the development (right now, as of 2015, the developers can arbitrarily decide what to do) but if the Board approves the in-lieu payment option, the developer would not have to actually pay the fees until the final building inspection is signed off. That could be a really long delay in actual payment to the County for affordable housing to get built, and the cost of building that housing would most likely have increased substantially.
I have attended the County Housing Advisory Commission meetings when developers and real estate agents showed up to lobby the group to recommend these developer-friendly proposals to the Board of Supervisors. There were many questions and some hesitation on the part of some of the Commissioners, but eventually, everyone approved it. Here is a link to the audio file for that meeting.
THESE CRITICAL CHANGES WERE INITIALLY PRESENTED FOR BOARD APPROVAL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA (Item 57) THAT WOULD HAVE HAD MINIMAL PUBLIC SCRUTINY had Supervisor John Leopold and members of the public not requested it be pulled and discussed more thoroughly as Regular Agenda Item 75.1. (Note: the Consent Agenda is for non-controversial and small financial matters???)
The Board hailed this “unanimously-approved” set of recommendations during their consideration of the matter. Here is the documentation from that Board consideration before the public on June 12, 2018
Please take note that only the written comments are included in the documentation. The minutes for that meeting, to my understanding, did not include note of any public testimonies (that policy has recently changed to at least include speaker name and summary of testimony). To watch the Community Television recording, click here
Contact the Planning Commission and your County Supervisor and let the know your thoughts. Attend the Planning Commission Public Hearing if you can. Hmmm….I wonder how the public was notified of this Public Hearing? I was sent a notice by the Planner Suzanne Ise (suzanne.ise@santacruzcounty.us). I suggest you get on her notification list, too.
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
#226 / Delegative Democracy
We are running into a problem, Houston! The New York Times publishes “The Interpreter Newsletter,” written by columnists Amanda Taub and Max Fisher. The Newsletter is distributed by email. Click this link to sign up. In a recent edition, the Newsletter made some important observations about American democracy:
American democracy is built, in large part, on an assumption … that the three branches of government would jealously guard their power and co-equal status. It’s a reasonable thing to assume. People — particularly politicians and judges — like having power and status and generally aren’t keen to give them up. Human nature, the founders reasoned, would naturally lead the branches to check and balance one another, as much out of self-interested competition as constitutional duty.
As the Newsletter notes, “that assumption is looking a bit shaky these days.” It asks, “What happens if that foundational democratic assumption in the separation of powers collapses? What would American democracy become?” The answer, according to the Newsletter, is delegative democracy:”Delegative democracy is an old concept in political science,” Amy Erica Smith, an Iowa State political scientist, told us. It emerged after a series of Latin American dictatorships transitioned to democracies in the 1980s — but to a sort that seemed less than fully democratic.
“There was this collective head-scratching over what sort of democracy we have in Latin America,” said Dr. Smith, who studies the region. “We had free and fair elections that met the minimum criteria for democracy. But they didn’t look exactly like what we think democracies are supposed to be.” The key difference, the experts decided, was separation of powers. It existed on paper in Latin America democracies, most of whose constitutions were modeled on that of the United States. But, in practice, the courts and the Congresses did what they were told. They delegated their power to the president — hence, delegative democracies.
These countries, for the most part, were still democracies. But they didn’t function all that well. They had what’s called “vertical accountability” — leaders had to answer to voters, who could kick them out of office — but not “horizontal accountability” from other branches of government. That tends to degrade governance. There’s little to keep the president from putting her interests first. Corruption and abuses of power become more common. Apolitical agencies get politicized, hurting their ability to function. The president’s support base tends to get preferential treatment; those not in her support base can face discrimination or worse.
The Newsletter also denominates this phenomenon as the “presidentialization” of political power. We are definitely running into a possible problem here, and the essence of the problem is that a system that was supposed to keep our government responsive to voters organized on a local basis, through the 435 different Congressional districts spread throughout the fifty states, has become ever more “national,” and the “national” elected official who is most prominent is, of course, the president. The way to make sure we don’t end up with some kind of “delegative democracy” is by making sure that our elected representatives in Congress actually represent their local constituents, i.e., the people who live in their districts.
Our system of representative democracy is intended to make representatives respond to their local constituents, but it has become ever more “nationalized,” and that kind of “nationalized” Congress is ever less willing to check presidential power, which also operates at the national level. More and more, our Congressional elections are presented as “national” contests. We read in our local newspapers about Congressional elections taking place in far-flung states we know very little about, and we get funding appeals from those running for Congress in those states, in places we may never have even visited.
Not to deny that every Member of Congress will vote on issues that will affect everyone in the country; that is certainly true. But our system is built on the idea that local people will be able to “terrorize” their local elected representatives, and make those representatives accountable to their local constituents (and not to some national political party).
We have a problem, and it’s not just in Houston. It’s everywhere.
Delegative democracy? I think that’s an oxymoron. If we want the kind of democracy that our Constitution contemplates, we can’t delegate our control over our own elected Congressional representatives to anyone – not to a national political party, and certainly not to the president!
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Gary 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. Check out the new classic Subconscious Comic just a scroll downwards.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Deep Psychosis Trump” as part of his national Health Alert series #20 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.
CELEBRATING JAMES ASCHBACHER. Many, many of Jim Aschbacher’s friends are putting together a memorable celebration of his life. Free champagne, free event, lots of music, talks by some good friends, collections of photos and a great sense of community will all happen August 25 at the Rio Theater from 6-9 p.m.
SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE’S “SEEING RED”.
We are really fortunate that the San Francisco Mime Troupe continues to make Santa Cruz one of their traveling stops. They’ll be performing their original time – traveling musical “SEEING RED” twice in San Lorenzo Park for free. That’s Saturday/Sunday September 8th & 9th. The great Mime troupe band starts at 2:30 the play is at 3 p.m.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Everybody keeps telling me how brave I am, after the unimaginable loss of my Art Boy. It’s not true, but I do have a secret weapon against too much sadness! Find out what it is this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). And don’t forget to join me at the Rio this Saturday, August 25, to celebrate James Aschbacher’s inspiring life!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
PUZZLE. A perfectly acted extra sensitive story of a woman finding her way to emporment. Also a view into the little known world of Jigsaw Puzzle addicts and experts. Go see this quickly, it probably won’t last long on Santa Cruz screens.
ALPHA. 88 on RT. A live action Ice Age cave man meets a dog for the first time. It does lack Raquel Welch or any cave babes in leather skimpys but it is fascinating….and you can take the kids. I’m serious about the man meets dog story. That’s the only plot it has.
CRAZY RICH ASIANS. A Hollywood movie with an all Asian cast. It’s about the same as “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, except Asian Americans instead of Greeks. The plot, laughs, and acting are all typical Hollywood re-hash. It doesn’t need your ticket money…it’s breaking many, many box office records already. Which means of course that there’ll be a dozen look a like sequels.
NEVER GOIN BACK. Two Texas teen age girls try to make sense of their lives. It’s one of the worst movies I’ve seen. Pointless, not funny, not serious, no plot. And the ending is meaningless too. (CLOSES THURSDAY, AUGUST 23)
BLACKKKLANSMAN. Spike Lee’s newest and most effective critique on what’s happening in America. It’s the progressive Democrats best statement since Michael Moore’s last film. Not subtle, even funny, bitter, and painfully true. It’s based on the true story of a black police officer who finagles a way to get a white guy into the KuKluxKlan. More than that he has meetings with David Duke, head of the KKK. Alec Baldwin has an opening scene Adam Driver is the “hero” and you have to see it. It earned 97% on RT
EIGHTH GRADE. A 99 on RT and the lead actor Elsie Fisher deserves at least an Oscar for her role as a conflicted and nearly typical eighth grader. The incredibly talented, funny, and profound Bo Burnham directed it. (See his Comedy special on Netflix!). You’ll relive the anxiety, insecurity, and fears we all had in eighth grade. It’s billed as a comedy and some of the audience laughed when I was watching it…but see it for the insights, the reality, and the remembrances of those times.
BLINDSPOTTING. Has a 93 on RT…and deserves it. A “blindspot” as we learn in the film, is when something is right in front of you and you can’t see it. In this case it’s the racial scene in Oakland and the rest of the USA. Violent, conflicted, heartwarming, well acted, and painful. It’ll leave an impression on you long after you leave the theatre.
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU. A 95 on Rotten Tomatoes, this is a crude take-off on telemarketers and their lowly status in life. It takes place in Oakland and is nearly all African-American themed. That means that to be a successful telemarketer you have to use your “white voice”. Danny Glover has a small part, and we can only hope he gets some decent roles again. This wasn’t one of them. There is too much racism, role-playing. and politic switching played as humor for me to really like this movie. You are on your own. (CLOSES THURSDAY, AUGUST 23)
EQUALIZER 2. Denzel Washington is back again as a vigilante. Unlike all the rest of the bloody, violent, killing, revenge movies, Denzel makes this one a little deeper, more thoughtful, and yet at the same time heavy-handed. There’s nothing new, imaginative or startling in it, but because it’s Denzel you’ll be able to sit through all of it.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE :FALLOUT. Another Tom Cruise do it yourself stunt movie. Simon Pegg and Alec Baldwin are back again too. It has some wild and inventive stunt scenes that we’ve never seen before. Plus a music score that keeps almost all of the movie at a very intense level. It’s thrilling, mindless, pointless, but full of kicks. It’s made for the big screens.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP. It’s embarrassing to watch Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne and especiallyMichelle Pfeiffer having to take roles in yet another factory-produced Marvel Comic mass-produced monster hit. (85 RT) Paul Rudd is back in this sequel, and does the best possible job as the Ant-Man. He shrinks; he grows, flies around on the Wasp’s back and does what little he can with this comic book movie. I’m guessing that these Marvel movies are best enjoyed by eight-year-olds. If you’re older than that, think at least twice before attending.
THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME. Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon play buddies from LA who for some kinky reason become involved with an international killers. The two of them go to
Holland, Hungary, Berlin, Austria, Denmark and Atlanta, Georgia. After more than two hours those locations plus the foolish, overused dialogue between the two women aren’t enough to make this flick worth paying to see.
INCREDIBLES 2. I liked Incredibles 1. Now Pixar/Disney has shifted to centering on Mrs. Incredible as a Wonder Woman who goes through numerous violent bloody battles against the one concept I thought was funny…the evil Screenslaver. Very little of the original charm, family stuff, human frailties, it’s another cutesy version of the Marvel Comics blockbusters
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Ewan McGregor does the best possible job he can with a boring, depressing, and very commercial attempt to make more money from A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh books. It isn’t even Disney cute or Pixar creative it’s simply not interesting. And old Christopher Robin is forced by animated versions of Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and other stuffed toys to remember how much fun he had as a boy. Don’t even send the kids.
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN. It’s all of the original cast (even Meryl Streep for two songs) and ABBA music. It’s mindless, pointless, meaningless, and lacks almost all of the charm or naiveté of the first one. If you wait until almost the end you can watch a 72 year old Cher in tights singing to her daughter Meryl Streep — who is 69 years old!!! You could also watch Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters embarrass themselves in this strictly for-the-money prequel. Or I could say, “here we go again… BUT you shouldn’t”.
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 Aug.21 cardiologist and Doctor Neil Sawhney talks about heart problems. Then Lisa Sheridan and Robert Morgan from Sustainable Soquel talk about car dealerships and Soquel traffic. Aug. 28 has Lisa Rose and Ken Koenig from Santa Cruz Indivisible talking about their latest plans and events. Then Phyllis Rosenblum president of the Santa Cruz Chamber Players talks about their new season (2018-2019) concerts. On September 4 Rotimi Agbabiaka from The San Francisco Mime Troupe discuss their performances here on Sept. 8 & 9. Then Rose Sellery and Tina Brown share style scoops from their PIVOT: Art Of Fashion show happening 9/22. September 11 Michel Singher from the Espressivo Orchestra will describe their upcoming concerts. Then Julie James from The Jewel Theatre shares news of their new play season. Sept. 18 has Don Stump pres. and CEO of CCH housing returning to discuss affordable housing. Nora Hochman guests on September 25 to talk about rent control and Housing Justice. 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
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This is sooooo cute!! 🙂
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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. “BORDERS”
“Cinema is universal, beyond flags and borders and passports”. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
“Security is a double-edged sword: While a fence sure protects the fenced; it also imprisons the protected.” Mokokoma Mokhonoana
“Let borders become sunlight so we traverse this Earth as one nation and drive the darkness out.” Kamand Kojouri
“The moment you cross the border of your country to another, nature will blow you the breeze of revolution, no matter how long you may spend abroad, you will never return back home the same again, it is either greater or worse.” Elijah Onyenmeriogu
“Climate change knows no borders. It will not stop before the Pacific islands and the whole of the international community here has to shoulder a responsibility to bring about a sustainable development”. Angela Merkel
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
Direct phone: 831 423-2468
All Technical & Web details: Gunilla Leavitt @ godmoma@gmail.com
August 14 – 20, 2018
BRATTON…Tom Noddy film exxed by Santa Cruz Film Festival, KSQD fm about to air, shutting down Aptos Coffee Roasting Company, Cabrillo Music Fest & big ending, more on UBER JUMP BIKE profits. GREENSITE…on Golf Club Drive. KROHN…Justin Cummings City Council Campaign kickoff, pro Rent Control kickoff party, Library / Garage and Downtown Association meeting. STEINBRUNER…John Laird’s talk about natural resources, Soquel Creek Water District and the draft EIR, Support Gary Lindstrum, County Board of Supes stifles public input, raise our taxes and increase their salaries. PATTON…about College politics. EAGAN…and Subconscious Comics plus Deep Cover. JENSEN…re Venus In Fur. BRATTON…critiques BlacKKKlansman, Generation Wealth, Miseducation of Cameron Post. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…from Robert Mueller.
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FROM MY COUSIN, here’s a funny. |
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Tom Noddy about a month ago, at the Live Oak library |
DATELINE August 13, 2018
TOM NODDY DOCUMENTARY REFUSED BY SANTA CRUZ FILM FESTIVAL!!!
Tom emails to tell us… “I just heard from the filmmaker, Charles Poekel, about his application to the Santa Cruz Film Festival. Charlie had made a documentary short, 13 minutes long, called “tomnoddy”. It was invited to many festivals this year, including Boston and Dallas (where it won the “Audience Award”) but SCFF rejected it. He tells me he sent a cover letter to be sure that they understood the connection… It won the Dallas Texas International Film Festival Audience Award. Go here to see the great films and awards from this year’s Boston Independent Film Festival. Scroll down and there’s the Tom Noddy minute documentary! You’ll see the same tribute at the Sarasota Film Festival presentation. What possible reason could The Santa Cruz Film Festival have for turning down a tribute to Tom Noddy — who has given our community so much pleasure and fun?
KSQD RADIO STATION NEWS. If all goes well KSQD is set to go on-air September 1st. They’ll be at 90.7 on your FM dial. Howard Feldstein has taken the lead on getting it all together. They’ve got over 150 program proposals. Many from former KUSP folks.
CLOSING APTOS COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY. Since developers gave notice to the Aptos Coffee Roasting Company in Rancho Del Mar to shut down, many locals are incensed and hurt that their favorite community gathering place will cease to exist. It’s been there for over 20 years. Liz Minvielle wrote to say… “you know that they were forced to close due to those Fat/Rich Developers. They booted the Everlasting Aptos Coffeehouse with less than 30 days’ notice because they erased them from their last-minute blueprint plans, very similar to our president! There’s a heck of a lot of Community Camaraderie and putting All those Wonderfully Hard-Working People out of their employment livelihood!”. Liz continued to say that she “honestly knows a lot of the Rancho Del Mar Complex in Aptos regulars will be going elsewhere. Therefore, your expected profits will decline! Your last minute plans to eliminate the Aptos Coffee Roasting Company with its great Community Camaraderie, where people get IDEAS from each other about items they need, which can be found in the Rancho Del Mar complex is like a 47.5 magnitude Richter scale earthquake!” Go here to see the history and tradition of the Aptos Coffee Roasting Company.
CABRILLO FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC. Another season of wildly interesting concerts concluded the festival’s 55 year history last Sunday night. Attendance was down a bit from last year. Looking back at the conductor changes in the past, attendance has always dropped a bit for a season or two. Then new fans of the new conductor/director bring in their friends, and seats fill up again. I was curious and asked one of this year’s composers about royalties and publishing their works. He said that yes, they do receive royalties from performances like Cabrillo — but very little. He said also that many composers are now self-publishing. Those royalties depend on the size and importance of which orchestra plays them, and yes, Cabrillo is considered one of the important and bigger ones. Scott McClelland told me Open Rehearsals are very popular and many, many festivals have them — such as Carmel’s Bach Festival.
JUMP BIKE PROFIT. Phil Boutelle writes to say poor UBER isn’t making much money from their JUMP BIKE monopoly. He states… “I read your comment about how Jump/Uber must be making so much profit by renting the bikes at $1/15 minutes. I don’t think this is true. I got a tour of the local Jump office, and they said that of the 250 bikes deployed in SC now, peak usage means about 100 bikes being used at once. At $4/hour, that’s a revenue rate of $400/hour, only during peak times on weekends. They have an office staff, plus mechanics and drivers in two shifts, so I’d say a dozen local employees at least. There is no way that they are making profits at such low revenue rates.” Do you agree with this math? Let’s all chip in $100 to help save poor UBER!!!
PARADISE FOUND…FOR HOW LONG?
If you’ve never walked up Golf Club Drive it’s worth taking the time to do so. Others besides me have made similar observations: it is like stepping back in time; a “Shangri-La” as a long-time resident of the area was quoted as saying in the article by Sentinel reporter Jondi Gumz in last Sunday’s (8/12) paper. The article well captured the feel of this bucolic piece of Santa Cruz’s past and present as well as the forces at work that will in time lead to its loss. With no sidewalks, no bike path, no streetlights, it’s a planner’s blank slate and a developer’s dream. You can still pick blackberries from the side of the road and only the sounds of birds break the silence. “Smart” growth advocates have their vision of dense high rise housing with smart people walking to work or to the corner coffee shop with low income workers whisked away to somewhere else hopefully on public transit. While change is never inevitable, depending on decisions made by people, usually those with money and political influence, the changes ahead for Golf Club Drive unless rejected or tempered, threaten to erase its current beauty and rural character. In its place will come the generic, dense, mostly market- rate housing development that is becoming the norm in Santa Cruz. While some of us who prefer rural to urban were sleeping, others, namely developers and progressives who favor “smart” growth were not. They were busy updating the 2030 General Plan to include a template for Golf Club Drive’s future, which includes 200 to 400 housing units. The two developers behind this future plan, Swift and Cury, I’m sure see themselves as providing a service for all the people who want to live in Santa Cruz, a seemingly bottomless pit of desire. People want to live in Santa Cruz for a variety of reasons; one of them being its quiet, semi-rural environment such as is found at Golf Club Drive, which is then transformed to urban to make room for their arrival.
I support the Costanoa Commons project for Golf Club Drive. It will provide a unique safe haven for many youth with developmental disabilities and their families while preserving an organic farm, a historic building and truly improving the habitat of Pogonip Creek. Talking with the owners and listening to their testimony at the Zoning Administrator’s meeting one gets the sense that if development is going to come to this Shangri-la, then let it be of this nature. The rest… not so much. The old tension between urban and rural is on full display when city planners and developers use the word, “improvements.” For them, “improvements” mean widening the trestle, installing curbs, gutters, sidewalks, streetlights, bike paths and changing the Golf Club Drive/Highway 9 intersection. A more honest word would be “urbanization.” I get nervous when well-meaning transportation and housing activists use big cities such as Seattle, Paris or Copenhagen as models for Santa Cruz to “improve” its public transport and housing. There seems an absence of gut level love for nature, an indifference to the need for us to tread lightly on the soil. Such sentiments are dismissed as “sentimental”; stuck in the past; nostalgia; “get over it.” Don’t fall for that urban arrogance. And next time you hear a planner or a developer use the word “improvements” know what they really are saying.
| 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. |
SMÖRGÅSBORD
Justin Cummings Hits the Right, er…Left Notes!
 In my trip to Washington, I could not help but be favorably impressed by the exterior of Rep. Barbara Lee’s office in the Cannon Office Building on Capitol Hill. She gives life to the staid officious atmosphere present in most of the rest of the building, the location of many US congressional offices.
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Well over 100 supporters and interested voters showed up last Saturday (8/11) at Santa Cruz city council candidate Justin Cummings’ campaign kickoff. Cummings spoke eloquently and passionately about housing (“…more than twenty friends have had to leave town”), and homelessness (“…I know personally six friends who work and live in their cars.”) He also mentioned that growing up on the Southside of Chicago included an early political baptism with his mom dragging him to meetings including ones to support super-progressive, Harold Washington, who took on an entrenched white-Mayor Daley political machine and won. Washington was elected Mayor of Chicago in 1983 and again in 1987. Although he died of a heart attack weeks after his second victory, Washington left an amazing political legacy including increasing voter turnout and community participation. Cummings is also a strong progressive and says he will hit the ground running on other issues too, including incentives to keep local businesses from leaving, alternative transportation–he uses the Jump-Uber bike program–and advocating for greater transparency in how affordable housing money is spent by city hall. Check him out on Facebook
Rent Control Kick-Off: Yes on Measure M!
Wow, the backyard of Ron Pomerantz and former SC Mayor Jane Weed could barely fit the 150-plus walkers, talkers, researchers, tenants, renters and homeowners who showed up last Sunday afternoon to tout Measure M, “The Santa Cruz Rent Control and Tenant Protection Act.” Enthusiasm ran high as everyone experienced a relative calm moment and the joy of community before the hard work of hitting the streets and making the case for rent control begins. Best arguments I heard were that rent control 1) will protect renters who live in Santa Cruz NOW; 2) it will offer time for local wages to catch up with the 40% rent increase that’s taken place over the past six years; 3) it will provide a respite so that the recently passed state money for homeless programs, housing and mental health programming reaches our city and we begin to see results; and 4) because stable rents help lead to stable communities…too many people at this large gathering talked about changing their housing 3 and 4 times over the past two years, going from one neighborhood to another. Everyone seemed to agree that rent is too damn high and sky high rents do not support thriving and healthy communities.
Will the”Library-Garage” Project Go Away? Only if the community gets involved.
Be ever-watchful, ever-vigilant my friends if you want our $23 million bond money to be spent on the library. I attended a “members only” Downtown Association (DTA) meeting last week. (DTA director “Chip” reminded Campaign for Sensible Transportation’s Rick Longinotti that he would not be allowed in. Longinotti was passing out flyers in front of the Food Lounge on Cedar Street to all those attending the meeting. I thought it was bad form not to allow Rick’s voice into the meeting. If Rick is anything, he is a calm and cool mediator. He listens and presents his points well.) So, I took copious notes.
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(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 |
JOHN LAIRD AND AN OVERVIEW OF CHALLENGES TO NATURAL RESOURCES
John Laird, former Santa Cruz City Councilmember, is the appointed Secretary of Natural Resources for California. He gave a great overview presentation last week to the Watsonville Wetlands Watch group about the state of natural resource challenges. Here is the YouTube link for the video of that presentation
Many thanks to Mr. Bruce Tanner for video recording the presentation, much of which was public questions and answers. I found that refreshing.
Of special interest is the lead that California is taking, along with Oregon and Washington, to form a coalition with international representatives to address ocean acidification and marine debris issues. There will be a meeting of that coalition next month in San Francisco. Mr. Laird also had interesting information regarding water, fire protection and forest health and anticipated climate change impacts.
To review John Laird’s background (he is getting ready to retire and return to Santa Cruz) take a look here. Many thanks to the Watsonville Wetland Watch group for making possible the opportunity to meet with John Laird. Here is their website link, for future events.
SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT GENERAL MANAGER, RON DUNCAN, REFUSES TO EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT ON DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
Sadly, the public will not be given more time beyond the minimally-required 45 days to read and review the massive Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the PureWater Soquel Project. This is the District’s plan to inject treated sewage water into the drinking water for the MidCounty region and incur tremendous financial debt burden for ratepayers. Many people have requested more time because of the complex issues and the volume of material involved, but Mr. Duncan refused to extend the Public Comment deadline from August 13, 5pm.
Some people tried to take their letters to the address given in the Community Handbook and EIR, but could not find the address (it is the UPS Store at 41st Ave. and Soquel Drive), and upon subsequently taking their letter to the District Offices, were told they should send their comment there. District staff knew nothing about the 4041 Soquel Drive address). The Community Handbook, which the District distributed widely, is incomplete and misleading (no summarization of all topics or reference to critical information available in the EIR Appendices.)
Despite all this and multiple requests from the public for an extension in the Public Review Process (which IS allowable under California Environmental Quality Act or CEQA guidelines), Mr. Duncan refused. Normally, such decisions would be made by the Board of Directors, but the Board cancelled their August 7 meeting and will not meet again until August 21.
Is this transparent government? Is this respectful of the public? I don’t think so at all.
Write the Board with your thoughts. Make sure that you specify that your letter needs to be included in the Board Agenda packet communication.
SUPPORT GARY LINDSTRUM, CANDIDATE FOR SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT BOARD
I was delighted to see that Mr. Gary Lindstrum, long-time resident of Aptos and active Water for Santa Cruz County participant, filed as a candidate for the November 6 ballot election of Soquel Creek Water District Board members. Three incumbents filed also: Carla Christensen, Bruce Jaffee and Rachel Lather). This Board really needs someone like Gary who will bring a true voice of the ratepayers to the decision-making policy. Stay tuned for future updates, but in the meantime, pay attention to the September Board meeting where yet another rate increase will be considered, along with postponing critical capital improvement projects, in order to pay for PureWater Soquel.
FILING DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR SOME LOCAL DISTRICT CANDIDATE OFFICES
Some local District candidate filing deadlines were extended last Friday, August 10, in cases where no incumbent filed for re-election. I had been given incorrect information by Election Department staff that led me to report last week that both incumbents for the Aptos / La Selva Fire District had filed for re-election. That is not true: neither Mr. Abendschan nor Mr. Hurley filed for re-election, so the filing deadline for this and other similar select Boards has been extended to August 15, 5pm.
Here is the list of those offices where the filing deadline has been extended. Please consider running for an office in your area, and encourage others whom you feel would be honest and accountable to the public to file.
TRC RETAIL SILENT REGARDING FORCED CLOSURE OF APTOS COFFEE ROASTING IN RANCHO DEL MAR CENTER
Despite many customers contacting TRC Retail to protest their sudden eviction notice to the Aptos Coffee Roasting Company next door to the Safeway, no one has received any response. This long-time Community hub will close August 19. TRC Retail is disgusting. Contact Scott Grady , the Vice President of development for TRC Retail of Orange County sgrady@trcretail.com and let him know YOUR thoughts!
Cheers, Becky Steinbruner
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
August 8, 2018; #220/Rethinking College
The Wall Street Journal is suggesting that we should be “rethinking college.” A book review in The Journal, on July 18, 2018, advanced the following criticism:
Higher education is in a lot of trouble, barely kept on track by massive price increases, grade inflation that keeps the mostly inattentive customers sedated, and a class of academic serfs, called adjuncts, who work for meager wages. The adjunct system is telltale: a classic bait-and-switch operation, wherein customers—that is, students and their parents—imagine that, for the money they are paying, they are accessing professors though they are mostly renting local substitutes.
Speaking as one of those “local substitutes” and “academic serfs,” since I do work as an adjunct professor at UCSC, I believe there is some merit in this critique. Continual price increases, foisted on students who don’t have many personal or family resources, require those students to incur significant debt in order to get access to higher education. These ever-higher prices are undermining our educational system, and are crippling the future of those debt-ridden students.
The academic product being delivered, at the ever-escalating prices being charged, is also not up to past standards. The “adjunct” system does have some real problems, though I don’t agree that things are quite as bad as The Journal suggests (at least not from what I have seen at UCSC). I am the holder of a J.D., not a Ph.D, but I do think I know quite a bit about government and politics, and that I am delivering at least some significant value to the students who take the classes I teach in the University’s Legal Studies Program.
Still, I actually do think that students would benefit from having more contact with professors who have a deep, academic familiarity with the subjects being taught, and I do think that they come to college expecting that (and sometimes don’t find it).
The main critique mounted in The Journal’s book review, however (and in the book being reviewed, The University We Need, by Warren Treadgold) is not the complaint outlined above. Here seems to be the actual concern:
The campus left has tightened its grip on college and universities. The tighter the grip … the simpler the message—that Western civilization, including the history of the American republic, is a long narrative of oppression. The essence of the humanities has thus been transformed into the study of victim groups and their supposed oppressors—capitalism, colonialism, religious belief, “privilege”—at the expense of other subjects. Relatedly, the demand for “diversity” now drives the curriculum, not to mention the admissions process.
One result of this approach has been, Mr. Treadgold says, a growing intolerance toward traditional points of view—including incidents of confrontation and virtual censorship. Another is a growing anti-white sentiment. Arguably, the sentiment was latent in the early stages of identity-politics protests, but it has become overt in recent years, with attacks on “white privilege” and courses deriding “white culture.”
Too much focus on “diversity!” That is basically the problem that The Journal and professor Treadgold identify. In my view, this critique is almost totally wrongheaded.
“White culture” is not an endangered species. “White privilege” is an historical and still-extant reality. History, including American history, has treated people of color badly, here at home and elsewhere. A genuine education requires that we all confront these realities, and discuss them, and understand both our history and our current situation, taking these real facts into account. The faculty at UCSC, by the way, are definitely trying to do just that in the classes I know about – and are succeeding, too. I don’t read this educational effort as “the left” tightening its grip on colleges and universities. But let me go on.
My real concern about The University We Need is its prescription for change. After providing what I think is a flawed analysis, Treadgold provides the following suggested solution to the hypothesized problem: Treadgold wants “the billionaire class” to establish new, private universities that would try to teach courses that don’t let the students know that there has been a long history of oppression of people of color by white people.
Candidly, this is not going to equip anyone who gets this kind of education to function well in our contemporary world. Trying to erase the facts, in the name of an ideology, is exactly the opposite of what genuine education is all about. The Journal accuses “the left” of trying to do that, and to the extent that this happens, it is wrong. But what is being proposed by professor Treadway is to mobilize exactly this kind of education as ideology. His proposal is even more horrible in that he explictly calls for the creation of private institutions, built on the enormous wealth of the 1%, which will never have to have any public accountability.
Should we want to “rethink college?” That’s not a bad idea! But instead of asking new high-tech billionaires to set up quadrangles of privilege, in which young, rich white people will be shielded from the real world, how about trying the prescription advanced in a recent study by the Century Foundation. The idea is summarized in an article in a July 19, 2018, article in Pacific Standard.
What is this solution? Making college free!!
That approach, not the exclusive educational preserves promoted by The Wall Street Journal, is what this nation needs.
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Gary 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. Huge thanks for the responses and welcomes for adding Tim Eagan’s Subconscious Comics. Scroll downward for the next excursion into our inner thoughts. Lee Quarnstrom long-time reporter and county observer sent the following…Re. Tim Eagan’s run for district attorney: Not only did he wear rabbit ears at some public appearances, he also gave eventual winner Phil Harry a hard time at one of the debates. As the third candidate in the race was at the microphone, Tim, sitting behind the speaker, next to Phil, suddenly looked at Phil Harry with shock, then started to fan the air, as if to waft away the stench of a gaseous eruption from the eventual winner of the race. I can’t recall whether Phil knew that Tm was making fun of him, but we in the audience had a fine laugh as the befuddled third candidate, at the mic, was wondering why the hell we were in stitches! Tim just kept fanning the air with a look that said he wanted to be pinching his nose closed. I asked Tim about Lee’s note he replied…” Phil Harry, by the way, was not the eventual winner of the race. That was Art Danner, who dispatched us both in June, obviating the need for a November run-off”. Scroll below a bit for this week’s addition/edition.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “FREE SPEECH” 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. Read his “Waiting for the Fat Lady” re-creating our news as Opera!!!
MUNCHING WITH MOZART CONCERT…FREE. One per month on the third Thursday there’s a free concert in the upstairs meeting room in the main Library. This month it’s
Kumaran Arul doing a piano solo. The concert title is..”Chopin for Piano”. Kumaran will play Chopin Favorites, including: Impromptu on A-Flat…Etude in E, Op.10 #3…Scherzo No.1 in B Mino…Selected Mazurkas and Selections from Piano Sonata #3, op.58 in B minor. That’s Thursday, August 16, 2018…12:10 – 12:50 p.m…in the threatened Santa Cruz Public Library…Downtown Branch.
CELEBRATING JAMES ASCHBACHER. Many, many of Jim Aschbacher’s friends are putting together a memorable celebration of his life. Free champagne, free event, lots of music, talks by some good friends, collections of photos and a great sense of community will all happen August 25 at the Rio Theater from 6-9 p.m.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Santa Cruz Shakespeare” goes devilishly modern with its seductive production of Venus In Fur, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Meanwhile, still missing my Art Boy, I reflect on the best present I ever gave him, and encourage everyone to join me at the Rio next week, August 25, to celebrate James Aschbacher’s inspiring life!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
BLACKKKLANSMAN. Spike Lee’s newest and most effective critique on what’s happening in America. It’s the progressive Democrats’ best statement since Michael Moore’s last film. Not subtle, but funny, bitter, and painfully true. It’s based on the true story of a black police officer who finagles a way to get a white guy into the KuKluxKlan. More than that, he has meetings with David Duke, head of the KKK. Alec Baldwin has an opening scene, Adam Driver is the “hero” and you have to see it. It earned 97% on RT
GENERATION WEALTH. It’s an odd documentary that is supposed to be about the negative aspects of wealth in the USA. The first third centers on Los Angeles teenagers and is more than revealing…it’s tragic and true. Then it goes into fortunes spent on “plastic surgery” and insane devotion to real estate and Mumbai and nutsy statements. If you watch and listen closely, about 2/3 of the way through a woman talks about “going to Santa Cruz“. Right after that there’s a posed photo of a family with a guy on the left that looks amazingly like Randall Grahm from the Bonny Doon Winery Days. Let me know if you see the resemblance. CLOSES THURS. 8/16
THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST. Chloë Grace Moretz stars as the high school girl caught kissing another girl student and gets sent to a Christian “gay correction” camp. Plenty of messages here, the acting is fine but somehow the pace and the purpose of the film gets sidetracked by not so great direction. It could have been tighter, more focused and much more meaningful. Go anyways if you care about the terrible “gay conversion” movement. CLOSES THURS. 8/16
EIGHTH GRADE. A 99 on RT and the lead actor Elsie Fisher deserves at least an Oscar for her role as a conflicted and nearly typical eighth grader. The incredibly talented, funny, and profound Bo Burnham directed it. (See his Comedy special on Netflix!). You’ll relive the anxiety, insecurity, and fears we all had in eighth grade. It’s billed as a comedy and some of the audience laughed when I was watching it…but see it for the insights, the reality, and the remembrances of those times.
THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS. (94 RT) A very serious documentary about Jewish twin and triplet babies that were secretly separated and placed around carefully-chosen Jewish families in New York City in the 50s, as part of an experiment that has still never been made public. The previews make you think it’s about triplets and the fun they have finding each other. It’s much more than that, and will have you questioning your own behavior and your DNA inheritance. SEE THIS FILM!!! CLOSES THURS. 8/16
BLINDSPOTTING. Has a 93 on RT…and deserves it. A “blindspot” as we learn in the film, is when something is right in front of you and you can’t see it. In this case it’s the racial scene in Oakland and the rest of the USA. Violent, conflicted, heartwarming, well acted, and painful. It’ll leave an impression on you long after you leave the theatre.
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU. A 95 on Rotten Tomatoes, this is a crude take-off on telemarketers and their lowly status in life. It takes place in Oakland and is nearly all African-American themed. That means that to be a successful telemarketer you have to use your “white voice”. Danny Glover has a small part, and we can only hope he gets some decent roles again. This wasn’t one of them. There is too much racism, role-playing. and politic switching played as humor for me to really like this movie. You are on your own.
EQUALIZER 2. Denzel Washington is back again as a vigilante. Unlike all the rest of the bloody, violent, killing, revenge movies, Denzel makes this one a little deeper, more thoughtful, and yet at the same time heavy-handed. There’s nothing new, imaginative or startling in it, but because it’s Denzel you’ll be able to sit through all of it.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE :FALLOUT. Another Tom Cruise do it yourself stunt movie. Simon Pegg and Alec Baldwin are back again too. It has some wild and inventive stunt scenes that we’ve never seen before. Plus a music score that keeps almost all of the movie at a very intense level. It’s thrilling, mindless, pointless, but full of kicks. It’s made for the big screens.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP. It’s embarrassing to watch Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne and especiallyMichelle Pfeiffer having to take roles in yet another factory-produced Marvel Comic mass-produced monster hit. (85 RT) Paul Rudd is back in this sequel, and does the best possible job as the Ant-Man. He shrinks; he grows, flies around on the Wasp’s back and does what little he can with this comic book movie. I’m guessing that these Marvel movies are best enjoyed by eight-year-olds. If you’re older than that, think at least twice before attending.
THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME. Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon play buddies from LA who for some kinky reason become involved with an international killers. The two of them go to Holland, Hungary, Berlin, Austria, Denmark and Atlanta, Georgia. After more than two hours those locations plus the foolish, overused dialogue between the two women aren’t enough to make this flick worth paying to see.
INCREDIBLES 2. I liked Incredibles 1. Now Pixar/Disney has shifted to centering on Mrs. Incredible as a Wonder Woman who goes through numerous violent bloody battles against the one concept I thought was funny…the evil Screenslaver. Very little of the original charm, family stuff, human frailties, it’s another cutesy version of the Marvel Comics blockbusters
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Ewan McGregor does the best possible job he can with a boring, depressing, and very commercial attempt to make more money from A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh books. It isn’t even Disney cute or Pixar creative it’s simply not interesting. And old Christopher Robin is forced by animated versions of Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and other stuffed toys to remember how much fun he had as a boy. Don’t even send the kids.
MAMMA MIA ! HERE WE GO AGAIN. It’s all of the original cast (even Meryl Streep for two songs) and ABBA music. It’s mindless, pointless, meaningless, and lacks almost all of the charm or naiveté of the first one. If you wait until almost the end you can watch a 72 year old Cher in tights singing to her daughter Meryl Streep — who is 69 years old!!! You could also watch Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters embarrass themselves in this strictly for-the-money prequel. Or I could say, “here we go again… BUT you shouldn’t”.
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 August 12 Barry Scott from Friends of Rail and Trail is the guest. He’s followed by Attorney Bob Taren discussing politics and problems on August 14th. On Aug.21 cardiologist and Doctor Neil Sawhney talks about heart problems. Then Lisa Sheridan and Robert Morgan from Sustainable Soquel talk about car dealerships and Soquel traffic. Aug. 28 has Lisa Rose and Ken Koenig from Santa Cruz Indivisible talking about their latest plans and events. Then Phyllis Rosenblum president of the Santa Cruz Chamber Players talks about their new season (2018-2019) concerts. On September 4 Rotimi Agbabiaka from The San Francisco Mime Troupe discusses their performances here on Sept. 8 & 9. September 11 Michel Singher from the Espressivo Orchestra will describe their upcoming concerts. Then Julie James from The Jewel Theatre shares news of their new play season. Sept. 18 has Don Stump pres. and CEO of CCH housing returning to discuss affordable housing. Nora Hochman guests on September 25 to talk about rent control and Housing Justice.
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This is for my husband, Thomas. He’d live here, chained to the books, if he could… 🙂 |
OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… 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. ROBERT MUELLER
“Perimeter defense may not matter if the enemy is inside the gates“. Robert Mueller
“You don’t eat before your troops eat, and you don’t ask your troops to do anything you won’t do, too”. Robert Mueller
“We need to take lessons learned from fighting terrorism and apply them to cyber crime”. Robert Mueller
“We cannot turn back the clock. We cannot undo the impact of technology. Nor would we want to”. Robert Mueller
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
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August 8-13, 2018
BRATTON…more about UBER/JUMP bikes, Civic Auditorium rebuilding and our City Library money, Scotts Valley Growth pressure. GREENSITE…on trees and climate deniers. KROHN…visits Washington D.C, Panetta’s Office, and talks about Primila Jayapal. STEINBRUNER…Farewell Aptos Coffee Roasting Company, TRC Retail issues, Soquel Creek Water District elections, censorship and more, UCSC Professor Gary Griggs again talks and writes about expensive solutions to water issues, consolidating Aptos and Central Fire Districts. PATTON…about Proxy Activism plus more involvement. EAGAN…re introducing SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS plus DEEP COVER. JENSEN…reviews Blindspotting and remembers James Aschbacher. BRATTON…critiques Christopher Robin and The Spy Who Dumped Me. UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES…all about “SEX”.
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SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK. I don’t remember ever seeing this 43 minute tour of our Boardwalk!! |
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SELF POWERED ROLLER COASTER IN JAPAN. |
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BETTE MIDLER SINGS UKELELE LADY. Just because it’s one of my favorite songs. |
DATELINE August 6th, 2018
CIVIC AUDITORIUM TOTAL REBUILDING for 20 MILLION but THE LIBRARY REFURBISHING WOULD COST 23 MILLION PLUS???
If you check this link you’ll see the enormous improvements and additions proposed for our 75 year old Civic Auditorium. Over 85,000 folks attend events there annually now, including the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and regular appearances of The Santa Cruz Symphony. They plan to completely gut out to the walls all the cement seating structure we sit in now, and are planning a new lounge — and much more. Do check their drawings. All of these improvements are going to be done for a estimated $20 million dollars, to be raised by various donations and funding sources. The BIGGEST QUESTION here is what kind of skullduggery and plotting by our City Staff tells us that our present library can’t possibly be refurbished for even $23 (TWENTY THREE) MILLION Dollars? Let’s use our heads here, folks…there’s some very fancy conniving going on. The Friends of The Civic did their homework and know $20 million will do it. Call your favorite City Council person and demand some thinking and honesty on their part…before it’s too late.
SHAKE UP AT “GOOD TIMES”. There’s a big change in power/management happening at good old Good Times. It’s all in the ownership department so we won’t be hearing much in print about it. You/we can bet that there will be visible changes soon to follow.
TIM EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. A brand new weekly addition to BrattonOnline. Scroll down to read about Tim ,and the history behind both Deep Cover and Subconscious Comics. (p.s Tim Eagan ran for District Attorney in 1978. But his website doesn’t tell you that he actually wore rabbit ears during any press conferences. He’d always say… “this isn’t about the rabbit ears, let’s get to the issues.” Yes, he has a creditable legal background).
SCOTTS VALLEY CFOG AND GROWTH AND WATER. Angela Franklin and Dave Weaver from Citizens for Orderly Growth were guests on my Universal Grapevine last Tuesday (7/31). They talked about the fact that over 900 housing units are being proposed right now for Scotts Valley. That means at least 2000 people, nearly 1500 cars, and obviously a crying need for more water…which they don’t have. Like Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley has two openings on their City Council and are in serious need of finding at least two Orderly Growth candidates to fill them. The Scotts Valley Banner of course says there’s no water problem. But there is, because the Valley depends only on aquifers for water and they are seriously vanishing. We talked about lack of school facilities and police and fire department problems. For example, some of those housing projects call for taller buildings than their fire department has ladders for. If you have good ideas or just want to contact them go to contact@cfog2.org or check out their Facebook Page
UBER BIKES VILIFY? NO EDIFY! Karen Kefauver wrote to say that I was /am trying to “vilify” the UBER/JUMP bike monopoly in Santa Cruz. Nope I’m trying to Edify not Vilify. Too many folks had no idea — and it was not made a big deal — that UBER bought out the bike business shortly before they took over little Santa Cruz, along with the other giant cities they now call home. $1 per 15 minutes of UBER/JUMP rental seems like a hefty source of profit. Too bad some of our local bike manufacturers didn’t get offered a chance to do what the city asked the UBER/JUMP conglomerate to do. It’s that old idea of keeping profits/money/competition local. Karen also said I had incorrect info on the number of stations in Santa Cruz …so check out the map from UBER/JUMP. Some are apparently stations, and I’m not sure what the rest are… but there’s about 60 of them.
GOOD BYE DeCINZO!!! After eight years of featuring many of Steven DeCinzo’s cartoons, our disagreements led him to tell me to stop running them. So I am.
August 6th 2018
CLIMATE DENIERS.
Believe it or not Santa Cruz has its own set of climate deniers. Many of the same people who applaud even one person choosing to bike rather than drive stare blankly when asked to take action to protect a mature tree from the ax. A recent Sentinel article by a past climate action coordinator on the topic of how Santa Cruz is doing on achieving the goals of the city’s climate action plan made no mention of trees. Maybe it indicates the triumph of technology over nature. If we can build it, sell it, erect it then who cares if nature does it all on her own. Trees store carbon and emit oxygen. No wonder many cultures worshiped trees even if they did not know the scientific basis for such respect. Depending on size and species, mature trees store on average, 1-2metric tons of carbon. The bigger the tree the more carbon stored. If cut down, the fate of most of these trees is to be disposed of by chipping, which means the vast majority of this carbon is released into the atmosphere within 5 years. And if you’ve noticed, chipping felled large trees is the new norm. I wonder how much power those tree eating, chip-spewing machines require? In order for newly planted saplings to become equivalent carbon sinks, several decades of growth are required. Yet planting saplings is accepted as mitigation for the removal of large trees in environmental documents at all levels of civic review: sometimes even with the label “improvements” attached. And the climate deniers nod in approval that saplings will be planted.
Which brings me to the topic of the tree appeal for the pictured Corymbia at 200 Washington Street, which will be decided on by city council at its afternoon meeting on Tuesday August 14th. Your emails in support will help. My heartfelt appreciation to the ten people who responded generously with checks to help cover the $617 cost to appeal the fate of this tree to city council. Four of you are regular readers of this column. Others are active community environmentalists including members of the Environmental Committee of the Valley Women’s Club, that dynamic, effective group from the San Lorenzo Valley. Tree lovers all!
I have attached the text of the appeal below the break. It’s really a simple issue. Will the city council direct PG&E to follow through on its written commitment for this particular tree, which is called out in their letter? Or will city council rely on assumptions and generalities about what this tree might be doing underground rather than actually looking, which PG&E promised to do. Meanwhile the tree does its daily routine of taking in carbon, storing it and emitting oxygen with a halo of bees taking sustenance from its red flowers. Climate deniers ignore the tree and rave about the new red Jump bikes.
| 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. |
ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL, ESPECIALLY WASHINGTON ONES!
Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital has been called many things. Saran-wrapped, self-absorbed, and indulgent are on the prettier side. The tourists often wonder ‘ why all the museums are free,’ and visiting Californians say, ‘The rain feels refreshing’ as the humidity is 100% and the temperature hovers around ninety. I will spare you any new adjectives in describing life on the Potomac. So, standing outside the capital last week and Googling my way across Pennsylvania Avenue all I can write is that everything you’ve heard is true. The bubble is real, the humidity barely tolerable, the summer tourists innumerable, the partisan divide deeper than Death Valley, and a President, unfailingly combative, bigoted, and some here even say, evil. And just maybe, will his latest tweet taking on All-World-Everything, Lebron James, prove to be his greatest communication misstep? We can only hope. (Hey, NFL players, are you listening?) (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/04/sports/donald-trump-lebron-james-twitter.html ) The politics here have been DC-dreadful, even with Donald Drumpf away in Bedminster (N.J) or Mar-a-Lago or whatever place he retreats to where reporters and regular people aren’t allowed; and the weather, some here are sick of, but the days-long storms that have hit the east coast and put parts of Baltimore and Washington under water would delight the drought-stricken of Santa Cruzan. The wet summer–climate change?–is most telling along rail tracks where water pools up forcing portions of various trolley lines to close. Passengers are then bused to and from the water-logged stops. As I approached, storm clouds hovered over the Cannon office building at 27 Independence Avenue, a short walk from the capitol building. Luck was not on my side, our US Rep. Jimmy Panetta was not in, but visiting “the district.” I was delighted to see in the SC Sentinel later that he was on a boat looking into the health of our Monterey Bay the same day I was visiting Washington, D.C. It’s much more important being out on our bay. The knee-jerk political offal that has become common food fighting fare in this district– of Columbia–will definitely be here when he returns.
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My Itinerary on the Hill
Upon entering the Cannon office building, I decided to check in first on one of my heroes, Primila Jayapal. She’s on the third floor, one floor over Jimmy, and she represents a part of Seattle, Jim McDermott’s old 7th district seat. Primila may best be known for helping achieve a $15 an hour minimum wage, gay marriage, and she also supports rent control in the city of Seattle. She was recently arrested while protesting Trump’s immigration policies, and she was reportedly the first member of congress to visit a federal prison where children were separated from their parents. In D.C., she supports universal healthcare, a higher minimum wage, universal free college tuition, and immigration, and setting aside Supreme Court nominees, mid-term elections, and war, these are arguably the top issues on the American progressive agenda. Turns out, Rep. Jayapal is back in her district too. August is like that in DC, many reps are on vacation or attending to business back home. I spoke with Jayapal’s political liaison instead, in preparation for meeting Rep. Panetta’s chief of staff, Joel Baily who I would be seeing later in the day. I wanted to know what was the current discussion among progressive Democrats, of which Primila, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Barbara Lee of Oakland, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, and Minnesota’s Keith Ellison, all lead the way in crafting a formal progressive voice at the federal level. They may also have a new group member soon, Bronx-born Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who recently won a key New York primary and is likely headed to capitol hill in January. Jayapal’s legislative aid advised me to take perhaps “the 30,000-feet approach,” meaning offer help to your representative in navigating issues in the district. A recent bill, House Resolution 676, a universal healthcare initiative, is a bill Panetta’s signed onto as a co-author, but he has yet to join the 74 members of the “Medicare for All” caucus. That might be something to ask about too.
Main Event
I was warmly received by Rep. Panetta’s staff on the second floor of Cannon. Chief of Staff Bailey asked if I wanted to step into the boss’ office and there we proceeded to chat for almost two hours. We touched on a pantheon of issues confronted by federal reps in Washington and I apprised him of what was happening locally, which he seemed very interested in. Without quoting Bailey, I will mention the general topics we discussed. The top five on the congressional office radar screen appear to be immigration (Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients), gun control, student debt, middle class tax relief, and infrastructure improvements. Rep. Panetta sits on two congressional committees, the Armed Services Committee (funds military) and the Agricultural Committee, which oversees the every 5-year farm bill that is of great importance to Santa Cruz County’s commercial and organic ag interests. Panetta also sits on two subcommittees: Oversight and Investigations (of house members) and Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research. From the conversation with Bailey, I came away with a similar feeling many of us feel these days, that all is not well in Washington and our President daily turns over more apple carts (the “Q-Anon” being most recent) than the Dems can put upright and therefore it becomes ever more difficult to get to the issues congress members are interested in. I emphasized that affordable housing and homelessness were likely the two most vexing issues for the city council these days. It also seemed evident that our congressional office has followed the sanctuary city issue, the nascent cannabis industry ups and downs, and shares our frustration with sky-high housing costs. This meeting was informative and stimulating, as one would hope for when visiting their congress member.
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(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 |
AND YET ANOTHER RANCHO DEL MAR CENTER TENANT GETS THE BOOT FROM TRC RETAIL
Aptos Coffee Roasting, a locally-owned small and successful business that has been a gathering hub for the Aptos Community for decades, got a 30-day eviction notice from TRC Retail landlord on June 26. The shop will close to the public August 19, house their equipment in storage, and lay off their employees. TRC Retail never responded to multiple attempts by Aptos Coffee Roasting owner Bronson Baker to negotiate a renovation consistent with the shopping center remodel efforts. Read the letter that Bronson posted for patrons (attached file) Here is a link to the Register-Pajaronian report
Please contact these TRC Retail LLC people and their leasing agent and let them know what you think. I have asked for them to rescind their eviction notice and work with Bronson Baker. What confidence can they have in the Community supporting the future businesses they bring in with such a disgusting track record of mistreatment to locally-supported small business tenants? This is not consistent with the picture that TRC Retail representatives. Scott Grady and Bruce Walton, assured those who attended the standing-room-only public meetings they held to discuss the Rancho del Mar Center remodel project. The Community was clear in our message that we support the existing small business tenants.
Scott Grady, TRC Retail Vice President of Development sgrady@trcretail.com 949-662-2142 and/or Shannon Naraghi, TRC Retail Property Manager snaraghi@trcretail.com 925-241-4023 and/or Tom Nelson, Colliers International Leasing Agent tom.nelson@colliers.com 408-282-3960
RUN FOR OFFICE ON SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT AND APTOS/LA SELVA FIRE DISTRICT
The filing deadline for declaring candidacy is this Friday, August 10, 5pm. I hope that you or someone you know who lives within these two District boundaries will run for a Board position. Soquel Creek Water District has three positions (Christensen, Jaffee and Lather) up for re-election and the Aptos/ La Selva Fire Protection District has two (Abendschan and Hurley have filed for re-election). Take a look at current filing status
I believe that it is never a good thing to have incumbents run unopposed. When others are on the ballot, it presents the critical opportunity for better public participation in the issues via candidate forums and news media interviews. Please run, even if you feel you could not win.
WHAT A SHAM OF PUBLIC MEETING….CAN YOU SAY “MOOO”?
We all need to contact Soquel Creek Water District and the ESA consultants to demand more time to review and submit critical comment on the PureWater Soquel Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or ratepayers (and maybe beyond) will be saddled with millions in debt and face possible groundwater contamination with pharmaceuticals and carcinogens not able to be removed.
Contact:
Pure Water Soquel Project CEQA
4041 Soquel Drive, Ste. A-501
Soquel, CA 95073-3105
Email comments to purewatersoquelceqa@esassoc.com
Soquel Creek Water District held its “Public Meeting” to allow members of the public to enter comment on their PureWater Soquel Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). It was very poorly-attended. The ESA Consultant REFUSED TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL ORAL COMMENT TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE STENOGRAPHER PRESENT beyond the appointed 3-minute, even after the meeting had closed and there was no time constraint to maintain a schedule of events.
Cheers,
Becky Steinbruner
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
As the very last word in his novel, Existence, in a section called “Follow-Up Resources,” Author David Brin recommends “proxy activism.” Brin refers readers to his website discussion of the topic, and here is the link.
If you click the link, you will find that Brin describes the essence of “proxy activism” as follows:
Proxy Power is the uniquely convenient — but seldom discussed — ability of a modern person to participate in activism… helping to change or improve the world… by the simple expedience of joining some group that is vigorously pursuing that part of your personal agenda. In other words, you add both your membership dues and the political impact of your membership, in order to get behind people who are striving to save the world for you.
I am endorsing Brin’s call for “proxy activism,” and particularly want to point out the importance of making financial contributions to the causes you support. Jesus, speaking not so much as a religious leader, but more as a sociologist would, tells us that “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” In other words, it just happens to be true that when you make a financial contribution to a group working for a cause, the very fact that you have put your money on the line makes you much more committed to the cause than you would be if you had merely signed a petition, or otherwise stated your support.
I am happy that Brin is touting “proxy activism.” There is nothing wrong with this “uniquely convenient” way to get involved with the critical issues facing the world.
However…..
While I think proxy activism is beneficial, and even “necessary,” it is not “sufficient.” If we want a genuine system of self-government, a government that will respond to human needs, and that will seek to realize our greatest aspirations, we are not going to be able simply to hire nonprofits to make the necessary changes for us. If we want self-government, a large number of us will need to get involved ourselves.
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Gary 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 & DEEP COVER. See both of Time Eagan’s “Subconscious Comics” and Deep Cover” down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog.
CABRILLO FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC. NOW -Aug.12. From their website (www.cabrillomusic.org)… Each summer Cabrillo Festival brings together music lovers, community members, professional orchestra players and extraordinary composers for an inspired gathering that offers a musical experience like no other. For the 2018 season, Music Director Cristi Macelaru has summoned voices from around the globe and across diverse cultural backgrounds to present 18 contemporary works that reflect the human spirit and the stories we tell, the grandeur of the planet, and the vastness of the cosmos. You’re invited to journey deep into the creative process through our open rehearsals, talks and the intoxicating experience of live performance. Cabrillo Festival delivers spectacular musicianship, coupled with a warm and welcoming environment for listeners at all levels, plus that famously special Santa Cruz vibe. It’s a rare thrill, and you’re invited! So much is new in 2018!
New pay-what-you-can Community Night Concert This new event welcomes the wider community to experience just how fun new music can be. Earlier concert times All our evening concerts now begin at 7pm! New $20 Youth tickets Invite your favorite young person (age 6-25), and inspire a future Festival fan! New Prix Fixe Dinner on our Grand Finale night.
41st ANNUAL MUSICAL SAW FESTIVAL. The 41st annual Musical Saw Contest is the longest running saw contest in the world. This happens AUGUST 11 & 12. On Saturday August 11, 2018 at 2:00 pm there’ll be an Open jam at the Tom Scribner Statue, 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, in front of Bookshop Santa Cruz. That night at 6:30 pm there’ll be a potluck and jam up at Roaring Camp‘s outer parking lot in Felton, CA. On Sunday August 12 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm will be the genuine 41st Annual Saw Festival up at Roaring Camp in Felton, CA. From 11am to 4 p.m. there’ll be Featured performers, awards, chorus of the saws and lots of spontaneous fun. At the festival you can jam, meet other saw players, take part in the contest, take a workshop, and hear some great saw players literally from all over the world.
CELEBRATING JAMES ASCHBACHER. Many, many of Jim Aschbacher’s friends are putting together a memorable celebration of his life. Free champagne, free event, lots of music, talks by some good friends, collections of photos and a great sense of community will all happen August 25 at the Rio Theater from 6-9 p.m.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Not a gangsta movie, Blindspotting takes a sharp, bold, incisive look at culture and community in Oakland, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). And budding artists get a boost from the new James Aschbacher SPECTRA Fund to support art education in the schools. Find out how you can join the support group!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Ewan McGregor does the best he can with a boring, depressing, and very commercial attempt to make more money from A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh books. It isn’t even Disney cute or Pixar creative — it’s simply not interesting to watch Christopher Robin be forced by animated versions of Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and other stuffed toys to remember how much fun he had as a boy. Don’t even send the kids.
THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME. Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon play buddies from LA who for some kinky reason become involved with an international killers. The two of them go to Holland, Hungary, Berlin, Austria, Denmark and Atlanta, Georgia. More than two hours those locations — plus the foolish, overused dialogue between the two women — aren’t enough to make this flick worth paying to see.
EIGHTH GRADE. A 99 on RT and the lead actor Elsie Fisher deserves at least an Oscar for her role as a conflicted and nearly typical eighth grader. The incredibly talented, funny, and profound Bo Burnham directed it. (See his Comedy special on Netflix!). You’ll relive the anxiety, insecurity, and fears we all had in eighth grade. It’s billed as a comedy and some of the audience laughed when I was watching it…but see it for the insights, the reality, and the remembrances of those times.
DON’T WORRY HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT. It seems that Joaquin Phoenix can’t make a bad movie, and this one is deep and brilliant. Jack Black, Rooney Mara and Jonah Hill play very serious parts in this nearly true biographical film about a wheelchair bound cartoonist. I looked up the word “sardonic” just to make sure it fit Phoenix’s role…it definitely does. I wish they’d make more films like this one. Better hurry before Landmark takes it away. CLOSES THURSDAY AUGUST 9.
LEAVE NO TRACE. It’s difficult to critique a film with a 100% RT rating. Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie play a father and daughter who live in the woods around Portland, Oregon. Why they live outdoors, and how they face the real world, makes a near perfect film. Sensitive, thoughtful — and it forces us to think again about our definition of what a home is and what will happen after the movie ends. See this excellent film quickly. CLOSES THURSDAY AUGUST 9.
THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS. (94 RT) A very serious documentary about Jewish twin and triplet babies that were secretly separated and placed around carefully-chosen Jewish families in New York City in the 50s, as part of an experiment that has still never been made public. The previews make you think it’s about triplets and the fun they have finding each other. It’s much more than that, and will have you questioning your own behavior and your DNA inheritance. SEE THIS FILM!!!
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? A well deserved 99 on RT and Mr. Rogers turns out to be all that we’d hope to see in this bio. That he was a lifelong Republican is about the only surprise, but it’s not important. It’s no surprise to learn about his faith-based upbringing and he practiced love and kindness in his entire television career. Go see this film. You’ll agree with him about the glut of violence in other children’s tv shows. We can only guess how he’d deal with Trump’s presidency. He handled Robert Kennedy’s assassination and 9/11 with amazing taste and skill. His neighborhood tv show started in 1968 and lasted until 2001. He died in 2003. As I mentioned go see this film, it’s one of the few uplifting things available nowadays. CLOSES THURSDAY AUGUST 9.
BLINDSPOTTING. Has a 93 on RT…and deserves it. A “blindspot” as we learn in the film, is when something is right in front of you and you can’t see it. In this case it’s the racial scene in Oakland and the rest of the USA. Violent, conflicted, heartwarming, well acted, and painful. It’ll leave an impression on you long after you leave the theatre.
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU. A 95 on Rotten Tomatoes, this is a crude take-off on telemarketers and their lowly status in life. It takes place in Oakland and is nearly all African-American themed. That means that to be a successful telemarketer you have to use your “white voice”. Danny Glover has a small part, and we can only hope he gets some decent roles again. This wasn’t one of them. There is too much racism, role-playing. and politic switching played as humor for me to really like this movie. You are on your own.
EQUALIZER 2. Denzel Washington is back again as a vigilante. Unlike all the rest of the bloody, violent, killing, revenge movies, Denzel makes this one a little deeper, more thoughtful, and yet at the same time heavy-handed. There’s nothing new, imaginative or startling in it, but because it’s Denzel you’ll be able to sit through all of it.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE :FALLOUT. Another Tom Cruise do it yourself stunt movie. Simon Pegg and Alec Baldwin are back again too. It has some wild and inventive stunt scenes that we’ve never seen before. Plus a music score that keeps almost all of the movie at a very intense level. It’s thrilling, mindless, pointless, but full of kicks. It’s made for the big screens.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP. It’s embarrassing to watch Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne and especiallyMichelle Pfeiffer having to take roles in yet another factory-produced Marvel Comic mass-produced monster hit. (85 RT) Paul Rudd is back in this sequel, and does the best possible job as the Ant-Man. He shrinks; he grows, flies around on the Wasp’s back and does what little he can with this comic book movie. I’m guessing that these Marvel movies are best enjoyed by eight-year-olds. If you’re older than that, think at least twice before attending. INCREDIBLES 2. I liked Incredibles 1. Now Pixar/Disney has shifted to centering on Mrs. Incredible as a Wonder Woman who goes through numerous violent bloody battles against the one concept I thought was funny…the evil Screenslaver. Very little of the original charm, family stuff, human frailties, it’s another cutesy version of the Marvel Comics blockbusters
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN. It’s all of the original cast (even Meryl Streep for two songs) and ABBA music. It’s mindless, pointless, meaningless, and lacks almost all of the charm or naiveté of the first one. If you wait until almost the end you can watch a 72 year old Cher in tights singing to her daughter Meryl Streep — who is 69 years old!!! You could also watch Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters embarrass themselves in this strictly for-the-money prequel. Or I could say, “here we go again… BUT you shouldn’t”.
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 August 7 Dr. Shawna Riddle of PAMF talks about staying healthy. She’s followed by Hina Pendle from US Partners. On August 12 Barry Scott from Friends of Rail and Trail is the guest. He’s followed by Attorney Bob Taren discussing politics and problems on August 14th. On Aug.21 cardiologist and Doctor Neil Sawhney talks about heart problems. Then Lisa Sheridan and Robert Morgan from Sustainable Soquel talk about car dealerships and Soquel traffic. Aug. 28 has Lisa Rose and Ken Koenig from Santa Cruz Indivisible talking about their latest plans and events. September 11 Michel Singher from the Espressivo Orchestra will describe their upcoming concerts. Sept. 18 has Don Stump pres. and CEO of CCH housing returning to discuss affordable housing. Nora Hochman guests on September 25 to talk about rent control and Housing Justice. 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
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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. “SEX”
“I have no objection to anyone’s sex life as long as they don’t practice it in the street and frighten the horses.” Oscar Wilde
“Homosexuality isn’t contagious” tv interview I saw last week, didn’t get his name.
“I don’t know the question, but sex is definitely the answer.” Woody Allen
“Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together; sophistication demands that they submit to sex immediately without proper preliminary talk. Not courting talk — real straight talk about souls, for life is holy and every moment is precious.” Jack Kerouac, On the Road
“Someone told me the delightful story of the crusader who put a chastity belt on his wife and gave the key to his best friend for safekeeping, in case of his death. He had ridden only a few miles away when his friend, riding hard, caught up with him, saying ‘You gave me the wrong key!” Anaïs Nin
“Sex without love is as hollow and ridiculous as love without sex.” Hunter S. Thompson
“Good sex is like good bridge. If you don’t have a good partner, you’d better have a good hand.” Mae West
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