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DATELINE September 26. 2016
BOARDWALKS SECRET CITY DEAL. If you or I or anybody has a business in the City of Santa Cruz the law, regulations and permits all say you will have your garbage hauled by the City…you can’t save money and do it yourself (for obvious reasons). Health, safety and the environment being obvious. What I just found out is that this present City Council and all the rest going back years, have allowed the Seaside Corporation/Boardwalk to haul their own trash & garbage. Who’s going to check into that and find out when it first started, and help end this one more shameless fortune that our Santa Cruz City Council’s gives to that Canfield empire?
UCSC DUMP??? How is it that so few of us know about the private dump/recycling center that UCSC has built (and is still building) on their campus? How come that’s allowed? Why haven’t more living-on-campus families and students complained about the odors? Maybe because it’s so close to the Arboretum?
| UNCENSORED RICHARD NIXON. |
| THE HOLLARS MOVIE. Good fun, go see it ASAP. |
MAH & PAID MEMBERSHIPS?? I keep hearing from many of those people who go to The Museum of Art & History that “it just doesn’t look or feel like an Art or History museum anymore”. There hasn’t been an art curator for quite some time, and as I’ve said many times Nina should just change the name to The McPherson Community Center…no problem. People also ask now that Nina has brought up the attendance numbers with her numb, super pop events what’s happened to the actual membership numbers? Up or down? One friend said he counted 13 local restaurants near MAH. So San Josean John McEnery IV is bringing all those new out of town restaurants here to compete…not fair. Many are betting that Nina Simon, now on her second book tour, will search and get a better job offering and leave town anyways. We’ll wait here.
JOHN LEOPOLD, CYNTHIA MATHEWS, PAUL ELERICK & MEASURE D!! Over and over again the No on D forces ask a simple question, “Where has widening highways ever worked ? “And of course the answer is NOWHERE. Now we see that County Supervisor John Leopold is very active in the YES on D, and Corridor development and it follows that he is also endorsing Cynthia Mathews for City Council. In addition Paul Elerick who has been writing for BrattonOnline many, many years called me today (Monday) and said he’s not writing for us anymore because I am against Measure D. We’ll miss Paul. He quit Campaign For Sensible Transportation for the same reason.
Stephen Slade Exec. Director of The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County sent me this….” The Land Trust’s endorsement of Measure D and hiring a part-time staff are NOT connected. The staff position is a stewardship job — taking care of Antonelli Pond, Byrne-Milliron Forest and other properties. Measure D, for us, is about building the rail trail and wildlife tunnel”.
Check out Measure D on the website at http://sensibletransportation.org/congestion if you want to get some facts in this important issue as we get closer to the November voting date. More facts will be presented at the Community forum on Measure D, hosted by Santa Cruz Sierra Club Group on Thursday, September 29, 6:30pm – 8:30pm at the Resource Center For Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA (map) Get educated on this complex measure before you vote. Come hear arguments for and against Measure D, which Santa Cruz County voters will face on the November ballot. There will also be time to ask questions at the end. This 30-year tax measure will have major implications for the shape of transportation facilities in Santa Cruz County. This proposed transportation sales tax measure was created by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and put on the ballot by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. To help the community navigate the pros and cons of this measure, Santa Cruz Sierra Club Group are hosting a community forum with four panelists who will share their arguments for and against this measure. After hearing all sides, we will move into the question and answer portion of the evening. Thursday, September 29, 2016 7:00 – 8:30 PM Resource Center for Nonviolence 612 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA Map and Directions.
KUSP REVIVAL. Rachel Goodman seems to be heading the drive to raise the necessary money to buy KUSP’s broadcast license and re-vitalize the station into a more community resource. Go here to read her appeal…
HISTORICAL PHOTO RESPONSE. Many thanks for the response to any/all the historical photos I post every week. Gillian Greensite was first to remind me, and all new arrivals, that the Municipal wharf runs North and South. So that makes the Ideal Restaurant’s location in the photo on the West side of the wharf. Peter Nurkse checked in to say “Yep, Darling House is there, out in the sun, and the larger Epworth House, older than the Darling House, is there too on the same block, behind the Darling House in the shade of the trees.
As a reference for history in the area, you could use George Lawrence’s 1906 aerial panorama. There is a visible jog in the panorama at this point, but that’s just where the Library of Congress cut up the original print to make it fit in their filing cabinets.
The original Cowell lime warehouse, next to the hospital, seems to be in tip top condition, even if almost a century old. Somebody must have been maintaining it, since it wasn’t in use any more. That may have been Samuel Henry Cowell, who died that same year, 1955. He would have remembered the warehouse in constant use, rolling cargos down to the Cowell wharf (which collapsed itself in 1907). And Samuel Henry certainly had enough resources to keep the warehouse in perfect condition, even if just for sentimental reasons.
The warehouse would have been a great historical structure. Like the Hay Barn at UCSC, but on a more spectacular site, right at the ocean. However Samuel Henry was presumably the last person to care for it and to be able to maintain it, so probably soon after he died it was demolished. If there had been a historical preservation movement in Santa Cruz at the time they might have protested, but that came later”.
Carey Casey also had a lot of things to add to that great photo she says, “Notice the old warehouse at the bottom of Bay Street. It was originally built in the late 1860s by the Davis & Jordan Lime and Cement Company, still standing (surprisingly) in this photo. The lime company also built Bay Street, originally called Lime Kiln Road. The big barn is shown, when it was new, in an 1870 “bird’s eye view” panorama painting. As one of a number of speakers, I’ll be presenting a slide show (available online) on the painting at the upcoming Santa Cruz County History Fair (October 8 at Louden Nelson Center). Should be fun! – Carey Casey. She must have meant LONDON Nelson !!!
Santa Cruz has a reputation for being a leader in environmental awareness and activism. That is true for some issues but for others, we trail far behind. A good example is the relatively recent conversion to LED street lighting. Most of us are aware of the bright white Light Emitting Diodes (LED’s) that have replaced the old sodium vapor streetlights throughout the county. Few would not support this change when it comes to energy savings and light longevity. But as with most technology, there are choices and not all are desirable.
The recent American Medical Association’s warnings about high intensity LED streetlights have reached the daily news. We now have broad community awareness of the detrimental health and environmental effects of the blue-white high intensity LED’s that have been recently installed by the city and county of Santa Cruz but rejected by a number of other communities such as Davis and Oceanside in California, eight counties in Arizona and the town of Lake Worth in Florida. Given the AMA warnings it is likely that other communities will follow their lead.
click here to continue (link expands, click again to collapse)
~ Gillian Greensite is a long time local activist, a member of Save Our Big Trees and the Santa Cruz chapter of IDA, International Dark Sky Association http://darksky.org Plus she’s an avid ocean swimmer, hiker and lover of all things wild).
“Once I started digging into my “read it later” pile, I found lots of older material, like an editorial from the May 10, 2016 edition of The New York Times, entitled, “A Soldier’s Challenge to the President.” Regrettably, this editorial is still relevant. The 1973 War Powers Resolution, passed by Congress over the veto of then-president Nixon, requires the president to obtain “specific statutory authorization” whenever he sends United States troops into war. Guess what? Our president doesn’t do that. So far, the courts have not dealt with the president’s refusal to ask permission. And, as The Times editorial says, Congress is not actually trying to get the president to make the request that the law requires.
In mid-August, the president launched airstrikes on targets in Libya. Apparently, U.S. ground troops are also taking action in Libya. There have certainly been recent U.S. air strikes in Syria. Just this week, in fact, such U.S. air strikes have apparently led to the termination of a cease fire that had been negotiated. With respect to Libya, an online CNN news report said that “Libya asked the U.S. to help fight ISIS with airstrikes.” Great! Glad you asked, Libya, but according to our laws, you can’t just ask the president, you need to have the elected representatives in Congress sign off on such military adventures.
Probably, the majority of the Congress supports what President Obama is doing but I think it is a lot less certain that the people of the United States are of the same opinion. As members of the U.S. military go off to kill and be killed, in our name, let’s demand that Congress do its job. Let’s make them vote for all these wars!”
Gary is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor (20 years) and an attorney who represents indivuduals and community groups on land use and environmental issues. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, Two Worlds at www.gapatton.net )
CLASSICAL DeCINZO. One more take on the bike riding part of our community. See below.
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. Eagan vs. Trump’s concept of charity…look down a few pages.
And check here for more Eagan…There are two new Deep Cover cartoons posted at TimEagan.com. Also, the classic Subconscious Comics, and the EaganBlog, : I Could Car Less
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “An unquiet spirit from Jewish folklore scares up plenty of menace in the eerie, complex Polish horror movie, Demon, this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com). And, don’t look now, but it’s time for Open Studios again — Santa Cruz’s biggest art event of the year!” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
THE HOLLARS. One of the most cleverly written comedies I’ve seen in years. Full of familiar faces, the cast is as funny as the script. New York City family relationships, a bit slow at times, no groundbreaking plot, but funny. It never seems to go where you think it will, and that’s great too. Go for it. Mary Kay Place, Anna Kendrick, Richard Jenkins, and especially Margot Martindale all star in it.
DEMON. A Jewish wedding in Poland has a dybbuk as a haunting and unwanted guest. Scary, tense, then boring, then tense again…and it has a 95 on Rotten Tomatoes!!! If you’re trying to stay away from Vodka do not see this film. Subtitled and in Polish, Yiddish, and many mumbled lines too.
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 3. This movie should be sued for using the same title as the earlier classics starring in 1960 Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Colburn, Robert Vaughn and of course Eli Wallich. Then there’s the genuine Akira Kurosawa classic
“Seven Samurai” from 1956 (which both of above films ripped off), that starred Toshiro Mifune. The new one has Denzel Washington as the big honcho and he’s about as impressive a leader as Pee Wee Herman would be, but he’s not as funny. Don’t go.
BRIDGET JONES’S BABY. Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth and Patrick Dempsey head the list for this miserable, boring, semi-dirty part 3 of B. Jones/Zellweger baby films. Zellweger was born in Texas but for some reason she plays a Brit in this series. She gets pregnant by one of the two above mentioned guys. For the sake of making a movie plot she doesn’t get a test to see which one is the Dad. Besides that, you wouldn’t care anyways even IF you do go. Jokes are lame and obvious, you won’t laugh and the worst part of the entire film is that at the end they show a newspaper photo of Hugh Grant saying he’s alive. He was the co-star before Colin Firth…so that means part 4 is coming at us soon. Duck.
THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS. Critics and most folks are calling this a romantic melodrama, I say that’s cheapening it. And gives it the wrong image I call it a contemporary Greek Tradegy. Those classic tradegies were meant to stir your emotions, cause you to think about your deepest values, to help us learn about love, sacrifice, and morals. Wikipedia says, “Tragedy (from the Greek: tragoidia[a]) is a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes an accompanying catharsis or pleasure in audiences”. This film does all of that and more. We aren’t used to “deep” films like this anymore so we dilute them and call them weepers or melodramas. Stunning actors like Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Rachel Weisz bring this highly emotional film into near legendary status. It’s from a book about a lighthouse keeper and his wife who can’t have children and find a baby. Please see it, if you like serious films.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC.Viggo Mortensen, the lead in this family saga, has never been better, and he’s almost always excellent. The older you are the more you’ll appreciate this extension of our 1950 & 60’s belief system. A film that has Noam Chomsky’s philosophy as a driver, Jesse Jackson, Joy of Sex book, Lolita, Glen Gould’s Bach Variations and some non-christian beliefs added, has to take you back just a bit. And in a good way. Viggo raises his family in the total wilds and later they have to face modern life and society. It’s as much fun as it is moving, sensitive, and well made. Frank Langella and Steve Zahn add to this hit film. Go for/to it!!
SNOWDEN. A genuine Oliver Stone film. If you think you know everything about the Edward Snowden Wikileaks international extravaganza you’ll learn even more watching this film.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Wilkinson, Rhys Ifans, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, and even a tubby Nicolas Cage in a bit part make this into a tight thriller . We don’t know the ending yet, and won’t until Snowden leaves Russia or Obama changes his ethics and morals and guarantees this true patriot some semblence of freedom. I think Edward Snowden should be given medals, trophys, and a place in our national security system.
IXCANUL. Filmed in Guatemala, with all non-actors, a serious drama about a 17 year old local coffee farm daughter and the desperate way she tries to leave her peasant life. She gets pregnant, her baby is probably sold by the hospital to someone and the story is slow and confusing. With beautiful photography. It’s like a National Geographic saga. Nope, I have no idea how to pronounce the title and everybody in the film speaks either Spanish or native Mayan or Kaqchikel, as we call it.
SULLY. Tom Hanks, Laura Linney and Aaron Eckhardt do their dependable, professional jobs in this formulac Hollywood treu life drama. Plenty of tension, a great true story that we knew most of already. It’s how airplane Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger landed that passenger plane in the Hudson river and saved everybody’s lives. Speaking of airplanes, you might think about right wing director of the film Clint Eastwood and that the executive producer of Suicide Squad and Sully is Steven Mnuchin who is Donald Trump’s finance director, if it matters who you give money to!
LITTLE MEN. NOT a sequel to Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women”. That movie was last done in a 1940 version with Sterling Holloway and Kay Francis. This is a “New York City” movie about two 13 year old boys, their problems with their families, their schooling, and how they grew. It lacks a statement, point of view, or some big reason to go see it.
HELL OR HIGH WATER. Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster and Chris Pine make this one wonderful, exciting, involving, and well acted film. Go see it ASAP. Cops and bank robbers in Texas, internal conflicts, evil bank laws and practices, and ethics and morals are all integrated. It’s hard t o believe that “Hollywood” could still make a film this good after all these years of junk.
CAFÉ SOCIETY.Woody Allen’s newest starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Parker Posey and Steve Carell. Woody narates the film and he’s older and his voice has lost that whiney, confused, contradictory warble that we’ve grown to love so much. This film doesn’t rank in his top 4 or 5 films. The story is original, the acting is perfunctory, Kristen Stewart is above reproach, but it’s no Midnight in Paris, Annie Hall, Blue Jasmine, Hannah and Her Sisters or Purple Rose of Cairo.
DON’T THINK TWICE. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 99 % I give it about 4!!! I’ve always hated Improv Comedy, that’s why. This movie is totally about Improv Comedy and the internal combustion within a group calling them selves the Commune. I can’t tell you how many times I watched San Francisco’s The Committee throughout most of the 1960’s. A lot of the Nickelodeon audience laughed a lot when I watched it…go warned.
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. Michel Singher previews The Espressivo Orchestra’s next concert on September 27, after that Becky Steinbruner informs us about County Land Use issues. Ted Benhari of Friends Of The North Coast discusses the Cotoni National Monument proposal on October 4 followed by Gillian Greensite area activist on environmental and social problems and changes. KZSC Pledge Drive happens Oct. 11 with guest Santa Cruz County Clerk Gail Pellerin co-hosting. Pledge Drive continues while Joan Van Antwerp talks about The Sidereal Theatre on Oct. 18, she’s followed by former County Supervisor Neal Coonerty talking about the new Bookshop Santa Cruz book.. Then October 25 has Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick talking about our court system. After Paul, Jinx Deruisa and Polly Malan talk about The Santa Cruz Chamber Players new season. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome, so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always (and only) at bratton@cruzio.com
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53 years ago. So much, and yet so little, has changed. I quote from the Kennedy speech: “And it ought to be possible for Americans of any color to register, and to vote in a free election without interference or fear of reprisal.” Watch this. |
NEW UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVE FEATURE. Stuff changes at KZSC a lot. If you missed 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.
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 Bu rdick, 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: “OCTOBER”
“I detest ‘Jingle Bells,’ ‘White Christmas,’ ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,’ and the obscene spending bonanza that nowadays seems to occupy not just December, but November and much of October, too”, Richard Dawkins
“All things on earth point home in old October; sailors to sea, travellers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, the lover to the love he has forsaken”, Thomas Wolfe
“On October 15, 1965, an estimated 70,000 people took part in large-scale anti-war demonstrations”, Noam Chomsky
“And so by the fifteenth century, on October 8, the Europeans were looking for a new place to try to get to, and they came up with a new concept: the West”, Dave Barry
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BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by Tim Eagan.
