DATELINE July 23, 2018

ROBERT SINGLETON AND THE #MeToo ISSUE (continued) After briefly mentioning in last week’s column that Robert Singleton was probably considering another run for a City Council seat — and that there have been many rumors and unsolved statements about a possible #MeToo incident in Sacramento — I received many phone calls and emails with lots more information about what happened. First of all, if there was “a #MeToo incident”, it wasn’t in Sacramento…it was right here in Santa Cruz. A woman emailed a letter to the four Santa Cruz “Brand New Council” candidates Sandy Brown, Drew Glover, Chris Krohn and Steve Schnarr during the 2016 campaign, stating she was in a terrible two-year relationship with Singleton while she was a UCSC student. The email states that the relationship was “emotionally, physically, and sexually abusive”. I have a copy of that 2016 email, and I emailed her this morning (7/23) to see if she has more to add…or subtract.. In that 2016 email she said that her “emotional mind was not strong enough to present the proof” that she has. I’ll wait a while to see if she responds, and then I’ll connect with Robert Singleton to see what his reaction is…or was. If anyone has more information please send it to me, and we’ll sort it out.

MORE ILLEGAL MIERDA. Steve Schlict, theeditor — and main mover behind the Santa Mierda weekly blog — has been running Steven DeCinzo cartoons without DeCinzo’s permission. That’s not just illegal, but unkind and unfair. He’s done it before. I’ve emailed DeCinzo about this. More than that, Schlict’s online info says he’s a principal at BioMarcommunications, which “focuses on life science business investment”. But for two years he’s been the main force behind that Santa Mierda blog. Schlict claims to be a moderate, but anyone reading Mierda will note just how far-right and pro-law and order the blog and especially the reader “commenters” are. He’s started a City Council candidates section. He says that Paige Concannon is a regular reader of Meirda and that he’s “thankful that she’s running”. So that’ll tell you how right-wing pro-growth she is. Needless to say he’s against Drew Glover and Justin Cummings. Of course he likes Richelle Noroyan and believes that Ashley Scontriano is very impressive. Those endorsements alone should give us the info we need to vote in November.

E CLAMPUS VITUS PLAQUE CEREMONY. One of the ECV websites says, “The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus (ECV) is a fraternal organization dedicated to the study and preservation of Western Heritage, especially the history of the Mother Lode, gold mining and silver regions of the area. There are chapters in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and we now have Outposts in Montana and Wyoming. There are now 45 recognized chapters and 7 Outposts in April 2017. John Tuck and I were sworn in (with much swearing) at the installation of the bronze plaque on the Branciforte Adobe back in 1980. Since then the ECV created a Viceroy Marqués De Branciforte Chapter #1797. Their “official” notice says, “There will be a Plaquing at the historic Octagon Building in Downtown Santa Cruz so this will be an event you will not want to miss! It’ll happen July the 29th of 6023 (Clampers call our year 2018  ” 6023″). It’s be at the Octagon Building Location at
118 Cooper Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. I have no idea what the plaque is about, since all but the upper portion of the exterior brick walls of the Octagon have been totally and officially destroyed, with county approval… and I get no response from my Clamper brothers for details.

July 22, 2018

NOVEMBER ELECTION ISSUES, CONTINUED
Voter Issues Redux

Let Santa Cruz be an example of building bridges and not walls.

If you remember last week I started a list of issues that progressive candidates might run on, or pay close attention to during the upcoming November, “off-year” election. The issues discussed last week, (which can be found by scrolling down to last week’s https://brattononline.com  column), were neighborhood integrity or livability; creating truly affordable housing; and protecting and enhancing our precious Santa Cruz natural environment. This week it’s about city-university issues; traffic and transportation; enhancing the pedestrian-bicycle experience; and what I like to call, Santa Cruz foreign and domestic policy stands.

So, how many issues can a candidate actually run on?
In the old days it was perhaps simpler, but no less daunting for anyone running a serious city council campaign. The issues were usually water, traffic, and housing, in that order. Now, there’s less emphasis on water, although H2O is always a significant piece of most local political discussions. But it is HOUSING and homelessness that have just sucked all the air out of Santa Cruz politics. It is, without a doubt, THE campaign issue and it began in earnest in 2016 and will likely continue through 2024. Of course, traffic, quality of life–livability–and the environment are close behind. So how to choose? Each candidate must try to get up to speed on the myriad of issues Santa Cruz faces by setting up loads of meetings…with homeless advocates (McHenry, Kramer, Adams, and Conable) city department heads (at least the city manager, police chief, and planning and finance directors); reaching out to past winning, and losing, candidates…there are enough ex-mayors out there to field possibly an entire 12-person basketball team (Lane, Bryant, Beiers, Scott, Fitzmaurice, and soon, current Mayor Terrazas come to mind); seek out UCSC honchos, if you can get ahold of them (Blumenthal, Tromp, and Latham among others); visit our Sacramento reps (Sen. Monning and Assembly member Stone), and try to shadow US Rep. Panetta for a day if he will let you; and check in with SEIU reps Urrutia, Nathanson, and Colby, and Monterey central labor council political rep, Glen Schaller as well). And if housing is the issue, meeting with for-profit (Swenson’s Nickell and Devcon’s Lawlor), and non-profit (Mercy Housing and Mid-Peninsula) housing developers, as well as rent control advocates (Jagadeesan, Cavooris, Hochman, and Smedberg) and anti-rent control SC Together (Renshaw) too. So many meetings, I know. But if you’re a candidate, this is what you do. I suggest choosing 2-4 issues, developing a 1-2-minute stump speech on each, and bringing all future forum conversations, presentations, and neighborhood meetings back to your 2-4 issues that you’re running on.

Election Issues, Part II
Make no mistake, UC Santa Cruz, Inc. represents the single largest political issue candidates will have to deal with because it’s attached to all others. UCSC usually is, and likes to act as, the elephant in the room–a player flicking at the levers of local power, and hoping to be unseen while it works the back rooms of the housing, traffic, and water political landscape. The gargantuan growth of the U over the past decade has come to represent all of our housing, traffic, and water woes. So, consequently the more than 40,000 students, faculty, staff and other support services locally attached to UC, Inc. present huge impacts on the quality of life for everyone in town, crashes, bumps, and bangs that are not so easily mitigated away. It is up to the next city council to continue the foot-in-the-door dialogue recently begun as a result of the Long-Range Development Plan (LRDP) process. It is past time for the council to work diligently alongside the university in approaching the regents with the perhaps unwelcome line in the sand: No más UCSC growth past 19,500! This message has to be given in unity (77% of voters agreed on June 5th), full-throated, and with integrity and the understanding that you as a candidate and future councilmember are representing the 65,000 residents who live here now. The message must be delivered resolutely, zealously at times, and with commitment. This continuing communiqué must include that scaling back the growth of the university will have positive impacts on the UCSC education brand. Next, traffic is a LOS–Level of Service–“F” on several thoroughfares throughout the city at many times during the week and on weekends. Boardwalk traffic has never been adequately dealt with; I suggest an independent analysis of on-campus and off-campus traffic counts (given that UCSC traffic honchos say cars on campus have not increased since 2005…?!?) Getting people out of their cars by providing alternatives remains a constant challenge for the next city council. And all those who say that cars are not going away anytime soon should support as many car-alternatives as possible so when they want to drive there will be less congestion. More parking garages, additional freeway lanes, and larger numbers of cars streaming ever-so slowly to the Boardwalk are not solutions progressives seek. Closing Pacific Avenue to cars, ordering up a thousand more e-bikes (half placed on the UCSC campus), parking more beach-goers at the county building, and perhaps using the now half-dozen Google-Apple-Amazon buses patrolling Pacific each morning to pitch in and bring Boardwalk patrons from Silicon Valley to Santa Cruz on weekends may offer some relief to our traffic woes. Of course, shoring up Metro Bus funding and demanding the Regents pay more to transport students around campus and town instead of continuing to raise their tuition could simply be called: councilmembers performing constituent services. Besides closing Pacific to autos, we need to focus on moving bike lanes away from traffic. The green lanes were a good start, but now comes the tough decisions of how to shield bikes from the internal combustion engine. If we can do that it will be another game-changer in getting people out of their cars. In addition, let’s bring back the “free parking” for all e-cars. It’s an incentive that went away two years ago after having what appeared to be a successful 13-year run.

The People’s Republic of Santa Cruz Foreign Policy Office
Over the years, the Santa Cruz city council has taken many stands–against nuclear power, off-shore oil drilling and invading Iraq, El Salvador and Nicaragua. We’ve supported recognizing, and protecting our immigrant population, the Amah Mutsun (Ohlone), the Sioux at Standing Rock, and medical marijuana patients. We’ve demanded Granite Rock not bid on Trump’s border wall (success!) and that the state ban fracking (unsuccessful, so far). These issues are usually brought to the council from various community interest groups. What happens is the council provides a forum for debate and discussion and then votes, up or down, whether they believe the community is benefited by supporting the issue before them. Despite periodic criticism, developing these “foreign and domestic” policy stances takes little council time and from my experience really aids the community in providing an outlet for residents who anxiously want to do something about world issues that go beyond 7th Avenue. I like that our residents are active and concerned about life outside of Santa Cruz.

P.S.
There’s much to say and do concerning housing the homeless and providing more mental health, drug, and alcohol abuse programming. The state of California has passed some major bills that will allow cities to apply for funding. The next council must hit the ground running in directing staff to secure this funding. In the area of social services there is much more progressives can do. The fact is, progressives came to power in Santa Cruz advocating for more social services funding. I say, how about a Department of Social Services? Berkeley does it, maybe it’s time we do too.

(Goes to Democrat primary winner, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who is currently on a tear to reshape the Democratic Party and make it work for her generation (and mine too!). “It is a human rights violation to separate children from parents, as ICE has done. This admin. continues to keep children from their parents. Sexual assault and abuse is not uncommon in ICE detention, either.” (July 19)

(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

July 23, 2018

INJECT TREATED SEWAGE WATER INTO MIDCOUNTY DRINKING WATER SUPPLY PUBLIC STUDY SESSIONS FOR DRAFT EIR PUBLIC COMMENT ON $183+ MILLION PROJECT.
The Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is now in the Public Comment Phase, which will close August 13 unless extended.  There will be three Public Study Sessions sponsored by Water for Santa Cruz County and Communities United for Better Government to encourage public response to the EIR:

1. Wednesday, July 25  Aptos Library  6pm-8pm
2. Wednesday, August 1  Porter Memorial Library  7pm-9pm (Sup. Leopold often has constituent meetings here 5:30-6:30)
3. Wednesday, August 8  Aptos Library  6pm-8pm

Find good information on the Alternative Project #2 that is not addressed in the EIR by visiting the Water for Santa Cruz County website waterforsantacruz.com/

Soquel Creek Water District will host a Public Meeting on July 31 at Twin Lakes Church (adjacent to lower Cabrillo College Campus) from 6pm-8pm.  Do not expect any public question & answer opportunity, but there will be a court reporter present to accept oral comment, as well as staff willing to take your written comments.

The EIR is a large document, available online here.

It is also available in print (minus the Appendices) at various public libraries.  Ms. Mow-Schumacher, District staff handling public comments, responded to my query about not having public access by saying that the District is not required to provide a hard copy of the Draft EIR to the public, but did, and that the Appendices are on a CD included in the back of the document.  She did not respond to my request for an extension of Public Comment time.

The District’s Project Overview is here but does not deliver accurate cost assessment.  Last year, consultants stated the project would cost $60-$70 Million, and the Feasibility Study at the time reported that the total cost, including financing would burden ratepayers with over $183 Million Project debt.  Now the District reports the Project is estimated to cost $90 Million, but has not updated the debt burden to include the cost of financing the Project.

While the information touts the Prop. 1 Grant application that could award up to $50 Million for the Project, and a federal grant that could award $20 Million, it does not divulge that both grants are RE-IMBURSEMENT GRANTS, and may take five to eight years for re-imbursements to be paid.  Recently, the consultants recommended the District re-consider efforts to apply for the federal grant because re-imbursement could take 10 years.  Soquel Creek Water District ratepayers will have to foot the bill, probably over $200 Million, with future rate increases.  The Finance and Administrative Services Standing Committee is working on how to structure these future rate increases to District customers.  View the Committee members here, and try to attend their un-recorded meetings.

The public may request an extension for more time to review the Draft EIR.  Under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, the MINIMUM public comment period is 45 days, and the MAXIMUM public comment period is 60 days.

(Title  14 of California Code of Regulations, Chapter 3, Article 8 (Time Limits) Section 15105 (a).  I personally worry about this PureWater Soquel Project being shoved through without adequate review.  Much of the analysis deals only with the construction phase, not the long-term operational aspects. I hope to see you at one of the Study Sessions, and at the July 31 District Project Meeting.

SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT BOARD HOLDING SPECIAL MEETINGS FOR PUREWATER SOQUEL PROJECT THAT ARE NOT RECORDED

The Board has scheduled a number of Special Meetings that are on the website, but the materials to be presented are not available.  They are held at the District offices in cramped conditions and are not audio or video recorded.  The next one is Tuesday, July 24 at 6pm.  The discussion includes how to finance PureWater Soquel Project and Project Modeling. Here is the link.

At last Tuesday’s regular Board meeting, the material scheduled for Board consideration at the Special Meeting was available for the public at the back table.  It is a Technical Memorandum from Brown and Caldwell consultants discussing PureWater Soquel Project scheduling and design issues.  On page 7, the document states “”Both the tertiary treatment facility and AWPF (Advanced Water Purification Facility ) will comprise complex, equipment-intensive treatment process trains that will be expected to perform on a highly reliable basis.”

This is exactly what the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) Panel told the District last September, and because of that, they recommended a small pilot project first.  Although District Board and staff insist there would be state-of-the-art technology and redundancy in monitoring for contamination and system failures, one need only look at what happened in Monterey County recently when similar state-of-the-art technology and redundancy FAILED, with unknown amounts of raw sewage dumping into the Monterey Bay and no one even aware it was happening.

The Brown and Caldwell Technical Memorandum further states on page 7 “it is critical that these facilities be initiated and completed within a specific time window (to meet both the District’s Board of Directors’ goal of replenishing the groundwater basin by 2022 and the liquidation date of Prop 1 Groundwater Grant funds by December 2022 should the District be awarded state funding)–a schedule that is more aggressive than is typically afforded for traditional DBD projects of a similar scope.” (bold type added for my emphasis on how quickly this project is being shoved through).

The consultants estimate that the Project cost will escalate by $5Million per Year.  It should be noted that consultants have advised the Board that the Project EIR does not have to be finalized before applying for the grant money.

Brown and Caldwell recommend, in interest of time, that the total design and construction be done by one firm, and that a Request for Proposals (RFP) be used rather than a standard bidding format because it saves time and is preferred by the construction companies.  On page 9 of the Technical Memorandum, the consultant recommends reducing the design level stage to 30% rather than a 60% design level, and admits that while speeding things up, it also adds commercial and schedule risks.  What the Board will consider at the Special Meeting July 24 is whether to adopt a firm commitment to this aggressive schedule and inherent risks.

Attend if you can.  I will video record this Special meeting and have it released on YouTube.

SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING NORTH COAST WATER THIS WINTER, IF AVAILABLE
I was really glad to hear District Engineer Taj Dufour state at last Tuesday’s Board meeting that the ending paragraph of staff recommendations regarding  the Water Chemistry Report by Black and Veatch had an error in the date of when the District could begin accepting North Coast stream waters. It had read “December, 2019” but Mr. Dufour assured the Board that the District can begin accepting water December, 2018.  That is great news, and will help the aquifer in the MidCounty area.

It is a pilot project and, as was stated at the MidCounty Groundwater Agency meeting last Thursday, could lead to negotiation in the future for greater water volumes to share or purchase.  I think this is very encouraging news.  To that end, it would seem prudent that the County Water Resources Director, Mr. John Ricker, should include in the current County water modeling project with HydroMetrics to include effects of reduced pumping by Soquel Creek Water District wells, or even halting that pumping completely during winter months.  Contact John Ricker and ask about that: John Ricker<john.ricker@santacruzcounty.us>

COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF DID NOT GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT
Betty’s Burgers is coming to Aptos Village in the space that has been a laundromat for years.  One might ask:  Where will everyone park?  It was a surprise to Bayview Hotel and Restaurant owner  Ms. Cristina Locke to learn that 100% of her parking area behind the Hotel would be granted to the new Betty’s Burgers customers, even though the legal agreement made in the 1980’s was for shared parking.  Despite multiple meetings with the new owner, and a verbal agreement for a solution, the Planning Department language  of 100% use got approved.  Ms. Locke had to appeal.

At the Appeal Hearing, it was made clear that the Betty’s Burgers parking study did not address weekend special events and restaurant needs of the Bayview Hotel and how that would conflict with the anticipated busy Betty’s Burgers parking needs.  The consultant for Betty’s Burgers, Ms. Dee Murray (a former Santa Cruz County Planner) stated that the Bayview Hotel did not record the 2013 Use Permit that would allow special events, so the document was not valid.  The Zoning Administrator, Ms. Wanda Williams (who has overseen the Aptos Village Project development) then stated that since the document had not been recorded, she could not consider any impacts on weekend parking conditions. and granted the Betty’s Burgers application.

Subsequently, Code Compliance staff determined that the Bayview Hotel and Restaurant Use Permit HAD BEEN RECORDED AFTER ALL.

Ms. Locke would have to appeal the Zoning Administrative decision with the Planning Commission, and pay $1200.  She cannot afford that.  Luckily, the Zoning Administrator did add language to the Betty’s Burger Permit to submit a report on parking issues in one year.  That will give Ms. Locke the opportunity to ask for amendments then.  Wow.

Here is the YouTube video link of that appeal hearing.

Those Zoning Administrative hearings are not recorded, but a member of the public recorded this one.  He plans to add the letter to Ms. Locke from the County, admitting that her Use Permit was recorded after all, but is invalid for other reasons.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NEEDS TO RE-INSTATE THE COUNTY BUILDING AND FIRE CODE APPEALS BOARD

During the County Budget hearings last month, Planning Department Director Kathy Molloy (-Previsich) stated that the reason the environmental review has not been done for the Sustainable Santa Cruz County Plan is because now the Planning Department needs to focus on getting all the unpermitted structures in the County addressed to make sure they are safe and habitable.  She reported that this will take a lot of staff time to work with property owners to address alternate methods and materials that will ensure the structures are safe and habitable.

The County had a Building and Fire Code Appeals Board, composed of industry professionals and contractors, that did just that, and it cost the property owner very little to appeal to them.  However, on November 19, 2013 the Board of Supervisors erased that group’s existence from County Codes and took over jurisdiction of all such matters…now charging $1800 for any appeals (after one pays $800 to appeal the Planner’s decision to the Zoning Administrator, and  $1200 to appeal that decision to the Planning Commission).  Doesn’t it seem logical that a group of industry professionals could be better-qualified to determine materials and methods for assisting property owners in meeting the Planning Department’s “SAFE AND HABITABLE” requirements?  Doesn’t it seem also more likely that property owners who want to reconcile permit issues might trust a Building and Fire Code Appeal Board of citizens, rather than the Planning Department?

Here is the resolution to amend the County Fire Code that abolished the Building and Fire Code Appeals Board and gave the power to the Board of Supervisors.  Notice that the new wording also makes the Fire Official an ex-officio member of the Appeals Board with no ability to vote on any matter before the Board.(Chapter 7.92.108.1) and that the list of qualifications for the Appeals Board was deleted (7.92.108.3).

Please contact your County Supervisor and ask about the wisdom of this situation, and insist that the Building and Fire Code Appeals Board be re-instated with qualified industry professionals, rather than the Planning Department spending inordinate amounts of time making decisions that property owners have to pay to appeal to a Board of Supervisors that is NOT qualified to determine the merit of the case.

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

July 21, 2018
#202 / Just Spell My Name Right
Pictured is “Big Tim” Sullivan, a New York City, Tammany Hall politician. Here is a brief biography from Wikipedia:

Timothy Daniel Sullivan (July 23, 1862 – August 31, 1913) was a New York politician who controlled Manhattan’s Bowery and Lower East Side districts as a prominent leader within Tammany Hall. He was euphemistically known as “Dry Dollar,” as the “Big Feller,” and, later, as “Big Tim” (because of his physical stature). He amassed a large fortune as a businessman running vaudeville and legitimate theaters, as well as nickelodeons, race tracks and athletic clubs. Sullivan in 1911 pushed through the legislature the Sullivan Act, an early gun control measure. He was a strong supporter of organized labor and women’s suffrage. The newspapers depicted Big Tim as the spider in the center of the web, overstating his criminal activities and his control over gambling in the city. Welch says that, “assigning the role of vice lord to Sullivan gave Tammany’s enemies a weapon to be wielded in every municipal election between 1886 and 1912.

Sullivan may also have been the person who first proclaimed, “I don’t care what the newspapers say about me as long as they spell my name right.” However, this attribution to Sullivan is not really clear. The honor might go, instead, to P.T. Barnum. Click on this link to see a discussion about who said it first.

If you are interested enough in “Big Tim,” you can click right here to find out more about the “gun control” legislation that Sullivan authored. According to the account that accompanied the picture featured at the top of this blog posting, the famous “Sullivan Act” was designed to take guns away from law-abiding citizens, while preserving the ability of gangs and mobsters to maintain their guns, all the better to terrorize the citizenry.

I haven’t done any real research on that topic, and am not at all sure that the claim just referred to is accurate. Wikipedia down rates claims that Sullivan was mobbed up, and pretty much identifies Sullivan as a progressive hero, advocate for the “little guy,” backing women’s suffrage and organized labor.

I ran across Sullivan’s name because of my interest in that well-known quote. These words about politics and publicity are the real subject of today’s blog post:

“I don’t care what the newspapers say about me as long as they spell my name right”.

Having been an elected official myself, and one who was never supported by my hometown newspaper, and who thus received a lot of “negative publicity,” I can verify that there is some truth in this observation. Which brings me to our current president, Donald J. Trump. 

I agree with Patrik Müller, a Swiss journalist. Müller points out, in a column in the June 19, 2018, Wall Street Journal, that Trump is glorying in, and profiting by, all the negative publicity he is receiving. Müller’s article is titled, “The Press’s Cult of Trump,” and it is his observation that the press’s obsession with our president’s every utterance or action is helping to elevate the president’s power and significance, and thus the president’s ability to assert a political dominance that is in no way justified by any reality of his person or his politics.

Maybe Barnum, not Sullivan, really was the first person who first pointed out that even “bad” publicity is “good” publicity. Barnum has always been associated with the saying, “there’s a sucker born every minute,” and while the attribution of that saying is also contested, our president doesn’t have to know where these observations came from to seize upon them as helpful guides to his political conduct.

President Trump’s ferocious obsession with the media and his willingness to do anything to get his name before the public indicate that he has learned these lessons well, no matter who first pointed out these political truths.

Without trying to discover the origins of this advice, maybe we can finally realize the profound significance of the observation that for a politician and public figure even “bad” publicity is often “good.”

Feed a cold, but starve a fever. That’s another well-known advisory. Isn’t that a pretty good prescription about how we should treat “Big Don” Trump, as he appeals for our attention?

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

CLASSICAL DeCINZO. Se another classic DeCinzo…”Shopping news and views” by scrolling downwards just a bit.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Car- tuning with Putin” 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 take on the kissing of trophies titled . “Kiss This”!!!

EVENTS

CABRILLO FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC. July 28-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.

41^st ANNUAL MUSICAL SAW FESTIVAL. 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. Highlights of the festival.11:00 am Musical Saw Contest The 41st annual Saw Contest is the longest running saw contest in the world and they will crown their 2018 champion.
12:00-4:00 Featured performers, awards, chorus of the saws. 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.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “In case you missed it, big fun was had at Bookshop Santa Cruz last week as we launched Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge out into the world. Thanks to everyone who showed up to make the evening such a success! And read all about it this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Also, if you can’t judge a book by its cover, what can you glean from Page 69?  Find out as I cruise around the blogosphere in support of my Beast!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. July 24 has Dr. Larry DeGhetaldi CEO of Sutter Health Santa Cruz and Pres. of Palo Alto Medical Foundation of Santa Cruz talking about medical issues and developments. He’s followed by UMI Santillan and Astrid Medrano from QEUC ( Quality Eduction in UC’S ). On July 31 Angela Franklin and Dave Weaver from C.F.O.G. Citizens For Orderly Growth in Scotts Valley will talk about their area issues.  On August 7 Dr. Shawna Riddle of PAMF talks about staying healthy. Attorney Bob Taren discusses politics and problems on August 14^th. 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.  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. VLADIMIR PUTIN…. (born October 7, 1952)

“Those who fight corruption should be clean themselves”. Vladimir Putin
“Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan, ‘You’re either with us or against us”.  Vladimir Putin
“I am the wealthiest man, not just in Europe, but in the whole world. I collect emotions. I am wealthy in that the people of Russia have twice entrusted me with the leadership of a great nation such as Russia – I believe that is my greatest wealth”. Vladimir Putin

DATELINE July 16, 2018

COUNCIL CANDIDATE CROWDING. Word just came in that the Santa Cruz for Bernie team endorsed Justin Cummings and Drew Glover for Santa Cruz City Council. They also endorsed – Jenny Sarmiento, Watsonville District 4, Lowell Hurst, Watsonville District 3, and the Santa Cruz Rent Control and Tenant Protection Act, as well as State Proposition 10: Costa-Hawkins Repeal. July 16 was the first day for candidates to file to run. Richelle Noroyan is the only incumbent in the race. She’s good friends with the Take Back Santa Cruz right-wing law and order group. Then there’s Donna Meyers and Paige Concannon, and Cynthia Hawthorne is running again. Robert Singleton, the executive director of the Santa Cruz County Business Council, hasn’t declared his candidacy yet. He ran before, and is probably trying to figure how to get rid of or solve the rumors of a #metoo incident back in Sacramento.

OCTAGON PLATZ. The noon-time weather was great, so returning to sit at the Octagon was good fun last week…and I get lots of secret plots and ideas from friendly passersby. For example, 2 or 3 carpenters are working hard to rebuild the inside of our historic Octagon. The Octagon was built in 1882 and served as our County Hall of Records. It’s a very rare structure and served as a display space for the Art & History museum. Later on it became a popular meeting spot ,as Lulu’s Coffee House. Now — under San Jose developer John McEnery — it’s going to be a SUSHI BAR. So much for respecting our historic heritage.

OCEAN STREET EXTENSION re. GRAPEVINE REPORT. Last Tuesday (7/10) Ellen Aldridge, head of the steering committee of the Ocean Street Extension Neighborhood Associatio (OSENA), gave an excellent report of what’s happening to their neighborhood. The Ocean Street Extension has about 40 neighbors, and is located just downhill from Graham Hill road and across from the Santa Cruz Memorial Cemetery. “Quail Terrace Apartments” owned by Rick Moe and Craig Roswell are the would-be developers. Check out a “fly-by” of their proposed 10 three story, buildings or 40 condominiums at 1930 Ocean street  http://1930ose.com/overview. Note too that there’s no space for children to play, and that it’ll bring in at least 80 new resident cars or 180 trips per day. There are problems with the EIR that came back in June, and there are further issues with a groundwater basin and drainage from uphill on Graham Hill. Ellen stated that the rents will be around $2400 and up per month. That’s nowhere near what is truly affordable. Let’s see what our City Council does with this developer scheme. So far the only Council feedback has been from Sandy Brown and Chris Krohn.

REGAL’S RIVERFRONT THEATER CLOSED FOREVER! Movies mean a lot to Santa Cruzans and when I learned early Friday morning (7/13) that Regal had closed up the Riverfront I thought maybe I have a scoop! Ishmael, the current manager of the Regal 9 on Pacific, told me that “western management came in last week looked our situation over, and said they are closing the Riverfront”. He added that the Regal 9 is taking as many employees from the Riverfront as possible. The Riverfront was opened July 10, 1970 as a United Artists, and Lisa Jensen was one of their concession counter people. People just aren’t going to the movies as much anymore. Many, many other theaters have folded long ago. Netflix now has more views than Cable itself. Regal has already sold many of their other theaters, like in Malibu and Hudson Valley. Regal had 7,315 screens in 561 theaters in the USA. Cineworld bought the Regal chain last February. As mentioned back in April, Mark Cuban put his Landmark theater chain up for sale…no more news on that one, or the fate of our Nickelodeon or Del Mar. I wrote this in Facebook last Friday because I never know when BrattonOnline will get online, and like I said, I like a scoop once in a while. If the Regal/ Cineworld chain really wants to stay in business, especially on Pacific Avenue, we gotta wonder why they keep pushing Coca Cola and Join the US Army commercials at every screening!!! ( If you want more of the Riverfront Theater history look at this…

July 16^th 2018

COASTAL COMMISSION DISAPPOINTS.
Last week I praised the California Coastal Commission (CCC). This week…not so much. In a unanimous vote, commissioners approved the tearing down of the Tide Cliff cottage on the ocean side of West Cliff Drive that I wrote about in last week’s column. Disappointing but not surprising. I went to the hearing not expecting a different outcome since I had read the staff report and its recommendations. I went to request two small conditions be added: that the color of the new house be retained as a soft blue/gray in harmony with its natural surroundings of sea, sky and fog and that the new large plate glass windows be designed to prevent bird strikes since the structure is in the Pacific Migratory Flyway. The current windows are modest in comparison with what is proposed for the new house. I opted to avoid an impassioned plea to save an iconic piece of Santa Cruz history. While tempting, that would be a spit upwind on a blustery day.

Commission staff, Dan Carl presented the report and recommendations. Listening to him, you would have no clue that this house held any history or meaning for Santa Cruz: just a piece of expensive real estate that held interest because it is on the ocean side of West Cliff Drive and is a non-conforming structure. Never mind that non-conforming allows for repair and maintenance only, not new construction, according to city rules, which apparently can be bent. Take a look at the interior of the current house in the photograph from the real estate’s brochure when the house went up for sale and eventually sold for $3.9 million. Does it look as though the only option is to tear it down?

My 3-minute presentation was low key and made the case for the two small conditions to be added. I cited the staff report under the Design section, which states, “all development shall be sited and designed to protect public views as much as possible, including through the use of colors and natural materials to be sensitive to the bluff edge location.” Commissioners had received public correspondence advocating for retaining the current colors and noting that a dark brown finish will be like a hole in the sky. The new owner’s property manager was allowed to respond. She claimed that the dark brown treatment planned for the new house was not simply a paint job so no, keeping the present colors was not going to happen. The plate glass windows will be non-glare, which doesn’t help the birds. She did allow that they would adhere to whatever is required for bird safety so that will be up to the city’s building codes which are presently not bird friendly although some changes are in the works.

I did expect some lively discussion from the commissioners. Especially since the city planner who spoke still maintains this is a re-model not a new construction.  No such discussion ensued. After a few comments from commissioner Aaron Peskin who seemed to catch on that the city is playing games and advised the city to clarify its standards; after a commissioner thought that dark brown is in harmony with the 3 trees on the property; after shout outs to the property owner for being asked to make fairly expensive changes (such as removing illegal riprap) and shout outs to the staff for being creative, a commissioner opined that this is “a big improvement,”  and the motion to approve the staff recommendations was made, followed by a unanimous vote. What? No shout out to the Santa Cruz community for having to accept yet another piece of its history torn down by those with big money?

I found the commission’s lack of concern for our local history and efforts to preserve it, more than disappointing. The city rarely disappoints since I have no expectations beyond whatever developers want, developers get. However I brightened up a bit when I realized that each day the commission meets, they start with public comment and there was one day left. So, bright and early Friday I attended the meeting, signed up to speak and spoke my mind.  Not low key this time. When I sat down, two strangers leaned over and said “well-done.”  If only I could somehow have included, “go ahead, make my day.”

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.

July 15 

Looking for Justin to be on the other side of the podium after November. Justin Cummings for Santa Cruz City Council 2018! He’s is an exciting candidate, but don’t necessarily take my word for it, come and here him speak at his campaign kick-off, August 11th at 357 Parkway in Santa Cruz, 3p-5p.

WHAT’S AT STAKE IN THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL ELECTION?
This is just one of a series of columns I will write leading up to the November elections in which I will describe the votes made by the current city council majority these past two years. I urge voters to go out and do the research and elect candidates that will more reflect the deeply held values of affordable housing, environmental protection, standing up to the UC Regents, and pursuing sane transportation solutions for our community.

Neighborhood Integrity
From the Eastside to the Westside, from 7th Avenue to Western Drive the present Santa Cruz City Council majority when given the opportunity, has chosen corporate interests over neighborhood voices almost every time. For example, the neighbors of Ocean Street Extension looked to the city council for relief when PG&E carried out a series of tree massacres in their neighborhood. Their pleas however fell on five pairs of deaf ears and it was not until they hired a lawyer that the tree-cutting ceased, although perhaps only temporarily, but again, the council could step in at any time and stop PG&E’s ongoing baseless practice of cutting all trees near their gas lines. Neighbors on the Westside, situated behind where a bulkier, taller, and glitzier Hampton Inn that will be built at Mission and Swift, approached the city council earlier this year with some relatively minor suggestions–grow some trees to shield nearby houses and move a driveway among others–and they were also rebuffed. On the upper Westside it was a cell tower that was disputed by neighbors. The current council majority wouldn’t even consider asking the corporate, near-monopoly cable-vulture, Comcast to move the tower out of the neighborhood. I really could not wrap my head around that one. The council had the discretion, and once more decided against the twenty-plus neighbors who came out for a Tuesday night public hearing to pleading for relief. Many perhaps, wished they’d stayed home to watch the Warriors. The group’s spokesperson even teared up when discussing the cell tower’s proposed location: outside of his daughter’s bedroom window. The city council gave the go-ahead to Comcast, a big thumbs-up for more private cable service.

Still More…
Perhaps the most egregious abdication of council power came in the form of approving a hotel rebuild of the Lanai Lodge on 2nd Street. This “tear-down” and rebuild would completely obliterate the various ocean views of the assisted-living residents at Sunshine Villa on Third Street. This council majority was simply mute to the pleas of Sunshine Villa staff and residents, and only too willing to do the bidding of developers on the advice of city staff. When will this kind of legislating end? Only when voters go to the polls this November and elect pro-neighborhood advocates as city council members. We need councilmembers who are willing to buck the advice of the city staff once in awhile, ones that place the hopes and values of community residents over the needs of the corporations that are busy carving up Surf City in order to make their $cha-ching$. Corporate has plenty of representation right now on the SC city council. It’s time to bring some balance back and elect representatives who will serve the interests of the community first. These are but four examples in which neighborhoods were dissed, but there are several more I could discuss. For example, does the corridors plan, remember, it’s still out there… or the Beach Flats Community Garden, do thesering any bells? Vote this November for neighborhood preservation, community environmental values, and standing up to UCSC.

Creating Truly Affordable Housing
Now, here comes the challenging part…the next council majority has to work alongside the above-mentioned neighbors to bring about significant numbers of truly affordable units that we so desperately need in our city. This means city planning staff and our affordable housing developer partners have to put it on their to-do list to go out and survey the needs and wants of neighbors. We need to obtain their input on the kind of additional housing they would like to see in their own neighborhoods. It won’t be easy to achieve significant affordable units until we make neighbors a part of the planning process and not just an afterthought. We will know soon if the long-expected housing bond will make it to the November ballot, but the next council has to be pushing staff hard on leveraging the money Sacramento is making available to assist cities in addressing not only their affordable housing needs, but the needs of the homeless as well. Affordable housing and homelessness are inextricably linked community matters and we need an integrated strategy. If the housing bond does not make it to the ballot, or is defeated, what does the next council have to work with? The Skypark property that the city still owns in Scotts Valley (the old SC airport) is worth well over $8 million. Along with innumerable parcels the city also owns, we have the means of leveraging Sacramento money in not only building new housing, but buying up current units and keeping them at affordable prices in perpetuity. Of course, an additional funding source needs to be identified–real estate transfer tax, business license fee increase, hotel tax increase–and be allowed to exist apart from the sky-is-falling Calperspension fund payments scenario, which the city will have to continue to invest in heavily since this is a commitment made to its employees.

Celebrating the Natural Environment
When assessing Santa Cruz, few observers would ever leave out their love and admiration of the Santa Cruz natural environment. I might go so far as to say that environment is what brought many of us here and it is what keeps the rest from bailing. The physical environment can never be taken for granted; it needs our constant care and stewardship. Every candidate and city councilmember has to consider protection and enhancement strategies for the environment if they are to effectively represent voters in this community. What is to be done? Plenty. Start by developing a Department of the Environment. Then bring in a staff biologist to join the recently approved river coordinator, and together allow them along with the existing Climate Action Committee to evaluate all future development. Begin with the proposed five-story “library-garage” proposed at Cedar and Lincoln, the current site of the downtown Farmer’s Market. If we are serious about protecting our precious resources, we need to make some big decisions and investments now before it degrades. Maintenance and protection funds for the Pogonip, DeLaveaga Park, West Cliff Drive, the San Lorenzo River, and other city owned lands needs to be increased considerably. Within a Department of the Environment the needs of the environment would be considered, 24/7, instead as I keep hearing, if there’s money in the budget this year we can maybe get to it…

Next week’s campaign topics will include the City-University relationship; transportation: the pedestrian-bicycle-bus-car experience; and why this community is special when it stands up for immigrants in the face of an out of control federal ICE machine, and our support for the native peoples at Standing Rock, both being issues that reflect our community values and are rooted in the unique political history of Santa Cruz.

“Nothing is more important now than doing everything in our power to stop the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court”. (July 15)

(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

CLASSICAL DeCINZO. A repeated view of our local bicyclists..see below.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Health Alert #19” down a few pages. It’s part of his dreaded Trump disease series…be very cautious. 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. July 28-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.

41^st ANNUAL MUSICAL SAW FESTIVAL. 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. 

Highlights of the festival.

11:00 am Musical Saw Contest The 41st annual Saw Contest is the longest running saw contest in the world and they will crown their 2018 champion.
12:00-4:00 Featured performers, awards, chorus of the saws. 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. 

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com), I’m ready for my close-up at Bookshop Santa Cruz (Tuesday, July 17), reading from and signing Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge! And a father’s determination to live off the grid in the wild impacts his teenage daughter’s budding need for community in the quiet, absorbing Leave No Trace, reviewed in this week’s Good Times! ” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

KZSC  88.1 FM or live online at
www.KZSC.ORG     TUESDAYS 7-8 P.M.

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. Ellen Primack exec. dir. of The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music discusses it on July 17. Also on the 17 Jean Brocklebank and Michael Lewis share the latest news on our public library issue. July 24 has Dr. Larry DeGhetaldi CEO of Sutter Health Santa Cruz and Pres. of Palo Alto Medical Foundation of Santa Cruz talks about medical issues and developments. He’s followed by UMI Santillan from QEUC , Quality Eduction in UC’S . On July 31 Angela Franklin and Dave Weaver from C.F.O.G. Citizens For Orderly Growth in Scotts Valley will talk about their area issues.  On August 7 Dr. Shawna Riddle of PAMF talks about staying healthy. Attorney Bob Taren discusses politics and problems on August 14^th. Aug. 28 has Lisa Rose and Ken Koenig from Santa Cruz Indivisible talking about their latest plans and events. 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 Whitworthon 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.    “RUSSIA”

“Russian Communism is the illegitimate child of Karl Marx and Catherine the Great”. Clement Attlee, as quoted in The Observer (1956).
“Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”. Winston Churchill
“Nobody and nothing will stop Russia on the road to strengthening democracy and ensuring human rights and freedoms”. Vladimir Putin
“In Russia I felt for the first time like a full human being. No color prejudice like in Mississippi, no color prejudice like in Washington. It was the first time I felt like a human being”. Paul Robeson
“I do not hesitate one second to state clearly and unmistakably: I belong to the American resistance movement which fights against American imperialism, just as the resistance movement fought against Hitler”. Paul Robeson