THE BOARDWALK’S PLEASURE PIER. Circa September 1953. The pier was built in 1904 and named the “Electric Pier”. It was taken down in 1964, at the same time they filled in the plunge baths inside the Boardwalk’s Casino.                                                         photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE April 16, 2018

STOPPING UCSC GROWTH MEETING. The Coalition for Limiting University Expansion (C.L.U.E.) has planned an important meeting for this Thursday, April 19. It’s all about stopping UCSC from adding 12,500 new students. If you care about the future of Santa Cruz — and maintaining any sense of the unique community we still have — it’s a meeting you shouldn’t miss. Gary Patton, in his article printed below in BrattonOnline, talks about UCSC growth and says, “If the University President is proposing to build 14,000 beds in the entire UC system, and UCSC is going to furnish 3,000 of those beds, then the President of the University is suggesting that the UCSC campus provide 21% of the new beds. Well, is there something wrong with that? I think maybe there is!”  The CLUE press release states:

“The University of California, Santa Cruz is proposing to increase enrollment to 28,000 students by 2040, an increase of 8,500 students from the 19,500 limit allowed by 2020 under a lawsuit settlement in 2008. Including the additional faculty and staff needed to serve these students, and their families, the total of new residents will come to about 12,500, roughly equal to the population of Scotts Valley”.

Can our area handle an increase of that many people? We already have a serious shortage of housing, let alone affordable housing; our roads and streets are regularly jammed with traffic; and our water supply is challenged.

On June 5, Santa Cruz voters will be asked to decide whether they think the present enrollment cap of 19,500 students should remain in effect. While the ballot measure, known as Measure U, is not legally binding on UCSC, it is hoped the voters will send a strong message to the university that its impact on the town is already at — or beyond — the city’s ability to handle without critical problems.

In support of Measure U, and to organize ongoing opposition to more UCSC growth, CLUE, the Coalition for Limiting University Expansion (which successfully fought to limit UCSC growth 10 years ago) is holding a meeting at the Santa Cruz Police Station Community Room, 155 Center Street, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Speakers will include County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty, City Councilmembers Cynthia Mathews and Chris Krohn, Save Santa Cruz leader and former County Supervisor Gary Patton, Ted Benhari and John Aird of CLUE, Sierra Club Chair Gillian Greensite, UCSC Professor Emeritus Jim Clifford of the East Meadow Action Committee, and Supervisor Coonerty aide and UCSC Environmental Studies lecturer Andy Schiffrin.

Measure U was placed on the ballot by the Santa Cruz City Council. Both the Council and the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors have approved a resolution urging the university to limit enrollment to the current 19,500 limit, which UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal has flatly rejected.

UCSC’s past growth has already had an impact on the quality of education at the college. Students are jammed into every available space, seats in classes and at the libraries are scarce, and transportation delays often prevent students from getting to classes on time. To house new students, UCSC has embarked on a construction plan that includes a highly controversial development on the East Meadow, which many consider a violation of the vision of UCSC’s founding fathers, who sought to minimize the impact of buildings.

If UCSC does indeed grow to 28,000 students, a nearly 50% increase, it will very likely require construction of some 4.5 million square feet of new buildings (dormitories, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, etc.), equal to about 37 Costco Warehouses stores! This would be, by far, the largest construction project in the history of Santa Cruz.

It’s time to say: while we appreciate all that UCSC has brought to Santa Cruz, enough is enough!

STOP THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP/AUTO ROW ON UPPER 41ST IN SOQUEL.
The eager and very active Sustainable Soquel group sent an urgent announcement. It states… “Everything about this Auto Dealership Project is Wrong! It has been proposed for the worst-rated intersection for traffic in the county, and rushed and promoted by the CAO’s office and Planning Department. Unlike most cities, our county has no prepared transport truck route requirements, no “on” or “off” street loading requirements, and no delivery time requirement or test drive route requirements.

Trucks in this center lane location exacerbate the unsafe and unbearable traffic jams EVERY DAY!!!!! This project ignores the “guiding principles and Strategies” of the County Sustainable Plan recommendations, which supports local business and mixed use designs to improve and benefit our local community’s way of life. Say NO to changing the zoning from C-2 mixed use Commercial to C-4 Service Commercial industrial.

Your voice and presence is critically needed. Please attend the Planning Commission Hearing on

April 25th meeting  at 9:00 A.M. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at 701 Ocean Street, Room 525. It’s urgent that you come in person, or send your comments to:  

Planning Commissioners: Dann, Shaffer Freitas, Guth, Lazenby, Shepherd

Through staff: Michael.lam@santacruzcounty.us

And to: Todd Sexauer, Environmental Coordinator, todd.sexauer@santacruzcounty.us

and send those comments to Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Leopold, Friend, Caput, McPherson, Coonerty
 

County of Santa Cruz Planning Department
701 Ocean Street, 4th Floor
Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060

 
Here’s a Link to the Final Environmental Impact Report

Sustainable Plan: Santa Cruz County Planning Department

CITY OFFICES IN THE LIBRARY? An important factor in the Santa Cruz City Staff’s urgent plot to spend that money to build a new library with the five story parking lot above it is that City Manager Martin Bernal has said many times — but not too publicly — that the city wants to move some old and some new offices into the present library space. We need to remember that.

420 CELEBRATION…OUTDATED? Has it dawned on everybody now that weed is legal that the annual huge smoke-in held at UCSC’s west meadow will be sorta anti-climactic? We should take bets on the total number of attendees, compared to other years.

FRANKENSTEIN AT THE MAH!!! This is the 200th anniversary celebration of Mary Shelley’s writing of Frankenstein. There are celebrations up at Stanford and around the world this week, pointing out the importance of the book. Cabrilho College’s Honor Transfer program is presenting a free celebration this Wednesday, at the Museum Of Art and History. There will be “lighting” talks by five Cabrilho faculty members. Topics include; What does it mean to be human, How does technology define us? How do women resist marginalization? and lots more. The Celebration goes from 5-6:30 p.m. and then folks can walk over to the Nickelodeon where they’ve set up a special screening of National Theatre Live’s production of Frankenstein starring Benedict Cumberbatch at 7 p.m.

April 16, 2018

GROWTH FAIRY

Google Buses, UCSC Growth, and Density Bonuses, Oh My!
I’ve been trying to piece together this crazy time we are living in. Because of the dizzying pace of Trumpville—Comey book, Syria bombing, the constant Whitehouse staff turnover, environmental deregulation on every front, and the debilitating effect Trump Tweeting has on the nation—I begin to shut down and go into a kind of hyper local mode. Affordable housing, rent control, UCSC growth, putting libraries in garages, homeless camps, Google-Apple buses on Pacific Avenue, building on the East Meadow of campus, and real estate vultures using rent control to scare people into selling…all that somehow seems tamer, and immensely more interesting than the D.C. scene. I also keep wondering about the Federal government’s overreach and the coming battles over cannabis, sanctuary cities, climate disturbance and off-shore oil drilling. Is Trump pushing California towards even more progressive stances? Santa Cruz too.

Density Bonuses and a Map
The Density Bonus issue, along with the potential passage of SB827, will likely impact Santa Cruz in ways that create more expensive housing, tax our water infrastructure even more, and make it ever harder to pick up kids at 3 o’clock and take them to their baseball games, dance rehearsals, or piano lessons…Go to transitrichhousing.org and follow one of my constituents suggestions: “Zoom in on Santa Cruz and you will see the area..both sides of the River…past Ocean and most of Downtown and Ocean…and this density…does not guarantee affordable housing…the equation for 35% density, so if 20 units – 2 low-income…and they add 7 units of bonus so [the yield is] 27 market-rate and 2 low-income.  That is far less than half of our previous 15% inclusionary model.”  Beware of the state wrapping shiny housing mandates using colorful developer paper and ribbons.

Linkages?

Are all these issues related? Are we living out a kind of “House That Jack Built” reality in Surf City? You remember the poem:

This is the House that Jack built.
This is the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.
This is the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.
This is the Cat,
That killed the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.
This is the Dog,
That worried the Cat,
That killed the Rat,
That ate the Malt,
That lay in the House that Jack built.

A Santa Cruz 2018 Version (apologies to above poet):

This is the town the developers did not build.
This is the Farmer’s Market
That lay on the site, without the garage,
That Swenson, Lawlor, and Ross did not kill.
This is the affordable housing cat
That ate the real estate rat
That lay on the site of our Farmer’s Market
This is the rent control petition
That worried the developer and
That killed the real estate rat
That worried the Google Bus driver
That lay on the site without the garage
That Swenson, Lawler, and Ross did not build!

Santa Cruz Politics, Drifting…
You get my drift?  We can do this people! We cannot only “Save Santa Cruz,” achieve “housing justice,” and slay the UCSC Growth beast, but why not launch a progressive offensive? I believe we can create a housing land trust, build a 24/7 homeless shelter, create a car-free Pacific Avenue, negotiate a UCSC cap of 19,500 students TOTAL, and reform both our city budget and local commission structures! Of course, it will take some fairy dust, along with a whole lot more civic involvement, new and old organizing strategies, and sweat equity if we are to keep Santa Cruz weird and democratic. What about this radical notion: Let the people decide. That’s a pretty cool concept…we decide and then take responsibility for our decisions. If the rent control-just cause eviction part of the petition, for example, does not work then let’s vote to change it. If we want councilmembers whose priorities are affordable housing, addressing homelessness and transportation and water resources, and shifting the conversation off the have-nots and onto the haves, then let’s vote to put them in office. A form of Trumpism is here in Surf City too, and we need to stay active and participate.

Okay, I’ll Stop
Enough with the Bully Pulpit already, how about some news? Well, I told you last week I would report on city council biz that happened after the BrattonOnline deadline. The first-come-first-served “encroachment permit for Astound/Wave Broadband” digging and laying of fiber optic cable was passed over the objections of Councilmember Sandy Brown and myself. Then, about a dozen neighbors came out to protest the city’s coming Jump Bike program’s (the company was recently acquired by Uber) deployment of racks along West Cliff Drive. In an amendment to the main motion to send the West Cliff Jump stations back to the Public Works and Transportation Commission and look into possible Delaware Street locations, there emanated a 4-3 vote to NOT pay attention to neighborhood concerns, but instead to plow full-steam ahead with the installation (view shed obstacles?) of these gleaming orange-red bikes along iconic West Cliff Drive. In the evening the joint city council-water commission meeting yielded little in the way of news headlines. Since we are at 18 total inches of rain this season, off our “normal” 31 inches, the joint body voted to institute a Phase I Water Emergency, which only means no watering gardens and lawns between 8am-5pm. A couple of temporary “water monitors will also be hired to go around to warn, and if need be, fine customers. The group put off until 2019 a decision to identify an alternative water source. Recycled water and desalination (seems all but dead) are still in the mix of alternatives.

A Sit-down with PD Chief Mills
Sandy Brown and I met with Police Chief Andy Mills recently to discuss the contents of an $80,000 consultant’s report, “Police Department Operations Analysis/Parks and Recreation Department Park Ranger Division Review.” The funding for this study was approved by a previous city council and presumably supported by the outgoing former police chief, Kevin Vogel. Funny thing was, Brown and I came with a set of questions about other stuff too like the use of the BearCat tank and a revamped police review board for Santa Cruz, so we had to schedule another meeting to get more deeply into the report. Mills said that he is committed to a high level of transparency on the deployment of the BearCat tank and will provide monthly reports. Mills sees the behemoth military-style vehicle as necessary, but not necessarily the open door that many fear to further militarization of SCPD. He says he understands the issue, and if I understand him correctly, further militarization will not happen under his watch. The chief also said, somewhat surprisingly, that there might be some room, from where he sits, to work with a future community police review board. Right now, he said there’s a “Chief’s Panel” that he meets with and receives feedback from neighbors. Recently the park ranger program was placed under the chief. We discussed the future of this program and he says he understands the tension between rangers who want to patrol the parks and provide information to residents about flora and fauna and cool the natural environment vs. some rangers who have been hired who want to become future police officers and who might not be that interested in open spaces and recreation. This issue will need future attention and it will be interesting to see how it plays out. I would like to see the blue-shirted CSOs (Community Service Officers) take on more of the activities that rangers have been tasked with now. In addition, Chief Mills is in favor of setting up an alternative to 911 call service for less emergency matters; he’s open to more social workers patrolling alongside cops and dealing with the myriad mental health issues that come up; and he is closely monitoring the police substation currently located across the street from the city-supported homeless camp at 1220 River Street. While there have been relatively few instances in which the substation has actually been active, he believes it has helped neighbors perhaps stay calmer knowing there is a police presence in the area.

Important Dates on How to Stay Woke
April 19–If you are OPPOSED to any more UCSC growth you want to be in the house on Thursday, 7pm, Police Community Room. It will be a forum to make the case why 19,500 students are our city limit and no more! Ryan Coonerty, Gary Patton, Gillian Greensite, and Cynthia Mathews will all be presenting their views on UCSC growth. Don’t miss this one.

April 18—People’s Democratic Club (PDC) endorsement forum for the June 5th election will take place starting at 6:30pm this Thurs. at the Democratic HQ in the Galleria Building on Front Street, downtown.

April 21—NAACP hosts Amos Brown at their annual Gala event at the Dream Inn, Sat., 5-8pm. You do not want to miss this one either. Former San Francisco supervisor and civil rights activist icon Amos Brown is the real deal!

May 1–This is one of those meetings that slips through the cracks because the Warriors are on, or the school play is happening, or the book you’re writing needs attention…At 7pm on Tuesday, May 1st, the Santa Cruz City Council will be discussing the downtown growth plan. Just so we are clear, many things are on the table: the library-garage project; proposals for 800 units of housing development in and around the Metro center; the future of the old library building (if it in fact moves into the bottom of a gleaming 5-story parking structure!?!); the proposed new site of the downtown Farmer’s Market; and development of the parking lot next to the red church between Center and Cedar streets. That’s a lot!

“I want to thank the teachers across the country who are saying loudly and clearly that taking care of our kids and schools is more important than giving tax breaks to billionaires and large corporations.” (April 3, 2018)

(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. From the classic DeCinzo files… “an historic Coonerty”  Don’t miss it!!! Scroll below for it.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Tim Eagan’s ” National Health Alert #16 Brain Aneurism 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.

MUNCHING WITH MOZART. This is a series of free monthly concerts at the Central Branch of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. This concert presents music for two pianists with guest soprano, Sheila Wiley. Hear art songs by Schubert, Brahms, R. Straus, as well as music from Oklahoma. Also piano duets by Kurtág, Inghelbrecht, and Leó Weiner. The pianists are Irene Herrmann and Mickey McGushin. This FREE concert is April 19, from 12:10 to 1:00 at the Central Branch of the Santa Cruz Public Library, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz.(in the meeting room upstairs) For more information, email Carol Panofsky at panofsky@cruzio.com.

SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER PLAYERS. “The Variety Of Three” is the title of their last concert of the season. There’ll be musics by Beethoven, Piazolla, Gliere and Arensky. Ivan Rosenblum, Shannon Delaney, and Kristin Garbeff will perform. The concerts are Saturday April 21 at 7:30 and Sunday April 22 at 3 p.m. As usual the venue is Christ Lutheran Church 10707 Soquel Drive, Aptos (near the CHP Headquarters).

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa is writing , editing, musing , proofing and reading and will have new stuff next week. Go to her site at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/).” Lisa has been writing film, theatre reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. . On April 17 Davis Banta director of Assassins at Mountain Community Theatre talks about the Sondheim musical. Then Jeffrey Smedberg and Amanda Altice from The Reel Work Film Festival reveal this year’s festival films. Candace Brown discusses the choosing of a new Parks and Recreation Director on April 24. May 1st has Kathy Bisbee talking about Virtual Reality and Air Pollution. May 8 is KZSC’s bi-annual Pledge Drive time. 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.   “BOOKS”
“So many books, so little time.” Frank Zappa
“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.”   Groucho Marx,
“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” Jorge Luis Borges
“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” Groucho Marx

HEART OF SOQUEL 1951. This is (or was) the corner of Soquel Drive and Center Street. The Congregational Church was built in 1868. For more church history http://ccsoquel.org/history photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE April 9, 2018

NICK AND DEL MAR UP FOR SALE? Ever-alert Joe Blackman sent the news that billionaire Mark Cuban — star of the Shark Tank tv show, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and as we know from the last few years… owner of the Landmark Theatre chain — is looking for buyers of the theaters. Landmark bought our Del Mar, Nickelodeon and Aptos Theaters from Jim Schwenterly, who bought them from Bill and Nancy Raney, who started Santa Cruz’s love affair with art, independent and foreign films. I just learned the the Regal Theater chain is now owned by Britain’s Cineworld. Cineworld paid $3.6 billion for the 561 theaters. AMC is the biggest chain in the USA, with 626 theaters and 8,123 screens. What’s happening from the sources I can reach is that attendance in the USA movie theaters has been dropping. Local managers will agree on that. Now international fund sources are eager to take over. More later on this.

NEW PARKS AND REC. DIRECTOR — WHO CARES? (and why?) We’ll be getting a new Parks & Recreation Director pretty soon. Current director Mauro Garcia is retiring and Martin Bernal is planning on doing a national search. Carol Scurich will be the interim director. It’s vital that we pay attention to this appointment, because the position holds more influence than is generally realized. As council member Chris Krohn stated… “Remember, the director of Parks and Rec. has enormous latitude in making decisions about the natural and built environment. He currently oversees the greenbelt lands, oversees policy and purchases of harmful pesticides, hires consultants (with reputable enviro credentials, or not…), purchases  vehicles and equipment, and oversees the golf course, community gardens, and beaches (even covering who gets a permit to operate a surf school). This position has great responsibility and a budget that runs into the millions”. Candace Brown will be talking about this on the April 24 broadcast of Universal Grapevine KZSC 88.1 fm.

PUBLIC LIBRARY. The forces behind the concept of building a five story building and putting a new Santa Cruz Public Library on the ground floor — and problems with the entire concept — got a deep introspection on my Universal Grapevine show last Tuesday (April 2). Jean Brocklebank, Chris krohn, Judi Grunstra and Rick Longinotti all spoke every excitedly and knowingly in opposition to the idea. You can hear it for two weeks at   http://www.radiofreeamerica.com/dj/bruce-bratton go to April 2. They talked about Downtown Merchants that don’t want it. They talked about renovating the present library, they spoke of the problem of more car traffic in our downtown, the relocating of the weekly Farmers Market, ugliness of the structure, misuse of the bond money we voted for…and lots more. Listen to the program and get involved… it seems like if the folks opposed to building student housing on the East Meadow at UCSC can get 45,000 signatures against such waste, we should aim to beat that and stay in charge of our Downtown environment.

PYNCHON WINS GREAT AWARD!! Years later and I’m still impressed by Pynchon’s desire to remain so secretive. Meeting him in Aptos as I did years ago when he was living here and working on his book, “Vineland”, he sure didn’t seem like such a non-social guy.  He liked listening to Charlie Lang’s Two Steps from the Blues on KUSP and Upper Crust Pizza. This just in from The Mercury News…NEW YORK (AP) — Thomas Pynchon is receiving a $100,000 prize this spring from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. But that doesn’t mean he’ll turn up to accept it. The academy told the Associated Press that the 80-year-old Pynchon has been named the first winner of the Christopher Lightfoot Walker Award, a lifetime achievement honor. Academy executive director Cody Upton said the media-shy author was aware of the prize, but he isn’t expected to attend the May 23 ceremony in New York. Pynchon’s eight novels include “Gravity’s Rainbow,” “Mason & Dixon” and “Inherent Vice.” He is known as being extremely protective of his privacy and has not consented to be photographed in decades. He did, however, provide his voice for an animated version of himself — a character wearing a bag over his head — for two episodes of “The Simpsons.”

TOM LEHRER AT 90!!! According to the article in “nature-international journal of science”… famous personality Tom Lehrer lived and taught here at UCSC from 1972 through 2001, when he retired. He still lives here part time. Many, many of us were lucky enough to attend his class sessions in UCSC’s Stevenson’s Fireside Lounge to hear him play and summarize the plot of the musicals that his students would sing. Them were the days… and he added a lot to those days.

LOU HARRISON CIVIC AUDITORIUM. Phyllis Cardoza once a Santa Cruzan, still reads Bonline and sent this… Having read your piece in your latest Bratton Online, I agree that there should be something with Lou’s name on it.  Remembering the many times I saw him sitting in the Civic Auditorium for the Cabrillo Festival concerts, perhaps the auditorium or indeed the entire building can be named for him with a sign outside and inside bearing his name.  I’ll be glad to sign a petition to that effect. What a great idea. Let’s get a petition going and if they get around to modernizing the Civic we could re-name it.

April 9, 2018

Let My People Go

Santa Cruz Renters sing:

• Well, I looked over Jordan and what did I see
• Coming for to carry me home
• A band of Angels coming after me
• Coming for to carry me home

Santa Cruz Landlords respond:

• We’ve seen this movie before.

Rent Control Fear in River City: Anti-Rent Control People Win One Battle, 17-14
The evening council meeting on March 27th was all about housing, and it appeared to pit a large group of renters against an even larger number of landlords, developers, and real estate interests. It was a night when the California Apartment Association perhaps out-organized the Movement for Housing Justice and Students United with Renters. Maybe the two latter groups didn’t show in even greater numbers because they were out gathering signatures on the rent control petition. As 31 people addressed the council on the agenda item, the Housing Blueprint Committee Report, the landlord-developer group won. By my

“I want to thank the teachers across the country who are saying loudly and clearly that taking care of our kids and schools is more important than giving tax breaks to billionaires and large corporations.” (April 3, 2018)

unofficial tally, there were 17 speakers opposed to rent control and 14 were in favor. This housing committee is made up of councilmembers Martine Watkins, Cynthia Chase, and Sandy Brown, and even though rent control is not really part of the committee’s charge, the public clearly showed up to either support or denounce rent control.

After hearing from city staff and the public, the final results on the council side of the podium were minimal. No actual housing or city resources would be expended, just more time to study the housing issue. The final motion included language that requested the Housing Blueprint Committee and staff  “to prioritize specific projects that may yield more immediate results, specifically highlighting ADUs and legalization of unpermitted units and inclusionary rates…” All good stuff if enacted, but council direction seemed to be to simply study the issue more and return to council at a future unknown date. Councilmember Sandy Brown and I were able to get a slight opening on the 20-25% housing inclusionary that Brand-New Council candidates campaigned on in 2016. In the end, Councilmember Cynthia Mathews tossed a bone by including this language in the motion: “Explore an increase in the inclusionary rates.” Oh yeah, one BIG concession too: staff was directed to send letters to all landlords and let them know, ‘er, umm…by the way, the city is in a state of emergency with respect to housing and you are hereby directed by the rent freeze ordinance NOT to raise the rent on your tenants.’ This last part of the motion is significant. But, isn’t telling landlords they can’t raise their rent prices a little bit like telling Donald Trump he can’t Tweet? Folks, the fight is on.

Council Side Note
In the afternoon city council session, the developer dream of “Density Bonus Provisions for Affordable Residential Units” (sounds pretty good, but there would be very little affordable anything in actual practice), which means adding more floors if the developer provides a unit or two of affordable housing–was unexpectedly sent packing, at least for the moment. The city council, on a 4-3 vote (Watkins, Chase, Brown and Krohn in the majority) requested the density bonus issue go back to the Housing Blueprint Committee. Seems like that committee was snubbed by the Planning Department, which bypassed them and went straight to council with this ever-so urgent (NOT) request.

Blood on the Tracks: Santa Cruz Together Turns Out a Crowd Ready to Fight Rent Control
I went to several public meetings this week, but one I attended is rather memorable. You’ve likely heard that the making of public policy is often compared with sausage-making? Well, what happened in the Police Community Room on Center Street last Wednesday (April 4) night was a window into the process of making fire and brimstone. A new pro-property group, Santa Cruz Together, called for a meeting to discuss some tactics and strategy on how to defeat the as yet qualified rent control ballot initiative. Speakers that night seemed to firmly believe it will be on this November’s ballot. Dan Coughlin, self-identified as having a “business degree,” and Lynn Renshaw, an “MBA from UCLA,” presided over a packed house of 100-plus. While Coughlin emphasized the group was comprised of “property providers,” and “mom and pop landlords,”  Renshaw laid out an analysis of where the Santa Cruz bubble might go if rent control passed at the ballot box. “It imposes burdensome relocation fees… [with a rent board] there’s no sufficient oversight and it sets its own salaries…impartiality is not required…someone who is not credit-worthy still gets a sub-lease.” In addition, she offered some overhead slides for the crowd to chew on: 37,672 register voters in the city, 13,205 single family home owners, 14,643 renters in houses, and 9,824 tenants renting apartments. I think she was trying to get across the point that a great effort by this group would have to be undertaken if rent control was to be defeated. Then it was back to Coughlin for some basic strategy points: 1) “speak from the heart,” 2) “acknowledge the plight of the tenant,” and 3) “don’t pick fights with students.” Pretty good advice! Coughlin also added, “This campaign was born out of the NextDoor site, if you are not on it, get on it.”

City Council is ‘Meeting-Light’ this Week
The often obscurely written Santa Cruz City Council agenda, while still obscure this past week, was on the lighter work side. Of course, there are the usual BIG-sounding topics: Climate Action Plan Update; city give-away of “encroachment permit for Astound/Wave Broadband” network for more lousy cable deals; and lots of money being spent by the H20 department for an “inflatable dam rubber bladder replacement project” at $200k, and a “professional services contract” ($173k) to plan for a “capital improvement project” for the Laguna Creek and Major Creek diversion facilities. The council was also asked to approve “right of way” permits at seven locations, the most controversial being Swanton and W. Cliff, for the coming Jump bike stations program. Perhaps the most significant issues were two items referred to the “closed session” agenda: “Arlt v. City of Santa Cruz,” concerning the death of a local Dad, Sean Arlt, at the hands of SCPD and the “negotiations” concerning the “Skypark” property the city owns in the middle of Scotts Valley, site of an old airport. The real fireworks may occur later in the evening when there will be a joint city council-water commission 7pm meeting. Since the BrattonOnLine deadline comes before the council meeting, I will let you know next week if we take up the chorus that I am continually hearing from Santa Cruzans: My water bill is too damn high! Will our sky-high water bills be the elephant in the room, or take center stage?

There’s an old adage to politicos, “If you want a friend in this town, get a dog.” I would expand it to include a cat and baby goat too. Virgina Wolf, a baby goat, is our newest edition…and I would recommend one to every councilmember who is ever feeling sad, depressed, or lonely.

See you next week.

(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. Checking in with our favorite Sheriff’s Deputies …twirl below just a little ways.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Hanging Around with 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.

SECRET FILM FESTIVAL. The 13th Annual Secret Film Festival takes place at the Del Mar Theatre from Saturday, April 14 at 11:55pm until Sunday, April 15 at noon. The festival runs all night with the titles revealed as each screening begins. All of the films are Santa Cruz premieres. Last year’s festival included the premieres of The Little Hours, Free Fire and Train to Busan. Concessions is open all night. Wear your PJs, bring a pillow and spend the night watching movies!

ESPRESSIVO ORCHESTRA. April 15. This concert is titled, “Eight, Nine, Ten—Go! ” It happens Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 3:00 pm at the Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center located at 1010 River Street, Santa Cruz, California. They will play Ludwig van Beethoven Rondino (Octet), WoO 25 (1795) – Franz Lachner Nonet (1875) – and Jean Francaix Dixtuor (1987. For tickets and information go to  http://www.espressorch.org

MUNCHING WITH MOZART, a series of monthly concerts at the Central Branch of the Santa Cruz Public Library presents a concert of music for two pianists with guest soprano, Sheila Wiley. Hear art songs by Schubert, Brahms, R. Straus, as well as music from Oklahoma. Also piano duets by Kurtág, Inghelbrecht, and Leó Weiner. The pianists are Irene Herrmann and Mickey McGushin. This FREE concert is April 19, from 12:10 to 1:00 at the Central Branch of the Santa Cruz Public Library, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. For more information, email Carol Panofsky at panofsky@cruzio.com.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Friends, I’m taking a brief hiatus off the blog before the summer (movie) madness begins next month! And while I buckle down to the REAL work of editing my next novel (the one coming after Beast) — after having finally completed a (very) rough first draft. But do keep checking back for more news, reviews, and updates at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ).” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. April 10 has Santa Cruz Veterans advocate Dean Kaufman discussing news and programs created for our veterans. He’s followed by Robert Morgan talking about the Frankenstein 200th Anniversary Celebration conference happening at MAH. On April 17 Davis Banta director of Assassins at Mountain Community Theatre talks about the Sondheim musical. Then folks from The Reel Work Film Festival reveal this year’s festival films. Candace Brown discusses the choosing of a new Parks and Recreation Director on April 24. May 1st has Kathy Bisbee talking about Virtual Reality and Air Pollution. May 8 is KZSC’s bi-annual Pledge Drive time. 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.  “The White House”
“On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.  H. L. Mencken
“People say satire is dead. It’s not dead; it’s alive and living in the White House”. Robin Williams
“I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves, and I watch my daughters – two beautiful, intelligent black young women – playing with their dogs on the White House lawn. And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters, and all our sons and daughters, now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States”. Michelle Obama

DAVENPORT 1908. One of hundreds of area photos by Ole Ravnos. He came here from Norway and had a studio in Capitola from 1907-1915. You can see the towering cement plant structures off to the left.                                                        photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE April 2, 2018

OCTAGON PLATZ. Another beautiful noon hour or two, and sitting alongside the Octagon I get even more reports from inside sources that John McEnery IV had been showing two Asian gentlemen the insides of the Octagon only the week before, with hopes that they would open two non-competitive restaurants (with 270 sq.ft. spaces) inside that historic space. For some reason John still hasn’t removed detritus from the so-called Puppetry Institute that remains inside the Octagon. What’s even worse is that John leaves the Octagon’s glass door windows open, so the very many tourists and local curiosity seekers can see what a mess our precious County Records building has been left in.

LIVE OAK DEVELOPMENT. One hundred 600 square foot “market rate” rental units on Capitola Road right off 17th avenue…at the corner of 17th and Soquel by the Live Oak Supermarket across from the school!! That’s what being proposed by developer Sibley Simon,  husband of Nina Simon of MAH community Center (formerly Art & History). Sibley’s development company New Way Homes has played and posted many developments like the large one proposed near the Homeless Servicers center, but so far none are visible — and what’s with that? Showcases (ie. stacked and controlled) “feedback sessions” are being planned for April 12 & 14th. This is the time for genuine feedback IF you can avoid the post-its and stay after the bound-to-be lengthy developer presentations. Other members of New Way Homes developer’s team are Owen Lawlor and Robert Singleton. In other words, lotsa politics going on here!!!

UCSC’S EAST MEADOW ACTION COMMITTEE. These stalwarts have raised over 40,000 signatures from across the USA to stop UCSC from building 40 two-story units on the scenic and significant East Meadow. They sent this email Monday (4/02) … “As the new quarter gets underway at UCSC, the pace of protest against the East Meadow building plan will be increasing. Last week the university released its Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), which can be downloaded here.  It’s a complex, 600-page document, and we’re asking as many people as possible to request an extension on the 45-day comment period to make a serious review possible. Please write to Alisa Klaus, UC Santa Cruz, , Physical Planning & Construction, 1156 High St, Mailstop: PPDO, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or via email aklaus@ucsc.edu. “You should also look into their website www.eastmeadowaction.org

SANTA CRUZ PUBLIC LIBRARY. Lee Brokaw writes… 

Dear Editor…

I saw a picture the other day of the Carnegie library of Santa Cruz, times gone by.  I was reminded of the Carnegie library in Emporia, Kansas, which I visited with rapped anticipation, as a child. Part of the appeal was that magnificent ‘period’ architecture, the windows letting in natural light and the ornate craftsmanship.  I felt like I had arrived at a special place and that was before I saw a single book. How is it that the new proposed library/bomb shelter will create such feelings? It won’t, not for the patrons nor the workers. This is nuts! I predict it will fail to bring clientele, then what will we do? “Things are the way they are because rich people feel that they don’t have enough money. ” I quote myself.  Let’s not feather some one’s nest over this stupid idea. Lee Brokaw

    PS the libraries of great civilizations have been architectural master pieces

LOU HARRISON HOUSE NEWS. I’ve mentioned several times over the decades that it’s a shame there is not one single monument, street, building, auditorium or even a plaque mentioning our world-famed and now-departed composer Lou Harrison. In the few years just before he died he and partner Bill Colvig built a straw bale house in Joshua Tree. I’ve been there and it’s well worth the trip. Go here… to get an idea of the cultural events and respect Lou still encourages.

CLASSICAL DeCINZO. Check DeCinzo’s “World Family” view just a finger flick below.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Peeking Inside” 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.

NEW MUSIC WORKS. April 7.  New Music Works has a concert Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 7:30 pm in the Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High Street Santa Cruz, CA. The concert title is “BECAUSE”. The guest artists are; Akindele Bankole composer and vocalist- Sarah Cahill, piano- Lori Rivera, vocalist-Marina Thomas, organ –The Ariose Singers, conductor, Camille Couture -NewMusicWorks Ensemble, conductor, Philip Collins. They’ll play works by Akindele Bankole, Jon Scoville, Igor Stravinsky, Frank Pesci, John Thomas, John Lennon, Christopher Pratorius. More info and tickets at newmusicworks.org.

SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL. April 8. Their concert is Sunday, April 8 at 3 p.m. In the UCSC Music Recital Hall. The concert title is…”The Musical Offering–J.S.Bach” playing that day are Edwin Huizinga, Baroque violin. Lars Johannesson, traverso flute. Adaiha McAdam Somer, viola da gamba and Linda Burman-Hall, harpsichord. In 1747 J.S. Bach visited Potsdam, where the Emperor Frederick challenged him to prove his musical ability by immediately improvising on a theme composed by the Emperor himself. Bach’s genius prevailed, and this collection of canons and fugues are the result. This intricate music exemplifies the counterpoint nature of the challenge, with notes choreographed against one another in the “classic rock” style of High Baroque. This concert includes other works of Bach, and invites you to step into the heart of the dark, dramatic challenge of an Emperor. Tickets are available for purchase online, and at the door with cash, check, or credit card.

ESPRESSIVO ORCHESTRA. April 15. This concert is titled, “Eight, Nine, Ten—Go! ” It happens Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 3:00 pm at the Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center located at 1010 River Street, Santa Cruz, California. They will play Ludwig van Beethoven Rondino (Octet), WoO 25 (1795) – Franz Lachner Nonet (1875) – and Jean Francaix Dixtuor (1987. For tickets and information go to  http://www.espressorch.org

LISA JENSEN LINKS.  Lisa writes: “What’s more fun than a basket of puppies? Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, a savvy, funny social and political satire expertly told in stop-motion animation.  Find out what all the fuss is about this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/).” Lisa has been writing film, theatre reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. On April 2 the full hour will be devoted to the heavily debated proposed Library/Parking Garage with Rick Longinotti, Chris Krohn, Judi Grunstra and Jean Brocklebank. April 10 has Veterans advocate Dean Kaufman discussing news and programs created for our veterans. He’s followed by Robert Morgan talking about  the Frankenstein 200th Anniversary Celebration conference happening at MAH. On April 17 Davis Banta director of Assassins at Mountain Community Theatre talks about the Sondheim musical. Then folks from The Reel Work Film Festival reveal this year’s festival films.  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. “APRIL”

“Every year, back comes Spring, with nasty little birds yapping their fool heads off and the ground all mucked up with plants” ~ Dorothy Parker
“Oh to be in England now that April’s there.” ~ Robert Browning
“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” ~ William Shakespeare

DAVENPORT CEMENT PLANT.1967. The original cement plant was built by the Portland Cement Company and opened in 1905. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE March 26, 2018

LIBRARY UPRAISING, UPRISING, UPHEAVAL, USURPING. Few issues touch and affect as many citizens and visitors like the managing of the city library, any city library…in any city. Santa Cruz is facing an extreme change in the very existence of the main branch of our library. Few citizens are fully aware (so far) of what and how the proposed developmental changes will work. Long time residents Jean Brocklebank and Judi Grunstra created a newsletter and an organization titled “Don’t Bury The Library” — DBTL — that keeps folks aware. Here is almost every word from their latest issue.
“Isn’t it nice that there is no official Downtown Chapter of the non-profit organization called Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries (fscpl.org)? There are six official chapters (Aptos, Boulder Creek, Capitola, Felton, La Selva Beach and Scotts Valley). Downtown is not one of them. So, for the moment, we are taking a bit of liberty in our greetings on this Update.

New DBTL Web Pages

• We have archived 13 of the previous DBTL Updates, in case anyone wants to catch up. Update #14 was a two liner, so we did not include it.   To see the new Updates page click here

• We added a page especially for the Downtown Library Advisory Committee (DLAC).  This page includes our opinion of the DLAC process, which is:  From the very beginning there were problems with the eight month DLAC process, including, but not limited to, lack of adherence to the call for a “minimum of three meetings” to “engage citizens and stakeholders in meaningful dialogues” concerning the proposed plan to abandon the now historical downtown library, an integral part of the City’s Civic Center. The process basically went downhill from there.   To see the DLAC page, click here

• Like us, some of you may be volunteers for the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, or may have donated to them over the years.  Because FSCPL has engaged in an extensive lobbying campaign to push acceptance of the DLAC recommendation for a library in a parking structure, we have added a FSCPL web page.  DBTL is challenging the accuracy of the content of the newsletters going out in the name of FSCPL.  To see the new FSCPL web page, go here   

Downtown Commission Meeting

On March 22 the Downtown Commission (DC) was presented with the DLAC Report.   The public was allowed 1-1/2 minutes each to address the Commission after the presentation.  About 10 people spoke, mostly from the Campaign for Sensible Transportation, including Rick Longinotti whose major point was that the parking garage would be subsidizing the library.  This is important because, as DBTL informed the Commission by email:

• Our main concern for your Commission’s consideration is whether it is appropriate (or even legal) to use Parking District deficiency fees to construct a parking garage that will also include a 44,000 square foot library as a tenant of the parking structure.  The foundation, walls and roof of the proposed library will be built with deficiency fees.  That 44,000 square feet will not be able to be used for parking spaces.  Is a library or affordable housing, both of which will reduce parking spaces in a parking garage built with parking deficiency fees… appropriate or legal?

Judi Grunstra, active in DBTL and wearing her Don’t Bury The Library sign, also spoke at the meeting, informing the Commission of the lack of real public involvement in the DLAC process.  Interestingly, a DLAC member actually told the DC that one of the things they did hear from the public was that people were opposed to a library in a garage.  Thanks, Judi, for being there early in the morning of a very rainy day!

A New Wrinkle
Just as the City of Santa Cruz is trying to use Measure S funds to build a new library in a parking structure — something never mentioned in the Measure S ballot language — so also is the City of Scotts Valley trying to use Measure S funds to build a theater adjacent to their library.  Additionally, the County, led by Supervisor John Leopold, is trying to build a so-called “Live Oak Library Annex” to be located 1/2 mile away from the Live Oak Library between the Simpkins Swim Center and the Boys and Girls Club.  What’s up with that?  None of these projects meet the “where necessary” construction phrase of Measure S language.

Don’t Bury The Library will be contacting the Joint Powers Authority for the system wide library and asking for oversight of Measure S funds to be placed on the agenda of their May 3 meeting.  Stay tuned for an update if and when that is secured.  Meanwhile, there are two news articles on our website, one about the Scotts Valley project (3/21) and another one of Stephen Kessler’s most recent editorial (3/16).  Both can be read here:  http://dontburythelibrary.weebly.com/news-and-articles.html

City Council Meeting Update: For now all we know is that the Council will not have the DLAC Report on its April 10 agenda.  It is even starting to look unlikely that it will be on their April 24 agenda.  As soon as we know, you will know!

Our Mission remains: Keep the Downtown Library Branch in its current location — remodeled, renovated, refurbished. Again, go to their website to learn still more about this…http://dontburythelibrary.weebly.com  

KZSC ONE HOUR SPECIAL. You can hear Judi Grunstra, Rick Longinotti, Christopher Krohn and Jean Brocklebank discuss the library issue on my Universal Grapevine radio program Tuesday night April 3 for the full hour 7 to 8 p.m. at 88.1 fm or KZSC.org (go to “Listen Now” on your device.

KSQUID OOZES UPWARD!!! Some highlights of recent happenings in what looks to be Santa Cruz’s newest fm radio station. KSQD already has 71 program applications from some very well known names in the county. Some are new to radio and some are long timers. Their first elected acting board members are: Rachel Anne Goodman, Chair, Ned Hearn, Vice-Chair, Jean Kratzer, Treasurer, and Linda Burman-Hall, Secretary. The first temporary broadcast studio will be located at 399 Encinal which is out in Harvey West near or next to the County Board Of Education offices. They’re working on a final FCC agreement, a call letter certification and a contract with UCSC to lease their tower. The legal name of the station entity is Natural Bridges Media and they’ve filed with the IRS for tax exempt status. There’s a need for more funding and like all independent stations there’ll always be a need for more funding…this time through Crowdfunding: youcaring.com/ksqdfm-1133919 . If you’d like to submit a program proposal do it through http://centralcoastcommunityradio.org/?page_id=106 . They expect to go on-air by mid-June. In the meantime they announced, “Join us for a KSQD-FM Community Radio Meeting at the Santa Cruz Public Library Community Room upstairs on Thursday, April 19, 2018, 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM”.

Dateline March 26, 2018

The Bernie “Tweet of the Week” is actually a video, “Inequality in America: A National Town Hall,” featuring Bernie Sanders , Senator Elizabeth Warren, film-maker Michael Moore, and economist Darrick Hamilton, It is riveting, informative, and offers a look at what a presidential team might look like working together in crystallizing national issues and forming consensus responses for the 100%, not just the 1%. Impressive. Check it out at:

KEEP GETTING WOKE
SHIT HAPPENS: THE UC “GOLD STANDARD” GROWTH PLAN FOR SANTA CRUZ QUESTIONED ON MANY FRONTS.
“The University of California is preeminent in educating the state’s young people, in enhancing research and scholarship in every discipline, in fostering economic growth, medicine, the arts, its athletic and other programs. Simply put, UC is the gold standard. Together, we must ensure that this standard is upheld.” (Janet Napolitano, https://www.ucop.edu)

The corporate offices of the University of California are located at 1111 Franklin Street in the city of Oakland, California, and its subsidiary, UC Santa Cruz has an address at 1156 High Street in Santa Cruz. Together they form an unelected growth machine in the midst of conceiving, and rarely revealing all sorts of growth plans they have for a coastal part of earth between the 36th and 37th parallels. (Yes, they act globally and do not seem to think much locally).But, at their own peril the public corporate cats based in “Oak Town” are shunting aside the views, opinions, lifestyles, and jobs of those who will be most affected by their education biz chess moves: students, staff, faculty and perhaps most significantly, the 45,000 non-university-related residents who live uneasily with the fear of being swallowed by a brand of education corporatism, which is nowhere to be found in UC President Napolitano’s statement above.

More than Just a Town-Gown Tussle
It turns out not all is well among the Surf City serfs. A full-scale attack is being mounted inside and outside the Kingdom of the Slug. This UC growth tape worm thing might not be the slam dunk UC officials were quite expecting. A coastal sleeping giant is waking up and ready for a fight. What’s at stake? That old, revered, and basic political notion known as sovereignty–self-rule, freedom, and autonomy. It’s being demanded by those damn “Townies,” while at the same time undermined by “The U, Inc.” UC Oakland may quickly find itself under siege as fast as the sea level may rise that some of its research scientists suggest could happen when the atmosphere has had enough of human-induced warming. But for now, who is studying resident indignation-rise around the City on a Hill? There are no fewer than five groups organized on and off-campus to not only “limit” university growth, as the CLUE lawsuit sought to do in the mid-2000’s–remember those days…Aaahhh, 2004, when you could actually find a seat on the 15, 16, or 19 buses; or a parking space after paying $4 for an A permit (now $9); or even get to Highway 1 in less than 25 minutes on any weekday afternoon?) These groups want to put a STOP to the inflow of any more students above 19,500 for a period, maybe for a period of five years. Outcries are coming from not only residents feeling besieged, but from students, staff and faculty who daily witness the quality and scholarship of a once pedagogically and ecologically avant-garde UC campus erode and begin to engage in daily conflicts with a once welcoming host city. In fact, the Santa Cruz city council has placed an up or down enrollment growth (referendum?) initiative on the June 5th ballot. Voters will be asked, yes or no, should UCSC grow past its current agreed upon cap of 19,500 students? Stay tuned, maybe we will have our sovereign day in our coastal fog and sun.

Who Are the Dissenters?
A newly formed group made up of current and emeriti faculty, the East Meadow Action Committee (EMAC), is pissed-off about the lack of transparency in developing the East Meadow (corner of CoolidgeDr. and Hagar Dr.) of the campus. In a pushback letter sent out March 23rd, the result of Chancellor George Blumenthal’s why-we-must-develop message to campus and community. EMAC says it is committed to “reverse the administration’s disastrous proposal [for the East Meadow] and seek a better way forward.”The letter further states, “What we object to is the way the housing crisis is being used, as in the administration’s letter, to justify an unprecedented and destructive move into the East Meadow.” The group says it’s already gathered over 500 signatures in the first week to stop development on the East Meadow of the UCSC campus. To see the letter and sign the petition go to: https://www.eastmeadowaction.org  Another group, the Community Advisory Group (CAG), is a group of over twenty countywide community residents appointed by the UCSC administration to offer input into the current Long-Range Development Process (LRDP) now underway. Although not as chary and outwardly upset as the potential fight the administration might find in EMAC, CWC, SC4Bernie, People’s Democratic Club, Campaign for Sensible Transportation, Santa Cruz Climate Action Network, and the Santa Cruz City Council, this group, the CAG, (rhymes with gag), recently received an overview from No Place Like Home and UCSC Sociology professor, Miriam Greenberg, about the SC housing facts we’ve all come to know so well. The “rents” being levied on dorm rooms are driving the rents ever-higher in town, thus forcing many to spend upwards to 70% of their incomes on housing before they join the cascade of rent-refugees heading to south county and beyond, victims also of an ever-expanding “commute shed,” as Greenberg put it. On March 16th, CAG members shook their heads, winced, guffawed and offered pointed questions in their third meeting with vice chancellor for business and administrative services, Sarah Latham and her dozen or so staff encircling the CAG member’s dais. The meeting finally ran out of time with many staying well beyond the two-hours to continue to prod the university on alternatives: why can’t qualified students attend less impacted UC’s like UC Merced or UC Riverside? Will UC provide the resources before sending any more students to Santa Cruz? Will there be housing for all students on campus first, before taking on any more students over the 19,500 agreed upon cap? You know, stuff like that. There seemed to be potential consensus-building moments among CAG members to severely limit anymore UCSC growth. This CAG group includes: Councilmembers Cynthia Mathews and myself, Supervisors Ryan Coonerty and Bruce McPherson, former Supervisor Gary Patton, former Chamber of Commerce director Bill Tysseling, former head of Redevelopment Ceil Cirillo, and the Committee to Limit University Expansion (CLUE) members Ted Benhari and John Aird. CAG actually might be the place to start to get to YES. Yes, on the future quality of life for all Santa Cruzans. Yes, to traffic mitigation and improvement. Yes, to bringing down rent prices on and off-campus. Yes, to quality education at UCSC. And yes, to improving our transportation and water infrastructure before any more student growth happens. Can I get an Amen!?!

Santa Cruz City Council Agenda Items to Look Out For

Since this column comes out after the city council meets (March 27), I want to offer a heads up on a potential bait and switch program by the SC director of planning, Lee Butler. In his (?) agenda report it states: “On October 26, 2017, the City Council approved a number of amendments to the Density Bonus Ordinance required for compliance with California state law. At that time, staff also presented two additional amendments not required by law but would make it easier for developers to use the Density Bonus Ordinance.”Seems like: “A provision was included for this option to allow its use at the discretion of [Lee Butler] the Planning and Community Development Director to enable future flexibility to address potential changes in federal programs or laws if needed.”Does this mean replacing mandated affordable inclusionary units with Section 8 units? Oh, and Lee Butler ends the report by saying there will be “no fiscal impact.” Fiscal impact on who? Renters? First-time home buyers? The developer’s bank accounts? Who? Stay tuned. On the evening agenda there was the “Housing Blueprint Subcommittee Report” back to the city council. The committee is recommending that the council “Receive a progress report on the Housing Blueprint Subcommittee’s work and authorize extension of the Subcommittee…and return to the City Council with first priority recommendations in June 2018 and an actual “blueprint” in August. What is going on? We started this process on June 24th, the half-year of housing, and we still have little in the way of actual policy changes. Yet planning staff has come through with plenty of changes, none of which seem to protect tenants. In fact, the council approved a rent freeze ordinance on February 13th and renters have come to councilmembers since, saying they are receiving rent increases, what can they do? This councilmember would expect planning staff to work with the city attorney to notify all landlords that there’s a rent freeze on, and to let all tenants know that they have rights under this ordinance. The city attorney’s office needs to provide protection for tenants, now. That is what planning staff should be bringing to the council, ooopps…

Here are the pictures of the week, which really is a  multiple collage of pictures from the March for Life in Phoenix, Arizona…similar to all the other marches I’ve seen around the country. It was spectacular in that the participation and leadership of students stands as a testament to what our country is capable of producing in terms of conscientious approach to stifling guns and gun violence in our country.

(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

Tuesday, March 20, 2018 | #79 / Corporations Are Persons, Too!

Zephyr Teachout, an academic, an activist, and a former candidate for Governor of New York, has written a nice review in The New York Review of Books. The book that Teachout has reviewed is called, We The Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights. 

Most of us know about Citizens United. This is the United States Supreme Court case that made clear that corporate “civil rights” includes the right to spend unlimited amounts of money on American politics. Money is just the same as “speech,” according to the Supreme Court, and we all know that “free speech” is fundamental to American democracy.

Some have observed a flaw in the system, as now structured under Citizens United. While we may all be free to speak out, individuals and corporations alike, it actually costs a lot of money to distribute a message to the American public. This is no problem if you have billions of dollars, like the Koch Brothers, and like many corporations. If you have the money, you can really say a lot! If you don’t have billions of dollars, it turns out that “free speech” isn’t actually “free.” Without the bucks to be able to distribute your message you are strictly out of luck.

Since I am basing this blog posting on a one-page book review, and not on the book itself, I am not exactly certain how We The Corporations addresses this issue. Teachout doesn’t highlight it. What did strike me in Teachout’s review, though, is her accurate observation that corporations are “persons,” too. If they are, and that is pretty undeniable, given the current state of the law, then corporations can be regulated in the same way other persons are. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible, to impose dramatic public regulations over the operations of all American corporations. As Teachout puts it: “We need neither abolish corporations nor accept them as they are; we can instead fight for new laws and for new Supreme Court justices. If we don’t like how corporations have appropriated civil rights in the name of citizens, we can change that”.

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. Professor DeCinzo looks at our “law enforcement” situation… scroll below.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Facebooked” 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, plus the ever entertaining Eaganblog with his “Grille of my Dreams”.

NEW MUSIC WORKS. April 7.  New Music Works has a concert Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 7:30 pm in the Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High Street Santa Cruz, CA.

The concert title is BECAUSE. The guest artists are; Akindele Bankole composer and vocalist- Sarah Cahill, piano- Lori Rivera, vocalist-Marina Thomas, organ –The Ariose Singers, conductor, Camille Couture -NewMusicWorks Ensemble, conductor, Philip Collins. They’ll play works by Akindele Bankole, Jon Scoville, Igor Stravinsky, Frank Pesci, John Thomas, John Lennon, Christopher Pratorius. More info and tickets at newmusicworks.org.

SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL. April 8. Their concert is Sunday, April 8 at 3 p.m. In the UCSC Music Recital Hall. The concert title is…”The Musical Offering–J.S.Bach” playing that day are Edwin Huizinga, Baroque violin. Lars Johannesson, traverso flute. Adaiha McAdam Somer, viola da gamba and Linda Burman-Hall, harpsichord. In 1747 J.S. Bach visited Potsdam, where the Emperor Frederick challenged him to prove his musical ability by immediately improvising on a theme composed by the Emperor himself. Bach’s genius prevailed, and this collection of canons and fugues are the result. This intricate music exemplifies the counterpoint nature of the challenge, with notes choreographed against one another in the “classic rock” style of High Baroque. This concert includes other works of Bach, and invites you to step into the heart of the dark, dramatic challenge of an Emperor. Tickets are available for purchase online, and at the door with cash, check, or credit card.

ESPRESSIVO ORCHESTRA. April 15. This concert is titled, “Eight, Nine, Ten—Go!” It happens Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 3:00 pm at the Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center located at 1010 River Street, Santa Cruz, California. They will play Ludwig van Beethoven Rondino (Octet), WoO 25 (1795) – Franz Lachner Nonet (1875) – and Jean Francaix Dixtuor (1987. For tickets and information go to  http://www.espressorch.org

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “The fruitful relationship between filmmaker Thomas Riedelsheimer (Rivers and Tides) and the extraordinary “environmental artist,” Andy Golsdworthy, continues in a vibrant new doc titled “Leaning IntoThe Wind – Andy Goldsworthy”, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/). See it if you want to get your own creative juices flowing! Also, details emerge about the upcoming audiobook and future giveaways for Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge!” 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. March 27 Chris Connery and Paul Schoellhamer from the East Meadow Action Committee talk about UCSC and development. Then local author Leslie Karst talks about her new book, “Death al Fresco“. April 2 the full hour will be devoted to the heavily debated proposed Library/Parking Garage with Rick Longinotti, Chris Krohn, Judi Grunstra and Jean Brocklebank. April 10 has Veterans advocate Dean Kaufman discussing news and programs created for our veterans. He’s followed by Robert Morgan discussing the Frankenstein 200th Anniversary Celebration conference happening at MAH. On April 17 Davis Banta director of Assassins at MCT talks about the Sondheim musical. Then folks from The Reel Work Film Festival reveal this year’s festival films. 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 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. “HOMELESS”

“You can spend the money on new housing for poor people and the homeless, or you can spend it on a football stadium or a golf course”. Jello Biafra
“If my fans want to do something for me when that time comes, I say, don’t waste your money on me. Help the homeless. Help the needy… people who don’t have no food… Instead of some big funeral, where they come from here and there and all over. Save it”. B.B. King
“I am thrice homeless, as a native of Bohemia in Austria, as an Austrian among Germans, and as a Jew throughout the world. Everywhere an intruder, never welcomed”. Gustav Mahler

BOULDER CREEK’S MAIN STREET. Circa 1910-1915. According to Donald Clark’s book “Santa Cruz County Place Names” it was named after the “many bowlders in the bed of this creek”!!! The town dates back to the 1860s. It centered on a river water-powered saw mill located there. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE March 19, 2018

DREAM INN EXPANSION….aka…”CLIFF AND BAY PROJECT”. Forces are mobilizing, neighbors are communicating, and environmentalists are strategizing over the newest and largest development our precious beach area has seen since the Dream Inn itself ruined our natural beauty. (Try to imagine our Cowell Beach and the coastline without the Dream Inn!) The Coastal Commission cares about sightlines, and this development would end sightlines for ¾ of West Cliff residents. When do they plan on starting and finishing construction? Are the traffic studies they’ve referenced current and accurate? What’s the total acreage? How many units per acre?

Have their plans been checked for compliance with zoning and the General Plan? What about the immediate and closest residents The ClearView Court Mobile Home Park and their Homeowners association? What’s the guarantee that the developer will adhere to the “affordable” housing percentage required? Or will it too “not pencil out?” Click here to read and see Dream Inn owners Ensemble Real Estate’s own website, and realize that their plotting is all too real!

UCSC’S EAST MEADOW DEVELOPMENT. The UCSC East Meadow Action Committee opens with a perfect description… “The East Meadow Action Committee (EMAC) is a group of University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) faculty, students, alumni, staff, and concerned community members. We have joined together in an effort to prevent development on one of the campus’s most important scenic landmarks, the East Meadow, north and east of the intersection of Hagar and Coolidge Drive on the UCSC campus. The open meadows are central to UCSC’s world-renowned design aesthetic. This proposal overturns a fifty-year tradition of environmentally-conscious planning. We support more, better and more affordable student housing and improved childcare facilities on campus. There are other places to build them that do not overturn UCSC’s proudest traditions”.

The website goes into well-developed ideas and issues. It concludes with… “Conclusion: We must provide more campus housing for students, honoring the 2008 compact with the City. Quality childcare is a priority, as is Family Student Housing. But there are certainly other ways to achieve these goals. If it is claimed that this is the only possible solution, we need to say, “not so fast.” For 50 years, campus planners have inventively found ways to grow without wrecking a unique environment. Acting with judiciousness and care we can sustain the traditions of stewardship that have made UCSC famous”.

City on A Hill, which has been producing some of the best reporting in the last school year that I’ve seen in my 48 years of reading it, has an excellent summary of East Meadow issues. One statement was… “Of particular concern was the announcement of development of the new Family Student Housing (FSH) facility in East Meadow, as well as the announcement that UCSC chose Bright Horizons, a for-profit child education company, to operate the early education center at FSH”. Go here to read the full story, http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2018/03/15/east-meadow-to-be-developed . UCSC affects, effects, impacts and re arranges all of our lives, and so we owe it to both the University and our community to keep up, and get involved in these proposed changes.

SIGN THE EAST MEADOW PETITION. There are already 600 signers to the petition. Go here to add your name…

UCSC’s LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN. Santa Cruz Board of Supervisor John Leopold’s latest newsletter has a survey from UCSC asking for input on their future. That is more than kind of him…go here…

MORE NATURAL FOODS MARKETS. Many mea culpas everywhere for not checking the statement in last week’s BrattonOnline, about New Leaf now being part of a much larger corporate market chain. The closing statement “Staff of Life is our ONLY local natural foods market” was part of a reader’s email that I printed, and was, it turned out, wrong. Reed Searle led all the fact checkers and pointed out, “Another natural food, health food store Aptos Natural Foods at 7506 Soquel Dr. is a good one”. Steve Premo added, “But isn’t Food Bin locally owned? What about Aptos Natural Foods?” Joan Martin adds that there are two markets in Felton and Boulder Creek that were named New Leaf but have dropped all connections with the Portland New Seasons chain and are now named Wild Roots Markets. I’ll edit and check more carefully, probably.

SANTA CRUZ INDIVISIBLE PLANS. I missed their early date (Sunday March 18) but check out all the other events they have planned. That would be March 25 and beyond

ROBBIE SCHOEN. Finally I got to visit with Robbie Schoen — former director, manager, planner and maitre d’ of the FELIX KULPA Gallery. More than that, Robbie was an integral member of the aesthetic team that hung and planned the design of MAH’s exhibits. Robbie recently went through some intricate brain and skull surgery and is doing beautifully. We’ll all be seeing him back around everywhere very soon.

ASSASSINS, THE MUSICAL…SOON! I love musicals, but only the really good ones. Most of my “good ones” have been written by Stephen Sondheim. Those certainly include Sweeney Todd, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The Forum, Into The Woods, and Sunday In The Park With George. I’ve only seen one production of Assassins, a UCSC student production at Porter College many years ago. It’s so rarely produced that I wanted to urge musical fans and friends to get tickets as soon as they are available. Davis Banta is directing this production at The Mountain Community Theater (MCT) in Ben Lomond at the Park Hall May 4-June 2. The cast comprises both MCT favorites and newcomers to MCT, including Robert Gerbode as John Wilkes Booth, David Jackson as Giuseppe Zangara, Alexander Garrett as Charles Guiteau, Benjamin Canant as Samuel Byck, Brittney Mignano as Sara Jane Moore, Brennan Perry as Leon Czolgosz, John Wasielewski  as John Hinckley Jr., April Bennett as Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, Sarah Kauffman as The Balladeer, and Mike Stark as The Proprietor.

If you’re wondering about timeliness, here’s some excerpts from a recent review (2017) of assassins. “Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman examine the motivations of the men and women who have killed — or attempted to kill — United States Presidents throughout history. John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Hinckley and others meet and interact in this revue-style musical. It has mad scenes, melodrama, minstrelsy and vaudeville. Wednesday night, when a character called the Balladeer sang the lyric “Every now and then, the country goes a little wrong,” applause stopped the show for perhaps 20 seconds”.

Still, when Giuseppe Zangara, who tried to kill Franklin D. Roosevelt, calls himself an “American nothing,” or when the nine assassins sing together about “another national anthem” that applies to the likes of them, you may feel, as I did, the rumblings of our unsettled country in your bones. “Assassins” is the report of that unsettlement, and the bang”. Tickets go on sale March 23 at Brown Paper Tickets. A very rare opportunity.

Dateline March 19, 2018; #78 / What Seems Right May Not Always Be Right
 

For years, I have read Land Lines, a magazine published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. The Institute advertises the magazine this way: “Land Lines draws on Lincoln Institute research to explore land-based solutions to social, economic, and environmental problems. Connecting the dots between our expertise and major global challenges, Land Lines shows why land policy matters.” In the issue of Land Lines published in January 2018, George W. McCarthy, President of the Lincoln Institute, wrote an article in favor of efforts to provide price controls in local housing markets. McCarthy’s article was titled, “Protecting a Share of the Housing Market,” and his recommendations speak to the kind of conditions that exist in my hometown, Santa Cruz, California. By the way, McCarthy’s credentials are pretty impressive. Click the link to review his resume.
Here is a key paragraph from early in McCarthy’s article (emphasis added):

In his 1949 State of the Union address, President Truman noted that to fill the needs of millions of families with inadequate housing, “Most of the houses we need will have to be built by private enterprise, without public subsidy.” Nearly 70 years later, our collective failure to solve the affordable housing deficit may stem from wrongheaded analysis of the problem, and the conclusion that market-based solutions can be designed to solve the mismatch between the supply of affordable housing and demand for it.

McCarthy, in other words, is telling us that “the market” has not (and will not) ever solve our affordable housing problems. Building more houses, in and of itself, will not result in new housing that is affordable to average and below average income members of the community. 

How could this be? Everyone knows about the so-called “law” of supply and demand. If demand exceeds supply, prices will increase. If a greater supply is provided, prices will fall until supply and demand are balanced. Belief in this supposed “law” of supply and demand leads to efforts to deal with our housing affordability crisis by determining that we need to “build more.” Yet, says McCarthy, this “build more” strategy won’t work to make housing prices more affordable to local residents. It will, though, result in more traffic congestion, more stress on the city budget and city facilities, like parks, and more demand for natural resources, like water.

Let’s be clear. McCarthy is a strong believer in the law of supply and demand, but he makes the point, as a matter of economic analysis, that this “law” only works within a single, contained market. If new housing built in Santa Cruz, to use my hometown as an example, were just going to be available to local residents, then building lots of new housing should bring down the price, and make housing more affordable to those who live and work in our community.

That, however, is not the actual situation. McCarthy, who looks at things from an “international” perspective, says that there are really “two” housing markets: the market for housing as shelter and the market for housing as an investment. Here is his comment on this issue (emphasis added):

Perhaps it is time that we question the conclusion that market-based solutions can address the challenge of sheltering a country’s population. Truman concluded that “By producing too few rental units and too large a proportion of high-priced houses, the building industry is rapidly pricing itself out of the market.” But Truman was thinking about the market for shelter, not investment. Remarkably, the number of housing units in developed countries significantly exceeds the number of households. In 2016, the U.S. Census estimated that there were 135 million units of housing in the country and 118 million households. One in seven housing units was vacant. This over-supply of housing characterizes every metropolitan market in the United States—even markets with extreme shortages of affordable housing. In 2016, 10.3 percent of housing units were vacant in New York, 6.0 percent in the San Francisco Bay area, 8.2 percent in Washington, DC, and a stunning 13.7 percent in Honolulu. The problem is that many households have insufficient incomes to afford the housing that is available.

What McCarthy is saying is that those who want to “invest” in residential housing (in Santa Cruz and elsewhere) will bid up the price of housing until the supply of housing for that “investment” market has been satisfied. That demand for housing as an investment is global, and it is HUGE, and by the time supply and demand come into balance for that “investment” market, ordinary working families looking for “shelter” are totally priced out.

In Santa Cruz, there is also another demand for housing that far exceeds the demand generated by local residents and local workers: the demand for shelter housing for persons who do not live or work in Santa Cruz, but who live and work in the greater Bay Area, where demand vastly outstrips supply. Because that demand is also HUGE, and because workers from the greater Bay Area have much higher incomes than residents and workers in Santa Cruz, more housing in Santa Cruz does not solve the local affordability crisis. In  a lot of ways, it actually makes it worse.

It is rather nice to have someone with real credentials back me up. Since my years on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, I have always contended that building more housing (with all its community impacts) will NOT increase affordable housing in our community unless the new housing is sold with permanent price restrictions, making it available to those who live and work in our community, and who have average or below-average incomes.

If we truly care about getting more affordable housing for our community, we need to insist that any new housing built will have a large percentage of the new units permanently protected for sale or rental to persons with average and below average incomes, as measured by incomes in our own community. This kind of housing is called “inclusionary” housing. Both the city and county used to have a strong commitment to inclusionary housing, but both the city and county have abandoned their strong inclusionary requirements.

I have been making an argument that our community should not allow more development unless and until a large share of the new housing actually constructed will be permanently protected as “inclusionary housing,” and made available for sale or rental to persons who live and work in this community. 

Resistance to this idea seems never ending, and not only from the developers, who naturally don’t like it. Ordinary community members, too, believe that the “law” of supply and demand means that “building more housing” will insure that there will be more lower-priced housing available for local members of the community.

It’s just not true, according to McCarthy. McCarthy is an actual “expert,” so check out his article. He says, in essence, that what “seems right” is not always “right in fact.”

Unless we provide permanent price restrictions on a very significant share of  the new housing built in our community, the community will get all the impacts that come with “more housing” and none of the affordability benefits that we so desperately need.

~

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. Goes to a health food restaurant…see below a scroll or two.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Suspicious Mole 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 about getting older.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Aging parents affect the lives of their adult children in surprising ways in Jewel Theatre Company’s new production of Kate Hawley’s “serious comedy,” Coming of Age, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express ( http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Also, Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge, earns an encouraging review from a prestigious source, and another book to recommend (not mine) from my adventures in reading!” 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. March 20 has former Santa Cruz county Supervisor Gary Patton talking about UCSC’s LRDP and many more local and broader issues. He’s followed by Kara Meyberg Guzman editor of the Santa Cruz Sentinel discussing the paper’s structure and plans. March 27 Chris Connery and Paul Schoellhamer from the East Meadow Action Committee talk about UCSC and development. Then local author Leslie Karst talks about her new book, “Death al Fresco“. April 2 the full hour will be devoted to the heavily debated proposed Library/Parking Garage with Rick Longinotti, Chris Krohn, Judi Grunstra and Jean Brocklebank. April 10 has Veterans advocate Dean Kaufman discussing news and programs created for our veterans. He’s followed by Robert Morgan discussing the Frankenstein 200th Anniversary Celebration & conference happening at MAH. April 17 Davis Banta director of Assassins at MCT talks about the Sondheim musical. Then folks from The Reel Work Film Festival reveal this year’s festival films. 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. “MEADOWS”

“Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odorless but all together perfume the air”. Georges Bernanos
“My ideal is to wake up in the morning and run around the meadow naked”. Daryl Hannah
“I know I can’t own a hilltop, a meadow, or a mountainside. But keeping it a secret somehow makes it mine.”Joyce Rachelle
“While it is relatively easy to recognize the perennial grasses and seed-eating sparrows as characteristic of meadows, the ecosystems exist in their fullest sense underground. What we see aboveground is only the outer margin of an ecosystem that explodes in intricacy and life below.”Amy Seidl, Early Spring: An Ecologist and Her Children Wake to a Warming World

VIETNAM PEACE RALLY. April 8, 1967. Loyal, active Santa Cruzans stood in front of the post office making their position on World Peace clear. That’s John Tuck — arms folded fourth from the right in the front row. Just behind John is his and our old friend Tom Scribner (wearing a hat) between the two signs. It was almost exactly 51 years ago…we’re still marching and protesting for Peace.                                                      photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE March 12, 2018

NEW LEAF MARKETS, CORPORATE STRUCTURE OF

Elizabeth Quinn was kind and involved enough to send this Santa Cruz and Aptos message.

She says — and I agree — that we should all read about the sale of and corporate takeover of New Leaf Markets in Santa Cruz: and also read about treatment of employees, and unfair union practices. Read about their executive board and Scott Roseman, too. Read about the plans for their new APTOS VILLAGE store… A new season for New Leaf

Elizabeth adds… “Now New Leaf is backed, along with the Portland New Seasons markets, by a big hedge fund, Endeavor Capital. Long-time New Leaf employees (whom I know personally) have been deliberately framed for infractions until enough was collected to fire them. The replacement employees are like automatons — they do not smile or speak or even appear to be present in their jobs. Undoubtedly they are paid less than the people they replaced.

From the article: “Endeavour has come under increased scrutiny by consumers and employees of New Seasons in the Pacific Northwest, particularly as the grocery chain vied for expansion into the Seattle area (where most grocery stores are unionized) while simultaneously pushing back against workers who expressed concerns about allegedly unsafe and unfair labor practices following Endeavour’s takeover.

Portland’s Local 555 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, or UFCW, recently launched a website, High Cost Endeavour to promote their “Endeavor Investor Watch” campaign and “raise awareness about the ethical implications and potential legal liabilities within Endeavour Capital’s investment portfolio.”

One key criticism of Endeavour (and in turn New Seasons) arises from ties to the M.J. Murdoch Charitable Trust, whose investments in various Endeavour funds brought more than $4.5 million in revenue for the trust’s grant-making operation in 2015. The trust, whose mission is “to strengthen the [Pacific Northwest] region’s educational, scientific, spiritual and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways,” has come under sharp criticism for its millions of dollars in annual charitable contributions to a wi e range of evangelical, homophobic, anti-choice, anti-union and anti-science efforts. These include The Alliance Defending Freedom (deemed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center) that sponsored the so-called “bathroom bills”; Americans United for Life, the “legal architect of the pro-life movement“; and The Freedom Foundation, whose “number one stated focus is to defund the political left,” to name a few.”

They tried to introduce Cheerios, etc., at New Leaf: “A January (2018) petition titled “Keep New Leaf organic” expressed dismay after Santa Cruz’s Westside New Leaf began stocking conventional products such as “Karo syrup, C&H sugar, and Cheerios as required by their parent company, New Seasons.”  Staff of Life is our ONLY local natural foods market. 

EDUARDO CARRILLO ART NOW AT PASADENA…
The Pasadena Museum of California Art recognizes the brilliant creative genius of our former resident, and long time UCSC professor of art, Eduardo Carrillo. He inspired hundreds of students and friends with his wild colors and subjects. The Pasadena Museum’s exhibit is titled “Testament of the Spirit: Paintings by Eduardo Carrillo”. It runs January 21, 2018–June 3, 2018. Go online here  http://pmcaonline.org/exhibitions/eduardo-carrillo and read about the artistic Chicano influence in the early 1970’s, and Eduardo’s role in it. Newcomers arriving here after 2000 have missed one of Eduardo’s masterpieces… a three dimensional Jesus-themed hallway, located in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz. City fathers, Chamber of Commerce and just about everybody allowed the business owners to paint over Eduard’s masterpiece so they could block the passageway and use it to store boxes. And still some folks think of Santa Cruz as aesthetically aware!

March 12, 2018

FOUR WOW ISSUES THAT PASSED A USUALLY DIVIDED CITY COUNCIL.

A Tutorial on What Can Be Done in the Minority

Bernie Tweet of the Week “I’ve never believed in this blue-state, red-state nonsense. Yes, Lubbock voted overwhelmingly for Trump. But any county in this country, which has people who are struggling, can and must become a progressive county.”(March 10)

February was a dry month for water, but a downpour happened on the policy front. If city council actions in February were measured meteorologically, it might be called one of the wettest legislative months on record. With a slightly center-right leaning mayor, David Terrazas, presiding over a politically fractured city council, no less than four significant policy issues were passed by the Santa Cruz City Council this past February. While relatively recent councils have voted to accept a BearCat tank from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, refused to purchase land for a permanent Beach Flats Garden, would not allow for a vehicle parking area for destitute residents, and for decades city councils have repeatedly turned down safe sleeping zones for homeless residents, these current council decisions might appear out of a Cuban play book. This is not to mention that the city manager’s office has reported that Santa Cruz spends upwards to between $18 million-$20 million on combating homelessness and substance addiction issues through its police, fire, and parks and recreation departments. Given that backdrop, the Santa Cruz city council approved a dizzying array of former politically left issues: funding for a homeless camp site at 1220 River Street; voting to place a measure on the June ballot calling on the university to limit its enrollment to 19,500, which is the currently agreed upon number from the 2005 Long Range Development Plan (LRDP); and a first-ever rent freeze was enacted on February 13th, along with a just-cause eviction ordinance. Given Surf City’s progressive history versus the current “moderate” council majority, one might assume that this group of councilmembers took a leap leftward. Probably not. More likely, former left-ish causes have become mainstream issues. It makes sense to set up a place for homeless people to sleep, to tell the university enough is enough, and to protect renters given that well over half of our residents rent.

Left vs. the Mainstream
Nationally, left issues like universal college tuition and healthcare for all have been moving steadily towards the center of American politics. Partly a result of Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, but also because so many Americans struggle to pay the always increasing health insurance costs, and student debt-servicing. Some day we will figure out how much creativity and job motivation is lost by people not changing jobs they no longer like, or grew out of long ago, simply because they do not want to lose their healthcare. Ditto with college loan payments. Graduates cannot take on a post-college internship for further career experience, but instead move into barista or restaurant jobs to pay off their loans. In the past, many young people could leave college with enthusiasm and an adventurous mindset perhaps, but now they are saddled with anxiety and find few opportunities that will pay their living expenses and debt-service payments.

The Ugly Underbelly of Rent Control Rumormongers
The rich are attempting to eat the less-rich. If you are a landlord you have received no fewer than five offers in the past two weeks to sell your property. One from Scott Webber and Aimee Dietle from Century 21 states that they “work with 3 separate investor clients that pay cash, fair market price and close escrow in 17 days.” Scott and Aimee don’t seem to get it. Seems to me the city council took an extreme action on February 13th, called for by many in this community, to pass a rent freeze and contain this disease called rent madness. Now, some realtors seem to be saying it’s a tough climate, so sell us your property, at presumably a bargain, because rent control is coming. “All 3 are seasoned property investors and would gladly assume the current tenant lease contracts you currently have.” Who are these people? Are they betting that the repeal of the Costa-Hawkins Act will not pass statewide, and that rent control goes down at the ballot box in Santa Cruz in November? “If you have any interest in discussing what your property is worth,” these realtors invite you to “please call or email us at your convenience.” (831-818-2817) Renters, it is darkest before the dawn and the vultures are indeed circling. The community must circle too around our collective survival and right to housing. The Movement for Housing Justice can be reached at: https://movementforhousingjustice.org

City council candidate, Drew Glover spoke to the council in favor of restoring funding for children’s programming at the Nueva Vista Community Center in Beach Flats…and $25k was indeed restored!

(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. Check DeCinzo’s reaction to Clint Eastwood’s movie directing. Just scroll below a ways.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” King Of The World”down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent  Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog and his thoughts on Treason and hangings.

COMING OF AGE. Playwright, actor , local, Kate Hawley’s newest play “Coming Of Age” opens March 14 and runs through April 8th produced by the Jewel Theatre at the Colligan Theatre in the Tannery. Paul Whitworth is directing, Mike Ryan, Nancy Carlin, and J.Michael Flynn are all acting in it. Kate described it on Universal Grapevine last week as being a serious comedy about aging and maturity. Knowing Kate and her works this’ll be a play we won’t forget!!! Tickets and more info at www.jeweltheatre.net

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Big thanks to the 3516(!) readers who entered the giveaway for Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge on Goodreads. Even if you didn’t win a copy, help me celebrate my approaching pub date with an unbelievably cool Beast of the Month from contemporary Welsh artist Clive Hicks-Jenkins, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/). As to last week — okay, I flubbed my Best Picture prediction (hey, it was the only prediction I got wrong!), but I couldn’t be more delighted that The Shape Of Water  swam off with the gold — a movie I loved so much, I just went to see it again! Can’t say the same for Sally Potter’s bitter black comedy, The Party, which you have my permission to skip. But do try to make it to a very special edition of The Gail Rich Awards, Tuesday night at the Rio!” 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.  . Roddey Reid author of “Confronting Political Intimidation and Public Bullying” tells us how to live during the Trump era on March 13. Then activist, BrattonOnline columnist Becky Steinbruner talks about many county issues and solutions. March 20 has Kara Meyberg Guzman editor of the Santa Cruz Sentinel discussing the paper’s structure and plans. 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. “DROUGHT”

“It’s so dry the trees are bribing the dogs.” Charles Martin.
“God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools”. John Muir
“Violence is like a weed – it does not die even in the greatest drought“. Simon Wiesenthal
“Any party which takes credit for the rain must not be surprised if its opponents blame it for the drought”. Dwight Morrow

WALNUT AND CENTER STREETS December 3, 1951. Joseph LaBue, accounting firm  used to be on this corner. Now it’s Asphera. They make optical aspheres which replace multi -ens designs..? Anyways, they had quite a rainy season back in 1951.                                                     photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE March 5, 2018

WHAT IF GOOGLE OR FACEBOOK??? With all the talk and strife regarding growth, rents, students, and development in general, just think about this…what if Google, Facebook, eBay or another monster tech giant announced they want to build and create a new branch factory right here in Santa Cruz? Of course it would be a big one — employing 1000’s — and creating a gigantic spiffy new architectural marvel taking up 100 + acres? Want to bet we’d have a civil war between all the businesses like Chambers, Associations, developers, ¾ of the city council and realtors versus environmentalists? It would be huge. We defeated the 10,000 homes planned for Wilder Ranch back in the 70’s, but I wouldn’t bet on it now. The difference between the reaction to UCSC growth and a Google Expansion…tell me about it!!!

DREAM INN PLANS REVEALED…AGAIN. Speaking of development,   last Friday’s Sentinel (March 2) had a sketch and some sketchy new plans for the parking lot across the street from the Dream Inn. The public’s loud and clear reaction to Long Beach-based developer Ensemble Real Estate Investments led them to replace the first architect, and make a few other changes. As the Sentinel states in its kiss-up copying of the developer’s wishes…“The project is a housing project, first and foremost. It’s an inclusionary project that offers affordable housing on site at income levels that will be attainable to local service workers,” Ensemble principal and project lead Tyson Sayles said in a sit-down interview Friday. “We’re not just meeting, we’re exceeding the city’s inclusionary housing standards, and we’re doing that to qualify for the state’s density bonus.” Apparently we are supposed to believe that. We know full well that maybe the Coastal Commission will stay firm, but we also know that after listening to developer’s pleas that it won’t pencil out and the affordable part will get lost. Watch this space, and don’t forget that once again it was — and is — the power of the people joining together that made these small changes possible.

BONNY DOON & DAVENPORT & CEMEX & BEVIRT. The latest issue of the Rural Bonny Doon Association’s  newsletter has an important article that affects our county….

Will Joby Aviation’s Cement Plant Plan Fly?

As Bonny Doon startup Joby Aviation pursues the purchase of the closed Cemex Cement Plant, Davenport residents are wondering whether they like the idea.

On Dec. 5 in Davenport, at a public meeting to discuss possible uses for the shuttered plant, Joby founder JoeBen Bevirt, who grew up on Last Chance Road, stated his desire to purchase the plant to develop an electric helicopter. Recently, Joby received a $100 million investment to help it stay ahead of several other major competitors around the world, including Uber. Bevirt’s vision is to build a helicopter fleet that can zip three or four passengers at a time above traffic, at a relatively reasonable cost, about $60. The machines are now being tested at the former Cemex limestone quarry east of Bonny Doon Road, which Bevirt bought a few years ago.
At the Dec. 5 meeting the proposal by Bevirt received a generally favorable response, though people worried that if he no longer controlled Joby the new management might not be as community and environmentally friendly as Bevirt. They also wanted to know a lot more specific details before blessing the proposal, like noise levels, how many employees will work there, and proposed flight paths. Bevirt is expected to respond in the near future, and there will be another community meeting to talk about it.

On Dec. 17, the Davenport/North Coast Association (DNCA) met with Bevirt and the County to formulate its terms for endorsing the proposal. The DNCA has several major concerns, regardless of who takes over the cement plant: that the small town nature of Davenport be preserved; that the tangled rights to San Vicente Creek water be settled and Davenport’s rights to it be permanently established and that new uses of the plant not impact the supply; that the new owners provide high-quality well-paid jobs; that any toxics at the plant be cleaned up; that it also be used as a visitor center and access point for Cotoni Coast Dairies and San Vicente Redwoods and that the Rail Trail connect to it; that oceanside development be limited (one of Cemex’s parcels is west of Hwy. 1); and that various other services be improved, including internet and cell phone communications, fire, police and postal service”.  Let’s see how the RBDA follows up on this one., and especially watch how their County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty handles it.

PRT SPONSOR SITE. If you glance to the right in this BrattonOnline.com you’ll see a bunch of sponsors. Also please notice the new sponsor PRT (Personal Rapid Transit). It’s a link to their website, as are each and every one of the other sponsor spaces. Almost all of them are there because of an annual donation. Considering our reading audience that annual donation is a considerable bargain considering the past and present feedback. If you or your organization would like one of those spaces email me at bratton@cruzio.com and we’ll make arrangements. Thanks for thinking about it.

March 5, 2018

SANTA CRUZ IN THE BIG LEAGUES. MAKING CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE WHILE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT.

We should not be selling assault weapons in this country. These weapons are not for hunting. They are military weapons for killing human beings. (Feb. 26)

As usual, this past week was jam-packed with so much Santa Cruz. It is hard to believe how much this town takes on! For example, not only is the city of Santa Cruz actually part of a multi-city law suit against Exxon, et al, because of their business practices knowingly aid and abet climate change, we’ve also received veiled, and indirect threats by two humongous trade groups. One, American Beverage Association based out of Washington, D.C., sent two consultants, one from Santa Monica and the other from San Jose to “lobby” councilmembers against us taxing sweetened beverages as San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Philadelphia, and Boulder now do. It’s interesting how many are paid to stop good ideas. The ABA(?) made it clear they would spend some money to defeat any kind of ballot initiative Santa Cruz might come up with, as they also spent oodles of cash to defeat initiatives in the above five cities. The SC council seemed to shy away from placing this tax on the June ballot after the consultant’s visit because we did not really have our ducks in a row yet…meaning Bloomberg Foundation, American Heart Association and other health groups who support beverage taxes and may very well help fund a local campaign. Turns out we may just come back in November, but please, nobody tell the ABA this, please…just between us, okay? The other group about to come down, big-time on Surf City, may very well be the California Apartment Owner’s Association. They do not much like rent freezes, just-cause eviction ordinances, or rent control initiatives. They too stand ready, cash machine on dispense, ready to bank roll an anti-rent control campaign as soon as the petition signatures are validated. Santa Cruz has played in the big league’s before and it’s where many of our voters want us to be (people, please let us know otherwise?), so get ready for flying rhetorical self-interested trade groups beasts and stuffed mail boxes aplenty this fall.

RENT CONTROL: JUST THE SEATTLE FACTS MA’AM.

Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata are current and former Seattle city councilmembers, and both supported the $15 an hour minimum wage AND rent control. Both are schooled in the rhetoric of what real estate, developer, and corporate interests throw at you during a campaign. In fact, Licata says about rent control, “Greedy landlords? No. We live in an economic environment that creates the current atmosphere.” Meaning landlords are caught up in the $market$ and help create ever-higher rents. Rent control is still illegal in Washington State, since 1981, and even after Seattle’s big push to lift the statewide ban it died in the state legislature this past Feb. 6th. While rent control is severely limited in California because of the Costa-Hawkins Act, it’s still possible in Santa Cruz. Rent control exists in Berkeley, Richmond, and Santa Monica, it has lost three times here. The “Great Santa Cruz Rent Freeze,” passed by the city council on Feb. 13th, offers cover for rent control petitioners to gather signatures without fear that rents will continue to increase, and a fighting chance to deliver an initiative safely to the November ballot. It won’t be easy. Contact Movement for Housing Justice if you’re interested in signing or carrying a petition to get it on the ballot. And if you want to see a couple of expert-advocates in action, check out Sawant and Licata in this Seattle rent control debate (video on the right).

The Right Stuff!
Seattle City Councilmember, Kshama Sawant is also the chair of a Seattle council committee called:  “Human Services, Equitable Development, & Renter’s Rights.” seattle.gov/council/committees/human-services  Doesn’t that sound great! Here’s their charge, which sounds even better: ” To provide policy direction and oversight and to deliberate and make recommendations on legislative matters relating to: human services including but not limited to: homelessness, child care, aging, and disability services; and the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program; the equitable development initiative and its projects; and renters’ rights, including but not limited to legislation intended to protect renters facing gentrification, economic evictions, excessive background checks, and unaffordable rent”. Wow!

Lots Going on this Week

• Wed.,meeting at 6:30pm at Bay School to meet new SCPD Lieutenant who will be in charge of that area’s policing.
• Wed., 7pm UCSC climate science conference at 7p at the Rio Theatre, “Humans and Wild Ecosystems in a Hot World.”
• Thurs., 6:30pm at Peace United, meet new SCPD Lieutenant who will be in charge of Westside policing.
• Thurs., 7pm at the MAH, “Creating an employee-ownerships succession plan” (worker cooperatives!)
• Syda Cogliati kickoff for Superior Court Judge, Sat. 1-3pm, 116 Lisa Ct. in Santa Cruz www.facebook.com/Syda4Judge/
• And don’t forget the Always FREE YOGA at Patagonia, every Sun. 8:30am on River St.

‘Cause That’s What Friends Are For…WAMM Founder, Valerie Coral and Food Not Bombs Founder, Keith McHenry outside the Santa Cruz post office on Sunday. We’re all used to having these folks around as Santa Cruz friends and neighbors, but Google them and you will find they have a national following. We are lucky!	Double Rainbow! It’s not very often you see a rainbow, but a double rainbow? It happened Sunday over the Town Clock.

(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

March 5, 2018

CANNABIS LICENSING ISSUE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE DECIDED BY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH 14
I attended the Planning Commission hearing last week regarding the upcoming Board of Supervisor approval of Cannabis Licensing issues and ordinance changes.  The room was full and over-flowing.  The Commission will decide at their next meeting on March 14 what recommendations to make to the Board.

This industry is estimated to bring nearly $4 Million in revenue to the County budget, according to CAO Carlos Palacios’ report last week.  Will the rural environments and the residents living in those areas get consideration?  Is it a good idea for the County to grant Commercial Use permits in the rural residential and timber zone areas (such as is what is already happening with wineries and special event use)?  Will the responsible Cannabis growers and distributors get what the County has promised in exchange for them coming forward and paying thousands of dollars?  Will the process become so onerous that the black market will thrive even more, with gang-affiliated operations in the rural County areas with negligible enforcement of regulations?

Stay tuned…and attend the March 14 Planning Commission meeting if you can.  Here is the agenda

Note that the Commission will also be considering an update to the dense development planned for the Pleasure Point Lumberyard  and also the County General Plan.

VERY FEW LOCAL JOBS AT RANCHO DEL MAR AND APTOS VILLAGE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
I stopped by the Carpenters Local 505 office on Searidge Drive in Aptos recently to talk with them about how many jobs the Rancho del Mar remodel and Aptos Village Project are providing for LOCAL workers.  Sadly, he said there are hardly any. 

Rancho del Mar owner TRC Retail awarded the contract for jobs to Sacramento-based Deacon Construction Co., and there are no local workers on the job.  Here is the website for Deacon

That company does not hire apprentices. Here is the link to TRC Retail, if you would like to let CEO Mr. Hugh Sweig or Project Manager Mr. Scott Grady know what you think:

The Aptos Village Project has a couple of local subcontractors, but largely the carpentry jobs are filled by workers from out of the area. 

Both have demonstrated considerable disregard for environmental practices, especially hazardous materials handling and uncontrolled storm water runoff without sediment catchment basins and filtration mechanisms to prevent sediment from entering Aptos Creek and Valencia Creek.  In the case of Aptos Village Project, the soils being allowed to run into the creeks may be laden with diesel and lead contaminants.  Santa Cruz County Environmental Planner, Ms. Carolyn Burke, has been unresponsive to my repeated requests for information and/or action.  Contact her: Carolyn Burke carolyn.burke@santacruzcounty.us

MORE TAXES HEADED YOUR WAY
Last week, I learned of two more new tax increases on the horizon.  How much more taxing and debt can the people really handle?  Raise the sales tax rate; impose a $20/month County Fire tax, $30/month Affordable Housing tax, and a $.95/month Water Tax????

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will soon discuss raising the Countywide sales tax rate from current 8.5% to be more in line with the City of Watsonville’s current sales tax rate of 9.25%.  Supervisors briefly discussed it at last Tuesday’s meeting when County Administrative Officer (CAO) Carlos Palacios recommended the action to offset the looming $10-$15 Million County Budget shortfall predicted for 2019-2021 due to unfunded CalPERS government employee pensions coming due. (Correction to last week’s writing:  the ratio of working employees : retired employees will reach 1:1 in 30 years, not five, as I had understood from a presentation to the Board in December, 2017 by CAO Palacios.  My apologies).

Supervisor Bruce McPherson spoke up and said he is very concerned about the lack of funding for County Fire and wanted some discussion about that issue.  It was promised during Mr. Palacios’ report, but did not happen and was not pursued…not even after I asked for it as well during public comment.  Supervisor McPherson unveiled his plan later last week at the “Lessons Learned From the Bear Fire” panel discussion that was sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Fire Safe Council.  He intends to place a measure on the ballot that would impose a $20/month tax for funding County Fire resources, which as Supervisor McPherson stated, “has a budget running on fumes.”  He left the event before answering the question submitted by the public about using existing Proposition 172 money the County receives to fund fire and law enforcement.  Santa Cruz County receives about $17 Million each year from this half-cent sales tax, but the Board of Supervisors gives all but 0.5% to law enforcement.  The 0.5% goes to the Fire Chiefs Association, using County Service Area (CSA) 48 that funds County Fire only as a pass-through account…illegal?  The point is, the County has lots of money that is available for funding rural fire protection agencies, but is choosing instead to impose a NEW TAX. 

Here is the link to the “Lessons Learned From the Bear Fire”: Lessons Learned From the Bear Fire. Fire Safe SCC Discussion Panel 2/28/18

The efforts of Mr. Fred Keeley and Mr. Don Lane, as was recently unveiled at a County Housing Advisory Commission meeting, would add a possible $30/month Affordable Housing Tax.  I recorded that presentation (to the point at which the batteries on my camera exhausted).  Here is the link

Now, add the SB 623 Safe Drinking Water $.95/month TAX that Senator Bill Monning wants to add to everyone’s water bill to support groundwater polluters.  This issue was on last Tuesday’s County Board of Supervisor agenda as a last-minute Consent Agenda

Item 43.1(aka, not publicly discussed) deal pushed through by Supervisors Zach Friend and Ryan Coonerty.  Luckily the CAO recommended it be pulled from the Agenda completely.  I think these elected public servants have their personal political interests at heart here more than their interest in safe drinking water.

[CORRECTION TO LAST WEEK’S POST: I made a mistake in writing last week, and I apologize.   Kevin DeLeon is NOT running for Governor, but is seeking to replace Senator Dianne Feinstein.  He recently received more votes than did Ms. Feinstein from the California Democratic Party at the San Diego convention, but neither candidate received the required 60% necessary for endorsement.  My thanks to Ms. Deborah Luhrman, former Chair of Santa Cruz Democratic Party for so kindly helping me see my error.  I had mis-read a Sentinel article, and again, apologize.]

So, HOW MUCH MORE DEBT AND TAXATION CAN THE PEOPLE BEAR???  What does our General Fund money, which totals $496,695,768 from property taxes, according to Ms. Edith Driscoll, County Auditor/Controller, get used to accomplish?  Well, as I learned last Tuesday, it is NOT to repair infrastructure. Supervisor John Leopold chuckled a bit as he addressed my question about there being ZERO for infrastructure and Capital Improvements, saying those items do not come from the General Fund…”and that’s kind of an issue”  as he looked to Mr. Palacios…but not explaining why the General Fund property tax money is off-limits for such critical public-benefit use. 

The documentation in Ms. Edith Driscoll’s report to the Board (Item 49) actually showed $1Million for that use recently, but zero going forward.  The County Auditor’s website has not yet been updated to reflect this year’s Mid-Year Report.  Write Ms. Edith Driscoll   and ask that current information be posted.  the County purchased EZGOV software to assist citizens in searching for County financial information.

“THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED”
That is what Watsonville City Mayor Lowell Hurst said as I approached the public comment podium to address the Council regarding adding an item for future agendas.  He did not ask for public comment on the agenda item, and did not acknowledge me when I raised my hand in the audience.  I walked forward to the podium, and as I approached the microphone, Mayor Lowell Hurst adjourned the meeting.  “Hey!  She was walking up to the podium!” shouted some young people in the audience.  I persisted in wanting to inform the Council on the day’s report from the Santa Cruz County Vision Santa Cruz report to the Board of Supervisors, which showed an alarming under-representation of citizens in South County areas. 

“Did you miss public comment time, Ms. Steinbruner?”  asked Mayor Hurst as he was gathering his materials.  I replied that due to traffic, I arrived after that opportunity, but I continued to tell the Council (off-record) about the problem of under-representation of their area in the County’s Strategic Planning Process.  I really thought that Mayor Hurst would be more receptive of public comment, especially after his stating over and over earlier in the meeting that it was important for the public to be involved in local government.  Maybe I am mistaken.

CITY OFFICIAL OPPOSE BILL THAT ALLOWS TALL, DENSE HOUSING
The San Jose Mercury News ran an interesting article (2/23/18, pg. B2) by reporter Kevin Kelly about Palo Alto City officials resisting SB 827 proposed by State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco).  “If passed in its current form the bill would allow buildings that include housing units to be as tall as 85 feet within a quarter-mile of busy transit corridors.”   Palo alto Mayor Liz Kniss has asked Senator Wiener to put a hold on the bill “while the city grapples with more than a dozen new state housing laws that went into effect at the start of the year.” 

Mr. Arthur Keller, co-chair of the city’s Citizens Advisory Committee on the Comprehensive Plan Update, said “the legislation would essentially wrest local control of land uses from the city.”

“The League of California Cities also opposes the bill, saying it would allow private for-profit developers and transit agencies to determine housing densities, parking requirements and design review standards along transit corridors that in some cases could be miles from an actual bus stop and might not include any below-market units.” I think our local government officials also need to be speaking up on this issue, don’t you???  Contact your City Council and County Board of Supervisors and let them know what you think.

Here is a link to the proposed SB 827 bill, and

Here is a link to an interesting analysis of it.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PUBLISHED NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING GIVES ZERO INFORMATION
In the Register-Pajaronian (3/1/18, pg. A12) I saw the published “Notice of Public Hearing” for March 14, Item #7 to “Consider the 2017 Annual General Plan Report” at the County Planning Commission meeting.  The County included NO information about the item, other than “A copy of the staff report will be available for review one week prior to the hearing date at the County Planning Department, 701 Ocean Street, 4th Floor, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 or available for purchase by calling 454-3371 or free on the web at http://www.sccoplanning.com/ under the agendas link.” For such a critical topic that will affect all County residents, one would think there would have been included a bit more information in the very expensive 6 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ paid ad notice.  Interestingly, adjacent to the notice is a “Notice of Public Hearing, Monterey County Board of Supervisors” with a similar notification regarding an ordinance regarding County roadways and facilities.  What is different here is that this 6 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ paid Notice of Public Hearing includes “County Counsel Summary” of the issue to be discussed (that explanation taking up 2 1/2″ of the published notice of public hearing. Why doesn’t Santa Cruz County publish good information to inform the taxpayers what will be discussed at those Wednesday 9am meetings and public hearings???

The public needs to be given better information and a more convenient meeting time for their work/school schedules.  Last Tuesday’s 9am Board of Supervisor meeting had a chamber that was virtually empty, and publicly questioned by a resident (not me, by the way) who spoke repeatedly and asked the Board to re-instate the Commission on Youth, and involve youth as student advisors on the Board.

What a great idea!  Sadly the Board did not respond at all, even though the Ralph M. Brown Act allows them to do so, and to even place the item on a future agenda for consideration.  Instead….Board silence.

Contact the County Board of Supervisors and let them know your thoughts.  Transparent government?  Involving the future generations in local government policy now?   Santa Cruz County leaders have a lot of work to do to improve both issues.

COUNTY SUPERVISOR ZACH FRIEND REFUSES TO HOLD COMMUNITY MEETING TO UPDATE RESIDENTS ON APTOS VILLAGE TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS PHASE 2
I visited Supervisor Zach Friend’s constituent sessions twice, sent repeated e-mails, visited his 5th Floor office at 701 Ocean Street twice and left notes (each time, staff had “just stepped into a meeting”), and publicly requested at Board of Supervisor meetings that he hold a Community Meeting to update Aptos area residents about the impending taxpayer-funded Aptos Village Traffic Improvement Project Phase 2 impacts and timeline.  He finally responded (nearly three months later) and stated that he refuses to communicate further with me on the issue because I have threatened legal action against the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) for the Phase 2 road improvements. 

I have not made this claim.  I do not plan legal action.  I have referenced the ILLEGAL INVERSE CONDEMNATION of the Bayview Hotel / Trout Gulch Crossing business private ingress/egress to Soquel Drive that the County has asserted, in cooperation with Aptos Village LLC developers (Swenson, Testorff, Appenrodt and others)  but never stated that I intend to take such legal action. So, one must really wonder what Zach Friend is afraid of???   What an inadequate excuse for not informing his constituents.

Contact Zach Friend zach.friend@santacruzcounty.us or call 454-2200.  He claims he loves to hear from us.

Here is a link to the Aptos Village Project…note that there is a direct link on the page to the taxpayer-funded (only $700,000 came from Swenson, according to Public Records Act request documents) road improvements that support this disgusting development:

The developers make it appear, in my opinion, that they are involved with the work…that is misleading.

WONDERING WHERE THE WATER WILL COME FROM WITH THE MIDCOUNTY AQUIFER  IN SUCH CRITICAL TROUBLE?
If you are worried about this issue, I encourage you to attend the MidCounty Groundwater Agency meeting Thursday, March 15, 7pm at the Simpkins Swim Center.  Here is the website link.

This group, composed of leaders from local water agencies, the County Environmental Health Dept., and three local private well owners, meets bi-monthly.

The Groundwater Sustainablility Planning (GSP) Advisory Committee, composed of several hand-picked residents to represent the affected community and environmental interests, meets monthly.  You can listen to their audio recorded meeting discussion by clicking to this site but it is difficult to determine who on the Committee is speaking.  Thank you to Mr. Bruce Tanner for attending the February 28 GSP meeting and video recording the meeting, wherein critical issues were discussed regarding the Sustainable Plan for water use in the MidCounty area.  Here is that link

Cheers, Becky Steinbruner

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

March 5, 2018 #64 / He’s The Mosquito, Not the Virus

Tom Engelhardt is an American writer and editor. He writes a blog called TomDispatch, which is associated with The Nation Institute. Englehardt is also one of the co-founders of the American Empire Project and is the author of the 1998 book, The End of Victory Culture: Cold War America and the Disillusioning of a Generation.

I regularly get notices about Englehardt’s latest blog postings, which he calls “Tomgrams.” For some reason, the latest notice I got was about a posting from 2016, in which Englehardt commented on then-candidate Donald J. Trump. I thought his headline was pretty good:

Donald Trump Is the Mosquito, Not the Zika Virus

As Englehardt’s 2016 posting reminds us, there was, during all the months leading up to the 2016 election, “much discussion of Donald Trump’s potential for ‘authoritarianism’ (or incipient ‘fascism,’ or worse).” Englehardt further observes that this authoritarian threat was “generally treated as if it were some tendency or property unique to the man who rode a Trump Tower escalator into the presidential race to Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

Since Mr. Trump’s election, I would say that concern about his authoritarian tendencies has not abated, but in fact increased.
Englehardt’s point, though, is that Trump is merely spreading a disease that has existed in our body politic for some time. He’s not the actual problem. He’s just spreading the problem around.

Mosquitoes are usually more of an annoyance than a danger to life itself. But if the mosquitoes are carrying around a deadly virus, that’s a different story. I agree with Tom Englehardt that the virus that is being spread around by our current president is definitely dangerous, and is democracy-threatening, and that it has been infecting our national life for a long time:

Few bother to consider the ways in which the foundations of authoritarianism have already been laid in this society — and not by disaffected working class white men either. Few bother to consider what it means to have a national security state and a massive military machine deeply embedded in our ruling city and our American world. Few think about the (count ’em!) 17 significant intelligence agencies that eat close to $70 billion annually or the trillion dollars or more a year that disappears into our national security world, or what it means for that state within a state, that shadow government, to become ever more powerful and autonomous in the name of American “safety,” especially from “terrorism” (though terrorism represents the most microscopic of dangers for most Americans).

In this long election season, amid all the charges leveled at Donald Trump, where have you seen serious discussion of what it means for the Pentagon’s spy drones to be flying missions over the “homeland” or for “intelligence” agencies to be wielding the kind of blanket surveillance of everyone’s communications — from foreign leaders to peasants in Afghanistan to American citizens — that, technologically speaking, put the totalitarian regimes of the previous century to shame? Is there nothing of the authoritarian lurking in all this? Could that urge really be the property of The Donald and his followers alone?
An engaging article in the February 26, 2018, edition of The New Yorker, which I read the same day I saw the 2016 “Tomgram,” discusses the work of German philosopher and cultural theorist Peter Sloterdijk, who comes at an analysis of President Trump from a completely different angle, but arrives at pretty much the same conclusion as Englehardt: 

“Trump is a degenerate sheriff…. What makes Trump dangerous is that he exposes parts of liberal democracies that were only shadowily visible up until now. In democracies, there is always an oligarchic element, but Trump makes it extremely, comically visible.” For Sloterdijk, Trump’s true significance lies in the way that he instinctively subverts the norms of modern governance. “He’s an innovator when it comes to fear,” Sloterdijk told me. “Instead of waiting for the crisis to impose his decree, his decrees get him the emergencies he needs. The playground for madness is vast.”

I carry no brief for the extremely annoying mosquito who now serves as our president. By all means, let’s swat him away at the earliest opportunity. Let’s not be deceived, however, that our problem is Donald Trump. If we are worried about authoritarianism, as we ought to be, if we are concerned that the future of our democracy is in peril, we need to drive the disease of imperialistic militarism right out of our body politic.
Getting rid of the mosquito won’t get rid of the virus, and getting rid of the virus is the only way to effect a cure.

CLASSICAL DeCINZO. DeCinzo takes the reins over “the rains and the results”…see downwards a few scrolls.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Media Muddle ” down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent  Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog.

SANTA CRUZ CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT. Their fifth concert of the season is titled, “ORNITHOLOGY”. It’s a musical aviary featuring compositions by Vaughan Williams, Lou Harrison, Pratorius-Gomez and other composer birds such as Charlie Parker, Claude Debussy and Joseph Holbrooke. The   musicians performing are Roy Malan– violin , Polly Malan– viola, Lars Johannesson– flute & alto flute, Leslie Tagorda – clarinet & bass clarinet, Keisuke Nakagoshi,- piano, Chris Pratorius Gómez, piano & concert director .With special guests the Ariose Singers, conducted by Camille Couture. It happens Saturday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday March 11 at 3 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church 10707 Soquel Drive, Aptos. (out by Freedom Blvd. and the California Highway Patrol Office). For tickets and information go to scchamberplayers.org .

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “The newly arrived Chilean film,  A Fantastic Woman, just won the Foreign Language Oscar. Find out why this triumphant and stylish drama deserves the gold this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/). Also, a friendly reminder — there are still a few days left to enter the giveaway for Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge, over at the Republic of Goodreads!” 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. March 6th has Kate Hawley author of the play, “Coming of Age” that opens March 14 at The Jewel Theatre. The second half hour Mark Burden and David Foster will bring us up to date on Habitat for Humanity’s news. Roddey Reid author of “Confronting Political Intimidation and Public Bullying” tells us how to live during the Trump era on March 13. 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.

“DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME”(it begins at 2 am Sunday March 11)
“An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later”. Winston Churchill
“Daylight time, a monstrosity in timekeeping”  Harry S. Truman
“I object to being told that I am saving daylight when my reason tells me that I am doing nothing of the kind… At the back of the Daylight Saving scheme, I detect the bony, blue-fingered hand of Puritanism, eager to push people into bed earlier, and get them up earlier, to make them healthy, wealthy, and wise in spite of themselves.”  Robertson Davies,
“There are very few things in the world I hate more than Daylight Savings Time. It is the grand lie of time, the scourge of science, the blight on biological understanding.” Michelle Franklin
“It seems very strange … that in the course of the world’s history so obvious an improvement should never have been adopted. … The next generation of Britishers would be the better for having had this extra hour of daylight in their childhood”. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
“I’ve lived on the equator all my life and we never had to change clocks. Now they’re telling me time goes forward an hour after midnight? What is this, Narnia?” Joyce Rachelle
“You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe “Daylight Saving Time.” Dave Barry

LINCOLN AND CENTER STREETS. The Cope Row homes shown here on the right were built in 1894.                                                        photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE February 26, 2018

UCSC, CHANCELLOR BLUMENTHAL, DONNA MEKIS AND THE GROWTH ISSUE.
I’ve always maintained that blaming the manager of Sears for the price of his bedsheets makes no sense whatsoever. On Sunday February 4th, the Santa Cruz Sentinel printed an excellent op-ed piece by Donna Mekis. (Here’s that letter, you should read it.)

Having known Donna for decades, I interviewed her on my Universal Grapevine radio program Tuesday, February 20 from 7-7:30. (here’s a link to the radio interview ). First of all, it isn’t the chancellor who decides the size of enrollment, or who makes most of the decisions that have been driving us all so crazy — it’s the Board of Regents: Board President Janet Napolitano and of course Bill Monning and Mark Stone.

UC Merced is planned to have 25,000 students by 2050 and it’s also figured to have 10,000 by 2020. They don’t have empty beds or buildings there either. Constructing new buildings at any campus costs big bucks and the State has cut back tremendously on funding UC. We should realize too that there are 19,500 UCSC alumni living here in Santa Cruz — and that UCSC is the largest employer in the county, and has an economic impact of $1.3 billion dollars. We definitely need new thinking — and new directions — on this.

Dateline February 25, 2018

“THE BLUE WAVE STARTS HERE IN SAN DIEGO?”

“Mueller’s indictment provides further evidence that the Russian government interfered in 2016. It also shows that they tried to turn my supporters against Hillary Clinton in the primary and general election. I unequivocally condemn such interference.” (Feb. 21)

On the floor of the sprawling San Diego Convention Center, California Democrats were on an historic, change-making mission. They frankly seek the national leadership mantle in ousting Donald J. Trump and all he stands for, and remove him from the golden cash Brahmin bull he now sits atop. You might remember, ‘the top’ used to be called our federal government. It’s readily apparent from this San Diego gathering that CA Dems are in it for the long-term fight, and perhaps find themselves at the center of a kind of coastal exterior vs. flyover interior post-post-modern-day power struggle. Although Dems did not reach consensus on a Governor, Lt. Governor, U.S. Senate, or Attorney General endorsements, what they did seem to agree upon is that it is their election to lose. Democrats carry overwhelming voter registration numbers in California, occupy every statewide office, and have an easy foil in roundly reviled President Tweet, as they head for the June primaries. The biggest upset vote was Kevin De León besting Sen. Diane Feinstein. He won 54% of the 2,775 delegate votes cast. Former State Schools Superintendent Delaine Easton surprised many by capturing third place in the race for governor, beating a likely favorite, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. In first place was Lt. Governor Gavin Newsome with 39%, followed by State Treasurer John Chiang’s 30%. None of the gubernatorial candidates were even near the 60% threshold needed to capture the party’s endorsement.

The Show
It’s always a raucous display of candidate partisans yelling, sign-waving, and sometimes dancing, in the hallways surrounding the cavernous main hall. They support a multitude of assembly, senate, board of equalization, governor, lieutenant governor, and U.S. senate and house candidates. Sometimes you might wonder if the convention is being held in South Bend or Columbus on football homecoming weekend. It’s always hard for me to believe that delegates could be swayed by such displays of mirth and mayhem, but it happens at every state and national convention. It’s probably to show a legitimate level of support for a given candidate, and if that’s true, repealing Costa-Hawkins and the labor movement seemed to make the most noise. In fact, the roar reached a crescendo outside of rooms 30a and 30b on the convention’s second floor. That’s where the Democrats picked up their ballots, and the long snaking line of delegates became a captive audience. In fact, there were two San Diego police officers, both mentored by our own Santa Cruz Chief of Police Andy Mills, working to keep the halls clear so delegates could pick up their ballots and vote. Small world.

The Rents, the Rents Are Too Damn High!
A large contingent showed up to endorse the repeal of the “Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.” Costa-Hawkins, passed by the legislature and signed into law by then-Governor Pete Wilson, went into effect in 1996 and effectively gutted rent control in the state of California.

This act undermined rent control by allowing for “vacancy decontrol.” That is, when a tenant moves out, instead of the next one paying the previously “controlled rent,” the act granted the landlord the ability to set rents at whatever the market will bear. It was previously up to each city to decide upon rent control. What Costa-Hawkins did was severely limit the individual powers of cities. Signatures are now being gathered statewide to repeal Costa-Hawkins. If it is repealed, it will give the Santa Cruz rent control initiative infinitely more teeth, and renters a more comfortable seat at the housing table locally. Will 2018 and 2020 be the most progressive elections in Santa Cruz, state, and U.S. history? The party stalwarts who came to San Diego were angry and aggrieved, but also joyous and organized looking to pick up congressional and senate seats nationally. Democrats in San Diego, 2,857 of them  showed up to vote, are ready for a fight and confident, but also seemingly ready to do the trench work of walking neighborhoods, raising money, and reaching out to voters. On another hand, because Trump is such an easy target, CA Dems have essentially papered over some of their differences. As the Bernie-crats stay left, the party elders move ever so slightly rightward, each side desperately hoping to show Trump to the exit ramp. Statewide, Democratic Party internal battles still abound and they include: single-payer healthcare; a state bank; homeless assistance for cities; repealing Costa Hawkins; and state regulation vs. local control of issues surrounding landuse and housing development. And of course, there is righteous support for electing a new U.S. Senator to join Kamala Harris in Washington, D.C.

Stop the Presses, City Putting “U” on Notice: No Más June vote on enrollment growth may be coming to a polling site near you

The Santa Cruz City Council had a resolution on the February 27th agenda that’s been a long time in coming. “Resolution ordering an election…for adoption of an ordinance to provide early input regarding the Santa Cruz community’s opposition to the proposed enrollment growth at the University of California.” Can I get an Amen! The resolution put forward by councilmembers Mathews, Chase, and Krohn is a just and fair one and includes language requesting the Regents of the University of California to limit overall enrollment to 19,500, and I suspect unlike the Chancellor’s 50% growth throw-away number of 10k more students, the council is serious. But in the end, it will be el pueblo unido–the people united–if we really are going to never be defeated on this one. You can find the council pre-meeting resolution at: https://chriskrohn.org/category/documents/

The Faculty, the Chancellor, and the Future of the LRDP
UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal addressed a crowd of over 200 faculty, staff, and students at Stevenson College last Wednesday. The hot topic was the Long-Range Development Plan (LRDP). Following his remarks, virtually no one in the large crowd applauded. (Why?) Next, what happened I found surprisingly unusual as faculty speaker after speaker appeared skeptical of the 10k student growth envisioned by the chancellor. History of consciousness emeritus professor, Jim Clifford was up first. He spoke in measured tones, part out of respect for the chancellor, but also his words dripped with incredulity about the planned growth. “Talk about the effects of growth on the body and spirit of this campus, which is arguably our greatest creation…building structures on the lower meadow will be an unsightly. What kind of mitigation will there be for that? Are we stuck on this course? Do we have any room for push back?” His statements received loud applause. Later, art professor, Laurie Palmer referred back to Clifford’s questions, because they were not really addressed. She said, “I want to point out the absurd way in which Jim Clifford’s question sits in the room…we are under resourced now, but to bring more students doesn’t make sense.” Psychology professor, Faye Crosby pleaded with the chancellor for transparency and asked ” when you can’t tell us something, you will say I cannot share that with you. Will you do that?” The chancellor responded, “Yes, I can live with that…I believe in transparency.” Literature professor, Chris Connery worried about development of the lower campus. He said that this kind of plan “will be a major turn in the aesthetics of this university?” Politics professor, Megan Thomas, echoed city council concerns in calling for more resources if the university is going to bring in more students. “If we are to grow, the major thing we would need are resources for students.” She then asked, “How can you clarify to us what kind of support would be needed at different levels? If you can’t put that in the EIR, then where will they go?” The chancellor, for his part, was circumspect and thoughtfully acknowledged faculty’s concerns. But he did say from his rock-and-a-hard-place position, “Let growth go to Riverside, or Merced, I hear people say…that would lead to…a campus that says not one more student…I don’t think [that campus] will get the resources.”

Dolores Huerta. Always a pleasure to be around her. She signed the Save Beach Flats Community Garden petition and I signed her repeal Prop. 13 for business properties petition.

Legendary Berkeley-Oakland member of congress, Barbara Lee at rally for labor

With Santa Cruz organizers Erik Erikson and Jeff Stoll.

Billionaire Trump detractor and Democrat stalwart, Tom Steier

(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

Dateline February 26, 2018

WHY WOULD SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SUPPORT TAXING YOU FOR WATER AND ALLOWING POLLUTERS TO CONTINUE CONTAMINATING DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES?
Santa Cruz County Board Chairman Zach Friend and Supervisor Ryan Coonerty recommend supporting SB 623 to impose, beginning on July 1, 2020, a $.95 monthly water tax on each and every household, impose a tax on all fertilizer sales and distribution, and a tax on all dairy products.  The bill would put the burden on local agencies to collect the anticipated $140 million annual revenue, turning it over to the State Water Board to decide how to help out disadvantaged communities with groundwater contamination.  In exchange for paying this new tax to the State, the POLLUTERS WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM ANY ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATION REGARDING GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION until 2035.

Supervisors Zach Friend and Ryan Coonerty put this on the Consent Agenda as a last-minute addition, Item 43.1, for Tuesday, February 27 Board meeting.  Here is the link to the agenda…..take a look at the text of the proposed Bill

SB 623 was introduced by State Senator Bill Monning last year.  Now it’s back, with additional endorsement by Senate Pro Tempore and candidate for Governor Kevin DeLeon (Los Angeles) and Senator Bob Hertzberg (San Fernando).

Here is what I think is wrong about supporting this legislation:

1. While the water tax is currently proposed to be $.95 per month per household, the rate can be increased in the future if the State Board determines that the funding need is greater to assist communities with problematic water supplies.  Water is a basic requirement for life…should it be taxed even more than what it costs to produce it (Prop. 218 stipulates water sellers cannot charge more than the cost of supplying the water).  Anyone who declares themselves impoverished (below 200% of the federal poverty limit which would be roughly $98,000/year for an individual) is exempt, but must file with their local water agency for exemption.  Will all of the poor apply for exemption?
2. Public water agencies would be mandated to collect and administer the tax monies to the State but on page 19 of the SB623 text, Section 6 says the State is not required to reimburse local agencies unless the Commission on State Mandates determines it necessary. SB 623 would ignore the California Constitutional mandate that local government be reimbursed for collecting and administering state mandates.
3. Polluters would “not be subject to enforcement undertaken or administered by State Board or regional boards under Chapter 5 (section 13330) for causing or contributing to an exceedence of a water quality objective of nitrate in groundwater” if the proposed Fertilizer Safe Drinking Water Fee or Dairy Safe Drinking Water Fee gets paid within 90 days of the contamination determination.  Why allow the polluters to continue contaminating the groundwater??? (see page 17 of the SB 623 text)
4. Again, in Section 5, SB 623 would erase the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act that mandates the State and regional boards oversee and enforce pollution control regulations to protect groundwater drinking supply safety for the public.  This bill would PROHIBIT the State Board or a regional board, until January 1, 2035, from “subjecting an agricultural operation, as defined, to specified enforcement for causing or contributing to a condition of pollution or nuisance for nitrates in groundwater if that agricultural operation demonstrates that it has satisfied other requirements of the timely payment of the fertilizer safe drinking water fee or the dairy safe drinking water fee, as applicable, into the fund.”
5. SB 623 states the money collected with all these new taxes must only be used for projects addressing problematic groundwater supplies, but COULD  be transferred to other uses with a 2/3 vote of the legislature (section 116771 (f) on page 13 of the text).  Do you trust your legislators not to dip into this fund for other “public benefit projects”?
6. SB 623 would allow community water systems to apply for exemption from collection of the per-household water tax, based on the finding that the amount that would be required to be remitted to the Board to be minimal, but the water company cannot appeal if the State denies their application. (116771 (d) on page 13.  Under 116772 (a) a public water system can apply to use an alternate assessment method for charges imposed by SB 623, but that alternate method, if approved, could only be used for five years maximum.
7. SB 623 would require County Environmental Health Agencies to submit a list of all small water systems to the State Board by January 1, 2019.  Again, this is requiring local government to spend time on meeting the State requirements but not getting reimbursed   Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Agency staff does not have a comprehensive list of all small water companies but is working to collect that information for another State mandated program, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Plan, required to be submitted and approved by the State by January 1, 2020.
8. SB 623 would mandate all fertilizer manufacturers, handlers, transporters and sellers to allow State Board access to any and all accounting practices, facilities and related information.  It would also mandate all dairies allow State Board access to any and all buildings and facilities as well as accounting practices and information.   NONE of this information however, including the audits of Safe Drinking Water Fees by the polluters, would be public information. (section 116772 (d) and (e)).   Do you trust that big corporations that may be contaminating groundwater would be held accountable for money paid in order to continue polluting?  Under SB 623, members of the public would not be able to file a Public Records Act request to find out.
9. How much of this new tax money would actually get spent on improving problematic groundwater drinking supplies?  SB 623 allows the State Board to spend 25% of the fee money on administration. 
10. How will the State determine who gets the money?  SB 623 requires reports of problems by all water agencies to be submitted for consideration.  The money can be spent for “settlements from parties responsible for contamination of drinking water supplies” (Section 116768(1c), and in Section 116768 (2) states:” funds shall be prioritized for CONSOLIDATIONS”.  SB 623 removes mutually-owned water companies from the list of eligible applicants for project money.

Why would Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors want to support SB 623???  Contact your Supervisors 831-454-2200.  Contact Supervisors Zach Friend and Ryan Coonerty  and ask why they recommend support: Zach Friend zach.friend@santacruzcounty.us, Ryan Coonerty ryan.coonerty@santacruzcounty.us

I wonder if the recent Democratic Party endorsement of Senator Kevin DeLeon for Governor has anything to do with Zach Friend and Ryan Coonerty’s endorsement of SB 623 and their lust for climbing the political ladder?

Contact Senator Bill Monning and ask why he wants to support groundwater pollution: 831-425-0401 Santa Cruz Office in Suite 318A at the County Government Building (701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz), or contact his analyst in Sacramento (recommended on his website) Mary Dolan 916-651-4017.  I really have to wonder what in the world Senator Monning is thinking???

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY MID-YEAR BUDGET REPORT: NO GENERAL FUND MONEY AVAILABLE FOR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS
The Board of Supervisors will hear County Administrative Officer (CAO) Carlos Palacios hand out bad news about the projected budgetary shortfalls predicted for the near future during the Tuesday, February 27 Board meeting, Items # 49 and #50.    Mr. Palacios predicts a $7-$10 Million shortfall by 2019-2020, but maybe as much as $12-$15 Million.  This is due mostly to the looming retirement costs of an aging County employee crowd getting ready to retire.  Currently, for every 1 retired employee, there are 6 employees working.  However, in five years, the ratio will be 1:1.  Retirement costs are now at $43 Million for the current fiscal year but by 2024-2025, the County’s retirement burden will be $76 Million annually.

CAO Palacios states in 2018-2019 Budget, “There will be no General Funds available for Capital Improvements or for major infrastructure repairs.”  Wow.

Mr. Palacios has some ideas to present to the Supervisors for ways to raise more money:

1. Increase the County Sales Tax rate
2. Increase the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on tourists and related short-term housing,
3. Increase the Parks and Recreation tax currently collected on County Property taxes as CSA 11.  Mr. Palacios recommends a .5% increase.

He also refers to “belt-tightening” by all County Departments and examining how fees can be increased for certain services.  Uh-oh. Notice that there is no recommendation to reduce salary levels of middle management.

Here is the link to the Agenda documents (pay special attention to Item #50)

By the end of the week, the video recording is available on the calendar date of the meeting.

If you are seeing this on Tuesday morning, you can click on the “Live Audio” or “Live Video” on the left bar of the Supervisor website

It’s really great that the public has this option…not many can attend the Tuesday 9am meetings in Santa Cruz to hear the bad news in person and be able to comment.  The Supervisors are consistently unwilling to hold meetings during evening hours to accommodate the working population.

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST ON THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AGENDA WORTH INVESTIGATING
On the Consent Agenda (items deemed non-controversial):

#15  Property Tax Penalty Relief. County Policies and Procedures Manual Section VII part 1000 states that “A taxpayer can request waiver of interest and/or penalties, costs, and fees (IPCF) that are attached to their taxes due to being delinquent and /or defaulted.”  This is set forth in the California Taxation and Revenue Code.  Under Section 4985.2, the County Auditor/Controller can allow this waiver “provided principal payment for the proper amount of the tax due is made no later than June 30 of the Fourth fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the tax became delinquent.” No actual tax money is waived.  In 2017,there were 325 such requestsof which 203 were granted, totaling $130,315.57 waived.

#17  The County Library Fund anticipates a $4.5 Million EXCESS IN REVENUE.  Staff is asking for a bit more time to complete that report.  The Board of Supervisors allocates any excess property taxes in the County Library Fund for exclusive use on improvements or services at County Library Fund branches.  I wonder why we did not see this in the Measure S Campaigns before we voted in that new sales tax?

#19 Supervisor John Leopold recommends the Board support AB 2308 to ban cellulose acetate cigarette filters in the County.  The marine life will be grateful for that action.

#22 Supervisor Ryan Coonerty recommends the Board support Prop. 68 which we will see on the June 2018 ballot.  This is SB 5 that raises $4 Billion in bond money (more debt) for the “California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate Change, Coastal Protection Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018”.  I wonder how that will all get administered? 

#26  Report by the County Historic Resources Commission., submitted by Supervisor Zach  Friend.  Did you know the State Historic Preservation Office staff has termed Santa Cruz County as “the Black Hole of Historic Preservation”?  The Historic Resources Commission acts regularly to demolish historic structures, such as the oldest house in the Hihn Subdivision in Aptos Village (8057 Valencia).  The Planning Dept. advertised it publicly as a “partial demolition”…not one splinter of virgin redwood remained standing after the Randazzo demolition crew finished loading it all into a dumpster headed for the landfill.

#27  Award an additional $63,044 to buy a replacement airplane engine for the County Sheriff’s Air Patrol.  This plane was purchased in 2014 with a Homeland Security Grant that allocated $53,886 for the plane to support surveillance, special operations units, crime scenes, major incident photography, and search and rescue efforts.  A 2017 Homeland Security Grant awarded $57,044 to buy a replacement engine for that plane.  The Sheriff Dept. budget has found an additional $6000 to add to the tab.  What does the Sheriff Dept. use this plane for and how  it often that would require  new engine after just three years?

#28  Expand mental health services to youth and young adults…adding a full-time Senior Mental Health Client Specialist under a 3-year grant.  Having just attended a memorial service for a 15-year-old’s suicide tragedy, I whole-heartedly support this use of taxpayer money, but feel that peer counseling could be increased for perhaps better effectiveness.

#37  Abatement Properties…cleaning up properties the County judges as problematic to health & safety, closeness to sensitive habitats, proximity to neighbors, and responding to complaints.  The County will spend $140,000 on a property in the Summit area.  Interestingly, it is NOT on Bear Creek Road, where the Bear Fire began last fall and neighbors had complained about questionable activities there

#39  Report by Planning Department staff about how the Management Review Group is coming along with improving the permit process.  I think the County needs to add in water agencies to the plan check list to really address the groundwater overdraft problem here.  It would also be great if the Department of Public Works had a requirement that construction projects get an encroachment permit for work in the public roadways before any building permits are issued.  Neither the Rancho del Mar Center nor the Aptos Village Project have an encroachment permit…so any property damage or injuries that occur at the roadway activity site are legally the responsibility of the taxpayers.  Not good.

#38  Awarding $66,272.50 to Baker Crew Consulting to include Cannabis License Tracking to make improvements to the Planning Department’s permitting process.  The Cannabis Licensing has brought in about $2 Million, according to CAO Carlos Palacios’ report in agenda item #49,   I suppose that is why the County has recently decided to abandon the Environmental Impact Report and its implementation of the 31 pages of mitigations.

#42  Approving an additional $50,000 to Kittleson Environmental Consulting for storm damage repair site environmental monitoring.  Mr. Gary Kittleson, sole owner, was awarded the contract for $50,000 on an emergency contract basis in June, 2017, and now claims, without any documentation, that he needs an additional $50,000.  His wife, Kristen Kittleson, manages the environmental restoration efforts for the County Environmental Health `Dept.   This seems like a conflict of interest to me.  What do you think?

#43  Awards $55,000 to Bowman and Williams for a storm repair design at milepost 1.93 on Cox Road, Aptos.  I wonder why this special contract is getting awarded when there are already five other engineering firms (not Bowman & Williams) contracted by the County Dept. of Public Works to do this very work at a cost of $15 – $25 Million?  Maybe it has to do with who lives on Cox Road?  Did you know that the Director of Public Works, Mr. John Presleigh, plans to retire this April?

“YOU SHOULD TRY GETTING IN A WHEELCHAIR SOMETIME BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN.”
That’s what Mr. Hagen, one of the Santa Cruz Metro Board members told me last week after I testified before that Board about concerns I have for elderly and disabled trying to use the future #71 bus stop relocated within the Aptos Village.  He said he has visited the bus stop and sees no problem with the 100′ span of 5% grade sidewalk without resting platforms, lack of handrails, lack of seating or cover at the stop, or any other aspect.  I suppose the fact that he has a nice eclectically-propelled wheelchair helps, but I have helped plenty of people who struggle to push themselves backwards up a sidewalk ramp to know that often those who are in self-propelled wheelchairs do not have the physical strength and endurance to get around some obstacles.

Director Mike Rotkin chastised me for just bringing “yet another complaint fueled by the fact that I just don’t like the Aptos Village development.”  

I suppose the Board did not appreciate me reading to them the Ralph M. Brown Act section that clearly dictates that government officials should respond to public comment on un-agendized items by either briefly discussing the matter, referring the person to appropriate staff for information, or placing the matter on a future agenda for public discussion.  I suppose a snide response qualifies as discussion…but there certainly were not any “thank you’s” by Board members to ANY of the members of the public who took time to attend last Friday’s 9am meeting in Watsonville.  Not even to the school bus driver who was involved in the accident at the new taxpayer-funded Aptos Village Trout Gulch intersection near the new bus stop when a Prius driver tried to pass her bus on the right.

Maybe the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) would like to hear from you about this intersection at their Board meeting Thursday, March 1, 9am in the County Board of Supervisor Chambers (701 Ocean Street, 5th floor).  The Commission will be reviewing proposals for the state grants this year…I wonder how much the Aptos Village will get awarded?

On the right is a photo of that dangerous intersection that will only get more hazardous when the new bus stop (just behind the school bus) gets activated. 

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

Dateline February 24, 2018

#55 / Feed A Cold; Starve A Fever

A recent article in Scientific American tells us that my mother’s advice to “feed a cold, starve a fever” may have been an error. Maybe so! Nonetheless, I am sticking with my mother’s remedy, and I am comforted that Scientific American indicates that my mother wasn’t the first to come up with this guidance for the sick and suffering. Apparently, this saying has been “traced to a 1574 dictionary by John Withals.” In other words, this advice about colds and fevers goes way back, and I am always suspicious of “the latest.” Sometimes, the “latest” isn’t the best. 

Allegiance to my mother, while a factor, is not the only reason that I am suspicious of any effort to reverse polarity on the “starve a fever” advisory. 

My experience as an elected official in Santa Cruz County in the 1970s and 1980s occurred at a time when the community was being consumed by the “fever” of runaway growth. Our little community (the smallest county in the state, geographically) was being overwhelmed by growth stemming from the fastest-growing economy in the state, located just over the hill. 

Santa Clara County used to be called the “Valley of Heart’s Delight,” and is now known as Silicon Valley, and while there were “gains” coming from this feverish transformation of Santa Clara County, a lot was lost when the “good old days” were left behind. In the 1970s and 1980s, the people of Santa Cruz County didn’t want our county to succumb to the ravenous fever of growth that was so completely transforming our Bay Area neighbor. 

Today, things are not so different, though those who argue that Santa Cruz County should accommodate the growth of the Silicon Valley, and “feed that fever,” are not so much assaulting our farmlands and mountains, but are looking, instead, to transform our historic and much-loved neighborhoods into high-rise, apartment house canyons. We can, of course, feed the fire, and if we do, much of what we treasure most will be consumed. Given that the raging fever of high-tech growth could make us sick, I’m sticking with my mother. Starve a fever! That was her advice. We did it once before, and we can do it again. I think that’s the right remedy for the place I live.

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. DeCinzo exposes Santa Cruz’s budget problem solution…see below.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s ” Fairytale Update” down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent  Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog.

SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL. Their second concert this season is … 500th Birthday Celebration – Medici Codex. Don’t miss this performance of music from the Medici Codex, a choir-book gifted exactly 500 years ago to Pope Leo X’s nephew. The book was collected from the best composers of the Renaissance, and stands the test of time due to the stunning nature of the vocal music. These sacred compositions were written during a time of political strife and represent some of the challenges and beauty of the time.  You will hear voices leaping in and out of one another, a big, moving sound, per- formed by four separate ensembles who have come together to celebrate this unique collection of music. Ariose, conducted by Camille Couture… UCSC Chamber Singers, conducted by Michael McGushin …San Francisco Renaissance Voices, conducted by Katherine McKee. It happens Saturday March 3, 2018
7:30 P.M. at Holy Cross Church. Tickets probably at the door or http://scbaroque.org/2018-season/tickets

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “The Oscars are coming! Compare your notes with mine as I try to guess who’ll go home with the gold this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/). Of course, along with the Oscars comes this year’s edition of the (dreaded) Oscar Barbies! But if it’s all too much, and you’d rather curl up with a good book, I have a recommendation for that too!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.  

UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. On February 27 Lesley-Reid Harrison talks about Santa Cruz’s Diversity Center and their activities and programs. Then  Linnea Beckett and Christopher Lang discuss Food Justice and the DIG IN happening at the UCSC Campus Friday March 2nd. March 6th has Kate Hawley author of the play, “Coming of Age” that opens March 14 at The Jewel Theatre. The second half hour has Mark Burden and David Foster bring us up to date on Habitat for Humanity’s news. 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.  “MARCH”

“In March the soft rains continued, and each storm waited courteously until its predecessor sunk beneath the ground.”  John Steinbeck, East of Eden
“Joy is not in things; it is in us.” Richard Wagner
“POOR MARCH is the HOMELIEST month of the year. Most of it is MUD, Every Imaginable Form of MUD, and what isn’t MUD in March is ugly late-season SNOW falling onto the ground in filthy muddy heaps that look like PILES of DIRTY LAUNDRY.” Vivian Swift, When Wanderers Cease to Roam.

SPIVEY’S RESTAURANT AND COFFEE SHOP, Nov. 13, 1964. Once upon a time an important meeting place on the South east corner of Water and Ocean Streets — for locals and young folks from nearly everywhere. Now it’s that CHASE bank institution. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE February 19, 2018

HOTEL AT 7TH AND BROMMER? Last week I wrote that many folks are questioning the hard drive that Ryan and Neal Coonerty continue pushing to have Barry Swenson Builders build a hotel at 7th & Brommer. Jean Brocklebank, a member of Harbor Neighbors Organization, sent this response…

“For those who hear that Ryan Coonerty and his father are pushing a hotel, remember that a hotel is possible at 7th & Brommer only because the County Redevelopment Agency (RDA) voted to include “visitor accommodations” at the site. Rather than stay with the Preferred Priority Use specified in the 1994 County General Plan (“Proposed Parks, Recreation and Open Space: Development of Community Park Facility”) in a letter to the RDA Board of Directors for an agenda item of their June 5, 2007 meeting, the Planning Department Director stated “the property is being acquired with the intent of using it for a future public park and visitor serving uses, including visitor accommodations, consistent with the designated General Plan/LCP priority uses.” In other words, Planning combined the Preferred Priority Use and the Alternate Priority Use (“Community Commercial: Development of visitor serving commercial uses with a minimum of 50% of the project devoted to Type A visitor accommodations available for rental to the general public.”)  The RDA Board drank the combined Kool-Aid.  Members of the RDA Board of Directors in 2007 were Jan Beautz, Tony Campos, Neal Coonerty, Ellen Pirie, and Mark Stone.

Fast forward from 2007 to August 12, 2016 when the County Economic Development Department (EDD) jumped into development plans feet first and issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) “To develop a landmark waterfront, infill site owned by the Santa Cruz County Redevelopment Successor Agency (RSA) with lodging, other destination oriented commercial uses and public open space. Development of this site aims to strengthen the local tax base and enhance economic vitality and quality of life in the County.”  District 3 Supervisor in 2016 was Ryan Coonerty.

That 8/12/16 RFQ description of the property changed the emphasis of the land use from parks to visitor accommodations.  The EDD RFQ also minimized the “Proposed Parks, Recreation and Open Space” part of the Preferred Priority Use as described in the General Plan.  Here’s what we got from the County EDD:

• “Priority Use: The General Plan designates the site for visitor-serving commercial uses with a minimum of 50% of commercial uses dedicated to standard hotel/motel visitor accommodations.

• Height Limit: Three stories/35 feet; potential for additional five feet with design review.

• Park Facilities: The project will require one acre of land to be dedicated to passive or active recreation open to the public.” [Note: What most people do not know is that 2.3 acres of that parcel cannot be developed and will remain natural and undeveloped because of topography. So we will be insisting that another separate acre of the parcel be dedicated to passive recreation also.]

The language of the first RFQ was used in the second RFQ issued June 2017. In November 2017 Barry Swenson Builder was selected as the developer on the parcel.  To date we do not know what BSB proposes to build at 7th & Brommer, but a hotel is most certainly not a done deal!  Sometime this year the process will continue with Public Visioning, Project Scoping and Negotiation, CEQA Process, and the Draft Disposition & Development Agreement (DDA), which will have to be approved by the Board of Supervisors and Successor RDA Oversight Board. Harbor Neighbors will be involved in every step of the process”.

Check out Harbor Neighbors website. Read the history of the property. Read the possible uses.  http://harborneighbors.weebly.com/

THE OCTAGON AND MAH. Ed Penniman, a native of Santa Cruz writes to say…The Octagon was our Santa Cruz County Recorder’s Office and is the heart of our Santa Cruz history. If the MAH doesn’t value its historical status, what value is the museum of history? Why not make the Octagon building the face of Santa Cruz? It’s a natural center of our town. Hearing of it languishing vacant and unlocked make my native Santa Cruz soul feel violated.

LOUD MOTORCYCLES. Lee Quarnstrom — long time reporter and author who now resides in Orange County — emailed to comment… “I once asked a Santa Cruz cop whose opinion I respected the same question: Why don’t police officers stop loud Harley-Davidson motorcycles and issue citations when they’re clearly breaking the noise limits? “Because,” he responded, “every cop either owns a Harley, or wants to own a Harley.”

A SAD FAREWELL TO SANTA CRUZ. BrattonOnline.com webwoman Gunilla Leavitt found this letter online. She got permission from the author, who had also sent copies to the mayor and the city council. It’s sad, expressive, and puts into words exactly what so many are feeling today…

“Dear Santa Cruz,  

I moved here in 98. I was 18 and wanting to live closer to my surfer, artist, and teacher of a dad. I fell in love with the ocean air, the music scene, and all the people. I grew up into an adult here. I got in trouble here and cleaned up my act here. I struggled and scraped by. I had my two beautiful children here. I found that my happiness was in working in the community and being of service. I had a wonderful opportunity to live in pleasure point for a reasonable amount. 

But now it’s come to an end after 13 years. Our apartments have been sold to a developer in Morgan Hill and we and 7 other families have 60 days to be out. Now I will be the first to tell you my credit score is awful. Not because I am unreliable or negligent but because of no credit cards and a student loan. I love this community but how is my family of 4 supposed to afford to live when your rent is over 3k a month?! How are we supposed to feed our kids, clothe them, pay for health insurance, and then childcare for the baby?! No one will give us the time of day because of a Boston terrier and a Chihuahua?! We are a good family with reliable income. I’m a medical assistant and my husband an electrician, it shouldn’t be this hard. 

I love you Santa Cruz and I care about you and your future but now I may have to move my family to another area of the country and start from scratch. I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me every time I wake up because I don’t have a solution for my 11 year old daughter who is being told she has to leave her child hood home. No more junior guards, no more dance at PAC, no more softball with papa. Who is going to pour your coffee, immunize your children, and clean your houses when we all have move? And to where? A more impoverished area of California? What a sad set of options. 

How did we let it get this bad? How come good families are leaving? What happened and who has the solution? Unfortunately not me. 

Wish us luck Santa Cruz 

We want to stay but the clock is ticking….”.

PRESIDENTS BIRTHDAYS. Peter Scott of “Campaign For Sensible Transportation” replies… Hi Bruce, At this time of year, I always feel resentful that we no longer celebrate Lincoln on February 12 and Washington on February 22.  So seeing your column, I decided to look it up. Here’s the story.

I always assumed it was Nixon who changed it, but while that’s at least partly true, I never knew that there is now no official “Presidents Day“. Interesting.  — Peter

Now you don’t see ’em on the Benchlands…it’s cleaning day. Now you see ’em under the Water Street Bridge… Now, they’re back in the Benchlands, but soon 1220 River Street…or not?

Dateline February 19, 2018

RADICAL TIMES REVEAL A PRAGMATIC COUNCIL.

Rent Freeze Passes Unanimously

This Santa Cruz City Council fell into the history books last Tuesday night February 13. While myself and Councilmember Cynthia Mathews were sidelined as spectators having been advised by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) not to participate in this historic vote, likely one of the most consequential city council decisions in decades, did not seem to matter. The five remaining members–Terrazas, Brown, Watkins, Noroyan, and Chase–voted unanimously to freeze Santa Cruz rents. By 11pm on February 13th both a rent freeze and a just-cause eviction ordinance were enacted on an emergency basis “to make it safe for renters to discuss rent control without fear of being evicted,” was how the Movement for Housing Justice put it. They’re the community group behind the rent control petition ( movementforhousingjustice.org  ) now being circulated. The rent freeze only applies to multi-unit homes and it limits increases to about 2% a year while affecting about 24% of the rental housing market in Santa Cruz. Only rental properties built before 1995 are subject to the rent freeze because of state law. Mathews and I did not vote because we faced a “conflict of interest” in that we both own rentals. Despite over 200 tenants, landlords, real estate moguls and homeowners coming out to hear arguments for and against these ordinances, only 56 spoke before the council. My final, unofficial tally was 28 in favor of a rent freeze and 27, mostly landlords and real estate people, opposed. Several real estate people bemoaned the fact that rent control allows tenants to stay longer in their homes thus making the case for many of us worried about losing a cohesive community. High school physics teacher, Stacey Falls said because of the market “renter’s lives are being destroyed.” Long-time organizer Glen Schaller supported the rent freeze because “we want a stable community,” while a UCSC student, Kate, who said she lived in one house with 15 other students, argued that “housing needs to be treated as a community right.”Perhaps resident Dave Willis said it most poignantly when he urged the city council to “come on over to the right side of history.” It was a night to remember as pro-rent freeze people lingered long after the vote hugging and laughing. This night was the culmination of months of planning, walking neighborhoods, and gathering community input by a group known as the Organizing Circle. Their input was crucial in gaining unanimity along with the 1500 signatures they presented to the council, which supported passage of both ordinances. Now, it is up to some of the same people to continue their historic democratic movement of gathering enough signatures to rent control and an elected rent board on the November ballot. While it will not be easy, perhaps the $2370 studios now advertised at the new Five55 Swenson development on lower Pacific Avenue, will have voters siding with the plight of renters who are just looking for some relief.

Updates–More News from February 13th Council Meeting

Remember I said I’d get back to you concerning the various outcomes on the last city council agenda? Well, I am and it was quite a consequential set of results. One item, “Conference with legal counsel,” had to do with how the city might respond to letter received the previous week from UCSC Chief Counsel, Lorena Penaloza. She wrote in a December 20, 2017 letter to the city, “The University is evaluating its available remedial options, and therefore requests that the City confirm its obligation to provide water service to the Santa Cruz Campus.” Really, it’s H2O for North Campus development they seek. It’s how UCSC/UC Regents is spelling g-r-o-w-t-h these days. Stay tuned, the legal wrangling is just beginning with the Town seemingly more unified than ever against any Gown growth exceeding 19,500. Our beef is really with Oakland, and the Regents…and that’s where we need to take the growth fight. De acuerdo!?

A Fiscal Emergency was discussed and then put on hold until some rather simple and necessary questions get responded to by city staff:

• Further explanation of the definition of fiscal emergency requirements under Article XIII C of the California Constitution, item in our Feb 13 agenda report, and any other relevant codes pertaining to other powers granted to local government under a fiscal emergency declaration.
• The council needs written proof that the fiscal emergency does not give the city authority, with respect to budgeting, beyond placing tax measures on the ballot. 
• How long does the fiscal emergency last? Until staff recommends we vote to rescind it? Do we need to regularly re-approve it (e.g. every council meeting, every month, at budget time)?
• Please provide a list of proposed cutbacks, should the sales tax and sugary beverage taxes not reach the ballot, or not pass, including:
• represented bargaining units — temporary and permanent workers (SEIU temp,SEIU perm, OE3, POA, and Fire) and non-represented personnel (shorthand for, the admin. bloat portion of the equation)
• Given that the sales tax polling was close to within the margin of error and did not take into account the negative campaigning, which has already begun for those who have read their council emails, why is it we could not use reserves to plug the CALPERS (pensions) hole this year and give the voters more time to consider what kinds of taxes they might approve?
• While I appreciate the role that tourism plays in our economy in terms of jobs and revenues, we all know there are significant infrastructure and service costs (roads, traffic, trash, public nuisance, and public safety to name the big ones— items that several colleagues raised during discussion at our Feb 13th meeting on many agenda items), why are we not considering a 3% increase in the TOT, for $3 million — a fallback should the sales tax not pass and perhaps an easier sell to the voters?
• Deadline for county elections is March 9, so couldn’t we call a special meeting if we cannot work out our revenue enhancement efforts in time for Feb. 27 meeting?

Hence, the two tax measures that were discussed, 1/4-cent sales tax and a sweetened 2-cent per ounce beverage tax, were put on hold until the February 27th city council meeting. Again, stay tuned! Funding for a first-ever city-sponsored campsite at 1220 River Street was approved unanimously. At first, it appears to be a Cadillac version (?), that is somewhere between $1000-$1500 per month per campsite. Up to 60 tent sites are being contemplated with a staff of 30. This is all new for the city, so once again, stay tuned; most of this revolution will not be televised of course, until it’s too late.

On My Radar Screen this Week

• Student Environmental Center, at 2:30 pm on Tuesday at the Rachel Carson College Red Room at UCSC to discuss campus Long Range Development Plan with students.
• Wed. 2/21, UCSC Chancellor and Executive Vice Chancellor will be addressing faculty and staff at Stevenson Events center at 230p.
• Meeting with Gail McNulty of Greenways (“trail only people”) at Coffee Roasting at 830a on Tuesday (2/20) morning?
• There’s a good old-fashioned SEIU informational picket line starting at 11am at Dominican Hospital on Tuesday (2/20).
• Zoning Administrator will decide on the cutting of several heritage trees at 10a on Wed., city council chambers, (2/21).
• I highly recommend the “Santa Cruz Neighbors” meeting Wed. night (2/21) at 7p…might be pretty interesting…the SC city manager, county CAO, and SC police chief will be there, likely discussing homeless and housing issues. This meeting will be held at police community room at Center and Laurel streets in Santa Cruz.
• On Friday (2/23), there will be meeting to discuss UCSC “Dreamers,” Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students. It will take place at 330p in Stevenson 175, UCSC campus. 
• Of course, the state Democratic convention will begin on Friday in San Diego, (2/23-2/25).

Footnote

Of course, so much happens in this town every week. Don’t forget to also go listen to some music at Kuumbwa, or on the new patio of the MAH; or watch a movie at the Nick, or attend a play at Actor’s or Colligan theatres! Then again, there’s always free Sunday yoga at 8:30 am at Patagonia on River Street.

~
Bernie Tweet, Taking Care of the Weak

“It is absolutely imperative that the Mueller investigation be allowed to go forward without obstruction from the Trump administration or Congress.” (Feb. 16)

(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. Tackles those motorcycle maniacs. Scroll below.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “White House Job Fair” 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 thoughts about “Dead Etiquette”.

EVENTS

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Learn my strategies on how to steal more time out of the day to do stuff you really want to do, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/). Also, if we’re lucky, the wistful memoir, Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool will spark renewed interest in the life and career of the exceptional, much-beloved film noir actress Gloria Grahame.” 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. Feb. 20 has former UCSC Alumni President Donna Mekis talking about UCSC and the community. Then Zav Hershfield and Nina Hertel talk all about the Rent Imitative. On February 27 Lesley-Reid Harrison talks about Santa Cruz’s Diversity Center and their activities and programs.  AND …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.  George Washington
“Few men have virtue enough to withstand the highest bidder”. GEORGE WASHINGTON
“It is with pleasure I receive reproof, when reproof is due, because no person can be readier to accuse me, than I am to acknowledge an error, when I am guilty of one; nor more desirous of atoning for a crime, when I am sensible of having committed it”. GEORGE WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 1757
“Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience”. GEORGE WASHINGTON,
“Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by a difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated”. GEORGE WASHINGTON. Oct. 20, 1792

GREYHOUND BUS DEPOT 1964. This was over in what we now call Depot Park. Buses, especially Greyhound were once an incredibly popular way to travel for anybody. I crossed the USA in one back in 1952.                                                         photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection.

DATELINE February 12, 2018

LINCOLN’S AND WASHINGTON’S FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS??? Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, and George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. When I was little, we celebrated both of those days, separately, with school holidays. Then somebody combined them into President’s day — and who celebrates even that day, nowadays?

OCTAGON MYSTERY.
What happened to Lulu’s Coffeehouse at The Octagon seems to have become a mystery. Since I’ve been sitting there during the fair weather, dozens of locals and tourists peer into the unlocked and deserted Octagon and wonder exactly what’s going on. For newcomers… The Octagon was our County Hall of Records from about 1882. It became the Santa Cruz County Historical Museum in 1972. Charles Prentiss and Nikki Silva created a great and relevant City Museum display that answered many local history questions. Then it became the MAH store. Then Mark Primack designed the interior for Lulu Carpenter’s Coffee Shop. That location had an exclusive coffee-selling permit.

A few years ago, when the San Jose operation took over and erased all traces of what was Abbott Square to put in their six food operations, they wanted to have a coffee operation going on but Lulu’s had that exclusive clause — so MAH bought out Lulu’s lease. Lulu’s owner sued and lost. The San Jose group intended to open a whiskey-tasting bar in there. Obviously it fell through. Then two little restaurants were going to open last November… that too fell through.

So now the Octagon — one of our once proudest historical structures — sits with usually unlocked doors, totally destroyed inside. It’s lousy and irresponsible management of our County’s heritage on MAH’s behalf. Why the County does absolutely nothing while the Octagon rots to hell is beyond understanding.

PACIFIC AVENUE PONDERINGS. Just hanging out on the avenue during all the “summer” weather, I wonder how many folks have noticed the pair of sneakers hanging straight above the front entrance to New Leaf. Then we have to guess how they got there, and how many throws it took?? Then I got maybe a ” fractured fact” that Hoffman’s closed because they couldn’t afford the $13,000 per month rent. Remember that big deal TV Makeover show that brought in so many customers that night, and changed the atmosphere of Hoffman’s completely?

It seems ridiculous to bring it up again, but why can’t our City stop those roaring, racing motorcycles from ruining what atmosphere and sense of friendliness? Somehow the Fuzz manages to track license plates to give tickets for everything…why not for disrupting the peace? With our new policing practices in place, there should be dozens of trained citizen/authority people who would act as witness against these witless peace destroyers.

Then I just got an email stating that the City of Santa Cruz has over 35% temporary workers on the payroll. That alone is enough to make you wonder  — and perhaps even accuse our city of some very criminal and hidden actions…more than before!!!

NEW HOTEL 7TH & BROMMER,WHY? (and who?) Many questions need asking about the hotel being pushed so strongly by both County Supervisor Ryan and dad Neal Coonerty. It’ll be built at the corner of 7th and Brommer. Why there? Why another hotel? And again why are the Coonertys involved? It’s far from Ryan’s District!

[oops!!! I just checked and 7th and Brommer is within Ryan’s (3rd) District which runs all the way from our north county line to where he wants the hotel. BUT why is a Supervisor pushing for a hotel? Ask him when you see him.]

Feb. 12, 2018

GOINGS – ON
Rent Control Now
The Movement for Housing Justice along with the student group, SUR, Students United with Renters (“No more students without more resources!” too.) combined to turn out over a 100 petition-gathers this past Sunday. It was the first official day for rent control signature-gathering in the city of Santa Cruz. Wow, what a crowd! The Resource Center for Non-Violence was abuzz with anxious, frenetic, and giddy groups of students, labor union members, and seniors ready to take to the streets, but first a training session took place. It was remarkable how the 100-plus-person training ensued as they strived to collectively figure out some common problems like who is eligible to sign the petition (registered city voters only), who can collect signatures (anyone), and how to list student addresses (need both dorm and UCSC campus addresses).The signature training session was presided over by Zav Herschfeld and Viveka Jagadeesan. At 3:45pm, everybody hit the streets for a first-run through of practicing the process. By 5:30pm they returned to a potluck dinner and a facilitated conversation about what went right, and what went wrong on Rent Control Day 1. They also returned with more than 700 signatures, towards the 8000 needed to place the initiative on the November ballot. Not bad for the first day.

Celebrating the Armistice

ar·mi·stice ‘ärm?st?s – a noun, an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.

Darrell Darling at last Sunday’s kick-off of Armistice Year. VFW Bill Motto Post’s, Steve Baer is also in picture.

Over 60 peace-people met at the Town Clock this past Sunday (2/11)  to celebrate the end of war. Yes, that war, “The Great War,” “the war to end all wars.” It was November 11th 1918 when the allies of World War I, and representatives of the German government, met on a private train in a forest near Compiegne, France to sign an agreement towards ending what many thought would be the last war–20 million deaths and 21 million wounded. Veterans for Peace activists, Steve Baer and Rico Baker carried out the first of a planned nine peace-making events leading up to a Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium celebration and commemoration this November 11th. Present at this gathering was like a who’s who in Santa Cruz peace history: Darrell and Karen Darling, Tatanka Bricca, Sherry Conable, Dick and Marion Vittitow, Jan Harwood and the Raging Grannies, Steve Pleich, and I am sure I’ve missed several…

Is That Just One Council Meeting?
There are council meetings, and then there are council meetings…The February 13th meeting was set up to be one for the ages. No fewer than five rather significant issues landed on the desks of city councilmembers. While I shall report out the results–votes–next week, as BrattonOnLine is put to bed before the meeting, I include the topics here:

• Declaring a “fiscal emergency” in the city of Santa Cruz…and this is on the heels of declaring a “homeless emergency” just two weeks ago;
• Placing two general fund tax measures on the June Primary election ballot–1/4-cent sales tax AND a 2-cent per ounce “sugar sweetened beverage” tax;
• Rent Freeze–“Interim emergency ordinance establishing a temporary moratorium on certain residential rent increases…” This ordinance would provide protection for tenants against arbitrary and capricious rent increases before the rent control ordinance can be voted on in November;
• “Just cause for tenant evictions” ordinance, which would protect tenants from being put out of their homes by the whims of landlords. There would still be provisions for putting out tenants for failing to pay the rent or abusing the property and/or neighborhood
• Opening of the first city of Santa Cruz-supported and sanctioned tent encampment on River Street.

And Then There is This Cryptic (nefarious?) Use of Closed-session Political Jujitsu Dept.

This appeared rather mysteriously on the February 13th Santa Cruz City Council “Closed Litigation Session:”

B.	Conference With Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation

Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(d)(2). (1 potential case)

What the hell is that? Not even a subject or an organization mentioned who it is that is bringing, or threatening, or perhaps thinking about a legal action against the city. Why would it not be in favor of the city by naming names here? This to me is an abuse of closed session, and the Brown Act, and should be stopped. The public has a right to know the names, or organizations and institutions, who might be suing the city.

Bernie Sanders Tweet of the Week
“If you were wondering how Trump plans to pay for his tax cuts for billionaires and corporations, now you know: with $1.8 trillion in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security”. (Jan. 12)

Picture of the Week

RENT CONTROL NOW It was a packed Resource Center for Non-Violence as the rent control initiative began collecting signatures in earnest several members of the print and visual media looked on.

(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. DeCinzo has another shot at Girl Scout Cookies…see below.

EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s “Rotten Tooth 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.

MUNCHING WITH MOZART. Thursday 2/15 @ noon.
Munching with Mozart presents “Music for Two Clarinets” featuring Tatyana Rekow and Penny Hanna on clarinets. From its origins as an Arabic and European folk instrument, and often resembling the sound of a trumpet, the single reed clarinet or chalumeau from France became more widely used beginning in the early Baroque period. By 1700, Johann Christoph Denner’s technical improvements helped turn the chalumeau into the modern clarinet. W.A. Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A major K 622 is one of the earliest well known classical works, and the clarinet’s versatility and range have expanded it’s reach to military bands, Eastern European klezmer music, American jazz and big band swing.

Tatyana and Penny will be playing…Airs à Deux Chalumeaux (1706) Henry Ipermann (c. 1700), Selections arranged for 2 clarinets andante, Allegro, Menuetto Allegro, Polonaise

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart(1756 – 1791) June: Barcarole “The Seasons” op.37A 

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) Stardust (1929) Hoagy Carmichael (1899 – 1961)

And Clarinet Polka (late 19th. Cent.) A. Hupfa or Karol Namyslowski Gavotte: Symphony No.1(“Classical”) Op.25 Sergei Prokofiev (1891 – 1953)and Bartok, Waldeufel, Musiker, Curtis and Jerome Kern. It happens Thursday, February 15th 12:10 – 12:50p.m. Santa Cruz Public Library, Downtown Branch – upstairs Meeting Room. Remember it’s free, get there early.

ESPRESSIVO ORCHESTRA WITH MAHLER. Thursday2/15 @ 7:30 p.m.
Michel Singher conducts the Espressivo Orchestra playing Mahler’s fourth Symphony with Sheila Willey vocalist. It’s at the Peace United Church 900 High Street. Tickets at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/e/3198559 or maybe at the door.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “Decisions, decisions. Animated or Live-Action? Before you choose, check out my review of the Oscar Nominated Short Films (and, yes, there are two separate programs) this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com ). Also, feast your eyes on another vintage Beauty and the Beast illustration as the countdown continues toward the pub date of my next book!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.

UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only or archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. . On Feb. 13 UCSC’s Felicia Rice discusses her new book  “Doc/Undoc”  an art piece centering on the immigration experience. Then Ashlyn Adams talks about her two new movie theatres opening soon in the former Circle Church. Feb. 20 has former UCSC Alumni President Donna Mekis talking about UCSC and the community. AND …if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… http://www.radiofreeamerica.com/dj/bruce-bratton You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com

UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts.  Such a wide range of folks such as  Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur, The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.

QUOTES. From Abraham Lincoln.

Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties. And not to Democrats alone do I make this appeal, but to all who love these great and true principles.
–August 27, 1856 Speech

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.
–ca. August 1, 1858

On the question of liberty, as a principle, we are not what we have been. When we were the political slaves of King George, and wanted to be free, we called the maxim that “all men are created equal” a self evident truth; but now when we have grown fat, and have lost all dread of being slaves ourselves, we have become so greedy to be masters that we call the same maxim “a self evident lie.”
–August 15, 1855

The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing.
–April 18, 1864